Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Bowes, Paul
BOWES, PAUL (d. 1702), editor of D'Ewes's 'Journals,' was the second son of Sir Thomas Bowes, knight, of Great Bromley, Essex, the notorious witch-persecutor, by Mary, third daughter of Paul D'Ewes, one of the six clerks in chancery. He was born at Great Bromley, and after being educated in the school at Moulton, Norfolk, was admitted a pensioner of St. John's College, Cambridge, 21 Dec. 1650. He took no degree; indeed, he does not appear to have matriculated. Having fixed on the law for his future profession, he was on 12 May 1654 entered of the Middle Temple, and being called to the bar by that society 10 May 1661, became a bencher on 24 Oct. 1679. In addition to his professional acquirements, he possessed a taste for history and antiquities, and he edited the manuscript work of his celebrated uncle, Sir Simonds D'Ewes, entitled 'The Journals of all the Parliaments during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, both of the House of Lords and House of Commons,' folio, London, 1682. Other editions appeared in 1693 and 1708. Bowes was elected a fellow of the Royal Society 30 Nov. 1699, and, dying in June 1702, was buried 3 July at St. Dunstan's-in-the-West, Fleet Street. By his wife Bridget, daughter of Thomas Sturges of the Middle Temple, he left issue three sons and two daughters. His will, dated 5 Aug. 1699 (with two codicils dated 17 April and 12 Aug. 1701), was proved by his widow and sole executrix, 16 July 1702. Besides property in Lincolnshire, Suffolk, and Essex, he was possessed, in 1700, of the manor of Rushton, Stokeford, and Binnegar in East Stoke, Dorsetshire. Mrs. Bowes died in 1706. The eldest son, Martin, born in London, was also a pensioner of St. John's College, Cambridge, where he was admitted 16 April 1686, at the age of sixteen, but left without taking a degree. He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Edward Thurland of Reigate, Surrey, and afterwards settled at Bury St. Edmund's, Suffolk, where he died in 1726. His second daughter, Ann, became, in 1732, the wife of Philip Broke of Nacton.
[Autobiography and Correspondence of Sir Simonds D'Ewes, ii. 17-18; Admissions to the College of St. John the Evangelist, ed. J. E. B. Mayor, p. 98; Admission Book of Middle Temple; Notes and Queries, 1st ser. ii. 70, vii. 517, 3rd ser. v. 247, 330; St. Dunstan's Register; Hutchins's Dorsetshire, 3rd ed. i. 421; Morant's Essex, i. 250, 442, ii. 36; Wills reg. in P. C. C. 91 Bath, 140 Eedes, 177 Plymouth; Harl. MSS. 374, ff. 315, 316, 1542, f. 148; Page's Supplement to Suffolk Traveller, p. 61; Gent. Mag. iii. 45.]