Because the materials referenced are copyrighted to the Crown, I cannot publish them here. What follows is a summary of the references to the Bowman family held by the Windsor Castle Archives. For complete information on contact addresses and a list of all materials in possession of the Archives that pertain to both McHardy and Bowman surnames, please see the
Windsor Castle Archives: Contact Information page.
An account of the family of John Bowman and Margaret McHardy, presumably prepared by one of the children for the benefit of Queen Victoria.
| Alexander |
Bapt. July 26, 1801, d. 1814 as the result of an accident |
| Janet |
Bapt. March 11, 1804. Was housekeeper to Mr Farquharson of Aslone before marrying Charles McHardy, farmer, Ordachoy, Corgarff. Died May 9th, 1873 |
| William |
Bapt. May 14, 1806. Was under Keeper for Invercauld and then Keeper to Sir William Maxwell. Married Hellen Kinghorn. Died November 15, 1862 |
| Mary |
Bapt. November 22, 1808. Was an attendant to young ladies, was many years with a Dutch Lady, and then Housekeeper to an elderly Lady. Retired to Inver Cottage. |
| Margaret |
Bapt. May 26, 1810. Was housemaid to Invercauld, was then employed by the Earl of Moxton and then the Earl of Leven. Married John Gordon and lived in Braemar. |
| Ann |
Bapt. February 20, 1812. Took over at Aslone from Janet. Married George Forbes, a farmer near Banchory. Died January 20, 1872. |
| James |
Bapt. March 15, 1814. Began employment with Invercauld, worked in the gardens with Mr Grant of Kilgrastan, then assisted his father and remained Keeper in the Ballochbuie. Died September 9, 1885. |
| Jane |
Bapt. January 1816. Took over from her mother in the Ballochbuie and remained at home. Died March 23, 1873. |
| Margery |
Bapt. February 1, 1818. Worked in the scullery at Invercauld, then employed in turn by Sir John Ogilvie, Sir Robert Napier, and Lady Ruthven, with the last having risen to cook and housekeeper. Retired to Aberdeen. |
| Elizabeth Farquharson |
Bapt. August 2, 1820. Began in the scullery at Invercauld, then employed in turn by Lady Louisa Forbes, Lady Eleanor Balfour, the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Leinster, and lastly the Lord Galway in 1852 as cook and housekeeper. Retired to Inver Cottage. |
| Amelia |
Bapt. November 1822. Took over from Ann at Aslone, then married William Souter, farmer at Pittodrie then cattle dealer in Aberdeen. |
| Catherine |
Bapt. April 12, 1825. Began in the scullery at Invercauld, then worked in succession for the Earl of Desart, Ireland; the Duke of Beaufort; the Earl of Dunmore; and lastly for Sir Thomas Bateson, Belvoir Park, Ireland as housekeeper. Retired to Aberdeen. |
An account of Queen Victoria's first expedition up Lochnagar on which she was accompanied by, among others, James Bowman, who was then in the employ of Mr. Farquharson of Invercauld. James Bowman accompanied her on several such expeditions, and there is an account of one in September, 1849 in which Prince Albert went stalking in the Ballochbuie while she paid a visit to John Bowman, James' father, and old Bowman's unmarried daughter.
(a number of press cuttings about the death and funeral of James Bowman) and — Queen Victoria's account of the death of James Bowman.
These accounts retell the events of James Bowman's death, the result of an accident while climbing a deer fence in an effort to pick a bunch of white heather (perhaps for the Queen). While climbing the very high fence, James had fallen and become entangled in the fence. Unable to extricate himself he had lain on the ground from 3 pm in the afternoon until 11 am the next morning. At the age of 71, this proved to be too much of an ordeal for him to recover, and although he was taken back to Inver Cottage and attended by the Queen's own physician, Dr. Profeit, he passed away just as the Queen called in at the cottage to inquire after his health. The funeral was attended by Queen Victoria, Princess Beatrice, General Gardiner, the Hon. Alexander Yorks, Dr. Profeit, Major Bigge, Alexander Farquharson, younger of Invercauld, R.G. Foggo of Invercauld, and all the keepers and gillies, his fellow servants at Balmoral.
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