DIARY OF A NATAL MOLE
March 2005

1 Mole is invited to go up in a hot air balloon but prefers her usual subterranean habitat.
(There's enough hot air around, anyway.)

2 Receive copy of Kris Wheatley's article "My Elusive Ancestors", to be uploaded on Genealogyworld Anglo-Zulu War pages. A family history detective story par excellence.

3 Burke's Peerage & Gentry newsletter announces the new 107th edition of Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage in 3 volumes, now with Knights, Scottish and Irish Chiefs and Feudal Barons http://www.burkes-peerage-baronetage.com. Also mentioned is The Quaker Family History Society formed in 1993, which aims to encourage and assist anyone interested in tracing Quaker families in Britain and Ireland. It is not a Quaker (The Religious Society of Friends) organization and membership is open to all.

Photos of Piccadilly London sent by elder son show that 13 days of consecutive snowfall make for a miserable existence. But then so do 13 days of consecutive heat and humidity in Durban.

Vernon HATLEY is pursuing Frederick Nixon and brother Joseph HATLEY in South Africa. I find no reference to arrivals in the European Immigration Index, though there are some relevant estate files. Anyone else researching HATLEY, please let Mole know.

4 Herman LABUSCHAGNE's site http://abw.netfirms.com/thabanyama.htm includes photos of the terrain at Thabanyama, or Tugela Heights, scene of a British attack which followed the battle of Spioenkop during the Anglo-Boer War. Many more pictures, as well as some of Spioenkop itself, on Herman's pages - he says he has been to the area on numerous occasions, but it never ceases to hold a fascination for him. I'm told that one of the BBCTV series I mentioned in the last Diary, "Who Do You Think You Are", was set at Spioenkop.

5 Steve RICHMOND reports that in an old dusty leather case he found his ancestor's original special marriage licence 1874, plus their original marriage contract 1875 signed by Theophilus Shepstone Jun (Notary Public). Moral: never miss an opportunity to turn out the attic.

6 The Durban LDS Family History Library (Silverton Road) open Saturday has been moved from the first to the last Saturday of each month. Mole makes mental note to have a look at the films of that mine of information, the Gentleman's Magazine, in the library's collection.

7 Dennis ROBERTS asks: How hard is it to trace a birth without a date - in other words has SA a BMD index similar to the UK? Answer (1) almost impossible and (2) indexes and registers are held by the Dept of Home Affairs and are not accessible to the public. We do not have BMD indexes on microfiche as in UK. Other options such as parish registers and deceased estate files therefore gain in importance. Pietermaritzburg Archives has certain Home Affairs holdings, divided by location; a search is not feasible without a reasonable date parameter and place of event.

8 Mole's hopeful theory, mentioned in last month's diary, about the possibility of DNA samples being taken from Victorian hair jewellery is exploded by discovery that though hair is often used as evidence in criminal pathology cases, apparently the only part that could provide a DNA sample would be the hair root, not the shaft.

10 A typical extract from the tongue-in-cheek "Diary of a Settler in South Africa" by Leonard Flemming soon to be uploaded on Genealogyworld. More to follow.

11 Visit to West Street Cemetery, currently looking very well-maintained and I have written to the director of Cemeteries and Crematoria to say so, positive feedback on anything being in short supply these days. With its beautiful trees providing dappled shade, it is a surprisingly peaceful spot in the midst of the hubbub of downtown traffic. The security situation at the cemetery has improved. (A word of advice: wear closed shoes as protection against the resident ants. They are clearly related to the man-eating variety of Central Africa.)
Also step back in time at the Old House Museum in St Andrews Street (this is a reconstruction of a Natal settler homestead) - the original Thomas BAINES oil of "Durban from Mr.Currie's Residence on the Berea 1875" is displayed there and several paintings by the early 20th c artist SHRUBSOLE whose favourite subject was the entrance to the Bay. Then to the Old Court House Museum, where a browse through views of West Street immediately turns up a sought-after photo of George DALTON's Saddlery, next to the Caledonian Hotel.
What a tragic deprivation that selected items of the fine Old Court House Collection are no longer on display.

12 Another list from Robin Griffiths for Genealogyworld: this time an index to "Umvoti County, Jewel of Natal" published 1985.

13 Mailing list discussion on an 1820 Settler believed to have been on Victory at Trafalgar reminds me of a remark in an article by Kay Priestley which appeared in Ancestors Magazine June/July 2000. She says:
"Information should not be thought of as 'right' or 'wrong' but as having some element of truth, not necessarily 100%. For instance, if there is a family story of a sailor ancestor who served with Nelson then there probably was a sailor ancestor, but over the centuries a story has 'walked'. Nearly at Trafalgar, becomes at Trafalgar, and then serving on Victory at Trafalgar. Cynical researchers say that the reason Victory nearly sank after the battle was the weight of all the people's ancestors who claim to have been on board!"
Extrapolating this idea in a South African context, if the numerous people who claim that their ancestor was a defender of Rorke's Drift in the Anglo-Zulu campaign of 1879 were to be correct in their hopeful assumption, the British would have out-numbered the Zulus at that battle and the course of history would have been dramatically altered.

14 Tracing the history of Francis Edward Werge PEACOCK b Northumberland 1805 d Natal 1849. One of the documents in his estate refers to the amount paid for making his coffin and "voor maken van den gat" (digging the hole).

15 When coming across NAAIRS references to archival files concerning "committals" under the Protection of Children Act, note that access to these files is restricted to those directly involved in the proceedings.

16 A plethora of street and town name changes are envisaged - Point Road to become Mahatma Gandhi Road, for example, and Queenstown may in future be known as Komani - or alternatively Queen Nonesi Town. This was inspired by Queen Nonesi who lived in the area until reportedly driven out by British troops to Libode. It has been suggested that this choice would be "in line with gender equality."

The Muster Roll of the Natal Carbineers for the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 uploaded on Genealogyworld. This is not a Casualty Roll, but a full list of all participants at that date, including those KIA (killed in action) or died.

17 At Pietermaritzburg Archives two visitors receive heavy fines for parking in the street outside. One was a family historian from New Zealand. This is hardly the way to encourage people who are spending the tourist Rand in the City. Some co-operation between civic authorities and the government archival facility seems desirable.

Find arrival of the screw steamer Norman 500 tons, March 1 1863. Among the passengers, the SHUTTLEWORTH family.

18 Reading "A Victorian Pepys at Plettenberg Bay 1875-1867 : The personal and candid diary of Harbour-Master Captain John F SEWELL" edited by Clare D STORRAR. A fascinating glimpse into Plettenberg Bay and its near environs during that period, with much maritime detail as well as the minutiae of the Captain's daily domestic life - who he visited, what he wore, who did his washing, what he ate, and even when his bowels moved (or not - in which case he notes his favourite cures). There is much (including a tree) on the REX family of Knysna - Sewell married Maria, the youngest daughter of George Rex, founder of Knysna. A most rewarding read. If only ALL our ancestors had kept such a diary.

20 Note that someone in UK has compiled a Mafeking Siege Register - details of this and other useful URLs to be added to our Anglo-Boer guide.

21 A quiet and constructive public holiday continuing exploration of the Mexican GADSDEN tree, as well as my research on WOODWARD, which becomes ever more convoluted.

22 Make contact with archivist David CASTLEDINE at the Denbighshire Record Office, who says they have some Anglo-Boer War material relating to North Walians who served in that conflict. They also have information on the Anglo-Zulu War: a famous local soldier, Lt Gonville BROMHEAD, awarded the VC for his part in the defence of Rorke's Drift, lived at Plas Draw, Llangynhafal, near Ruthin (where the Denbighshire Record Office is situated).

23 Hear from Graham BINGHAM, currently living in Turkey; a BINGHAM appears in the same row as my father (William Bell GADSDEN) in group photos I recently unearthed of the Star Football Club in the 1930s. Mole is looking for more information on this club, which was Durban-based.

24 Passenger list for the Rubens which arrived at Natal August 3 1864 uploaded on Genealogyworld.

25 Let Margaret JORDAN, a GADSDEN descendant in Australia, know that there is a painting in the National Maritime Museum which could help her in her research into Thames Watermen. George Barnard O'Neill's "Manning the Navy", dated ca 1850s, depicts an attempt by Royal Navy recruiters to entice a Thames Waterman into the service; held back by his wife and widowed mother, the Waterman hesitates.

26 Call from my eldest son, Euan, back in SA briefly to be Best Man at yet another wedding. What intrigues me is that one of the bridesmaids has the surname KARKEEK - I hope to find out if there is a link to Natal Policeman GRIMALDI's wife lurking here somewhere. Serendipity strikes again.

27 Transcribing passenger lists for Genealogyworld and trying to keep off the chocolate, but the Easter Bunny has been generous.

28 The prize event for an action-packed month (despite all the public holidays) is undoubtedly the discovery by UK visitor Eira MAKEPEACE, of the original Wesleyan Methodist baptismal register for Verulam, 1859-1872. In perfect condition, this important volume will now be preserved at the Campbell Collections, Durban. (See Genealogyworld Newsletter.)

31 Quotable quote:
Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

Mole