Print Bookmark
Miles Bourchier Bowker

Miles Bourchier Bowker

Male 1843 - 1896  (53 years)

Generations:      Standard    |    Vertical    |    Compact    |    Box    |    Text    |    Ahnentafel    |    Fan Chart    |    Media    |    PDF

Less detail
Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Miles Bourchier BowkerMiles Bourchier Bowker was born in 1843 in Willow Fountain, Grahamstown district, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 17 Jun 1843 in Wesleyan Chapel, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa (son of John Mitford Bowker and Mary Anne Standen); died on 22 Jun 1896 in Moordenaarspoort, Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • 1820 Lineage: Yes

    Miles married Elizabeth Mary Duthie on 27 Sep 1871 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Elizabeth (daughter of Captain Thomas Henry Duthie and Caroline Rex) was born on 31 Aug 1850 in Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 1 Dec 1923 in Gutu, Southern Rhodesia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Notes:

    Grahamstown Journal 27 September 1871:
    MARRIED at St.George’s Cathedral on the 27th September by the Rev R. Mullins, Miles BOWKER, third surviving son of John Mitford BOWKER Esq, to Elizabeth Mary, fourth daughter of the late Captain DUTHIE (72nd Highlanders) of Belvidere, Knysna.

    Children:
    1. Annie Duthie Bowker was born on 30 Jun 1872 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 5 Apr 1958.
    2. Mary Constance Bowker was born on 30 Apr 1874; was christened on 7 Jun 1874 in Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 15 Mar 1928 in Settler's Hospital, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in New Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    3. Henry Mitford Duthie Bowker was born on 3 Sep 1875 in Signal Kop farm, Grahamstown, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 29 Sep 1875 in Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 5 Jan 1932 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    4. Miles Duthie Bowker was born on 19 Dec 1877 in Signal Kop farm, Fish River, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 12 Mar 1878 in Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 13 Jan 1960 in Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Settlers Methodist Church Cemetery, Port Alfred, Easten Cape, South Africa.
    5. Lieutenant Allan Duthie Bowker was born in Feb 1879 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 24 Mar 1918 in Somme, France; was buried in Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hemonacu, Somme, France.U - Somme.
    6. Elizabeth 'Bessie' Duthie Bowker was born in 1882; died in 1894.
    7. Sybil Duthie Bowker was born on 29 Oct 1883; died on 29 May 1953 in George, Western Cape, South Africa; was buried in Belvedere, Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa.
    8. Kathleen Bliss Bowker was born in 1885 in Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 28 May 1931 in Queens's Hotel, Salisbury, Rhodesia (Now Zimbabwe).
    9. Olive Bowker was born on 9 Nov 1887 in Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 9 Feb 1966 in Molteno, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    10. Susan May Bowker was born on 11 May 1890; was christened on 4 Jun 1890 in Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa; died in 1892.
    11. Helen Maud Bowker was born on 22 Jul 1892; was christened on 7 Aug 1892 in St Bartholomew's Church, Market St, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Generation: 2

  1. 2.  John Mitford BowkerJohn Mitford Bowker was born on 13 Apr 1801 in Mitford Hall, Mitford, Northumberland, England; was christened on 6 May 1801 in Mitford Church, Mitford, Northumberland, England (son of Miles Bowker, 1820 Settler and Anna Maria Mitford, 1820 Settler); died on 11 Apr 1847 in 'Oakwell', Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • 1820 Lineage: Yes
    • Name: John Mitford Bowker
    • Baptism: 4 Oct 1813, Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England
    • Residence: 1816, Manor Farm, South Newton, Wiltshire, England

    Notes:

    John Mitford remained in England while he tied up his dad's affairs and only went out to South Africa 2 years later than the rest of the family, so he was not classified as an 1820 Settler.
    ~~~~~~
    BOWKER, John Mitford, 1820
    Written by .

    National Archives, Kew, CO48/52, 58

    Mr. Miles BOWKER late resident of South Newton near Salisbury in the County of Wilts with his party Embarked on board the Weymouth Store Ship the latter end of December last (1819) for the new settlement at the Cape of Good Hope sanctioned by His Majesty's Government. – John Mitford BOWKER of South Newton aforesaid aged 20 years and son of Miles BOWKER being one of the party is desirous to proceed to his Father at the Cape Settlement without delay and he most respectfully begs that Earl BATHURST His Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonial Department will give the necessary instructions for him to proceed forthwith to the said Colony.

    [Note from clerk on reverse]

    Lord PEMBROKE called here to enquire whether Mr. BOWKER would be provided with a passage to the Cape. The Sir George Osborn was at Deptford on Saturday and the Navy Office say that if the passage is ordered immediately BOWKER can go on board.

    Footnote from GOULBURN

    Mr GOULBURN's complts and there is no longer any prospect of forwarding BOWKER.

    7 March

    The Lower Albany Chronicles state that John had arrived at Oliveburn on 31 December 1822.

    Comment by PaulTT. It has been claimed that younger brother Bertram also stayed behind and only went to SA with John in 1822, yet the letter above has no mention of him. Bertram does feature in the Settler Returns, ie manifest, of the Weymouth as having gone to SA with his parents in 1820.
    ~~~~~

    He took part in the campaign against the M'fecani in 1828 and served as Lieutenant, 1st battalion Provisional Colonial Infantry in the war of 1834-1835, being appointed Resident Agent with the Fingo Settlement near Fort Peddie. He was signatory to the Treaty with the Gaika Chiefs at King William's Town in 1836. In the war of 1846-1847 he was Commandant, Lower Koonap River Burghers and Field-Cornet, Fish River in 1847. .

    He was a member of the 1828 expedition party into Kaffirland, described in Harold Edward Hockly's book, 'The Story of the British Settlers of 1820 in South Africa', on pages 117 and 118. " About the middle of the following year, 1828, news was received that Chaka's Zulus ( or the Fetcani), were again threatening to overrun Kaffirland, and once again the Kaffirs prepared for a wholesale migration into the Colony for protection. A small volunteer force of fifty men under Major Dundas was immediately despatched into Kaffirland to investigate the position, to persuade the Zulus or Fetcani, (whichever the raiders turned out to be), to retire, and if necessary, drive them back. Settlers who were members of this small expedition were J.M., W.M., and B.E. Bowker, James and John Cawood, W.Biddulph, C.Baillie, T.Foxcroft, Thomas Pullen and E.Phillips. Together with a body of friendly kaffirs, they advanced as far as the Bashee River without coming into contact with the enemy. With half a dozen of the settlers just named, Dundas then rode into Pondoland to make further reconnaissances: there they saw the ruin and desolation caused by the invaders (who turned out to be Fetcani, not Zulus), and narrowly escaped coming into conflict with them. After this small scouting party had again rejoined the main body, Dundas's force moved into Temboland, where they again saw the evidence of the terrible havoc wrought by the Fetcani. near the Umtata River, the opposing forces at last met, the Fetcani being defeated after a short but sharp encounter. On the return of the expedition to the Colony after an abscence of seven weeks, Col. Henry Somerset led a large and well equiped force into Kaffirland which overtook the Fetcani at the Kei River, defeated them in a decisive battle, and drove them back." . Distinguished himself in action in the Sixth Kaffir War in 1835, and became a Government Agent with the Fingoes after this war - Fort Peddie 1835. He died during the Seventh War.

    Cape Frontier Times - June 1847:
    THE LATE MR. JOHN MITFORD BOWKER
    21st April 1847
    To the Editor: Sir, I and two or three agriculturalists accidentally met the other day when each seemed more than another to deplore the loss of our valued countryman John Mitford BOWKER Esq.JP. We asked one another why such an eminently bold, fearless and honest advocate of colonial interests did not merit a testimonial of his countrymens’ esteem. At once we agreed that the erection of a Monument to his remains was the smallest tribute we could render to the memory of a true patriot and British subject, whose acts as a colonist must be embalmed while the history of our country exists. We have determined to enter into a Subscription to erect a Monument to record our sense of his moral worth, and we trust that the mere mention of such an intention will be sufficient to call forth general approbation among the Frontier inhabitants.
    A. FARMER

    John Mitford Bowker 13 Apr 1801 - 14 Apr 1847
    '.. farmer and government agent, was the eldest son of Miles Bowker, leader of a party of 1820 Settlers, and his wife, Anna maria Mitford. Bowker did not accompany the family to the Cape but remained in England to settle family affairs and joined his parents only in 1822. He saw active service in the Sixth Frontier War (1834-5) and was specially mentioned for his bravery. He was subsequently appointed government agent to the Fingo people settled in the neighbourhood of Fort Peddie and to other tribes living adjacent to the frontier. In 1839 he was removed from this office because his administrative methods met with official disapproval, and he was moreover an implacable critic of the Stockenström treaty system under which he operated. .. In 1841 he became a sheep farmer at Willow Fountain, Fish River Rand, and being like other frontier farmers subjected to raids by Xhosa tribesmen he championed the cause of the White landowners on the frontier. In a series of speeches he criticised both the philanthropic ideas of the missionaries and the frontier policy of the government, and supported White farmers in their claim for more land and protection against cattle thieving by the Xhosa. His words were bitter and incisive, and in 1844, in a speech dubbed by W. Porter the Attorney General as the 'springbok speech', he drew a comparison between the Xhosa and a mustering of springbok in time of drought. .. When the Seventh Frontier War (War of the Axe, 1846-7) broke out most of the Bowker family went into lager at Thornkloof, the farm of Miles Bowker, but were forced to withdraw. Bowker left his family in safety on his brother Robert Bowker's farm near Somerset East and joined the burgher force mustered under Sir Andries Stockenström. .. His farm was in ruins, and it was while camping in a stable on the farm of his brother Bertram at Oakwell, near Grahamstown, that he caught pneumonia and died there at the age of forty-six. .. An anthology of Bowker's Speeches, letters and selections from important papers was compiled by his widow and in 1864 published in Grahamstown. They give valuable insight into the mind of a White frontier farmer during a turbulent period of frontier history.' (Dictionary of South African biography, Vol. III, pp. 94-5.) [(Pietermaritzburg), KZN, South Africa]


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

    Died:
    MOOC 6/9/42 R8947
    DEATH NOTICE:
    Name of Deceased: John Mitford BOWKER
    Place of Birth: England
    Names of Parents: Miles BOWKER
    Anna Maria BOWKER
    Age of Deceased: 45 years
    Condition in Life: Farmer
    Married:
    Name of Surviving Spouse: Mary Ann STANDEN
    Date of Death: 11 April 1847
    Place of Death: Palmietfontein, Albany, Cape of Good Hope
    Names of Children:
    Duncan Campbell BOWKER
    John Mitford BOWKER
    Thomas BOWKER
    Miles Bouchier BOWKER
    Mary Ann BOWKER
    Signed by W.M. BOWKER, Brother.

    John married Mary Anne Standen on 26 Apr 1837 in Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mary (daughter of Thomas Standen and Mary Ann, - wife of Thomas Standen) was born on 13 Sep 1814 in Hammersmith, London, England; was christened on 9 Oct 1814 in Hammersmith, London, England; died on 25 Dec 1893 in Signal Hill, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Mary Anne StandenMary Anne Standen was born on 13 Sep 1814 in Hammersmith, London, England; was christened on 9 Oct 1814 in Hammersmith, London, England (daughter of Thomas Standen and Mary Ann, - wife of Thomas Standen); died on 25 Dec 1893 in Signal Hill, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Occupation: Riebeeck East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; a Farmer

    Notes:

    After John Mitford Bowker's death at Oakwell his wife Mary Anne BOWKER bought the farm 'Mitford Park' near Riebeck East in August 1850. Later the Cape government granted Mary Anne the farm 'Signal Kop' and 'Signal Hill' on the Fish River in recognitgion of her late husband's Services.

    Birth:
    Piece 0375: Hammersmith, George Yard, Broadway (Independent, formerly Presbyterian), 1812-1837

    Piece 0375: Hammersmith, George Yard, Broadway (Independent, formerly Presbyterian), 1812-1837

    Died:
    DEATH NOTICE:
    MOOC 6/9/330 R1493
    Name of Deceased: Mary Ann STANDEN
    Place of Birth: Hammersmith, London
    Names of Parents: Thomas STANDEN & Mary Ann STANDEN
    Age of Deceased: 79 years
    Widow
    Predeceased Spouse: John Mitford BOWKER Died May 1847
    Date of Death: 25 December 1893
    Place of Death: Signal Hill, Albany
    Names of Children:
    Duncan Campbell BOWKER
    John Mitford BOWKER
    Miles BOWKER
    Mary Ann BOWKER married BOWKER
    Signed D.C. BOWKER, Son.

    Notes:

    Grahamstown Journal, April 1837:
    Married on Wednesday 26th inst by the Rev.John HEAVYSIDE, John Mitford BOUKER Esq of Fort Peddie to Mary Anne, eldest daughter of Mr.STANDEN, Graham's Town.

    Married:
    Description: Rev John Heavyside

    Children:
    1. Duncan Campbell Bowker was born on 22 Mar 1838 in Fort Peddie, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 7 Jun 1838 in Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 24 Jul 1934 in Doornberg, Middleburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    2. John Mitford Bowker was born on 7 Jun 1839 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 7 Jul 1839 in Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 29 Jan 1924 in Cossack Post, Rosmead, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    3. Thomas Standen Bowker was born on 27 Mar 1841; was christened on 17 Apr 1841 in Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried on 1 Dec 1869 in Mitford Park, near Riebeck.
    4. 1. Miles Bourchier Bowker was born in 1843 in Willow Fountain, Grahamstown district, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 17 Jun 1843 in Wesleyan Chapel, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 22 Jun 1896 in Moordenaarspoort, Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    5. Bourchier Bowker was born about Feb 1845 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 24 May 1891 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Old Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    6. Mary Ann Bowker was born on 27 Mar 1847 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 12 Dec 1909.


Generation: 3

  1. 4.  Miles Bowker, 1820 SettlerMiles Bowker, 1820 Settler was born in 1758 in Deckham Hall, Gateshead, Durham, England; was christened on 19 Sep 1758 in All Saint's, Newcastle on Tyne, Northumberland, England (son of Thomas Bowker and Dorothy Falconer Monkhouse); died on 25 Mar 1839 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried on 27 Mar 1839 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • 1820 Lineage: Yes
    • Settler ID: 105
    • Occupation: a Gentleman Farmer
    • Residence: 1800, Deckham Hall, Gateshead, Durham, England
    • Residence: 1801, Mitford Manor, Mitford, Northumberland, England
    • Residence: 1809, Deckham Hall, Gateshead, Durham, England
    • Residence: 3 May 1811, Charborough Park, West Almer, Dorsetshire, England
    • Residence: 1817, Manor Farm, South Newton, Wiltshire, England
    • Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England; : 61y
    • Residence: 25 Jun 1820, Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa
    • Residence: 1833, Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    Notes:

    Miles Bowker was born at Deckham Hall in Gateshead.
    Extracted from 'The Bowkers of Tharfield' Pages 4 & 5.
    'Deckham Hall was demolished in 1934 to make room for modern residences. In the July of that year Raymond Mitford-Barberton. and his family were motoring through Gateshead on the way to Scotland. Half-way through the town he asked a policeman whether he had ever heard of Deckham Hall. 'Oh yes,' he replied, 'Turn back and take the first street to your left. It is on the bare top of the hill beyond the last houses. The property now belongs to Lord X and the Hall is being demolished". {see the picture of the map}

    Finding Deckhams was as easy as that. The hall had been built on the summit of the hill with an all round view; Gateshead to the South, smoky Newcastle beyond the Tyne to the north and eastward the great river with its hundreds of ships - colliers carry coal to all the world. Little remained of this once fair mansion of the BOWKERS. All the walls had been taken down a few days before we got there but we got a fair idea of the extent and shape of the building from its massive stone foundations. Like many houses of that period it was not very large on the ground floor, but it probably stood several stories high. The main reception hall was distinguishable by its large fireplace."

    8.3.1800 Married in Morpeth, Northumberland. He farmed sheep in the Cheviot hills
    Moved to Dorset in 1810-1811.
    3rd May 1811 he paid £32-0-0 in land tax for property owned by Richard Earl Drax Grosvenor, the owner of Charborough Park, Dorset where he farmed Merino sheep for 6 years. Children baptised in Almer Church. He was paying a land tax in 1811 of £9-9s for a freehold owned by William Trenchard in Lytchett Matravers, the village bordering on to Charborough Park.
    By 1816 this tax had gone up to £11-9s-8d. In 1816 he was also paying 19 shillings for land occupied on Charbourough Park owned by Richard Drax Grosvenor. He also rented land in the Morden parish - see Morden Parish website
    1817 Moved to Manor Farm, South Newton, Wiltshire, which was owned by the Earl of Pembroke of Wilton House.
    Dec 1819 Portsmouth to sail on Weymouth.

    Miles Bowker was head of the Bowker party that left Portsmouth, England, aboard the Weymouth sailing on the 7th January 1820. The Weymouth arrived in Cape Town on 26th April 1820, and then sailed to Port Elizabeth, arriving there after 15th May 1820. Sometime during May or June, the Bowker party left Algoa Bay. Their route crossed over the Koega and Zwartkops rivers near the coast, and then inland over Grass Ridge to the Addo Drift, across the Sundays River about 20 miles from it's mouth, and then over the Addo Heights. From this point the route took a south-easterly direction, more or less parallel to the coast, passing Congo's Kraal and Graafwater, to Jager's Drift on the Bushmans River. After passing the mission station at Theopolis, they forded the Kowie river at it's mouth at low tide, by utilising two exposed sandbanks. This trip took about 8 days to complete, and was led by Petrus Oosthuizen, who became a great friend of Miles Bowker. Two of Miles's sons married Petrus' daughters. . The Bowker party of 23 consisted of: Miles, wife Ann Maria, sons William Monkhouse B., Miles Brabbin, Thomas Holden, Robert Mitford, Septimus, Octavius, and daughters Mary Elizabeth and Anna Maria; Henry Adams, G Austen, Charles Besant, G.Flooks, John Hayter, William Ingram, Richard Limes, John Stanford and his wife Maria, son John and daughters Letitia, Jane and Sophia. The eldest Bowker son, John Mitford, joined the family in 1922 after tying up the family affairs in South Newton, Wiltshire, and the last son, James Henry, was born at Tharfield. . The Bowker family were allocated the land known as Tharfield, on the KleinMonden River, north of Port Kowie (Port Alfred). . Miles, together with Major Pigot and J. Dyason tried to develop Port Kowie as a harbour in 1821. He was appointed as a Heemraad (judicial assessor) to assist the deputy magistrate, Major Jones, at Grahamstown in 1821, but Lord Somerset dismissed Major Jones and the heemraad in 1822. . Interested in botany, he was sending indigenous bulbs from the Lower Albany area to the Government Secretary as early as 1826. He was also a pioneer in establishing the wool industry in the Eastern Cape Province, in 1826, with merino sheep.

    Miles Bowker, a Wiltshire farmer, led a party on the Weymouth. They settled on the right bank of the George River and called it Olive Burn. He came out with his wife and 8 children and one was born while lying at anchor in Table Bay.

    Lower Albany Chronicle:
    15 April 1822: Cape seed-wheat had been issued to party and division leaders as follows: to Edward FORD for 8 men, to Miles BOWKER for 6, James RICHARDSON 8, George SMITH 20, COCK's party 30, Christopher THORNHHILL 8, Thomas WAKEFORD 5, Timothy FLANEGAN 8, Thomas ADAMS 6, George ANDERSON 3, Lieut. John BAILIE 8, Thomas PHILIPPS 9, Benjamin OSLER 6, William GRIFFITHS 5, George WATSON 6.

    23 May 1835: Miles BOWKER junior helped to repel another raid from across the Lynedoch River on the cattle at Tharfield. One of the enemy was killed. Miles BOWKER gave warning to George SMITH and to Thomas WILLIAMS. The latter left to report to Bathurst Post and George SMITH with his family took refuge at Tharfield, which was in more open country than Smith's Bush.

    29 May 1835: Miles BOWKER and George SMITH were compelled to retire on Bathurst Post with their families.

    ~~~~~~~~~~
    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]

    Bowker, Miles, head of a party from Wiltshire, who came in the Weymouth. He was of gentle birth, a scholar, and a good botanist. His first residence was at Oliveburn, near the coast, and subsequently at Tharfield, on the Lynedoch or Kleinemond River. He was appointed, with Captain Duncan Campbell, Heemeraad of Albany for many years, but resigned office, preferring the cultivation of his farms to politics. He died early in the year 1839, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and was buried at Tharfield. He brought with him from England eight sons and two daughters. His youngest son was born at Oliveburn, making nine sons in all. Their names are well known in the Frontier districts and Colony. They all followed in their father's footsteps as farmers and agriculturists, and all took an active share in the numerous Kafir engagements, giving their services for the benefit of their country.

    ~~~~~~~~~~

    The Early Bowker Settlers - from the East Cape Branch of GSSA Chronicles, issue 94, November 2010
    Miles Bowker, who came out on the “Weymouth”, was not a typical Settler. He was not a young man (52) and not poor, or as so many immigrants were, lacking in farming experience. His family numbered eleven at the time of sailing: himself his young wife Anna (38), eight sons and one daughter. His eldest son, John Mitford, remained in England to wind up the family affairs, the second daughter, Anna Maria, was born onboard the Weymouth on the day that the ship arrived in Cape Town, 26th April, and the youngest son was born two years after their arrival.

    Miles Bowker had been a gentleman farmer and breeder of Merino sheep on Manor Farm, South Newton (near Wilton) Wiltshire and it was his intention to do this in South Africa but on a larger scale. His application was recommended by his landlord, Lord Pembroke who made a personal visit to the Colonial department and also by William Boscawen, a cousin of Lord Falmouth. The Journey from South Newton to Portsmouth where the party was to embark was made with a borrowed travelling carriage and several farm wagons loaded with household furniture and agricultural implements. The Settlers were not able to board HM store Ship Weymouth immediately as her fitting was not yet completed so as a temporary measure they were accommodated on a hulk in Portsmouth harbour that was used as a ship’s tender.

    The route to their location was over the Zwartkops and Coega Rivers, and then over the Addo Heights. From there in a South-easterley direction, more or less parallel to the coast, passing Congo’s Kraal and Graafwater, to Jager’s Drift on to the Bushmans River. After passing the mission station at Theopolis, the forded the Kowie River at its mouth at low tide, by utilising two exposed sandbanks. The trip took about 8 days to complete and was led by Petrus Oosthuisen, who became a great friend of Miles Bowker. Two of Miles’ sons married Petrus’ daughters.

    He had been given a tract of land on the right bank of the George River and its location was named Oliveburn. However, it became known as Tharfield, on the Kleinemond River, north of Port Alfred. It was larger than he had requested. However, it was not long before he realised that this was inadequate as it soon became apparent that the Suurveld and Merino did not go together. Over the years wheat was tried but it was a dismal failure owing to rust. Cotton farming came to nothing.

    The original “Deed of Grant” still exists, dated 15th February, 1822, and bearing the signature of the Governor, Lord Charles Somerset and that of the Government Surveyor Johan Knobel. The land is described as “a piece of One Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy morgen of land situated in the Albany District.” There follows a description of the boundaries. Conditions are set out : ”That land shall be cultivated by free labourers only, and that any employment of slaves upon it shall render the same to forfeiture. Likewise of his punctually paying, or causing to be paid, at the expiration of every twelfth month, from the date of these present, unto the Receiver General of the land Revenue, the sum of Ten Rixdollars.” A further 844 morgen was granted on the 8th September, 1843.

    The story of the Bowker Settlers is typical of the story of the 1820 British settlers as a whole, and all present descendants of Settlers could, with accuracy, apply the same or similar happenings to their own ancestors. The only difference was that few other families had so many sons – there were nine of them in the original Bowker family - and each one of them made a name for himself in South Africa. No wonder Sir George Cory in his “Rise of South Africa” said; “Of all the valuable acquisitions which accrued to the Colony from the Settler’s movement, the Bowker family stands out pre-eminently…
    “It is not possible in this place to give even a list of the acts of bravery, political distinctions and losses and sufferings – the usual reward of self-sacrificing devotion to the welfare of the Eastern Colony – which are associated with the names of the sons of Miles Bowker. Suffice it to say that they fought for their country in all the Frontier wars, not merely as the rank and file but as leaders and commandants of the burgers. We find Bowkers as diplomatic agents with the Frontier tribes, in the house of Assembly, in the Legislative Council, as Resident Magistrates, in short in all situations of delicacy and responsibility. Their sterling worth and the value of their services were, for the most part, appreciated and recognised by a grateful country – after they were dead”

    John Mitford took part in the campaign against the M’fecane in 1828 and served as a lieutenant, 1st battalion Provisional Colonial Infantry in the war of 1834-1835, being appointed Resident Agent with the Fingo Settlement near Fort Peddie. In the war of 1846-1847 he was Commandant Lower Koonap River Burghers and Field- Cornet Fish River in 1847. He died during this war.

    Thomas Holden was also a member of the 1828 campaign against the M’fecane and served as Lieutenant, Provisional Colonial Infantry in the 1834-1835 war and Captain, Grahamstown Native Levy in the 1846-1847 war and as Commandant of Burghers in that of 1850-1853. He was Resident Magistrate Kat River Settlement in 1848 and a Member of the House of Assembly from 1854 to 1863. He founded the town of Queenstown where there is a Bowker Park and Bowker’s Kop.

    Bertram Egerton also took part in the campaign against the M’fecane in 1828 and served as the Corps of Guides in the war of 1834-1835. In the war of 1846-1847 he was commandant, Mill River Station and was in charge of the laager at Oakwell in the war of 1850-1853. He was commandant of the Rovers in the war of 1877 at the age of 69. In 1879 he was a Member of the legislative council for the Eastern Province.

    Mary Elizabeth married Frederick William Barber and gave rise to the Mitford-Barberton name. Mary merits more than passing notice. She was remarkable for her vast and accurate knowledge of the plant and insect life of South Africa. Charles Darwin owed much to her for the information she gave him in these matters in connection with the famous “Origin of Species”. Her numerous, beautiful and accurate watercolour paintings of insects and flowers now adorn the walls of one of the rooms of the Albany Museum in Grahamstown. Only 14 of the 71 paintings survived the fire in 1941.

    James Henry never married. He was Commandant of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police and later became the High Commissioner of Basutoland. He reached the rank of Colonel, during the Seventh and Eighth Frontier Wars. For a period he was Chief Commissioner on the diamond fields of Griqualand West. Co-authored, with Roland Trimen, of “South African Butterflies”, which is still one of the standard works on the subject.

    Of Miles Bowker’s home at Tharfield, John Bond in his book “They were South Africans” quotes John Mitford Bowker saying “It is now eleven years by since my father and mother and their nine sons lived under one roof in this neighbourhood. Our hearts were as one, our exertions united, and our home so happy that, though it was high time, yet none of us had married and branched off”.
    It must have been very soon after this that the tragic Frontier War of 1834 – 1835 struck this prosperous home and every other home in the Eastern Province. Without warning the tribesmen in their thousands invaded these districts from the Winterberg to the sea.
    When the Bowkers received their first intimation of the coming of the onslaught the tribesmen had already crossed the Fish River, nine miles away. The brothers were already shearing their sheep when an official order summoned everyone to Grahamstown. The Bowkers proceeded to collect their livestock and hunt for their oxen in the bush. That same night young Fletcher from a neighbouring farm galloped to the door of Tharfield house saying: “I have it first hand from an old fellow whose life I saved that the tribesmen intend to murder us all tonight” (Some white farmers were murdered that night, and at least twenty more within a week).
    The Bowkers hastily inspanned their wagon and piled onto it essential foodstuffs, cooking utensils and lead & moulds for making bullets.
    The women made a pile of the valuable family silver and crockery on the dining-room table, with some money and heirlooms.{the women were all at Oliveburn at this timeand not at Tharfield} Four of the brothers staggered down the road with this heavy load tied up in a table-cloth and buried it in an ant-bear hole about twenty metres off the road and about four hundred metres away, their tracks were obliterated by a storm which broke at that moment. The treasure was never recovered.
    On Christmas night of 1834 the assembled farmers and others successfully defended the Church at Bathurst (with the women and children inside) whilst thousands of yelling tribesmen launched one attack after another. Later they accomplished a successful evacuation to Grahamstown through the unsuspecting tribesmen’s lines. All of the Settlers’ livestock and possessions were stolen by the enemy: 456 farmhouses were burnt or pillaged; 5600 horses and 150,000 cattle were driven away. The Burgers were called out, and with them the Bowker Brothers fought until the end, under the command of Colonel Sir Harry Smith. Besides the agricultural difficulties, the Settlers also had to contend with the continual Frontier unrest. In the 1846 War of the Axe their home did not suffer much damage. W Currie writing to John Mitford Barber on 13th July, 1846 said, ”The Bathurst Burgers are trying to make the most of the times. Tharfield was all-right, not a single tribesman had been into the house”.

    From: The Settler Handbook by MD Nash; Lower Albany Historical Society’s “Long Ago” 1967; “Looking Back” September, 1980; and other sources.
    ~~~~~~~~~~

    National Archives, Kew CO48/67 transcribed by Sue Mackay.

    June 9th 1824

    My Lord,

    I do myself the honor of enclosing a copy of a letter I a few days ago received from Mr. Mile BOWKER from the new settlement to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope.

    Amidst the afflicting intelligence communicated to the public through the medium of the public papers of the distress experienced by the settlers in that part of the world, the account from Mr. BOWKER may in my poor opinion be interesting even to your Lordship as coming from a practical, well informed, respectable & industrious individual: at all events it cannot be wrong to communicate its contents to your Lordship, who will pardon the liberty and appreciate the intention.

    I have the honor to be with the highest respect & consideration

    Your Lordship's most humble serv't

    R. STANDISH HALEY

    [enclosed letter, addressed to Lieut. Richard STANDISH HALEY RN, Poole, Dorsetshire]

    Olive Town

    near the mouth of the Cowie

    Albany

    Feb'y 24th 1824

    My Dear Sir,

    You will long ago have heard of the difficulties the settlers have undergone since their arrival here by losing three, and nearly a fourth harvest, but Government having kindly helped them with [ugly rice?] during a good part of that time and rations for the two first years keeping great part of the deposit to pay for them has greatly mitigated these evils and things are now [wearing?] a better aspect, as we have found a species of wheat, coarse indeed and rush straw, that in a great measure withstands the rust, our great enemy in agriculture, & being convinced that growing corn is not to be our staple pursuit, we attend now to Horticulture & planting rather than agriculture, still depending upon herds & flocks as our best pursuits; this last has been much checked by our treacherous and near neighbors the Caffres who are only a few miles from us and have been constantly stealing for these last few years both from the Dutch and English to a very great extent, but Major SOMERSET having lately taken the worst of them by surprise and ?? them severely we hope they will be quiet in future or more severe measures must be resorted to and they must be driven to a distance as it is only to order it and it may be instantly accomplished, as tho' [a stout case?] of people, yet having nothing to cope with fire arms, they are soon discomfitted or destroyed. For my own part tho' [many?] of the men that I took out with me as servants did me no good in fulfilling my agreement with Lord BATHURST in securing me one thousand acres of location, yet thro' the help of my sons & their most excellent mother we have been able to get forward [obscured] better than any other settlers, tho' several of them came out without means which was far from our case& we have now only to regret the distance we are at from our dear friends & relatives as in all other respects our prospects far exceed any thing we could hope for in England. Upon finding our location unequal to means Government have kindly given us another place, making it near 5,000 acres with one and a half miles of sea coast. One of the finest spots in this country, lying four miles from the mouth of the Great Fish River and five from the mouth of the Cowie, now become our sea port, whilst many or nearly all are complaining tho' not for want of land for Government has in that respect been sufficiently liberal to such as could do it justice, we are getting on almost as well as we could wish. Our fruit trees, though only three years from the stone or cutting, are many of them bearing fruit – we have planted above 15,000 vines, many of which are now bearing, and we have twenty different sorts of fruit trees & most of them will be fruitful to all appearance in another year, and we are preparing again for a similar plantation; our prospects of improvement will be also much in feeding as in cattle, sheep & pork we can have an excellent market for it [salted?] at the Cowie, where our cheese, which we make very good, as well as fat & hides, have a good market. Cloathing is still very dear tho' that is not likely long to be the case as the exchange has greatly fallen and our goods will be in future without land carriage. Land is now very much occupied in Albany tho' larger than Yorkshire yet good places may be bought for from £150 to £200 for 1,000 acres but it is increasing in value as many people are now satisfied with the means of living here, the climate being for health and comfort almost without its parallel & its production of the most valuable sorts may be made profitable such as tobacco, coffee, cotton and drugs of very many sorts, oils &c &c. It is a family's own fault rich or poor if they do not thrive, the Dutch here are all rich and they have not the industry of the English tho' they are careful and provident; many of them have here from 1,000 to 10,000 sheep and five or six hundred head of cattle. More – our population of all colours and many nations, Heathens, Mohamatons and every sort and denomination of Christians – this multitude is ill amalgamated and we have many tricks & thievings amongst them. We had no less than 64 cases or trials come before the Court of Session which is held monthly, of which I am now the Senior Heemraad Magistrate, tho' Landdrost Mr. RIVERS being our Chairman & proper the Court consists of six other Heemraad of a which my friends Major PIGOT & Capt. CAMPBELL were some time ago Members but are now out there being party's here as well as in England, but we [steer?] in the mean. We have many half pay officers both of the army and of the navy and they do well as they endeavour. I have written you much of this long detail for your own information & of Mr. PITT your neighboring Magistrate of Organ House and any other you may please to communicate it to.

    I am to have a school on my place to which Government give to a master 200 dollars pr annum & chapels and schools are now everywhere erecting [obscured] by the Frome, Warminster and Somerset parties who have given me great trouble to keep in peace but they are mostly thriving on about 230 acres for each family and they will get more land as they deserve it or can do it justice. We have plenty of fish and game & almost every description of wild beast from the elephant & hippopotamus to the mouse on my premises. My boys have become very dextrous in killing all sorts of monsters who neglected to keep their distance & tho' often heard thro' the night are seldom seen. Our worst enemy is the large wolf dog which hunts in packs and will fell down an ox before our eyes in the day time. In other respects we are in a land of myrtle and evergreens – a land of milk & honey which is found wild in the trees and taken without killing the bees with little trouble. We have in very little been disappointed in this country as excepting the antiseptic disposition of every new soil to foreign vegetation & the rust before our arrival little known, we found it equal to the general description given, and if the rust had not been so destructive I believe in point of [obscured] this would have been for its time the first settlement put in action & I still think it will soon [answer?] all its misfortunes and satisfy all my Lord BATHURST's very best hopes.

    We expect to see the Arethusa at our port soon – she is trading on this coast. We expect most of the coasters will soon be here for goods for the merchants or stores for the frontier army.

    Most faithfully & affectionately yours

    Miles BOWKER

    [signed]
    ~~~~~~~~~


    Settler:
    Bowker's Party on the Weymouth

    Died:
    Grahamstown Journal: Thursday 28 March 1839

    DIED at 3 o'clock am on Monday the 25th inst after one hours illness, Miles BOWKER Esq of Tharfield, Albany in his Eighty-first year.
    ~~~~~~

    Miles married Anna Maria Mitford, 1820 Settler on 8 Mar 1800 in Morpeth, Northumberland, England. Anna (daughter of Capt. John Mitford and Dorothy Young) was born in 1782 in Mitford Manor, Mitford, Northumberland, England; died on 8 Jul 1868 in 'Kruisfontein', Alexandria, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in 1868 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 5.  Anna Maria Mitford, 1820 SettlerAnna Maria Mitford, 1820 Settler was born in 1782 in Mitford Manor, Mitford, Northumberland, England (daughter of Capt. John Mitford and Dorothy Young); died on 8 Jul 1868 in 'Kruisfontein', Alexandria, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in 1868 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • 1820 Lineage: Yes
    • Settler ID: 570
    • Residence: 1816, Manor Farm, South Newton, Wiltshire, England
    • Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England; : 37y
    • Residence: 25 Jun 1820, Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    Notes:

    Anna Maria was born at Mitford Manor in the village of Mitford, Northumberland in 1782.

    The Manor House previously stood, adjacent to the old church of St Mary Magdalene, on the eastern side of the River Wansbeck. The substantial ruins now standing on the site represent the remains of a 16th-century house and of a porch tower built in about 1637.

    The original house was substantially demolished and rebuilt in about 1810, then abandoned by the Mitfords when they built a new mansion house, Mitford Hall, and park on the opposite bank of the river in 1828. In the 20th century, a modern house was created out of the kitchen wing. The current Mitford Hall, owned and occupied by Shepherd Offshore.

    Anna would not have known the 'new' Mitford Hall, as she was already in Olive Burn in South Africa.

    from www.shepherdoffshore.com:
    "The land around Mitford was originally owned prior to the Norman Conquest by Sir John of Mitford whose name was derived from the site’s location between two fords over the rivers Font and Wansbeck.
    After 1066 Sir John’s daughter, Sybilla, was married to Richard Bertram, son of the Seigneur of Dignain in Normandy. King William endowed Bertram with considerable land holdings and as a result a number of churches, including Brinkburn Priory and Newminster Abbey, were built by the family together with Mitford Church, which dates from 1135.
    Mitford Castle itself was known to have existed by 1138 and this was constructed on the site of an Anglo Saxon fort. The Castle has the only 5 sided keep in England but was subsequently laid waste by King John’s Flemish troops in 1215 and by 1327 was in ruins.
    The Bertram and Mitford families merged together but lived in times of continuing troubles pray not only to the marauding Scots but also the whims of the Kings of England the family’s landed estates were subject to attack and confiscation.
    It was not until after the restoration of Charles II that the majority of the lands, which previously had belonged to the family, were returned to Robert Mitford, an enthusiastic royalist. This completed the task of his ancestors over the preceding three centuries in consolidating the family’s properties.
    A more settled period in the family history ensued and Bertram Mitford succeeded to the Hunmanby and Osbaldeston estates in Yorkshire in 1835. Subsequently taking the name of Osbaldeston in addition to and before the Mitford name, Bertram was responsible for pulling down the Manor House, leaving the Pele Tower intact and constructing the present Hall in 1828.
    The family line at Mitford continued up until 1990’s although other members of the family established themselves elsewhere and these include the Exbury branch, headed by Lord Redesdale, from where the famous Mitford sisters hailed.
    The Shepherd family purchased the Estate from the Mitford family in 1993 and a large scale programme of restoration and modernisation has been in progress throughout the Estate ever since."

    see : http://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/south-african-inherits-an-english-village.htm

    Grahamstown Journal 8 July 1868:
    DIED at Kruis Vontein, on the 8th July 1868, Anna Maria BOWKER Sen, relict of the late Miles BOWKER, of Tharfield, aged 87. Friends at a distance will please accept this notice.

    Settler:
    Bowker's Party on the Weymouth

    Children:
    1. 2. John Mitford Bowker was born on 13 Apr 1801 in Mitford Hall, Mitford, Northumberland, England; was christened on 6 May 1801 in Mitford Church, Mitford, Northumberland, England; died on 11 Apr 1847 in 'Oakwell', Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    2. William Monkhouse Bowker, 1820 Settler was born on 10 Mar 1803 in Mitford Hall, Mitford, Northumberland, England; was christened on 18 Apr 1807 in Mitford Church, Mitford, Northumberland, England; died on 3 Feb 1876 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    3. Miles Brabbin Bowker, 1820 Settler was born on 27 Jan 1805 in Mitford, Northumberland, England; was christened on 15 Jan 1807 in Mitford Church, Mitford, Northumberland, England; died on 28 Jul 1864 in Thorn Kloof farm, Fish River, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    4. Thomas Holden Bowker, 1820 Settler was born on 24 Feb 1807 in Mitford Hall, Mitford, Northumberland, England; was christened on 10 Mar 1807 in Mitford Church, Mitford, Northumberland, England; died on 26 Oct 1885 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    5. Bertram Egerton Bowker, 1820 Settler was born on 24 Nov 1808 in Morpeth, Northumberland, England; was christened on 7 Jan 1809 in Mitford, Northumberland, England; died on 28 Dec 1904 in Santa Clara, Parktown, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was buried in Rand Pioneer Memorial, Wemmer Pan, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
    6. Robert Mitford Bowker, 1820 Settler was born on 30 Aug 1810 in Deckham Hall, Gateshead, Durham, England; was christened on 4 Oct 1813 in Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England; died on 24 Aug 1892 in Glen Avon farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    7. Septimus Bourchier Bowker, 1820 Settler was born on 10 Aug 1812 in Almer, Dorset, England; was christened on 4 Oct 1813 in Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England; died on 2 Aug 1895 in Alstonfields farm, Bedford district, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Alstonfields farm, Bedford district, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    8. Octavius Bourchier Bowker, 1820 Settler was born on 27 May 1815 in Almer, Dorset, England; was christened on 27 May 1815 in Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England; died on 21 Jul 1899 in Champagne farm, Zastron district, Free State, South Africa.
    9. Mary Elizabeth Bowker, 1820 Settler was born on 5 Jan 1818 in Manor Farm, South Newton, Wiltshire, England; was christened on 22 Feb 1818 in St Andrew's Parish Church, South Newton, Wiltshire, England; died on 4 Sep 1899 in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; was buried in Commercial Road Cemetery, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
    10. Anna Maria Bowker, 1820 Settler was born on 26 Apr 1820 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; was christened on 20 Apr 1823 in Albany District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 24 Apr 1895 in Albany Road, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Grahamstown Cemetery (Old), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    11. Colonel James Henry Bowker was born on 23 Aug 1825 in Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 17 Dec 1825 in Albany District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 29 Oct 1900 in Escombe, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; was buried in Escombe, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

  3. 6.  Thomas Standen was born est 1790.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Residence: 1837, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    Thomas + Mary Ann, - wife of Thomas Standen. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 7.  Mary Ann, - wife of Thomas Standen
    Children:
    1. Samuel Standen was born on 13 May 1813 in Hammersmith, London, England; was christened on 13 Jun 1813 in Hammersmith, London, England.
    2. 3. Mary Anne Standen was born on 13 Sep 1814 in Hammersmith, London, England; was christened on 9 Oct 1814 in Hammersmith, London, England; died on 25 Dec 1893 in Signal Hill, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    3. David Standen was born on 16 Sep 1816 in Hammersmith, London, England; was christened on 10 Nov 1816 in Hammersmith, London, England.
    4. Euphrosyne Standen was born on 10 Apr 1821 in Hammersmith, London, England; was christened on 27 May 1821 in Hammersmith, London, England.


Generation: 4

  1. 8.  Thomas Bowker was born in 1727 in Deckham Hall, Gateshead, Durham, England (son of Joseph Bowker and Elizabeth Brabbin); died on 3 Sep 1798 in Morpeth Parish, Northumberland, England; was buried on 5 Sep 1798 in Morpeth Parish, Northumberland, England.

    Notes:

    Advertisement in the 'Newcastle Courant' May 27th 1809:
    "DECKHAM'S HALL. To be sold by private contract, called Deckham's Hall, otherwise Mitford House...."

    William James purchased 'Deckham's Hall' (otherwise Mitford House) in May 1817 for the sum of £7,100.
    A.R.P.
    Hall, Gardens & Orchard1" - 8" formerly in the occupation of J. Collins viewer (afterwards of Thomas Bowker & late of Wooler.)
    Close adjoining 8. 3. 9
    4 nooked close 18. 0.27
    & 2 pieces of Gard held of Dean & Chapter of Durham on Lease, but afterwards made Freehold by said G. Wooler.
    Dwelling house adjoining....formerly William Row Millright (afterwards Bowker)




    from Ancestry.com. England, Select Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gss=angs-c&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Thomas&gsfn_x=NN_NIC&gsln=Bowker&gsln_x=NN&msbdy=1727&mssng0=Dorothy&mssns0=Monkhouse&_83004003-n_xcl=f&cpxt=1&cp=11&MSAV=1&uidh=6i6&pcat=34&h=7675670&db=FS1EnglandDeathsandBurials&indiv=1&ml_rpos=41
    there is a possible death in the Morpeth parish:
    Name: Thos. Bowker
    Gender: Male
    Age: 72
    Birth Date: 1726
    Death Date: 3 Sep 1798
    Burial Date: 5 Sep 1798
    Burial Place: Morpeth Parish, Northumberland, England
    Father: Joseph Bowker
    FHL Film Number: 1469099
    Reference ID: P. 7 No. 60

    Family Trees on Ancestry also have his AND Dorothy's death as 11 Sep 1810 in Walton, near Morpeth. {Whalton}

    Thomas married Dorothy Falconer Monkhouse on 16 Jul 1754 in Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland, England. Dorothy was born in 1725 in Bloan, Westmorland, England; died on 12 Sep 1810 in Walton, Near Morpeth, Northumberland, England; was buried on 15 Sep 1810 in Morpeth Parish, Northumberland, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 9.  Dorothy Falconer Monkhouse was born in 1725 in Bloan, Westmorland, England; died on 12 Sep 1810 in Walton, Near Morpeth, Northumberland, England; was buried on 15 Sep 1810 in Morpeth Parish, Northumberland, England.

    Notes:

    Closest birth found:

    Dorothy Monkhouse
    England Births and Christenings
    Name: Dorothy Monkhouse
    Gender: Female
    Christening Date: 28 Sep 1729
    Christening Place: HESKET-IN-THE-FOREST,CUMBERLAND,ENGLAND
    Father's Name: John Monkhouse
    Mother's Name: Margt.
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C05870-2 , System Origin: England-ODM , GS Film number: 90628

    Died:
    Name: Dorothy Galconer Bowker
    Residence Place: Whalton
    Gender: Female
    Burial Date: 15 Sep 1810
    Burial Place: Morpeth Parish, Northumberland, England
    Death Date: 12 Sep 1810
    Age: 85
    Birth Date: 1725
    Marital Status: Widowed
    Spouse's Name: Thos. Bowker
    Reference ID: P. 112 , Indexing Project (Batch) Number: B03451-2 , System Origin: England-EASy , GS Film number: 1469099

    Notes:

    Married:
    Name: Thomas Bowker
    Spouse's Name: Dorothy Monkhouse
    Event Date: 16 Jul 1754
    Event Place: Kirkby Stephen,Westmorland,England
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M06707-1 , System Origin: England-ODM , GS Film number: 0097389-391, 97392 ,
    Witnesses were Wm Monkhouse and Edward Cowperthwaite

    Name: Thomas Bowker
    Spouse's Name: Dorothy Monkhouse
    Event Date: 16 Jul 1754
    Event Place: Kirkby Stephen,Westmorland,England
    Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M06707-1 , System Origin: England-ODM , GS Film number: 0097389-391, 97392 ,

    Children:
    1. Elizabeth Bowker was born in 1755 in Newcastle-On-Tyne, Northumberland, England; was christened on 8 May 1755 in Newcastle-On-Tyne, Northumberland, England.
    2. Dorothy Bowker was born in 1756 in Newcastle-On-Tyne, Northumberland, England; was christened on 29 Jun 1756 in Newcastle-On-Tyne, Northumberland, England; died in 1847.
    3. 4. Miles Bowker, 1820 Settler was born in 1758 in Deckham Hall, Gateshead, Durham, England; was christened on 19 Sep 1758 in All Saint's, Newcastle on Tyne, Northumberland, England; died on 25 Mar 1839 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried on 27 Mar 1839 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    4. Benjamin Bowker was born about 1760 in Newcastle-On-Tyne, Northumberland, England; was christened on 17 Mar 1760 in Newcastle-On-Tyne, Northumberland, England.
    5. Catherine Bowker was born about 1762 in Heworth, Durham, England; was christened on 7 Nov 1762 in Heworth, Durham, England; died in 1765 in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England; was buried on 17 Apr 1765 in All Saints' Church, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England.

  3. 10.  Capt. John Mitford was born in 1749 in Mitford Castle, Mitford, Northumberland, England (son of Robert Mitford, of Mitford Castle and Ann Lewis); died in 1832.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Name: John (Capt) Mitford
    • Residence: Mitford Castle, Mitford, Northumberland, England

    Notes:

    Captain in the 85th Foot Regiment. Eventually became the Mitford heir.

    John married Dorothy Young in 1777. Dorothy was born est 1755 in Northumberland, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 11.  Dorothy Young was born est 1755 in Northumberland, England.
    Children:
    1. Robert Mitford was born on 9 May 1778; died on 25 Dec 1818.
    2. 5. Anna Maria Mitford, 1820 Settler was born in 1782 in Mitford Manor, Mitford, Northumberland, England; died on 8 Jul 1868 in 'Kruisfontein', Alexandria, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in 1868 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    3. Admiral, Rn. John Mitford was born in 1783; died in 1831.
    4. Mary Mitford was born in 1787; died in 1826.
    5. Bertram Mitford was born in 1788; died in 1866; was buried in Mitford, Northumberland, England.
    6. Sybil Mitford was born in 1791; died in 1815.



Please help towards my time and effort in maintaining this website. Every £, $, € and Rand helps!
Many Thanks, Paul

This site powered by The Next Generation of Genealogy Sitebuilding v. 14.0.4, written by Darrin Lythgoe © 2001-2024.

Maintained by Paul Tanner-Tremaine. | Data Protection Policy, Terms of Use and Disclaimers.