History of Soy

Introduction of Soybeans to North America by Samuel Bowen in 1765

Page 2

Samuel Bowen reappeared in London in late 1763. Most probably he returned home on one of the East India Company's trading ships from China in mid-1763. According to the Ledger of Wages and Receipts for Wages of the Pitt, on November 10, 1763, Samuel Bowen received 28 and 11d "being in full for Wages, Debts and all Demands, for Service performed on board the Ship Pitt." On November 16, 1763, he petitioned the Court of Directors of the East India Company to redress a grievance concerning his wages and imprisonment in China. The minutes read as follows: "On reading the Petitions of Samuel Bowen representing his Services and Sufferings in China in his Passage to Limpo on the Success Snow and otherwise and praying to be considered for the same." On March 7, 1764, the Court of Directors ordered "That Mr. Burges do pay Samuel Bowen £19 10d being for Wages due to him from the Ship Pitt according to special Agreement with Capt. William Wilson on the 13 June 1759" (Minutes, Court of Directors, East India Company, 1754-1767). Thus, Samuel Bowen earned about £80 in wages as a seaman for the East India Company.

James Flint, the longtime East India Company employee in China, also petitioned the Court of Directors for compensation for the time spent as a prisoner in Macao. On June 11, 1764, the Court's minutes contain the following: "On reading the Request of Mr. James Flint late a Supra Cargo for an Allowance for the time he has lost and the Misfortune he labours under of not being able to return to China on account of the Emperor's Prohibition." On December 5, 1764, the Court of Directors voted to award James Flint £ 2,000 "in consideration of his Services in China as a Supra Cargo, the Hardships he underwent in the Course thereof and his being banished from thence by the Emperor's Edict." In addition, from 1760-1766, James Flint earned about £ 6,500 in commissions as a super-cargo. Thus, while Samuel Bowen earned approximately £ 80 from 1758-1763, James Flint earned a minimum of £ 8,500 from 1760-1766.

In 1764 (Deed Book "0," 1762-1765), the elusive Samuel Bowen surfaced in Savannah, The Colony of Georgia, and quickly assumed the roles of family man, farmer, and entrepreneur. On March 30, 1765 he married Miss Jeanie (Jane) Spencer, daughter of William Spencer, the Collector of the Customs in Savannah (Georgia Gazette, April 4, 1765). This gained Samuel Bowen instant respectability.

On May 14, 1765 Bowen purchased a tract of land at Thunderbolt (a few miles east of Savannah) from Grey Elliott (Candler, 1907: Hartridge Collection). According to his will drawn on May 31, 1774 (Hartridge Collection: LaFar and Wilson. 1963). Samuel Bowen's residence was named "Greenwich" and consisted of 450 acres which became the center of his farming and manufacturing enterprises. In addition, according to his will (Hartridge Collection), he purchased from John Mulryn a tract of 84 acres he called Macas (Macao) Island. The tract was situated near his Thunderbolt property.

In the spring of 1765, Samuel Bowen did not have land available to sow seeds. Therefore, he asked Henry Yonge, the Surveyor-General of Georgia, to plant seed that he had brought from China. In a letter dated December 23, 1766 to Dr. Peter Templeman, Secretary to the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce, London, Henry Yonge wrote the following:

This is to certify that the pease or vetch — lately introduced by Samuel Bowen in this province from China, were planted by me the last year at Mr. Bowen's request, and did yield three crops: and had the frost kept off one week longer, I should have had a fourth crop, which is a very extraordinary increase, and must, if attended to and be of great utility and advantage to this and his Majesty's other southern American provinces (Yonge, 1767).

Previous Page | Next Page