This description of Bow is taken from Pigot's Directory of Devon 1831.

Bow or Nymet-Tracy, is a small market-town and parish, in the parish of North Tawton; about 10 miles from Oakhampton, and the little distance from Chumleigh. It is a place of very little trade; and, excepting the extensive tanning concern of Mr. Sanders, which employs many hands, is not worth being visited by the commercial traveller. The municipal officer here is a portrieve, elected by the jurymen of the court leet and baron, held annually in October, under the lord of the manor, Sir T.B. Lethbridge, Bart. of Sandyhill park, Somerset. The church, which is a plain brick building, is situated about a mile from the town; the Rev. William Hellins is the present officiating minister. The only place of worship in the parish, besides, is a meeting-house for the independent methodists. The market-day is Thursday; and the fairs are Holy Thursday, and the 22nd November, for cattle. The parish contained, by the last returns, 872 inhabitants.

POST OFFICE, John Stuckey, Post Master. --- Letters from all parts arrive, by horse post, from OAKHAMPTON, every evening at seven, and are dispatched to that town every day at half-past twelve.

One of the oldest legible headstones in the graveyard of Bow Church belongs to Robert Parish, Yeoman, who died in 1738.

More Bow headstones

Stories about earlier inhabitants of Bow

Link - The Doctors of Bow 1762-2009

Sir Reginald Blomfield (1856-1942) - Architect

Maj-Gen Charles James Blomfield (1855-1928) - Soldier

Rev Clotworthy Gillmor (1817-1886) - Insolvent Clergyman

Ann Parker alias Willcox (1791-1865) - sentenced to death

Elizabeth Heard (b 1825) shipwrecked off the Australian coast

John Moore - Transported for house breaking 1838

William Moore (John's brother) cuts his wife's throat 1886

The Riddaway family including Edith Lane (1921-1998) - Authoress

Revd Bartholomew Davey Curate 1753-1772 and his brother-in-law Robert Stedman, "Peruke Maker of Bow".

The Tozer family of Blacksmiths in Bow for 500 years and Richard Tozer (1882-1834) probably Bow's most famous American.

William Langman of Coxmoor, Bow. His body found dumped in an Exeter alleyway in 1829

Edwin Partridge Longman, Saddler in Bow transported to Australia for horse stealing in 1847

Rev Dr Whittington Landon (1758-1838) Rector of Bow and Dean of Exeter Cathedral

William Snow - surgeon - imprisoned for libel 1828

William Manley - Bigamous wedding to Caroline King 1848

Hugh Thomas Shopland: Taxidermist in Torquay

The Phat Boys - USA-born twin sons of Fanny Wescott (1813-1890)

"Bow Queries" - where my research has become stuck