Sybil Edith Bowker

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: 1913, Dunskye, Cathcart district Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959:
Page 69
Entry 580
Meyrick Brabbin BOWKER
Son of M.R.; Left Sep. 1886; born 1870; Day (scholar). Form II-V. 2nd XV; Banking for a year; farmed in Fish River area, and at Gaikaskop, Cathcart dist. 1894; died December 28th, 1938, at Dunskye, Cathcart dist. C.P.

inherited the farm 'Dunskye' at Cathcart in 1913.
Bought the Hogsback Inn in 1919 -20 from Mr. Holshausen. It was previously owned by Mr. Collins.



Baptised: 1870, Feb 13th
Born: Jan 20th 1870
Parents: Robert Miles & Emma BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Oliphants Kloof
Witnesses: The Parents & D.C. Bowker
Baptised by: Jos. M Cotterill
Source: Grahamstown - St Bartholomew (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1859-1912, entry number 277. Repository: Cory Library, MS 17 776.

Occupation:
inherited the farm

Died:
MOOC 6/9/5212 R62561
Name of Deceased: Meyrick Brabbin BOWKER
Age of Deceased: 68 years 11 months (b January 1870)
Condition in Life: Farmer
Ordinary place of Residence: 'Dunskye', Cathcart
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Dorothy WILSON
Name and approximate date of death of pre-deceased spouse: Edith Brunette SMITH died 28th May 1935
Place of Last Marriage: East London
Date of Death: 28th December 1938
Place of Death: 'Dunskye', Cathcart
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Children from First Marriage:
Meyrick Richard BOWKER
Miles Brunette BOWKER
Children from Second Marriage:
Nil
Grandsons:
John Meyrick BOWKER 30 September 1932
Julian Richard Meyrick BOWKER 18th October 1935
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable & Immovable
Signed M.R. BOWKER, sON

Meyrick married Edith Jessie Brunette Smith on 1 Nov 1900 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Edith (daughter of Richard Shaw Smith and Caroline Louisa Brunette) was born on 24 Oct 1868 in South Africa; was christened on 21 Dec 1868 in St Bartholomew's Church, Market St, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 28 May 1935 in Marine Hotel, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Waainek New Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Edith Brunette Smith, baptised on 24 Oct 1868 at St Bartholomew’s in Grahamstown, died 28 May 1935. All her siblings carried the Brunette name. She was the daughter of Caroline Louisa Brunette (baptized 1845 at Holy Trinity in PE) and Richard Shaw Smith (1840-1912), a brother of George Bensted Smith who married Katherine Ann Currie. Richard was the only son in the Smith family who opted for business and not farming and as a result, he was fairly well-off … he worked for Mosenthals in PE and if the records are correct, he was a director of the company at one stage. He was a very kind man and when Katherine Ann was forced to leave her harmonium in Cathcart (there wasn’t space on the wagon) when they left for the Sneeuberg north of Graaff-Reinet, he bought her a piano, which was delivered to Highlands, their farm just to the west of the Lootsberg Pass. Katherine Ann played by ear and as a result, the whole family learned to dance the waltz and foxtrot to perfection.{Dave Glenister}



Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/4624 R46141
Name of Deceased: Edith Brunette SMITH
Birthplace: Unknown
Age of Deceased: 66 years 8 months
Condition in Life: Farmer's Wife
Ordinary Place of Residence Dunskye, Cathcart
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Meyrick Brabbin BOWKER
Place of last Marriage: Port Elizabeth
Date of Death: 28th May 1935
Place of Death: Marine Hotel, East London
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Meyrick Richard BOWKER
Miles Brunette BOWKER
Whether deceased had left any property, and of what kind: Movable
Signed: M.B. BOWKER surviving spouse

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: 1912, Oliphant's Kloof, North Fish River, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

Notes:

Miles bought the farm 'Dunskye' from Mr. Cloete in about 1890 but he later lived and died on 'Olifantskloof'.
"He earned a reputation for being a superb shot and a keen hunter. In 1899 he accompanied friends on a hunting trip to the Lebombo Mountains. It is recorded that they “ returned with many trophies, including malaria”. It was here that he carved his name into a baobab tree at their camp on a small koppie. This is today listed as Bowker’s Kop on the Kruger National Park maps. Today there is a waterhole nearby, listed as Bowkerskop." per Will Bowker


Microfilm# 1560877
Methodist Parish Records
Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Christenings: 1822-1858 (film is mis-labeled as Somerset East Methodist Parish)
Item 9
Entry #761
Child: Miles Robert BOWKER
Parents: William Monkhouse and Hessey Susannah
Born: 12/25/1837
Baptized: 5/29/1838
Abode: Tharfield
Minister: G. BINGHAM


Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/726 R2755
Name of Deceased: Miles Robert BOWKER
Birthplace of Deceased: Grahamstown
Names of the parents of the Deceased: William Monkhouse BOWKER
Hester Susannah
Age of the Deceased: 75 years 8 months (about December 1837)
Condition in Life: Farmer
Widower
Name and date of death of previous spouse: Emma BEDDOE 2 November 1882
Date of Death: 13 August 1913
Place of Death: Olifantskloof, Albany, Cape Province
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Meyrick Brabbin BOWKER
Francis William Monkhouse BOWKER
Emma Clara BOWKER married HOCKLY
Miles Humphrey BOWKER
Harold Dugard BOWKER
Barnes Beddoe BOWKER
Sybil Woodyatt BOWKER (Deceased) married White leaving 3 children
Movable Property? Yes
Immovable Property? Yes
Signed by F.W.M. Bowker, son,

Miles married Emma Beddoe on 3 Jun 1867 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Emma (daughter of John Beddoe and Emma Child) was born in 1834; died on 2 Nov 1882 in Olifant's Kloof farm, Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried on 3 Nov 1882 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Grahamstown Journal 1882 11 November
Written by Sue Mackay. Posted in The Grahamstown Journal

Tuesday 7 November 1882
DIED at Olifant’s Kloof on the 2nd Nov 1882, Emma (born BEDDOE), the beloved wife of M.R. BOWKER, aged 48 years. The bereaved tender their sincere thanks for the kindness and attention of all friends.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Richard married Caroline Louisa BrunetteGrahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Caroline (daughter of George Macnamara Brunette and Maria Theresa Francesca Cockburn) was born about 1841 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 12 Jul 1915 in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 111
• Baptism: 4 Oct 1813, Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England
• Residence: 1816, Manor Farm, South Newton, Wiltshire, England
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
• Residence: 25 Jun 1820, Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

William and his younger brother, Miles Brabbin Bowker, showed their quick assimilation to a South African way of life - they were young men in their late teens when they made the voyage on the 'Weymouth' - by marrying Ooosthuizen sisters, daughters of a friendly Dutch wagoner who transported the Bowker family to their first farm 'Oliveburn' which was soon rejected for 'Tharfield'. This is regarded as the original Bowker homestead in South Africa.
Tharfield', steeped in tradition now belongs to Mr. Thomas Guard Webb of Bathurst. The house in which the Webbs live was built in 1835, and not much has been changed since then as it was built in stone. The farm is situated in the undulating countryside between the Riet and Kleinmond Rivers, near the coast. The Webb family acquired it in 1925. It is at 'Tharfield' that Miles Bowker and his wife are buried. The small cemetery is still there.

He was also a member of the 1828 campaign against the M'fecani. He was Commandant, Corps of Guides in the war of 1834-1835, being mentioned in despatches and appointed Commisioner for Native Locations. He was Commandant, Thorn Kloof Station in the war of 1846-1847 and Field-Commandant, Somerset Volunteers in that of 1850-1853. He was Field-Cornet , North Fish River in 1858 and Member of the House of Assembly from 1864 to 1865.
~~
Grahamstown Journal, Saturday 12 February 1853

A DANGEROUS PICNIC

A party of juveniles, about 50 in number, attended by 10 gentlemen, went out on a picnic excursion to the waterfall at Mr. HART’s house at Glen Avon. Tho of the gentlemen, Messrs. W. BOWKER and R. HART, having their guns with them ,proposed going a little further up the kloof to look for a bush buck, but they had gone only a few yards when they found the fresh spoor of Kafir.
Following it in silence for some distance they saw a Kafir seated about 40 yards from them, occupied in brushing the flies off his face. BOWKER was going to shoot him at once but HART persuaded him to try and get a little nearer, and in doing so the Kafir caught sight of them and instantly bolted.
At this moment perceiving that there were two Kaffirs, both armed with guns, BOWKER fired, and heard one of them fall heavily to the ground, while HART fired and wounded the other. On reaching the spot where the man had fallen they found that he had got up and made off. After following his spoor a short distance, HART turned into a hole under the krantz, where the Kaffirs had made an almost inaccessable lurking place by piling up immense quantities of wood; only one person could get in at a time, and then had to climb up a very steep place, so that two or three fellows could have defended this stronghold against a host. Nothing daunted by his surprise at unexpectedly finding such a place close to his father’s homestead, HART climbed the steep pathway which terminated in a sort of cave, and there discovered, comfortably wrapped up in his kaross and fast asleep, a huge Kafir, whom he instantly shot dead. We presume this picnic party terminated rather abruptly, and the following day a different party visited the spot, and led by BOWKER and HART they followed the blood spoor of the wounded men for about 3 miles, to a place where an ox had been killed by them, but could not trace it any further. The whole number of Kaffirs seen on the previous day amounted to six, whereof two were wounded and one killed. We much require a rural police to assist in routing out such nests of thieves and murderers.
~~
Lost, found and installed, . . . at last
The history of the four magnificent stained glass windows recently installed in St David's Church, Bushman's River, reads like a comedy of errors, writes Peter Bowen.
Well over a hundred years old, the windows were originally built into the walls of St Michael and All Angels chapel, a family church on the farm Middleton, near Carlisle Bridge. Mrs Hessie Bowker had donated one window in memory of her husband William Monkhouse Bowker, and another in memory of Bourchier Bowker, who had supervised the erection of the church. Early in the 1950s the church began slowly to disintegrate, and the windows were removed and stored over the years in a variety of "places of safety". Well-known Carlisle Bridge farmer, the late Beresford Manning, moved to Bushman's River where he became, at various times, Chapel-warden and Lay Minister. Remembering the lovely windows and, judging the East Window at St David's to be rather plain, he approached the Bowker family who were only too pleased to donate the windows to a "living church". Time had not been kind to the windows and they were taken to a lady in PE who claimed to be an expert restorer of stained glass.
from :- http://www.pechurchnet.co.za/.
~~

Grahamstown Journal 7 February 1876:
DIED at Thorn Kloof, District of Albany, on 3rd February 1876, William Monkhouse BOWKER Esquire JP, in the 73rd year of his age.
Grahamstown Journal 11 February 1876:
In the death of Wm. Mitford [sic] BOWKER mentioned in a recent issue, the colony has lost one of its most enterprising farmers, enthusiastic colonists and valuable citizens. Coming to this Colony at an early age as one of a large family of sons, he and his “band of brothers” soon found that in a new country, occupied by a people with little respect for law, their own right arm was necessary in order to help them along in the difficult path they had to tread. Yet in no case has one of this family been charged with abuse of power or ill-treatment of Native servants, of whom this gentleman to the last employed so many, who now regard his loss as that of a parent. The name of Mr. BOWKER has too often “come to the front” to need that the public be told how he served the country of his adoption. As early as 1828 he formed one of the band of colonists who accompanied Col. SOMERSET (then Captain) on the “Fetcani Commando” which was called out for the punishment of the Pondo Tribes, as they are now called, for aggression on our later most formidable enemy, the Gaikas. Later on he took part in the famous Kno Commando. In 1830 he figured in the Corps of Guides, a body of young colonists formed by the late Sir Harry SMITH, and during the whole of that war he did hard and useful service to the colony. At the close of that war, changing his residence from Albany and his pursuits from agriculture to sheep-farming on the Fish River Randt, he there patiently endured all the loss resulting from the system of plunder carried on by the Kaffirs, which culminated in the disastrous war of 1846. While taking no very conspicuous part in the commando, he with a number of his brothers and neighbouring farmers had to resist some furious onslaughts from large bands of Kafirs determined upon getting possession of the fine herds of cattle of these colonists. Many of these combats, about which little was publicly said, were quite as violent as many engagements fought by general officers, and therefore emblazoned in General Orders. In all these, and subsequent similar larger engagements, his bravery and coolness were conspicuous. Courage was a family trait of the BOWKERs. Weary of this harassing strife, the close of this war found him a very considerably impoverished man, longing only for rest and quiet, that he might devote himself to the improvement of his family growing up around him. But these hopes were not to be realised yet. Rumours of war again were heard, and only two years after the close of the so-called war of 1846, the famous rebellion and general war of 1850 burst upon this unhappy colony. Mr. BOWKER, with PRINGLE, Walter CURRIE, DELPORT, ZIERVOGEL and others appointed Commandants for their various divisions, soon took the field, and after some slight skirmishing, joined in the difficult assault on Fort Armstrong. There again Mr. BOWKER gained credit for bravery and judgement, and, with the other chiefs, was greatly instrumental in the success of the undertaking. During the whole of this protracted war and long absence from his family and flocks, which trekked in any direction promising safety and pasture, he suffered heavy losses. Yet under all these sufferings he never wavered in his conviction that in spite of bad government and ill-treatment, the colonists would yet be victorious, nor ever seriously thought of abandoning the land of his adoption. A more settled and peaceable condition of things prevailing, with prosperity restored, and his family settled around him, he accepted a requisition to fill one of the seats for Albany in the House of Assembly. But a very few sessions convinced him that his tastes and ability lay in other than a legislative direction; nor could he brook the injustice done to the East by the abuse of power held by the West. He therefore resigned his seat and retired into domestic life, where, in pursuit of his quiet peaceable avocation, he spent the remainder of a long and useful life, dispensing hospitality freely to all – black and white alike sharing in the bounty of his hand. His spare hours were often devoted to the production of letters on general matters. These, the outcome of the feeling operating on his mind at the time, sounded like the views of one out of harmony with his fellow man, but in reality were far from being the result of his calm judgement or the feelings of his heart, which was kindness itself. Strongly attached to the English Church, of which he was a member, he yet possessed the large-heartedness which enabled him to associate freely with members, clerical and lay, of all churches, and, by support and sympathy, showed the real interest he felt in all their work. He died at his residence on the 3rd inst, aged 72 years, loved and lamented by all who knew him, as a firm friend, a loving parent, and a good citizen; and, in losing him, the colony has lost one of its most useful men.

from:British South Africa
A History of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope from its Conquest 1795 to the Settlement of Albany by the British Emigration of 1819 [A.D. 1795 - 1825] WITH NOTICES OF SOME OF THE BRITISH SETTLERS OF 1820
BY
COLIN TURING CAMPBELL [Residient at Graham's Town, 1845-1871]:-
William Monkhouse Bowker, J. P., M.L.A., Commandant of Burghers, Eastern District, served in the Fikani Expedition in 1828, was Commandant of the Bathurst Corp of Guides during the war of 1835-36, served in the Kei patrol under Sir Benjamin D'Urban, and through the war of 1846-47. He was the first to raise the Somerset Volunteers in the war of 1851-52, and go to the rescue of families in the Winterberg, and was in command of burghers at the battle of Balfour and taking of Fort Armstrong.


Baptism:
Parish of Almer
BAPTISMS 1731 - 1879
These records have been transcribed from the Bishop's Transcripts.

Settler:
Bowker's Party on the Weymouth

Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC6/9/134 R2591
Name of Deceased: William Monkhouse BOWKER
Place of Birth: England
Parents of Deceased: Miles BOWKER
Anna Maria BOWKER
Age at Death: 73 years
Married
Date of Death: 3rd February 1876
Place of Death: 'Tharkloof', Albany, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Children:
Miles Robert BOWKER
Nellie Johanna CURRIE
Anna Maria CLOETE
Mary Elizabeth MORTON
Wilhelmina CURRIE
Hester Francina BOWKER Minor
Signed by M.R. BOWKER

William married Hester Susannah Oosthuisen on 9 Sep 1836 in United Church of England and Ireland, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Hester was born on 4 Jul 1816 in 'Rietvlei', Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 6 Aug 1911 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Aug 1911 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Hessie lived for 35 years after the death of her husband. She had her own cart and horses and would visit neighbours and even go into Grahamstown about 65 km away. Her mother walked behind the wagon when her husband trekked into Natal. She drove her favourite flock of geese all the way.



Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/673 R2220
Name of Deceased: Hester Susanna OOSTHUIZEN
Place of Birth: Rietvlei, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parents: Father: Pieter OOSTHUIZEN
Mother: Petronella OOSTHUIZEN
Age of Deceased: 95 years 1 month (b July 1816)
Widow
Name of Predeceased Spouse: William Monkhouse BOWKER died 3 February 1876
Date of Death: 6 August 1911
Place of Death: 'Thorn Kloof', Albany
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Miles Robert BOWKER
Nellie Johanna BOWKER married Unknown CURRIE
Anna Maria BOWKER married Unknown CLOETE
Mary Elizabeth BOWKER married Unknown NORTON
Williamina BOWKER married Unknown CURRIE
Hester Francina BOWKER married Unknown CLOETE
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable & Immovable
Signed: M.R. Bowker, Son

Notes:

Bathurst, Cape of Good Hope
41. William Monkhouse Bowker, Bachelor, and Hessey Susannah Oosthuisen, Spinster, both of this District, were married by Banns according to the rites and ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland, at Bathurst on Friday the 9th day of September 1836 by me.

James Barrow, Colonial Chaplain

This marriage was solemnized between us { W. M. Bowker (signed)
{ H. S. Oosthuisen (signed)

in the presence of:
{ T. H. Bowker (signed)
{ B. E. Bowker (signed)

John married Emma Child on 14 Jan 1824 in Old Swinford, Worcester, England. Emma was born about 1798 in Willenhall, Worcestershire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 3003
• Settler: 13 Dec 1819, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

Settler:
William Smith's party on the Northampton

John married Harriet O'Connor, 1820 Settler on 28 Jun 1824 in St. Michael & St George Catholic Church, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Harriet (daughter of O'Connor and Letitia Edgar DeMain, 1820 Settler) was born on 14 Feb 1803. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2998
• Settler: 13 Dec 1819, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

Settler:
William Smith's party on the Northampton

George married Maria Theresa Francesca Cockburn on 8 Sep 1826. Maria was born about 1801 in England; died on 25 May 1863 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]