Forgotten Matlock man played key role in creation of American Bill of Rights

By The Newsroom
Published 14th Jul 2017, 18:15 BST
Updated 18th Jul 2017, 08:55 BST
Historian Martyn Gillie at the site of a former home of John Bowne in Matlock.Historian Martyn Gillie at the site of a former home of John Bowne in Matlock.
Historian Martyn Gillie at the site of a former home of John Bowne in Matlock.
'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'

So begins the US Bill of Rights, one of the most famous and important documents in American history.

However, what is less well known is the major role a man from Matlock played in its creation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

John Bowne grew up at Lime Tree Farm on the site of what is now the One Stop Shop on Lime Tree Road.

Historian Martyn Gillie at the site of a former home of John Bowne in Matlock.Historian Martyn Gillie at the site of a former home of John Bowne in Matlock.
Historian Martyn Gillie at the site of a former home of John Bowne in Matlock.

After emigrating to America in the 1600s, Bowne’s campaign for religious freedom led to the legacy of tolerance Americans enjoy today.

Now, Martyn Gillie, from Youlgrave, wants this significant son of the Dales to get the recognition he deserves in the town of his birth.

He said: “That this guy from a little backwater town of Matlock can have a such a significant impact is amazing.

“But nobody knows anything about him.

Hide Ad