Coastal Ships, Mariners and Visitors: Cape 19th c 5

SOUTH-EAST GALES AT ALGOA BAY

In the 1830s a number of ships were wrecked in Algoa Bay. They included the Kate in 1834 (Captain E Cattell), Cape Breton 1835, and Fee Jee 1837 (Captain W Bewley). All these wrecks were the result of south-easterly gales, a reminder that in the face of on-shore winds, sailing vessels within a harbour were at the mercy of the elements, frequently lost their anchors and were driven ashore. An additional problem was that some ships were in poor condition with rusted cables and other defects.

The 1840s were equally disastrous, reports of shipwrecks in Algoa Bay being a regular feature of the Graham’s Town Journal. Captain James Caithness of the schooner Mary lost his ship in March 1844 during a south-easter on her way back from Mauritius. Her cargo of sugar, rice and dates was saved as were all on board, but Caithness was an unlucky mariner for he also lost the Lady Leith four years later. See:
http://molegenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/06/wreck-of-lady-leith-1848.html

Shipping Intelligence: South
African Commercial Advertiser
16 December 1837
Note mention of Conch and Bell
and numerous other ships.
Click on pic to zoom.

COASTAL MARINERS

Why men like the Caithnesses, Scorey and Bell should choose such an unpredictable and dangerous career as that of mariner along the beautiful but deadly coast of South Africa is an unanswerable question. Perhaps they were born sailors. No matter how skilled and experienced they may have been, they couldn’t control the weather or make the wind blow in the right direction – if it blew at all. Many a ship was wrecked when the wind failed and this is what happened to the Conch in 1847 when she came to grief at Port St Johns. Bell was not in command of the schooner at the time (a Captain W Moses had that dubious honour).

From 1837, when Bell first appears in the records as captain of the Conch, his life was packed with incident and adventure, not to mention domestic events such as marriage in 1838 followed by the baptisms, at regular intervals, of his numerous progeny. It is uncertain how Bell managed to support this brood as a maritime career wasn’t lucrative and was subject to fluctuating circumstances.

EXTERNAL INFLUENCES

Contributing factors were not only the weather and the usual hazards of a coastal mariner’s existence. It’s important to remember that an ancestor did not live in a vacuum. Beyond his private and professional life there was the Big Picture: the backdrop to his own small drama. In Bell’s case, matters beyond his control included the Colony’s economic well-being and the state of trade, politics and Government, and whether there was Peace or War. Since – and indeed before - the arrival of the British immigrants now known collectively as the 1820 Settlers, there had been continual unrest on the Colony’s eastern frontier and this showed no sign of diminishing as that decade, and then the next, passed.

Troops on the Eastern Cape Frontier

Between 1834 and 1835 the Sixth Frontier War was on the boil; hundreds of homesteads were burned and cattle driven away, ruining the Albany settlers’ hopes and chasing them and other refugees into towns. Coastal ships were vital for transporting goods, particularly guns, ammunition and troops, and Bell and fellow mariners frequently carried such cargo. J O Smith and similar agents no doubt found war an excellent business opportunity. Civilians as well as soldiers would rather face an uncomfortable sea voyage than the mountain passes and indigenous tribes of the frontier lands, so there was plenty of work for mariners and their ships.

H G Caithness, as captain of the Fame, was recorded in the Cape Frontier Times, published at Graham’s Town, in November 1840 carrying from Table Bay to Algoa Bay the following passengers: Colonel MacPherson, Captain and Mrs Lonsdale and family, 29 Soldiers, 10 women and 28 children. The rank and file (i.e. ‘29 soldiers’) were as usual not named, though their officers were as was the Captain’s wife. All these would have been part of the military establishment. Considering that the Fame was a schooner, the passage – which in this case took 8 days so the weather can’t have been in their favour - was doubtless an uncomfortable one for the 70 souls packed on board (not including the crew). The responsibility of Caithness as master on such a voyage can be fully appreciated.

The increased volume of shipping at Cape ports would continue during the Seventh Frontier War (the War of the Axe) in 1846-7. Meanwhile, from 1834 the move away from the Cape of about 15,000 Afrikaner frontiersmen, later called the Voortrekkers, was in progress. Bell could not have foreseen how this exodus would impact his own career.

CALM SEAS

William Bell and Conch continued to ply the coastal ports during the early 1840s and it is possible to track their activities by references in local newspapers.

In September 1841 the Cape Frontier Times mentions, ‘Conch schooner, W Bell, (departing) Table Bay 5.9.1841, (arriving) Algoa Bay 7.9.1841 (a remarkably quick run); Passengers: Rev Mr and Mrs Taylor, Mrs Stonelake, Mr and Mrs Ziervogel, Mr Scorey, Mr Matthew, 2 children and 6 in steerage. (Note the habitual omission of names of steerage passengers.) The inclusion of Scorey tells us that Bell apparently wasn’t averse to carrying on board members of his wife’s family: this individual may have been James Scorey, uncle of Mary Ann Bell and master of the schooner Flamingo during the 1820s and early 1830s, though the Cape Government Gazette at the time also referred to other Scoreys, initials S, F and G. It is an unusual surname and they were all likely to have been related.

Schooner

A more important personal event was the birth of William and Mary Ann’s first son, William Douglas Bell (usually called Douglas to avoid confusion with his father); all seemed well on the domestic front. However, the comparatively calm waters in which Bell was then sailing were threatened by some unexpected storms ahead. All of Bell's courage and experience were to be put to the test.



To read from the beginning of this series of posts go to:
http://molegenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/06/coastal-ships-mariners-and-visitors.html

Coastal Ships, Mariners and Visitors: Cape 19th c 4

Reference to Conch & William Bell
April 1837; note J Smith & Co, Agents

Although several local newspaper references to William Bell and the Conch came to light from January 1837 onwards, the date of his arrival at the Cape remained obscure. It has now emerged that he was on board the Thorne at the time of her wreck in Table Bay in 1831.

The source of the information describes Bell as ‘2nd Officer’ of the Thorne, but this is uncomfortable terminology for a merchant ship of Thorne’s type and size (251 tons) in the 1830s. Usually such a vessel would have the following crew structure: Master, Mate, 2nd Mate, Carpenter, 6 seamen, 2 Apprentices.

In 1831, the date the Thorne was lost, Bell would have been 24, the right age for either Mate or 2nd Mate. It is a known fact that he had been apprenticed to John Ritson, founder of a large Cumbrian shipbuilding and ship-owning company. During his indentures Bell would learn everything required to build ships as well as handle them and he may have gone to sea as an apprentice for a year or two. After this he would be eligible to be contracted as a fully-fledged seaman, and thus gain further practical experience.

The Thorne sailed to India in 1828 and this was unlikely to have been her only visit there.  Bell would have had the opportunity to observe the use of masulah surf-boats at Indian ports, an idea which he later successfully implemented at Port Natal. That he was well-informed about these boats is explained by Bell’s travels on Thorne.

Masulah Surf-boat, Madras

Also, since the Thorne was a regular visitor at Cape ports, Bell would have gathered experience of the coast and the vagaries of its wind and weather. He was to become closely acquainted with every safe anchorage between Table Bay and Delagoa Bay, including the Bay of Natal, knowledge which would stand him in good stead in the years to follow.

Returning to the reference to Bell’s having been ‘2nd Officer’, it seems that when Thorne’s Captain Johnson died, and command passed to the then Mate, W Poole (aged thirty), someone would take a step up the ladder to fill the vacant place of Mate. This was either Bell, or another unnamed man. In the latter case, Bell may have moved up a rung to 2nd Mate and therefore would have been in that role when the Thorne met her fate on the rocks of Robben Island. He was qualified to perform the duties of either Mate or 2nd Mate at the time.

When a ship was wrecked far from its home port, efforts were usually made to repatriate the surviving crew members. So far it hasn’t been possible to establish whether Bell did go back to England in 1831, returning to the Cape later. An alternative is that he stayed in the Cape after the Thorne wreck and in due course became acquainted with the agent J O Smith who presumably liked the cut of his jib and took him on as a mariner on coastal vessels. Bell proved reliable and by at least 1837, possibly before, acquired command of the schooner Conch. Until he made captain he would have remained invisible in local records.

JOHN OWEN SMITH AND HMS THUNDERBOLT

Information on John Owen Smith wasn’t easy to find, though his name appears often enough as ship’s agent in the Cape papers. Browsing through one of Lawrence Green’s volumes I found an intriguing reference:

Thunderbolt Reef from Cape Recife

In 1847, the man-o’-war H.M.S. Thunderbolt was wrecked on the reef which later bore her name. She was a thousand ton paddle-wheeler and mysteriously ran on to the reef in calm, clear weather. Her captain, Commander Alexander Boyle, R.N., refloated her and beached her on the shores of Algoa Bay, but she broke up.



‘Mr J O Smith, a settler, bought her for 102 pounds and sold the ship’s timbers to people building houses. Smith’s Folly became a profitable business. In the end Smith was ordered to remove the wreck. He did so with a huge charge of gunpowder that shook early Port Elizabeth to its foundations.’

If this story is true, and it is the same J O Smith, he seems to me to have been the type of man who would have appreciated the rugged and eccentric Captain William Bell.



Grateful thanks to Derek Ellwood, friend and maritime historian.

Souvenir Saturday: Bell/Caithness/Scorey

Mary Ann Bell nee Caithness (1820-1899) ca 1860s

Mary Ann Caithness, daughter of James Ramsey Caithness and Ann Scorey, was born at Marchwood, Hampshire, 20 March 1820. She married William Bell at Port Elizabeth 29 June 1838. Their children were Mary Ann Elizabeth Pamela, Douglas William, Ellen Selwyn Sophia (d in infancy), Ellen Harriet, James Colquhoun, Sarah Scott, Sturges Bourne, Eliza Ann, Jessie MacGregor, George John Head, Alfred Thomas Payne, and Alice Millican Bell.

Coastal Ships, Mariners and Visitors: Cape 19th c 3

THE WRECK OF THE THORNE 1831

Table Bay 1834

On Wednesday 18 May 1831 the 251 ton British brig Thorne, a frequent visitor to the Cape, sailed out of Table Bay destined for London with a cargo of colonial produce. When the vessel was near Robben Island, a sudden, dense fog arose making visibility impossible. Shortly afterwards the Thorne struck a rock on the western side of the island. Boats including the Northwester and Messrs Sinclair’s and others were immediately sent out to assist. The Port Captain was first on board the stricken ship but ‘he found the rudder unhung and the water up to the hold-beams’ and there was no hope of saving her.

The following evening, the boat Northwester took off part of the Thorne’s cargo of beef, hides and skins. Mr Sinclair superintended the landing of goods on Robben Island. The passengers’ baggage was saved, as were the passengers and all members of the crew.

A report on the wreck made the front page of the South African Commercial Advertiser on Saturday 21 May, smugly mentioning that the Cape Underwriters could congratulate themselves ‘on their fortunate escape … not a single policy, either on the Thorne or her cargo, was affected at the Cape. The insurance of both was done in England and Calcutta.

The parties insured, however, will have to wait about 12 months for the settlement of their various claims, a fact which speaks most powerfully in favour of Colonial Underwriting.’

It had been a disastrous year for the Thorne. In June 1830, on her way to Table Bay, she had experienced severe gales which had washed away her bulwarks and caused other damage to the ship, forcing her to put in at Plettenburg Bay. At that time she was commanded by William Johnson (or Johnston). The Thorne was not a coastal vessel, but sailed further afield to India, England and Mauritius as well as the Cape ports, carrying a variety of cargo (on the Mauritius to Cape run she carried sugar, from Knysna she carried timber), passengers and mail.

Johnson was still her captain in January 1831 when she made a voyage from Table Bay to Algoa Bay. However, on 25 March of that year, the Thorne arrived in Table Bay under W Poole who had taken over command when Captain Johnson died during the voyage. The South African Commercial Advertiser announced on Saturday 26 March 1831, the death on 21 March, of Mr William Johnston [sic], master of the bark Thorne, aged 30 years.’

Poole continued as captain of the Thorne for the succeeding months and it was under his command that the brig struck the rocks at Robben Island in May 1831.

The press reported that young Poole was ‘plunged into utmost grief and distress of mind; but from all we can collect, it appears no blame attaches to him – the heavy fog and the darkness of the evening assisted perhaps by the current, being the immediate causes of the misfortune.’

Despite Poole’s youth and inexperience as a master, he probably was not responsible for the loss of the Thorne. Fog was a common cause of shipwreck along South Africa’s coastline, vessels running on to islands or reefs, and sometimes into each other. Early 19th c mariners relied on visibility as well as on charts which might not be entirely accurate. Navigation at night was particularly difficult when instrument readings could not be followed up by clear observation of the area, and depending on date there may not have been lighthouses to help delineate hazards.

The Robben Island lighthouse was not in commission until 1865, thirty-four years after the wreck of the Thorne, though Jan van Riebeeck apparently thought it important enough in 1656 to select personally a suitable site on the Island for making signal fires – this was the highest point on Robben Island, known as the Vuurberg, and the present lighthouse stands on the same site.

Robben Island Lighthouse

Archival records held in the Cape and local newspaper reports allow us to track the Thorne in some detail. In February 1828 she left Bombay bound for London; arrived in Simon’s Bay 3 June, left 8 June; with a cargo of sundries and two passengers. The following year she left the Downs (England) bound for Cape Town, arriving Table Bay 13 August, left 28 September; agents were Thomson and Co.; cargo sundries and 1 passenger; brought mail. On 4 May 1830 Thorne left Mauritius bound for Cape Town; arrived at Table Bay 29 Jan, left 3 March.; agents were still Thomson & Co., cargo sugar & passengers; brought a small mail. The significance of these activities, which were all in a normal day's work for this type of ship in the 19th c, becomes clear as we pursue the Thorne’s story.

In June 1830 the vessel was damaged during severe gales. The following year, in March 1831, her captain, Johnson, died at sea, and two months later the Thorne was wrecked. Superstitious mariners might at that stage have described her as an unlucky ship.

However, for me, as well as for other interested descendants, the Thorne has a redeeming feature: she was responsible for the arrival at the Cape of our ancestor William Bell and the start of his career as a mariner in the coastal waters off South Africa.



Thanks to Anita Caithness (family historian, friend and archivist for references to Thorne), Sue MacKay (newspaper transcriber and provider of many Bell and Conch references), Harold Williams (the lighthouse man) and Malcolm Turner (the shipwreck man).

Coastal Ships, Mariners and Visitors: Cape Colony 19th c 2

PORT ELIZABETH IN THE 1830s

Port Elizabeth Algoa Bay by Thomas Baines

Arriving eventually at Algoa Bay after an uncomfortable voyage up the coast from Table Bay, Cornwallis Harris was not favourably impressed with what he found:

‘Algoa Bay is exceedingly open and exposed and the anchorage very insecure. During high winds ships not unfrequently go on shore, a tremendous surf often rendering it dangerous, and at times even impossible, for boats to land. We were fortunate in being able to prevail on the Port Captain to take us ashore in his barge … The town of Port Elizabeth, though rapidly increasing, does not consist of above one hundred and fifty houses.  It is built along the sea-shore on the least eligible site that could have been selected.’ 

In this unpromising spot Cornwallis Harris and party attempted to buy horses to continue their journey inland.

 ‘We understood (these could) be obtained in the adjoining districts in considerable numbers, and of an excellent quality.  It was with inconceivable difficulty, however, that we at length succeeded in procuring two miserable quadrupeds, that appeared to have scarcely sufficient stamina to carry us to Graham’s Town. The recent (Frontier) war having trebled the price of every thing, and of live stock in particular, the demands upon us were exorbitant.’

THE SCOREY AND CAITHNESS FAMILIES

Of greater interest than Cornwallis Harris’s opinion of Port Elizabeth and its available horseflesh is his casual remark, ‘We tarried a week at Mrs. Scorey’s fashionable hotel.’

This hostelry, previously the home of Captain Moresby and said to be the first private house built in Port Elizabeth, was called Markham House. It had changed hands and as a hotel had been run successfully by a lady named Anne Robinson. She had married in 1829 at Port Elizabeth one James Scorey, master of the schooner Flamingo. (Scorey is noted for having put up a flagstaff for the use of the port in 1829.) At the time of Cornwallis Harris’s visit in 1836 Anne was Mrs. Scorey and her inn with its elevated position and riverside garden continued to be popular. The open space in front of the hotel was known to local residents as Scorey’s Place. The hotel was doing well enough for James Scorey to retire from the sea in 1834.

James Scorey was the uncle of Mary Ann Caithness (b 1820). Mary Ann’s mother (confusingly another Ann Scorey, b 1796) had married James Caithness snr (Master Mariner) at Eling, Hampshire in 1814. James Ramsey Caithness jnr. (b 1815) following in his father's footsteps and perhaps encouraged by reports sent ‘home’ by James Scorey, took up residence at the Cape and plied the coastal trade. He became captain of the brig Lady Leith (which met with disaster in 1848). Henry George Caithness commanded at various dates the vessels Louisa and Fame.**

Scorey's Hotel is the large building at left, with
 the gardens in the foreground leading down to the river.

WILLIAM BELL

Part of this close-knit colonial maritime circle was Cumbrian-born William Bell, master of the schooner Conch, who would marry Mary Anne Caithness at Port Elizabeth in June 1838. It is possible that William and Mary Anne, the latter out on a visit from England, met at Scorey’s Hotel and that romance blossomed as the two walked together in the pleasant gardens reaching down to the Baakens River. The name Ann Scorey (i.e. wife of James Scorey) is given as one of the witnesses at the Bell/Caithness wedding. The groom was 31, the bride 18 and they were married by special licence granted by Major General Napier.*

JOHN OWEN SMITH AND GEORGE CATO

William Bell and James Ramsey Caithness had the same ship’s agent, John Owen Smith. And here emerges another familiar name, George Cato, who from 1834 worked as manager for J O Smith. Descended from a Huguenot family who fled to England to escape religious persecution in France in the 17th c, Cato’s father and family had arrived at the Cape in 1826. The sudden death of Cato snr in 1831 (he is said to have been killed by an elephant) meant that George had to become a breadwinner. No doubt this enforced early maturity helped Cato to develop his entrepreneurial skills and other natural abilities which he put to good effect from that time onwards.

Cato became Bell’s lifelong friend, later rising to prominence in Natal as Mayor of Durban in 1850s. During the 1830s Cato was operating for Smith in the salt beef trade and in 1838 sailed the vessel Trek Boer up the east coast carrying goods for trade with the trekkers – Dutch frontier farmers who had left the Cape Colony and established themselves at Port Natal. Although neither Bell nor Cato could foresee future events, they were both to become embroiled in the conflict which would arise at Natal between the trekkers and the British in 1842.

SIGNIFICANCE OF MIDDLE NAMES

Marriage announcement: H G Caithness to Pamela Holt Okes
South African Commercial Advertiser June 15 1839

Local newspaper announcements emphasise the network of family connections so much a feature of colonial life. On 29 July 1839 Mary Ann and William Bell’s first child, a daughter, was christened Mary Ann Elizabeth Pamela Bell at Wynberg, Cape. The officiating minister was the Rev. Holt Okes, whose daughter Pamela had married Henry George Caithness a few weeks earlier.

This useful nugget answers the question of why the middle name Pamela was chosen for the Bell baby. Her other middle name, Elizabeth, was in honour of William Bell’s mother, Elizabeth Millican.

William and Mary Ann would produce a dozen children between 1839 and 1862, the last, Alice Millican Bell, born in Durban when Mary Ann was aged 42. Despite child-bearing and rearing taking up much of her time, Mary Ann is believed to have accompanied her husband on at least one voyage to Rio de Janeiro in the 100 ton schooner Conch.


*George Thomas Napier (1784-1855) Major General in 1837, later knighted, was Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the army in the Cape Colony from 1839-1843. The two major events during his period as Governor were the abolition of slavery and the removal of the trekkers from Natal following the conflict of 1842.

** Current research into the Caithness mariners and their precise relationship to each other continues. James Ramsey Caithness had a brother, George, also a mariner, but he couldn't have been sailing in Cape waters until after 1850. Henry George Caithness, however, disappears from Cape records a decade earlier.

Thanks to Anita Caithness for her input on Markham House/Scorey's Hotel. Also to Margaret Harradine for her article 'Port Elizabeth's First Hotel'.

Coastal Ships, Mariners and Visitors: Cape Colony 19th c

A DANGEROUS COAST

On 18 June 1830, the brig Thorne, bound for Table Bay, put in at what was then called ‘Plettenburg’s Bay’ in distress, having suffered ‘considerable damage in her upper works’. The report in the South African Commercial Advertiser mentioned that those on board were in ‘a miserable condition’ but were given assistance by Captain Harker (of Plettenburg’s Bay) whose ‘humanity and kindness’ were highly commended.

Severe weather prevailed along the coast that month, for another vessel, the Usk, arrived in Algoa Bay on 20 June, without her stern-boat and divots; part of her bulwarks had also been carried away.

About a year later the Thorne, a frequent visitor to Table Bay, was wrecked at Robben Island. (We’ll return to her story in due course.)

These incidents and numerous total wrecks are a reminder that the southern coastal waters off Africa could be extremely perilous and though the voyages between ports might be of relatively short duration, mariners needed skill and experience to avoid disaster. Passengers required courage to venture on board sailing vessels of 100 tons or less. Sometimes a successful arrival at a destination was accomplished more by guess than by God, as shown in the circumstances described below.

WILLIAM CORNWALLIS HARRIS

The hunter and traveller William Cornwallis Harris in 1836-37 undertook a ten month expedition from the Cape into the interior and later recorded that he and his companion William Richardson:

'... embarked on 2 July in a small schooner bound for Algoa Bay, one of our fellow-passengers from India accompanying us to the pier, unable to persuade himself, until the boat had fairly pushed off, that we really intended to venture upon a second voyage in such a craft so immediately after the troubles we had undergone. In addition to a mate, a cook, and a Mozambique negro … our crew consisted of three men and a boy; our fellow passengers being two adventurers who occupied the berth opposite to our own in the only cabin, and a tailor with his wife and nine daughters, some marriageable, others at the breast. This unfortunate family, every member of which was sea-sick during the whole voyage, located themselves in the steerage, an apartment about eight feet square, ventilated only by the hatch way.  

The passage up the coast at that season seldom occupies more than three days, but the fates decreeing that our progress should still be opposed, adverse winds had taken the place of the north-wester, which had been blowing without intermission during the preceding six weeks, and which, had it but continued a day longer, would have wafted us to our destination. 

HAZARDS OF COASTAL SAILING

The little vessel was usually gunwale under. Stormy seas breaking over her obliged the tailor to seal up his family hermetically; heavy lurches during the night ejected us from our narrow precincts, and more than once brought my companion and myself into awkward and violent collision, whilst the rolling during the day repeatedly swept the table and deposited the viands in our laps.

Being the whole time within sight of land, no observations were taken, and on the afternoon of the eighth day we entered St Francis’ Bay, in mistake for that of Algoa, not discovering our error until we were about to let go the anchor. The tailor, who had made the voyage before, courageously ascended the mast-head … to make an attempt at recognition and regaining the deck gravely assured us that we were in Plettenburg’s Bay, nearly 2 degrees to the westward.  The chart was produced, and being satisfied that we were close to Cape Recif [sic], a dangerous reef of rocks, we advised the ship to be hove to …. but we contrived to weather the point and having narrowly escaped foundering on the Bird Islands floundered into the harbour of Port Elizabeth’. (i.e. Algoa Bay)

Map shows Algoa Bay

Sable Antelope by Cornwallis Harris

[Extract from Cornwallis Harris’s volume, initially entitled Narrative of an expedition into Southern Africa during the years 1836, and 1837, from the Cape of Good Hope through the territories of the chief Moselekatse, to the Tropic of Capricorn etc.,  later known, more simply, as Wild Sports of Southern Africa. The first edition was illustrated with 26 plates of the author’s beautiful paintings of the local fauna.]

Natal Witness Marriages 1883

Groom, Bride, Date of Event, Date of Advert, Details

Agnew, Buchanan, 28-Dec-1882, 17-Jan-1883,
at the Berea, Durban by the Rev PM Martin
Andrew David Carnegie, son of the Rev David DA Agnew of Edinburgh, Scotland
to Minnie Dale youngest daughter of the late David Dale Buchanan,
Advocate and M.L.C. PMBurg

Archer, Gilbert, 14-Feb-1883, 15-Feb-1883,
at St Peters Cathedral, PMBurg by the Right Rev the Lord Bishop of Natal,
George Horsley Archer of PMBurg to  Emily Jullettie
eldest daughter of C Gilbert Esq. of Richmond, Surrey

Beard, Allerston, 1-Feb-1883, 5-Feb-1883,
at PMBurg by the Rev GM Slade, Wesleyan Minister,
Mr JE Beard to Harriet youngest daughter of Mr W Allerston

Bennitt, Smith, 11-Jan-1883, 23-Jan-1883, at the Wesleyan Chapel PMBurg
by the Rev RW Bryant,William Bennitt to Lillia Priscilla Smith
youngest daughter of Jesse Smith (Undertaker)

Bentley, Comins, 6-June-1883, 18-June-1883,
at St. John's Church York, by the Rev ET Burges M.A.,
William Wood eldest son of Mr Geo. Bentley, Helmsley,
England to Eliza Jane, eldest daughter of Mr John Comins,
Newington House near York

Bruyns, Van Rooyen, 28-Mar-1883, 27-April-1883,
at "Dirby, New Scotland", Andrew Johannes Bruyns,
second son of AJ Bruyns Esq. of Noodsberg to Maria Magdaline
eldest daughter of DJ Van Rooyan (Van Rooyen), Transvaal

Cinamon, Moss, 13-May-1883, 16-May-1883,
at Durban by Special Licence, by the appointed officer of Jewish Marriages,
Bernard Cinamon of PMBurg to Annie Moss of Adelaide, South Australia
( Australian papers please copy)

Cliff, Shackleton, 14-Feb-1883, 17-Feb-1883,
at the residence of the bride's uncle, Mr John Fleming, PMBurg
by the Rev John Smith A.M.,
The Rev William Cliff of Umtata to Mary Shackleton

Clode, Smith, 13-April-1883, 17-April-1883,
at the Drill Shed Church by the Rev GM St. M Ritchie,
George John Clode to Katherine Inez Smith

Evans, Large, 13-Dec-1882, 18-Jan-1883,
at St Saviours Cathedral PMBurg by the Right Rev The Bishop Of PMBurg,
assisted by the Very Rev Dean Green, Benjamin Bateman Evans of Mid-Illovo
to Elizabeth eldest daughter of Robert Sheppard Laarge of Stertreimfontein, Natal

Foaden, Tyzack, 20-Feb-1883, 27-Feb-1883,
at Chelmsford House Durban, the residence of the bride's father
by the Rev WH Mann, Alfred Harry second son of the late John Foaden Esq.
of Ashburton, Devonshire, England to Mary Ann Frances,
third daughter of Mr EW Tyzack of Durban

Ford, Powell, 2-June-1883, 6-June-1883,
By Special Licence at St Matthews, Estcourt by the Rev W Strickland,
SE Ford to Annie Powell both of Brynbella

Grey, Greenstock, 22-June-1883, 26-June-1883,
at Springvale by the the father of the bride, Frederick Bryan,
third son of Admital the Hon. George Grey to Mary
eldest daughter of the Rev. Canon Greenstock
(Cape Colony papers please Copy)

Hamilton, Knights, 23-Jan-1883, 30-Jan-1883,
at the bride's residence, Greyling Street, FJ Hamilton
to Catherine Mary Knights, widow of the late William Knights (Armourer)

Jones, Large, 3-Jan-1883, 18-Jan-1883,
at the School Church, Mid-Illovo by the Rev JR Wood
assisted by the Rev N Salisbury, Hubert Norris Jones
to Marianne Jane, third daughter of Robert Shephard Large of Stertreimfontein, Natal

Kelly, Dixon, 31-May-1883, 1-June-1883,
at the Congregational Chapel PMBurg by the Rev W Berry,
Leonard Swete Kelly second son of Mr Benjamin Swete Kelly, PMBurg
to Eliza Agnes Dixon youngest daughter of Mr William Dixon, Shipley
Gate, Derbyshire England.  (English papers please copy)

Liston, Lee, 6-June-1883, 16-June-1883,
By special licence at the Drill Shed Church PMBurg
by the Rev GM Martyn Ritchie Chaplain to the Forces,
Augustus Esnerst St Clair Liston, Natal. Central Sugar Company's Mill,
Mount Edgecombe, Victoria County to Ada Emma
second daughter of Geo. Jas. Lee Esq. Chairman Kimberley Mining Board

MacMinn-Greer, Payne, 19-Mar-1883, 20-Mar-1883,
By Special Licence at the Drill Shed Church, by the Rev G St Michael Ritchie,
Chaplain to the Forces,
GR Macminn-Greer District Surgeon Ixopo to Charlotte Gertrude,
fifth daughter of Mr TA Payne of this City

Martins, Adendorff, 16-April-1883, 24-April-1883,
at the Dutch Reformed Church Newcastle, by the Rev GA Dohne,
Samuel Jacobus Martins second son of CJ Martins "Fairfields" Umvoti County
to Angenita eldest daughter of JC Adendorff of "The Hope" near Newcastle

Peel, Middleton, no date given, 26-April-1883,
at St Thomas' Church, Berea Durban by the Rev John Reynolds,
Lennox Greenslade Peel, third son of the late William Accrington Peel Esq. of Mayor's Hoek, Upper Umlaas, PMB
to Kate Middleton second daughter of WH Middleton Esq.
of Home Park, Berea Durban

Power, Large, 14-Dec-1882, 18-Jan-1883,
at the Parish Church, Marston Maisy, Charles,
eldest son of George Power of Nuneaton, Warwickshire
to Margaret Mavinia, second daughter of Robert Sheppard Large
of Stertreimfontein, Natal

Pugh, Evans, 23-April-1883, 1-May-1883,
By Special Licence,Geo. H Pugh of PMBurg to Alice Evans
of Lillie Blome, near Cape Town

Rood, Bruyns, 9-Jan-1883, 16-Jan-1883,
at PMBurg at the residence of Mr G Bredenkamp
by the Rev D Bosman, JC Rood of Biggarsberg
to Louisa eldest daughter of AJ Buryns Esq. of Noodsberg

Sewell, Fannin, 27-Jan-1883, 31-Jan-1883,
at St Saviours Cathedral, PMBurg by the Rev H Carlyon,
Alfred Clare Sewell of Durban to Florence Ellen,
eldest daughter of the late Thomas William Fannin of PMBurg

Smithwick, Williams, 13-Jan-1883, 15-Jan-1883,
at the Roman Catholic Church, John Smithwick,
Superintendant Lunatic Asylum to Sarah Williams,
Matron of the same Institution

Thompson, Orr, 18-June-1883, 19-June-1883,
at St Saviours Cathedral by the Very Rev The Dean,
The Rev HTA Thompson B.A. to Alice Mary
second daughter of the Rev RH Orr, Killinchy  Rectory, County Down, Ireland

Vear, Lawton, 8-Jan-1883, 10-Jan-1883,
at St Saviours Church, Thomas Vear third son of Mr W Vear
to Georgina M Lawton, fourth daughter of the late Richard Lawton of Knollebank

Wardrop, Harris, 11-Mar-1883, 28-Mar-1883,
By Special Licence at St Saviours Cathedral, PMBurg by the Rev HE Carlyon,
Hew Stair Wardrop of Cobham to Catherine
daughter of Charles Lachlan Harris of Brighton, England

White, Barker, 30-April-1883, 2-May-1883,
at St Peter's Cathedral PMBurg by the Venerable Archdeacon Colley,
Harry White eldest son of CFH White Esq.
of College House Edmonton, Middlesex to Alice Douthora [sic],
widow of the late RD Barker Esq. of PMBurg and daughter of W Risley Esq. PMBurg

Wreck of the Lady Leith 1848

Eastern Province Herald 15 Apr 1848

On Saturday the 22nd Instant will be sold by Public Auction in front of the stores of Messrs Cawood Brothers All the Masts, Beams, Deck, Plank Timbers, Bowsprits, Spars, Sails, Iron Water Tanks ...Guns and Carriages complete, chain, various sizes, Ship's compass, a new Warp, Iron-work etc brought from the above wreck. Also a few cases of ... Beef, Pickled Herrings and a variety of other stores. After which will be sold the remainder of the Wreck including a quantity of workable wood, now lying above High Water Mark, together with the Anchor, Chains and all that may wash up.

W M HARRIES, Auctioneer

Port Elizabeth April 14 1848

The brig* Lady Leith was entering Algoa Bay after sailing from Waterloo Bay when a south-easterly gale forced her on to Thunderbolt Reef, 27 February 1848. Her captain was James Ramsey Caithness jnr., brother of Mary Ann Bell nee Caithness, and brother-in-law of Captain William Bell of the Conch. 

Henry George Caithness was also living at the Cape: captain of the schooner Louisa in 1839 and of the Fame in 1840, sailing between Table Bay and Algoa Bay (Port Elizabeth), and also to Mauritius, carrying colonial produce. 

Though the Lady Leith became a total wreck and her remains were auctioned off in bits, there were no lives lost.

*sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts

Information from Anita Caithness, Steve Steere and Lorna Cowan..

Natal Witness Deaths 1883

Name, Gender, Age, Date of Event, Date of Advert, Details

Acutt m 3 months, no date given, 30-June-1883,

at Stornoway, PMBurg. Infant son of Henry and Isabella Acutt

Boers, Hendricus Wouterus m 51, 4-Jan-1883, 8-Jan-1883,

at Marais Heuvel, Ladysmith of Apoplexy

Bolt, Amy Grace  f 10 years, 20-Dec-1882, 5-Jan-1883,

at 'Sutherland', Greytown fourth daughter of the late Henry Bolt. Deeply Lamented

Booker, Jeannie Henrietta  f  21, 30-April-1883, 25-May-1883,

near Cradock, the beloved wife of WA Booker M.B. late of Durbanville,

younger daughter of Thomas Hackett, Castle Armstrong, Ireland

Burn, John Gray m 48, 19-April-1883, 23-April-1883, 

at PMBurg, late of Newcastle On Tyne, England. Deeply regretted

Burrup, Joseph m 52, 2-Feb-1883, 8-Feb-1883,

at 'Welverdient', near Greytown

Clements, RW  30-Dec-1882, 8-Jan-1883,

at Greys Hospital, of Tumour on the brain, late of Torquay, England

Cockburn, Eleanora Augusta  f  53, 19-Jan-1883, 10-Feb-1883,

at Kleinthal, Richmond the beloved wife of Mr J Montagu Cockburn

Colenso, Bishop m  21-June-1883

Cook, Jessie  f  5yrs+8mnth, 17-Jan-1883, 18-Jan-1883,

at the Central Gaol, PMBurg of inflammation of the lungs,

youngest daughter of William Cook

Culverwell, John m 26, 11-Mar-1883, 14-Mar-1883,

at Overstone, Noodsberg, youngest son of the late Jas. Culverwell,

Clavershay, Bridgewater, Somerset, England

De La Mare, Rebecca  f  32, 20-Jan-1883, 3-Feb-1883,

at Haskey (District Humansdorp), beloved wife of Thomas F De La Mare

and eldest daughter of the late John Solomon of PMBurg Natal

Downes Ellen,  f  6 months,  2-May-1883, 8-May-1883,

at Oliver's Hoek, infant daughter of Alfred and M J Downes

Edmonstone,  f  stillborn, 23-June-1883, 26-June-1883,

at Longmarket Street PMBurg the wife of RJ Edmonstone Esq.

of a premature daughter

Fearne,The Venerable Archdeacon m  73, 12-May-1883, 1-June-1883,

at South Hill, Springvale the Venerable Archdeacon Fearne, M.A.

J.P. for the Colony of Natal

Field, Catherine Frances  f  no age given, 11-Jan-1883, 27-Feb-1883,

At Sevenoakes, Kent, England relict of the late Benjamin Field

Freeman 35, 30-Jan-1883, 31-Jan-1883,

at the residence of the late John Freeman of Kingston on Thames, Surrey, England.

Late of Clapton, London (New Zealand and English papers please copy)

Gade, Sophia  f  67, 7-April-1883, 10-April-1883,

at her residence Boshoff Street PMBurg, widow of the late Mr H Gade

Gamley, Helen Oswald  f  38, 17-Mar-1883, 22-Mar-1883,

at Ladysmith, after a protracted illness, wife of David Gamley,

late of Milkwood Kraal, Little Umhlanga

Gavin, Ann  f  55yrs+5mnth, 13-May-1883, 16-May-1883,

at Umlaas, near Camperdown, relict of the late James Gavin

Gordon, Margaret  f  26, 23-March-1883, 7-May-1883,

at Algiers, eldest daughter of Dr Charles Gordon of PMBurg

Griffis, Edward m  37, 31-May-1883, 1-June-1883,

at Ladysmith, Klip River, Division Natal, son of Charles Tendal Griffis,

late Major Q.O.Y.C. and H.M.S. 14th Light Dragoons

Grundy, Edward Horton m  29, 17-Feb-1883, 5-Mar-1883,

'Died of wounds received on 5th in an attack on Mapoch's Vlught Krall,

eldest son of James Grundy of Durban, Natal'

We tender our sympathy to the relatives in their bereavement

Gubbins, Charles Fitzgerrald Beran m  1yr+7mnths, 19-May-1883, 25-May-1883

 at Newcastle the dearly beloved child of Charles O'Grady and Maud Gubbins

Hall, Elizabeth Mary Ashbourn  f  11 months, 8-April-1883, 12-April-1883,

at Umsinga, only daughter of John WF Hall

Hodgson, Charles Henry m  3mns+10dys, 3-Feb-1883, 6-Feb-1883,

at PMBurg the beloved child of Thomas and Marie Jane Hodgson.

Deeply and sincerely regretted

Hull, Daniel m  86, no date given, 29-June-1883,

at Pinetown at the residence of his daughter, Mrs Henry Cope

Kelly, Susanna Swete  f  35yr+13 dys, 26-Feb-1883, 3-Mar-1883,

Died at her father's residence, 18 Loop Street PMBurg, eldest daughter

of Benjamin Swete Kelly of this Town. Deeply Lamented

Kretzschmar, Cyril Evelyn m  no age given, 11-June-1883, 15-June-1883,

at  PMBurg ( English papers please copy)

Leask, Alexander Irvine Lyell m  49, 22-Mar-1883, 27-Mar-1883,

at PMBurg

Leask, Thomas m  88, 24-May-1883, 26-May-1883,

suddenly, at Chapel Street PMBurg

Lyle, Alexander m  51, 18-Jan-1883, 20-Jan-1883,

at his residence The Tannery PMBurg, suddenly

Lyle, Elizabeth Hill  f  40, 31-Mar-1883, 2-April-1883,

at the Tannery, PMBurg, widow of the late Alex Lyle. Deeply regretted

MacColl, Duncan Alexander m  5mnth+18dys, 16-June-1883, 20-June-1883,

at the Berea, son of Duncan and Emily MacColl

Maritz, Gerhardus Jacobus m  57, 7-Feb-1883, 28-Feb-1883,

at Kimberley, Founder of this town PMBurg

Mayne, Charles Washington m  85, 16-Feb-1883, 28-Mar-1883,

Last at Leeds, Yorkshire, England - for more than 30 years a resident of this

Colony

McCulloch m  stillborn, 24-Jan-1883, 2-Feb-1883,

at Hawks Range Mid-Illovo the wife of James A McCulloch of a son 

McLaurin,Charlie Ryder m  17 days, 25-Feb-1883, 1-Mar-1883,

at Glenaray, Verulam, infant son of James and A J McLaurin

Moore, James F m  35, 22-May-1883, 31-May-1883,

at Harmony, Richmond, second son of the late Robert  Moore

Murray, Walter Keir m  23 days, Good Friday, 27-Mar-1883,

at PMBurg infant son of Thos. Keir and Annie Murray

Norsworthy,  f  imm. Death, 29-May-1883, 1-June-1883,

at Pomeroy, Umsinga on the 29 May the infant daughter of Arthur and Agnes Norsworthy

Paterson,  f  no age given, 4-May-1883, 7-May-1883,

at Prince Street PMBurg the wife of A Paterson (jeweler)

Payne, Mr Thos. Ashborn m  66, 24-Mar-1883, 28-Mar-1883

at PMBurg, late of Atherstone, Warwickshire, born 11- December 1817. 

The deceased came to the Colony aboard the 'Edward' in 1850.

We have to record with regret this death.  One of the early settlers in Natal.

Many old and young colonists will remember with a kindly feeling the late Gentleman

who ever helped beginners in their struggle and leaves 8 children to mourn his

loss.

Phoenix, Alfred m  no age given, 10-April-1883, 14-April-1883,

at the residence of Mr Cheney, second son of Mr James Phoenix, Sea View Road,

Bootle, Liverpool, England (Liverpool papers please copy). Deeply regretted.

Salomon, Ludwig Gustav Willie m  7 weeks, 13-April-1883, 16-April-1883,

at his father's residence, only son of G Salomon/Salomen

Sewell, Annie Christime Sophia  f  41, 20-Mar-1883, 28-Mar-1883,

(Nee OTTO) Wife of JJ Sewell

Surtees, Elizabeth  f  59, 10-June-1883, 25-June-1883,

at Glenisla, wife of Robert Surtees

Taylor, Sydney Morgan m  11 weeks, 29-April-1883, 4-May-1883,

Infant son of WL Taylor, Town Bush Valley

Walton, Rev James m  77, 21-June-1883, 23-June-1883,

at the Rectory Pinetown, the Rev James Walton for 25 years Rector of that Parish

Weeks, William m  53, 10-Feb-1883, 20-Feb-1883,

at PMBurg

Welch, Eliza Agnes  f  35, 16-April-1883, 9-May-1883,

at Harrismith OFS the beloved wife of AS Welch

Whipp, John m  60, 3-June-1883,8-June-1883,

At Newcastle

Zunckel, Evangeline  f  1 yr+9mnth, 27-Dec-1882, 3-Jan-1883,

at New Germany only and dearly beloved daughter of F and E Zunckel.

Deeply lamented.

Souvenir Saturday: James Colquhoun Bell's family 1880s/90s

‘The Six Gems’: children of James Colquhoun Bell and grandchildren of Capt William Bell. Precisely which children are shown in the group is at present open to conjecture.

Photo by W F Wallace & Co, 88 Burdett Road, London, ca 1889/90.

In 1891 James Colquhoun Bell and family were living at 5, Lyndhurst Street, Westoe, South Shields.

James Colquhoun Snr’s birthplace is given as Cape Town and his occupation as Marine Enameller (painting work done on ships so he was in the right place at South Shields). His wife Sarah (nee Clark) was born in Blackfriars, London ca 1851. (They married in September 1874 at St Mary Stratford, Bow.)

Their two eldest sons, William Caithness Bell and Alfred Douglas Bell were elsewhere for the 1891 Census. The children listed are James Colquhoun Bell Jnr, b 1880 in Aldgate, London, Hester (Adelaide), b 1882, Henry (Job) b 1883, Ellen b 1884 (these three all born at Mile End Old Town, London), Victor b 1886 at West Ham, and Frederick, a year old, born in South Shields. The years of birth as given in the Census entry are slightly out in some cases, e.g. Hester Adelaide was born in August 1881.

Confusingly, there were three James Colquhoun Bells: (1) Capt. William Bell’s 5th child and 2nd son, born in the Cape in 1847 and head of the household in the 1891 Census mentioned above, (2) James Colquhoun Bell jnr born 1880 in Aldgate to James C and Sarah Bell and (3) James Colquhoun Bell b 1890, son of William Caithness Bell.

Photo courtesy of James Colquhoun Bell Snr's descendant Gordon Brown.

Natal Witness Births 1883

Name, Gender, Date of Event, Advert Date, Details

Anderson  f  15-Feb-1883, 22-Feb-1883 at Potchefstroom, Transvaal the wife of Mr HM

Anderson of a daughter

Barnes m 1-Mar-1883, 2-Mar-1883 at Brookside the wife of Mr Jas. Barnes of a  son

Bartholomew  f  15-Feb-1883, 24-Feb-1883 at Dr. Schultz's Sanatorium, Pietermaritz

Street, PMBurg the wife of John Bartholomew, New Leeds of a daughter

Baylis m 4-Jan-1883, 6-Jan-1883 at PMBurg the wife of Leighton Baylis of a son

Birbeck m 19-Jan-1883, 27-Jan-1883 at Kokstad the wife of TC Birbeck of a son

Birkett  f  22-Jan-1883, 26-Jan-1883 at Craig Farm, the wife of Francis J Birkett of a

daughter

Brown  f  22-Feb-1883, 24-Feb-1883 at PMBurg the wife of John E Brown of a daughter

Buchanan  f  23-Jan-1883, 6-Feb-1883 at West Hill, Grahamstown the wife of Mr Justice

Buchanan of a daughter

Buchanan m 30-Jan-1883, 8-Feb-1883 at Newcastle, the wife of Edwin James Buchanan of New Scotland, Transvaal of a son

Buchanan m 30-April-1883, 18-May-1883 at New Howick the wife of James Buchanan of ason

Burgess  f  23-April-1883, 28-April-1883 the wife of Captain Burgess, Army Pay Dept, of 

a daughter (Transvaal papers please Copy)

Button  f  7-April-1883, 14-April-1883 at Ben Lomond the wife of JNO. Button of a daughter

Clarence  f  8-May-1883, 17-May-1883 at Kandy, Zwaartkop Valley the wife of Beverley C Clarence of a daughter

Cooper m 23-June-1883, 27-June-1883 at Richmond, Natal the wife of Arnold W Cooper

(agent) of a son

D'Arcy  f  29-Jan-1883, 30-Jan-1883 at PMBurg the wife of Mr Advocate D'Arcy of a 

daughter

Dartnell m 19-Jan-1883, 24-Jan-1883 at Pmburg the wife of Major Dartnell C.M.G. of a

son

Davies  f  1-Feb-1883, 5-Feb-1883 at Durban the wife of G Herbert Davies of Mount Moreland of a daughter

Driver m 26-May-1883, 31-May-1883 at Berg Street PMBurg the wife of EJ Driver of a son

Egner  f  24-June-1883, 27-June-1883, Mrs James Egner of a daughter

Ely m 27-April-1883,4-May-1883 at Brynbella, Estcourt the wife of Robert Ely of a son

Forder m 7-June-1883, 8-June-1883 the wife of James Forder Esq. R.M. Umgeni division, of a son

Glyn m 17-April-1883, 19-April-1883 at PMBurg the wife of C R Glyn of a son

Greene,m,5-April-1883,10-April-1883,At PMBurg the wife of Edward M Greene of a son

Gubbins  f  E. Sunday, 30-Mar-1883 at Newcastle, the wife of C O'G Gubbins M.B. DistrictSurgeon of a dau

Gutridge m 11-April-1883, 16-April-1883 at Dundee Proper, the wife of Mr John Gutridge

of a son

Horsley m 29-April-1883, 9-May-1883 at Warrock, near Ladysmith the wife of Richard

Horsley of a son

Hyslop  f  24-Mar-1883, 28-Mar-1883 at Dr. Shultz's Pietermaritz St. Mrs Thomas Hyslop

of a dau

Layman m 11-May-1883, 17-May-1883 the wife of F Layman of a son

Lindsay m 23-May-1883, 1-June-1883 at Rosemount, Mooi River the wife of WH Lindsay of a son

Loram m 5-May-1883, 7-May-1883 at 72 Burger Street the wife of AE Loram of a son

Luttrell  f  18-June-1863, 23-June-1863 at Quantock Lodge PMBurg the wife of FF Luttrell of a dau

MacPherson m 4-Feb-1883, 6-Feb-1883 at Church Street PMBurg the wife of GGS

MacPherson, Chemist and Druggist of a Son

Marshall  f  3-May-1883, 8-May-1883 at PMBurg the wife of Mr JH Marshall (contractor)

of a dau

Marwick m 15-June-1883, 20-June-1883 at PMBurg the wife of EE Marwick Esq. 

Ordanance Store Dept of a Son

McLaren  f  9-Mar-1883, 12-Mar-1883 at Longmarket St. PMBurg the wife of Mr JC

McLaren of a daughter

McLaurin m 8-Feb-1883, 13-Feb-1883 at Glenaray, Verulam the wife of James McLaurin

J.P. of a Son

Murray m 1-Mar-1883,  3-Mar-1883 at Cleland, the wife of Thos. K Murray of a son

Norsworthy  f  29-May-1883, 4-June-1883 at Pomeroy, Umsinga the wife of AE 

Norsworthy of a daughter

Pechey m 21-Jan-1883, 23-Jan-1883 at PMBurg, Natal the wife of Sampson William

Pechey of a Son

Pocklington m 29-Jan-1883, 30-Jan-1883 at the Echoes, PMBurg the wife of Roger J

Pocklington Esq. of a son

Randles,  24-June-1883, 26-June-1883 at Rose Cottage, PMBurg Mrs JNO. Randles of a son

Raulinson m 24-Mar-1883, 10-April-1883 the wife of Edward Raulinson of Lydstone,

Harding of a son

Rawlinson  f  19-April-1883, 2-May-1883 at Harlestone, Mooi River the wife of Robert W

Rawlinson of a daughter

Reed  f  28-Feb-1883, 28-Feb-1883 at 33 Burger Street the wife of F Reed

(Kimberley) of a daughter

Rice  f  23-Jan-1883, 29-Jan-1883 at Pietermaritz Street Mrs James Rice of a daughter

Ross  f  17-Mar-1883, 20-Mar-1883 at PMBurg the wife of W Ross (contractor) of a

daughter

Salomon,m,24-Feb-1883,27-Feb-1883,At PMBurg Mrs G Salomon of a son

Sanlez  f  11-June-1883, 18-June-1883, Alma Emma Marie infant daughter of Margaret

and Newton Sanlez (Hampshire and Cornish papers please copy)

Sarell m 12-Mar-1883, 16-Mar-1883 at Ixopo, the wife of CJ Sarell of a son

Sherwell m 15-Jan-1883, 20-Jan-1883 at Winterskloof, the wife of RY Sherwell of a son

Simpson m 4-May-1883, 9-May-1883 at Vrede, OFS the wife of Mr FW Simpson,

Storekeeper of a son

Sinclair  f  no date given, 22-Mar-1883 at Craigdarrick, Upper Umgeni the wife of A

Sinclair of a daughter

Swan m 11-May-1883, 26-May-1883 at Howick the wife of Mr J W Swan of a son

Symons m 17-Jan-1883, 19-Jan-1883 at Kingsbury Town Lands the wife of John P

Symons (junior) of a son

Taylor m 7-Feb-1883, 10-Feb-1883 at Dorp Spruit Wool Works, the wife of WL Taylor of ason

Wheeler m 28-Jan-1883, 31-Jan-1883 at PMBurg the wife of AC Wheeler of

a son

Whitelock  f  13-Mar-1883, 14-Mar-1883 at Woodlands, East Griqualand, 

Mrs C Whitelock of a daughter

Williams m 25-Mar-1883, 4-April-1883 at PMBurg the wife of Mr George Williams of a son

Woolley  f  25-Feb-1883, 9-Mar-1883 at Port Shepstone, Lower Umzimkulu, the wife of

R A Woolley Esq. of a daughter