A Pioneering Legacy
The Bowker’s of South Africa arrived in South Africa on 15 May 1820, aboard the Weymouth, after a four-month voyage. They were no ordinary English family—Miles and Anna Maria hailed from the ancient Bourchier and Mitford families, owners of large northern English estates, many of which still stand and are open to the public via England’s National Trust.
Leaving behind privilege and comfort, the Bowkers embarked on a daunting journey into the unknown. Yet they went on to contribute significantly to South Africa in many fields.
The Bowker family were among the most remarkable of South Africa’s early settler pioneers, renowned for their daring exploits as hunters, unmatched marksmanship, deep love of the natural world, and outstanding military service. As soldiers, they fought with distinction in the Frontier Wars, often displaying extraordinary courage under fire.
Their skills as marksmen became legendary—none more so than Octavius Bowker, whose accuracy with his two-groove musket was so feared and admired that Boers and British settlers alike sought out his weapons. In one tale, Octavius entertained curious visitors by allowing his wife Mary Ann to demonstrate her aim—she calmly hit a plum-sized target from a distant hillside, leaving the guests speechless.
The Bowkers’ relationship with the wild was just as compelling. During a lion hunt in the Free State, Septimus Bowker faced a charging lion with only seconds to spare. As the beast launched into the air, Sep fired a single shot into its mouth, killing it mid-leap. The lion’s enormous body flattened him, using him as a deathbed until his brother Octavius dragged the carcass away—Septimus emerged dusty but unscathed, save for his lost leather cap.
A local legend, Uncle Benjie, was a bachelor and eccentric, likened to Wyatt Earp. He wore a long black coat and packed a six-gun. He rode a horse rather than driving and later became known for his taxi rides into town from his Carlisle Bridge farm. In 1910, he “captured the air” of Halley’s Comet in a bottle, which still exists today.
These were no ordinary men; they were naturalists as much as warriors. Mary Elizabeth Bowker, a sister, corresponded with Charles Darwin and catalogued South African flora and butterflies, while Colonel James Henry Bowker discovered more than 40 new butterfly species and co-authored the seminal South African Butterflies.
Together, the Bowker’s embodied the spirit of early settler life—fearless in battle, devoted to science, and forever entwined with the land and its wildlife.
Table of Contents
Deep Historical Roots
David Bourchier Bowker, a descendant, has researched the connection between the Bourchier and Bowker families. He found that during public censuses dating back to the 1600s, spelling variations occurred due to recorders’ literacy, proving the families are one and the same. Notably, Sir John Bourchier, a signatory to the death warrant of King Charles I, is part of this lineage—perhaps prompting the later spelling “Bowker” to avoid association with post-regicide repercussions.
The Bowkers are also linked to Oliver Cromwell, who married into the Bourchier family. The family still holds the seals of the Barony of Berners and the Earls of Essex, currently in possession of John Mitford Bowker, a Middleburg farmer and the present South African family head. Many descendants still carry the names Bourchier, Berners, and Mitford.
The Legend of the ‘Bowker Silver’
A family legend tells of the missing “Bowker silver,” buried by Miles Bowker’s sons during a frontier war. When they tried to retrieve it, they couldn’t find it. It remains lost, possibly still wrapped in a linen cloth, waiting to be rediscovered.
Distinguished Descendants
The Bowker family produced numerous respected individuals—farmers, officers, MPs, justices, and scholars. A few standouts include:
- John Mitford Bowker: Eldest son and Diplomatic Agent for several local tribes. His letters and speeches were published by his widow, providing rare insights into colonial-era issues.
- Commandant Thomas Holden Bowker: Founder of Queenstown, once asked to run for President of the Free State, narrowly defeated by Jan Brand—an honour for an Englishman in a Dutch republic.
- Colonel James Henry Bowker: Served in various territories but known for naturalist studies. Discovered 40+ butterfly species and co-authored Butterflies of South Africa. Member of London’s Linnean, Zoological, and Royal Geographical Societies.
- Mary Elizabeth Bowker: An exceptional woman in botany and entomology. She corresponded with Charles Darwin, contributed to Origin of the Species, and sent over 1,000 specimens to Kew Gardens and Trinity College, Dublin. Her letters remain archived at Kew.
A Modern Legacy
Among the more recent prominent Bowkers was Dr. Thomas Bourchier Bowker, great-grandson of the original settler. MP of Albany from 1936 to 1964, he founded the Settlers Monument—now part of the Grahamstown Foundation—envisioned as a cultural unifier for South Africans. He also initiated the Orange-Fish Irrigation Scheme, transforming the Fish and Sundays River valleys into vital agricultural zones.
The Future of the Family
Today’s Bowkers continue to thrive across fields like agriculture, industry, education, and technology, echoing the adventurous spirit of Miles Bowker’s journey nearly two centuries ago.
Anna Maria Bowker
Anna Maria Bowker, who married Miles Bowker of Deckhams Hall, was one of six children of John Mitford of Mitford Castle. These children had two homes: Hunnamby Hall in Yorkshire, near the north sea (part of a rich inheritance that had become Mitford property through an Osbaldeston marriage), and Mitford Hall, in that lovely ancestral demesne where the Wansbeck River loops to hold the village and castle in its embrace.
Only a few miles from Morpeth, Mitford village is one of the most beautiful in the north country, and here this ancient family has figured prominently amongst the landed gentry since Saxon times. At the time of the Norman Conquest, the Barony of Mitford was held by Sir John de Mitford, and it is known that the family had an estate in Mitford as early as the days of Edward the Confessor.
John Mitford of Mitford witnessed the marriage of his daughter Anna Maria to Miles Bowker of Deckhams Hall on 8th March 1800. In spite of a quarter-century’s difference in age, the couple were very happily matched. Anna bore her husband nine sons and two daughters, and throughout their adventurous life together, she remained his good and faithful companion.
A New Life in the Cape
After her marriage, Anna went to Deckhams Hall, which must have been quite a grand place as Miles’ father had spent a great deal of money improving his estate, and Miles’ mother was a wealthy woman who had probably used her own money for the same purpose. The hall stood on top of a hill in the open country at Gateshead, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Shortly after his marriage, Miles sold Deckhams Hall and went to farm sheep in the Cheviot Hills and later to Cherborough Park in Devon. All this time, Anna’s family had been increasing. Son after son appeared until a longer and larger table had to be installed to seat them all.
Eventually, they moved to Manor Farm, near Wilton in Wiltshire, which Miles leased from the Earl of Pembroke. But although they stayed there for three years, neither Miles nor Anna was satisfied. It did not seem possible to make adequate provision for so large a family as theirs in England.
At first, they considered emigrating to America, then heard of Earl Bathurst’s scheme and decided to take his adventurous “step” across half the world to make a home for themselves and their sons at the Cape of Good Hope.
The Journey and Life at the Cape
The long voyage to the Cape in a sailing-ship was an uncomfortable time for Anna. She was again with child and gave birth to a daughter while the Weymouth was anchored in Table Bay. Their little maid was named Anna Maria after her mother and is registered in the parish of Stepney, where the names of children born at sea appear.
Two years later, Anna’s youngest son, James, was born at Tharfield.
It took a brave heart and a strong right arm, especially the latter, to make a success of an Eastern Province farm in those days. It was a strange and hostile land, war followed war, and many gave up their farms in despair and moved into the towns and villages for greater safety.
Anna was not one of these. After the death of her husband in 1838, she continued living at “Tharfield” when she was not visiting the homes of her children. She was very fond of all her children and spent many years at the home of her firstborn, John Mitford Bowker.
The Famous Dream
No account of Anna Maria Bowker is complete without the famous story of her dream. One night at “Tharfield” she dreamed that one of her sisters in England had died. The dream was so vivid that she was quite convinced of its truth and called her daughter Mary, then a young girl in her teens, and made her get up, light the candle, fetch pen and ink, and write it down.
In those days of sailing ships, letters from England took four to six months to reach their destination, but in due course, Anna received news of her sister’s death, and the record of the dream was found to be correct in all details.
Death and Reinterment
Anna loved “Tharfield” and made her sons promise that they would bury her there next to her husband. But she died on 8th July 1868 at far-away Krugersfontein (afterwards called “Iron Pot” and later “Atherstone”) and was buried in a cemetery near the stream there. It was a damp place and water seeped into the grave round the coffin.
Fifty years later, in 1920, Anna’s remains were exhumed by her great-grandson Raymond Mitford Barberton, and she was taken to “Tharfield” to rest near Miles and her son Holden.
John Mitford Bowker
John Mitford Bowker, eldest son of Miles Bowker of “Tharfield,” was born at Mitford Hall, Northumberland, in 1801and baptized in the Mitford Church, Village of Mitford, on 6 May 1801. He died at Oakwell, near Grahamstown, in April 1847.
His wife, Mary Anne Standen, was born at Hammersmith, London, in 1814. They were married in Grahamstown Cathedral on 26 April 1837.
When the rest of the family emigrated in 1820, he remained in England to wind up the estate and followed them to the Cape in 1822.
Advocate for the Settlers
For many years, he urged the Government to protect the unfortunate settlers in the Eastern Province. Many missionaries and other concerned parties at the time took the part of the Xhosa against the Europeans who received little or no protection from the Government. Under these circumstances, it is no wonder that the Voortrekkers abandoned their ruined farms and trekked northward to seek new land.
John wrote letters to the Governor and gave many speeches deploring this unjust policy. While Resident and Diplomatic Agent with certain Xhosa and Fingo tribes for Sir Benjamin D’Urban at Fort Peddie in 1835, he worked to advocate for settler protection. Parliament was only moved to Grahamstown in 1863, but the foundational work in security and policy reform can be largely credited to Thomas Holden Bowker, M.L.A.
Land Grant and Settlement
Under the 1820 Settlement scheme, John should have received a grant of land. However, this was likely overlooked because he did not arrive with the initial settlers. After his death in 1847, the grant was made to his widow, Mary Anne Bowker. She was given the farm known as Buffelshoek—joining Signal Kop on the Fish River.
Preserving His Legacy
Mary Anne Bowker sold Buffelshoek and purchased the Mitford Park near Riebeek East around 1850, though the family did not reside there permanently for some time. In 1864, she grouped copies of his speeches, letters, and selections from key papers, with the intent of publishing five hundred copies.
The printers informed her that they could not commit unless they had an order for all 500, so five copies were produced and hidden in the loft of the homestead on the farm Signal Kop. Over the years, these rare books were discovered and gradually found their way into libraries across South Africa and overseas, totaling about 250 in number.
The rest, once considered valuable Africana, were destroyed in a building to which they had been transferred. Now, copies of the book are only found in a few reference libraries and private collections.
In 1962, C. Struik, an Africana specialist and publisher in Cape Town, published a limited edition of 500 numbered copies in hardcover, introduced and signed by his grandson, Thomas Bourchier Bowker MP. Thomas wrote:
“Theirs became a struggle for survival and though this Family spread through the four provinces of the Republic and South West Africa, Rhodesia, Tanganyika and Kenya, their original farms, with few exceptions, are still in the possession of their kinsmen who now live in security and like in ‘The Sleeper’ by Poe:
‘Neath which thy slumbering soul lies hid,
That o’er the floor and down the wall,
Like ghosts the shadows rise and fall.’
A Historic Heirloom
A direct descendant of John Mitford Bowker, namely John Bowker of Doornberg, Middelburg, holds one of the most interesting family heirlooms: the ancient silver seal of Bourchier, which has passed from eldest son to eldest son over the generations.
The Hon. William Monkhouse Bowker M.L.A.
William Monkhouse Bowker was the second son of Miles Bowker of Tharfield and came out with his parents on the Weymouth in 1820. He was Commandant of the Burghers, Eastern District, and served in the Fetcani Expedition in 1828.
During the War of 1835–36, he was Commandant of the Bathurst Corps of Guides; he served in the Kei patrol under Sir Benjamin D’Urban, and through the War of 1846–47. He was the first to raise Somerset Volunteers in the War of 1850–53 and went to the rescue of the families in the Winterberg. He was in command of the Burghers at the Battle of Balfour and the taking of Fort Armstrong.
While still living at Tharfield, William was married in 1836 to Hester Susannah Oosthuizen, daughter of Petrus Oosthuizen of Skiet Rug, near Alexandria, Cape Province.
William had been farming sheep at Tharfield, but the sheep did not do well at the coast, so in about 1839 they moved up to more suitable country on the Koonap, and he farmed cattle, sheep, and horses at a farm called Elands Kop. In 1845, they moved to the Fish River living at what was then called Espach’s Drift.
William then hired a farm called Waterfall and was living there in 1846 when the Frontier War broke out, and he joined the rest of the family in the big laager at Thornkloof near Carlisle Bridge. This farm is now owned by his great-great-grandson Frank Bowker (Francis William Monkhouse Jnr.).
Prior to this, Miles Bowker had bequeathed Tharfield to Miles Brabbin Bowker, but when he came back after the war and saw that both Thornkloof House and Anna Maria’s house Willow Fountain had been burned down, he decided it would be easier to make a clean start elsewhere, so he sold the farm to his brother William, who bought a farm nearby called Groenfontein.
Farming, Public Service, and Community Life
William returned to Thornkloof in 1853 and farmed sheep. He was a highly respected man of fine character, a Justice of the Peace, and a Field Cornet. In 1864, he was elected to represent Albany in the House of Assembly.
In those early years, doctors were scarce, and as William had wide knowledge of medicine—particularly useful to the Boers—he was called upon to treat the ill. William became a successful farmer, particularly in merino sheep.
The horses bred at Thornkloof were well-known throughout the Eastern Province, and Mr. and Mrs. Bowker were renowned for their hospitality and the entertainment they gave at Thornkloof.
Family and Legacy
There were 5 daughters in the family, and all the young men in the area were constantly turning up—generally looking for lost stock—as there were no fences in those days. It was common for girls to ride 30 miles or more to a dance, and then, after dancing all night (perhaps on a mud floor), to ride home again the next day.
William bought several other farms in the neighbourhood and died a fairly wealthy man in 1876. He is buried at Thornkloof beside several other Bowkers in the little family cemetery below the house.
Hester “Hessie” Susannah Oosthuizen Bowker
His widow survived him for 35 years and had an amazing amount of vitality. She kept her own cart and horses and used to drive herself about the neighbourhood and even to Grahamstown, nearly 40 miles away, when she was over 80 years of age. When she was 70, her only son Miles Robert lost his wife, so she took charge of his 7 children and brought them all up—no light task for a grandmother.
Hessie Bowker lived to the ripe age of 95. She died at Thornkloof in 1911 and is buried next to her husband. At the time of her death there were:
- 6 children,
- 42 grandchildren,
- 80 great-grandchildren, and
- 3 great-great-grandchildren —
Total: 131 descendants.
Miles Brabbin Bowker
Miles Brabbin Bowker was the third son of Miles Bowker. He was born in England on 15 January 1807 and baptised in the Mitford Church, Mitford Village, on 4 October 1813.
In 1830, he married Barbara Petronella Oosthuizen, one of the daughters of Petrus Oosthuizen, whose wagons brought the Bowker family up to Olive Burn when they first landed at Algoa Bay in 1820. Sometime later, another sister, Hester Susannah Oosthuizen, married Miles’ brother William.
Early Life and the War of the Axe
Not much is known of Miles Brabbin’s early life, but he appears to have lived on Tharfield until old Miles (his father) died in 1839. He was the owner of the farm Thornkloof and was living and farming there when the War of the Axe broke out in 1846.
The Bowkers had a laager at Thornkloof, but when they found that the Xhosa were too strong, they decided to abandon the farm to save as much of their stock as possible. The Xhosa burned down the house, but later the Military had a campat the homestead.
After the War
When the war was over, Miles Brabbin came back to his ruined home to find everything in such a mess that he decided to sell the place and make a clean start elsewhere. He sold the farm to his brother William and bought another farm in the neighbourhood called Groenfontein. They lived there until the 1850 war, after which the farm was abandoned.
Miles Brabbin went on active service, while his wife stayed with relatives, probably at Craigie Burn.
Later Life
Despite these misfortunes, Miles Brabbin made enough money to retire, and so he sold out and went back to Tharfield, by the sea, intending to spend the rest of his days in peace.
There is some suggestion that he bought The Peninsula—a narrow strip of land between the two Kleinemonde Rivers—and lived there for a while, possibly around 1860.
Illness and Death
In 1864, he became seriously ill. His brother William went down by wagon and brought him back to Thornkloof, where he died on 28 July 1864. He was buried in the family graveyard on the farm.
Miles Brabbin was a tall man, standing 6’ 2”, and in his youth was particularly active, reportedly able to jump his own height.
He had no children, so he left his property to his nephew, Miles Robert (William’s son). His widow survived him until 1895, dying at the age of 87, and is buried next to him.
The Hon. Bertram Egerton Bowker M.L.C.
Bertram Egerton Bowker, fifth son of Miles Bowker, was born in England in 1810 and died in Johannesburg in 1907. He married Anne Simpson and had 12 children.
He came out from England with the rest of the Bowker family on the Weymouth. He kept a journal which is in the Bowker Case in the Albany Museum.
Life at Tharfield
In the early days, the children had little or no schooling. At Tharfield, Bertram was taught to read at the end of the workday by the smoky light of a rag burning in a saucer of fat. He was the most skilled of all the brothers with his hands—whether making a wagon, a violin, or a walking stick.
Bertram took part in the Fetcani Commando in 1828 and also joined several Frontier Wars. His journal does not mention it, but he was likely among those who buried the Tharfield treasure before the family went into laager at Bathurst in 1835.
The family would often ask him if he could remember the location, but he would only say it was “somewhere down there” while gesturing toward the little valley at the back of Tharfield.
Later Life and Moves
After the war of 1835, Bertram was the first of the family to leave Tharfield and go farming on the Koonap. Several of his brothers followed his lead. He married Annie Simpson in the Old Bathurst Church, and Robert wrote verses to commemorate the occasion.
Around 1840, Bertram and his wife moved to the Fish River area, where they farmed for a while, later settling at Klipfontein near Bowden. After one of their children sold the place, Bertram bought Oakwell, near Grahamstown, where he lived during the War of 1846, acting as laager commander.
Bowker’s Rowers
After the 8th Frontier War, Bertram sold Oakwell and bought two farms: Pembroke and Egerton, between Kingwilliamstown and East London. He farmed sheep and cattle and was granted land at the request of Governor Sir Bartle Frere, who raised and commanded Bowker’s Rovers, a force known for their excellent service.
Although not everything ran smoothly—e.g., Bowker’s Rowers came upon an absent kraal chief and burned it thinking he was a rebel—the government was forced to act due to pressure from owners like Bertram. He also served in the Legislative Council, was friends with Sir Bartle Frere, and lived in Cape Town.
Final Years
Bertram eventually moved to Natal, and in his final years, lived with his brother Colonel James Henry Bowker. After his brother’s death, he moved to Johannesburg, where he died in 1907.
Excerpts from the Diary of Bertram Egerton Bowker
Early Days at Tharfield
“We used to do a deal of wild honey hunting while in the field with the cattle, sheep, and horses. I often found the honey bird and great use of these times as a bee’s nest with a lot of honey and young bees was always a good feed for hungry boys. We used to be up early in the morning…”
Bertram recalls how they used sticks and stones to dig roots and collect wild honey. His sister Anna was adept at digging roots. He often fed her and took care of her in the fields.
Fiddles
“There then came an old blind man, his name was Commons…”
Commons, who had been band-master of the Cape Corps, taught Holden Bowker to play the fiddle. Holden was Bertram’s companion and later became an expert. They played at dances and parties held across Lower Albany.
Sister Anna
“The first work I had to do in the country was to nurse my sister Anna…”
Bertram describes caring for his sister Anna, who was a baby when they arrived in the Cape. He also built a wagon, made buckets, tubs, doors, and even constructed a water mill.
Home Brew
“When my brother first came to the country, we had a grape garden and had a quantity of fruit…”
Bertram recalls learning to make wine by fermenting grape juice and water in casks. He once made 30 gallons of good brandy.
The Hon. Robert Mitford Bowker, M.L.A.
Robert Mitford Bowker, sixth son of Miles Bowker the Settler, was born in England in 1812 and died at Craigie Burnin 1892. He married Sarah Elizabeth Hart, daughter of Robert Hart, in 1838 at Glen Avon.
Early Life and Residence at Craigie Burn
Robert appears to have left the old family farm around the time of his father’s death. On 19th December 1838, he married Sarah Elizabeth Hart of Glen Avon, near Somerset East. From then onwards, the couple lived at Craigie Burn, a mountain high above Somerset East—so isolated that it remained unmolested throughout the Frontier Wars.
Craigie Burn became a place of refuge for the rest of the Bowker family. Robert’s brothers often brought their stock, wives, and children there while they went off to the wars.
Public Service and Personality
Robert Mitford Bowker represented Somerset East as Member of Parliament for forty years and also served part of that time on the Legislative Council. Known for his light-hearted nature, jokes, and rhymes, he was affectionately referred to as “Robert the Jester.”
Despite his public role, he led a somewhat secluded life. He loved gardening, and in the valley below Craigie Burn he kept:
- An orchard
- A vegetable garden
- A flower garden
His letters reveal a conservative viewpoint. He disapproved of the railway construction to Johannesburg.
Personal Life and Legacy
Robert did not take part in any of the Frontier Wars, likely because he was occupied looking after the Bowker wives and children while his brothers fought. He and Sarah produced 13 children.
He died on 24th August 1892 and is buried in the family graveyard at Craigie Burn, located above the house.
Septimus Bourchier Bowker
Septimus Bourchier Bowker, seventh son of Miles Bowker the Settler, was born in England in 1814 and died at Alstonfields, Bedford, in 1895. He married Fanny Forward.
Old Miles Bowker jokingly said that his family became so large that he had to find names for his children among the Roman ordinals—so when his seventh son was born, he just gave him a number.
Military and Farming Life
“Sep” served throughout the wars of:
- 1835–36
- 1846–47
- 1850–52
John Mitford Bowker mentions him being at Thorn Kloof when the laager was attacked in 1836. He also served with Bowker’s Rovers at the taking of Fort Armstrong during the 1850–52 War.
After his military service, he married Miss Fanny Forward and settled down at the farm Olifants Kloof, where he raised three sons and two daughters.
In 1869, he sold Olifants Kloof to his nephew Miles, son of William, and bought a new farm then known as Stompestfontein in the Bedford District. He renamed it Alston, now called Alstonfields. There, he became a successful sheep farmer and bought several neighbouring farms.
He served as Justice of the Peace for Bedford District and was highly respected and well-liked.
He died at Alston in 1895, aged 81, and is buried in the family graveyard at Alstonfields. His widow lived to the age of 97 and is buried beside him.
SEPTIMUS AND THE LION
While hunting in the Free State with his brother Octavius, Sep used a two-groove muzzle-loader musket with a percussion cap.
One day, after a lion had been wounded, the brothers and their dogs closed in. The lion suddenly charged Sep, and although he seldom missed, he feared this might be his last shot. He stood firm and fired while the lion was in the air, the bullet striking its mouth.
The lion—estimated at 500 lbs—landed on Sep, flattening him. His brother Octavius rushed in and pulled the dead lionoff. Sep was unharmed, though dazed, dusty, and out of breath after being used by the lion as a deathbed. His leather cap had been knocked off.
Octavius Bourchier Bowker
Octavius Bourchier Bowker, eighth son of Miles the Settler, was born in England in 1816 and died at his farm Champagne near Zastron, Orange Free State, in 1899. He married Mary Ann Stubbs, adopted daughter of Mrs. Wilmot.
Early Life and Military Service
Like his brother Septimus, Octavius was given a number instead of a name. He likely lived at Tharfield until his father’s death in 1838, after which the family moved to the Fish River Rand. He was with the Bowker laager at Thornkloof.
Octavius was an extraordinarily skilled marksman, unmatched in the Eastern Province. Respected by both Boers and British, he was known among the Boers as:
“die ou wat kan so goed skiet.”
He served in the Frontier Wars from 1836 to 1852, surviving many close calls. At Fort Armstrong in 1850, his shot was so precise that the bullet left a blue mark on his sock after going through a Xhosa attacker. Though he was fierce in battle, Octavius was one of the most genial-hearted and kindly men, beloved by all.
He was known for both bravery and gentleness—one who never showed weakness, even when danger was near.
Settling in the Mountains
After the 1850–52 campaign, Octavius and his brother William moved to the Glen Mitford farm near Graaff Reinet, considered safer from attack. He later moved stock there in 1850.
He was also a partner in Hayton & Bowker, a firearms trading company. They regularly trekked to the Free State, selling wagons of guns to the Boers. His two-groove Tower musket was widely sought after, and buyers often waited for an “Occy gun”.
Service and Showmanship
Octavius served in the Basuto Wars, delivering civilian service to settlers. On one trip, he and Mary Ann were surrounded by Basutos while crossing the Free State flats. Octavius and Mary Ann fired from opposite ends of the wagon and hit so many targets that the attackers withdrew in confusion.
In another tale, they hosted curious Boers who heard about Octavius’ marksmanship. Mary Ann demonstrated her own skill by hitting a plum-sized target at a distance using one of the Bowker muskets—convincing the visitors of their credibility.
Archaeology and Natural History
Octavius was fascinated by birds and prehistoric artefacts. In 1860, he donated a heron and crane from the Vaal River to the Albany Museum. In 1864, he donated additional birds and in 1861, contributed grooved stones from the Transvaal, used for:
- Sharpening arrow points
- Weighing digging sticks
These were among the first stone artefacts acquired by the Albany Museum, establishing Octavius—like his brother Thomas Holden—as one of the pioneers of archaeological collecting in Southern Africa.
Quotes and Legacy
From Sophia Beddoe, writing about Octavius:
“The great hunter is fair and has a long reddish beard; he has a pleasant voice like his brothers but speaks rather indistinctly.”
Mary Elizabeth Bowker
Mary Elizabeth Bowker, daughter of Miles Bowker of Tharfield, was born in England in 1818. She died in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, on 4 September 1899.
She was the granddaughter of John Mitford of Mitford Castle and was two years old when she came to the Cape with the Bowker family on the Weymouth. In 1845, she married Frederick William Barber of Highlands near Grahamstown.
A Remarkable Woman of Science and Art
Mary was a truly remarkable woman. South Africa has produced few to rival her with brush and pen. Her knowledge of:
- Botany
- Natural History
- Entomology
was exceptional.
As a child, Mary was the constant companion of her father, himself an ardent naturalist, and she showed a deep love for the natural world from an early age.
Despite isolation and limited educational resources, Mary independently developed her powers of observation. Her dedication led to:
- Friendships with leading scientists like Charles Darwin, the Hookers, and Dr. Harvey
- Her name appearing in the Thesaurus Capensis
- Scientific correspondence with prominent naturalists of the day
Scientific Contributions
Mary’s papers on South African flora and fauna were:
- Published by the Linnean Society
- Recognised in Europe and on other continents
- Translated into foreign languages
She was elected a member of the Hungarian Ornithological Society and nearly admitted to the English Natural History Societies, a rarity for women at the time.
While living at Highlands, she contributed vital observations that were later incorporated into scientific works, including:
- Butterflies of South Africa by Roland Trimen
Herbarium and Legacy
Mary presented her herbarium and butterfly collection to the Albany Museum in Grahamstown, where they were displayed for decades.
Her children also donated her natural history illustrations, later published in 1898 by her son F.H. Barber as:
“The Erythrina Tree and Other Verses”
Collaborations and Honours
With her younger brother James Henry Bowker, Mary:
- Sent large numbers of plant specimens to the Trinity College herbarium (Dublin) and the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew)
- Collaborated with Thomas Holden Bowker on the early stone-age tool collections
Her work led to several new species of insects and plants being named in her honour:
- The genus Barberetta (named by Harvey)
- The genus Bowkeria (named in honour of both her and her brother James)
Anna Maria Bowker
Anna Maria Bowker, youngest daughter of Miles Bowker of Tharfield, was born on board the Weymouth while in Table Bay in 1820, and died in 1895.
She married John Frederick Korsten Atherstone, son of Dr. John Atherstone. The marriage took place at Bathurst in 1842, and they had nine children.
Limited Information About Anna Maria
There is not much biographical information about Anna Maria herself; instead, the record focuses on the Atherstone family into which she married.
The Atherstone Family Legacy
The Atherstones are an old Warwickshire family, of considerable importance since Saxon times. Atherstone and Atherstone Priory are mentioned in the Domesday Book. In 1464, Atherstone Priory was transferred to the Carthusian Monks, and Atherstone Hall was later built from its ruins.
All Atherstones in South Africa descend from Dr. John Atherstone, who:
- Married Elizabeth Damant
- Came to the Cape with the 1820 Settlers
- Had 9 children
After the death of Elizabeth, Dr. Atherstone married Ann, daughter of Thomas Damant and widow of Major T.C. White, with whom he had 5 more children.
Dr. William Guybon Atherstone
From the first marriage, the most famous son was Dr. William Guybon Atherstone, M.D., M.L.C., F.G.S., F.R.C.S., a:
- Geologist
- Botanist
- Artist
- Musician
He lived in Grahamstown, where he originated both the Botanical Gardens and the Albany Museum. He was highly accomplished in the sciences and arts.
Contributions and Recognition
In 1867, Dr. Atherstone verified the first South African diamond as genuine—the Eureka Diamond, discovered by O’Reilly.
He was also:
- A Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons
- Freeman of the Turner’s Company and City of London
- Honorary Corresponding Secretary of the Colonial Institute
- Elected to the Geological Society
He originated railway schemes for linking inland regions and inspected asylums and hospitals in the Cape Colony.
Pioneering Medical Practice
In 1847, Dr. Atherstone was the first in South Africa to use anaesthetic sulphuric ether during a leg amputation for Mr. Frederick Carlisle, Deputy Sheriff for Albany. Carlisle Bridge is named in his honour.
The Family Connection
The marriage between John Frederick Korsten Atherstone and Anna Maria Bowker is the link that joins the Bowker and Atherstone families.
Colonel James Henry Bowker J.P., F.L.S., F.R.G.S., F.S.S.
Colonel James Henry Bowker, the ninth son of Miles the Settler, was born at Oliveburn in 1822 and died at his home Malvern, Natal on 29th October 1900.
A Family of Soldiers and Pioneers
Each of Miles Bowker’s sons was notable—soldiers, agriculturists, diplomats, or scholars. Miles himself was the first to breed woolled sheep in the Eastern Province, with women of his party spinning jennies to produce yarn that was made into blankets and felt hats.
Frontier Wars and the Missing Treasure
At age 13, James Henry was at Tharfield during the Frontier War of 1835 when the family was warned to evacuate. The sons gathered valuables, tied them in a tablecloth, and buried them—but the treasure was never found.
In 1846, he was at Thornkloof Farm when it was attacked by 300 Xhosa. He fought in the Wars of the Axe (1846–47)and again in 1851–52, where he earned a medal and clasp.
Military and Colonial Service
- 1855: Appointed Inspector of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, which later became the Cape Mounted Rifles (C.M.R.)
- Succeeded Sir Walter Currie as Commander in 1870
- 1858: Led an expedition against Kreli, driven across the Bashee
- Negotiated boundaries and annexations in Tembuland, Umata, and Bung (Xhosa Parliament)
- 1868: Led a second expedition to Basutoland, later becoming High Commissioner for the area
In 1878, he retired with the honorary rank of colonel and settled in Malvern, Natal.
Scientist and Naturalist
James Bowker was known as a collector of butterflies and fossils, contributing to:
- Natural History Department of the Natal Section
- Albany Museum
- Colonial Exhibition (1885)
He worked with his sister Mary Elizabeth Barber, identifying new species of insects and plants, and co-authored with Roland Trimen the renowned:
“South African Butterflies: A Monograph of the Extra-Tropical Species”
His Animals and Gentle Nature
- Loved birds and reptiles; famously trained a turkey buzzard and a lizard
- Stories recount his kindness, bravery, and intelligence
- Even in conflict, he outwitted younger men, handling rebellious natives with tact and hand-to-hand combat when necessary
His will was never found, and his estate was equally divided between his many nieces and nephews.
Legacy
Bowker was more than a soldier; he was a gentle naturalist, known for:
- Expertise in entomology and botany
- Discovering more than 40 new butterfly species
- A life dedicated to science, service, and family
He was described in the Natal Mercury as having “contributed more to current knowledge than any other man in the country.”
Memorial
He was born in 1826 and died on 27 October 1900.
A monument in his memory can be found at the corner of Pentrelew and Stella Roads in Malvern, Queensburgh, near Bowker Road, named after him.