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Ivan Graham Mitford-Barberton, A.R.C.S.

Ivan Graham Mitford-Barberton, A.R.C.S.

Male 1896 - 1976  (80 years)

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  1. 1.  Ivan Graham Mitford-Barberton, A.R.C.S.Ivan Graham Mitford-Barberton, A.R.C.S. was born on 1 Feb 1896 in Glen Avon farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 11 Oct 1896 in Glen Avon farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa (son of Henry Mitford-Barberton and Mary Layard Bowker); died on 9 Jun 1976 in Hout Bay, Western Cape, South Africa.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • 1820 Lineage: Yes
    • Occupation: an Author and Sculptor

    Notes:

    Register of Baptisms - Presbyterian Church of Somerset East.
    Where Baptised: Glenavon
    When Baptised 11 October 1896
    Child's Name Ivan Graham Barber
    Date of Birth: 1 February 1896
    Parents' Names: Henry Mitford BARBER
    Mary Leyard BARBER
    Godfathers: Frederick Hugh BARBER, Thomas Holden BARBER
    Godmother: Armenia BARBER
    Minister's Name: W. Leith

    Educated at St. Andrews College, Grahamstown. Served in both world Wars, and spent 15 years coffee planting in Kenya. After studying art in England, France and Italy, he joined the staf of Michaelis Art School at the University of Cape Town. Sculptor and artist. Various busts by Ivan, of the Bowkers are in the Albany Museum. Author of various books on the Barber and Bowker families. - The Barbers of the Peak; Oxford University Press, 1934. - The Bowkers of Tharfield; Oxford University Press, 1952 - with Raymond Mitford-Barberton. - Some Frontier Families; Human & Rousseau, Cape Town, 1968 - with Violet White. - Comdt. Holden Bowker; Human & Rousseau, Cape Town, 1970

    He went to St. Andrew's College while the family went to Kenya.
    He moved to Kenya in 1912.
    He camped on the slopes of Mount Kenya during the plague. He climbed to 15,000 feet in 1913 bought farms on the slopes of Mount Elgon. He was one of the first settlers to cross the Nzola River into the new area.
    He was in the East Africa Transport during the war moving supplies from Nairobi to Longido by ox-wagon. He also worked as an interpreter at Dar es Salaam.
    He studied Art at Grahamstown and sculpture at the Royal College of Art, England.
    In 1930 Ivan moved to Cape Town to start a new life as a sculptor. While working on the decoration of the Old Mutual Building in Plain Street. Pam came to work for him. They built a house in Bantry Bay. During the war Pam suffered from T.B. She had a serious operation removing part of a lung. After the war they built 'Castleton' at Hout Bay where they lived until Ivan died.

    Ivan married Cecile Georgina Cotterell Hoole on 27 Aug 1921 in Nairobi, Kenya. Cecile (daughter of Thomas Toy Hoole and Francis Garbett Wood Wood) was born on 5 Mar 1897 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 25 Oct 1952 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Notes:

    Marriage Status: Divorced

    Children:
    1. Elaine Mitford-Barberton
    2. Roland Atherstone Mitford-Barberton was born on 3 Nov 1927 in Eldoret, Kenya; was christened on 25 Dec 1927 in St John's, Elgon, Kenya; died on 9 Oct 2003 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    3. Michael Francis Barberton

    Ivan married Pamela Sybil Gibbs on 21 Sep 1939 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Pamela (daughter of Harold Alfred Gibbs and Stephanie Henrietta Scholtz) was born on 18 Aug 1913. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Children:
    1. Catherine Mary Mitford-Barberton
    2. Nicholas Mitford-Barberton

Generation: 2

  1. 2.  Henry Mitford-BarbertonHenry Mitford-Barberton was born on 7 Sep 1850 in 'Highlands', Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 3 Jun 1851 in St George's Cathedral, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa (son of Frederick William Barber and Mary Elizabeth Bowker, 1820 Settler); died on 25 May 1920 in Uasin Gishu, Eldoret, Kenya; was buried in Eldoret, Kenya.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • 1820 Lineage: Yes
    • Name: Henry Mitford Barber
    • Occupation: Prospector
    • Baptism: 3 Jun 1851, St George's Cathedral, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    Notes:

    Founded the town of Barberton, Eastern Transvaal, in 1884.
    On the expedition to the Victoria Falls in 1875, was tossed by a buffalo. His brother nursed him for three months until he could be carried the 70 miles back to the wagon. Through this misfortune, he was unable to go to the Falls. On another hunting expedition he was badly mauled by a leopard. He was a remarkable rifle shot, and on one occasion won the Wimbledon Medal. After Barberton, the brothers were important pioneers on the Rand and were associated with many of the early gold mines. Immigrated to Kenya in 1912, where he was the first settler in the Trans-Nzoia, farming coffee.

    From Familia, the Article on the Barbers of Barberton is written by Ivan MITFORD-BARBERTON. Here are some extracts.
    "The founders of Barberton Fred and Harry BARBER.....the family came from Castleton in High Peak, the mountainous part of Northern Derbyshire, England, and can be traced back for twelve generations to Roger BARBAR who was Forester for the villages of Edale and Ashop and held the Forest Pleas about 1522 as recorded in the Manor Rolls of Castleton.
    The earliest record is that of Richard LE BARBUR (the bearded) who was born in the reign of Henry III (about 1260). In 1283 Richard's wife Margaret sued John CARBONEL for her dower in Brocton, High Peak. Margaret was probably the daughter of this John CARBONEL and presumably had not received her wedding settlement and had to take the matter to law. Other records show that members of the Barber family paid yearly rent for farms or booths in High Peak.
    When Henry V was fighting in France, Thomas BARBOUR (surgeon) and Roger BARBOUR were at the Battle of Agincourt in 1416. There was no fixed spelling in those days which changed with each generation.
    Thomas BARBER (1771 - 1843) was a well-known portrait painter of Nottingham who exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and painted many of the aristocracy in the Midlands. He married Mary, daughter of Hugh and Anne ATHERSTONE. It was her brother, Dr. John ATHERSTONE who came out to South Africa with the 1820 Settlers.
    Thomas BARBER, the painter, had several sons, but the two who came out to South Africa were Hugh and Frederick. Frederick was studying at Heidelburg University, Germany, with his cousin Dr. William Guybon ATHERSTONE and they came to South Africa in the same ship in 1839. The older brother, Hugh, came out the following year and it was his son, Hilton who founded the HILTON-BARBER family.
    Frederic BARBER (1813 - 1892) married Mary Elizabeth (1818 - 1899) daughter of 1820 Settler Miles BOWKER of 'Tharfield'. She was a truly remarkable woman and South Africa has produced few to rival her with brush and pen and her knowledge of Botany, natural history and entomology was outstanding.
    Frederick and Mary had two sons, Frederick Hugh (1847 - 1919) and Henry MITFORD BARBER (afterwards MITFORD-BARBERTON) 1850 - 1920. They were with their parents in the rush to the diamond fields in 1870...so became big game hunters. Harry was gored by a buffalo on the Gwaai River in 1876...Fred nursed his brother for three months. On another occasion Harry was mauled by a leopard - on his left shoulder, cheek and neck, leaving honourable scars of this adventure.
    As early as 1875 Fred went on a hunting expedition to the Victoria Falls. They went on the Hunters Road through Bechuanaland via Pandamatenga, left the wagon and did the last sixty miles on foot. The brothers knew King Lobengula well, but were held hostage on one occasion when he was anticipating trouble which fortunately did not materialise.
    After the founding of Barberton in 1884 the brothers went to the Rand where they held positions of importance, made and lost fortunes....emigrated to Kenya and were numbered among the pioneers and coffee planters. They were buried in Eldoret.
    Fred BARBER married Eira EVANS and had one son, living in Nairobi (1964). He has no family. Henry MITFORD-BARBERTON married Mary Layard, daughter of Commandant Holden BOWKER, M.L.A. and had four sons: Ivan (Sculptor), Raymond, Renshaw and Alban. There are several grandchildren".

    Extracted from "Men of the Times - Pioneers of the Transvaal and Glimpses of South Africa" The Transvaal Publishing Company 1905 Pgs. 62 & 63 - H.M. Barber Foremost amongst the great pioneers of the Rand, and a prominent personality in the historical annals of South Africa, is HENRY MILFORD BARBER, F.R.G.S. He is the second son of Frederick William Barber, and grandson of Thomas Barber, the famous artist, of Nottingham, England, and was born at Highlands, near Grahamstown, being educated by private tuition. In the year 1869, he proceeded with his family to Kimberley in quest of wealth from the newly discovered diamond mines. Success attended the diggers here and also on the New Rush or Colesberg Kopje, where they worked for several years. During the years 1873-74 Mr. Barber devoted his time to travelling and hunting, his range being within the Waterberg and Zoutpansberg districts, where big game was then plentiful. In 1870 he visited Matabeleland, and made the acquaintance of Lobengula. More hunting ensued, but, on his return, he was detained in Bulawayo as a hostage by Lobengula owing to the political intrigues of Mr. Frewim. The rush for gold at the De Kaap Mines brought Mr. Barber to that place prospecting, and his brother, who was with him, was the lucky discoverer of the first payable reef on Government ground. The event created an influx of diggers to the spot, which became known as "Barber's Camp," and, finally, as the place grew, it took the name of Barberton, after the brothers. The following year Mr. Barber again went prospecting, and one of his party discovered another reef, from which sprang the small mining village of Avoca. On the discovery of gold at Witwatersrand, Henry Barber took up his residence there, and, with the help of his brother, assisted materially in the flotation of several important companies. His thirst for adventure and strong roving propensities brought him into contact with much of the interior of South Africa, and afforded him a wide knowledge of the country and its advantages and defects. A keen sportsman, he has shot much big game, including seven lions, but his almost too fearless nature nearly led to a fatality by a tiger on the Sabi River, and he was once badly gored by a buffalo. Mr. Barber's career has been one of great adventure, being varied with hardships and bounded with much success; but through his whole life he has always shown that complete balance of body and soul which makes a man master of himself and all his actions. Fearless, self-reliant, scornful of all petty motives, and possessed of a bright and happy-go-lucky nature, "Hal Barber," as he is called, is a popular and greatly respected man. Wherever there was anything to lead, he was always well to the front, and by his cheery, whole-hearted manner, infused life and buoyancy in all around him. As a pioneer, his work for South Africa is unquestionably of immense profit, his connection with the goldfields being of unlimited importance, and he was instrumental in laying the foundation of much of the subsequent wealth of the country. Mr. Barber now lives at The Castle, Port Alfred, Cape Colony, and is married to a daughter of the late Thomas Holden Bowker, M.L.A., the founder of Queenstown and originator of the early Cathcart System of Frontier Defence.

    Henry married Mary Layard Bowker on 28 Mar 1894 in St John the Evangelist, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mary (daughter of Thomas Holden Bowker, 1820 Settler and Julia Eliza McGowan) was born on 26 Apr 1863 in Roeland Street, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 8 Mar 1928 in Nanyuki, Kenya; was buried in Kitale Cemetery, Kitale, Kenya. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Mary Layard BowkerMary Layard Bowker was born on 26 Apr 1863 in Roeland Street, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (daughter of Thomas Holden Bowker, 1820 Settler and Julia Eliza McGowan); died on 8 Mar 1928 in Nanyuki, Kenya; was buried in Kitale Cemetery, Kitale, Kenya.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • 1820 Lineage: Yes
    • Occupation: teacher

    Notes:

    Buried:
    Buried near the Little Leki River

    Children:
    1. 1. Ivan Graham Mitford-Barberton, A.R.C.S. was born on 1 Feb 1896 in Glen Avon farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 11 Oct 1896 in Glen Avon farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 9 Jun 1976 in Hout Bay, Western Cape, South Africa.
    2. Raymond Berners Mitford-Barberton was born on 1 Aug 1897 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    3. Thane Renshaw Mitford-Barberton was born on 2 Jul 1901 in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
    4. Alban Mcgowan Mitford-Barberton was born on 9 Dec 1904 in Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 13 Nov 1983 in Kitale, Kenya; was buried in Kitale Cemetery, Kitale, Kenya.


Generation: 3

  1. 4.  Frederick William BarberFrederick William Barber was born on 20 May 1813 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England (son of Thomas Barber and Mary Atherstone); died on 2 Jan 1892 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    Notes:

    Settled in South Africa in 1839 and farmed at Highlands. Served in the Frontier War of 1846. Dug diamonds in Kimberley in 1871.

    Grahamstown Journal September - December 1842 listed by Sue Mackay 26 July 2004.
    Married on the 19th instant in St. George's Church, Graham's Town by the Rev. J. Heavyside, Frederick William Barber to Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Miles Bowker Esq. of 'Tharfield.'

    from 'THE BOWKERS OF THARFIELD' by Ivan and Raymond Mitford-Barberton:
    "For a time Fred learned farming with Dr. John Atherstone, Guybon's father and a few years later started farming on his own at a farm called 'Bloemhof' near Graaff-Reinet. It was while he was here that he married Maria Elizabeth daughter of Miles BOWKER. As he was rather busy at the time he wrote to his fiancee asking her to come up and marry him in Graaff-Reinet but her mother replied that if her daughter was not worth fetching he could do without her. This very soon brought him down and he and Maria Elizabeth were married in the Settlers' Church, St. John's in Bathurst in 1845."

    Frederick married Mary Elizabeth Bowker, 1820 Settler on 19 Dec 1842 in Church Of St George, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mary (daughter of Miles Bowker, 1820 Settler and Anna Maria Mitford, 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. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 5.  Mary Elizabeth Bowker, 1820 SettlerMary 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 (daughter of Miles Bowker, 1820 Settler and Anna Maria Mitford, 1820 Settler); died on 4 Sep 1899 in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa; was buried in Commercial Road Cemetery, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • 1820 Lineage: Yes
    • Settler ID: 104
    • Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
    • Residence: 25 Jun 1820, Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa

    Notes:

    She opened a school for girls in Grahamstown in 1844. Published a volume of fifty poems of varying merit, under the title 'The Erythrina Tree and Other Verses'. Became a noted botanist and authority on South African flora and achieved an international reputation. No less that eight of her numerous monographs on botanical, entomological and zoological subjects were published by Linnean and other learned societies in Europe, some of them being translated into foreign languages. Over a number of years she regularly corresponded with famous botanists, like Sir Joseph and Sir William Hooker; she supplied Charles Darwin with much valuable information for the epock-making 'Origin of the Species', and materially aided Dr. W.H. Harvey in the compilation of his 'Thesaurus Capensis'. A collection of her drawings and paintings hang in the Albany Museum, Grahamstown.

    Extract from the Grahamstown Journal, December 1842.
    Married on the 19th inst. in St.George's Church, Graham's Town by the Rev.J.HEAVYSIDE, Frederic Wm.BARBER to Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Miles BOWKER Esq. of Tharfield

    From : Men of the Times - Pioneers of the Transvaal and Glimpses of South Africa - Transvaal Publishing Company - Printed by Eyre and Spottiswoode in 1905 and copied by Sylvia Gazendam on facebook:
    "This lady was born in England, and came to South Africa with her parents, who were settlers of 1820, spending her childhood and youth at Tharfield, near Port Alfred. She was the constant companion of her father, himself an ardent student of nature and a good botanist; from him she learnt the principles of those sciences which gained her the friendship of the Hookers and of Doctor Harvey, whom she materially assisted in the compilation of the "Thessaurus Capensis", many of her discoveries being named after her in both her maiden and married names. From her love of natural history sprung a life-long correspondence with Charles Darwin and many other eminent men of the day. Many of her papers of observation on South African fauna and flora were read before and published by the Linnean Society. Her genius was also recognised on the Continent and she was elected a member of the Hungarian Ornithological Society. During the early troublesome times of the frontier the family were frequently shut up in laagers surrounded by hostile Kaffirs, and on several occasions had to flee for their lives. This lady was the author of a volume of fifty charming poems, all of which bear testimony to her sense of humour and love of natural history. In the year 1845 she was married to Frederick William Barber, son of Thomas Barber, the eminent artist of Nottingham, England, and had two sons and a daughter. In 1854 her husband was granted the farm Lammermoor on the Zwart Kei for service rendered in the war against the Kaffir chief Kreli, when he was driven across the great Kei. In these new fields many of her botanical discoveries were made. From here they removed to the farm Highlands, near Grahamstown, and it was there that she conducted her most important investigations in the life studies of butterflies, her valuable services being handsomely acknowledged by Mr. Rowland Triman in his work on the butterflies of South Africa. Eighteen years later the family removed to the Griqualand West diamond fields, where Mrs. Barber lived for many years, and painted a number of her pictures. Her hospitable home was the rendezvous of all the men of note who visited the country during the early days of Kimberley. On the discovery of gold in the Transvaal Mrs. Barber removed thither with her two sons, spending the cold winter with her brother, Colonel Bowker, of Malvern, Natal. Her death took place in that colony, in Pietermaritzburg, on September 4th 1899. During her lifetime Mrs. Barber gave her herbarium and collection of butterflies to the Albany Museum, and to these her son's daughter has added her many varied and beautiful paintings of birds, flowers and insects, as a memorial of her, and for the encouragement of others in their pursuit of these beautiful subjects which so filled her life with unalloyed pleasure and interest, and to whose glorious pageant year by year her name will live and be remembered.'

    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    McGregor Museum Kimberley

    CELEBRATING WOMEN in WOMEN'S MONTH : MARY ELIZABETH BARBER (1818-1899)—noticing her feminist Darwinism and the micro-politics of her knowledge of birds…

    M.E. Barber, who spent some years on the Diamond Fields in the 1870s, was an amateur scientist—“South Africa's first lady natural historian"—who, without formal education, made a name for herself in botany, ornithology and entomology.

    Through her science, moreover, Barber was a FEMINIST and CAMPAIGNER for GENDER EQUALITY, as Tanja Hammel shows in an article, "Thinking with Birds: Mary Elizabeth Barber's Advocacy for Gender Equality in Ornithology".

    Hammel writes that "Birds raised [Barber's] awareness of women's subordinate role in settler society and became her 'best friends' in advocating gender equality. She addressed people who believed in the human's special position in the chain of being and showed them that, since there was gender equality among birds, that should also be part of humanity if humans were superior."

    We cite in full the Abstract of Tanja Hammel’s paper: "This article explores parts of the first South African woman ornithologist's life and work. It concerns itself with the micro-politics of Mary Elizabeth Barber's knowledge of birds from the 1860s to the mid-1880s. Her work provides insight into contemporary scientific practices, particularly the importance of cross-cultural collaboration. I foreground how she cultivated a feminist Darwinism in which birds served as corroborative evidence for female selection and how she negotiated gender equality in her ornithological work. She did so by constructing local birdlife as a space of gender equality. While male ornithologists naturalised and reinvigorated Victorian gender roles in their descriptions and depictions of birds, she debunked them and stressed the absence of gendered spheres in bird life. She emphasised the female and male birds' collaboration and gender equality that she missed in Victorian matrimony, an institution she harshly criticised. Reading her work against the background of her life story shows how her personal experiences as wife and mother as well as her observation of settler society informed her view on birds, and vice versa. Through birds she presented alternative relationships to matrimony. Her protection of insectivorous birds was at the same time an attempt to stress the need for a New Woman, an aspect that has hitherto been overlooked in studies of the transnational anti-plumage movement."

    Mary Elizabeth Barber was an accomplished poet and painter. She herself illustrated her scientific contributions that were published by learned societies such as the Royal Entomological Society in London, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, and the Linnaean Society of London.

    In addition, M.E. Barber has earned special mention in connection with the early recognition of Stone Age artefacts, noticing and describing prehistoric stone tools while she was at the Diamond Fields in the early 1870s. Alan Cohen, writing in the South African Archaeological Bulletin, states: "Mary Elizabeth Barber and her brothers, Thomas Holden and James Henry Bowker, were three of the earliest South Africans to investigate and realise the significance of Stone Age tools. In this they were for a time, arguably in advance of their European counterparts, and deserve wider recognition as pioneers in the field of South African archaeology."

    Photo: Mary Elizabeth Barber with (probably) her brothers Thomas Holden Bowker and James Henry Bowker, about 1880.

    References:
    Cohen, A. 1999. “Mary Elizabeth Barber, the Bowkers and South African Prehistory." South African Archaeological Bulletin 54: 120-127.

    Hammel, T. 2015. “Thinking with Birds: Mary Elizabeth Barber's Advocacy for Gender Equality in Ornithology.” Kronos 41 (SPECIAL ISSUE: The Micro-Politics of Knowledge Production in Southern Africa): 85-111.

    ENGLAND BIRTHS AND CHRISTENINGS, 1538-1975

    Indexing Project (Batch) Number C15227-1
    System Origin England-ODM
    GS Film number 1279339
    Name Mary Elizabeth Bowker
    Gender Female
    Christening Date 22 Feb 1818
    Christening Place SOUTH NEWTON,WILTSHIRE,ENGLAND
    Birth Date 05 Jan 1818
    Father's Name Miles Bowker
    Mother's Name Anna Maria

    Settler:
    Bowker's Party on the Weymouth

    Died:
    At the home of her daughter, Mary Ellen 'Highlie' Bailie. see https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91W-TSB7-B?i=661&cc=2721608 entry 177

    Notes:

    Grahamstown Journal, Dec 1842.
    Married on the 19th inst. in St.George's Church, Graham's Town by the Rev.J.HEAVYSIDE, Frederic Wm.BARBER to Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late Miles BOWKER Esq. of Tharfield

    Children:
    1. Frederick Hugh Barber was born on 8 Jan 1848 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 10 Feb 1848 in Grahamstown Cathedral (St Michael and St George), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 17 May 1919 in Eldoret, Kenya.
    2. 2. Henry Mitford-Barberton was born on 7 Sep 1850 in 'Highlands', Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 3 Jun 1851 in St George's Cathedral, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 25 May 1920 in Uasin Gishu, Eldoret, Kenya; was buried in Eldoret, Kenya.
    3. Mary Ellen Barber was born on 14 Sep 1853 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 16 Mar 1938 in London, England.

  3. 6.  Thomas Holden Bowker, 1820 SettlerThomas 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 (son of Miles Bowker, 1820 Settler and Anna Maria Mitford, 1820 Settler); 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.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • 1820 Lineage: Yes
    • Settler ID: 110
    • 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:

    He was also a member of the 1828 campaign against the M'fecani, and served as Lieutenant, Provisional Colonial Infantry in the 1834-1835 war, as Captain, Grahamstown Native Levy in the war of 1846-1847 and as Commandant of Burghers at Whittlesea in that of 1850-1853. Distinguished himself in action in the Sixth Kaffir War in 1835. . He was Resident Magistrate Kat River Settlement in 1848 and Member of the House of Assembly from 1854 to 1863. Thomas wrote the Journals of the Kaffir Wars, which was never published. He was a noted archaeologist, remembered for his painstaking work in the 1850s, in discovering and excavating numerous prehistoric stone implements near the Fish River. His collection, and notes on entomology are housed in the Albany Museum in Grahamstown. . He founded the town of Queenstown, where there is a Bowker's Park and Bowker's Kop in his rememberance. He was offered the Presidency of the Orange Free State in 1863, but did not accept it. Became a Government Agent at Kimberley, when that 'City of Tents and Tin Shanties' was founded.

    Queenstown Free Press:
    Friday October 30, 1885

    DEATH OF THOS. HOLDEN BOWKER, Esq – It will be news to a good many in this district that at one time this deceased gentleman was peculiarly interested in Queenstown. It was on his suggestion that Sir George CATHCART laid out the Division on the grantee system, and when the Queenstown Division was enfranchised, Messrs T.H. BOWKER and DARNELL were the first representatives to Parliament. Beyond expressing our regret and our deep sympathy with the family, we cannot do more to-day than make this passing notice of one who may be really looked upon as the founder of Queenstown.

    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]:-
    Thomas Holden Bowker, J. P., M.L.A., served on the Fikani expedition in 1828, served as an officer in the Graham's Town Native Infantry in the war of 1835-36, and served through that of 1846-47, commanding old Kafir Drift post until close of the war. After Resident Magistrate of Kat River, defended Whittlesea during the greater part of the war of 1851-52. He drew up a plan for the defence of the Frontier, which he submitted to His Excellency Sir George Cathcart, Governor, and was partly carried out in the formation of the district of Queen's Town, which town he founded, preventing Kafir incursions for many years. He was further engaged in the greater part of the action taken along the upper Kei border against Kreli, and was in 1872 appointed member and Secretary of the Land Commission on the Diamond Fields. He was many years in Parliament, representing the electoral districts of Albany, Victoria East, and Queen's Town.
    He was offered the Presidency of the Orange Free State, but declined the offer.

    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:
    6/9/226 R1877
    Name of Deceased: Thomas Holden BOWKER
    Place of Birth: Northumberland
    Names of Parents: Miles BOWKER
    Anna Maria MITFORD
    Age of the Deceased: 79 years 8 months 12 days
    Condition in Life: Farmer
    Married
    Name of Surviving Spouse: Julia Eliza McGowan
    Date of Death: 26 October 1885
    Place of Death: 'Tharfield', Albany, Cape of Good Hope
    Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
    Emily Atherstone BOWKER
    Thomas Holden BOWKER
    Katherine Mitford BOWKER
    Mary Layard BOWKER
    John Mitford BOWKER
    Miles McGowan BOWKER
    Whether deceased has left any property and of what kind: Movable & Immovable
    Signed by J.E. McGowan Surviving Spouse

    Thomas married Julia Eliza McGowan on 18 Oct 1854 in Mowbray, Western Cape, South Africa. Julia (daughter of John McGowan and Elizabeth Ann Morris) was born on 18 Dec 1825 in London, England; was christened on 15 Feb 1826 in Kendal Green, London, England; died on 26 Dec 1903 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 7.  Julia Eliza McGowanJulia Eliza McGowan was born on 18 Dec 1825 in London, England; was christened on 15 Feb 1826 in Kendal Green, London, England (daughter of John McGowan and Elizabeth Ann Morris); died on 26 Dec 1903 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    Notes:

    DEPOT KAB
    SOURCE MOOC
    TYPE LEER
    VOLUME_NO 6/9/491
    SYSTEM 01
    REFERENCE 278
    PART 1
    DESCRIPTION BOWKER, JULIA ELIZA. NEE MCGOWAN. DEATH NOTICE.
    STARTING 19040000
    ENDING 19040000

    Children:
    1. Emily Atherstone Bowker was born on 3 Sep 1855 in Clumber, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 25 Oct 1855 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 23 Oct 1937 in Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    2. Thomas Holden Bowker was born on 8 Mar 1857 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 20 Mar 1857 in All Saints and St Peter, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1932 in Kitale, Kenya.
    3. Katherine Mitford Bowker was born on 3 Apr 1860 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; was christened on 15 Apr 1860 in Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 25 Feb 1927 in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
    4. 3. Mary Layard Bowker was born on 26 Apr 1863 in Roeland Street, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 8 Mar 1928 in Nanyuki, Kenya; was buried in Kitale Cemetery, Kitale, Kenya.
    5. John Mitford Bowker was born on 18 Nov 1864 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 19 Mar 1865 in St John the Evangelist, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1929 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
    6. Julia Eliza Bowker was born on 18 Nov 1867 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 8 Mar 1868 in St John the Evangelist, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1872 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    7. Miles McGowan Bowker was born on 4 Aug 1869 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 29 Aug 1869 in St Mary's Anglican Church, Cuylerville, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 4 Mar 1961 in Marandellas, Rhodesia.


Generation: 4

  1. 8.  Thomas BarberThomas Barber was born on 28 Mar 1771 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England (son of Thomas Barber and Ann Abbott); died on 12 Sep 1843 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.

    Notes:

    Thomas Barber was a well known painter of Nottingham, who painted portraits of many of the aristocracy of the Midlands. He studied at the studio of Sir Thomas Lawrence and was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy. He left many fine portraits of his wife and family, and these are still treasured heirlooms of his descendants. His marriage to Mary Atherstone produced 7 sons and 1 daughter. . ref: Some Frontier Families, by I Mitford-Barberton & Violet White. page 32

    Thomas married Mary Atherstone on 9 Jun 1795 in St Nicholas, Nottingham, England. Mary (daughter of Hugh Atherstone and Ann Green) was born in 1769; was christened on 15 Apr 1769; died on 25 Sep 1825 in Derby, Derbyshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 9.  Mary AtherstoneMary Atherstone was born in 1769; was christened on 15 Apr 1769 (daughter of Hugh Atherstone and Ann Green); died on 25 Sep 1825 in Derby, Derbyshire, England.

    Notes:

    Mary was a member of the Moravian Church, and Thomas appears to have been closely associated with the members. He had painted portraits of all the contemporary Bishops, including Bishop and Sister Clemens ( Barbers of the Peak, page 19)

    Children:
    1. Thomas Barber was born on 31 May 1796; died on 14 May 1824 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; was buried in Brookside Chapel, Derby, Derbyshire, England.
    2. Hugh Atherstone Barber was born on 25 Dec 1799 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 3 Feb 1878 in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    3. Rev. Henry Barber was born on 28 May 1801 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 9 Jan 1878 in Leek, Staffordshire, England.
    4. Anne Atherstone Barber was born on 21 Dec 1802 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 21 Dec 1819 in Derby, Derbyshire, England.
    5. Joseph Barber was born on 12 May 1804 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 9 Dec 1872 in Ramsey, Isle Of Man.
    6. Alfred Barber was born on 16 Jul 1805.
    7. Alfred Barber was born on 19 Mar 1809 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; died in 1884 in Totterdown, Bristol,Somerset, England.
    8. 4. Frederick William Barber was born on 20 May 1813 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 2 Jan 1892 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

  3. 10.  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]


  4. 11.  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. 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. 6. 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. 5. 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.

  5. 14.  John McGowan was born on 12 Apr 1800 in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; died in 1847.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Residence: 1825, Brook Lodge, Hendon, London

    Notes:

    transcription of memo he wrote into the family bible:


    1st page
    To my dear daughters
    Julia, Eliza and Emily + Susan
    + Ada

    I testify to my dear children, in
    the event of my death (before that
    of their amiable Mother) the sincere
    and un alterable affection and esteem
    that I had for her, from the moment
    I knew her until the day of my
    death, I have written these few lines
    sincerely wishing, my dear Girls, that you
    may always imitate her example, and
    follow her advice, which will not only
    be the many of making you like her
    (and could not have a better model)
    but, it will which to Young Women's very
    desirable,raise you to the head of your
    sex, and if you ever become wives may
    you be a blessing and comfort to your
    Husbands as your mother has been to me.
    this, my dear Julia Emily and Eliza is (Susan and Ada)
    the sincere wish of your affectionate Father
    May 21 1831 John McGowan

    2nd page:

    John McGowan was married to Elizabeth Ann
    Morris at St Martins Church on Thursday
    March 31st 1825
    By whom they had issue,
    Julia Elizav born Dec 18 1825 ...
    Emily Susan born Nov 25 1827 ...
    Eliza Morris born June 2 1829
    John born Dec 8 1830 .... died 8 March 1831
    Susan Margaret born Aug 19 1832 ...
    Ada Jane born Feb 24 1836 ...

    John McGowan born April 12 1800
    Elizabeth Ann his wife born March 10 1810

    John married Elizabeth Ann Morris on 31 Mar 1825 in St Martin's in the Field, Westminster, London, England. Elizabeth was born on 10 Mar 1801 in Ireland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  6. 15.  Elizabeth Ann MorrisElizabeth Ann Morris was born on 10 Mar 1801 in Ireland.
    Children:
    1. 7. Julia Eliza McGowan was born on 18 Dec 1825 in London, England; was christened on 15 Feb 1826 in Kendal Green, London, England; died on 26 Dec 1903 in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
    2. Emily Susan McGowan was born on 28 Nov 1827.
    3. Eliza Morris McGowan was born on 2 Jun 1829.
    4. John McGowan was born on 8 Dec 1830; died on 8 Mar 1831.
    5. Susan Margaret McGowan was born on 19 Aug 1832.
    6. Ada Jane McGowan was born on 24 Feb 1836.



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