The Bourchier and Bowker Pages

Discovering the ancestry of the South African Bowkers, and the English Bourchiers

Bourchier Bowker

Bourchier Bowker

Male Abt 1845 - 1891  (46 years)

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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Bourchier BowkerBourchier Bowker was born about Feb 1845 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 24 May 1891 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Old Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    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]

    Children:
    1. 2. Thomas Bourchier Bowker, Hon. Dr. LLB., M.P.  Descendancy chart to this point was born on 28 Sep 1889 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 21 Jul 1964 in Bedford Hospital, Bedford, Eastern Cape, South Africa.


Generation: 2

  1. 2.  Thomas Bourchier Bowker, Hon. Dr. LLB., M.P.Thomas Bourchier Bowker, Hon. Dr. LLB., M.P. Descendancy chart to this point (1.Bourchier1) was born on 28 Sep 1889 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 21 Jul 1964 in Bedford Hospital, Bedford, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    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]

    Children:
    1. 3. John Bourchier Bowker  Descendancy chart to this point was born on 13 Dec 1915 in Dunskye, Cathcart district Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 24 Nov 1991 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Waainek New Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.


Generation: 3

  1. 3.  John Bourchier BowkerJohn Bourchier Bowker Descendancy chart to this point (2.Thomas2, 1.Bourchier1) was born on 13 Dec 1915 in Dunskye, Cathcart district Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 24 Nov 1991 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Waainek New Cemetery, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    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]

    Children:
    1. 4. Captain David Bourchier Bowker  Descendancy chart to this point


Generation: 4

  1. 4.  Captain David Bourchier Bowker Descendancy chart to this point (3.John3, 2.Thomas2, 1.Bourchier1)

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