Replying to this message because the thread concerns Joseph and John Bowen of early Cayuga Co., NY ... and it mentions Freeman connections in the thread.

I descend from early Cayuga Co. resident William Tompkins whose wife was Anna Freeman, daughter of Gideon Freeman and wife Eunice Ford. See these families WITH documentation at http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&d....

On 17 Sep 1805, William Tompkins made the following deed, recorded in Cayuga Co. Deed Book G, p. 8+ (FHL film 0851938)

William Tompkins of Scipio, Cayuga Co and Anna his wife sell to John Bowen "now or late of Adams [Berkshire Co], Massachusetts" for $1,170 ... an equal undivided half or moiety of Lot #149 in the late Cayuga Reservation situate on the East side of the Cayuga Lake containing 100 acres. Signed by William Tompkins & Anna Tompkins.
Witnesses:
E. Burnham
Allen Mosher
Deed proved the same day before Seth Phelps, first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Anna being examined separately. Recorded 18 Oct 1805.
[On the same day Thomas Lapham sold to John Bowen the eastern half of lot #149 for $10--signed a quit claim--about 100 acres. This means that William had the west half, adjacent to Robert Tompkins. Witnessed by E. Burnham & Wm. Alden(illeg) before Seth Phelps.]

I did sniff around on the internet to see what I could find about any John Bowen of Berkshire Co., MA, at this time period, and here's a capsule of what I found. I have NOT researched these Bowens myself and can only pass on what I found. John Bowen of Berkshire Co. was b. 16 Apr 1757 Kingstown, Washington Co, RI, a son to William Bowen/Anne Jennings of Smithfield, RI. His wife was Phebe Congden, daughter of Joseph Congdon & Susannah Cross of Washington Co., RI. This John Bowen may or may not be the one you've mentioned due to age, but could be a relative.

Leslie