Jane Bowen
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Jane Bowen (née Spencer; c. 1737 – 18 October 1781) was an English woman who became known for assisting overseas officers working in support of the American cause during the Revolutionary War. She also supervised the burial of Polish general Casimir Pulaski, who was killed in the 1779 siege of Savannah.
Jane Bowen | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1737 |
| Died | 18 October 1781 (aged 43–44) |
| Known for | Aiding officers during the siege of Savannah |
| Spouse | Samuel Bowen (m. 1765–1777; his death) |
Early life
Siege of Savannah
Two years after the death of her husband, Bowen hosted two officers from the fleet of Charles Hector, comte d'Estaing, at Greenwich Plantation in Thunderbolt, Province of Georgia, during the 1779 siege of Savannah. She also supervised the burial of Polish general Casimir Pulaski,[6] who was killed during the battle, "between her mansion and the river",[7][8] although Pulaski's resting place is disputed (some claim he was buried at sea or in Charleston, South Carolina).[9]
Personal life
On 30 March 1765, Spencer married English farmer and entrepreneur Samuel Bowen,[4] who established Greenwich Plantation in 1765.[10][3] After Bowen's death in 1777, she assumed control of the plantation. The couple had four children. Daughter Elizabeth Ann (1766–1816)[11] married British army surgeon Samuel Beecroft, to whom Jane sold the plantation in 1797.[10] Elizabeth placed flowers at Pulaski's grave until her death in 1816.[10]