HUGH DONALD BROWN
Descendant of Settlers from Scotland

1940 OBITUARY

The death occurred on Monday, October 14, on his farm, 'The Retreat', Cedarville, of Mr Hugh Donald Brown aged 54. The funeral took place in Kokstad on Tuesday, the Rev. M.A. Hartslief Presbyterian Church, officiating. The pall-bearers were: Messrs Lennox McKay, Jock McKay, John Bannantyne, Willy Kumm, Fred Dorning, Peter Moir.

Deceased leaves a widow, who was a Miss Tollner, from Natal, one son (Donald, who is with the S.A. Air Force), and three daughters, Jean (who is a nurse at Addington, Durban), Agnes and Christina, the two latter being at school in Maritzburg. He was the son of the late Mr and Mrs David Brown. His father hailed from Scotland, and his mother was a Miss McKay, sister of Mr Donald McKay of Mount Frere.

Throughout East Griqualand deceased was known as a most upright and straightforward-man, liked and respected by all sections of the community, and he will be greatly missed. He was a very progressive farmer, and he had developed his property in a way that was a notable testimony to his energy and ability. He had built a very fine homestead, and he was a pioneer in the matter of tree-planting. He had been told that it was useless to plant trees on the Flats but he didn't believe it, and today the trees are a tribute to his optimism.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr R. A. Cuthbert.

For those interested in finding their relatives:
View bottom of page to see a long list of Wreaths included in the Obituary.

THE RETREAT ('Harefield') in the early days
Although this farm's offical name was 'Harefield', it was known locally as 'The Retreat'.
Hugh also farmed at 'Rathfarnham' and 'Misty Slopes' in the Droewag.

EARLY 1900s - First Car Purchase!
At the time when Hugh Brown was the owner of this vehicle, and nearby Fred Dorning the owner of a similar vehicle, the two of them managed to crash into each other - although the only two cars on the road between Cedarville and Kokstad!

Mother: CHRISTINA (McKay) BROWN and siblings - photograph early 1880s.
Father of Hugh, DAVID BROWN, from Fife in Scotland, arrived in the E. Cape as a settler in 1861. He was a farmer and transport rider. As a transport rider, he worked with his McKay brothers-in-law and later married their sister. In 1885 he died while the family was trekking to Mount Frere to join the McKAY clan who had gone ahead. The McKay family, who were from Sutherland in Scotland, had arrived in the E. Cape as settlers in 1859. Hugh was born 4 months after his father's death.

Sister: ELIZABETH (Brown) and husband HENRY DORNING.
The DORNING family consisted of 7 boys! Not only was Elizabeth Brown married to Henry Dorning but his brother, Fred Dorning, married Christina Bannantyne (niece of Elizabeth). Therefore the Brown and Dorning families were not only related but farmed in close proximity.

THE LIST OF WREATHS WAS AS FOLLOWS:
Loving wife Georgie; Donald, Jean, Agnes and Christina Brown
Fred, Stina Dorning and family
Marjorie and John Bannantyne
Alex Tollner, Maggie and Frank Bannister
Claud and Minnie Groom
Sonny and Phyllis Groom
Wilson and family
George and family
Lizzie and Henry Dorning
James Clifford
Una and Alex Stalker
Henry and Dora Nicholls
Frank, and family
Mr and Mrs GD Fowler
Mr SA Stephenson
Mr and Mrs WEE Black
James Cole and staff, Cedarville
Daddy Bros and Johnstone, Kokstad
Mr and Mrs PPN de Bruin
Elaine and Johnnie Kumm
Mr and Mrs G Opperman
Sisters of the Holy Cross
Edna and Geoff Galliers
Winnifred and Leo
Fred and Annie Shuttleworth
Mr J Shuttleworth and family
Clarice Shuttleworth
Mr and Mrs HS Salmon
Mr and Mrs Edwy Miller
Kep, Beatrice Moxham and family
Mr and Mrs W Whittal
Gertie and Nick Klopper
Mr and Mrs W Kumm and family
Elliot and Dorothy
Mr and Mrs M Curry
Arthur and May Dorning and family
Mr and Mrs HMS Bastard
Mr and Mrs Edgar Dorning
Mr and Mrs Ken McCallum
Jack and Jane Moxham
Mr and Mrs LK Greyling
Mr and Mrs Geoff Jackson
Mr and Mrs Allan Pringle
Molly Pringle
Mr and Miss RG Southey
Bunny and Mabel McKay
Mr and Mrs Wallace Zietsman
Robert, Henry Bell and George
Basil and Lilian Smallwood
Mr and Mrs Bill Elliot
Mr and Mrs N Smithey
Georgina Shaw and Katie Satow, Mt Frere
Mr and Mrs G Murray
Mrs CH Southey
Mr and Mrs Drummond Elliot
Mr and Mrs Peter Moir
Mr and Mrs NE Miskin
Edie, Brian and Robin
Mr and Mrs WE Brick
Dr and Mrs JT Bosman
W van Heerden and family
Herbert, Edie, Neville and Valerie Barton
Francis and Flo Barton
Mr McLear and family
Mr and Mrs J Moxham
Major and Mrs McGarth Compton
Mr and Mrs W Palmer
Fred and Annie
Mr and Mrs Carol
Mr and Mrs John Dorning
Geoff Naughlan
Jack and Tutu
Mr and Mrs Carol and family
Mr and Mrs Calder Potts and family
Mr and Mrs McLaren
Sybil and George
Mr and Mrs Sydney Barton and girls
William, Maud and Irene, Maritzburg
Corderoy Bros
Mr and Mrs MC Gibson
Mr and Mrs Lennox McKay and family
several wreaths no cards.