Major Robert Charles Harker SV / PROG







Military Officer / Town Founder
This Military Officer led an interesting life post service with British Army.
Robert Charles Harker was born in Swinford, Co. Mayo on 17th September 1780. His parents were General & Francis Harker. There is scant information available re his youth, but he emigrated to England.[i]
Military Career
R. C. Harker was attached to both the 96th & 15th Regiments of the British Army for a total of twenty years. His posts were besides Ireland: abroad to England, Jersey, Guernsey, Nova Scotia also Bermuda. He retired with the attainment of the Rank of Major.[ii]
Family
Robert Charles Harker married Maria Berrick during 1809 in Cork City. They had sons: Edward Herrick, Charles Barron, William Augustine, John (born in South Africa), also daughters: Julia Maria, Rosa Elizabeth, Maria West, Olivia Maria. His wife’s demise occurred on 18th December1834. Harker had a son Henry Adolphus with Julia Armoed.[iii]
South Africa
His arrival with family to South Africa was completed during December 1823. Initially he farmed at Woodville, east of George. Upon retirement from farming Harker was appointed a Government Resident of the Prettenberg Bay: a position that lasted from November 1826 to December 1847 when the Post was abolished. He was granted a Pension plus use of residency during his lifetime. Major Harker was appointed a Justice of the Peace plus he acted as a Post Master for his area.[iv]
Demise
Major Harper’s demise occurred at his home in Harkerville, Krantshoek, W. C. South Africa on 16th March 1859. He was aged seventy – nine. His internment took place at Plettenberg Bay graveyard in South Africa.[v]
Six members of the Harker family were interred within Plettenberg Bay graveyard. There is an Explanatory Text that provides a brief outline of those buried there. according to an article by Patricia Storrar (at this link) which had been published previously in the 1977 edition of ‘Restorica,’ the Journal of the Simon van der Stel Foundation at University of Pretoria. This site also provides an image of Major Robert Charles Harker’s grave.[vi]
Footnotes
Ciaran O Reilly Historian in an article ‘A little bit of Mayo in South Africa’ in the Mayo News 30th June 2020 mentioned Major Robert Charles of Swinford who founded the Town of Harkerville in the Western Cape near Plettenberg Bay. [vii]
Major Robert Charles Harper is mentioned among People Connected to Mayo at this link. [viii]
Bibliography
[i] Major R. C. Harper (https://www.geni.com/people/Maj-Robert-Harker-SV-PROG/6000000003675305336) [assessed 30th June 2020]
[ii] Major R. C. Harper (https://www.geni.com/people/Maj-Robert-Harker-SV-PROG/6000000003675305336) [assessed 30th June 2020]
[iii] Major R. C. Harper (https://www.geni.com/people/Maj-Robert-Harker-SV-PROG/6000000003675305336) [assessed 30th June 2020]
[iv] Major R. C. Harper (https://www.geni.com/people/Maj-Robert-Harker-SV-PROG/6000000003675305336) [assessed 30th June 2020]
[v] Major R. C. Harper (https://www.geni.com/people/Maj-Robert-Harker-SV-PROG/6000000003675305336) [assessed 30th June 2020]
[vi] A Short History of the Graves (http://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/short-history-oldest-graves-plettenberg-bay) [assessed 30th June 2020]
[vii] Mayo News 30th June 2020
[viii] People Connected to Mayo (https://www.geni.com/projects/People-Connected-to-County-Mayo/people/28883) [assessed 30th June 2020]
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