Robert Michelmore Bovey, 1820 Settler

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 977
• Settler: 3 Dec 1819, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

Extract from STANDING IN DOORWAYS: A Memoir of the Heath and Bovey families, by Mary Patricia McKeown (nee Heath), privately published, 2001

The second son, Robert Michelmore, had led a rather wild life - being expelled from Blundells' School and later sent down from Oxford for keeping hounds in college. This latter incident is recorded in Parson Jack, an account of the life of John Russell, who was a schoolfellow of Robert's at Blundells'. The two boys acquired nine hounds, which they kept at a blacksmith's linhay on the outskirts of Tiverton:

Those were glorious days so long as they lasted; the farmers to a man, seeing the hounds chiefly managed by Russell, giving them a hearty welcome over their land, and supporting them in various ways calculated to show their cordial interest in the welfare of the pack. One, for instance, would say, "he'd got a hare sitting in fuzzy-park bottom, and ef Maister Rissell wid on'y bring up his cry, he'd turn un out, and they'd have a rare crack o' hunting, sure enow." Another would inform him that "his auld blind maire had mit wi' a mishap, got stogged in a mire, zo he'd a knacked her in th' head, and Maister Rissell was kindly welcome to her vor the dags".

Then, there was no end to the bread-and-cheese and cider, which the hospitable and hound-loving yeomen of that county pressed upon him and his companions, whenever the chase led them within hail of their farm homesteads. Perhaps the happiness of a schoolboy was never more complete. ... he found no difficulty in satisfying Dr Richards' class requirements, and at the same time, whenever a half or a whole holiday occurred, in following the pastime he so keenly loved.

... but dark clouds were now looming in the horizon, portending a short season and disastrous end to this enjoyable life. A shaft from some hidden enemy (and well for him was it that his name was never discovered) did the mischief. Some one, purporting to be "a friend to good discipline", wrote to Dr Richards, and communicated the astounding intelligence that a cry of hounds were kept by his scholars, Bovey and Russell, and that the latter, if he was not sole manager, acted at least as huntsman to the pack.

"Ringleader, in fact, of the hunting gang", exclaimed Richards, indignantly, as an expression of grave import darkened his whole countenance. "What! set my discipline at nought, and bring discredit on the honoured name of Blundell?"

He sent for Bovey, and expelled him on the spot. Russell came next, little doubting that he should share a similar fate; as, like a mouse tortured by a cat, he underwent a preliminary examination before the fatal blow fell.

"You keep hounds, don't you?" demanded the autocrat, in a stern and pitiless tone."

"No, sir."

"Do you dare to tell me a lie? Bovey has just told me you do keep them", said Richards, striking him in his wrath with great violence.

"'Tis no lie, sir," pleaded Russell, pathetically; "for Bovey stole them yesterday, and sent them home to his father at Pear-tree."

"Then that's lucky for you," responded the doctor, "or I'd have expelled you too."

After this narrow escape, Russell, it would appear, was compelled to quench as best he could the latent flame that burned within him, and pay due deference, at least outwardly, to the more than ever strict discipline exacted by Dr Richards.

After this patently biased administration of punishment, Russell went on to become a much-loved country parson in Devon, continuing to hunt at every opportunity, and concentrating on the breeding of a particularly courageous strain of hunt terrier, which became known as the "Jack Russell".

Robert, however, did not remain in Devon. When he was about 27 years old, his exasperated father packed him off to South Africa with the "1820 Settlers" on the S.V. Chapman. The settlers journeyed in ox wagons to Fort Beaufort, in the eastern part of Cape Province - a distance of about 150 miles from Port Elizabeth, where they had landed. They had a tough time at first; besides having to contend with hostile natives, they suffered droughts, and sickness among their flocks. Robert was given land in the Albany, in the Grahamstown district, and settled near Fort Beaufort, where he called his farm "Baddaford". Robert was later instrumental in establishing the Fort Beaufort Racecourse, and he, like his college friend Jack Russell, continued to enjoy his passion for hunting. He frequently entertained the military at Fort Beaufort, and this ran away with his money - his beautiful farm was probably sold to pay his debts, or maybe he lost money when the Fort Beaufort Bank defaulted. He and his wife Mary had four children - two sons and two daughters. One of their descendents, Jon Inggs, contacted me through the Internet. There are many of Robert and Mary Bovey's descendants living in South Africa today.

GS: Confirms baptism as 18 Sep 1793

Mitford-Barberton & White, "Some frontier families", Cape Town, 1968, p 56:
Brought a pack of hounds with him on board the Chapman.
Originally given a grant of land at Kasouga River mouth but settled in the Kat River valley at Lower Blinkwater and named his farm Baddaford.
He and his father-in-law, Dr Parrott, were among the founders and first erf holders in Fort Beaufort.
They assisted in establishing St John's Anglican church there.

RoDo: Dr and Mrs Parrott and their two sons lie in graves that today unfortunately are unknown. This also applies to their son-in-law, R M Bovey who, in his time, played a significant part in Fort Beaufort. The graves could be those marked only with white stones near those of Mrs Herbert Mildenhall and a Morkel child.

~~~
Description: https://www.eggsa.org/newspapers/index.php/fort-beaufort-advocate/1744-fort-beaufort-advocate-1869-3-july-september

Saturday, September 25, 1869

DIED, at his residence, Baddaford, Fort Beaufort, on Friday morning, the 24th instant, Robert BOVEY, Esq., in the 77th year of his age, deeply regretted.
The Funeral procession will move from the residence of W. MORKEL, Esq., Fort Beaufort, punctually at 4 p.m. today (Saturday), and friends will be good enough to accept this notice as an invitation to attend.
Fort Beaufort, Sept, 25, 1869.
...
OBITUARY
We regret to have to announce the death of Robert BOVEY Esq, who departed this life at his farm Baddaford yesterday morning. Deceased had reached the ripe age of 77, and until within a week or ten days of his death, he was able to come into town from his farm, although he did not appear in the best of health. For many years he held the office of Deputy Sheriff of this division; and during his residence here he gained the respect and esteem of all who knew him. We tender our most sincere sympathy to his family.

Settler:
Bailie's party on the Chapman

Robert married Mary Anne Parrott on 18 Mar 1837 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mary (daughter of William Parrott and Sarah Jones) was born about 1817 in Heligoland; died on 25 May 1895 in Riversdale, Western Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John William Bovey was born on 24 Sep 1837 in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 17 Aug 1873 in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
2. Emily Susan Bovey was born on 18 Sep 1848 in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 25 Jun 1909 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.
3. Mary Bovey was born in 1854 in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 1 Jan 1874 in Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa.
4. Robert Berry Bovey was born in 1855 in Fort Beaufort, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1910 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Notes:

Gentleman of Staverton. GS: exact date of death
Robert MICHELMORE memorial in the Buckfastleigh church, the John BOVEY who married Mary MICHELMORE was 63 when he died in 1834 which puts his birth date at 1771. John BOVEY "of the parish of Staverton, and Mary MICHELMORE of this parish, married in the Church by Licence the 13th day of Sept 1791 by Matthew Lowndes" Buckfast Parish Reg. ~170

Extract from STANDING IN DOORWAYS: A Memoir of the Heath and Bovey families, by Mary Patricia McKeown (nee Heath), privately published, 2001

John, the younger brother of Thomas who ran away, married another Mary Michelmore, daughter of Robert and Grace of Merryfield, and many of their descendants also gave their children the second name "Michelmore". John, born in 1775 (in the reign of George III), was described as a gentleman who bore arms. Matthew Lowndes, John's brother-in-law, officiated at his marriage to Mary. John and Mary kept three houses going - Peartree (near Ashburton), Bilberryhill and Baddaford, all fully staffed with servants, but the family spent most of their time at Peartree, Baddaford being kept chiefly as the farming headquarters. John and Mary had four children - John, Robert Michelmore, Mary and Edward. John inherited Merryfield from the Michelmores, and Baddaford from his father; he had also acquired the Bilberryhill farm. Baddaford by now comprised about 192 acres, leased from the Dean and Chapter of Exeter. The eldest son, John, and the third son, Edward, continued farming. Their father was a wealthy man, always known as "Squire Bovey". Peartree somehow passed into the hands of the solicitor, leading a descendant to comment that he had heard that there was "something shady about the transaction". The son John's eldest son, Edward, had no children, and it was probably when Edward died that Baddaford passed out of the family.

http://www.dartmoorpress.clara.net/indexlost.html
Plaque in Buckfastleigh Church destroyed after church burnt down by an arsonist 21st July 1992:
John Bovey, esq of Peartree in Ashburton; 15 Nov 1834 aged 63; husb of Mary

John married Mary Michelmore on 13 Sep 1791 in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. Mary (daughter of Robert Michelmore and Grace Searle) was born in 1775; was christened on 19 Apr 1775 in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England; died on 3 Nov 1832. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

http://www.dartmoorpress.clara.net/indexlost.html
Plaque in Buckfastleigh Church destroyed after church burnt down by an arsonist 21st July 1992:
Mary Bovey, 3 Nov 1832 aged 58; wife of John

Notes:

1767: An Edward Bovey, church warden, St Paul's, Staverton

Edward married Joan Scobell on 30 Oct 1756 in Staverton, Devon, England. Joan (daughter of John Scobell and Joan Rowe) was born about 1733; died on 17 Feb 1792 in Staverton, Devon, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Of Paignton
IGI: Spelt Scoble

Robert married Grace Searle on 5 Oct 1773 in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. Grace was born about 1743; died about 26 Feb 1791. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Of Baddaford.
1729 Staverton Churchwarden
GS: Son of John, son of George rather than MMK's son of John, son of John

Thomas married Margaret Rowe in 1725. Margaret (daughter of John Rowe and Joan Mann) was born in 1698; was christened on 8 Nov 1698 in Staverton, Devon, England; died in 1756; was buried on 26 Mar 1756. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

MMk: Margaret Rowe of Well House, Staverton; this house was still standing, in a state of disrepair, a few years after World War II. The family seat of the Rowes, who were wealthy wool merchants, was Kingston House, Staverton. The original house was destroyed by fire, and the owner went bankrupt in the course of rebuilding it in the early 18th century. It is now Kingston House Hotel.
Of Kingston House, Staverton
IGI: Margaret, b 15 Oct 1698

John + Joan Rowe. Joan (daughter of John Rowe and Joan Mann) was born in 1694; was christened on 7 Feb 1694 in Staverton, Devon, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

IGI: bapt
MMk: born 1695

Notes:

Married by J. SKINNER

Philip married Rebecca Scoble in 1734. Rebecca died in 1779; was buried on 12 Jun 1779 in Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Of Staverton, chr Rebecka