Clement-Jones family 12/22 - Person Sheet
Clement-Jones family 12/22 - Person Sheet
NameMiles BOWKER , 3885
Birth1764
Death1839
Spouses
Birth1779
Death1868
FatherJohn MITFORD , 3887
Marriage1800
ChildrenOctavius Bourchier , 3883 (1816-1899)
 John Mitford , 3881 (1801-1847)
 William Monkhouse , 3888 (1803-1876)
 Miles Brabbin , 3889
 Thomas Holden , 3890 (1808-1885)
 Bertram Egerton , 3891 (-1907)
 Robert Mitford , 3892 (1812-1892)
 Septimus Bourchier , 3893 (1814-1895)
 Mary Elizabeth , 3894 (1818-1899)
 Anna Maria , 3895 (1820-1895)
 James Henry , 3896 (1822-1900)
Notes for Miles BOWKER
Of Deckhams Hall, Gateshead.


From http://www.bowker.info/MilesBowker.htm

A successful sheep farmer in the Cheviot Hills when he fell in love with Anna Mitford, daughter of John Mitford of Mitford Castle, a family descended from Edward the Confessor. They were married on 8th March 1800 in Mitford Church, near Morpeth, Northumberland.

Sometime after his marriage he and Anna Maria left the north to farm merio sheep at Cherborough Park in Devon. After 8 years he leased Manor Farm from the Earl of Pembroke. It is thought that this farm in near the village of South Newington. It was while here that Miles and Anna Maria Bowker decided to join the Earl of Bathurst's scheme and leave for southern Africa.

They left England (with 9 children) around the 5th December 1799 and arrived at the Cape of Good Hope 5 months later, it took another 3 weeks before they reached Algoa Bay, now Port Elizabeth. The Settlers then had to travel another 130 miles overland before they reached the area in which they were to settle. Their youngest daughter Anna Maria Bowker was born in Table Bay while on their way to Algoa Bay which is now Port Elizabeth.


Miles Bowker, his family and retainers were first given 'Oliveburn' which proved too small for them, and later they were also give Tharfield. The sheep did not like the area of Tharfield but proved successful on Oliveburn, while cattle preferred Tharfield.


Bust of Miles Bowker in the Albany Museum, Grahamstown, South Africa

Miles Bowker was 75 when he died early in 1839 and is buried on Tharfield. By this time his 4 elder sons were already married and had farms of their own. They were all successful sheep farmers. His fourth son Holden, inherited Tharfield.
Last Modified 17 Jul 2012Created 4 Mar 2023 using Reunion for Macintosh