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Thomas Wheaton Bowden (1806–1878)

Many old colonists, and a large number of our readers generally, will receive with feelings of the keenest regret intelligence of the death of Mr. Thomas Wheaton Bowden. Mr. Bowden, who was in his 73rd year, had lately been in failing health, but anticipation of a fatal issue were not entertained until within the past few days, when his malady assumed such a form that his recovery was seen to be improbable. He suffered very little pain, however, and on Wednesday night he passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends, at his residence, Newtown.

We shall endeavour in a future issue to furnish our readers with an outline of the life of the deceased, who was for very many years a most prominent colonist and leading towns-man of Parramatta; but we may mark here that few men have possessed the esteem of their fellows in a higher degree than he did. It is, we believe, upwards of half a century since he came to this colony from England and established himself in business; and from then to the period of his last illness, he was literally always in harness. Old residents of Parramatta will remember him as an active and energetic business man, ever upright in his dealings, and ready to embark capital in any enterprise calculated to advance the importance of his adopted country. And if he occasionally experienced the vicissitudes which recurring periods of depression in trade entailed upon all those who have been the pioneers of commerce in this colony, he had the satisfaction of knowing that he never forfeited the good opinion of those with whom he had a business relationship. Mr. Bowden was eminently successful in many of his undertakings, notably as an auctioneer, and for some years he was the senior member of one of the principal metropolitan auctioneering firms. He was also for several years Mayor of Parramatta; a director in the local Gas Company; an active member of the committees of our charitable institutions; and a leading member of the Macquarie-street Wesleyan Church; but his direct connection with all those bodies ceased upon his removal to Sydney a few years back.

The deceased leaves a large family occupying prominent positions in society, He was father of Mr. T. K. Bowdon, of the well-known firm of Allen, Bowden and Allen, solicitors, of Sydney; of Mr. J. E. Bowden, solicitor, of Parramatta; and uncle of Sir George Wigram Allen, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The funeral took place yesterday, and was attended by some leading colonists. The remains of the deceased were interred in the family vault, Devonshire-street, Sydney.

Original publication

Citation details

'Bowden, Thomas Wheaton (1806–1878)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/bowden-thomas-wheaton-28886/text36243, accessed 19 March 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

24 May, 1806
London, Middlesex, England

Death

24 April, 1878 (aged 71)
Newtown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

pneumonia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

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