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

Oliver married Susan Margaret Serrurier Smuts on 26 Sep 1889 in Glen Avon farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Susan 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]

1. Vera Ferris Bowker was born on 12 Jun 1890 in Glen Craig farm, Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died in 1965 in Margate, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 108
• Name: Robert Mitford Bowker 1820
• Baptism: 4 Oct 1813, Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England
• Residence: 1816, 'Manor Farm', South Newton, Wiltshire, England
• 1820 Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England; Address:
  Bowker's Party on the Weymouth
• Residence: 25 Jun 1820, Olive Burn farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa
• Residence: Abt 1847, 'Craigie Burn', Somerset East, 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.



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

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


Died:
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/308
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 2005
PART 1
DESCRIPTION BOWKER, ROBERT MILFORD. DEATH NOTICE.
STARTING 18920000
ENDING 18920000

DEATH NOTICE:
MOOC 6/9/308 R2995
Name of the Deceased: Robert Mitford BOWKER
Place of Birth of Deceased: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland
Names of Parents of Deceased: Father: Miles BOWKER
Mother: Anna Maria MITFORD
Age of the Deceased: 82 years
Widower
Name of pre-deceased Spouse: Sarah Elizabeth HART
Date of Death: 23 September 1892
Place of Death: 'Glen Avon', Somerset East
Names of Children and whether major or minor:
Ellen BOWKER married Robert HART (deceased)
Ann Stretch BOWKER married James Scott PRINGLE
James Frederick Fleischer BOWKER
Robert Mitford BOWKER
Effie Mitford BOWKER (deceased) married John Ward STEVENS
Septimus Bouchier BOWKER
William Henry BOWKER
Sara Elizabeth BOWKER married John Mitford BOWKER
Robert Hart BOWKER
Oliver Osbaldiston BOWKER
Miles Egerton BOWKER
Signed J.F.F. BOWKER, Son

Robert married Sarah Elizabeth Hart on 19 Dec 1838 in 'Glen Avon', Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Sarah was born on 16 Jun 1820 in Somerset Farm, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 25 Aug 1875 in 'Craigie Burn', Somerset East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Miles Bowker 1820
• Occupation: a Gentleman Farmer
• Baptism: 19 Sep 1758, All Saint's, Newcastle on Tyne, Northumberland, England
• Residence: 1800, Deckhams Hall, Gateshead, Durham, England
• Residence: 1808, Charborough Park, West Almer, Dorsetshire, England
• Residence: 1817, 'Manor Farm', South Newton, Wiltshire, England
• 1820 Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England; Address:
  Bowker's Party on the Weymouth
• Residence: Jun 1820, 'Oliveburn', Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa
• Residence: 1833, Tharfield farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Notes:

Miles Bowker was born at Deckhams Hall in Gateshead.



Died:
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE ANDER ARGIEWE
VOLUME_NO 6/9/15
SYSTEM 00
REFERENCE 3398
PART 1
DESCRIPTION BOWKER, MILES. DEATH NOTICE.
STARTING 1839
ENDING 1839

Miles married Anna Maria Mitford 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 farm, Kleinemonde, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Anna Maria Mitford 1820
• Residence: 1816, 'Manor Farm', South Newton, Wiltshire, England
• 1820 Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England; Address:
  Bowker's Party on the Weymouth

Notes:

Anna Maria was born at Mitford Manor in the village of Mitford, Northumberland in 1782.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 21 Oct 1726, Holy Trinity, Salford, Lancashire, England

Notes:

Ivan Mitford-Barberton's research show that Thomas' parents were Thomas Bowker and Elizabeth Brabbin.

PaulTT has found a marriage in Wigan of a Joseph Bowker marrying Elizabeth Brabbin, both of Manchester.
His death is recorded as being in Morpeth, and father being Joseph Bowker.
Name: Thos. Bowker
Gender: Male
Age: 72
Birth Date: 1726
Death Date: 3 Sep 1798
Burial Date: 5 Sep 1798
Burial Place: Morpeth Parish, Northumberland, England
Father: Joseph Bowker
FHL Film Number: 1469099
Reference ID: P. 7 No. 60
Therefore, Thomas' father was the Joseph Bowker who married Elizabeth Brabbin!

Thomas inherited Deckham Hall from his uncle John Bowker, who had purchased it in 1720..

Advertisement in the 'Newcastle Courant' May 27th 1809:
"DECKHAM'S HALL. To be sold by private contract, called Deckham's Hall, otherwise Mitford House...."

William James purchased 'Deckham's Hall' (otherwise Mitford House) in May 1817 for the sum of £7,100.
A.R.P.
Hall, Gardens & Orchard1" - 8" formerly in the occupation of J. Collins viewer (afterwards of Thomas Bowker & late of Wooler.)
Close adjoining 8. 3. 9
4 nooked close 18. 0.27
& 2 pieces of Gard held of Dean & Chapter of Durham on Lease, but afterwards made Freehold by said G. Wooler.
Dwelling house adjoining....formerly William Row Millright (afterwards Bowker)

Thomas married Dorothy Falconer Monkhouse on 16 Jul 1754 in Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland, England. Dorothy was born about 1725 in Bloan, Westmorland, England; died on 12 Sep 1810 in Walton, Near Morpeth, Northumberland, England; was buried on 15 Sep 1810 in Morpeth, Northumberland, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: John (Capt) Mitford
• Residence: Mitford Castle, Mitford, Northumberland, England

Notes:

Captain in the 85th Foot Regiment. Eventually became the Mitford heir.

John + Dorothy Young. Dorothy was born est 1755 in Northumberland, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]