Major Robert Charles Harker SV / PROG

Major R. C. Harker SV/ PROG

https://www.geni.com/people/Maj-Robert-Harker-SV-PROG/6000000003675305336

Mayo Map

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ireland_map_County_Mayo_Embossed.png

Islands of Jersey & Guernsey

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uk_map_jersey_and_guernsey.png

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peggys_Cove_Nova_Scotia_01.jpg

Fort St. Catherine St. Georges, Bermuda

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FORT_ST._CATHERINE,_ST._GEORGES,_BERMUDA.jpg

Map of the Western Cape

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_South_Africa_with_the_Western_Cape_highlighted.svg

Plattenberg Bay South Africa

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:South_Africa_Gardenroute_Plettenberg_Bay.jpg

Swinford, Co. Mayo

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 17^th September 1780. His parents were General & Francis Harker. Scant information is available re his youth, but he emigrated to England.[i]

Military Career

R. C. Harker was attached to both the 96^th & 15^th Regiments of the British army for a total of twenty years. His posts were besides Ireland 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 18^th 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 also use of residency during his lifetime. Major Harker was appointed a Justice of the Peace. He acted as a post master for his area.[iv]

Demise

Major Harker’s demise occurred at his home in Harkerville, Krantshoek, W. C. South Africa on 16^th 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 Pretoria University. This site also provides an image of R. C. Harker’s grave.[vi]

Footnotes

Ciaran O Reilly historian in an article A little bit of Mayo in South Africa in The Mayo News 30^th June 2020 referenced Major Harker of Swinford who founded the town of Harkerville in the Western Cape near Plettenberg Bay. [vii]

Major R. C. Harker is referenced among people connected to Mayo at this link. [viii]