THE GIFFORD FAMILY

1841 - SCOTLAND
JOHN GIFFORD farming at 'Grange of Bladnoch' [See CENSUS below.]
John was the father of ALEXANDER GIFFORD - 1851 Natal Settler - and the great grandfather of East Griqualand wife and mother: Georgina (Tollner) Brown. It is interesting to note that to date, 'The Grange' at Umhlali, Natal, is still in the possession of the Gifford family. One of only two properties to still belong to the descendants of the original Title Deed owners in the area.

The GIFFORD FAMILY Tombstone is located in the above Churchyard.
PENNINGHAME, Wigtownshire, Scotland

The Monumental Inscriptions read:
ALEXANDER GIFFORD, farmer in Barwinnock, erector of this stone died 17.6.1829 aged 89 years.
His wife, MARGARET JORIE died 1.2.1829 aged 85 years.
ELIZABETH HANNAY, wife of JOHN GIFFORD, farmer in Grange, died 21.1.1806 aged 37 years

The GIFFORD family appear to have lived in the Wigtownshire area for generations. There is some possibility that before 1595 they lived in Edinburgh. According to family tradition, Daniel Gifford's father, was Donald Gifford (1645-1710). Before him was a William, and before that a Donald. (These details however - are unconfirmed.)

ALEXANDER GIFFORD (husband of Margaret Jorie) was the son of DANIEL GIFFORD and JEAN McKENNA who married in 1733.

JOHN GIFFORD (son of Alexander Gifford and Margaret Jorie) married twice: 1798 - ELIZABETH HANNAY and in 1807 - HELEN HANNAY.
The 1866 DEATH CERTIFICATE of Helen Gifford or Hannay, widow of John Gifford, states that her parents were:
Patrick Hannay, farmer (deceased) and Helen Hannay, maiden surname McClelland (deceased).
[It is tempting to think that Elizabeth and Helen Hannay were sisters (or cousins) but to date there is no proof of this.]

In 1851 ANDREW HANNAY was in the household of JAMES GIFFORD (son of Helen Hannay). Andrew is described as an 'uncle' of James. However in a letter written by Settler, Alexander Gifford, to his half-brother James in Scotland, he mentions Andrew Hannay. Presumably Andrew is the brother of Elizabeth AND/OR Helen Hannay.

In 1849 JOHN GIFFORD, farmer, Penninghame, died leaving a WILL - amusingly this reads:

... everything to be shared equally between his children except he (Alexander) "Shall make allowance for and take into account or collate the sum of 400 Pounds Sterling advanced by me to him and not repaid being a balance of his accepted Bill to me for 600 Pounds dated 31 March 1826 and payable 3 days after date to account of which Bill he only paid 200 Pounds besides the interest..
... the said Alexander Gifford my son shall after my death be entitled altogether to 400 Pounds Sterling less than each of my other children...and to nothing whatever unless the share of each of my other children under all the foregoing purposes shall amount to 400 Pounds and nothing shall be paid to my said son Alexander until my other children shall .. receive 400 Pounds each ...
And Whereas my 2 children by my former marriage each received 333 Pounds 6 Shillings and 8 Pence in full for their claim for the .. executry of their deceased Mother .. it being my intention to put my children by my present Marriage on an equality with them..."

ALEXANDER GIFFORD was the son of John Gifford and Elizabeth Hannay. He was baptised on 29th November 1803.
In 1836 at Stanraer, ALEXANDER GIFFORD, of Blanbury, Glasserton, married MARY GORDON.

On 22 August 1811 MARY GORDON, was born at Stanraer.
In 1810 JAMES GORDON and MARGARET McCLEAN, parents of Mary Gordon, married in Stanraer.
MARGARET McCLEAN was born in Stanraer.

Terrasia and Margaret McClean were the twin daughters of JAMES McCLEAN, Merchant, and MARY McMECKAN, born August 12 baptised 17, 1784. (This couple had no less than 16 children!)

In 1841 at Grange of Bladnoch, Penninghame, JOHN GIFFORD, was living with wife, Helen, and children: James, Grace and Helen. (See top of page.)

In 1841 JAMES and MARGARET GORDON were living at Glenluce Road, Stanraer.
James was born in Scotland but not in the county of Wigtown, whereas Margaret was born in the county.

In 1841 at Blairbuy Farm House, Glasserton, Wigtownshire, the CENSUS reads:
Alexander Gifford (35) farmer, Mary Gordon (25), James Gifford (4), John (3), Alexander (1y 1m).
Also present in the household of ALEXANDER GIFFORD and MARY GORDON: Samuel Gordon, aged 18, draper.
See 'SEARCHES CONDUCTED' below.

ALEXANDER GIFFORD and MARY GORDON
1851 Natal Settlers

Please Note:
On the Death Notices of:
Alexander Gifford, The Grange, Umhlali, Farmer - his father is incorrectly stated as Alex. It should be JOHN.
Mary Gordon - her parents are incorrectly stated as John and Mary. The names should be JAMES and MARGARET.
When OPR and Census records were checked their was NO John and Mary Gordon.
For further proof .. read .. 'SEARCHES CONDUCTED' at the bottom of the page.

In 1851 aboard the 'John Line' Alexander Gifford, wife and children arrived in Natal. The journey took 3 months, the fare £22 and ten Shillings. Half fare for under 14 yrs.

1851 (May 9) Arrival of John Line - ALEXANDER GIFFORD

The GIFFORD family settled in the Umhlali area (and many of their tombstones can be seen in the Cemetery there including those of Settlers - Alexander Gifford and Mary Gordon).

There is a reference to Alexander Gifford as the Chairman of a meeting in "VALIANT HARVEST" - The Founding of the SA Sugar Industry 1848-1926 - Robert F Osborn (Published by the SA Sugar Association.)

MARY AGNES GIFFORD
Daughter of Alexander Gifford and Mary Gordon

The daughter of Alexander and Mary, MARY AGNES GIFFORD (b. 1846), married Captain WILLIAM MICHAEL TOLLNER, Royal Artillery, who retired from the British Army in 1867. He had served in the Crimea and S Africa. His parents were landowners in Surrey, London and Ireland. They had five children. The Tollners lived in the Umhlali area. There is a rock (named after Captain WM Tollner) called 'Tollner's Rock' at Sheffield Beach on the Natal North Coast.

Son of Alexander Gifford, JAMES GIFFORD, acted as guide and interpretor to the GLYN party that arrived aboard the 'Norman' in 1863 and trekked inland to Victoria Falls. To view the arrival of Glyn and Osborne click below:
Also aboard this vessel were:

1863 (March 1) Arrival of Norman - Return of SHUTTLEWORTH FAMILY to Natal from E Cape

Great grandson of Alexander Gifford, DONALD TOLLNER BROWN, married CLARICE AUDREY SHUTTLEWORTH, great granddaughter of Henry Shuttleworth.

Suggested reading for further information regarding the GIFFORD and TOLLNER families:
BRITISH SETTLERS - A BIOGRAPHICAL REGISTER IN NATAL 1824-1857 (Volume 7) by Shelagh O'Byrne Spencer.

SEARCHES CONDUCTED:

A search of OPRs of Stanraer and Inch and Leswalt from 1810 to 1816 was undertaken - Mary Gordon born 22 Aug 1811 parents James Gordon, Merchant, and Margaret McLean is the only possible birth. [No children found born to John and Mary Gordon (as on Death Notice).]

1841 Census Stanraer, Inch and Leswalt
The Surname Index for a John and Mary Gordon suitable as parents of Mary Gordon, was searched - without success. A search was undertaken for a Mary Gordon, aged about 30, who could have been the daughter of James Gordon and Margaret McLean (on the assumption that the Mary who married Alexander Gifford was NOT their daughter) but again - without success.

In 1841 at Blairbuy Farm House, Glasserton, Wigtownshire.
Also present in the household of ALEXANDER GIFFORD and MARY GORDON: Samuel Gordon, aged 18, draper.
[Probably Mary Gordon's brother who in 1850 was executor to his father's estate along with his brother John Gordon, also a draper in Stanraer. This would mean that the connection between Mary Gordon and James Gordon is proven.]
The brother of Mary Gordon, James Gordon, was born on 8 March baptised 13 March 1813 in Stanraer.

As in Scottish tradition .. the naming of children after parents .. Alexander Gifford and Mary Gordon called their eldest son JAMES and eldest daughter Margaret - this would also appear to confirm that the statement made re Mary Gordon's parents on her Death Notice is incorrect - and that in actual fact they were JAMES and MARGARET GORDON.