Full Name: Mary Elizabeth Bowser Born: 1840's Place of Birth: On a plantation near Richmond, Virginia North or South: South Died: 1900 Place of Death: Unknown Interesting Facts: Mary was born as a slave to her owner John Van Lew. He was the owner of a hardware business. Van Lew's daughter, and her mother freed his slaves after he died in 1851. Mary served as a spy for Ulysses S. Grant.