Thomas Bourchier Bowker, Hon. Dr. LLB., M.P.

1889 - 1964  (74 years)

• Name	Thomas Bourchier Bowker  [1]
  Suffix	Hon. Dr. LLB., M.P.
  Birth	28 Sep 1889	Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  Baptism	6 Nov 1889	Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  	Baptised: 1889, Nov 6 Born: September 28 1889 Parents: Bourchier & Charlotte Jemima BOWKER Occupation: Farmer Residence: Signal Kop, Fish River, Albany Witnesses: Benjamin Thos. Hellier & The Parents Baptised by: Robert J Mullins Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 103, entry number 4012. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.
  		Bowker, Thomas Bourchier baptism Caption Note: "South Africa, Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-23580-57843-48?cc=1468076 : accessed 22 February 2015), South Africa > Cape of Good Hope > Grahamstown Cathedral, St George > Baptisms 1869-1908 > image 105 of 194; William Cullen Library, Wits University, Johannesburg. Keywords: Baptism
  Gender	Male
  1820 Lineage	Yes
  Residence	1915	Signal Hill, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  Death	21 Jul 1964	Bedford Hospital, Bedford, Eastern Cape, South Africa   [2]
  Person ID	I461	master
  Last Modified	19 Sep 2024

  
  

  Father	Bourchier Bowker,   b. Abt Feb 1845, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa d. 24 May 1891, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa (Age 46 years)
  Mother	Charlotte Jemima Hallier,   b. Aft 1854   d. 6 Mar 1928 (Age < 72 years)
  Family ID	F126	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Gladys Elaine Hart,   b. 9 Nov 1884, Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa d. 16 Jan 1964, Settler's Hospital, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa (Age 79 years)
  Married	1914  [3]
  Marriage	14 Apr 1914
  Children	+ 1. John Bourchier Bowker,   b. 13 Dec 1915, Dunskye, Cathcart district Eastern Cape, South Africa d. 24 Nov 1991, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa (Age 75 years) + 2. Cecily Bourchier Bowker,   b. 23 Dec 1918, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa d. 27 Aug 2011, Damant Lodge, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa (Age 92 years) + 3. Hubert Newton Bourchier Bowker,   b. 23 Aug 1922, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa d. 10 Sep 1967 (Age 45 years)
  Family ID	F291	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	19 Sep 2024

  
  

• Event Map

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  Birth - 28 Sep 1889 - Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa Baptism - 6 Nov 1889 - Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa Death - 21 Jul 1964 - Bedford Hospital, Bedford, Eastern Cape, South Africa  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Settler Photos » Slide Show	4 Settler Photos
  	Bowker, Thomas Bourchier Keywords: Picture
  	Bowker, Thomas Bourchier Keywords: Picture
  	Bowker, Tom and Gladys with son John Keywords: Picture
  	Bowker, Thomas Bourchier and family Caption Note: from the left:Hubert, Tom, Cecily, Gladys and John. Media Date: 1939 Keywords: Picture

  
  

  Miscellaneous

  Settlers Day brochure 1960 Media Date: 1960 Keywords: Miscellaneous

  
  

• Notes

  Member of Parliament for Albany. Thomas Bourchier BOWKER died 21 July 1964 in the Bedford Hospital, Bedford, Eastern Cape as per "Familia," 1964 Vol 1 Issue 1 Pg 6. He was educated in 1907 Marist Brothers, Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope. Between 1936 and 1964 he was M.P. for Albany, Cape Province, Republic of South Africa. He was educated Hon.Dr.LLB, in 1964 Rhodes University, Grahamstown, Albany, Republic of South Africa. He was educated Rockliffe School, Sidbury, Cape of Good Hope. He was Orange River Irrigation Scheme. He was an Ostrich Farmer with Norman White until the feather slump in 1914. "Thomas Bourchier BOWKER, M.P. for Albany since 1936, had just applied for membership to the GSSA when he died suddenly of a stroke in the Bedford Hospital on the 21st July 1964. Affectionately known as Uncle Tom. He was the son of Bouchier BOWKER and was born in Bedford on 28th September 1889. He married Gladys Elaine HART who predeceased him earlier this year. They leave two sons and a daughter. Tom Bowker worked for many years on the Orange River Irrigation Scheme and was at last successful in getting the Government to take up this work with its series of dams and waterways. He was also the prime mover in the 1820 Settler Monument now being built in Grahamstown. Unfortunately he did not live to see these two projects realised. I.B.M". "1. Went to Rockcliffe School, Sidbury then wrote matric at Marist Brothers, Port Elizabeth in 1907. Ostrich farming with Norman White until the feather slump of 1914. Then Sheep Farming. MP for Albany 1936 - 1964. Hon. Dr. of Law from Rhodes University in 1964. 2. He was the founder of the 1820 Settler Monument in Grahamstown for which he personally canvassed great sums of money. Allied to it were the Settler Museum, the Indigenous Nature Reserve and the Student Bursaries. 3. He published many books of Settler Memoirs and marked historical Settler sites. Extract from 'The Bowkers of Tharfield' by Ivan and Raymond Mitford-Barberton. "The passing of the Marketing Act, Children's Act and the string of social legislation which has been placed on the statute books during the Smuts Regime received his particular attention. He was a personal friend of General Hertzog but voted in favour of the Declaration of War on the 4th September 1939. He was Captain on the Reserve of Officers and endeavoured to resign his seat in Parliament and volunteered for active service. General Smuts personally prevented this. He was the first Member of Parliament to take a Military Course at Roberts' Heights during World War II and passed his Captain's examination with merit." see His letter re the 1820 Settlers Monument Trust Went to Rockcliffe School Sidbury, Matric at Marist Brothers P.E. in 1907. Ostrich farming with Norman White till feather slump 1914. Then sheep farming. M.P.for Albany 1936-64. Hon Dr of Law by Rhodes University 1964. His idea was the 1820 Settlers Monument and wagon route marked with Monument Rocks. [3]

  
  

• Sources

  [S2181] Family Search website, (www.familysearch.org), https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99Z8-19DQ (Reliability: 3). [S16] King, Tessa, King, Tessa, (emails on South-Africa-L@rootsweb.com Mailing list), tck19genie.tessaking@gmail.com. [S5018] Jervois, Wiliam.