In 1852, he was awarded a gold medal for heroism by Queen Victoria after he saved over three hundred immigrants from a British shipwreck.

He sailed around Cape Horn thirty-two times during trading in China, the West Indies and on the coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

[2] On November 9, 1851, he saved the lives of over three hundred immigrants from the British ship Unicorn which had been wrecked during a storm near Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

[1] Sir, it is with much satisfaction I have the honor of transmitting to you, herewith, three Gold Medals, bearing on the obverse the portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, which Her Majesty's Government desire to present to Captain W. H. Howard, of the United States packet Ship "Daniel Webster;" to Captain Levi Marston, of the United States brig "Harriet;" and to Captain Bowne, of the United States ship "Star of the West;" for having, in November last, saved the passengers and crew of the British emigrant ship "Unicorn," from the wreck of that vessel.

His daughter, Ellen, and her husband, James Lawrence, assumed ownership of the farm when he moved to Yarmouth.