The Hon, Robert Mitford BOWKER, J.P.

(son of Miles BOWKER and Anna Maria MITFORD) was born about 1810 'Deckham Hall', Gateshead, Northumberland, England.

He emigrated on 7 Jan 1820 from From Portsmouth, England to the Cape of Good Hop in Bowker's Party on board the 'SS Weymouth'. He died on 23 Sep 1892 'Glen Avon', Somerset East, Cape of Good Hope.

He was educated M.L.A & M.L.C.. He was Farmer. He farmed 'Craigie Burn', Somerset East, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

Robert Mitford Bowker was born in 1812 at Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. He was the son of Miles Bowker and Anna Maria Mitford.

He married Sarah Elizabeth Hart in 1838 at Glen Avon near Somerset East. They had 13 children, 3 of whom intermarried with their cousins.

Robert died on 23 September 1892.

Owing to his light-hearted manner, his jokes and his rhymes, he was know as Robert the Jester.

He farmed at 'Craigie Burn', Somerset East. As 'Craigie Burn' was high in the mountains and as it was isolated it remained unmolested throught 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 and families and left them there while they went to the wars.

He served in the Sixth Frontier War (1834 - 1836). The War of the Axe (1846 - 1847) and the Eighth Frontier War (1850 - 1853).

He took part in the campaign against the M'fecani in 1828 and served in the war of 1850 - 1853. He was a member of the House of Assembly from 1854 - 1873 and Member of the Legislative

Council from 1879 - 1883. He lived at 'Tharfield' until his father died and then moved to 'Craigie Burn' which it has already been noted was used as a refuge by the Bowker Family.

The Notes from THE ROLL OF THE BRITISH SETTLERS IN SOUTH AFRICA Part

1" up to 1826 by E. Morse Jones.

BOWKER, Robert

1812- 1892

Son of Miles Bowker, he sailed in "Weymouth" in 1820. He took part in the campaign agains the M'fecani in 1828. He was married in 1838 to Sarah, daughter of Lieutenant Robert Hart, Cape Regiment and served in the war of 1850 - 1853. He represented Somerset East as a member of the Legislative Assembly between 1854 and 1890. He lived and died at 'Craigie Burn'. 23 September 1892.

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 BOWKERmarried John Mitford BOWKER

Robert Hart BOWKER

Oliver Osbaldiston BOWKER

Miles Egerton BOWKER

Signed J.F.F. BOWKER, Son

__________________________________________________________

THE FIRST RECORD OF THE FARRES AND THE BOWKER ASSOCIATION

AND SOMERSET EAST.

I do not know when my grandfather met Susan Mary Farre http://www.geni.com/people/Anne-Farre/6000000011102052971?through=6000000011102069137 but I am positive that the meeting must have taken place at Somerset East to which town her parents came from Canada. Despite searching the shipping intelligence in the "Argus", the "Cape Government Gazette" (which, at that time, did not publish only Government Notices) and the "Eastern Province Herald", I have not discovered the precise date of their arrival, but my mother said that they arrived either in late January or early February of 1862 and were conveyed by ox wagon of Mr. Robert Mitford Bowker from Port Elizabeth to Somerset East, after having been brought ashore from the ship in a surf-boat.

Edna Clare Sparkman (nee Robertson) descended from the Pfohls and Farres. 10th September, 1983

.......................... Notes 1820settlers.com

Had 8 sons and 5 daughters. Married Sarah Elizabeth Hart of the farm Glen Avon, Somerset East Farmed at Craigie Burn, Somerset East. Craigie Burn was high in the mountains, 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. He 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.

• 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