LOOKING FOR NEW FAMILY TREE CONNECTIONS
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IF YOUR SURNAME IS FOWKE
(or one of the many spelling variations such as Fowkes, Fowlkes, Foulke, Fookes and Fooks)

AND AN ANCESTOR OF YOURS EMIGRATED TO YOUR COUNTRY FROM ENGLAND,

WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THEM, AND ALL ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.


Over the last 20 years or so a great deal of information has been gathered regarding descendants of Fowke 
family English Immigrants but we know there will be many more yet to research. It is likely that certain family 
group information will be already on file but that we haven't yet established the individual that will 
connect such groups to the early English ancestors.

Here is a list of those we already know about together with brief details. 

GERARD FOWKE (Colonel) born 1629 at Gunston, Staffordshire, England.
Gerard is the earliest individual we have recorded as having emigrated. He arrived in Virginia, USA, in 
1650, along with his cousin, George Mason (Colonel) of Staffordshire, England.  Gerard married Anne 
Thorowgood in Charles County, Maryland, in 1661. Gerard and Anne had five children and recorded 
descendants number thousands of individuals, right up to the present day. Gerard died 10 October 1669, 
at Gunston Hall, Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland, USA.

THOMAS FOWKE (Captain) born about 1640 at Gunston, Staffordshire, England..
Like his brother Gerard (above) Thomas also travelled to Virginia, USA, prior to 1654. He and his brother 
were co-partners in real estate (among other things) and both figured prominently in early American 
history and politics. Thomas married apparently but to date only the name of Susanna is on file and no 
children from the marriage have been noted. Thomas lived for some time in Accomack County, Virginia. In 
several records his name is spelt 'Foulke' and it appears it was often pronounced 'Fooks'. He died in 
1663.

JAMES FOWKE born 1625 at Brewood, Staffordshire, England.
James arrived in Accomack County, Virginia, USA, prior to 1650. The exact date has not been established, 
nor has it been recorded when and where he married Rachel Haydens although it is known that she was born 
in Staffordshire, England, in 1630. James and Rachel had four children, the second child, Thomas Fowkes, 
was born 1650 in Accomack County. Apart from owning tracts of land James was also engaged in ship 
building. In various courthouse records his surname is spelt Fowkes, Fookes, ffowkes, ffokes and ffookes. 
It appears that the majority of children of James and Rachel's second son, Thomas, continued using the 
surname, Fowkes.
Again, a large number of descendants have been recorded right up to present day, with further variations 
of surname spelling including Fookes, Foulks, Foulke and Fooks.  James died in 1677 in Accomack County, 
Virginia, USA.

ERASMUS SAMUEL FOWKE born 1794 in Derbyshire, England.
Erasmus first arrived in Canada (Port Hope) in 1817 and opened a store there in 1818. He returned to 
Derbyshire, England, married Mary Wilson in Liverpool in 1820, sailing again for Quebec, Canada, and 
finally settling again at Port Hope. Erasmus and Mary had four children and many descendants are recorded. 
Most reside in Canada and USA. To date it has not been possible to connect Erasmus Fowke, nor his parents, 
to the early Staffordshire Fowke families. Erasmus died in 1866 at Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

JOB FOWKE born 1793 in Derbyshire, England.
Job arrived in Canada to join his brother, Erasmus (above) about 1823. No wife nor children are recorded. 
He died in Montreal, Canada.

CHARLES EDWARD FOWKE born 1824 at Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Emigrated to New Zealand with his wife, Margaret, nee Nicholls, whom he married in Wales in 1846, and his 
five children, all of whom were born at Tenby, Wales. Charles and his family arrived at the port of 
Lyttelton, New Zealand, on 22nd July, 1865. The majority of Fowke families currently residing in New 
Zealand are descended from this family group.

EDWARD FOWKE born 1835 at Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
A younger brother of Charles Edward Fowke (above), Edward emigrated to Australia in 1866, together with 
his first wife, Jane, nee Ashfield, and three of their children. Their fourth child, Edward Fowke, was 
born at Farringdon, NSW, Australia, in 1868. Following the death of Jane, Edward married Elizabeth 
Townsend in 1868, and they had ten children between 1869 and 1893. Once again, many descendants have been 
recorded but there are many more, particularly from recent decades, still to be located.

CHARLES FOWKE born 1805 at London, England.
Charles married Anne Prosser in 1827 and they had thirteen children, all of whom were born in Wales. 
Charles Edward Fowke and Edward Fowke (above) were two of those children. Anne died in 1853. Charles 
emigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in December, 1865. He lived with his sister, Elizabeth 
Bell, near Braidwood, NSW, for a few years before moving to live with his daughter, Matilda O'Brien, at 
Bullaba Station, NSW.  Charles died in 1882 at Bullaba Station, NSW, Australia.

MATILDA FRANCIS FOWKE born 1840, at Llanstephan, Wales.
Matilda was a daughter of Charles Fowke (above) and she emigrated to Australia sometime after 1854. She 
married Denis O'Brien at Braidwood, NSW, in 1863, an immigrant from Ireland. Some descendants are recorded.

HENRY FOWKE (birth and death dates and locations unknown).
The son of Samuel Fowke(s) and Sophia ? possibly married in Ireland, Henry married Jane Harper, nee 
Robinson, also likely in Ireland. It is known that Jane was born in 1822 in Ireland and died 1903 in 
Wellington, New Zealand. Henry and Jane had a daughter, Sophia Georgina Fowke, born 1848 at Bandon, 
Ireland, and she married George Glover in 1870 in Ireland. Both Sophia and George's deaths are recorded 
at Wellington, New Zealand. It is considered likely that Henry and Jane Fowke and their daughter Sophia 
and her husband, George Glover, emigrated to New Zealand around 1884 but records to confirm this have 
been elusive. Also the question of Henry's parents' connections are still outstanding.

Do you know any of these individuals below, all of whom arrived in USA through 
Ellis Island?

THOMAS FOWKE born about 1870 (last place of residence, Belfast, Ireland) who arrived at Ellis 
Island, USA, from Liverpool, England, on the ship, Oceanic, on 12 October, 1899.

HENRIQUE CALADIN FOWKE born about 1876 (last place of residence, London, England) who 
arrived at Ellis Island, USA, from Liverpool, England, on the ship Teutonic, on 29 March, 1906.

HORACE CECIL FOWKE born about 1874 (last place of residence, Derby, England) who arrived at 
Ellis Island, USA, from Southampton, England, on the ship, Teutonic, on 22 December, 1909.

ALICE LUCRETIA FOWKE born about 1890 (last place of residence, London, England) who arrived 
at Ellis Island, USA, from Southampton, England, on the ship, Majestic, on 17 April, 1913.

ETHEL MARY FOWKE born about 1889 (last place of residence, London, England) who arrived at 
Ellis Island, USA, from Southampton, England, on the ship, St Paul, on 13 April, 1914.

BEATRICE FOWKE born about 1881 (last place of residence, Quarndon, Derbyshire, England) who 
arrived at Ellis Island, USA, from Liverpool, England, on the ship, Baltic, on 13 August, 1915.

WINIFRED FOWKE born about 1908 (last place of residence, Quarndon, Derbyshire, England) who 
arrived at Ellis Island, USA, from Liverpool, England, on the ship, Baltic, on 13 August, 1915.

EDNA FOWKE born about 1911 (last place of residence, Quarndon, Derbyshire, England) who arrived 
at Ellis island, USA, from Liverpool, England, on the ship, Baltic, on 13 August, 1915.

Note: Beatrice, Winifred and Edna above are likely mother and daughters.

JOHN MITCHELL FOWKE born about 1888 (last place of residence, Bristol, England) who arrived at 
Ellis Island, USA, from Liverpool, England, on the ship, Vestris, on 19 August, 1919.

WILLIERS FOWKE born about 1888 (last place of residence, Tokyo, Japan) who arrived at Ellis 
Island, USA, from Southampton, England, on the ship, Imperator, on 11 July, 1920.

There are many others who arrived at Ellis Island, USA, over the years, but we would like 
to know more about those mentioned above.

And finally, what do you know about this family?

In 1825 the following family appeared on a ship's passenger list travelling between Ireland 
and Quebec, Canada.
ROBERT FOWKE, aged 45 years, NORA FOWKE, aged 30 years, MICHAEL FOWKE, aged 12 years, 
ANNE FOWKE, aged 8 years, CATHERINE FOWKE, aged 7 years, and JOHN FOWKE, aged 4 years.

The total list of emigrating or travelling individuals here is not complete but if you 
know of others please contact us.

Ray Fowke - Email: rayfowke@clear.net.nz    Steve Fooks - Email: Steve@fooks-robb.com

Did you know?

That there is a Fowke Street in Rothley, England?  I am keen to learn just who or which family this street was named after,
and when.

That there is a lake called Lake Fowke (Spring Lake) in Ontario, Canada?  I do know which family this lake was named after.
It was Thomas Fowke (1823-1890) and his wife, Ellen, nee Bedford (1831-1912). Thomas and Ellen are buried at Magnetowan,
Ontario. Thomas had a tannery at Hampton, Ontario, then in 1872, he and his wife and their eldest son, George Walter Fowke,
went to the Parry Sound District and purchased a 100-acre lot on the Nipissing Road for a rifle and $25. The lake is located 
near Mikisew Provincial Park in the Parry Sound District.

That a structure known as "Fowke's Buildings" is located in central London between Harp Lane and Water Lane?  The earliest
mention located so far is in 1799. It has also been written as "Fook's Court" and "Fowks Court". The building name is derived
from a John Fowke who devised (disposed of) five messuages (dwelling houses with outbuildings and some adjacent land) to
Christ's Hospital in 1686. I believe that this was the John Fowke who was Lord Mayor of London (1652-53), and President
for Christ's Hospital (1661-62). He died, however, in 1662, so the above devisement must have been from his estate quite
some time later.

That Fowkewood Court, Caretta Street and Sadie Street are located off Georgia Avenue in Belvedere, North Augusta, USA,
and are named after Gerard Chandler Fowke (1887-1962) a farmer, and two of his daughters, Sadie Geraldine Fowke and
Frankie Caretta Fowke?

That there is a Fowke Street in North Augusta, USA, and Fowke Lane in Woodbridge, Virginia, USA? These are still being
investigated as to whom they were named after. Fowke Street possibly after Gerard Chandler Fowke (above), and Fowke
Lane is suspected to be named after Thaddeus Edgar Fowke (1859-1937), a carpenter and farmer.

That if you know the answer to any of the questions above, or know of other locations around the world with a Fowke name,
I would be pleased to hear from you.

Contributed by: Ray Fowke - Papamoa - New Zealand - rayfowke@clear.net.nz