BOWERMAN; DEV,ENG; 1750-1910 Looking for others researching Bowermans in Devon, particularly the family described below. Thomas Bowerman/Berman/Burman/Bowrman, a cabinetmaker, married Mary Atkins in Bampton, Devon, 18 Nov 1808. They had at least 8 children between 1810 and 1829, all but the last are in the records of St. Peters Church, Clayhanger, Devon: John, Thomas, William, James, James & Ann (perhaps twins), Mary, and Jane (all with different spellings of the surname). Mary Berman (as the the name appears on her marriage license in Gloucestershire and in what form she gave it as a middle name to two sons) married John Apperly (Rodborough, Glouc) 3 June 1848 in Bath; they lived in Chippenham, Wilts., for a while before immigrating to Victoria, Aus., in the 1850's. Jane Berman went with her sister and married Joseph Wells 27 Mar 1858 in Victoria. Late in life Mary Berman and John Apperly returned to England and retired to Bristol where they died by 1906. In 1910 my grandfather wrote home to his father (Mary and John's son) in Australia that he has seen "your beloved Aunt Annie." Is this Ann Bowerman/Berman? I have a copy of the Berman/Apperly marriage record from Bath; the 1851 Chippenham, Wilks, census record of the Apperly family [where Mary says she was born in Taunton, Somerset]; and the Victoria, Aus, marriage record of Jane Berman and Jos. Wells [where Jane says she was born in Clayhanger, Devon]. On the 1881 census index I found Thomas Bowerman, 68, living in Halberton, Devon, with his wife Mary. His birthplace is listed as Clayhanger, and from his age I would say he was Mary Berman/Bowerman's brother. The name Bowerman probably derives from being a house or chamber servant. Elizabeth W. Knowlton KnowltonEW@compuserve.com