DIARY OF A NATAL MOLE
May 2005

1 Bought re-writable CDs and saw a book on Birthdays recommended by Delyse, where my entry says I am "something of a genius" ! Must get copies for evidence, though fear it is an over-optimistic assessment of my abilities as I spend most of the day trying to get the new CD Writer to work: drag and drop of files and burning procedure simple enough but can't view the CD once done. Frustration upsets the balance of my mind and can't do anything else. Around midnight get an e-mail on the irresistible topic of Captain William BELL and stay awake until after 1 a.m. answering it.

A file on Annie LUNDY is "lost" at Transvaal Archives; it may reappear in due course. I don't feel hopeful. Jessica Coupe, the enquirer, has meanwhile found the Death Notice on LDS film number 1367076, so that's something.

2 Determined not to look at the CD Writer today but to concentrate on the article in hand or I won't meet the deadline.

4 Enthralled by Eira Makepeace's CD book on the DALTONs; a fascinating family and social history narrative, superbly done.

Margaret SANDWITH at Niven Library enters into the spirit of the WOODWARD search to great effect.

7 I hear the latest on the William JONES V.C. saga from descendant Tony JONES. The absorbing story of his research to be uploaded soon on www.rorkesdriftvc.com

9 Message from Roy SINGH researching his immigrant ancestors again after recovering from a triple by-pass. Can't keep family historians down for long.

11 At Natal Society Library, find a copy of the "Bokmakierie" magazine with P A Clancey's article on the WOODWARDs, including photos of the brothers.
Note that the Library have copies of "The Net Cast in Many Waters", to 1871, concerning lives of Anglican Missionaries in Natal. Too early for the Woodwards but a source to remember for future occasions.
In the Natal Mercury June 11 1872 find report on the wreck of the Jane Davies, 26 May 1872, originally printed in East London Dispatch. A dramatic story; post it to Eastern Cape List where original enquiry emanated.
Continue collecting passenger lists 1870s - find the St Kilda bringing passengers from Australia 1872, bound for the Diamond Fields, some interesting details; all to appear on Genealogy World.
On the way past find death announcement for infant Edward Charles Caithness BAXTER 21 Nov 1872 - one of the BELL descendants; also a rare mention of James Colquhoun BELL, a son of Capt Wm Bell, arriving at Natal Dec 1872 in the Ferdinande schooner from Port Elizabeth.
And in Natal Mercury Dec 14 1872 the drowning of a GIELINK child, Andries, in the Nonoti River; the body was never recovered. The Gielinks were among the Dutch settlers to New Gelderland currently being researched by David Castledine in Denbighshire, Wales.

12 Retrieve files for Eira Makepeace on GARLAND STARR and CLARK and for Marielle Ford on WILSON, among other tasks. More WOODWARD digging - a repeat search of the EI index turns up no references yet when going to EI Vol 74, following up on my finding in the Natal Witness of published list, I note arrival of the Durban Feb 19 1871 with 'Messrs' ... various names including 'Woodward', whether meaning single or more than one person difficult to establish. The date fits in well. Point is - there are omissions in the EI Index. If the surname doesn't come up, it's worth going to the original registers; dates covered by each volume can be found on Genealogy World under European Immigration Index.

13 Delyse having computer and modem problems.

19 At Killie Campbell Library looking at numerous films of American Board Mission records. Wonderful material but very time-consuming, various-sized scraps of correspondence, many closely-written (to save paper) or with ink showing through from the back. So far no references to the Woodwards emerge yet the brothers are alleged in certain sources to have had some association with the ABM at Adams Mission; so far no concrete evidence.

23 I hear from Dr Richard Dean of the Sir Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, kindly taking an interest in the WOODWARD topic.

24 Receive copy of 'Ancestors' magazine with our new display advert including Genealogyworld URL. Simon Fowler is now Editor, I see.

25 Trip to PMB delayed by a flat tyre: cause? Someone filling the tyre broke the valve. Mole-like muttering ensued. Eventually get there in time for lunch with Lyndle SEARLE nee SANDERS, out from UK. We were at Durban Girls' College together.

26 At Archives in EI Vol 14 find passenger list of the Norham Castle bringing railway workers in 1885.
Had a look at COLENBRANDER papers among Accessions.
Research in newspapers at Natal Society Library on the Dutch ships Hermanus Isaak and Jan van Brakel 1859 and 1860, then follow up in E I registers.
Found Priscilla 106 steerage passengers - all named, unusually - in NM Sept 20 1860; another one for the web site.

27 Webb's Guide to the Official Records of the Colony of Natal turns up trumps again with useful reference on immigration in the 1880s contained in selected documents presented to the Natal Legislative Council. To access references found in Webb's Guide see printed index NCP at PMB Archives.
Woodward letters from Natural History Museum London sent by Geoff Chew are waiting on my return home.

28 Downloading and sending results of research on Dutch ships (New Gelderland settlers).

29 Worked on magazine article all day and well into the early hours of Monday.

30 Received JDS Woodward's birth certificate which distracts me from editing Mole's Diary for May.
Find mention in The Times June 1854 of the GADSDEN Purchase - not a very complimentary reference.

31 On the question of Votes for Women, from The Natal Mercury May 22 1880:
"If a woman had the ballot, what would she do with it? It isn't long enough for a belt, or big enough for a bustle."
(Whoever wrote this was asking for a belt, in my view.)

Mole