Skip to main content
GSSA
The 1820 Settler Correspondence
 as preserved in the National Archives, Kew
 and edited by Sue Mackay

Additonal Information

This is pre 1820 information mainly taken from actual images of UK parish registers and other primary sources which I have personally researched. Further information about the settlers and their families once they reached the Cape can be found at https://www.1820settlers.com/

Sue Mackay

FORBES, Edward and Alexander - Extra Data

Written by Sue Mackay on .

 

(members of PARKER's Party)

 

Death Notice (Cape Archives) for Edward says he was born in Longford, Ireland, and was "about one hundred years old" when he died in 1870.

Fort Beaufort Advocate Saturday 11 June 1870:

DEATH OF ANOTHER BRITISH SETTLER. – A correspondent writes to the Journal: I regret to say that Mr. Edward FORBES, a British Settler, who landed here in 1820, died at his residence on the Kowie road, on Friday evening the 20th ult. According to his own statement in March last, he said, “If I live until the 17th of next month I shall be a hundred years old, and I can walk to Grahamstown. I was born on the 17th of April, 1770, at Longford, in Ireland, and shouldered my musket at the battle of Vinegar Hill.”.........

 

Death Notice (Cape Archives) of daughter Jane (who predeceased him) says she was born in Longford, Ireland and that her parents were Edward and Harriet FORBES

 

1819 Correspondence by John ARMSTRONG says that Edward FORBES had two children, although The Settler Handbook only lists Alexander.  The Settler Returns also list an infant named Harriet.

 

Family Search 

 

Edward FORBES married Harriet McDOWEL by licence on 26 November 1815 in Templemichael Church, Longford, Ireland 

 

Jane daughter of Edward FORBES and Harriet McDOWEL was baptised 21 April 1816 in Templemichael, Co. Longford (born 4 March 1816)

Alexander son of Edward FORBES and Margaret [sic] McDOWEL was baptised 1 June 1817 in Templemichael, Co. Longford (born 26 May 1817)

 

Death Notice (Cape Archives) for Alexander says his parents were Alexander and Jane FORBES

 

Family Search

 

Alexander FORBES married Jane WILLIAMS  by licence on 30 September 1780 in Templemichael, Co. Longford, Ireland. (image 551)

If Edward was not lying about his age, and was born in 1770 (The Settler Handbook puts his birth some twenty years later) then he was probably from an earlier marriage)

 

 

John son of Alexander FORBES and Elizabeth CLARKE was baptised 12 January 1817 in Templemichael, Co. Longford (born 10 January 1817)

 

 

Edward and Alexander were also probably the brothers of Catherine FORBES, who married John ARMSTRONG (also in PARKER's Party) by licence on 9 March 1819 in Templemichael Church, Longford.

 

 

  • Hits: 4282