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Hi, unfortunately we don't know much about Robert Walker Bowden, except that he was born in Cornwall and jumped ship at the age of 14 to South African where he married and had 8 children. My grandfather was born in East London South African and they moved to the trading station in Transkei.My grandad was born in 1911 so we speculate his father should've been born around about 1887 or so, more like we think, sorry don't know much more.

thanks
merilyn

Tell us what you KNOW - names and dates - then we can start digging for you.

well we'll wait for more details and then see what can be found!

can i ask a question pls, how do you go about trying to trace family history when all you know is where they came and where they landed up, if i wanted to try and trace my fathers side of the family, who are bowden and came from Cornwall and landed up in East London South Africa, where do i start, i know this sounds a bit cheeky. If i don't respond till about Mon i'm away for the weekend.

Thanks
Merilyn

and old man, it is a slang expression here back home.

what pray is a toppie?

Ann X

he was an old toppie when he got married the last time

no comment, listen by the time i get all the dates and family right, i might give myself a medal, and then put myself through all the misery again for the other half of the family.

HI

You have to excuse us but here in south africa we are meant to be a third world country, so everything is a bit slow.

she's got it Flick!! By George she's got it!!!!

Isn't that what the census records show?

And what I've been trying to get you to grasp......................

I can only say I'm delighted that you've now got the complete picture........

Hi

do i get the impression that this was maybe the 3rd spouse.
cheers
Merilyn

Hi the family name seemed to have continued right into south africa and down the family chain

Cheers
Merilyn

well reading through this thread it seems that Flick has got it all spot on for you and of course people can have three marriages - and more!!! With regard to forenames, it seems to have been the practice back then to use the same forenames over and over again in the same family - even naming one child after another that has died - happened in my family for sure

Henry Hope - born Germany c 1835, Occ Cabinet Maker, residence Rose Street - was married three times - as is shown by the info I have posted for you.

Hi

I hope that when i do my fathers family the Bowdens from Cornwall i might have more sucess as i think they had more than one name in the family.

Cheers
Merilyn

Hi,
Henry Hope or ( the Hendry Hopes) one was married to Catherine Sinclair and the other to Dolina Miller unless he was married twice, otherwise i'm extremely confused. Couldn't the family have given them other names instead of Henry Hope.

Cheers
Thanks
Merilyn

n

Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but - it seems that you may not have realised that the HENRY HOPE info is all about ONE man?

Thanks Again.
Cheers
Merilyn