Many St Helenians came to the Cape shortly after the abolition of the slave trade in 1832 because there was a shortage of labour in the Colony.
Between 1873 and 1884 the Cape government shipped 22 232 St Helenian immigrants to the colony. The Emigrants Advice Office was established in London in 1887, through which financial support was provided by the government to employers of artisans and domestic labour. The newcomers from St Helena moved into relatively empty areas east of the city such as District Six and Woodstock. These
St Helenians integrated with various South African communities - European, African, Malay, Khoi, Chinese - and the local freed slaves, as well as slaves who had been liberated by the British Western African Squadron from slaving vessels which were still trading illegally after the abolition of slavery.
The South African St Helenian Heritage Association was founded by Merle Martin. The Association's mission is to promote awareness, preserve and protect St Helena Island Heritage in South Africa. Merle is compiling a list of descendants whose ancestral lineage can be traced back to St Helena Island:
'My aim is to get people to come and tell us their stories. I was always interested in searching my family tree. I've heard so many people say they have ancestors from the island. My paternal grandmother was from the island. Our motto is: We do know our roots.'
Merle mentions: 'My research has shown that St Helenians arrived in the Cape from 1795 until 1949 when SA barred St Helenians from entering. Also, note that that the total of 22 232 immigrants stated above would have included mostly temporary residents of St Helena who were freed off slaving vessels.'
Anyone wishing to know more or to share information is welcome to contact Ms Martin by email:The South African St Helenian Heritage Association was founded by Merle Martin. The Association's mission is to promote awareness, preserve and protect St Helena Island Heritage in South Africa. Merle is compiling a list of descendants whose ancestral lineage can be traced back to St Helena Island:
'My aim is to get people to come and tell us their stories. I was always interested in searching my family tree. I've heard so many people say they have ancestors from the island. My paternal grandmother was from the island. Our motto is: We do know our roots.'
Merle mentions: 'My research has shown that St Helenians arrived in the Cape from 1795 until 1949 when SA barred St Helenians from entering. Also, note that that the total of 22 232 immigrants stated above would have included mostly temporary residents of St Helena who were freed off slaving vessels.'
saint.helena.island@gmail.com or phone 021 7018422
Read descendants' stories at
Rediscovering St Helena: a Gathering of Saints in Cape Town www.archivalplatform.org/blog/entry/rediscovering_st/
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| Alice Armstrong with her eldest son Jack aged about 2 or 3 and her mother Ann Maria. The person on the right is not identified. |
My grang mother was Amy Jones, a Saint Helena descendant who married Sonny Starr from Great Britain. I do not have further info about her, can you help?
ReplyDeleteHello - I do not have a database of Saint Helena descendants, unfortunately. If you have another look at the post on which you commented you will find mention of Merle Martin who specialises in St Helena descendants, her phone number is also given though I am not certain if this is still the same, and there is an email address which could be useful. If Sonny Starr and his wife died in South Africa there may be a reference to either or both of them on our SA National Archives index, NAAIRS, at www.national.archives.gov.za/ If you know whereabouts in SA they died and some idea of date of death you might find a deceased estate file for each of them. In any case run his name and forename through the index as it is not that usual a name and you just might get a hit. Best Wishes from Mole
ReplyDeleteMy great grandmother Laura Louis a Murr is the granddaughter of Philip Kay farmer whose father was David Kay the medic on St Helena
ReplyDeleteThank you for your interesting comment, Lesley.
ReplyDeletemy great grandmother x3 was margaret sowden her mother was eliza birch who married alexander barclay (bartley) eliza wa a free slave of captain shortis
ReplyDeleteMorning, I am interested in finding information on Sarah Swain and her Husband Ricgard Michae. Constantine they were my great great grandparents.
ReplyDelete