BOWDERY, William (1773-1850) — London
Bookseller, publisher, bookbinder and stationer. Produced, as ‘Bowdery & Kerby’, “a new instructive game, being a genealogical and chronological history of England, consisting of two maps, one beautifully coloured the other plain, with suitable counters and a handsome printed volume as a book of reference to genealogy and chronology or key to the game. ‘We consider the rising generation to be eminently indebted to the compiler of this little work, and we cordially recommend it to the attention of every capacity — European Magazine’” (Morning Chronicle, 5 Feb 1818). This was the third edition of a game originally published some years earlier. The accompanying book was compiled by Andriane O’Sullivan. Bowdery specialised in educational books, but published a wide range of material, e.g. “Aristides”, ‘On the practical abolition of the slave trade’ 1819.
Baptised at Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, 7 Feb 1773, the son of William Bowdery and his wife Elizabeth Pievain, who had married at Burford in 1770. Apprenticed to James Kerby (fl.1784-1807) 16 May 1789. Trading with Kerby at Kerby’s Oxford Street address as ‘Kerby & Bowdery’ by 1805, and, with the addition of John Kerby, as ‘Kerby, Bowdery & Kerby’ in 1809, and then ‘Bowdery & Kerby’, with John Kerby, by 1814. He married Susannah Kerby (1781-1868), sister of John Kerby, at Charlbury 1 Aug 1808. An 1828 insurance policy for Bowdery and John Kerby at 190 Oxford Street in LMA. Papers relating to an 1828 action brought by Elizabeth Kerby, wife of James Kerby, against Bowdery, John Kerby and others in NA. After a period trading as ‘Bowdery, Kerby & Son’, he retired 15 Jul 1850, leaving the business to continue under John Kerby and his son of the same name. He died 18 Dec 1850 and was buried at All Souls, Kensal Green, 28 Dec 1850, aged seventy-seven, on the same day as his own son of the same name (1811-1850). His will in NA — PROB 11/2125/62. The Oxford Street premises are depicted in John Tallis 1, ‘London street views’ 1838-1840.
Juvenile Library, 190 Oxford Street — 1805-1850
— 9 Porchester Terrace, Paddington (home) — 1841-1850
BBTI. BM. BNA. Brown. LG. LHD. LMA. NA. Whitehouse.