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The son of George Bowers of Scituate, MA. John Bowers immigrated from E n g l a n d at a young age with his parents, and graduated from Harvard in 1 6 4 9 . H e w as a school master in Plymouth Colony from 1652 -1653, and was c a l l e d t o New Haven by Gov. Eaton and taught school in there for about 7 y e a r s ( 1 653-1660). He was pastor of Guilford and preached in Branford af t e r R e v . Pierson left (1667 to Feb. 1673). On Nov. 19, 1673, he was ord a i n e d a nd became the first pastor of Derby remaining there until he die d i n 1 6 8 7 . The town of Derby voted to build a house for their pastor & h i s f a m i ly on Nov. 18, 1673 to be finished by the next May. He was to re c e i v e £ 3 5 for the first year.
At a town meeting at Derby, April 18, 1677, he was granted 12 acres, a l o t o n w h i ch to build his home, all the swamp adjacent to his 12 acres o f l a n d . O n Feb. 22, 1676, he was granted 3 acres of meadow called Davi d' s m e a d ow on the west sid e o f t h e brook. Dec. 30, 1678, the town a g r e e d t o give Mr. Bowers 15 pounds added to his 35 pounds to make his f e n c e .
In "A History of the First Church & Society of Branford, CT, 1544-19 1 9 " b y J . R u p e rt Simonds, he is described as not having eloquence or popular it y, b u t h e w as honest, hard-working & a personal life above reproach.
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1629 - 1687 (58 years)
