Miles Bowker, 1820 Settler

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]

Other Events and Attributes:

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

Notes:

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

National Archives, Kew, CO48/52, 58

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

[Note from clerk on reverse]

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

Footnote from GOULBURN

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

7 March

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 111
• 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:

William and his younger brother, Miles Brabbin Bowker, showed their quick assimilation to a South African way of life - they were young men in their late teens when they made the voyage on the 'Weymouth' - by marrying Ooosthuizen sisters, daughters of a friendly Dutch wagoner who transported the Bowker family to their first farm 'Oliveburn' which was soon rejected for 'Tharfield'. This is regarded as the original Bowker homestead in South Africa.
Tharfield', steeped in tradition now belongs to Mr. Thomas Guard Webb of Bathurst. The house in which the Webbs live was built in 1835, and not much has been changed since then as it was built in stone. The farm is situated in the undulating countryside between the Riet and Kleinmond Rivers, near the coast. The Webb family acquired it in 1925. It is at 'Tharfield' that Miles Bowker and his wife are buried. The small cemetery is still there.

He was also a member of the 1828 campaign against the M'fecani. He was Commandant, Corps of Guides in the war of 1834-1835, being mentioned in despatches and appointed Commisioner for Native Locations. He was Commandant, Thorn Kloof Station in the war of 1846-1847 and Field-Commandant, Somerset Volunteers in that of 1850-1853. He was Field-Cornet , North Fish River in 1858 and Member of the House of Assembly from 1864 to 1865.
~~
Grahamstown Journal, Saturday 12 February 1853

A DANGEROUS PICNIC

A party of juveniles, about 50 in number, attended by 10 gentlemen, went out on a picnic excursion to the waterfall at Mr. HART’s house at Glen Avon. Tho of the gentlemen, Messrs. W. BOWKER and R. HART, having their guns with them ,proposed going a little further up the kloof to look for a bush buck, but they had gone only a few yards when they found the fresh spoor of Kafir.
Following it in silence for some distance they saw a Kafir seated about 40 yards from them, occupied in brushing the flies off his face. BOWKER was going to shoot him at once but HART persuaded him to try and get a little nearer, and in doing so the Kafir caught sight of them and instantly bolted.
At this moment perceiving that there were two Kaffirs, both armed with guns, BOWKER fired, and heard one of them fall heavily to the ground, while HART fired and wounded the other. On reaching the spot where the man had fallen they found that he had got up and made off. After following his spoor a short distance, HART turned into a hole under the krantz, where the Kaffirs had made an almost inaccessable lurking place by piling up immense quantities of wood; only one person could get in at a time, and then had to climb up a very steep place, so that two or three fellows could have defended this stronghold against a host. Nothing daunted by his surprise at unexpectedly finding such a place close to his father’s homestead, HART climbed the steep pathway which terminated in a sort of cave, and there discovered, comfortably wrapped up in his kaross and fast asleep, a huge Kafir, whom he instantly shot dead. We presume this picnic party terminated rather abruptly, and the following day a different party visited the spot, and led by BOWKER and HART they followed the blood spoor of the wounded men for about 3 miles, to a place where an ox had been killed by them, but could not trace it any further. The whole number of Kaffirs seen on the previous day amounted to six, whereof two were wounded and one killed. We much require a rural police to assist in routing out such nests of thieves and murderers.
~~
Lost, found and installed, . . . at last
The history of the four magnificent stained glass windows recently installed in St David's Church, Bushman's River, reads like a comedy of errors, writes Peter Bowen.
Well over a hundred years old, the windows were originally built into the walls of St Michael and All Angels chapel, a family church on the farm Middleton, near Carlisle Bridge. Mrs Hessie Bowker had donated one window in memory of her husband William Monkhouse Bowker, and another in memory of Bourchier Bowker, who had supervised the erection of the church. Early in the 1950s the church began slowly to disintegrate, and the windows were removed and stored over the years in a variety of "places of safety". Well-known Carlisle Bridge farmer, the late Beresford Manning, moved to Bushman's River where he became, at various times, Chapel-warden and Lay Minister. Remembering the lovely windows and, judging the East Window at St David's to be rather plain, he approached the Bowker family who were only too pleased to donate the windows to a "living church". Time had not been kind to the windows and they were taken to a lady in PE who claimed to be an expert restorer of stained glass.
from :- http://www.pechurchnet.co.za/.
~~

Grahamstown Journal 7 February 1876:
DIED at Thorn Kloof, District of Albany, on 3rd February 1876, William Monkhouse BOWKER Esquire JP, in the 73rd year of his age.
Grahamstown Journal 11 February 1876:
In the death of Wm. Mitford [sic] BOWKER mentioned in a recent issue, the colony has lost one of its most enterprising farmers, enthusiastic colonists and valuable citizens. Coming to this Colony at an early age as one of a large family of sons, he and his “band of brothers” soon found that in a new country, occupied by a people with little respect for law, their own right arm was necessary in order to help them along in the difficult path they had to tread. Yet in no case has one of this family been charged with abuse of power or ill-treatment of Native servants, of whom this gentleman to the last employed so many, who now regard his loss as that of a parent. The name of Mr. BOWKER has too often “come to the front” to need that the public be told how he served the country of his adoption. As early as 1828 he formed one of the band of colonists who accompanied Col. SOMERSET (then Captain) on the “Fetcani Commando” which was called out for the punishment of the Pondo Tribes, as they are now called, for aggression on our later most formidable enemy, the Gaikas. Later on he took part in the famous Kno Commando. In 1830 he figured in the Corps of Guides, a body of young colonists formed by the late Sir Harry SMITH, and during the whole of that war he did hard and useful service to the colony. At the close of that war, changing his residence from Albany and his pursuits from agriculture to sheep-farming on the Fish River Randt, he there patiently endured all the loss resulting from the system of plunder carried on by the Kaffirs, which culminated in the disastrous war of 1846. While taking no very conspicuous part in the commando, he with a number of his brothers and neighbouring farmers had to resist some furious onslaughts from large bands of Kafirs determined upon getting possession of the fine herds of cattle of these colonists. Many of these combats, about which little was publicly said, were quite as violent as many engagements fought by general officers, and therefore emblazoned in General Orders. In all these, and subsequent similar larger engagements, his bravery and coolness were conspicuous. Courage was a family trait of the BOWKERs. Weary of this harassing strife, the close of this war found him a very considerably impoverished man, longing only for rest and quiet, that he might devote himself to the improvement of his family growing up around him. But these hopes were not to be realised yet. Rumours of war again were heard, and only two years after the close of the so-called war of 1846, the famous rebellion and general war of 1850 burst upon this unhappy colony. Mr. BOWKER, with PRINGLE, Walter CURRIE, DELPORT, ZIERVOGEL and others appointed Commandants for their various divisions, soon took the field, and after some slight skirmishing, joined in the difficult assault on Fort Armstrong. There again Mr. BOWKER gained credit for bravery and judgement, and, with the other chiefs, was greatly instrumental in the success of the undertaking. During the whole of this protracted war and long absence from his family and flocks, which trekked in any direction promising safety and pasture, he suffered heavy losses. Yet under all these sufferings he never wavered in his conviction that in spite of bad government and ill-treatment, the colonists would yet be victorious, nor ever seriously thought of abandoning the land of his adoption. A more settled and peaceable condition of things prevailing, with prosperity restored, and his family settled around him, he accepted a requisition to fill one of the seats for Albany in the House of Assembly. But a very few sessions convinced him that his tastes and ability lay in other than a legislative direction; nor could he brook the injustice done to the East by the abuse of power held by the West. He therefore resigned his seat and retired into domestic life, where, in pursuit of his quiet peaceable avocation, he spent the remainder of a long and useful life, dispensing hospitality freely to all – black and white alike sharing in the bounty of his hand. His spare hours were often devoted to the production of letters on general matters. These, the outcome of the feeling operating on his mind at the time, sounded like the views of one out of harmony with his fellow man, but in reality were far from being the result of his calm judgement or the feelings of his heart, which was kindness itself. Strongly attached to the English Church, of which he was a member, he yet possessed the large-heartedness which enabled him to associate freely with members, clerical and lay, of all churches, and, by support and sympathy, showed the real interest he felt in all their work. He died at his residence on the 3rd inst, aged 72 years, loved and lamented by all who knew him, as a firm friend, a loving parent, and a good citizen; and, in losing him, the colony has lost one of its most useful men.

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]:-
William Monkhouse Bowker, J. P., M.L.A., Commandant of Burghers, Eastern District, served in the Fikani Expedition in 1828, was Commandant of the Bathurst Corp of Guides during the war of 1835-36, served in the Kei patrol under Sir Benjamin D'Urban, and through the war of 1846-47. He was the first to raise the Somerset Volunteers in the war of 1851-52, and go to the rescue of families in the Winterberg, and was in command of burghers at the battle of Balfour and taking of Fort Armstrong.


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:
MOOC6/9/134 R2591
Name of Deceased: William Monkhouse BOWKER
Place of Birth: England
Parents of Deceased: Miles BOWKER
Anna Maria BOWKER
Age at Death: 73 years
Married
Date of Death: 3rd February 1876
Place of Death: 'Tharkloof', Albany, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Children:
Miles Robert BOWKER
Nellie Johanna CURRIE
Anna Maria CLOETE
Mary Elizabeth MORTON
Wilhelmina CURRIE
Hester Francina BOWKER Minor
Signed by M.R. BOWKER

William married Hester Susannah Oosthuisen on 9 Sep 1836 in United Church of England and Ireland, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Hester was born on 4 Jul 1816 in 'Rietvlei', Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 6 Aug 1911 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Aug 1911 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 106
• Baptism: 4 Oct 1813, Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
• Residence: 25 Jun 1820, Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Not much is known of Miles' early life. He lived at Tharfield until his father died in 1839. He owned the farm Thorn Kloof, and was living and farming there when the War of the Axe broke out in 1846. They abandoned the farm during the war, and it was completely destroyed. After the war, Miles sold the farm to his brother William, and moved to "Groenfontein" until the 1850 war, when again he had to abandon his farm. He eventually retired to the original family farm, Tharfield. In 1864 he became seriously ill, and his brother William took him to Thorn Kloof, where he eventually died. He was 6'2" in height, and could jump that height when he was a young man.

Information from the 'Lower Albany Chronicles Part 2' Compiled by E. Morse Jones:
23 May 1835 Miles Bowker Jnr helped to repel another raid from across the Lyndoch 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.

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]:-
Miles Brabbin Bowker, served throughout the wars of 1835-36, 1846-47, and 1851-52.

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:
MOOC 619/108 R1289.1
Name of Deceased: Miles Brabbin BOWKER
Place of Birth: Northumberland, England
Names of Parents: Miles BOWKER & Anna Maria BOWKER
Age of Deceased: 57 years
Condition in Life: Farmer
Name of Surviving Spouse: Barbara Petronella OOSTHUIZEN
Date of Death: 28 July 1864
Names of Children: No Children
Farmed at 'Chase's Grant'
Signed by W.M. BOWKER, Brother who farmed at 'Doornkloof'.

Miles married Barbara Petronella Oosthuisen on 7 Oct 1827 in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Barbara was born on 6 Nov 1809 in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 12 Dec 1895 in Thorn Kloof farm, Fish River, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Thorn Kloof farm, Fish River, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 103
• Name: Bertram Egerton Bowker 1820
• 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
• Residence: Between 1825 and 1836, Tharfield, Kleinemonde, Bathurst District, Eastern Cape, South Africa

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.

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]:-
Bertram Egerton Bowker, J. P., a farmer, lived on the eastern Frontier of the Colony since 1820. In 1827 he was commandeered by Captain John Crause against marauding Kafirs; in 1828 commandeered under Major Dundas to put down marauding Zulus under Matawani their leader, served eight weeks, together with commando and Tambookie army, retook 50,000 head of cattle ; in 1834 commandeered on Christmas Day, remaining in active service until peace was proclaimed, after which had charge of 6,014 head of Government cattle ; in 1846 had command of a camp with fifteen English and Dutch families, patrolling the neighbourhood till the end of the war ; in 1851 again had charge of a large camp, doing good service in constantly patrolling ; in 1873, when the police were dead beaten at the Ibeka, volunteered for active service, when Kreli's house and kraal were burnt and his tribe driven over the Umtata. On returning from the Transkei was put in command of East London district. Was on active service when Tainton and Brown were murdered ; caught two of the murderers, who were hanged. The Government offered a reward of £200 for the capture of the leader; Bertram caught the leader, who died in gaol, but never received the reward. During the last skirmish with the rebels had two men killed, one wounded, and two horses shot. In 1876 was returned as a member of the Legislative Council for East London.


~~~~~
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.




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:
Estate File MOOC 6/9/1756 R7165 and TAB MHG 207 Death Notice Ref TAB MHG 6307

Bertram married Anne Maria Simpson on 30 Aug 1838 in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Anne (daughter of Richard Simpson and Ann Binnington) was born about 1815; died on 31 Oct 1879 in Berlin, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Main cemetery, Berlin, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 108
• 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
• Residence: Abt 1847, Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Initially thought that Robert was born at Morpeth in Northumberland, but then discovered that Miles and Anna and their sons must have moved to Charborough Park in Devon sometime in 1810, as I discovered that Miles was paying 'Land Tax' for rented lands at Lythchett Matravers from a William Trenchard, Esq. from 1811 through to at least 1816. Miles also paid £32 tax for the tithing of Charborough on 3rd May 1811, owned by the Earl Drax Grosvenor, Esq. When we found a transcription Robert's Death Notice, it stated that he was born in Newcastle, ie Deckhams Hall, which means that Miles and family would have only 'gone south' in the latter part of 1810.

Robert married Sarah Elizabeth Hart of the farm Glen Avon, Somerset East. He farmed at Craigie Burn, Somerset East, which was formerly a part of Glen Avon. Craigie Burn was up in the Bosberg mountains above Glen Avon, and as it was isolated it remained unmolested throughout the many Kaffir Wars. It was used as a place of refuge for the rest of the family, and Robert's brothers often brought their stock, wives, families and left them there while they went to the wars.

On our (Janet & Paul TT) trip to South Africa in May 2014, we stayed at Glen Avon, and managed to get up the pass to Craigie Burn. The original house was in the process of being renovated by the current owners, Petri and Suzanne Snyman. We had parked our hire car, a VW Polo, at the entrance gate to the farm, and walked down to the house, as the humps and gulleys on the drive would have left our car high and dry. We met Suzanne briefly, and she advised that any non-4wd vehicle would not get further up the road towards Glen Craig!

Robert took part in the campaign against the M'fecani in 1828, and served in the war of 1850-1853. . Member of the House of Assembly from 1854 - 1873 and Member of the Legislative Council from 1879 to 1883.

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]:-
Robert Mitford Bowker, J.P., M.L.A. and M.L.C., served with the Corps of Guides during the war of 1835-36 ; was at the taking of Murray's Kranz and other engagements until close of the war. Served in the Zuurberg and other points during the war of 1846-47. Volunteered for the rescue of Winterberg families in 1851, was at Balfour and taking of Fort Armstrong, carried out a wounded comrade under close fire. Elected member of the House of Assembly for division of Somerset East in 1854, and served in Parliament for over thirty-six years.

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: MOOC 6/9/308 R2995

Robert married Sarah Elizabeth Hart on 19 Dec 1838 in Glen Avon farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Sarah (daughter of Robert Hart and Hannah May Tamplin) was born on 16 Jun 1820 in Somerset Farm, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 25 Aug 1875 in Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 109
• Name: Septimus Bourchier Bowker 1820
• 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 served in the wars of 1834-1835 and 1850-1853. He was a founder member of the Eastern Province Agricultural Society in 1840. He bought the farm which he called 'Alstonfields', in the Bedford area, in 1865.

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]:-
Septimus Bourchier Bowker, J. P., served throughout the wars of 1835-36, 1846-47, and 1851-52.

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:
MOOC 6/9/340 F1005
Name of Deceased: Septimus Bourchier BOWKER
Birthplace of Deceased: Northumberland, England
Names of Parents of the Deceased: Father: Miles BOWKER
Mother: Anna Maria BOWKER
Age of the Deceased: 81 years 0 months 18 days
Condition in Life: Farmer
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Frances Martha FORWARD
Date of Death: 2 August 1895
Place of Death: Bedford
Names of children of the deceased and whether Major or Minor:
John Bourchier BOWKER
William Henry Egerton BOWKER
Alice Jessie BOWKER
Bertram Mitford BOWKER
Francis Martha BOWKER married Maurice Walter GRADWELL
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable & Immovable
Signed: F.M. Bowker, Surviving Spouse

Septimus married Frances Martha Forword on 11 Feb 1853 in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Frances (daughter of William Forword, 1820 Settler and Martha Garforth, 1820 Settler) was born on 1 Nov 1831 in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 2 Jan 1929 in Woodlands, Southwell District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Alstonfields farm, Bedford district, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 107
• Name: Octavius Bourchier Bowker 1820
• 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
• Death: 23 Jul 1899, Champagne farm, Zastron district, Free State, South Africa

Notes:

Aided his fellow-burghers of the Orange Free State during the Basuto Wars against Moshesh in Basutoland - 1852 and the farm 'Champagne' in the Zastron district was given to him for his services during that war.
After his death on the farm it was passed to his daughter, Ella, and became part of her husband William Henry Surmon's Estate. The farm 'Champagne' has been in the Surmon Family for about 120 years.
'Champagne' obtained its name due to its many fountains. Some say there were 80 in the early days. Many have since dried up.
He was known as a wonderful marksman with a rifle, and on one occasion he killed seven and wounded three springbok with just nine bullets!

Newspaper cuttings from the Eastern Cape.
Queenstown Rep. 4 December 1987

OCTAVIUS BOWKER

Queenstonians who are interested in the history of their town know that it was founded by Thomas Holden BOWKER (1807 - 85), a respected fighter in several of the Frontier Wars of the last century, a noted amateur geologist, Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Cape, and a candidate by invitation for the Presidency of the Orange Free State Republic.

Another noted son of the 1820 Settler, Miles BOWKER, was Octavius BOWKER (1816 - 99) who was widely respected as the best marksman on the Eastern Frontier - an area in which good shooting was the norm among the farmers - and who served in all the Frontier Wars.

Ivan MITFORD-BARBERTON records in his book, "Comdt. Holden BOWKER" that Octavius' wife (neé STUBBS) was also a good shot. "While her husband was away, two young Boers arrived, wishing to match their skill against his. They were disappointed that he was not there to shoot a friendly match with them. Mary gave them coffee and cakes, and showed them the BOWKER guns. To demonstrate their worth, she loaded one of the muskets and aiming at an anthill a considerable distance away, hit it plumb in the middle. This was too much for the visitors. When they saw how well the wife could shoot, they decided not to wait for the husband!"

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]:-
Octavius Bowker, served during war of 1835-36, and during that of 1846-47 in the Zuurberg. In 1851 accompanied his brother, W. M. Bowker, and was at the battle of Balfour and taking of Fort Armstrong. Served with the Free State forces during the Basutu war, and engaged in various affairs up to annexation of Basutuland in 1868.

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

Settler:
Bowker's Party on the Weymouth

Octavius married Mary Anne Stubbs on 25 Jan 1844 in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mary (daughter of James Wilmot, 1820 Settler and Ann Knight, 1820 Settler, daughter of John Stubbs, 1820 Settler and Ann Campbell, 1820 Settler) was born est 1822. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

Mary married Frederick William Barber on 19 Dec 1842 in Church Of St George, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Frederick (son of Thomas Barber and Mary Atherstone) was born on 20 May 1813 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England; died on 2 Jan 1892 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 102
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
• Residence: 25 Jun 1820, Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Anna Maria was born on board the Weymouth in Cape Town harbour on 26th April 1820.
Extracted from the Grahamstown Journal, September 1842

Married at Bathurst on 6th September by the Rev.J.BARROW, John Frederick Korsten ATHERSTONE to Anna Maria, youngest daughter of the late Miles BOWKER Esq. of Tharfield.

She had 4 other children with JFKA:
" The twins as infants, John as a baby and Maria at three weeks."

Birth:
On board the Weymouth while docked in the harbour

Microfilm# 1560877
Methodist Parish Records
Somerset East Christenings: 1822-1858
Item 9
Entry #30
Child: Hannah Maria BOWKER
Parents: Miles and Hannah Maria
Born: 4/26/1820
Baptized: 4/20/1823
Abode: Lyndock
Minister: William THRELFALL

Settler:
Bowker's Party on the Weymouth

Died:
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/340
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 1020
PART 1
DESCRIPTION ATHERSTONE, ANNA MARIA. NEE BOWKER. DEATH NOTICE.
STARTING 18950000
ENDING 18950000

DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/340 R1020
Name of Deceased: Anna Maria BOWKER
Place of Birth: Aboard HMSS Weymouth in Table Bay
HMSS Weymouth sailed from England 7.1.1820
Arrived Table Bay 26 April 1820
Names of Parents: Miles BOWKER
Anna Maria MITFORD
Age of Deceased: 72 years 11 months 30 days ( should be 74)
Widow
Pre-deceased Spouse: John Frederick Korsten ATHERSTONE born 1 October 1821, Uitenhage, Cape of Good Hope died 18 May 1894)
Date of Death: 24 April 1895
Place of Death: Albany Road, Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Children:
Ine Ann ATHERSTONE 1848 d 20 June 1940 married Henry HEYTON 1842 - 1911
Alice Grace ATHERSTONE 1852 married Richard S. STOCKDALE
Mary Elizabeth ATHERSTONE 1853 d 15 October 1939 married 1875 Edward SMITH
Sybil Mitford ATHERSTONE 1855 d 1934 married Charles PERKINS
Anna Maria ATHERSTONE 1857 married Harry Chalmers Anderson MORSHEAD
2nd husband Arthur C. Barraud
Hugh Mitford ATHERSTON 1861 d 1939 married Emily Porter HYDE
Harold Mitford ATHERSTONE
All Majors.
Signed by Sybil Mitford PERKINS (daughter)

Anna married John Frederick Korsten Atherstone on 6 Sep 1842 in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. John (son of John Atherstone, 1820 Settler and Elizabeth Damant, 1820 Settler) was born on 1 Oct 1821 in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 8 May 1894 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Grahamstown Cemetery (Old), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

He was baptised as William Henry Bowker!
James Henry Bowker, J.P., F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.R.G.S., F.S.S. James never married. He was Commandant of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police ( F.A.M.P) and later became the High Commissioner of Basutoland. Reached the rank of Colonel, during the Seventh and Eighth Kaffir Wars. For a period was also Chief Commissioner on the diamond fields of Griqualand West. . Co-authored, with Roland Trimen, of 'South Africa Butterflies', which in 1966, was still one of the standard works on the subject. . There is a Bowker Street in Escombe, Queensburgh, named after James Henry Bowker.

~~~~
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]:-
James Henry Bowker, J.P., F.L.S., F.Z.S.,F.R.G.S.,F.S.S., gold medalist, served in the war of 1846-47 and in that of 1851-52, was at the suppression of the Kat River rebellion and capture of Fort Armstrong (medal and clasp) in 1846-47. Inspector of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, 1855 ; served in the Transkei Expedition, 1858, and remained in Transkei until withdrawal in 1865. Associated with Sir Walter Currie in locating Fingoes in Transkei ; served in expedition to Basutuland, 1868, and appointed High Commissioner's Agent for that territory ; engaged also in settling the boundaries and formation of the different districts. Commandant Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, 1870. Commanded expedition to the Diamond Fields for annexation to the Cape Colony ; appointed one of the three commissioners, and for some time Chief Commissioner of the Diamond Fields ; commanded expedition for annexation of Tembuland, carried it out, and also selected site for present town of Umtata ; planned expedition which led to the suppression of Langalabellila outbreak and capture of that chief, thanked by Secretary of State. Reappointed Governor's Agent, Basutuland ; retired in 1878 with the honorary rank of Colonel ; appointed one of the Commissioners for Natal, Indian and Colonial extradition ; was twice thanked by Secretary of State for service done ; is a Justice of the Peace for the Cape Colony, KwaZulu Natal, and under William IV, to 24th degree of south latitude ; also under Victoria, ditto.
~~~~

Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Henry_Bowker

DEATH OF COLONEL BOWKER
There passed away on Saturday at his residence, Malvern, at the ripe age of 74, Col. James Henry Bowker, J.P., an interesting personality and one who for many years had taken an active interest in public affairs in the Cape and Natal. The gallant gentleman had been in indifferent health for some time and for the past eighteen months he had scarcely stirred beyond his estate at Malvern Hill-dying of heart weakness, surrounded by sorrowing relatives and friends.
The late Col. Bowker was a son of Mr Miles Bowker, head of a family who came out to the Cape in the Weymouth, a scholar and a good botanist. His first residence was Oliveburn, near the coast, where James Henry Bowker was born in August 1822{ should be 1925}, being the youngest of a family of eleven. Their names are all well known in the frontier district of the Cape Colony. They all followed in their father's footsteps as farmers and agriculturalists, and took and active share in the numerous Kaffir engagements, giving their service to their country. James Henry Bowker, the ninth son, served in the war of 1846-7, and in that of 1851-2, was at the suppression of the Kat River Rebellion and the capture of Fort Armstrong in 1846-7, for which he earned a medal and clasp. In 1855 he was appointed inspector of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police; he served in the Transkei expedition of 1858, and remained in that territory until the withdrawal in 1865. He was associated with Sir Walter Currie, the commandant of police, in locating the Fingoes in the Transkei; he served in the expedition to Basutoland in 1868, and was appointed High Commissioner's agent for that territory. He was engaged also in settling the boundaries and the formation of the different districts. In 1870 he succeeded to the command of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, and commanded the expedition to the Diamond Fields for their annexation to the Cape Colony. At the termination of this successful expedition he was appointed one of the three commissioners, and was for a time Chief Commissioner of the Diamond Fields. He commanded the expedition for the annexation of Tembuland, carried it out, and also selected the site for the present town of Umtata. He was later appointed Governor's Agent in Basutoland, and retired in1878 with the honorary rank of Colonel. He was appointed one of the commissioners for Natal at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition and was on two separate occasions thanked by the Secretary of State for services rendered. He was a Justice of the Peace for Durban County.
His connection with Natal began with his retirement on a pension from the Cape Service. He came here 12 or 13 years ago, and took up his residence at Dilkoosh, Northdene. He subsequently removed to the Malvern Hotel and afterwards purchased the Malvern Hill Estate, where he built a charming residence, and stocked it with the collection of a lifetime. In the Cape Colony he is known as a soldier; here his name is more closely associated with that of a student. As a naturalist he was held in high repute, and perhaps in the pursuit of nature he has contributed more to current knowledge than any other man in the country, particularly in regard to butterflies of which he made an especial study, and was instrumental in discovering more than 40 new specimens formerly unknown to science. He was a Fellow of the Linnean Society, Fellow of the Zoological Society, Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and F.S.S. Gold Medallist.
While Commandant of the F.A.M. Police, the late Colonel submitted a scheme of Colonial Defence to the Government, which struck at the root of the long-cherished idea of Burgher Law. He maintained that to anyone who had had experience of the wars in 1846, and 1851, it was obvious that some other plan than a Burgher Law was absolutely necessary. While every effort was then being made by the Government to encourage volunteering, he argued that they could not expect volunteers, as they stood, to leave their occupations in the towns or villages to take the field for any length of time, and he suggested a permanent addition to the armed police force, and that while on a war footing a deferred war tax on all owners or occupiers of fixed property should be raised by the Civil Commissioners of the districts not under martial law. On this subject he gave evidence before the Colonial Defence Commission in September 1876 and defended the Border Mounted Police against the charges of deterioration that had been made against them. He had very strong ideas on the training of young men. He considered that in every Government aided school the pupils should be put through a course of drill instruction and that riding and shooting should be followed up in after life. As Police Commandant, he steadily avoided the introductions of military innovations, but he sought to make the force useful and popular. When asked in an official capacity to give his opinion on any suggestion by the Defence Dept., he did not scruple to stat plainly his vies. he denounced in no measure language political and intriguing missionaries, who in the Cape were doing their best to prevent the annexation of territory and referred in scathing terms to unscrupulous politicians and scare-bitten officials. His task at the head of the police was no bed of roses. Collectively the farmers looked upon the natives as their bitterest enemies, while the natives again hated the white man; with the result that troubles were frequent, and the Colonists, getting tired of paying the heavy cost of the necessary punitive expeditions, were ready to fix the blame anywhere, and were not about saying the police were anxious to create wars and foster panics in the hopes of getting distinction. However Commandant Bowker managed well to hold the balance of good opinion, and to gain the respect of all classes.
After his retirement and settlement in Natal, the Cape Government on one occasion communicated with him with a view to his proceeding to Basutoland as successor of Colonel Griffith the Governor's agent. Of singularly calm and reliable judgement, Colonel Bowker had an intimate knowledge of the native character, combined with a reputation for well-regulated firmness. He had charge of Basutoland when it was taken over by Sir Philip Wodehouse in the state of collapse and disorganisation to which it had been brought by the war with the Free State. he became very much respected at that time, which respect was not found to be diminished when he returned in 1877, and then managed to get over some very troublesome business which threatened to bring about a rupture with Morosi. He went down to the old chief's mountain with an army of loyals at his back, and succeeded in crushing the incipient rebellion with striking a single blow.
But it was as a naturalist and an observer of men and things that Colonel Bowker was known more intimately in Natal. There are few spots where the pursuit of the naturalist can be carried on with greater variety or pleasure than at and in the neighbourhood of Durban. The surrounding woods afford an inexhaustible field for the collector, and it is his own fault if he fails to meet with objects of interest. Every glade swarms with butterflies, while a step can hardly be taken without disturbing a gorgeous moth, which could put even Solomon in all his glory to the blush. He had charge of the Natural History department of the Natal section of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition of 1886, and gathered together collections of butterflies and birds of unique interest. The Durban Museum has many specimens which, but for his observation, would not lie within its walls, and even the South Kingston Museum is indebted to him for a collection of butterflies. His residence has for many years been the Mecca of the naturalist and the hunter and he had one of the most valuable collection of horns in the country. In his garden there was also everything of interest, very few specimens of plant life being absent.
The removal of such an eminently interesting character from our midst cannot but have its effect on the life of the colony and his death will be mourned by a large circle of friends and admirers.
The funeral, which took place yesterday afternoon was attended by a goodly number of neighbours and friends. The Ven. Archdeacon Hammick conducted the service and consecrated the ground, the coffin being borne to the graveside by the deceased's four servants who had been his personal attendants for the past 13 years.
(The Natal Mercury,
Monday, 29th October 1900.)

see also http://showme.co.za/durban/tourism/colonel-james-henry-bowkers-monument-in-malvern/

Sylvia Gazendam wrote on facebook:
A very interesting book entitled : The Birth of a South African Village - Escombe by Miss E.F.English published 1950 in Durban, Natal of which there are two copies in the Library at Malvern 1 copy at Pinetown Library and the main Durban Library have a copy (or in the Archives) Extracted from Pg. 18 "Col. Bowker James Henry Bowker) was very fond of his nephew, Mr. H.M. Barber, and he leased a piece of land to him at Upper Malvern in extent about four acres. On the ridge of the same hill where Col. Bowker built his own residence "The Cedars", Hal Barber built "Ivanhoe". My Note:" The Cedars" no longer standing but a Memorial to Col. J.H.Bowker is on one of the outer corners of his old property. (still there). "Ivanhoe" is still there owned by Shirley & Henry Dowling - they also have a copy of the above book. Lovely old home - was lucky to have been taken on a tour through the home by them. On Pg. 19 "The four residences, built on the Bowker hill, along Rownham Road, had clear views of the Indian Ocean. Direct east was the town of Durban, and the waters of the Bay sheltered by the Bluff Promontory. On the end of the Bluff was the lighthouse which had been erected in 1867, and which remained in commission until 1941. The beams of its lantern were thrown inland, as well as seaward, as it revolved and cast its light at least 17 miles, hence the Upper Malvern hills were well within its orbit. Ships could be seen at sea or moored in the outer anchorage, also entering the harbour between the north and south piers. The intervening country of hills and valleys was well covered with vegetation showing scattered houses here and there. No lights could be discerned at night, for the bush was too thick to be penetrated by the feeble rays from oil lamps or candles. On moonlight nights, the land was a sparkling silvery expanse.. Storms at sea, whether accompanied by sheet or fork lightning, gave a feeling of awesome grandeur. Sunrises were beautiful."

Microfilm# 1560877
Methodist Parish Records
Somerset East Christenings: 1822-1858
Item 9
Entry #31
Child: William Henry BOWKER
Parents: Miles and Hannah Maria
Born:23/081825
Baptized:17/12/1825
Abode: Lyndock
Minister: John Davis

Died:
On His Estate, Escombe, Queensburgh, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/464
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 4467
PART 1
DESCRIPTION BOWKER, JAMES HENRY. DEATH NOTICE.
STARTING 19020000
ENDING 19020000

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Doornberg Farm, Brak River, Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

Notes:

Microfilm# 1560877
Methodist Parish Records
Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Christenings: 1822-1858 (film is mis-labeled as Somerset East Methodist Parish)
Item 9
Entry #874
Child: Duncan Campbell BOWKER
Parents: John Mitford and Mary Ann
Born: 3/22/1838 - at Fort Peddie
Baptized: 7/6/1838
Minister: William B. BOYCE

Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/4479 R42831
Name of Deceased: Duncan Campbell BOWKER
Birthplace of Deceased: Cape Province
Names of Parents: John Mitford BOWKER
Mary Ann STANDEN
Age of Deceased: 96 years 4 months
Condition in Life: Farmer
Ordinary Place of Residence: 'Doornberg', Middelburg
Widower
Name of Pre-deceased Spouse: Beatrice Scott PRINGLE died 22nd December
1936 Estate File 29166
Date of Death: 24 July 1934
Place of Death: 'Doornberg', Middelburg
Names of Children:
John Mitford Pringle BOWKER
Mabel Mitford BOWKER married DE BEER
Duncan Mitford BOWKER
Gladys Mitford BOWKER married COLLETT
Vera Mitford BOWKER married COSTER
Mary Mitford BOWKER
All Major
Movable Property?
Immovable Property?
Will?
Signed: J.M.P. BOWKER Son

Duncan married Beatrice Scott Pringle on 12 Mar 1874 in Bedford, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Beatrice (daughter of William Dods Pringle, 1820 Settler and Harriet Hockly, 1820 Settler) was born on 23 Apr 1853 in Lynedoch farm, Bedford District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 22 Dec 1930 in Doornberg, Middleburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Cossack Post, Rosmead, Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa; Farmer

Notes:

Known as Johnny, he served under Comandant B.E. Bowker during the frontier war of 1879.
John and his brother, Duncan, undertook a long mule-cart trip from Kimberly to Bulawayo to find farming land which was free of ticks. When they got there they found that the ticks were as bad there as in South Africa so they returned.
He farmed and died on 'Cossack's Drift' near Rosmead in the Eastern Cape, South Africa



Microfilm# 1560877
Methodist Parish Records
Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Christenings: 1822-1858 (film is mis-labeled as Somerset East Methodist Parish)
Item 9
Entry #841
Child: John Mitford BOWKER
Parents: John Mitford and Mary Ann
Born: 6/7/1839
Baptized: 7/No Entry/1839
Minister: W. SHAW

Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/2594 R3939
Name of Deceased: John Mitford BOWKER
Birthplace of Deceased: Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parents of the Deceased: Father: John Mitford BOWKER
Mother: Mary Ann BOWKER
Age of Deceased: 84 years 7 months
Condition in Life: Farmer
Married:
Name of Surviving Spouse: Sarah Elizabeth BOWKER
Place of Last marriage: Somerset East
Date of Death: 29 January 1924
Place of Death: Cossak's Post, Middelburg
Names of children and whether major or minor:
Ethel Mitford BOWKER (deceased) married Charles L. HART
Anne Mitford BOWKER
Ellen Mitford BOWKER MARRIED William B. SURMAN
James Henry BOWKER
Robert Mitford BOWKER
Harriet May Mitford BOWKER
All Majors
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable & Immovable
Signed R.M. Bowker, Son

John married Sarah Elizabeth Bowker in 1874 in Cradock Church (St Peter's - Anglican), Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Sarah (daughter of Robert Mitford Bowker, 1820 Settler and Sarah Elizabeth Hart) was born on 24 Jan 1856 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 24 Feb 1856 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 14 Mar 1937 in Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Microfilm# 1560877, Methodist Parish Records Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Christenings: 1822-1858 (film is mis-labeled as Somerset East Methodist Parish)
Item 9 Entry #1005
Child: Thomas Standen BOWKER
Parents: John Mitford and Mary Ann
Born: 3/27/1841
Baptized: 4/17/1841
Minister: W. B. BOYCE

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Ostrich farmer

Notes:

Bourchier Bowker was one of the pioneers in the development of ostrich farming and farmed in partnership with the late Hon.Arthur Douglas M.L.A.at Southey's Hoek on the Fish River



Died:
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/294
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 1114
PART 1
DESCRIPTION BOWKER, BOURCHIER. DEATH NOTICE.
STARTING 18910000
ENDING 18910000

DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/294 R1114
Name of Deceased: Bouchier BOWKER
Place of Birth: Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parents: Father: John Mitford BOWKER
Mother: Mary Anne BOWKER
Age of Deceased 46 years 3 months
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Charlotte Jemima HILLIER
Condition in Life: Farmer
Name of Pre-Deceased Spouse and approximate Date of Death: Jane DUTHIE 22 August 1884
Date of Death: 24 May 1891
Place of Death: Grahamstown Hospital, Grahamstown
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Jane Caroline BOWKER (From First Marriage)
Thomas Bouchier BOWKER (From Second Marriage)
Reginald Bouchier BOWKER (From Second Marriage)
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable & Immovable
Signed: C.M. BOWKER, Surviving Spouse

Bourchier married Jane Duthie on 4 Apr 1883 in Holy Trinity Church, Belvedere, Knysna, Cape, South Africa. Jane (daughter of Captain Thomas Henry Duthie and Caroline Rex) was born on 27 Jun 1855 in Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 22 Aug 1884 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Old Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Bourchier married Charlotte Jemima Hallier on 19 Apr 1888 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Charlotte (daughter of Thomas Benoni Hallier and Elizabeth Dorkin) was born after 1854; died on 6 Mar 1928; was buried in Signal Kop farm cemetery, Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Name: Mary Ann Bowker

Mary married Captain James Wilmot Bowker on 3 Jul 1873 in Mitford Park, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. James (son of Octavius Bourchier Bowker, 1820 Settler and Mary Anne Stubbs) was born in 1847 in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 12 Dec 1909. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: 1912, Oliphant's Kloof, North Fish River, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

Notes:

Miles bought the farm 'Dunskye' from Mr. Cloete in about 1890 but he later lived and died on 'Olifantskloof'.
"He earned a reputation for being a superb shot and a keen hunter. In 1899 he accompanied friends on a hunting trip to the Lebombo Mountains. It is recorded that they “ returned with many trophies, including malaria”. It was here that he carved his name into a baobab tree at their camp on a small koppie. This is today listed as Bowker’s Kop on the Kruger National Park maps. Today there is a waterhole nearby, listed as Bowkerskop." per Will Bowker


Microfilm# 1560877
Methodist Parish Records
Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Christenings: 1822-1858 (film is mis-labeled as Somerset East Methodist Parish)
Item 9
Entry #761
Child: Miles Robert BOWKER
Parents: William Monkhouse and Hessey Susannah
Born: 12/25/1837
Baptized: 5/29/1838
Abode: Tharfield
Minister: G. BINGHAM


Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/726 R2755
Name of Deceased: Miles Robert BOWKER
Birthplace of Deceased: Grahamstown
Names of the parents of the Deceased: William Monkhouse BOWKER
Hester Susannah
Age of the Deceased: 75 years 8 months (about December 1837)
Condition in Life: Farmer
Widower
Name and date of death of previous spouse: Emma BEDDOE 2 November 1882
Date of Death: 13 August 1913
Place of Death: Olifantskloof, Albany, Cape Province
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Meyrick Brabbin BOWKER
Francis William Monkhouse BOWKER
Emma Clara BOWKER married HOCKLY
Miles Humphrey BOWKER
Harold Dugard BOWKER
Barnes Beddoe BOWKER
Sybil Woodyatt BOWKER (Deceased) married White leaving 3 children
Movable Property? Yes
Immovable Property? Yes
Signed by F.W.M. Bowker, son,

Miles married Emma Beddoe on 3 Jun 1867 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Emma (daughter of John Beddoe and Emma Child) was born in 1834; died on 2 Nov 1882 in Olifant's Kloof farm, Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried on 3 Nov 1882 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/3609 R24215
Name of Deceased: Nelly Johanna BOWKER
Place of Birth: 'Thorn Kloof', Bowden, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parentsof the Deceased: Father: William BOWKER
Mother: Hester BOWKER
Age of Deceased: 88 years 7months
Condition in Life: Farmer
Ordinary Place of Residence: 'Groenfontein', Albany, Cape Province
Widow
Name of Pre-deceased Spouse: Henry Frederick CURRIE Died about 1879
Date of Death: 6 October 1929
Place of Death: 'Bush Nek', Fort Beaufort, Cape Province
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Ann CURRIE Died before 1929
William Cole CURRIE Died before 1929
Henry Miles Bowker CURRIE Died before 1929
Nelly Hester CURRIE Married to Binney
Ina Florence CURRIE Married to LEX and to HILL
Walter Clement Leopold CURRIE
Helen Mary CURRIE Married to EMMS
Movable Property? Yes
Signed by W.C.L CURRIE Son

Nellie married Henry Frederick Currie on 2 Nov 1858 in St George, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Henry (son of Lt. Walter Currie, 1820 Settler and Ann Lowe, 1820 Settler) was born on 5 Jan 1835 in 'Waterval', Albany District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 7 Oct 1879 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: 1920, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Anna married John Evelyn Gordon Cloete on 25 Dec 1861 in Thornkloof farm, Fish River Randt, Eastern Cape, South Africa. John (son of Sir Henry Cloete and Christina Helen Graham) was born in 1834; died in 1909. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/4738 R49470
Name of Deceased: Mary Elizabeth BOWKER
Birthplace and Nationality: Grahamstown
Names of Parents: William Monkhouse BOWKER
Hester BOWKER
Age of Deceased: 88 years 11 months (DOB) 24 March 1847
Widow
Name of Pre-deceased Spouse: John Ogilvie NORTON Died 9 August 1899
Place of last marriage: Grahamstown
Date of Death: 24 February 1936
Place of Death: Grahamstown
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Annie Mary NORTON married Alfred WHITE (Died before 1936)
Hester Denison NORTON married Dennison Leslie CLARKE (Died before 1916)
Mary Mitford NORTON married John Ogilvie Stanford DRIVER
Bertram Bowker Stanley NORTON
Sybil Maude NORTON married WILLIAMS
Kathleen Ella NORTON married George Lorraine WHITE
John Ogilvie NORTON died before 1916
(a) John Cyprian Ogilvie NORTON 26 September 1906
(b) Margaret Bronier Ogilvie NORTON 10 August 1918
Arthur William Monkhouse NORTON (Died before 1936)
Dennis Ogilvie NORTON
Athalie Mary Monkhouse NORTON married Douglas MALCOMESS
Movable Property? Yes
Immovable Property? Yes
Signed: N.O. Norton, Son.

Mary married John Ogilvie Norton on 20 Apr 1864 in Oakwell, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. John (son of Philip Norton and Anne Mary Ogilvie) was born on 27 Jul 1840 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 23 Aug 1840 in Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 9 Aug 1899 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Not mentioned in Mother's Estate.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/16957 R1500
Name of Deceased: Williamina BOWKER
Birthplace of the Deceased: Unknown
Age of Deceased: 97 years 8 months (b June 1832)
Ordinary Place of Residence: 'Lindisfarn', Cathcart
Widow
Name of pre-deceased spouse and approximate date of death: Clement Howard CURRIE died 13 July 1937 Estate No. 55411
Date of Death: 21 February 1950
Place of Death: 'Lindisfarn', Cathcart
Names of Children and whether major or minor:
Ellen Louisa BOWKER married AIMETTI (deceased)
Hilda Josephine BOWKER married Thomas Charles WHITE
Ronald BOWKER
Harold Howard BOWKER
Phyllis Ina BOWKER married Eric NUDING
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable
Signed H.H. CURRIE, Son

Williamina married Clement Howard Currie on 15 Oct 1873 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Clement (son of Joseph Currie and Frances Jemima Carlisle) was born on 25 Apr 1851 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 14 Jul 1937 in Lindisfarne farm, Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in New cemetery, Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

The Natal Witness:
Tuesday, July 4th 1876.
MARRIAGE.
On the 17th June at Thorn Kloof, Albany, Cape Colony, by Dean WILLIAMS of Grahamstown, - Peter Voltehn CLOETE, of Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal, - to - Hester Francina, daughter of the late William Monhouse BOWKER, farmer, "Thornkloof"



Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/2474 R1525
Name of Deceased: Hestje Francina BOWKER
Place of Birth: Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parents of Deceased: Father: William Monkhouse BOWKER
Mother: Hester Susann OOSTHUIZEN
Age of Deceased: 68 years 1 month
Ordinary Place of Residence: Western Ford, Adelaide, Cape, South Africa
Widow
Name and approximate date of death of pre-deceased spouse: Peter Voltelin CLOETE died 16th March 1922
Date of Death: 6th June 1923
Place of Death: Western Ford, Adelaide, Cape, South Africa
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Henrietta Voltelin CLOETE
Edith Florence Bowker CLOETE
Eloise Helena Geraldine CLOETE married Napier RANKIN
William Broderick CLOETE
Lorenzo Mitford CLOETE
Evelyn Irene CLOETE
Montrose Graham CLOETE
Hester Cloete Married Gavin Grey Lynedoch GRAHAM
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable & Immovable
Signed W.B. Cloete, Son

Hester married Pieter Voltelin Cloete on 17 Jun 1876 in Thornkloof farm, Fish River Randt, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Pieter (son of Pieter Lawrence Graham Cloete and Helen Henrietta Van Der Byl) was born about 1845; died on 16 Mar 1922 in Adelaide, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Middleton, Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: From 1881 to 1937, Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Baptised: 1855, 25th October
Born: 3 September 1855
Parents: Thomas Holden & Julia Eliza BOWKER
Occupation: Yeoman
Residence: Grahamstown
Witnesses: Wm. C. Atherstone, Cath: Atherstone, Sarah Bell
Baptised by: J. Heavyside
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1849-1869, page 54, entry number 532. Repository: Cory Library, Ms 14 878-3.

Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/50050 R 57170
Name of Deceased: Emily Atherstone BOWKER
Place of Birth: Clumber, Albany District, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parents: Thomas Holden BOWKER
Emily McGOWAN
Age of Deceased: 82 years 1 month
Ordinary Place of Residence: 'Craigie Burn', Somerset East
Widow
Name of Pre-Deceased Spouse: Robert Hart BOWKER died 3 July 1936
Date of Death: 23 October 1937
Place of Death: 'Craigie Burn', Somerset East
Names of Children and whether major or minor:
Robert Holden Ardene BOWKER
Emily McGowan BOWKER Spinster
Bertram Egerton BOWKER
Dennis McGowan BOWKER
Mary Russel BOWKER married Dennis Cotterill HOOLE
Phyllis Beherens BOWKER married Lynn MacDONALD
Raleigh Redesdale BOWKER
Movable Property? Yes
Immovable Property? Yes
Will?
Signed R.R. BOWKER, Son

Emily married Robert Hart Bowker on 25 Jan 1881 in St John the Evangelist, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Robert (son of Robert Mitford Bowker, 1820 Settler and Sarah Elizabeth Hart) was born on 7 Mar 1853 in Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 7 Mar 1936 in Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Never married
St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959: Page 48
Entry 291
Thomas Holden BOWKER
Son of T.H.; Left Dec 1874; Gaika-Gcaleka Wars; Prospector in N. Transvaal, then farmed in Cape Eastern dist. and in Kenya; died July 1932.



Witness Role: Minister Name: Edmund Pain

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Probate: 15 Aug 1927, Eldoret, Kenya

Notes:

She is buried on 'Etterick' Farm but her name also appears on a copper plaque on the family memorial on 'Tharfield' farm in Albany

Katherine married Miles Egerton Bowker on 30 Jul 1896 in St John the Evangelist, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Miles (son of Robert Mitford Bowker, 1820 Settler and Sarah Elizabeth Hart) was born on 14 Jun 1860 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 5 Apr 1933 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: teacher

Notes:

Buried:
Buried near the Little Leki River

Mary married Henry Mitford-Barberton on 28 Mar 1894 in St John the Evangelist, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Henry (son of Frederick William Barber and Mary Elizabeth Bowker, 1820 Settler) 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. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959:Page 60
Entry 477
John Mitford BOWKER
Bro. of no. 291; Left May 1881; see 1881.

John married Lilian Ethel Hayter in 1890. Lilian was born about 1870. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959: Page 75
Entry 652
Miles McGowan BOWKER
Bro. of no. 477; Left June 1886; Boarder. Form III-IV. Boer War, Lt.; Capt. Port Alfred Police; Prospector: Kirriemuir, P.O. Hartley, S. Rhodesia, 1939.


Anglo-Boer War records 1899-1902 Transcription
First name(s) Miles McGowan
Last name Bowker
Service number(s) -
Rank Lieutenant
Regiment Port Alfred Imperial Mounted Police
Literary references The National Archives WO127. Nominal rolls colonial units.
Units -
Casualty details -
Casualty notes -
Casualty source -
Gazzetteer -
Country Great Britain
Record set Anglo-Boer War records 1899-1902
Category Military, armed forces & conflict
Subcategory Boer Wars
Collections from Great Britain

Miles married Gertrude Katherine Neethling in 1920 in Enkeldoorn, Zimbabwe (Rhodesia). Gertrude was born on 23 Sep 1886 in Prince Albert, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 19 Jan 1970 in Barradale Hospital, Marandellas, Zimbabwe. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Died In Childhood
Microfilm# 1560877
Methodist Parish Records
Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Christenings: 1822-1858 (film is mis-labeled as Somerset East Methodist Parish)
Item 9
Entry #822
Child: Ellen BOWKER
Parents: Bertram Egerton and Ann
Born: 3/27/1839
Baptized: 4/20/1839
Minister: W. SHAW

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Her memorial gravestone at Table farm has her date of death as Feb 27, 1916, where her ccd has 19 Feb 1915 !

Microfilm# 1560877
Methodist Parish Records
Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Christenings: 1822-1858 (film is mis-labeled as Somerset East Methodist Parish)
Item 9
Entry #986
Child: Mary Ellen BOWKER
Parents: Bertram Egerton and Ann
Born: 9/26/1840
Baptized: 10/18/1840
Minister: William B. BOYCE

Died:
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/780
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 786
PART 1
DESCRIPTION WHITE, MARY ELLEN. NEE BOWKER. DEATH NOTICE.
STARTING 19150000
ENDING 19150000

Mary married Major Thomas Charles White on 15 Jan 1858 in Oakwell, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Thomas (son of Thomas Charles White, 1820 Settler and Ann Grant Damant, 1820 Settler) was born on 30 Sep 1827 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 4 Aug 1909; was buried in Table Farm Cemetery, Table Farm, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Died In Childhood

Microfilm# 1560877
Methodist Parish Records
Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Christenings: 1822-1858 (film is mis-labeled as Somerset East Methodist Parish)
Item 9
Entry #1040
Child: Sybille? Mitford BOWKER
Parents: Bertram Egerton and Anne
Born: 11/4/1841
Baptized: 11/24/1841
Minister: William B. BOYCE


Grahamstown Journal, April 1843:
Died at Klip Fontein on the 17th instant, Sybilla Mitford, youngest daughter
of B.E.BOWKER, aged one year and five months.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Anne married John Frank in 1862. John was born est 1840. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959:
Page 37
Entry 114
Thomas Holden BOWKER
Son of B.E.; July 1862 - Jan 1863; age in 1862 - 15, Form I; died at Fort Jackson, C.P.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Bertha never married. She always accompanied her father to Cape Town whenever he attended sessions of the Legislative Assembly. She was known to have a 'sharp tongue' and ill-temper.

DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/17934 R2668
Name of Deceased: Bertha BOWKER
Birthplace of the deceased: Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parents of the Deceased: Father: Bertram BOWKER
Age of the deceased: 98 years Born about 1848
Ordinary Place of Residence: Port Alfred
Never Married
Date of Death: 24 March 1946
Place of Death: Inverness, Port Alfred
No Children
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable
Signed: E.G. Bowker, Cousin

Buried:
Grave H5

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: 1920, London, England

Notes:

Grahamstown Journal 24 July 1874:
MARRIED on Wednesday the 15th July 1874 at Trinity Church, King Williamstown, by the Ven. Archdeacon Kitton, Rowland Albemarle Arthur, eldest son of Albemarle Henry BETTINGTON Esq, Halsey House, Cheltenham, late Inspector-General of Prisoners and Commissioner of Police, Indian Civil Service, to fanny, fourth daughter of Bertram Egerton BOWKER Esq JP, Pembroke, British Kaffraria.

Residence:
23 Dorset Square, NW1

Fanny married Colonel Rowland Albermarle Arthur Bettington on 15 Jul 1874 in King William's Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Rowland was born in 1853 in Boulogne, France; died on 16 Aug 1933 in Gracedale Nursing Home, Parktown, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Her second marriage, to her nephew Claude Wright

DEATH NOTICE
6/9/2883 R9697
Name of Deceased: Catherine Agnes BOWKER
Place of Birth: Grahamstown
Names of the parents of the deceased: Father Bertram Egerton BOWKER
Mother: Annie SIMPSON
Age of Deceased: 72 years (birth about 1853
Condition in Life (Occupation):
Ordinary place of residence: Rosebank
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Claude William Shaw WRIGHT
Name or names and approximate date of death of previous spouse or spouses:
Charles Edward WRIGHT about 1895
Place of Last Marriage: Cape Town
Date of death: 19 November 1925
Place of Death: Casa Mia, Rosebank
Names of Children and whether major or minor:
Nil - no children from either marriage)
Has deceased left any property, and of what kind. Movable & immovable
Siblings:
Annie Elizabeth FRANK
Bertha BOWKER
Alec BOWKER
Gordon Cross BOWKER
Nephews and Nieces:
Arthur Vane BETTINGTON
Frances Annie BISSET
Egerton Mitford BETTINGTON
Roland Osbaldiston BETTINGTON
Aylmer Fitzwarren BETTINGTON
Signed C.W.S. Wright, Surviving spouse

Catherine married Charles Edward Wright on 1 Aug 1876 in Pembroke farm, King William's Town district, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Charles (son of Charles Wright and Mary Ann Thompson) was born on 13 Apr 1850 in Kirkella, Yorkshire, England; died on 28 Aug 1896 in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Claude William Shaw Wright. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Name: Alec Bowker

Notes:

He went to Kenya in about 1903 and farmed at Kijabe, which is just off the Nairobi to Nakuru road, about 30 miles South East of Naivasha.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

William Russell BOWKER was born in the Eastern Cape in 1855, the eleventh of twelve children, the fourth of five sons, born to The Hon. Bertram Egerton BOWKER. Bertram BOWKER arrived with his parents, as a child of ten, with the 1820 Settlers to South Africa, who settled in the Grahamstown area of the Eastern Cape. In due time Russell BOWKER married Helena BIRT and they had one daughter, Margeret.

Russell, after serving with some distinction in the Boer War, visited Kenya in 1901 and was so impressed with the farming/ranching possibilities he vowed that as soon as he had sorted out his affairs and estates in South Africa, he would return to take up land being offered to settlers by the Kenya Government of the day.
In 1904, Russell returned to Kenya bringing with him, some thirty odd aspirant farmers, with their families, from various parts of South Africa.
The Kenya Government was so impressed with BOWKER's efforts to bring in new settler family units, as they were desperately needed to develop the farming and ranching potential of the new Colony, that they offered him six 5000 acre concessional farm properties, as opposed to the normal 5000 acres at the time. BOWKER took up 30,000 acres in the Kedong valley below the Kijabe escarpment, naming his new ranch Mount Margeret Estate, after his daughter.
BOWKER died in 1920? (1916) and was buried on the top of Mount Margeret, on his estate. His daughter Margeret had some years previously married Frank William DOUGLASS who was a large estate owner in the Trans Nzoia, where he ranched cattle and also introduced the cultivation of flax.
Frank and Margeret had a son, Russell Bowker DOUGLASS, who became a noted white hunter in Tanganyika. They also had one daughter, Margeret Frances DOUGLASS, who married Cecil William ALLEN in 1925 and had one son, John ALLEN.
It is of interest that Russell BOWKER, Frank DOUGLASS, Cecil ALLEN and Jock CLEVERLY - John ALLEN's great-grandfather, grandfather, father and father-in-law respectively all served with the East African Mounted Rifles in 1915. Probably a unique family combination in Regimental service.

William married Helena Elizabeth Birt on 24 Feb 1881 in Pelton, King Williams Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Helena (daughter of Richard Birt and Margaretha Hart) was born in 1854; died on 4 May 1926 in Kampala, Uganda. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: 1891, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa; Miner

Notes:

Lived in Nairobi Kenya

Buried:
http://eamemorials.co.uk/EAMemorials/KENYA/Nairobi%20Forest%20Road/Forest327.htm
Last Name: BOWKER
Given Name: Gordon Cross
Birth:
Death: 24 Apr 1946
AGED: YR: 91

Nationality: British
Date of Burial: 25 Apr 1946
Gender: M
Inscriptions:R.I.P. / Gordon Cross Bowker / died 24th April 1946
Cemetery: Forest Road Cemetery
Section: 6, Lot: 130

Gordon married Eveline Selina Currie on 22 Oct 1884 in St John's Church, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Eveline (daughter of Major Charles Currie and Maria Johanna Anthoinetta Chiappini) was born about 1862 in Cape of Good Hope, South Africa; died on 8 Nov 1922 in Nairobi, Kenya; was buried on 9 Nov 1922 in Forest Road cemetery, Nairobi, Kenya. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Never married.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

married her cousin Robert Hart ? - p261 of Comdt Holden Bowker by I M-B.
DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/2358 R2603
Name of Deceased: Ellen Tamplin BOWKER
Place of Birth: ?
Names of Parents of the Deceased: Father: Robert Mitford BOWKER
Mother: Sarah Elizabeth HART
Age of Deceased: 79 years
Condition in Life: Farmer
Widow
Name of Previous Spouse: Robert HART died about 1883
Place of last marriage: Somerset East
Date of Death: 14th November 1919
Place of Death: Cathcart
Names of Children of the Deceased and whether major or minor:
Robert McInnes HART
William HART
Sarah Elizabeth HART married to H.N. HART
Ellen Bowker HART married Rupert DELL
Anna Maria HART married Ernest Charles WEAKLEY
Whether deceased has left any property and of what kind:
The deceased has left a will:
Dated at:
Signed. R.M. HART, Son

Ellen married Robert Scotland Hart on 18 Dec 1867 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Robert (son of Lieutenant James Hart and Maria Susanna Wilhemina van Aardt) was born on 9 Oct 1837 in 'Block Drift', Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 10 Dec 1837 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 29 Mar 1883 in Thomas River, Cathcart district, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Thomas River Historical village cemetey, Cathcart District, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/3313 R18272
Name of Deceased: Ann Stretch BOWKER
Birthplace of Deceased: Somerset East
Names of Parents of the Deceased: Father: Robert Mitford BOWKER
Mother: Sarah Elizabeth HART
Age of Deceased: 86 years 1 month
Condition in Life:
Ordinary Place of Residence:
Widower
Name of surviving spouse:
Name of pre-deceased spouse: James Scott PRINGLE died 7th October 1897
Place of last marriage: Somerset East
Date of Death: 14th March 1928
Place of Death: Ettrick, Mount Currie
Names of Children of the Deceased and whether Major or Minor:
Edith Elizabeth PRINGLE married Alfred Minto BLAKEWAY
Ida Ann PRINGLE married George Grey IMPEY
Nellie Monkhouse PRINGLE married Richard George BLAKEWAY
Minnie Mitford PRINGLE Unmarried
Effie Stevens PRINGLE Unmarried
Frank Bowker PRINGLE Unmarried
Hugh Egerton PRINGLE
Ralph Tamplin PRINGLE
Douglas Scott PRINGLE
Ellen May PRINGLE Unmarried
Whether Deceased has left any property and of what kind: Movable
The deceased has left a will?
Dated at F.B. PRINGLE Son

Anne married James Scott Pringle on 24 Jul 1862 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. James (son of William Pringle and Ann Scott) was born on 2 Sep 1832 in Eildon, Bedford district, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 9 Dec 1832 in Glen Lynden, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 29 Oct 1897 in Ettrick, Kokstad, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Fred was a Lieutenant in Bowker's Rovers in the Galaka War, and Captain in the Yeomanry in the Basuto War. He served as a Sgt-Major in the Somerset East DMT in the Boer war. Fred lived at Charlton, and also at 'The Retreat' (part of Glen Avon) and afterwards in Somerset East. He was scab inspector for many years. Died in Somerset.

Following on in the estate files is some cirrespondence regarding the Swaziland Government owing £3/6 to the estate, and all the red tape that went on to get this small amount paid, as Josephine had not filed his will, and had to prove that she was heir to the sum of money!

James married Josephine Mary Smuts in 1877 in Craigie Burn, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Afrca. Josephine (daughter of Dr. Johannes Joachim Lodewijk Smuts and Susan Margaret Ferris) was born on 23 May 1853 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 4 Feb 1928 in Prince Alfred Infirmary, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in New Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Effie married John Ward Stevens on 12 Feb 1864 in All Saints Anglican Church, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. John (son of John N Stevens and Eliza Creagh) was born on 13 Aug 1841 in Cornwall, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

seen in Adelaide Presbyterian church records from Albany Museum.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/4518 R43893
Name of Deceased: Robert Mitford BOWKER
Place of Birth: Somerset East
Names of Parents of the Deceased:
Age of Deceased: 85 years 9 months
Condition in Life: Farmer
Widower
Name and approximate date of death of predeceased Spouse: Agnes Sara BOWEN
Date of Death: 17th February 1934
Place of Death: Napier Street, Graaff-Reinet
Names of Children and whether major or minor:
Mabel BOWKER married JUDD (Johannesburg)
Mary BOWKER married WALKER (Johannesburg)
Catherine BOWKER married BROOK (Port Elizabeth)
Effie M. BOWKER married BOWKER (Graaff-Reinet)
Constance Kent BOWKER (Springs)
Ellen Kelly BOWKER (Durban)
Whether deceased left any property, and of what kind: Nil
Signed E.M. Bowker, Daughter

Died:
18 Napier street

DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/4518 R43893
Name of Deceased: Robert Mitford BOWKER
Place of Birth: Somerset East
Names of Parents of the Deceased:
Age of Deceased: 85 years 9 months
Condition in Life: Farmer
Widower
Name and approximate date of death of predeceased Spouse: Agnes Sara BOWEN
Date of Death: 17th February 1934
Place of Death: Napier Street, Graaff-Reinet
Names of Children and whether major or minor:
Mabel BOWKER married JUDD (Johannesburg)
Mary BOWKER married WALKER (Johannesburg)
Catherine BOWKER married BROOK (Port Elizabeth)
Effie M. BOWKER married BOWKER (Graaff-Reinet)
Constance Kent BOWKER (Springs)
Ellen Kelly BOWKER (Durban)
Whether deceased left any property, and of what kind: Nil
Signed E.M. Bowker, Daughter

Robert married Agnes Sarah Bowen on 26 Oct 1871 in Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Agnes (daughter of George Bowen and Sarah Burrell) was born in 1854 in Grootrock, Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1905 in Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Greenlands, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; Sheep farmer and cattle.

Septimus married Catherine Ablett Harvey on 23 Jun 1879 in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Catherine was born on 26 Nov 1857; died on 24 Feb 1900 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Main cemetery, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Berlin, Eastern Cape, South Africa; Farmer
• Residence: 1920, Redesdale house, Berlin, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Issue : 11 sons and 2 daughters

DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/3183 R15675
Name of Deceased: William Henry BOWKER
Place of Birth: Somerset East
Names of Parents: Robert Mitford BOWKER
Sarah HART
Age of Deceased: 75 years 9 months
Condition in Life: Farmer
Place of Residence: Berlin, Eastern Cape
Widower
Name of pre-deceased wife: Helena Willamina SNYMAN D 15 July 1927
Date of Death: 2 August 1927
Place of Death: Readesdale, Berlin
Names of Children:
Charles Lennox Stretch BOWKER
Mary Magdalene Snyman BOWKER
Robert Mitford BOWKER
Sarah Elizabeth BOWKER
Graham Douglas BOWKER
Lynda Pearl BOWKER
Movable Property? Yes
Immovable Property? Yes
Will?
Signed: C.L.S. BOWKER, Son

William married Helena Williamina Snyman on 14 Dec 1880 in Ailsa, Thomas River, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Helena (daughter of Gert Snyman and Mary Magdalena Human) was born in Dec 1862 in Klein Winterhoek, Uitenhage district, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 15 Jul 1927 in Grey Hospital, King William's Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Main cemetery, Berlin, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; a Farmer

Robert married Emily Atherstone Bowker on 25 Jan 1881 in St John the Evangelist, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Emily (daughter of Thomas Holden Bowker, 1820 Settler and Julia Eliza McGowan) 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. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Sarah married John Mitford Bowker in 1874 in Cradock Church (St Peter's - Anglican), Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa. John (son of John Mitford Bowker and Mary Anne Standen) was born on 7 Jun 1839 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 7 Jul 1839 in Commemoration Church, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 29 Jan 1924 in Cossack Post, Rosmead, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: Between 1857 and 1890, Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa
• Residence: Between 1890 and 1951, Glen Craig farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Oliver lived most of his life on his farm, Glen Craig, a sub division of the Craigie Burn farm, Somerset East. He used to farm cattle and sheep. When we, Janet and Paul TT, went to the farm in May 2014, we were rather disappointed in its' condition. Most of the original house had been demolished and only the 'south end' was still original. All the north end had gone, except for the toilet at the end of the rear verandah. We could see where the original building was from a view from the west up behind the house. The croquet lawn area was also still there, and a nice little tree was growing where I think one of the bedrooms must have been. A 'new' room ahd been added, as can be seen on one of the photos. The original dry-stone wall cattle barn was still there, but one section of the wall has been knocked inwards. The original tree branches were still holding up the roof. None of the flower and vegetable garden in front of the house exist any more. A lot of wattle trees have grown up in the kloof, and are spreading. A couple of new buildings had been built, and it looked like the farmhouse was being used as a base for game watching/hunting/trails - sad.

He was twice mentioned in despatches during the Anglo-Boer War - first for clearing the Somerset East district of horses so that the Boers could not get fresh re-mounts, and secondly for putting the names of all the farmers and their families on their doors to enable the troops to see if they were harbouring Boers, etc. This was not a popular task!

His grand-daughter Susie-Bell Aylward related the following anecdote. "When the family used to travel to Nylstroom, with her father Stuart driving the 'old Ford' Model T car, Oliver used to carry a whistle, and if he thought that the road was not safe, or he could not see around the corners, he would tell Stuart to stop the car, and blow his whistle to warn any oncoming people or traffic!"



Died:
DEATH NOTICE: MOOC 6/9/18651 R5072
Name of Deceased: Oliver Osbaldiston BOWKER
Birthplace of Deceased: Somerset East
Age of Deceased: 93 years 10 months (b October 1857)
Condition in Life: Farmer
Ordinary Place of Residence: 'Glen Craig', Somerset East
Widower
Name of pre-deceased wife and approximate date of death: Susan Margaret Surruriar SMUTS died 3 February 1949
Place of last marriage: Somerset East
Date of Death: 2 August 1951
Place of Death: 'Glen Craig', Somerset East
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Oliver George Duncan BOWKER
Cyril Rowland BOWKER
Ella BOWKER married CRUTCHLEY
Vera Ferris BOWKER married AYLWARD
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable
Signed O.G.D. BOWKER, Son

Oliver married Susan Margaret Serrurier Smuts on 26 Sep 1889 in Glen Avon farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Susan (daughter of Johannes Joachim Lodewyk Smuts and Esther Leonora Wilhelmina Morkel) was born on 9 Nov 1870 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 3 Feb 1949 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Somerset East , Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: 1920, Farm no 3, Trans Nzoia, Soy, Kenya; farmer

Miles married Katherine Mitford Bowker on 30 Jul 1896 in St John the Evangelist, Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Katherine (daughter of Thomas Holden Bowker, 1820 Settler and Julia Eliza McGowan) 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. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Gobas Hope farm, Bedford District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

John married Susan Maria Botha on 13 Mar 1899 in St Cyprian's Church, Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa. Susan (daughter of Pieter William Adrian Botha and Anna Elizabeth Engelbrecht) was born est 1858. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Alstonfields farm, Bedford district, Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

William married Annie Jane Lanham about 1890. Annie (daughter of William Lanham and Tryphoena Leonard) was born on 31 Jul 1869 in Albany District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 29 Jun 1939 in Alston, Bedford District, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Baptised: 1861, Jany 23
Born: 17th July 1860
Parents: Septimus [Bourchier] & Frances Martha BOWKER [OR BOWLER]
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Elephant's Kloof
Witnesses: The Parents & Miles Bowker, Mrs Deighance
Baptised by: N.J. Merriman
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1849-1869, page 108, entry number 1087. Repository: Cory Library, Ms 14 878-3.

Family/Spouse: Frederick Arthur Grainger. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Harry Spencer. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

There is a stained glass window to Bertram and Ellen in the Anglican Church in Bedford, Cape, South Africa

DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC: 6/9/27934 R1088
Name of Deceased: Bertram Mitford BOWKER
Birthplace of Deceased: Albany
Names of Parents of Deceased: Father: Septimus Bourchier BOWKER
Mother: Francis FORWARD
Age of Deceased: 90 years 11 months
Condition of Life: Farmer
Ordinary place of Residence: Olive Fountain, Bedford
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Ellen Mary Stewart MacLAREN
Date of Death: 19 February 1956
Place of Death: Olive Fountain, Bedford
Names of Children and whether major or minor:
Elizabeth Bertram BOWKER married Conlan Noel SOUTHERN (Divorced) Since then she has married Unknown ARNOLD
Helen May Bertram BOWKER married Karl Emil KRETSCHMANN
Whether deceased left any property, and of what kind: Movable & Immovable
Signed E.H.S. BOWKER Surviving Spouse

Baptised: 1872, April 14
Born: March 6 1865
Parents: Septimus Bourchier & Frances Charlotte BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: All Stone Field, Bedford
Witnesses: William Monkhouse Bowker, Hester Bowker & The Father
Baptised by: Robert J. Mullins
Additional notes: Carlisle Bridge
Note by transcriber: Child's name originally written as William Bertram Mitford with William scored out
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 17, entry number 3062. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Bertram married Ellen Mary Stewart MacLaren on 28 Jul 1908 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Ellen was born in Apr 1878 in Queensland, Australia; died on 15 Nov 1964 in Olive Fountain, Bedford District, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Name: Frances Martha Bowker

Notes:

Baptised: 1872, April 14
Born: January 6 1872
Parents: Septimus Bourchier & Frances Charlotte BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: All Stone Field, Bedford
Witnesses: William Monkhouse Bowker, Hester Bowker & The Mother
Baptised by: Robert J. Mullins
Additional notes: Carlisle Bridge
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 17, entry number 3063. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Family/Spouse: Maurice Walter Gradwell. Maurice (son of John Gradwell and Ann Walter) was born in 1865 in Ettrick Hills, Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 29 Mar 1865 in Kowie, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1945. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959:
Page 37
James Wilmot BOWKER
Entry no. 112
"Son of O.B.; Feb 1862 - Oct 1864; Age in 1862 - 14, Form I ; Gaika war, Captain; Inspector Basutoland Police; Actg. Assist. Commissioner Mohalies Hoek 1885 - 1888; Assist. Commissioner 1893. Died 1909."

James married Mary Ann Bowker on 3 Jul 1873 in Mitford Park, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mary (daughter of John Mitford Bowker and Mary Anne Standen) was born on 27 Mar 1847 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 12 Dec 1909. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959: Page 37
John Mitford BOWKER
Entry 113
"Bro. of No. 112; Feb 1862 - May 1864; age in 1862 - 12, Form I; one of four O.A.s out of 11 Europeans who came out at the relief of Mohalies Hoek 1880; died in N. Rhodesia, September 29th, 1927.

John married Georgina Louisa Stubbs on 20 Dec 1871 in Champagne, Rouxville, Oranjevrijstaat. Georgina (daughter of George Campbell Stubbs and Louisa Georgina Burrell) was born on 16 Sep 1852; was christened on 3 Oct 1852 in Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Ellen married William Henry Surmon on 25 Feb 1873 in Champagne, Rouxville, Free State, South Africa. William (son of Inspector William Henry Surmon, 1820 Settler and Susannah Payne) was born about 1845; was christened on 27 Jul 1845 in Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 28 Mar 1916 in Zastron district, Free State, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Rhodesia's pioneer women by Jessie M LLOYD:
Annie Octavia BOWKER who married Edwin Owen DAVIES had a son Ronald Mitford ...... Baptised 3-3-1896
Annie came to Rhodesia in 1895 they farmed on Rangemore farm.

MRS. E. O. DAVIES, 1895
Neâe Annie Octavia Bowker. On Roll of Women Pioneers. Mrs. Davies' son, Ronald Mitford, was baptised on 3:3:96. Her husband, Edwin Owen Davies, farmed at "Rangemoor", Bulawayo. Information, Register of Baptisms, 1894, Parish of St. John, Bulawayo.

Family/Spouse: Edwin Owen Davies. Edwin was born on 23 Dec 1856; died on 7 Sep 1916. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Dug for diamonds with his father and brother in Kimberley, 1871. His journals of an expedition to the Victoria falls in 1875 and another to Matebeleland in 1877-8 have been published by the Rhodes Livingstone Museum, under the title 'Zambezia and Matabeleland in the Seventies'. This trip was made by ox-wagon through Bechuanaland via the Makarikari Pan to Pandematenga where, owing to tsetse fly, they left the wagon and completed the remaing 60 miles on foot. Fred was a painter of landscapes and antelopes. With his brother was a co-founder of the town of Barberton in Transvaal in 1884. Immigrated to Kenya and is buried at Eldoret.
quoted from Men of our Times 1905.
'Frederick Hugh Barber, who ranks with his brother, H.M. Barber, as one of the pioneers of South African history, is the son of F.W. Barber, Esq., a geologist and scientific farmer of the district of Grahamstown. His mother was the daughter of Miles Bowker (one of the British Settlers of 1820, an authoress, scientist, naturalist and artist of great fame. Born at Grahamstown, Mr. F.H. Barber grew up on his parents' farm, and was educated at St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown. After leaving college, he launched out into various pursuits and enterprises, and his career has been one of singular experience and marked with considerable success. In 1870 he started on an exploring tour with a view to prospecting, and travelled to the Vaal River, pegging and working claims on nearly all the river diggings. He and his brother pegged and worked original claims on De Beers, Du Toits Pan, Bultfontein, and Kimberley. In 1872 he joined the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police under Sir Walter Currie as sub-inspector, and on retiring from the force three years later was presented with a handsome testimonial to his troop. In 1875 he started from Kimberley in a bullock wagon to visit the Victoria Falls and shoot big game. His love of sport took him through Matabeleland in 1877. Ten years spent in a bullock wagon, hunting, travelling and prospecting, brought him in contact with nearly every country south of the Zambezi, including Bamangwatoland,Matabeleland, Mashonaland, Bechuanaland, Manicaland, Gazaland, the Kalihari Desert, German West Africa, Zululand, Swaziland, Basutoland, the Transkei, and the Portuguese south coast colonies. He became a great friend of the chief Khama, and spent three months on a friendly visit to Lobengula in 1878. In 1879 he returned and worked claims on the Kimberley mine, and the following year we find him actively engaged in ostrich and cattle farming in Albany. The goldfields of North-eastern Transvaal next attracted his attention, and with his brother, H.M. Barber, and cousin Graham H. Barber, he plunged into the speculative and venturous career consistent with the life of a miner and digger. Their efforts were successful, and as a witness of the result of their labours, "Barberton" named after the brothers, rose into existence and fame. In 1886 Mr. Fred H. Barber proceeded to the Witwatersrand goldfields and settled in Ferreira's Camp (now Johannesburg), where he floated almost the first company on the Rand, the "Ferreira", with a capital of twelve thousand pounds. Before floating the company, he sank on the claims the first shaft on the Rand to a depth of 50 feet, thereby proving the permanency of the reef, and crushed 100 tons of ore at Struben's mill, which yielded over 1 oz. to the ton over the plates, the ore being carried by bullock wagon for nine miles. He floated the Simmer and Jack Company, and acted as director and promoter of some of the principal companies on the Rand, including the Jumpers, Aurora, Spes Bona, Kleinfontein, Princess and Nigel Deep. He was also associated with the flotation of the Transvaal and Delagoa Bay Investment Company and the Johannesburg Board of Executors, in both of which he was one of the directors. Mr. Barber is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and is on the Committees of the Grahamstown Museum, Art Society, and Botanical Gardens; and a J.P. of Albany. He was late chairman of the Board of Works, Municipal Council, Grahamstown. He belongs to the following clubs : Rand and Pioneer, Johannesburg; Albany and Grahamstown Clubs, Grahamstown; and the City Club, Cape Town. In 1809 Mr. Barber married Miss F.R. Evans, daughter of the late J.B. Evans of Rietfontein,Graaff Reinet, who introduced the Angora goat into South Africa. In reviewing Mr. Barber's interesting and varied career it is impossible to do him the justice he merits from want of space. Our brief summary of his important and useful life has been little short of cataloguing the main events of his career. His life has been many-sided, comprising as it does that of farmer, frontier policeman, explorer, hunter, miner, prospector and speculator. His expeditions have extended into almost every remote part of Central South Africa and the colonies, while on the Continent they have included nearly every country in Europe, besides visiting Egypt and travelling up the Nile. A man of culture and refinement that in no way have deteriorated from the rougher influences of life, he figures prominently among the leading men who have aided in the promotion and extension of South African interests. His enthusiasm and love of sport, natural history, and enterprise is characterised by self-restraint, probably due to his excellent home training. Throughout his career he has shown a singular recognition of the higher ideals of life. '

Frederick married Eira Rebecca Evans on 26 Oct 1898 in London, England. Eira (daughter of John Brown Evans and Anne Caroline Rex) was born on 13 May 1874 in 'Reitfontein', Willowmore, Cape Colony, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Mary married Alexander Cumming Bailie on 23 Jul 1878 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Alexander (son of Archibald Hope Bailie, 1820 Settler and Jane Amelia Cumming) was born on 15 Apr 1850; died in 1903 in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Died Young

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: 31 Jul 1920, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

DEATH NOTICE: 6954
Name of Deceased: Iné HAYTER (born ATHERSTONE)
Place of Birth: Albany Division - British
Names of Parents: John Broderick Korsten ATHERSTONE
Anna Maria ATHERSTONE
Age at death: 92 years
Condition in Life: Housewife
Widow
Residence: Fitzroy Street, Grahamstown
Pre-deceased Spouse: Henry HAYTER Date of Death: 11 April 1911
Place of last marriage: Grahamstown
Date of Death: 20th June 1940
Residence: Fitzroy Street, Grahamstown, Albany
Children of the Marriage:
Henry Stovin HAYTER (son - deceased)
Inez Maria HAYTER HUGHES (daughter)
John Atherstone HAYTER (son - deceased)
Thomas Spofforth HAYTER (son - major)
Phyllis Ruth FORD (daughter)
George Lister HARPER - (son - major - deceased)
Arthur HAYTER (son - major)
William HAYTER (son - major)
Mary Louise EBDEN born HAYTER (daughter)
Alice Atherstone HAYTER (daughter - major)
Movable property? Yes
Immovable property? Yes
Value over £300? Yes
Will? Yes
Signed in Grahamstown by Mary L. EBDEN, daughter, present at death

Residence:
! Jarvis street

Family/Spouse: Henry Hayter. Henry (son of George Smith Hayter and Alice Stovin Lister) was born on 15 May 1842 in Mitcham, Surrey, England; died on 11 Apr 1911 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

died as a baby

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Family Bible (Newspaper cutting transcribed)
http://www.eggsa.org/documents/main.php?g2_itemId=1483046
FASHIONABLE WEDDING – On Wednesday morning our city was enlivened by a gay wedding: Richard Henry Stockdale, Esq lately of Graaff-Reinet, being married in St George’s Cathedral to Alice C Atherstone, second daughter of John Atherstone, Esq. There were eight bridesmaids, and altogether the scene in the Cathedral during the impressive ceremony presented a pretty and graceful spectacle. The relations and connections of the respected family of the Atherstones’ were present, and all repaired to Dr Atherstone’s residence, in Beaufort-street, where some fifty persons sat down to a sumptuous wedding breakfast, and cordially drank to the health and happiness of the bride and bridegroom. After breakfast the young couple left for the Kowie. On the conclusion of the marriage ceremony in the Cathedral the organ pealed forth the grand Wedding march from Mendelssohn’s overture to the “Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Alice married Richard Henry Stockdale on 6 Sep 1871 in St George's Cathedral, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Richard (son of Joseph Stockdale and Anne Young, - wife of Joseph Stockdale) was born on 11 Feb 1833 in St Helens, Prescot, Lancashire, England; was christened on 22 Sep 1833 in Wesleyan Methodist, St Helens, Prescot, Lancashire, England; died on 25 Oct 1905 in Annadale Villa, Kalk Bay, Western Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Mary married Edward Smith in 1875 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Sybil married Charles Edward Perkins about 1878. Charles (son of Joseph Perkins and Penelope Frances Kipling) was born on 29 Aug 1854 in Laughton, Leicester, England; died on 2 Sep 1893 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: 1931, 6 Roseberry Avenue, Cambridge, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

DEATH NOTICE: 305 S8 22 June 1921
Name of Deceased: Anna Maria BARRAUD born ATHERSTONE
Names of Parents: John ATHERSTONE
Ann ATHERSTONE (born BOWKER)
Age of Deceased: 74
Condition in Life: Housewife
Place of Residence: 6 Roseberry Avenue, Cambridge, East London
Widow of Arthur Charles BARRAUD
Died 1901 (77/284)
Pre-deceased Spouse: Henry Chambers MORSHEAD died 1882
Place of last marriage: Port Alfred
Date of Death: 6th June 1931
Place of Death: Frere Hospital, East London
Names of Children:
Harry Atherstone Anderson MORSHEAD (describe in Will as Harry Anderson Morshead)
Archer Anderson MORSHEAD
Arthur Clifford Hilton BARRAUD (described in Will as Clifford Barraud)
Percival Atherstone BARRAUD
Hubert Archer BARRAUD
Nora Mitford PHILLIPS (Born BARRAUD)
All majors.
Movable Property: Yes
Immovable Property: Yes
Estimate Exceeds £300. Yes
Will: Yes
Signed in East London on the 15th June 1931 AOH Barraud present at Death.

see also the !820 Settler's Genealogy Record of 1920 at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKK-V9BV-V

Family/Spouse: Harry Chambers Anderson-Morshead. Harry died before 1921. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married Arthur Charles BarraudPort Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Arthur was born in Cambridge, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: 1920, Roodepoort, Gauteng, South Africa

Family/Spouse: Emily Potter Hyde. Emily (daughter of William Keppel Hyde and Sarah King, 1820 Settler) was born on 8 Apr 1858 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 1 May 1858 in St George's Cathedral, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 10 Jul 1918. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: 1916, Doornberg Farm, Brak River, Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Grahamstown Journal 9 August 1875:
BIRTH at Grahamstown on the 7th August, the wife of Mr. D.C. BOWKER of a son.

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959: Page 85
Entry 760
John Mitford Pringle BOWKER
son of D.C.; Left Dec 1892; Day, Boarder. Born 1875. Form II-C.S. Cpl. C.C. VIII. S.H. 1. 1891. Matric. 1892. C.S. Exam. 1892; Farmer; Boer War, Capt.; Great war, Capt.; rep. Midlands at Cricket 1907; Doornberg, P.B. Middelburg, C.P. 1945.

He served in the Anglo-Boer War. While fighting during World War I he was wounded.
He went to Nigeria and the French Sudan to look at ostriches. They brought back about 150 birds by ship.
From 'The Bowkers of Tharfield': Jack Bowker has one of the most interesting heirlooms which the family possesses, the old silver seal of the Bouchier which as head of the family he inherited from his father.

Baptised: 1875, August 28th
Born: August 7th 1875
Parents: Duncan Campbell and Beatrice Scott BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Fish River Randt
Witnesses: William Blore Townsend (by Proxy), The Father & Mrs Emma Townsend (by Proxy)
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 34, entry number 3235. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

John married Alice Beatrice Scott in 1913 in King William's Town, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Alice (daughter of Robert Pringle Scott and Ellen Jeffrey) was born on 6 May 1879. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Name: Mable Mitford Pringle Bowker

Notes:

Baptised: 1876, Oct 13th
Born: 27th September
Parents: Duncan Campbell & Beatrice Scott BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Kafir Kraal Farm, Fish River Randt
Witnesses: The Parents & Hannah Templer Pringle
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 40, entry number 3297. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Mabel married Peter De Beer in 1909 in Doornberg, Middleburg, Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Baptised: 1878, November 15th
Born: 27th October 1878
Parents: Duncan Campbel & Beatrice Scott BOWKER
Occupation: Duncairn near Grahamstown
Witnesses: The Parents & Harriet Pringle
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 52, entry number 3507. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: farmer

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959: Page 111
Entry 1087
Duncan Mitford Pringle BOWKER
bro. of no. 760; Left June 1897; b. 26.9.1880; Day. Form II-V; S.H. Feb 1897. Farmer; Boer War; Great War; Whiteridge, P.B. Middleburg, C.P. 1946.

During the 1914-1918 War as he was wounded in the leg during the South West Africa Rebellion. Later in East Africa he was shot in the stomach. The family still have the leather belt with two holes in it.


Baptised: 1880, October 18th
Born: 26th September 1880
Parents: Duncan Campbell & Beatrice Scott BOWKER
Occupation: Ostrich Farmer
Residence: Duncairn Albany
Witnesses: The Father, J.J. Edwards & Mrs Edwards
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 64, entry number 3618. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Duncan married Christina Duthie on 18 Apr 1923 in Belvedere, Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa. Christina (daughter of Thomas Henry Duthie and Christiana Petrena Amelia Mussman) was born on 5 Apr 1890; was buried in Doornberg Farm, Brak River, Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

EP Herald, 23 Aug 1982
Herald Correspondent

Port Alfred - Messages of congratulations and good wishes have been pouring in for Mrs. Gladys Mitford Pringle COLLETT who celebrates her 100th birthday at Damant Lodge, Port Alfred's home for the aged today. Mrs. COLLETT is a granddaughter of the 1820 Settler, John Mitford BOWKER and was born in the Grahamstown district on August 23, 1882.

At an early age her parents trekked to Middelburg, Eastern Cape district where the BOWKER family has remained ever since. Mrs. COLLETT later married Mr. John COLLETT who farmed near the Fish River in the Cradock district and had seven children.

Two parties were arranged for Mrs. COLLETT. The first, due to take place yesterday was cancelled due to "slight illness". The party was due to be attended by close COLLETT and BOWKER relatives including her 95 year-old sister, Mrs. Vera COSTER.

More than 100 gusts have been invited to a tea party at the lodge this afternoon where the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. & Mrs. Dereck KINGSLEY-JONES will convey the congratulations of the Council and the residents of Port Alfred to Mrs. COLLETT. At the gathering will be Mr. COMYN, a grandson, who will read message from the State President and from the Minister of Posts & Telecommunications, Dr. MUNNIK.

Baptised: 1882, September 13th
Born: August 23rd 1882
Parents: Duncan Campbell & Beatrice Scott BOWKER
Occupation: Grahamstown
Residence: Duncairn, Albany
Witnesses: The Parents & Harriet Pringle
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 73, entry number 3714. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Gladys married John Alexander Collett in 1909. John (son of Walter James Collett and Bremnerina Rose-Innes) was born on 15 Apr 1882 in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1962. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

MOOC6/9/793 R1964
Name of Deceased: Dodds Pringle Mitford BOWKER
Place of Birth: Grahamstown, Albany, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parents: Duncan BOWKER & Beatrice BOWKER
Age of Deceased: 31 years 1 month
Unmarried:
Date of Death: 31 July 1915
Place of Death: Valkenberg Mental Hospital
Moveable Property? Cash only
Signed by Jessie Rose-Innes Aunt of Deceased

Baptised: 1884, 26 August
Born: 26th June 1884
Parents: Duncan Campbell & Beatrice Scott BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Duncairn, Fish River Randt
Witnesses: The Parents & Leonard Wm. Money
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 78, entry number 3761. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Grave P18 in Port Alfred Methodist Settler Cemetery, Port Alfred, Cape, South Africa.

Baptised: 1887, May 12
Born: April 20 1887
Parents: Duncan Campbell & Beatrice Scott BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Duncairns, Fish River Randt
Witnesses: The Parents & Mrs Lawrie
Baptised by: The Dean of Grahamstown
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 89, entry number 3873. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Vera married Samuel Edward Horace Coster in 1922. Samuel died in Assumed Deceased. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Baptised: 1890, Nov 11th
Born: Oct 22nd 1890
Parents: Duncan Capmbell & Beatrice Scott BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Duncairn, Albany
Witnesses: Parents, Mary Ann Pringle
Baptised by: J.H.Carter
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 109, entry number 4066. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/556
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 2895
PART 1
DESCRIPTION HART, ETHEL MITFORD. NEE BOWKER. DEATH NOTICE.
STARTING 19060000
ENDING 19060000

DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/556 R2895
Name of the Deceased: Ethel Mitford BOWKER
Place of Birth: Albany
Names of Parents: John Mitford BOWKER, Elizabeth BOWKER
Age of the Deceased: 29 years
Condition in Life: Farmer's Wife
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Charles Lennox HART
Date of Death: 24 September 1906 (Death in Childbirth)
Place of Death: 'Glencoe', Middelburg, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Eileen Frances BOWKER 29 September 1904
Unnamed Daughter 24 September 1906
Movable Property? Yes
Signed by C.L. Hart, Surviving Spouse

Ethel married Charles Lennox Hart on 24 Sep 1902. Charles (son of Robert Hart and Harriet Elizabeth Marillier) was born on 31 Aug 1862 in Glen Avon farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 28 Sep 1862 in Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 16 Apr 1941 in Middelburg, Transvaal, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/1390 R801
Name of Deceased: Winnifred Mitford BOWKER
Place of Birth: Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parents: John M. BOWKER, S.E. BOWKER
Age of Deceased: 39 years 8 months
Status: Unmarried
Date of Death: 4 November 1918
Place of Death: Middelburg, Cape of Good Hope
Whether deceased has left any property and of what kind? Nil
Signed by: J.M. BOWKER
Father of Deceased.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: 1938, Tafelberg, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/22154 R865
Name of Deceased: Annie Mitford BOWKER
Place of Birth: Unknown
Age of Deceased: 72 years 3 months
Usual Place of Residence: Aliwal North, Cape, South Africa
Unmarried
Date of Death: 11 December 1953
Place of Death: Aliwal North Hospital, Aliwal North, Cape Province
No Issue
Sisters: Ellen Mitford BOWKER married SURMON
Harriet May Mitford BOWKER married BERRY
Movable Property? Yes
Immovable Property? No
Signed by E.M. Surmon, Sister

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Elizabeth married Walter Mitford Bowker in 1911 in Cossack Post, Rosmead, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Walter (son of Captain James Wilmot Bowker and Mary Ann Bowker) was born on 14 Apr 1874; was christened on 7 Jun 1874 in Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1942. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

* South Africa, Methodist Parish Registers, 1822-1996
* South Africa
* Cape of Good Hope
* Grahamstown
* Baptisms 1827-1930
* Image 59

Family/Spouse: William Bowker Surmon. William (son of William Henry Surmon and Ellen Shaw Bowker) was born on 6 Dec 1875 in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died about 1959. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Doornberg Farm, Brak River, Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

Notes:

DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/23018 R4886
Name of Deceased: James Henry BOWKER
Place of Birth: Grahamstown
Age of Deceased: 64 years 6 months (birth about February 1890)
Condition in Life: Farmer
Place of Residence: Doornberg, Middelburg, Cape of Good Hope
Married
Surviving Spouse: Clarice Mary STONE
Place of last marriage: Devon, England
Date of Death: 18th August 1954
Place of Death: Frere Hospital, East London
Names of Children:
No children
Movable Property? Yes
Signed: C.M. Bowker Surviving Spouse

James married Clarice Mary Stone in 1940 in Devonshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Family/Spouse: Ella Ida Constance Higgs. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Harriet married Thomas Gordon Berry in 1929 in Middelburg, Transvaal, South Africa. Thomas (son of William Henry Berry and Elizabeth, - wife of William Henry Berry) was born in May 1893 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England; died on 18 Nov 1951 in Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Annie married Roderick Erskine Dumbleton on 12 Dec 1899 in Oakhurst, George, Western Cape, South Africa. Roderick was born on 7 Mar 1873; died on 13 Jun 1967. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Baptised: 1874, June 7th
Born: 3rd April 1874
Parents: Miles & Elizabeth Mary BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Mitford Park, Albany
Witnesses: Jane Duthy, Amable Georgina Duthy, John James Duthy
Baptised by: William H Turpin
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 28, entry number 3172. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Family/Spouse: St John McVernon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Reference 6/9/3816
R 28495
Name of Patient: Henry Mitford Duthie BOWKER
Married
Name of Spouse: Alice Dorothy DISTIN
Admitted: Mental Hospital Grahamstown 28th November 1930

Baptised: 1875, September 29th
Born: September 3rd 1875
Parents: Miles & Elizabeth Mary BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Mitford Park, Albany
Witnesses: Archibald Hamilton Duthie, Thomas Henry Duthie, Mrs Caroline Duthie (all by proxy)
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 35, entry number 3240. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4

Henry married Alice Dorothy Distin about Mar 1914 in Glenburn, Hanover, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Alice (daughter of Henry Distin and Julie Dorothy Martienssen) was born on 28 May 1895; died on 28 Apr 1976. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: farmer

Notes:

Baptised: 1878, March 12th
Born: 19th December 1877
Parents: Miles and Elizabeth Mary BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Signal Kop Farm, Fish River
Witnesses: William Breach, Bourchier Bowker, Mrs Susan Breach (all by proxy)
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 49, entry number 3384. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4

Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
MOG1/1/0394
Name of Deceased: Miles Duthie BOWKER
Birthplace of Deceased: Albany
Names of Parents: Miles BOWKER
Elizabeth BOWKER
Age of Deceased: 82 years 1 month
Condition in Life: Farmer
Ordinary place of Residence: Fairfax, Bathurst, Cape Province
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Georgeia Eulalie HART
Place of last Marriage: Cathcart
Date of Death: 13 January 1960
Place of Death: Fairfax, Bathurst, Cape Province
Names of Children:
NIL
Names of Sisters:
Olive BOWKER married CURRIE
Helen BOWKER married PEARCE
Whether deceased left any property? Movable
Has deceased left a Will?
Signed: G.E. BOWKER Surviving Spouse

Miles married Georgia Eulalie Hart in 1892 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Georgia (daughter of Stephanus Jacobus Hart and Mary Jane Cottingham) was born on 22 Apr 1877 in Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 27 Nov 1961 in Dickenson St., Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Settlers Methodist Church Cemetery, Port Alfred, Easten Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: 1909, Eland Farm, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Grave II A 9 Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hemonacu, Somme, France.

BOWKER :- Lieutenant, ALAN DUTIES, 4th Regt. South African Infantry.
Died of wounds 24th March 1918, age 38. Son of Miles and Elizabeth Mary Bowker, husband of the late Ethel Atherstone Bowker. H. A. 9.

This information comes from the "Cemetery Recording Project" C.D. by the South African Genealogical Society under the heading of "South African War Graves, WW1"



Died:
DEATH NOTICE:
6/9/1441
Name of Deceased: Alan Duthie BOWKER
Place of Birth: Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope
Parents: Miles BOWKER
Elizabeth Mary DUTHIE
Age of Deceased: 39 years 1 month
Condition in Life: Farmer
Place of Residence: 'Signal Kop', Albany
Widower
Date of Death: 24 March 1918
Place of Death: Flanders, France
Names of Children and whether major or minor.
Nil
Lt. in the 4th South African Infantry. Killed in Action or died of wounds in France.
Whether deceased has left any property and of what type? Movable
Signed by M.D. Bowker, Brother.

Allan married Ethel Mary Atherstone on 10 Mar 1909 in Middleton, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Ethel (daughter of Walter Atherstone and Mary Ann Hornsby Blake) was born in 1878; died on 16 Sep 1909 in African St., Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Grahamstown Wesleyan Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Sybil married Norman Mitford Bowker White on 3 Jan 1912 in Middelburg, Esatern Cape, South Africa. Norman (son of Major Thomas Charles White and Mary Ellen Bowker) was born on 5 Oct 1875 in Table Farm, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 6 Aug 1936 in Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Table Farm Cemetery, Table Farm, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Morien Edward Mason. Morien was born on 22 Oct 1886. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Zimbabwe, Death Registers...Death Register, 1892-1977
Death registers
1929-1931, Vol. 38
Image 254 of 280

Family/Spouse: Charles Leslie Cumming. Charles (son of Alexander George Cumming and Ann Scott Pringle) was born in 1894; died in 1918. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Kathleen married Frank ButlerMiddleburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Olive married Harold Howard Currie in 1914. Harold (son of Clement Howard Currie and Williamina Bowker) was born on 26 Jun 1888 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in May 1963 in Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Baptised: 1892, August 7th
Born: 22 July 1892
Parents: Miles & Elizabeth Mary BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Middelburg
Witnesses: Wm. Hare, Frances Hare & Charlotte Bowker (all by proxy)
Baptised by: C.H.L. Packman
Source: Grahamstown - St Bartholomew (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1859-1912, entry number 563. Repository: Cory Library, MS 17 776

Family/Spouse: Gerald William Pierce. Gerald was born in Towerbridge, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Residence: 1915, Signal Hill, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa

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

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.

Thomas married Gladys Elaine Hart on 14 Apr 1914. Gladys (daughter of Stephanus Jacobus Hart and Mary Jane Cottingham) was born on 9 Nov 1884 in Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 26 Apr 1885 in Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 16 Jan 1964 in Settler's Hospital, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Signal Hill farm cemetery, Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Signal Kop, Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa; Farmer

Notes:

Reginald saw active service in the South West Africa Rebellion and in the East Africa Campaign 1914-1918. and was in the N.R.V. in the 1939-45 war.
He served on the Albany Divisional Council for 6 years.
Farmed at 'Signal Kop', near Carlisle Bridge, Cape Province, South Afica.

Baptised: 1891, Jan'y 28th
Born: 3rd Jan'y 1891
Parents: Bourchier & Charlotte Jemima BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Signal Kop, Carlisle Bridge, Albany
Witnesses: The Parents & Miles Bowker (by proxy)
Baptised by: W.R. Bruce
Source: Grahamstown - St Bartholomew (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1859-1912, entry number 554. Repository: Cory Library, MS 17 776.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Baptised: 1874, June 7th
Born: 14th April 1874
Parents: James Wilmot & Mary Ann BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Zwaart Water's Port Albany
Witnesses: John Mitford Bowker and Parents
Baptised by: William H Turpin
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 28, entry number 3171. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Walter married Elizabeth Mitford Bowker in 1911 in Cossack Post, Rosmead, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Elizabeth (daughter of John Mitford Bowker and Sarah Elizabeth Bowker) was born on 5 Sep 1883 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 20 Sep 1883 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1914 in Mohale's Hoek, Lesotho. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: farmer

Notes:

Descendant of 1820 settler Bowker Family

Baptised: 1876, Oct 1st
Born: August 8 1876
Parents: James Wilmot & Mary Ann BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Zwaart Water Poort, Albany
Witnesses: The Parents & Mr John M. Bowker Jun.
Baptised by: Robert J. Mullins
Additional notes: in Congregation at Hilton
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 40, entry number 3293. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4

Effie married Llewellyn Griffith in 1905 in St Stephen's, Mohale's Hoek, Basutoland. Llewellyn (son of Colonel Charles Duncan Griffith and Dorothea Mounsey Gilfillan) was born on 28 Oct 1872 in Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 24 Nov 1872 in St Paul's, Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 1 Aug 1934. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Baptised: 1878, March 12th
Born: 15th February 1878
Parents: James Wilmot and Mary Anne BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Zwaart Water Poort. Riebeck
Witnesses: The Parents and Miles Bowker
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 49, entry number 3385. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Died:
Grahamstown Journal – 1881 - July to September
Wednesday 6 July 1881
DIED at Zwartwater Poort on the 19th June 1881, Archibald James Mitford, second son of J. Wilmot and Mary A. BOWKER, aged 3 years and 4 months.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Student

Notes:

'A promising young man and a good musician who unfortunately died young' from Bowkers of Tharfield

Baptised: 1879, November 28th
Born: 8th November 1879
Parents: James Wilmot & Mary Anne BOWKER
Occupation: Ostrich Farmer
Residence: Zwart Water Poort Farm
Witnesses: The Parents & Octavius Bourchier Bowker
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 59, entry number 3570. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

She adopted a niece, Dorothy

Baptised: 1881, May 17th
Born: 2nd May 1881
Parents: James Wilmot & Mary Anne BOWKER
Occupation: Ostrich Farmer
Residence: Swaart Waters Poort, Albany
Witnesses: The Parents & Mary Elizabeth Bowker (by proxy)
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 67, entry number 3651. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Mary married Guy Barrington Simeon on 10 Apr 1912 in Sterkfontein, Rouxville, Free State, South Africa. Guy was born est 1876; died in 1917. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: mechanic

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959:Page 151
Entry 1582
George White BOWKER
son of no. 112; Left Dec. 1900; b. 14.7.1883; Armstrong; Form IV; Farmer, Louis Trichardt dist. 1937.

George married Eugene Alberta Hewitt in 1914 in Ladybrand, Free State, South Africa. Eugene was born est 1887 in Ladybrand, Free State, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Baptised: 1868, June 25
Born: June 3 1868
Parents: Miles Robert & Emma BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Oliphants Kloof
Witnesses: The Parents. Mrs. F.W. Carlisle
Baptised by: N.J. Merriman
Source: Grahamstown - St Bartholomew (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1859-1912, entry number 224. Repository: Cory Library, MS 17 776.

Sybil married Edward White in 1887 in St Peter's Church, Hilton farm, nr Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Edward (son of George White and Bliss Ann Atherstone) was born on 18 Oct 1861; died on 11 Jun 1938 in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Table Farm Cemetery, Table Farm, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: 1913, Dunskye, Cathcart district Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959:
Page 69
Entry 580
Meyrick Brabbin BOWKER
Son of M.R.; Left Sep. 1886; born 1870; Day (scholar). Form II-V. 2nd XV; Banking for a year; farmed in Fish River area, and at Gaikaskop, Cathcart dist. 1894; died December 28th, 1938, at Dunskye, Cathcart dist. C.P.

inherited the farm 'Dunskye' at Cathcart in 1913.
Bought the Hogsback Inn in 1919 -20 from Mr. Holshausen. It was previously owned by Mr. Collins.



Baptised: 1870, Feb 13th
Born: Jan 20th 1870
Parents: Robert Miles & Emma BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Oliphants Kloof
Witnesses: The Parents & D.C. Bowker
Baptised by: Jos. M Cotterill
Source: Grahamstown - St Bartholomew (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1859-1912, entry number 277. Repository: Cory Library, MS 17 776.

Occupation:
inherited the farm

Died:
MOOC 6/9/5212 R62561
Name of Deceased: Meyrick Brabbin BOWKER
Age of Deceased: 68 years 11 months (b January 1870)
Condition in Life: Farmer
Ordinary place of Residence: 'Dunskye', Cathcart
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Dorothy WILSON
Name and approximate date of death of pre-deceased spouse: Edith Brunette SMITH died 28th May 1935
Place of Last Marriage: East London
Date of Death: 28th December 1938
Place of Death: 'Dunskye', Cathcart
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Children from First Marriage:
Meyrick Richard BOWKER
Miles Brunette BOWKER
Children from Second Marriage:
Nil
Grandsons:
John Meyrick BOWKER 30 September 1932
Julian Richard Meyrick BOWKER 18th October 1935
Whether deceased has left any property, and of what kind: Movable & Immovable
Signed M.R. BOWKER, sON

Meyrick married Edith Jessie Brunette Smith on 1 Nov 1900 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Edith (daughter of Richard Shaw Smith and Caroline Louisa Brunette) was born on 24 Oct 1868 in South Africa; was christened on 21 Dec 1868 in St Bartholomew's Church, Market St, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 28 May 1935 in Marine Hotel, East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Waainek New Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Meyrick married Dorothy Wilson in 1936 in East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Dorothy was born on 19 Nov 1896; died on 26 Aug 1990 in Welkom, Free State, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959: Page 69
Entry 581
Francis William Monkhouse BOWKER
Bro. of no. 580; Left Jun 1889; Day. Form I - Inter. Cpl. C.C. XI.* VIII. Matriculated 1.88. Int. 1889; Farmer; Boer War; F.G.S. 1908; Pres. O.A. Club 1930; Thornkloof, P.O. Grahamstown, C.P.; died May 21st 1942.

From http://www.s2a3.org.za/bio/Biograph_final.php?serial=320
Francis William Monkhouse (Frank) Bowker was a son of Miles Robert Bowker (1837-1913) and his wife Emma Beddoe, and a grandson of William Monkhouse Bowker (1803-1876), member of a large 1820 settler family. Frank was educated at St. Andrews College, Grahamstown, and passed the matriculation examination of the University of the Cape of Good Hope in 1888. The next year he passed the university's intermediate examination (equivalent to the first year of the BA degree) but did not complete the degree. He was a man of quiet disposition and wide interests, who collected much information about the Bowker family which he published in local newspapers. He was both a big game hunter and an outstanding farmer on his farm Thorn Kloof, in the Grahamstown district. His contribution to science consisted of an important collection of almost 200 skulls of South African mammals which he donated to the Albany Museum in 1909.

Frank was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. By 1920 he was still living on Thorn Kloof and was a member of the South African Biological Society. In 1930 he became the founding president of the Carlisle Bridge Farmer's Association. In April 1913 at Graaf Reinett he married Geraldine Elphinstone Reid. They had one son, who was named after his father.

see also Record: "Settlers Stories Complete by Frank Bowker"

Baptised: 1872, January 25
Born: Dec 11 1871
Parents: Miles Robert & Emma BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Olifants Kloof
Witnesses: Walter Currie Jnr, William Monkhouse Bowker (by proxy) May Ellen White (by Proxy)
Baptised by: Robert J. Mullins
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 16, entry number 3049. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Francis married Geraldine Elphinstone Reid on 29 Apr 1913 in St James, Graaf-Reinett, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Geraldine died on 24 Apr 1954 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried on 25 Apr 1954 in Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Baptised: 1874, February twenty fifth
Born: December seventh 1873
Parents: Miles Robert & Emma BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Oliphants Kloof, Fish River Randt
Witnesses: Francis George Cathcart Graham, Francis Ann Miles, Nelly Johanna Currie
Baptised by: George Thompson
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 26, entry number 3150. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4

Emma married Robert Ainslie Hockly on 6 Apr 1898. Robert (son of William Henry Hockly and Mary Isabella Ainslie) was born on 22 Jun 1870 in Cullendale farm, Bedford, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 12 Nov 1944 in Cullendale farm, Bedford district, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

page_no 40
bap_year 1876
entry_no 3289
date_of_baptism September 1st
childs_name Miles Humfrey
when_born August 16th 1876
parents_names Miles Robert and Emma
parents_surname Bowker
abode Thorn Kloof, Fish River
occupation Gentleman
sponsors The Father, William Kelly (by proxy) Mrs Clement Currie (by Proxy)
by_whom_bap F.H. Williamd D.D.

Affidavit attached: I, the undersigned, Miles Humfrey Bowker of Reedsdale, District Albany, hereby make oath and say:
1) I am a farmer residing at "Reedsdale" in the Distict of Albany and I was born at Grahamstown on the 16th August 1876.
2) At the date of my birth no system for the official registration of births in the District of Albany existed. As a result the only registration of my birth appears in the Church Registers of the Church of the Province of South Africa at Grahamstown, as will appear from the Register of Baptisms kept in the Cathedral at Grahamstown.
3) in the said Register of Baptisms my second christian name is wrongly spelt as "Humphrey" instead of "Humfrey". The name "Humfrey" is an old family name and has always been spelt "Humfrey".
4) This error was recently discovered by me and I now have taken the necessary steps to have my second christian name amended in all documents and Title Deeds registered in the Deeds Registry at Cape Town to read "Humfrey" instead of "Humphrey" My application for such amendment has been granted and all the said documents have been amended accordingly.
5) I now respectfully make application to the Very Reverend the Dean of Grahamstown, in whose custody the Register of Baptisms of the Church of the Province of South Africa at Grahamstown is kept, for the amendment of my second christian name in the said register to read "Humfrey" instead of "Humphrey".
(Signed) M.H. Bowker.
Sworn before me at Etrick Hills on the 5th day of December 1946, the deponent having acknowledged that ke knows and understands the contents of this affidavit.
(Signed) [N.M.] Gradwell JP ward 2 Albany
see https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GTWM-SQH1?i=40

1946 letter from lawyer confirming Miles Humfrey Bowker's affidavit also attached to register. The name Humphrey was accordingly scored out and replaced by Humfrey, and the change initialled by Rector [Lambert]
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 40, entry number 3289. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.


St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959: Page 100
Entry 949
Miles Humfrey BOWKER
bro. of no. 581; Left Dec. 1894; b. 16.8.1876. Day. Form III-IV; Boer War; Farmer; Reedsdale, P.O. Grahamstown, 1945.

Baptised: 1876, September 1st
Born: August 16th 1876
Parents: Miles Robert and Emma BOWKER
Occupation: Grahamstown
Residence: Thorn Kloof, Fish River
Witnesses: Gentleman
Baptised by: The Father, William Kelly (by proxy) Mrs Clement Currie (by Proxy)
Additional notes: Affidavit attached: I, the undersigned, Miles Humfrey Bowker of Reedsdale, District Albany, hereby make oath and say: 1) I am a farmer residing at Reedsdale in the Distict of Albany and I was born at Grahamstown on the 16th August 1876. 2) At the date of my birth no system for the official registration of births in the District of Albany existed. As a result the only registration of my birth appears in the Church Registers of the Church of the Province of South Africa at Grahamstown, as will appear from the Register of Baptisms kept in the Cathedral at Grahamstown. 3) in the said Register of Baptisms my second christian name is wrongly spelt as Humphrey instead of Humfrey. The name Humfrey is an old family name and has always been spelt Humfrey. 4) This error was recently discovered by me and I now have taken the necessary steps to have my second christian name amended in all documents and Title Deeds registered in the Deeds Registry at Cape Town to read Humfrey instead of Humphrey My application for such amendment has been granted and all the said documents have been amended accordingly. 5) I now respectfully make applicationto the Very Reverend the Dean of Grahamstown, in whose custody the Register of Baptisms of the Church of the Province of South Africa at Grahamstown is kept, for the amendment of my second christian name in the said register to read Humfrey instead of Humphrey. (Signed) M.H. Bowker. Sworn before me at Etrick Hills on the 5th day of December 1946, the deponent having acknowledged that ke knows and understands the contents of this affidavit. (Signed) [N.M.] Gradwell JP ward 2 Albany
Note by transcriber: 1946 letter from lawyer confirming Miles Humfrey Bowker's affidavit also attached to register. The name Humphrey was accordingly scored out and replaced by Humfrey, and the change initialled by Rector [Lambert]
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 40, entry number 3289. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4.

Miles married Edith Lawrence in 1913. Edith was born on 19 Oct 1886 in England; died on 22 Sep 1922 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Waainek New Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Miles married Daisy Lavinia Everley on 14 Nov 1931 in Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Daisy (daughter of James Everley and Severinia Lee) was born in 1875. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Miles married Rhoda Knott on 3 Jun 1940 in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Rhoda (daughter of Kemp Knott and Louisa Mary Cummings) was born on 7 Jan 1898 in Bothas Post, Fort Beaufort district, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 24 Mar 1978 in Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Waainek New Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa; Farmer

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959:Page 100
Entry 950
Harold Dugard BOWKER
bro. of 949; Left Dec 1898; b. 23.4.1879; Day. Form II-C.S. Cpl C.C. 4th XI. VIII. S.H. 1895. Mat. 1897. Int. 1898. C.S. Exam 1898. C.S. Law 1900. Registrar, High Court, Johannesburg 1904. Attorney, Notary and Conveyancer, Joburg 1937. P.O. Box 1581 Durban, Natal 1946.

He had inherited the farm “Waterfall” which he sold to his brother Francis William Monkhouse.
Following the passing of his wife, Isabel, in 1942 Harold resided in Luanshya on the formerly prosperous copperbelt in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) with his daughter Audrey and her husband Gwyn Pritchard until they immigrated to the UK. He then moved to Reedsdale and resided with his brother Miles Humfrey and his wife Rhoda (nee Knott). After a period he moved to Durban where he remained until his passing in 1963. { Will Bowker }


Baptised: 1879, May 13th
Born: April 23rd 1879
Parents: Miles Robert & Emma BOWKER
Occupation: Farmer
Residence: Thorn Kloof near Grahamstown
Witnesses: The Father, John D. Norton by proxy, Louisa Curry
Baptised by: F.H. Williams D.D.
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1869-1908, page 55, entry number 3535. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-4

Harold married Florence Isabel Farrar on 31 Jan 1907 in St John's, Belgravia, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. Florence (daughter of Edward Farrar and Betsy Burley) was born on 21 Nov 1881; died in 1941. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Occupation: Olifant's Kloof farm, Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959: Page 113
Entry 1116
Berners Beddoe BOWKER
bro. of no. 950; Left Dec 1899; b. 15.5.1882; Day. Form I-V; Boer War; Farmer; Oliphants Kloof, P.O. Grahamstown 1945.

Colleen Keevy Meinert Grant writes " could the "Benjamin" Bowker actually be Berners Beddoe Bowker (commonly referred to as Uncle Benjie) who was a bachelor living at Mountain Top farm, and who was famous for swinging a jar through the air and slapping on the lid when Halley's Comet was sighted in 1911 and then claimed to have retained a part of the comet? My father knew that branch of the Bowker family (descendants of William Monkhouse Bowker) very well, so he once took me to meet "Uncle Benjie" "

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

She lived in Hartfield Farm, Cathcart, Cape Province, Union of South Africa.

DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/
Name of Deceased: Ann CURRIE
Place of Birth: Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope
Names of Parents of the Deceased: Father: Henry CURRIE
Mother: Nellie BOWKER
Age of the Deceased: 68 years (b 1860)
Ordinary Place of Residence: Hartfield, Cathcart
Married
Name of Surviving Spouse: Walter Leopold CURRIE
Place of Last Marriage: Grahamstown 14 July 1880
Date of Death: 3 March 1928
Place of Death: Nursing Home, Grahamstown
Names of Children and whether Major or Minor:
Reginald Carlisle CURRIE
Walter John CURRIE
Helen Louise CURRIE married CLARKE

Signed: William L. Currie Surviving Spouse

Ann married William Leopold Currie on 14 Jul 1880 in St Bartholomew's Church, Market St, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. William (son of Joseph Currie and Frances Jemima Carlisle) was born on 3 Mar 1856; was christened on 30 Mar 1856 in Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 23 May 1929 in Cottage Hospital, Cathcart, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Education: 1878, St Andrew's College, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Played in the 2nd XI at St. Andrew's College 1878
Served in the Gaeleka War.
Served in the Anglo-Boer War
Served in World War 1

William Cole CURRIE
Reg. No. 40
Age: 39
Trade: Government Service
Previous Service: No
Address: Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope
Enlisted: Grahamstown 20 February 1900

Emigrated to Kenya

William married Charlotte Mary Cloete on 26 May 1887 in St Bartholomew's Church, Market St, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Charlotte (daughter of John Evelyn Gordon Cloete and Anna Maria Bowker) was born on 4 Feb 1866 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 15 Jan 1944 in City Park cemetery, Nairobi, Kenya. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]