This carte de visite portrait of Margaret Symington came from the family album of her brother William Symington 1802-1867, where it was placed next to a portrait of her husband, Dr. Robert Bowie.

Margaret was the second daughter of William Symington and Elizabeth Benson.

She was born at Larbert, Falkirk, on 16 June 1800. On 5th January 1818, at seventeen years of age, she married Dr. Robert Bowie at Saint Mary At Hill, London. Margaret Bowie was a witness. Dr. Bowie worked as a general practitioner in London, in partnership with his younger brother William.

Her father died at her London home in 1831 at 44 Burr Street, Lower East Smithfield.

The Bowies lived at Valence House, Dagenham, from about 1838 until 1845. [1] In 1841, her brother William was living nearby at Wangye House. He was then employed as an inspector of works for the Great Eastern Railway. 

The 1851 census shows the family living at 5 Coburn Terrace, Stratford Le Bow, in the parish of Tower Hamlets. The household had two teenage servants.

She emigrated to Australia  with her family in the Athenian in October 1851. [2]

She died at the age of 78 years from “chronic hepatitis” on 14 December 1878 in the residence of her son in law, Dr. Daniel, Heidelberg Road, Clifton Hill.

She was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery on 16 December 1878. Her son Walter Bowie of Sunbury is the informant named on her death certificate.

The Argus Monday 16 December 1878 page 1

BOWIE. -On the 14th inst., at the residence of her son-in-law, Dr. Daniel, Clifton-hill, Mrs. Margaret Bowie, aged 78 years, relict of the late Dr. Bowie, formerly surgeon superintendent Yarra Bend Asylum, and daughter of the late Wm. Symington, Esq., C.E., Scotland.

[1] 1841 England Census

[2] Details of the voyage are recorded in the diary of a fellow passenger, Mark Daniel, aged 14 years, excerpts from which are quoted in The Daniel Family by Agnes Hilton (1978).

THE CHILDREN OF MARGARET SYMINGTON AND DR. ROBERT BOWIE 

ROBERT 31.10.1818-27.2.1874

MARGARET 18.11.1820-1822  

ELIZABETH 13.8.1823-20.1.1906

ISABELLA 11.1.1827-24.2.1864

CATHERINE 8.9.1833-1.12.1878  

WILLIAM SYMINGTON JOSEF 19.4.1835-16.3.1928

WALTER NATHANIEL 29.12.1837-7.1.1926

THOMAS JAMES 9.8.1839-6.11.1903 

HELEN 2.4.1843-4.9.1929

Robert and Margaret were baptized in their father's house by the minister of the Scotch Church at London Wall.

Grave of Margaret Symington and Robert Bowie [1]

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT BOWIE MRCS LONDON LATE SURGEON SUPT YARRA BEND ASYLUM WHO DIED 2ND OCT 1869 AGED 81 YEARS

MARGARET HIS WIFE WHO DIED 14 TH DECEMBER 1878 AGED 78 YEARS

ALSO ROBERT ELDEST SON OF THE ABOVE WHO DIED 27TH FEBRUARY 1875 AGED 56 YEARS

The Bowie headstone was heavily weathered and barely legible when I transcribed it in 1980. The inscription is now almost completely obliterated.

MARGARET SYMINGTON AND DR. ROBERT BOWIE'S CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

ROBERT BOWIE, Medical Dispenser, born in London 31 October1818; died 27 February 1874 at Hotham. He was baptized in his father's house on 10 May 1819. [1] Robert Bowie married MARY WALKER on 15 February 1849 at the church of St. Mary Rotherhithe.

Children of Robert Bowie and Mary Walker:

ROBERT WILLIAM 1850-1921 died at Hamilton 4 April 1921

MARGARET ELIZABETH ELLEN 1851-1939 married William Rohen 1887

WILLIAM WALTER 1854-1914 Born at Collingwood, died 28 March 1914 at the Melbourne Hospital;  married first wife Sarah Launder in 1890; son James Francis who died in 1940 aged 50.  Married (2) Matilda Goatman (c.1830-1870) of Cheltenham, England 17 July 1867 at Christ Church, Daylesford. She died on 3 February 1870 at Vincent Street, Daylesford, aged 39 years. [2] Their daughter, Emma Harriet Bowie, 1870-1870 died 28 February aged five weeks at Daylesford. [3]

MARGARET BOWIE 1820-1822 born in London on 18 November 1820 and baptized in her father's house on 18 July 1821.

ELIZABETH BOWIE 1823-1906 born 12 June 1823 at Aldgate; baptized 13th August 1823 Stepney St. Vincent Street Scotch Church; died 20 January 1906 at Sandringham, Victoria. Married 15 June 1854 DR. FREDERICK DANIEL (1812-10.9.1892) [4] [5] [6] [7] at Yarra Bend Asylum.

Children of Elizabeth Bowie and Dr. Frederick Daniel:

ELIZA LOUISA DANIEL born 29 March 1855 at Lygon Street; died 1855

FREDERICK ROBERT DANIEL born 1857; died 8 July 1860 at Creswick aged 3 ½ years [8]

JOSEPH WILLIAM DANIEL born 25 July 1858 at Upper Hawthorn; died 1862

ROBERT FREDERICK DANIEL 1860-1862 born at Creswick

ELIZABETH HELEN DANIEL 1863-1942 (of 77 Bridge Street, Hampton), born at Creswick 21 December 1863, died 24 May 1942; married 1898 George Moore Strong; children Clive Moore 1900, Alva Lilian 1905, Mavis Rella 1913, all born at Geelong.

GEORGE THOMAS BOWIE DANIEL 1865-1900 born at Daylesford

ISABELLA BOWIE 1826-1864 born 2 September 1826 at Barking; died 24 February 1864 at 99 Kerr Street, Fitzroy[9]

Married 11 February 1847 EDWARD SAUL (c.1820-1884) [10]

Children of Isabella Bowie and Edward Saul:

EDWARD BOWIE SAUL died 4 January 1914 aged 66 years [11] Married Mary Dillon (born 1844, died 29 July 1923); children: Margaret Helen 1870-1873, Frederick Thomas 1873-1919, Henry "Harry" William born 1875, married 1905 Eva Rose Newell, [12] Isabella Mary born 1877, married 1916 Thomas Connoley.

WILLIAM ROBERT SAUL born 1852; died 1942; married Kate Keaton (widow) on 10 April 1891 at Moulamein [13]

ROBERT SYMINGTON SAUL 1856-1909 married Mary Hayes 1896 at Fitzroy; she died 1896; married 1898 Emma Membery [14]

WALTER THOMAS SAUL 1862-1923 married Sarah Jane James 1883; Sarah died in confinement on 19 April 1906 at her residence 463 Victoria Street, West Melbourne, aged 41 years; [15] children Edward George 1884-1886, Louisa Charlotte 1887, Ellen Jane 1889, Walter Henry James 1892, Robert Charles 1897, Isabella Sarah 1900

CATHERINE BOWIE [16] born 24 January 1831 at Aldgate; died 1 December 1878 aged 47 at the residence of her brother in law Dr. Daniel at Clifton Hill

Married SAMUEL SHAW PARKER [17] (c.1826-26 May 1874), civil engineer, on 24 February 1855 at the Yarra Bend Asylum. [18] Lived at "Waveney," at Warrnambool. [19]

Children of Catherine Bowie and Samuel Shaw Parker:

MARGARET ESTHER PARKER born 17 March 1856; died 8 April 1936; Born and died at Warrnambool; buried at Tower Hill cemetery. Married 20th January 1887 James Lindsay (1846-6 March 1908) of Quamby Station, Woolsthorpe; children Violet Grace 1887-1964 (Mrs. Douglas), James 1890-1965, Catherine Helen 1893-1985, Archie Thomas 1893-1963, William Samuel died 1978, Robert Parker 1898, Thomas 1900-1965 and Jessie Margaret, died 8 July 1902, aged 1 day.

ROBERT BOWIE PARKER 1857-1897 born at Warrnambool; died in South Australia 31 May 1897. Married Jane Craig Ireland 11 January 1893 at North Arkaba, S.A. 

WILLIAM SAMUEL PARKER 1859-1921 born at Warrnambool; died 27 October 1921 in Carlton

EDITH MARY PARKER 1861-1942 Born at Warrnambool and died there in September 1942. Married 1894 Jonathan Twomey of Langulac. Buried at Warrnambool Cemetery. [20]

THOMAS CHARLES PARKER 13 June 1862-23 June 1910; born at Warrnambool.  Married (1) Johanna Hennessey 1890 in Adelaide. Children: William Shaw born Hawker 1891; Margaret born at Arkaba 1895. Married (2) Mary Eileen Pearson 1905 at Broken Hill

CATHERINE HELEN PARKER 1864-1880

ANNE LOUISA ELIZABETH "NANCY" PARKER 1865-1924 Born at Warrnambool; died at Rutherglen on 26 February 1924. Married on 18th September 1889 Henry Alexander "Harry" Caughey of Mount Prior, Gooramadda, at the residence of Dr. Daniel, Heidelberg Road, Clifton Hill; children Frances Edith born 1891, Dorothy Helen born 1894, Eileen, and Alec.

WALTER HENRY JOHN PARKER 1867-1867 [21]

GRACE ALICE PARKER 1871-1950 Born at Warrnambool and died there aged 79 years. Married 1889 John Latta; died 5th April 1950. Mother of John born 1890, Edith "Ede" Mary (Mrs. Hall) born 1891, Margaret Grace 1892-1948, "Nance", Helen Sarah (Mrs. Isles) born 1894, Samuel "Shaw" 1895-1970, William "Robert" 1901, Gladys (Mrs. Bant), Alice 1904-1922, Lucy (Mrs. Bergin), Charlie, Maggie Rubena 1899-1900

WILLIAM SYMINGTON JOSEF BOWIE 1835-1928, vigneron and orchardist; born 4 March 1835 and baptised at St Ethelburga Within; died 16 March 1928 at Shepparton. Married AMELIA ANN FELL (18 April 1852-1 December 1884) in June 1870

Children of William Symington Josef bowie and Amelia Fell:

MARGARET AMELIA BOWIE 1871-1937 died at Maroopna 16 July 1937; married 1906 Lancelot Errington Sim at Sunbury. Children: Lancelot Symington Sim 1909-1984, Mary Anna Sim 1911, William Errington Sim 1906-1965

HELEN BOWIE 1873-1959 died 29 May 1959

ROBERT WILLIAM “BOB” BOWIE 1874-1953 born 10 October 1874 at Eighnane Vineyard; married (1) in 1906 Lucy Eveline Thompson; children Evelyn Elizabeth 1906-1906, Lucy May 1909 Euroa, Jessie Evelyn 1908 Euroa. Married (2) at Coburg 26 September 1925 Florence “Daphne” Borrie of Killara (daughter of Alexander Charles Borrie and Florence Mary Josephine Goldsborough. Alexander Borrie died in 1901); Daphne died in 1964.        

THOMAS JAMES CHARLES BOWIE 1876-1949 farm manager, Woori Yallock, died 19 September 1949; married 1905 Florence Mary Josephine Borrie (daughter of George Goldsborough and Ann Teresa Haynes; widow of Alexander Charles Borrie and mother of "Daphne"!) Florence died on 23 November 1945. 

ELIZABETH MARY BOWIE 1878-1964 married 28 August 1926 Daniel James Dryden at Cosgrove; died at Maroopna.

CATHERINE BOWIE 1880-1936, born Sunbury, nurse, Late of Lister House, died suddenly 30 June 1936 [22]

WALTER EDWARD BOWIE butter factory manager born 3 August 1882 at Eighnane Vineyard; died 4 January 1927 at Terang; married 1905 Ellen Julia Riordan; children: Walter 1916-1972, William John 1906-1953 (46 years at Mildura), Kathleen Anne 1907 Kerang.

UNNAMED stillborn son born on 30 November 1884 at Eighnane Vineyard

WALTER NATHANIEL BOWIE 1837-1926, vigneron,  born at Essex 29 December 1837; baptised at St. Botolph Aldgate; died 7 January 1926 in Perth. Buried in Karrakatta Cemetery

Married 17 January 1876 EMILY ANN WEST [23] (born 29 November 1853 at Richmond; died 21 April 1948 at Mont Park)

Children of Walter Nathaniel Bowie and Emily West:

MARY HELEN “NELLIE” BOWIE born 7 November 1876 at Echuca Vineyard [24] died 13 March 1934. [25] Unmarried

MARGARET ALICE BOWIE born 1878 at Sunbury; married Henry Joseph Whitely

WALTER FREDRICK SYMINGTON BOWIE born 23 September 1880 at Melton; [26] died 1973 in Perth.

EDITH EMILY ELIZABETH BOWIE 1883-1964 born at Melton, died 14 April 1964 at Sandringham; married Leslie Elmore Francis Porta 1903; children Irene Edith 1904, John Leslie 1906, Charles Albert 1908, Phyllis Joyce 1912, Ruby Elizabeth 1914, Mavis Emily 1918

ROBERT WILLIAM BOWIE, hatter, born 11 February 1885 at Gisborne ; [27] died 12 March 1941. Married Winifred Mary Butler 1922; sons Harold Robert and Laurence Walter

FLORENCE FRANCES FELICIA BOWIE born 4 July 1886 at New Gisborne; [28] died 10 April 1892 at New Gisborne [29]

GLADYS GERTRUDE GRACE BOWIE 1887-1974 born at Gisborne; died at Williamstown; married William Norvay Slater 1909; children: Dorothy Gertrude Millicent 1910, William Edgar John 1912

HAROLD HARCOURT HICKS BOWIE 1890-1915 born at Gisborne, KIA at Lone Pine 13 November 1915; private, 24th Battalion, Sixth Infantry Brigade. [30] Married 1913 Ada Clarke; daughter Gladys Mae (died 22 April 1914) and Dorothy "Dolly" Ivy 1912

IRENE IDA ISABEL BOWIE 1892-1894

ZILLAH ZOE ZENOBIA BOWIE 1896-1977 born Collingwood, died 25th February 1977; married Michael Doocey 1927; mother of Helen and Robert

THOMAS JAMES BOWIE, dispenser,  born at Aldgate 9 August 1839; died 6 November 1903 at Inglewood.

Unmarried. [31]

HELEN BOWIE born at Aldgate 2 April 1843; died 4 September 1929. Married Dr. GEORGE HORNE in Adelaide on 30 October 1890

[1] Register of Births and Baptisms at the Scottish Church at London Wall. Irregular baptisms.TNA RG4/Piece 4404/Folio 55

[2] Death notice Age (Melbourne), Monday 7 February 1870, page 2

[3] Death notices Age (Melbourne), Wednesday 2 March 1870, page 2

[4] Arrived Melbourne from Glasgow 14 March 1853 "Sir William Molesworth"

[5] Shipping notice Argus (Melbourne), Monday 14 March 1853, page 6 “all Protestants and temperance people”

[6] Death notice Argus (Melbourne), Monday 12 September 1892, page 1

[7] Obituary. Australasian Medical Gazette 1891-2; 11:394

[8] Deaths Argus (Melbourne), Wednesday 18 July 1860, page 4

[9] Death notice Argus (Melbourne), Thursday 25 February 1864, page 4

[10] Death notice Argus (Melbourne), Thursday 31 July 1884, page 1

[11] Death notice Argus (Melbourne), Monday 5 January 1914, page 1

[12] Private H W Saul died 8 January 1917 Leeds Death notices Argus (Melbourne), Saturday 20 January 1917, page 13

[13] Marriages Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney), Saturday 2 May 1891, page 18

[14] Marriages Age (Melbourne), Wednesday 30 September 1896, page 1

[15] Death notice Age (Melbourne), Friday 20 April 1906, page 1

[16] Pioneer’s Register Warrnambool Township and Shire 1839-1900 AIGS Warrnambool Branch 2004 Volume 1 page 96

[17] Civil Engineer; Warrnambool Shire Engineer born in Gillingham, Norfolk; portrait in foyer of Warrnambool Library; Obituary Warrnambool Examiner 30 May 1874

[18] The Argus Monday 12 March 1855

[19] Present address of Waveney is 17 Thompson Street

[20] Catholic Section, compound 7, grave 30 

[21] Warrnambool Cemetery, Episcopalean Section, compound 18, grave 55

[22] Death notices Argus (Melbourne), Tuesday 30 June 1936, page 1

[23] Eldest daughter of William and Mary West. Her mother, maiden surname Cox, born in Melbourne, was widowed in Dublin in 1849 aged 24; married William West of the 40th Foot Regiment; departed Cork 15 July 1852, arrived Melbourne 4 November 1852; Mary West died at St. Kilda aged 84 on 29 April 1909

[24] Birth notice Argus (Melbourne), Saturday 11 November 1876, page 1

[25] In Memoriam Age (Melbourne), Saturday 13 March 1937, page 13

[26] Birth notice Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic.), Saturday 2 October 1880, page 2

[27] Birth notice Bacchus Marsh Express (Vic.), Saturday 21 February 1885, page 2

[28] Birth notice Argus (Melbourne), Thursday 8 July 1886, page 1

[29] Death notice Argus (Melbourne), Wednesday 20 April 1892, page 1; buried in Gisborne cemetery with no headstone

[30] Death notice Preston Leader (Vic.), Saturday 20 November 1915, page 2

[31] Obituary: The Inglewood Advertiser 10 November 1903