In researching our family history we have come across a possible link to Chief Bowles. George Pierce is listed as the son of Hough Pierce and Sophia Bear Hunter who is believed to be the daughter of Bold Hunter ( Chief Bowles ) and Beaver Toter.
I haven’t been able to find out for sure and there are some dates that don’t add up. Has anyone found proof one way or the other concerning this?
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This is correct. My sister in law Glenda Hall Hiegert confirmed this when researching th Pierce family from
Quinlan Tx area. I have been to historical monument and marker for Chief Bowles. I think Glenda has photos of it. Contact her on Facebook. Her fb account is Glenda Hall Hiegert
This comes from content posted by Bellinda Myrick-Barnett to various genealogy websites over the years. It can be somewhat hard to follow, but it basically goes like this:
A Hugh Pierce, born in 1749 in Frederick VA married a Sophia Hunter, born about 1751 in SC, and sometimes given as Spartanburg. She was said to be Cherokee and the daughter of Chief Bowles/The Bowl. This couple moved south into GA, and then west through several southeastern states, and some of their children ended up settling in Texas by the late 1830s. Hugh died in the late 1830s in AL. Sophia’s place of death is a bit unclear, although some sources state she moved to Texas as well, and died there.
What is known for a fact is that Hugh had moved down to Spartanburg sometime before the Revolutionary War. He was called up for service in that location, and then moved to Habersham County, GA in the early 1800s. He received pension for his service. He also received land in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery, which was taken from ceded Native lands. The family then moved into Jefferson, Alabama, sometime in the late 1820s. In the late 1830s, family members kept pushing west through Mississippi and eventually ended up in Texas. There is also indication that some extended relatives had been early Texas pioneers and established these early connections to this area (which made it easier for the extended clan to settle in that location in subsequent decades). They were living in White society, listed as White in recoreds, owned African slaves, etc. They seem not to have been associated with the Cherokee community in Indian Territory. Also, this might be a bit confusing but it has to be mentioned: this family was not removed from Rusk or Van Zandt like the rest of the Texas Cherokee in 1839. This is also strong indication that they were seen as White or not tribally affiliated if there was some Native ancestry somewhere in the family tree. They moved in as settlers, and were integrated into White society there. As an FYI, the Mt. Tabor Cherokee community in Rusk County, TX, was basically re-formed in during the Civil War era.
The theory that Sophia Hunter was the daughter of Chief Bowles is sort of like an odd game of six degrees of separation and uses broad proximity and a lot of supposition. Unfortunately, this theory seems to have been incorporated into pretty much all trees on ancestry.com that descend from this couple. Here is the line of reasoning (if you can call it that) that is being used here:
Chief Bowles was also known as John BOWLES “aka D’iwali/Duwali/Too-wah-yello/Bold HUNTER.”
So, from the supposed English translation of a Cherokee name associated with Chief Bowles – said to be known also as “Bold Hunter” – the theory goes that he passed on Hunter as a surname to Sophia. There are a number of problems with this theory though. First, Sophia was born near or in Spartanburg SC about 1750. At the very least, she married or lived with Hugh in that location at an early date (she was not living in a tribal community). That is about the same time Chief Bowles was born himself. Also, Bowles got his surname in traditional European fashion, as his father was a Scot-Irish trader with that name. And interestingly, as is somewhat common in Cherokee, his more commonly known Cherokee name was a word play on his English surname. Diwa-li just means, literally, “bowl.” (ᏗᏩᎵ). If he was going to give his offspring a surname, it would likely be his naturally acquired surname.
What is also known is that this couple and their children were living in White society, not found in Cherokee rolls or communities from at least the Revolutionary War era onward. There does seem to be some older and persistent theories about Sophia being of Cherokee or Native American ancestry, but at this point, her parentage is unproven and she didn’t seem to show any affiliation in her own lifetime. So, more research would need to be done to confirm this lineage. However, it is quite safe to say that she was not the daughter of Chief Bowles. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of trees and webpages that are repeating this claim, which will make legitimate genealogy that much harder. Trying to correct this misinformation might be impossible at this point, as it is quite firmly entrenched.
I am interested in Finding the link between the Pierce and Tucker Family located from Jefferson, Alabama and Ga areas. The Pierce Family came by wagon train to Texas. My Dad was born on/near Duck Creek at Lindale, Texas. Family history lists several members from Mt. SYLVAN TO Rusk County.
Lindale to Hill Country and points in between.
If you know of the following members of my clan please respond:
John Alford Pierce Tucker, CSA-cabinet maker and later merchant in Lindale, Tx.
Circa 1903
George and Elizabeth McCracken Pierce & Family. DAVID, JOSEPH, AQUILLA, GEORGE, WOODS, ROBERT, TOM & Riley.
Aquilla Pierce married 3 times: 1) Frances Caruthers
2) divorced The Widow Trent
3) Ruth Logan
He also served in the Confederate Army
Texas Calvary 30th Regiment Co. H.
It is rumored that the Pierce Family intermarried with The Long Family in La.
George Pierce came to Rusk County in 1843.
Large wagon train many hardships as you can imagine.
A number of Relatives are buried through out East Texas as well as Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia up to Virginia. The Tucker family dates back to 1589. Capt. William Tucker was born in England. Thornsby in Devon County. He arrived in Elizabeth, Va
In 1610.
I would appreciate your input as I am trying to verify information. This is crucial to finishing a Family History/Archives. Thank you.
Renea Tucker-Click
New Echotan Woman Publishing
EchotanButterfly@gmail.com
Hello everyone! I am a DNA match to Belinda Myrick-Barnett. I am friends with her on FB but she stays quite busy and doesn’t really have time to answer. I know we share a line to Chief Bowles which I believe to be through his daughter Sophia Bear Hunter. I have suspicions that it could be through George her son but I cannot quite connect the dots to them just yet. If anyone could offer guidance or help, it would be greatly appreciated. Geni is of know help because there is a certain person that keeps disconnecting Native lines making it nearly impossible to connect the dots. I have a GEDmatch number and a tree on Ancestry. Any help would be much appreciated. I have got in contact with the admin of this page and was directed here. I hope to hear from someone soon. Thank you.