This line of Bowdlers can be traced back to the 16th century and I believe links to the Bowdler of Ludlow pedigree recorded in the Heralds Visitation of Shropshire 1623, though this needs more research.
At the start of the 1700s, a Thomas Bowdler of this line moved to Bath and started the literary line including Dr Thomas Bowdler.
The Bath Bowdler’s family tree as far as I know it:
Also connected to this line is George Bowdler Buckton.