Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Name: John Mitford Bowker
• Baptism: 6 May 1801, Mitford Church, Mitford, Northumberland, England
• Baptism: 4 Oct 1813, Parish Church of Saint Mary, Almer, Dorset, England
• Residence: 1816, 'Manor Farm', South Newton, Wiltshire, 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:
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/42
SYSTEM 00
REFERENCE 8947
PART 1
DESCRIPTION BOWKER, JOHN MITFORD. DEATH NOTICE.
STARTING 1847
ENDING 1847

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.

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 was born in 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
• 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 Charlotte Jemima Hallier on 19 Apr 1888 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Charlotte 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
• Baptism: 6 Nov 1889, Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, 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."


Baptism:
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 was born on 9 Nov 1884 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: Glen Ovis farm, Carlisle Bridge, Eastern Cape, South Africa; farmer

Notes:

St Andrew's College Register 1855-1959: Page 353
Entry 3816
John Bourchier BOWKER
son of T.B.?, M.L.A.; Left Dec 1933; b. 13.12.1915; Mullins. Day. Form IV-VI. VIII*. J.C. Jan 1931. Matric Feb 1933. R.U.C. 1934. Farmer, Glen Ovis, Carlisle Bridge, C.P.; D.R.A. Comdts Gold Medal 1936; Pt. City V.R.; Intelligence W.O. 1940 (Egypt); Lieut. Staff H.Q. 2 Div., M.E. 1942; Capt. Cypher Coy., 6C.A.A.D. 1943. Farming since 1945 at Glen Ovis, Carlisle Bridge, C.P. 1951.

He set himself the task of creating a monument to his father, Thomas Bourchier Bowker, M.P. He collected sneezewood from which the bench was made. This was unveiled in December 1991.

John married Ethel Patricia Southey Stirk on 12 Jun 1948 in Grahamstown Church (St Andrew's), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Ethel was born on 20 Aug 1927 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 14 Feb 1993 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Waainek New Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Anne Mary Collett [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]