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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

SMITH, John (CALTON's Party) - Extra Data

Written by Sue Mackay on .

 

(member of CALTON's Party)

 

Although it is not possible tp prove absolutely that the John SMITH who married Maria Ann BOTHA at the Cape is the 20 year old single settler who emigrated with CALTON's Party, the circumstantial evidence is very strong.

 

Grahamstown Journal 14th August 1858

 

DIED suddenly at his residence Beeste Kraal Farm, Zwagger’s Hoek, District of Somerset, on the 4th instant, Mr. John SMITH, aged 55 years 9 months and 14 days, leaving a widow and 8 children, and a numerous circle of friends and relatives, to deplore his loss. Deceased was one of the original British Settlers of 1820.

 

Death Notice (Cape Archives) says he was born in Derbyshire, the son of Robert SMITH and Patience FISHER. There is a baptism for a John SMITH, son of Robert and Patience, in Mugginton, Derbyshire on 16 March 1801. The Grahamstown Journal entry, backed up by the Death Notice, gives his age at death as 55 years 9 months and 14 days, which would have put his date of birth as 21 October 1802, a year or so too young to be the "20 year old" in Calton's Party, but single men sometimes did add to their age to be eligibe for a grant of land. However, given the relatively unusual name of Patience, it would seem that the 1801 baptism is very likely. It is possible that the 21st October was indeed his birthday, but that he was born on 21 October 1800, making him 20 years old when he went to the Cape, and Mugginton is very close to Nottingham, where Calton's Party was recruited. It is possible that he took two years off his age when he married.

 

Derbyshire Record Office

 

Robert SMITH and Patience FISHER were married by banns on 31 August 1778 in Duffield, Derbyshire

Robert SMITH (signed)

Patience FISHER (X)

Witnesses: Alis SOUTER and James SOUTER

 

Ann daughter of Rob't and Patience SMITH baptised 19th September 1779 in Duffield, Derbyshire

 

Baptisms in in All Saints, Mugginton, Derbyshire:

Mary daughter of Rob't and Patience SMITH baptised 22 July 1781

Sarah daughter of Rob't and Patience SMITH baptised 24 April 1783

Eliz'th daughter of Robert SMITH baptised 10 April 1786

Hannah daughter of Rob't SMITH baptised 22 July 1788 [died in infancy?]

Hannah daughter of Rob't SMITH baptised 17April 1790

Paul son of Rob't and Patience SMITH baptised 7 November 1792

Thomas son of Rob't and Patience SMITH baptised 14 February 1795

Myrtille daughter of Rob't and Patience SMITH baptised 13 February 1797

John son of Rob't and Patience SMITH buried 4 April 1797 [baptism not found]

Rebecca daughter of Rob't and Patience SMITH baptised 2 January 1799

John son of Robert and Patience SMITH baptised 16 March 1801

Patience daughter of Rob't and Patience SMITH baptised 4 September 1806

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