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

WEAKLEY, Joseph - Extra Data

 

(member of HYMAN's Party)

 

Listed in correspondence of T. BUNN and Joseph PURNELL (filed with Stephen BOURNE under B - scroll down for PURCELL return)

 

Newspaper article written in the 1890s by his son James (cutting has no heading) includes the following introduction:

“Father was born at Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, on June 27th 1790 and Mother at Farleigh, Wiltshire on November 5th 1791. I am told that variations of our family name, such as WAKELY, WHEATLY etc abound in the neighbourhood of Bradford-on-Avon - our correct name, however, is WEAKELY - as the birth certificate proves - but Father ran away from home during the French War and joined the Navy, and was prisoner in France for two years, and his name was entered as WEAKLEY. This spelling has been retained ever since, partly I expect as prize money was expected after the termination of the war. Father and Mother (Joseph WEAKLEY and Emma KINTON) were married on November 3rd 1814 and lived subsequently at Frome, Somersetshire, where Father earned a livelihood as a weaver of West of England cloth.”

 

Wiltshire Council and Swindin Borough Council Record Office

 

Joseph son of Joseph WEAKELY and Ann born 27 June 1790, baptised 29 August 1790 in Holy Trinity, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire

 

South West Heritage Trust

 

Joseph WEAKLEY, bachelor married Emma KINTON, spinster by banns on 25 October 1814 in St.John's, Frome, Somerset

Both made their mark

Witnesses: John MISON and Wm. CHUBB

[NB slightly different date from the newspaper cutting above]

 

National Archives, Kew, London

 

RG4/1730/f15 Register of Independent Chapel, Rook Lane, Frome

Mary WEAKLEY, daughter of Joseph and Emma, born 5 August 1815, baptised 21 April 1816.

 

The other child born in England, Joseph, was baptised in Bathurst 18 February 1830 (born 11 May 1817 in Frome)

  • Hits: 6553