1820 British Settler

Bertram Egerton Bowker 11, together with his parents and 8 siblings, were members of their father, Miles Bowker's Party of 23 Settlers on the Weymouth.

Party originated from Wiltshire.

• Departed London, 7 January 1820.
  
• Arrived Table Bay, Cape Town on 16 April 1820.
  
• Final Port - Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth 15 May 1820.
  

Area Allocated to the Party : Olive Burn and Tharfield

Children :

• William Monkhouse Bowker 17
  
• Miles Brabbin Bowker 14
  
• Thomas Holden Bowker 12
  
• Bertram Egerton Bowker 11
  
• Robert Mitford Bowker 9
  
• Septimus Bourchier Bowker 7
  
• Octavius Bourchier Bowker 4
  
• Mary Elizabeth Bowker 2
  
• Anna Maria Bowker (born at sea).
  

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Cape Marriage Index : https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSX8-RL2T?i=988&ca...

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Estate File : https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS92-Z5TN?i=440&cc...

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Notes at 1820settlers.com

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" ...............................................

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'.

There is a discrepancy between MD Nash and E Morse-Jones - E Morse Jones feels he came out in 1822 with brother John

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"South Africa, Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-23580-56522-81?cc=146... : 21 May 2014), South Africa > Cape of Good Hope > Grahamstown, Bathurst, St John the Evangelist > Baptisms, marriages, burials 1829-1849 > image 46 of 108; William Cullen Library, Wits University, Johannesburg.