Bertram Egerton Bowker, 1820 Settler^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]}

1808 - 1904  (96 years)

• Name	Bertram Egerton Bowker
  Suffix	1820 Settler
  Born	24 Nov 1808	Morpeth, Northumberland, England   [7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Baptism	7 Jan 1809	Mitford, Northumberland, England   [9]
  Baptism	4 Oct 1813	Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England   [10, 11]
  	Parish of Almer BAPTISMS 1731 - 1879 These records have been transcribed from the Bishop's Transcripts.
  1820 Lineage	Yes
  Residence	1816	Manor Farm, South Newton, Wiltshire, England   [1]
  1820 Settler	7 Jan 1820	Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
  	Address: Bowker's Party on the Weymouth
  Settler ID	103
  Name	Bertram Egerton Bowker 1820
  Residence	25 Jun 1820	Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  Residence	Between 1825 and 1836	Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  Died	28 Dec 1904	Santa Clara, Parktown, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa   [12]
  	Estate File MOOC 6/9/1756 R7165 and TAB MHG 207 Death Notice Ref TAB MHG 6307
  		Bowker, Bertram Egerton [161] dn#2 Picture Note: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BK-5T53 Keywords: Death Notice
  		Bowker, Bertram Egerton - death notice Picture Note: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BK-5T53 Keywords: Death Notice
  Buried	Rand Pioneer Memorial, Wemmer Pan, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
  		Rand Pioneer Memorial 01 Picture Note: http://www.graves-at-eggsa.org/main.php?g2_itemId=741009 Keywords: Gravestone
  Person ID	I161	master
  Last Modified	5 Aug 2020

  
  

  Father	Miles Bowker, 1820 Settler,   b. 1758, Deckham Hall, Gateshead, Durham, England ,   d. 25 Mar 1839, Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa  (Age 81 years)
  Mother	Anna Maria Mitford, 1820 Settler,   b. 1782, Mitford Manor, Mitford, Northumberland, England ,   d. 8 Jul 1868, 'Kruisfontein', Alexandria, Eastern Cape, South Africa  (Age 86 years)
  Family ID	F102	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Anne Maria Simpson,   b. Abt 1815,   d. 31 Oct 1879, Berlin, Eastern Cape, South Africa  (Age ~ 64 years)
  Married	30 Aug 1838	Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa   [4, 5, 6, 13, 14]
  		Bowker, Bertram Egerton to Ann Simpson marriage Picture Note: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TWM-SS5S Media Date: 30 Aug 1838 Keywords: Marriage
  Notes	Bathurst, Cape of Good Hope Bertram Egerton Bowker, Bachelor, of this District, and Anne (with the “e” crossed out) Simpson, Spinster, of the District of Graham’s Town, were married by Banns according to the rites and ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland in this Church this thirtieth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight. By me, James Barrow, Colonial Chaplain This marriage was solemnized between us { B. E. Bowker (signed) { B (crossed out) Ann Simpson (signed) In the presence of { M. E. Bowker { T. J. Biddulph { W. Bowker (not certain?)
  Children	1. Ellen Bowker,   b. 27 Mar 1839   2. Mary Ellen Bowker,   b. 26 Sep 1840,   d. 19 Feb 1915, Willowfountain, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa  (Age 74 years)   3. Sybilla Bowker,   b. 4 Nov 1841,   d. 17 Apr 1843, 'Klip Fontein', Grahamstown District, Eastern Cape, South Africa  (Age 1 years)   4. Bertram Egerton Bowker,   b. 8 Oct 1843   5. Anne Elizabeth Bowker,   b. 1844,   d. 13 Apr 1933, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa  (Age 89 years)   6. Thomas Holden Bowker,   b. 1847,   d. Fort Jackson, Eastern Cape, South Africa   7. Bertha Bowker,   b. 24 Mar 1848, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa ,   d. 24 May 1946, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa  (Age 98 years)   8. Fanny Bowker,   b. 30 Dec 1849, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa ,   d. 28 Jul 1941, St Catherine's Nursing Home, Spring Road, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England  (Age 91 years)   9. Catherine Agnes Bowker,   b. 23 Jul 1851, Oakwell, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa ,   d. 19 Nov 1925  (Age 74 years)   10. Alexander Bowker,   b. 1853,   d. 27 Apr 1921, Kijabe, Kenya  (Age 68 years)   11. William Russell Bowker,   b. 1855, Oakwell, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa ,   d. 1916, Kenya  (Age 61 years)   12. Gordon Cross Bowker,   b. 1857,   d. 24 Apr 1946, Kenya  (Age 89 years)
  Last Modified	27 May 2020
  Family ID	F119	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

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  Born - 24 Nov 1808 - Morpeth, Northumberland, England Baptism - 7 Jan 1809 - Mitford, Northumberland, England Baptism - 4 Oct 1813 - Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England Residence - 1816 - Manor Farm, South Newton, Wiltshire, England 1820 Settler - Address: Bowker's Party on the Weymouth - 7 Jan 1820 - Portsmouth, Hampshire, England Residence - 25 Jun 1820 - Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa Residence - Between 1825 and 1836 - Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa Married - 30 Aug 1838 - Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa Died - 28 Dec 1904 - Santa Clara, Parktown, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Settler Photos » Slide Show	8 Settler Photos
  	Bowker, Bertram Egerton Picture Note: from Ammy's albums Keywords: Picture
  	Bowker, Bertram Egerton Keywords: Picture
  	Bowker, Bertram Egerton Picture Note: from Ammy's albums Keywords: Picture
  	Bowker, Bertram Egerton Picture Note: from Ammy's albums Keywords: Picture
  	Bowker, Bertram Egerton Picture Note: from Ammy's albums Keywords: Picture
  	Bowker, Bertram Egerton Picture Note: from Ammy's albums - with the Bettingtons Keywords: Picture
  	Bowker, Bertram Egerton Picture Note: from Ammy's albums Keywords: Picture
  	Bowkers, Mary Eliz, Bertram, James Henry Keywords: Picture

  
  

  Miscellaneous

  Bertram Bowkers fiddle Picture Note: photo taken by Paul TT in the Albany Museum, Grahamstown. Keywords: Miscellaneous

  
  

• Notes

  A member of the expedition party into Kaffirland, and a Member of the Legislative Council from 1879 to 1883. Published his 'Diary of B. E. Bowker'. . Bertram took part in the campaign against the M'fecani in 1828 and served in 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. In 1879 he was Member of the Legistalative Council for Eastern Province. The following is quoted from H.E.Hockley's book, Story of the British Settlers of 1820 in South Africa: "On the outbreak of the Ninth and last Kaffir War in 1877, not many of the original settlers were still living, and most of those still surviving were certainly too advanced in years to take an active part in the campaign. Several of those still able to do so, however, joined the Rovers, a mounted force raised at the request of the Governor, Sir Bartle Frere, and commanded by an original settler, Bertram Egerton Bowker. This unit rendered yeoman service throughout the campaign, and on its return to King William's Town, the old and grey haired commandant was specially congratulated by the Governor, who declared that the volunteers had saved the country from being overrun by the natives." The Berlin Volunteers (Cavalry) Corps, was raised in 1877 and was commanded by Captain BE Bowker. Bowker later headed his own Rovers, the 5th also known as the Berlin cavalry troop of the Kaffrarian Volunteer Rifles. He was succeeded as head of the Berlin volunteers by Lieutenant (promoted Captain, 1 January 1878). L. L. Vincent, field cornet of Berlin. The unit disbanded in July 1880. "The Frontier War Journal of Major John Crealock 1878" ............................................... Very skilled with his hands, making many things including wagons and several violins. from 'Major T C White and his Descendants' by FDC White, page 65. "Bertram was taught to read by his elder brother Holden after the days work was done and he was the most skilled with his hands. Whether making a wagon, violin or walking stick, it was sure to be a work of art, perfect in detail and finish. The following is an extract from his diary regarding the making of a fiddle: "Then there came an old blind man, his name was Commons. He had been a bandmaster in the Cape Corps. Now Holden would learn to play the fiddle. Mother bought him one from Commons for 30/-. As soon as he began to play a tune I wanted to learn also but had no fiddle. What was to be done. I looked at his and said to Holden 'I never tried to make anything but could always do it and I think I can make a fiddle'. He said ' to be sure you can if you try'. So I set to work to get the green wood out of the bush - three different sorts - hard for the back, soft wood for the belly and tough for the sides. The wood dried as I went on with the work. Soon I had a fiddle just as good as the bought one. Soon learnt to play, then we both used to play together. As soon as the neighbours found we could play they began to be merry and get up dances and parties and were always wanted, to play the fiddle. The people began to think no small beer of us and our fiddles. We enjoyed it as much as the others and as we were getting big boys and begun to find out that there was girls in the world as well as boys." Bertram's fiddle is on display in the Albany Museum in Grahamstown, A member of the expedition party into Kaffirland, and a Member of the Legislative Council from 1879 to 1883. Published his 'Diary of B. E. Bowker'. After the war of 1835, Bertram was the first of the brothers to leave Tharfield, going sheep farming on the Koonap. About 1840 he moved to the Fish River Rand to a farm called Klipfontein, near Bowden, but after the death of one of their children (Sybilla) he sold the place and in 1845 bought Oakwell. Farmed at Oakwell near Grahamstown where his brother Mitford was buried. He moved to the Goldfields in Johannesburg in 1887. ~~~~~ There is a discrepency between MD Nash and E Morse-Jones;E Morse Jones feels he came out in 1822 with brother John - see the letter to Gouldburn under John Mitford Bowker's notes.

  
  

• Sources

  [S444] BOWKER 1820 GEDCOM, Tanner - Tremaine, Paul, (http://www.geocities.com/settlers1820). [S6] "The Settler Handbook", M D Nash, (Chameleon Press ISBN 0 620 10940 8), p 47, 11 Feb 2003. [S387] "Roll of the British Settlers in South Africa", Morse Jones, E, (A.A. Balkema / Cape Town). [S380] Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1829 Bathurst English Episcopal Church, Bathurst English Episcopal Church, (Cory PR 3448). [S3116] Baptisms, Marriages and Burials - 1829 Bathurst English Episcopal Church, Bathurst English Episcopal Church, (Cory PR 3448). [S390] Register 29/3/1822 -1860, Grahamstown Methodist - Commemoration Chapel, (CORY MS 15 899/1). [S20] Death Notice or Certificate. [S243] Baptism Records - 1813, Parish of Almer, Dorset. [S3828] England, Northumberland Parish registers, 1538-1950, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGRH-VCLB (Reliability: 2). [S2808] Parish of Almer baptisms. [S3124] Baptisms - Parish of Almer, Dorset. [S2181] Family Search website, (www.familysearch.org), https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BK-5T53 (Reliability: 3). [S2181] Family Search website, (www.familysearch.org), https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TWM-SS5S (Reliability: 3). [S15] Grahamstown Journal, https://www.1820settlers.com/genealogy/documents\Grahamstown Journal 1832-1890.pdf#page=56.