The town was established in 1862. According to some, it was named after William Moore, who occupied the farm The Willows on which the town was laid out. Another source states that it was established and named by a farmer, Lehmkuhl, who combined his wife’s maiden name, Petronella Catharina Moore, with a large willow tree that stood near his house.

Below is a list of surnames to be found in this voters list.

Abrahams, Ackerman, Ackermann, Adams, Africa, Ahrens, Albert, Albrish, Allers, Altenstead, Anthony, Ash, Aspeling, Assia, Avontuur, Badenhorst, Baldie, Barkhuizen, Barkhuysen, Barnard, Barnardt, Barnett, Barry, Bashford, Basson, Beaton, Becker, Beer, Bekker, Beling, Bellardie, Bellingham, Benecke, Beneke, Bergh, Berman, Bernhardt, Berrington, Bester, Bezuidenhout, Blake, Blignaut, Bosch, Boshoff, Bosman, Botes, Botha, Bothma, Bouwer, Bowers, Brauns, Brewis, Breytenbach, Brits, Britz, Brooker, Bruce, Bruinette, Brunette, Brunsdon, Bruwer, Buckley, Burchell, Burger, Burgher, Burton, Buys, Büchner, Cairncross, Caithness, Campbell, Campher, Carelse, Catton, Cawood, Cecil, Cellarius, Chambers, Chatwind, Cilliers, Claasen, Claassen, Clarke, Classen, Coblentz, Codner, Coen, Coertze, Coetzee, Coetzer, Cohen, Colborne, Coleman, Coleske, Combrinck, Cooper, Cormack, Cornelius, Cowley, Cronin, Crouse, Crumpton, Dall, Danhauser, Davel, De Beer, De Bruin, De Goede, de Jager, De Klerk, De la Harpe, De Lange, De Leeuw, De Swardt, De Villiers, De Vos, de Vries, De Waal, De Wet, Delport, Devine, Deyce, Deysel, Deyzel, Dickson, Didericks, Didloff, Diedericks, Dill, Dithmers-Hughes, Dixon, Dorfling, Doubell, Douglas, Draai, du Pisani, Du Pisanie, Du Plessis, Du Plooy, Du Preez, Du Toit, Dumon, Dumons, Dumont, Eales, Eathoo, Eaton, Ecker, Ellis, Els, Engelbrecht, Ensor, Erasmus, Esterhuizen, Eyre, Ezekowitz, Featherstone, Ferendal, Ferreira, Finn, Fisher, Fitch, Fivaz, Fortuin, Fouche, Fourie, Frank, Fraser, Freedman, Friend, Friends, Gavin, Geard, Geldenhuis, Geldenhuys, Gellman, George, Gerber, Gerdener, Gericke, Gibbs, Gillespie, Glago, Goedhals, Golden, Goldman, Goss, Gough, Gous, Gouws, Greef, Greeff, Green, Greenwood, Groenewald, Grootboom, Grundlingh, Haarhoff, Haggard, Hall, Hanekom, Hartman, Hashe, Havenga, Hayes, Hayward, Heese, Helm, Hemens, Hendriks, Henshilwood, Henstock, Herbel, Herbst, Herselman, Heunis, Heyns, Hicken, Hinds, Hitge, Hobson, Honey, Honiball, Hooper, Horn, Horowitz, Horscroft, Horwitz, Hough, Human, Jacobs, Jamneck, Janse Van Rensburg, Jansen, Jansen Van Rensburg, Jens, Johnston, Jonck, Jonker, Jordan, Joseph, Joubert, Judelman, Kamfer, Kaplan, Karelse, Keller, Kemp, Kempen, Kerspey, Keulder, Keyser, Keyter, Kilian, Killian, King, Kirchner, Kirkman, Kirsten, Kiviet, Kleinhans, Kleu, Klewansky, Kleyn, Klopper, Klue, Kluyt, Kluyts, Knight, Knoesan, Knoesen, Koch, Koekemoer, Koen, Koertze, Komo, Komoetie, Korkee, Korkie, Korsten, Krause, Krige, Kritzinger, Krugel, Kruger, Kuhn, Kunneke, Laas, Lamb, Lamini, Lamprecht, Landman, Lane, Lategan, Lazarowitz, Le Grange, Le Roux, Lee, Leiserowitz, Lemmer, Lendoor, Lewis, Lewis-Haslemere, Linde, Lloyd, Loggenberg, Lombard, Loock, Lotter, Lourens, Louw, Lovegrove, Lowensohn, Loynes, Lucas, Ludik, Luiters, Lyons, Maart, Macdonald, Maclachlan, Maclean, Madlakana, Magawn, Magerman, Malherbe, Marais, Marcowitz, Maree, Marincowitz, Markotter, Marthinsen, Marx, Masiza, Massyn, McClune, McKay, McLeod, Mcloughlin, Meintjies, Meyer, Middleton, Miller, Mills, Minnie, Minty, Moggee, Monk, Moorcroft, Moore, Morgan, Morris, Mostert, Muller, Munro, Murray, Musikanth, Myburgh, Myles, Mynhardt, Naude, Nel, Nicol, Nkomo, Nobatana, Noeka, Noll, Nomdo, Nortier, Nortje, Nortjie, O’Donoghue, Oelofsen, Olckers, Olivier, Olls, Oosthuizen, Oosthuysen, Orton, Otto, Palmer, Park, Patel, Pedro, Perry, Petersen, Pettit, Pfister, Pickard, Piek, Pienaar, Pietersen, Pitout, Plaatjes, Potgieter, Pottas, Pretorius, Prins, Prinsloo, Proskewitz, Rabie, Rademeyer, Randell, Rankie, Rathbone, Raubenheimer, Rautenbach, Redelinghuis, Reitmuller, Renison, Rensburg, Reynecke, Reynolds, Rheeder, Rich, Richardson, Ring, Roberts, Roelofse, Roll, Rollison, Roman, Roscoe, Rossouw, Rothner, Roux, Rubidge, Rudman, Runeveld, Ryan, Saaiman, Samworth, Sayewitz, Schaap, Scheepers, Scheltema, Schiltz, Schoeman, Scholtz, Schonees, Schonken, Schoonees, Schoonraad, Schoultz, Schreiber, Schreuder, Schuin, Schutte, Scott, Senekal, September, Serfontein, Shand, Shapiro, Sharp, Shear, Sieff, Siew, Silver, Skorbinski, Slabbert, Slater, Slier, Smith, Smuts, Snyman, Socishe, Solomon, Speelman, Spies, Stander, Steffens, Stegmann, Stenhouse, Stevens, Stewart, Steyl, Steyn, Steynberg, Stidolph, Stokes, Stols, Stoltz, Stone, Strimling, Stroebel, Strumpher, Strydom, Studer, Stuurman, Swanepoel, Swart, Swarts, Swemmer, Tait, Targowsky, Taute, Taylder, Terblanche, Terblans, Theophilus, Theron, Thom, Thompson, Thomson, Thurtell, Thyse, Thysse, Tintinger, Tipper, Tiran, Topic, Toua, Trytsman, Tuck, Turck, Turner, Twaku, Valtijn, Van Aarde, Van Alphen, Van Blerk, Van Breda, Van Deempter, Van Deemter, Van der Berg, Van der Bijl, Van der Byl, Van der Hoven, van der Merwe, van der Mescht, Van der Ryst, Van der Spuy, Van der Walt, Van der Watt, van der Westhiusen, van der Westhuisen, Van der Westhuizen, Van Dyk, van Eck, Van Eyssen, Van Graan, Van Heerden, Van Huyssteen, van Jaarsveld, van Jaarsveldt, Van Loggerenberg, Van Molendorf, van Niekerk, van Rensburg, Van Rhyn, van Rooyen, Van Schalkwyk, Van Soelen, van Staden, Van Tonder, van Vuuren, Van Wijk, Van Wyk, van Zyl, Veldtman, Venter, Verasammy, Vermaak, Verwey, Viljoe, Viljoen, Visser, Vister, Vlok, Vogel, Volschenk, Vos, Vosloo, Vrey, Wabana, Wagenaar, Wagener, Wagner, Walsh, Walton, Wamsteker, Wannenberg, Ward, Warraker, Wasserman, Webster, Wehmeyer, Weinstein, Welch, Welgemoed, Welman, West, Wevers, Weyers, White, Wickham, Wiggett, Wildeman, Wilken, Willemse, Williams, Wilmot, Wilson, Windvogel, Witbooi, Woudberg, Wright, Yake, Young, Zaaiman, Zaayman, Zondag, Zondagh,

By using this database you will be able to determine where you ancestors lived as well as indentifying other possible family members who reside in the vicinity.

Information covers the Western Cape including:  Cape Town District, Green Point, Southern Suburbs, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Worcester, Malmesbury, Piquetberg, Namaqualand, Clanwilliam, Swellendam, Caledon, Riversdale, Oudsthoorn and George.

The Eastern Cape section covers Albany, Albert, Aliwal North, Beaufort, Colesburg, Craddock, East London, Fort Beaufort, Graaff-Reniet, Graham’s Town, King Williams Town, Port Elizabeth, Queen’s Town, Richmond, Somerset East, Uitenhage, Victoria West, Victoria East + Wodehouse.

More information can be read in our Learning Centre on Voting Information in South Africa 1853 – 1970

A product version of this database can be purchased through our online  shop.

We have added 2,624 new names  from the 1833 Cape Almanac to our database. Find out who was a wigmaker, a mangler, a wagon hirer or even a pickler!  A list of principal inhabitants of Cape Town. This database includes: Title, Surname, First Names or Initials, occupation and address.

Is your surname listed in this over 1400 variety of names?

Abdol, Abdolbachie, Abdolbasier, Abdoldrachmer, Abdolgaries, Abdoljakie, Abdolkiep, Abdolmalek, Abdolmansuer, Abdolsamar, Abdolsoeker, Abdolsubboer, Abdolsummat, Abdolwakil, Abdolwashet, Abraham, Abrahams, Abrahamse, Ackerman, Ada, Adams, Adamse, Adamson, Adriaanse, Adrian, Adrianse, Agom, Aitchinson, Albertus, Albertyn, Aldred, Alexander, Aling, Alldridge, Alleman, Allen, America, Amm, Amos, Anderson, Andreas, Andresa, Anhuizer, Anosi, Ansdell, Anthon, Anthony, Antje, Appel, April, Arendsz, Armstrong, Arnold, Arrowsmith, Aschen, Ashley, Aspeling, Attwell, Auret, Aurnhamer, Baard, Badroon, Bailey, Baker, Baks, Balston, Bam, Bamberger, Bance, Bantham, Barber, Barbier, Barend, Barendz, Barker, Barks, Baron, Barris, Barry, Bartels, Bartholomew, Bartie , Bartman, Bathie, Batist, Batt, Beaufort, Beck, Becker, Beeker, Begley, Behr, Beil, Bell, Belta, Ben, Bendall, Benecke, Benoy, Bergh, Bergstedt, Bernhardi, Berning, Berrange, Bestandig, Betje, Better, Beuchling, Beyleveld, Bickersteth, Biel, Billingsley, Birch, Bird, Black, Blair, Blake, Blanckenberg, Blarence, Bletterman, Blignaut, Bloem, Blore, Boltman, Boniface, Booysen, Borcherds, Boreherds, Borgstrom, Borgwetel, Borradailes, Bosch, Bosman, Boss, Bosse, Bosselman, Bossman, Botha, Bottrill, Boucher, Bowles, Boys, Brady, Brand, Brandman, Brandt, Brasler, Brath, Bray, Breedevelt, Breeze, Bren, Bresler, Brett, Breugeman, Brevers, Bridekirk, Briers, Brill, Brink, Brink , Bron, Broodrick, Brook, Bropie, Brown, Bruary, Brumfield, Brunet, Brusman, Bruyns, Bryant, Buchanan, Buck, Buckley, Buckton, Budge, Buissinne, Buitendag, Burgess, Burton, Butgut, Buyskes, Byrne, Bösenberg, Cadogan, Caesar, Cairncross, Caldecott, Calf, Callander, Cambier, Cameron, Camyn, Candasa, Cannon, Cannon , Canterbury, Capon, Carfrae, Carnell, Carolus, Carsten, Carstens, Carter, Cassel, Castien, Caton, Catorzia, Cats, Catz, Cauvin, Celliers, Cerf, Cessar, Chandler, Chapman, Chapple , Chase, Chiappini, Chisolm, Christiaan, Christiaansen, Christian, Christie, Christina, Church, Claasen, Clarence, Claresse, Clark, Clarke, Clayton, Cleenwerk, Clement, Cloete, Cloete  , Cobern, Coenraadie, Coensen, Coetze, Coffin, Coleman, Colident, Collard, Collins, Collison, Comarmond, Combrink, Comfield, Compton, Connor, Constable, Cook, Cooke, Cooper, Coops, Corbitt, Corder, Corless, Cornelissen, Cornellis, Correll, Courlois, Courtney, Cousins, Cowell, Craaywinkel, Creed, Criese, Croeser, Cromhout, Croucher, Crozier, Cruywagen, Cullen, Curlewis, Dacosta, Damedor, Damense, Dames, Damon, Daneel, Danford, Daniel, Daniels , Danielse, Dantu , David, Davids, Davidse , Davis, Dawell , Day , de Beer, de Geest, de Greef, de Haan, de Jongh, de Kock, de Kock , de Korte, De la Hunt, de Lettre, de Lima, de Lorentz , De Moldrup, de Ronde, de Roos, de Roubaix, De Ruiter, de Smidt, De Smidt , de Ville, de Villiers, de Villiers , de Vos, de Vos , de Vries, De Vrye, de Waal, de Waal , de Wed , De Wet, De Wet , de Wit, de Wit , Deane , Dedear , Dekenah, Delhant , Delorme , Demfords , Demolen , Dempers, Denessau, Deneys, Deneys , Denison, der Goede, Dert , Destro , Desvages , Dickinson, Dickson, Dickson , Diddleston , Dieleman , Dievendal , Dill, Dillman , Dinness, Disandt , Dixie , Dixon , Dobie ,
Dodd, Dolley, Donough , Doortje, Dormehl , Doyle, Drake, Dray , Drege , Dreyer, Dreyer , Drury, du Plessie, Du Plessis, Du Toit, Dungey, Durham, During, Dusing, Dyason, Dyce, Eagar, Eaton, Ebden, Eckhard, Eckhout, Ecklet, Eckley, Edwards, Eerenberg, Ekermans, Eksteen, Eli, Ellen, Elliott, Elsing, Elsmlie, Elster, Ely, Emmet, Engelbrecht, Enslin, Enstin, Erith, Ernstzen, Eskteen, Esther, Eston, Euvrard, Eva, Everest, Fabe, Fairbairn, Fairbridge, Fairelough, Falkenburg, Faulkner, Faure, Faustman, Fawing, Feitje, Felix, Fell, Ferreira, Fichat, Fick, Fischer, Fison, Fitzpatrick, Flamme, Flandorffer, Fleck, Fletterman, Flint, Fock, Focks, Foelscher, Foes, Foley, Forbes, Ford, Ford  , Fortner, Fowler, Fox, Fraenkel, Frances, Frazer, Friesberg, Frieslar, Frieslich, Frith, Frizlar, Frylinck, Gaban , Gabriels, Gadaidine , Gadney, Gamelidien , Garish, Garoutte, Garratt, Gaum, Gay, Geduld, Geering, Gehazi , Genade, Genau, George, Georgeon, Gerber, Gerdain, Gerkes, Germans, Gertenbach, Getsen, Geyer, Ghertse , Gibherd , Gideon , Gie , Gildenhuis, Gildenhuizen , Gildenzaph, Gilloway, Gilloway , Gilmer , Gilwyn , Gingham , Godfred , Goemoes , Goetz, Golding , Goodrich, Goodwin, Gopel, Goschen, Goslett , Goss , Gough, Gouland, Graves, Gray, Grebe , Gregan , Gregory , Greig , Griffiths ,
Grimers, Grimes , Grindley, Groenewald, Groenwald , Grondlier , Grosch , Grove, Groves , Grybe, Guest, Gun , Gunn, Hablutzel , Hall, Hallier , Halwayday , Hamman, Hammans , Hammes, Hammes , Hanbury, Hancke, Hancke , Hannam, Hannas, Hansen, Hansen , Hanslo , Hardie , Hare, Harley ,Harms, Harper, Harris, Harris , Hart , Hartel, Hartman, Hartog, Hartslief , Haslam, Haubtfleisch, Haupt, Havery, Hawkins, Hawkins , Haylet , Haylett, Haynes , Hayward , Heatlie, Heckrath , Heckroodt, Heeger, Heegers, Heideman, Heinenberg, Heinrich, Heintjes, Heldzyngen, Hellett, Helston, Helstrom, Henan, Henderson, Hendricksen, Hendrikse, Hendriksen, Henly,Herbert , Herbold, Herbst, Herholdt, Herman, Herold, Herrer, Herring, Hertzog, Herwig, Hes,
Hess, Hesselmeyer, Heugh, Heuning, Heurtley, Heuser, Hewitt, Heydenrych, Heydenryk, Heyer, Heyneke, Heyneman, Heyns, Heyward, Hiddingh, Hiebner, Higgins, Himel, Hind, Hirchenheim, Hitchcock, Hitzeroth, Hobley, Hoek, Hoets, Hoffman, Hoffmeyr, Hofmeyr, Hogsflesh, Hohne, Hollen, Holloway, Holm, Holtman, Home, Hopkins, Horak, Horn, Horn , Horne, Hough, Hovil, Hudd, Hudson, Hughes, Hugo, Humphreys, Hunt, Hunter, Hurlingh, Hurter, Huskisson, Hutchons , Hutton, Immelman, Ingles, Inglesby, Ingram, Ingram , Innes, Isaac, Isaak, Isaakse, Isles, Israel, Itzemplitz, Jackson, Jacobs, Jacobse, Jacobsz, Jameila, Jamies, Janaldine, Janetjie, Janio, Jansen, Janson, Jansten, Jantzee, Japie, Jardine, Jarvis, Jeary, Jensen, Jeptha, Jeptha , Jessup, John, Johnson, Jonas, Jones, Jones , Jones  , Jonker, Jordaan, Josie, Josse, Joubert,
Judge, Junera, Jurgens, Juritz, Jury, Kanneymeyr, Karl, Karstel, Kay, Kealams, Keet, Keeve, Keiser, Kekewich, Kelber, Kelderman, Kelly, Kemp, Kennedy, Kerdel , Kerkes, Kerning, Ketter, Keuber, Keuler, Kiener, Kift, Kilgour, Killian, Kincaid, King, Kinnburg, Kintzle, Kippey,Kirsten, Klasing, Klerck, Kleyn, Klinck, Kloppers, Klyn, Klynsmit, Knaut, Knoble, Knoll, Knoop,Knott, Knox, Knype, Koch, Kock, Koetze, Koetzer, Koevoet, Kohl, Kohler, Kolbe, Kolber, Koning,Korsten, Korster, Kotze, Kraanstein, Kraayveld, Kraft, Kriel, Krige, Krimmel, Krynaauw, Kuuhl, Kuys, Laageraadts, Laangenaught, Laar, Lacable, Laidlaw, Laing, Lakock, Lamb, Lambert,
Lamberts, Lambrechts, Lambress, Landsberg, Langeveld, Lary, Lategan, Laubscher, Laurence, Lawson, Lawton, Le Breton, Le Breton , Le Bron, Le Brun, Le Clues, Le Roes, Le Roux, Le Sueur ,Lea, Leatt, Lee , Leeb , Leen, Leentje, Leep, Leeuwendaal, Leeuwendal, Leeuwner, Lehman, Leibbrandt, Leonard, Leriche, Lesar, Less, Letterstedt, Levick, Lewee, Ley, Lichtwark, Liebbrandt, Liesching, Liesmont, Lieven, Lillis, Linage, Lind, Lindebaum, Lindeman, Lindenberg, Lingeveld, Lingevelder, Lining, Lisenburg, Lochner, Locke, Lodewyk, Loedolff, Logie, Logier, Lombard, Lond, Londt, Long, Loos, Losco, Lotter, Lotz, Louis, Louisa, Lourens, Louw, Lowrie, Lowry, Luchthoff, Lukas, Luttig, Luyt, Maaneveld, Maas, Maasdorp, Mabille,
Macarthy, MacGregor, Mackenzie, Mackrill, Madeleen , Mader, Magistraat, Malan, Maletto, Mallett, Manche, Manuel, Mappe, Marais, Marchand, Marcous, Marcus, Maria, Marlow, Marnitz, Marquard, Marrant, Marrison, Marsh, Marshall, Martin, Martinas, Martinson, Maskew, Mathysen, Matthews, Matthiessen, Matthysen, Maude, Maynard, McCLeod, McComb, McDonald, McDougal, MCFarlan, McKinnon, McLachlan, Meall, Mechau, Meeser, Meiring, Mellet, Mellings, Mellish, Mende, Mentor, Menzies, Merrington, Mertens, Metz, Metzeler, Meyer, Michell , Middlekop, Middleton, Miller, Mills, Minnaar, Mitchell, Mocke, Mohr, Mol, Molesworth, Moller, Moltby, Momsen, Monk, Moore, Morell, Morgan, Morgendaal, Morison, Mory, Moses, Mosterd, Mostert,
Mulder, Muller, Mulles, Munnik, Muntingh, Murphy, Murray, Mustapha, Muter, Myburg, Myburgh, Nauhoff, Neave, Nee er, Neederland, Neethling, Nelson, Neyhof, Nibs, Nicholl, Niehaus, Niewoudt, Nisbet, Noble, Nolden, Norman, Nyhoff, Nymans, O’Flinn, O’Lachlan, O’Neil, Ockert, Oestheyden, Okes, Oldham, Oliphant, Oliver, Olthoff, Onverwacht, Oostendurp, Oppel, Oprimo, Ord, Orlandine, Orri, Osler, Osmond, Ost, Overbeek, Paine, Pallass, Pannerwit, Papow, Pappe, Parker, Pears, Peebles , Pentz, Pero, Perryn, Peters, Petersen, Peterson, Petrie, Pettison, Pfester, Phanp, Pheasant, Pheifer, Phelps , Phider, Philip, Phillips, Pietersen, Pillans, Piton, Plessie, Plessie , Plouvier, Plouvier , Poel, Poelse , Polena, Poolman, Poop, Poph, Poulteney, Poupart, Powell, Powell , Powells, Powelse, Powrie, Pozende, Pozin, Preller, Prestwich, Price, Prichard, Prince, Prins, Prubart, Pruce , Puckey, Purvis, Quin, Rabe, Railston, Randall, Raphael, Ras, Rauch, Raven, Redelinghuys, Redwood, Reenen Van, Reeves, Regeel, Regen, Regnar, Reid, Reid , Reis, Rekeba, Rens, Retief, Richert, Richter, Rimrod, Rippel, Rishton, Roberts, Robertson, Robinson, Rode, Roelandt, Roesch, Rogerson, Ronquest, Roodt, Roos, Rorich, Rosa, Rose, Roselt, Roset, Ross, Rossouw, Roubaix, Rousseau, Roux, Rowan, Rowles, Rusch, Russel, Russouw, Rutgers, Rutherfoord, Ruthven, Ruysch, Rykheer, Rynbach,
Rynhard, Rynhout, Rynke, Saartjie , Saban , Sacreas, Sala, Salomonsen, Samaay, Sampsodien , Sandenberg, Sandford, Saunders, Savaars, Savary, Sayus, Scevers, Schaal, Schabord, Schaeble,
Schalkwyk, Schelden, Schelder, Schenk, Scheuble, Schickerling, Schier, Schikkerling, Schindehutte, Schirmer, Schmidt, Schoester, Scholtz, Schonegevel, Schonnberg, Schoonraad, Schoukerk, Schrikker, Schultz, Schutte, Schweil, Scoon, Scott, Searle, Seller, Semorie , Senkantyn, Serrurier, Sertyn, Seyffert, Shaw, Shearer, Shelly , Sherman, Shortman, Sibbald, Siebert, Siedeman, Silberbauer, Simons, Simpson, Sims, Sinclair, Slater , Sloman, Smart, Smidt, Smidtsdorff, Smit, Smith, Smuts, Snell, Soestman, Solomon, Sommer, Sommervaile, Sosang , Spadille , Spangenberg, Spatie , Spencer, Spengler, Spiers, Spies, Spoer, Spolander, Spratt, Sprew, Spykerman, Stadler, Stanfield, Stark, Starling, Staudt, Staveren van Kloek, Steedman, Steel, Steenhobel, Steffens, Stegman, Stein, Stemmet, Stenhouse, Stephen, Steuart, Steyn, Steytler, Stidworthy, Stigant, Stiglingh, Still, Stober, Stodart, Stoeffers, Stoel, Stoll, Stoll , Stone , Strachan, Strachan , Stronach , Stronch, Stuckeris , Sturgis, Sturk , Stædel, Sullivan , Sutherland , Swanepoel, Swartz , Swaving , Sweetman, Sweney , Syme , Tait , Tardien, Tayer, Tayse, Tennam , Tennant, Tennant , Tennant & Co, Terholm , Terhoven , Tesselaar ,Teubes, Teunant , Thalwitzer , Theas , Theron , Theunes , Thibault , Thomas , Thomassen ,Thompson, Thompson , Thomson, Thomson , Thorp , Thwaites , Thys , Ticky , Tier , Timmerman ,Tonkin , Tourin , Townsend , Tredeaux , Tredgold , Treuman, Tromp , Truter, Truter , Turner, Twentyman, Twycross, Udemans, Ufken, Ulrich, Ungerer, Uri, Usher, Valentin, Valentyn, Van Balen, van Bergen, van Blerck, van Blerk, van Blommestein, Van Boon, van Breda, van Breda , van Coller, van Copenhagen, van de Kaap, van den Berg, van den Burg, van der Bihl, van der Byl, Van der Chys , van der Haardie, Van der Horst, van der Kemp, Van der Lingen, Van der Poel, van der Poel , Van der Reder, Van der Riet, Van der Schyff, van der Spuy, van der Spuy , Van Derendome , Van Dillen  , Van Driel    , Van Dyk, Van Ellewe, Van Eyk , Van Eysen, Van Eyssen , van Geems, van Graan  , van Haght, van Hall, Van Hellings, Van Helsdingen, Van Hou, Van Lier, van Nieker, Van Niekerk, Van Nierop, Van Reenan , Van Reenen, Van Regen , Van Ryneveld, Van Rynier, Van Schalkwyk, van Schoor, Van Winkle, Van Wyngard, Vascher, Vawser, Veean, Venables, Vendues, Venning, Ventura , Vergo, Vergottini, Verioni, Vermaak, Versveld, Vervoort, Vetter, Victor, Villet, Villiers, Vippond, Virgo, Vissagie, Visscher, Visser, Vlotman, Vogelgezang, Voges  , Voget, Voight, Volkwyn, Volraad , Volstedt, Volsteedt, Von Ludwig , Von Manager , Vos, Vos , Vracher, Vries , Vurman, Waall, Waasman, Wade, Wagenhorst, Wagner, Wahl, Waldek, Wall, Walpot, Walter, Wannenberg, Wanza, Ward, Warren, Warrington, Wasserfall, Watering, Waterman, Watermeyer, Waters, Wathen, Watney, Watson, Watt, Webb, Webber, Weber, Webster, Weed, Weepner, Weidemeyer, Weis, Weldeman, Welkom, Welsh, Wenham, Wentzel, Wernich, Wernsdorff, Westcott, Whiley, Whiskin , Whitcomb, White, Whitfield, Wicht, Wickboom, Wicksteed, Widemeyer, Wiedeman, Wieldhagen, Wiergo, Wiid, Wildt, Wilhelm, Wilkinson, Will, Willem, Willenburg, Williams, Willmott, Wilsenach, Wilsnach, Wilsnacht, Windle, Winterbach, Wium, Woeke, Wolfaard, Wolferum, Wolff, Wolhuter, Wollaston, Wolverans, Woodlock, Woodman, Wools, Woudberg, Woutersen, Wrankmore, Wrensch, Wright, Wydeman, Wykherd, Wylde, Wyman, Wyngard, Wyngardtz, Wys, Younger, Ysman, Zastron, Zeeberg, Zeederberg, Zeeman, Zeyltz, Zezars, Ziedel, Ziedeman, Zieler, Zinn, Zorn, Zulch

Die Boerevrou

In 1918, Die Boerevrou, the first Afrikaans magazine for women, appeared in Pretoria. This illustrated monthly magazine for women was the first published magazine in Afrikaans. Die Boerevrouw (its title until June 1920) was the first women’s magazine in Afrikaans and appeared in Pretoria from March 1919 under the editorship of the owner, Mrs. Mabel Malherbe (nee Rex), whose assistant editor from an early date was Mrs. M. E. Rothmann (M.E.R.), who published her first short stories in it.

The magazine met with public approval almost from its inception, since it was the only Afrikaans magazine entirely for women; it also dealt with national affairs, with special emphasis on matters affecting Afrikaner women, their own past and their people; it aimed to include women as an essential factor in sound national development. Prominent writers like Eugene Marais, F. W. Reitz, G. R. von Wielligh, Jan Celliers, A. G. Visser, F. van den Heever (‘Toon’) and C. M. van den Heever, and artists like Anton van Wouw, Pierneef and Erich Mayer willingly contributed. Of special value were contributions sent in by the readers themselves, once confidence had been established in the editorial leadership.

These were contributed to a column ’round the coffee-table’ which would formerly have been regarded as of purely personal significance, but had a historical interest, for they cast a clear and intimate light upon the development and characteristics of the Afrikaner people, especially since the days of the Great Trek. To delve into the old volumes of the Die Boerevrou is to reveal valuable Africana. Mrs. Malherbe hoped that sufficient advertisements of reliable goods would be forthcoming to cover expenses. Perhaps her estimate was too high and, moreover, she turned down all advertisements of liquor and patent medicines.

The deficits, which for years had been borne by her husband, the attorney Kenne Malherbe, eventually became so great that she had to give up the struggle, and in 1931 the magazine ceased publication.

Two fine anthologies were compiled by Mrs. Malherbe from the contents: Die Boerevrou-boek (1950) and Juwele wat steeds bekoor (1951).

This coffee table magazine offered a number of regular features such as:

Sewing and Knitting patterns
Fashions
Childrens Stories

Jong Suid-Afrika – family photo’s sent in by the public

Margaretha Kuhne, 1 jaar en 9 maande. Dogtertjie van Mnr. en Mevr. W. Kuhne. Kleinkind van Mnr. Jurie Loubscher, Graaff Reinet.

George Ferreira Strydom, (8 maande oud, gewig 23 pond), enigste seuntjie van Mnr. en Mevr. J.C. Strydom, Barberton

"Die Wonderbybie" Kobus Van Schalkwyk, Oud 5 ½ maande. Gewig 20 pond. Seuntjie van Mevr. B. Van Schalkwyk, Barberton.

Sebastiaan Valentein Vom Hagen, jongste seuntjie van Mnr. en Mevr. S. Vom Hagen, Gezina.

Home Recipes

Koue Seep
8 lb. vet, 1 lb. seepsoda, 1 3/4 bottel water. Dit kan enige vet of botter wees; natuurlik moet dit uitgebraaide vet wees. 1/2 varkvet, 1/2 skaap of beestevet maak die mooiste seep, ofskoon die hoeveelheid van die ander net so goed is. Harde vet, al is dit baie donker en vuil, kers afdrupsels of enige uitgebraaide vet, sal vir koue seep ewe goed wees, al sal dit nie juis so mooi wees nie. Los op die soda in die water. Smelt die vet oor ‘n vuur. Laat so bietjie afkoel. Intussen voer ‘n kassie uit met ‘n natte doek. Probeer dat die soda en die vet so na as moontlik dieselfde warmte het. Roer nou bymekaar, hou aan totdat dit so dik as gesuikerde heuning lyk.

Gooi uit in die kassie, vou die buitenste stukke van die doek oor die seep. Sit dan ‘n ou sak oor, en laat oornag staan. Sny die volgende oggend uit. Laat in die son of in ‘n trekkerige plek droog word, as dit gou nodig is. Die kassie wat in die vorm gebruik word, kan goed diep wees. Dit kan dan in stene op die volgende manier gesny word. Sny die stuk deur van bo af in stene, sny dan weer deur op die dikte van die steen; 2 of 3 stene kan so opmekaar gevorm word. Dan het dit nie so ‘n groot kassie nodig nie.
Deurskynend koue seep

7 lb. vet, 1 lb. soda, en 1 bot. water. Maak die soda die vorige aand aan. Maak goed warm toe. Volgende oggend smelt die vet af en koel of; roer dan by die soda, en roer vir ‘n uur. Voeg dan by een lepel terpentyn en ‘n half koppie parafien. Roer goed deur. Gooi uit in ‘n kassie (uitgevoer met ‘n nat lap). Bedek baie goed met ou sakke of komberse; laat dit so langs die stoof staan op ‘n louwarm plek vir 4 of 5 weke. Dit sal dan mooi deurskynend wees. Die soda moet in ‘n geëmailleerde emmer of skottel aangemaak word. Die seep moet die volgende dag na dit aangemaak is uitgesny word en teruggesit in die kassie, en goed toegemaak word vir 4 of 5 weke.

Skuurseep (Monkey Soap)

7 lb. vet, 1 lb. seep-soda, 1 bot. water, 1/2 slypsteen (‘bathbrick’) fyn gepoeier, dan deur ‘n kamerdoek gesif, of ‘n fyn siffie (dit moet baie fyn wees anders krap dit strepe) en 2 lepels ‘whiting’. Los die soda op in die bottel water, smelt dan die vet, laat afkoel; probeer om die warmte van die vet en soda so eenders moontlik te kry. Roer bymekaar. Voer ‘n kassie uit met ‘n nat lap. Nes die seep al mooi dik is, amper klaar, moet dit soos ‘n dik pap wees. Roer nou die fyngesifte slypsteen by en die ‘Whiting’; roer goed; gooi in die gevoerde kissie; dit moet goed dik wees voor dit in die vorm gegooi word, anders sak die slypsteen af. Sny dit in mooi klein handige steentjies die volgende dag. Dis net so goed as die gekoopte.
Een van Mevr. van Tulleken se resepte vir:

Aartappel Seep

7 lb. vet, 14 lb. aartappels, 2 1/2 lb. seepsoda, 3 bottels water. Kook die aartappels met hul skil, trek dan die skille af, maal deur die vleesmeule. Weeg af, smelt die vet, roer die aartappels by tot dit ‘n gladde mengsel is. Meng die soda met ‘n 1/2 bottel water, meet die ander 1 1/2 bottel water en sit by der hand neer. Roer nou by die soda, maar haal eers die pot van die vuur; roer 5 min. gooi dan die helfte van die afgemete water by, roer 10 min, nou die res van die water, roer weer 10 min. gooi dan in kassie met ‘n nat lap gevoer. Laat drie dae.staan voor dit uit te sny; maak mooi droog op ‘n trekkerige plek of in die son (die seep moet die drie dae goed toegemaak word voor dit uitgesny word.)

Dikmelkseep

Neem dikmelk, sit dit op die vuur in ‘n parafienblik. Laat nou amper kook tot dit so’n mooi stywe dik aanmekaar stuk maak; dit moet nie baie taai wees nie. Gooi nou in iets waar die water goed van die melk kan afloop (‘n ander bilk met gaatjies – klein – is goed). Werk mooi saggies met die melk, anders gaan te veel verlore. As dit nou mooi droog afgeloop is, vryf dit dan so fyn as moontlik met die hande. Smelt 2 lb. vet en neem 10 lb. van die fyngevryfde melk. Voeg dit daarby, roer goed deur, neem weg van die vuur; roer by 1 lb. soda opgelos met ‘n bottel water; voeg by en roer vir ‘n uur. Gooi in ‘n kassie gevoer met ‘n doek. Laat drie dae staan en sny dan uit. Droog die stene mooi uit. Dit is goeie seep en skuim baie mooi.
(Al die seepresepte kom in Mevr. Tulleken se boek voor. Daar het pas ‘n 5de (vergrote) uitgawe van die nuttige boek verskyn – dit is werklik ‘n onmisbare besitting vir elke Afrikaanse huisvrou)
Verlede maand het ons in die Ruilkolom vertel hoe iemand wat moeite wil doen om die boeke te verkoop een vir haar beloning sal kry. Of anders kos een 11/-pos vry – bestel van Mevr. van Tulleken, P.K. Holmdene

Hoofstuk 1 (Deur Else Louwrens)
Wie sê die lewe in ‘n mierkat-dorpie is saai en eentonig? Moenie glo nie. Kyk, die son loer net effentjies oor die ver blou rante, maar dis genoeg om vir Swartjie en Spitsbek en Jan Hoepelbeen en Takhaartjie en Nooientjie en nog dertig of veertig ander mierkatte uit hul huisies daar in die bult te lok.
Hier is hul. Een, twee, drie, sit hul penorent soos kerse op hul agterpote. Vinnig draai die koppies heen en weer, agtertoe, vorentoe, alkant-toe. Die lewe is nou eenmaal te interessant. Dit sou al te jammer wees om iets daarvan te mis.

“Swartjie, het jy gehoor?”
“Ja, wat gehoor? Jy weet mos altyd meer as ‘n ander, of jy dink jy weet meer,” en Spitsbek werp hom ‘n venynige bilk toe.
“Die Kriebos meerkatte daaronder in die laagte noem ons dorp mos “Lawaaimakersfort.”

“Begryp jou, Lawaaimakersfort. Hul is net jaloers op ons deftige naam, ‘Rus en Vrede’; hul, wat vir hul ou dorpie nie eens ‘n naam het nie. Papbroekvlakte sou net ‘n goeie naam vir hul wees. Pieperig en afgemaer en papbroekery, dis wat hul is. En wie weet iets van hul afkoms, hul famielies?”

“Ja wie? Ons, Besems, – ons weet! Nie verniet heet ons die Besemstam nie. ‘n Stert soos ‘n besem, elkeen van ons. Kyk vir ou Grootjie. Ses mierkatgeslagte is aan haar te danke, en elkeen van hul, man, vrou, of kind, ‘n opregte Besem, mooi, rats, sterk…”

“En vernuftig ook. Moenie vergeet nie,” val Kannetjie, wat in die tussentyd nader gekom het, horn in die rede.

“En ‘n stert,” en hier waai Spitsbek statig sy rnooi harige stert op en neer – “‘n stert soos ‘n … nou ja, jul weet mos. Jul’s mos ook Besems.’

“Ja, Boetie, ‘n goeie ou stam. Dis die grondige waarheid, al moet ek dit self sê, ek wat Swartjie is. Maar wag, ek moet loop. Tryntjie roep al na my,” en Swartjie maak dat hy wegkom.

“Jy weet dis brekfistyd, man, en jy sit maar en bak in die son, – bak en skinner. Julie mans is almal eners. Kom, die kinders vra kos. Laat ons loop,” en Tryntjie kruip deur die gareboom-laning, gevolg deur haar man en tweeling seuntjies.

Dit word al lewendiger in die mierkat-dorpie. Dit loop en spring en gaat te keer. Eindelik is almal die veld in.

Ai, maar dis ‘n lekker lewe: baie pret, baie gevare ook. Maar dit gee juis die prikkel aan die vcrmaaklikheid daarvan.

Nie ver van hier lê die ou boereplaas van Oom Jan v.d. Vyver. Maar Oom Jan laat die mierkat-volkie maar sy gang gaan. Hy hinder hul nie. “Lewe en laat lewe,” was sy leuse.

Maar daar by hom op die plaas het ook ‘n hond gewoon, ‘n nare rooi- en witgevlekte ding wat van mierkatte niks gehou het nie. Snaakse smaak het sommige mense en diere tog. Sy grootste begeerte was om mierkatte te vang. Juis vandag het hy weer een van sy giere. Hier kom hy aan, kruip-kruip, al nader en nader.

Witpootjie is net met sy brekfis besig – ‘n vet ou muis wat hy al lank in die oog gehad het. Voor jy kan sê “mes” is Aasvoël op hom! Maar ek sê vir jou niks – ou Witpootjie glip vlak onder sy neus weg en woerts om die bos. Maar Aasvoël, ook nie links nie, keer hom voor.

“Nou het ek jou, outjie,” en hy blaf van opgewondenheid en blydskap.
Maar moenie glo nie, Witpootjie fop hom weer. En so gaan die jag voort, agter-toe, vorentoe, tot die kat eindelik sy huis haal en woeps! in is hy. Aasvoël krap en blaf en gaan te keer nes ‘n mal ding, maar dis verniet. “Jep, jep,” blaf Witpootjie terug van binne, net om vir Aasvoël uit te koggel. Ja, die ou diertjie is nog astrant ook.

Nee, Aasvoël, ‘n Besem vang jy so maklik nie. Jy dink miskien aan die dag toe jy een aan die been gehad het en jou klaargemaak het vir ‘n smaaklike middagete, nê? Maar in ‘n kits had die outjie weer handuit geruk – en jy, ou, moes leeg-leeg huistoe draf en ou Hoepelbeen was skoonveld. Maar, “Hoepelbeen” was …

Jokes
Die lesing was verskriklik droog, om die minste daarvan te sê. Die onderwerp was “Die Ontwikkeling van die Mens”, en as ‘n illustrasie wys die geleerde man op die onderskeid tussen die mens en die dier.
“Die mense,” so beduie hy, “maak steeds vordering, terwyl die ander diere bly stilstaan. Neem bv. die esel. Deur al die eeue heen, die hele wêreld deur, bly dit net dieselfde skepsel. Julle het nog nooit, geagte dames en here, julle sal nooit ‘n beter esel sien as wat julle vandag sien nie.”
* * *
Hy: “Vir wat klap jy so? Daardie vrou het akelig gesing.”
Sy : “Ja, ek weet, maar ek is verlief op haar tabberd en ek wil dit graag nog ‘n maal sien.”
* * *
Pa: “Hoe lyk dit, Koos, smaak die medisyne nog so sleg?”
Koos: “Nee, pa, nou gaan dit darem.”
Pa: “Drink jy nog gereeld drie keer op ‘n dag ‘n lepelvol?”
Koos: “Ja, pa, maar my lepel het weggeraak, nou gebruik ek maar ‘n vurk.”
* * *
Tante: “Miena, wie is die luiste in julle klas?”
Miena: “Nee, Tante, ek weet nie.”
Tante: “Wel, dis tog maklik as julle reken wie sit die luiste daarby?”
Miena: “Die juffrou, Tante!”
——————————————————————————–
Letters
Liewe Boerevroutjie,
Nou wil ek ook so’n rukkie met julle saam gesels orn die koffietafel. Ek sien so baie vertel van oumense, nou wil ek ook graag vir julle van my man se Ouma vertel. Sy is, sover ek weet, die oudste oumens in Lydenburg se Distrik, sy is die 12de deser 100 jaar oud, en is nog taamlik sterk vir so ‘n hoë ouderdom. Ouma was ‘n nooie Schoeman en was getroud met Jan Steenkamp. My skoonvader is haar enigste kind. Toe Oupa Steenkamp dood is, is sy weer met Jan Jacobsz getroud, hy is ook al vir jare dood. Ouma bly by my skoonouers. Sy kan nog al die voortrekker-verhale vertel, of dit gister gebeur het, sy was destyds ‘n kind van 11jr jaar.

Mevr Annie Catharina Jacobtz – Gebore Schoeman, gebore 12de Jan 1825

Maar nou wil ek somar ‘n grappie vertel, wat in die Boere-oorlog plaasgevind het. Ouma had een suster wat baie op haar gelyk het, maar sy was toe deur die Engels eweggevoer. Op ‘n dag kom ouma in ‘n winkel en sien haarself in ‘n groot spieel. Sy dog dis haar suster, sy loop na die spieel en steek haar arms uit, en sê “My liewe ou suster, is jy ook hier?” Dit het glo gedreun in die winkel soos die klerke en mense gelag het. – Mevr. Willem Steenkamp.
* * * * * *
Mej. C. Benade skryf : “Ek sien dat die vrouens en meisies saam gesels oor die armblanke, so wil ek ook baie graag iets daaroor skryf, want as almal dink en saamwerk kan die saak opgelos word.
Ek dink die vrouens en meisies moet werk om Suid-Afrika ‘n droë land te maak soos Amerika, want deur die drank is daar duisende kinders wat armoede en gebrek ly. Die vader werk miskien, en sodra as hy die geld gekry het, gaan dit na die kantien. Die kinders kry geen behoorlik opvoeding nie, en volg naderhand hulle vader se voetstappe. Ek het gehoor hulle sê, solank as hulle onder die in vloed van drank is, voel hulle so gelukkig en ryk. Ek dink al die vrouens en meisies moet saamspan om in die saak te werk. Ek wens die “Boerevroutjie” alle seën toe, en hoop sy sal nog lank lewe. Ons almal geniet haar baie.”
Source: Standard Encylopeadia of South Africa and Die Boerevrou Magazine 1922 November & December, 1925 January, March & June, 1926 April & June, December 1931

William J. Morris was born on the 11th February 1826 in Oxon, England, and was employed by the Duke of Marlborough as a game keeper when he developed pulmonary tuberculosis during the severe winter of 1856. His doctor recommended that he move to a sunnier climate.

Not long after this William was accepted, together with his wife and three children, for the Sir George Grey Immigration Scheme. In screening the prospective applicants, there were some basic requirements: good health, sober habits, industrious, good moral character, and in the habit of working for wages (as promulgated by Act No. 8 of 1857). From these regulations it would seem that a person with T.B. would certainly not have been accepted, and as the gentleman in question lived to the grand age of 90, and certainly worked industriously on arrival in the Cape (not conducive to a sickly person) the circumstances appear to dispel such a legend.

Standard Bank, Adderley Street

The journey to the Cape was aboard the vessel named “Edward Oliver” under the command of Master J. Baker. The ship departed from Birkenhead on 10th July 1858, and after 57 days at sea arrived in Table Bay on 5th September 1858. Little is known about the voyage excepting 14 deaths were recorded and seven births took place on board. Listed as the ships surgeon was Dr. Fred Johnson as well as trained teacher Mr. Tom Gibbs who were to care for the passenger’s health and education. It is possible that it was not a pleasant journey for the Morris family remembering that the three children Richard, Kate and William were still young and the latter being under twelve months of age.

The majority of the artisans and tradesmen had been fixed up with immediate employment, as there was a great demand for skilled and semi-skilled men for the new railway track being constructed from Cape Town to Wellington, as well as the harbour construction project in Table Bay.

Not long after Williams arrival he leased some land at the top end of Duke Road in Rondebosch, then a distant suburb of Cape Town, and very reminiscent of Wychwood Forest and his native Oxfordshire. This piece of land was developed into a market garden and the family lived in a nearby cottage.

It was whilst William J. Morris and family were living in Rondebosch that on 29 April 1862 their youngest son Benjamin Charles Morris was born and baptized in St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Rondebosch, whereby his father (William) declared his occupation as a “gardener” and place of residence as “Rouwkoop Road”, Rondebosch. Click here to search these church records.

Benjamin Charles Morris's Baptism Record

Richard H. Morris was still a growing boy of just 8 years old. By the age of 14 years and still living in Rondebosch, he was indentured to Alexander Bain, a shipbuilder/shipwright of 17 Chiappini Street, Cape Town as an apprentice carpenter/shipwright.

Although the new suburban railway from Cape Town to Wynberg had been opened to the public in 1865, Richard was obliged to walk from Rondebosch to the North Wharf in Dock Road, Cape Town as transport was too expensive for his meager earnings. However, he was soon organized in getting a “lift” from the coachman he befriended who worked for the governor of Rustenburg House. Richard secured his free lift on the footman’s place at the rear of the coach, where he would sit in reasonable comfort for the journey which took him to the Castle. Unfortunately this mode of travel did not operate for the return journey home, nor did it operate during the winter months, so Richard just had to “jog”.

It would appear that the last train from Cape Town to Wynberg in the afternoons was scheduled for departure from the city at 5pm, but needless to say as an apprentice, Richard was still working at the shipyard. Despite the arduous circumstances of his youth, the enforced exercise proved most beneficial a few years later when he entered into competitive sport i.e. race rowing, especially as Richard was just over 5ft. tall and weighed less than 60 kilos.

During 1870, the Bain’s Shipyard was taken over by Mr. Christopher Robertson, as specialist in sailing ships and wooden masts, and as Richard was learning his trade with three other young apprentices, he was taught the art of shaping a sailing vessel’s mast with the hand spokeshave. The firm from then on was known as “Robertson & Bain” which continued operating in Dock Road, Cape Town for several decades, specializing in the supply of wooden masts for sea-going sailing ships.

Before carrying on with the life story of Richard H. Morris it is important to mention that the Anglican Church of St. Johns on the corner of Long and Waterkant Street had been built in 1856. It was at this church that during the 1860′s Richard became a choir boy and in 1872 a Sunday School Teacher.

In 1876 the Templar rowing club started in Cape Town where Richard and his brother were both members and enthusiastic oarsmen.

The christening of the personally constructed fast rowing boat by Richard came as no surprise by the owners of Robertson and Bain. The name of the boat was called the “Alpha”.

In 1882 the construction of a row of cottages built by Wm. J. Morris and his brother Richard (father & son) was started in Upper Church and Longmarket Streets and were to be called “Lorne Cottages” in honour of the Lorne Rowing Club which was started in Cape Town in 1875 and named after the Scottish Firth near Island of Mull of Kintyre.
On Saturday 6th June 1885 Richard married Helen Ann Lyell in St. John’s church. The newly married couple went that day to “Lorne Cottages” to make their permanent home and raise a family.

Richard and Helen Ann Lyell's Marriage Certificate

Helen was in fact a little girl of ten years old when she first encountered Richard. That was when he was in his twenties and he was late for work and was running along the road when he accidentally knocked over a little girl. He tried to console her, and from this time onwards a very special friendship developed.

It was in the same church that Richard’s younger brother William John married Matilda Jane Altree on 25th August 1886 and a younger brother married in St. Paul’s in Rondebosch on 14th September 1887. It is interesting to note that St. John’s Church was deconsecrated after the last evening service in June 1970 as the ground and building was sold, after much pressure from business interests, for an astronomical amount, and the church was completely demolished to make way for the present modern commercial complex known as “St. Johns Place”. Click here to search these church records.

In 1884 Richard Morris as cox and his brother of the “Templar Club” had their first win as champions winning both “Maiden Oarsmen” and “Championship of Table Bay” events.

In June 1878 Richard H. Morris went into partnership with friend & neighbour Chas. Algar from Rondebosch, who had known the Morris family for quite some time. Little known to Chas was that Richard was to be the future brother-in-law to his sister Bertha Algar.

The first workshops of Algar and Morris were at 39 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town. (between Long and Loop Street ). But misfortune was the cause of the break-up of the working partnerships as the 30-year-old Chas Algar died suddenly on 4th October 1883.

Banking institutions were now playing a major role in the economy of the country and in 1883 Richard Morris landed the contract to build the Standard Bank in Adderley Street for the amount of £32,000 – the two storied building was designed in neo-classical style by Charles Freeman. Two additional floors were added on by Morris in 1921.

Richard made a repeat performance in May 1885 wining the 2 mile race in 15 minutes and 55 seconds.

March 1886 saw the arrival of Richard and his wife Helen’s daughter Kate as well as Richard wining the “Champion of Table Bay” for the third consecutive year.

Eleven years after the death of Chas Algar, Richard Morris secured the construction contract for the new City Club in Queen Victoria Street for a sum of £22,000.

Between the years of 1888 and 1895 Helen Morris gave birth to Edith, Bertha and William Henry Morris, the only son to Richard.

By 1896 Richard H. Morris had become known as a builder of distinguished quality and workmanship and the fame of R.H. Morris had spread. Herbert Baker had met Richard on several occasions and took immediately to this man who built with such fine quality and precision. It was then that R.H. Morris secured the prestige contract for the restoration of “Groote Schuur”, after the building had been extensively destroyed by fire.

Richard H. Morris by 1899 had workshops in both 52 Rose Street and 173 Longmarket Street. In 1902 Frank Lardner joined the staff of R.H. Morris and in 1911 he became the manager.

Father, William James Morris, died at the old age of ninety years on 22 March 1915. In 1919 the company of R. H. Morris (Pty) Ltd was officially formed to cope with the new lumber contract in Knysna. It was from this time onwards that R.H. Morris was renowned throughout Southern Africa for the excellent workmanship and quality in carpentry all starting from old Mr. Morris himself. School desks, church pews and altars were manufactured in their joinery shop for years to come. The items were delivered as far away as Botswana, Rhodesia, Zambia and Mozambique. Along with the desk and school equipment Morris ink wells and stands were also produced.

The Morris workshop also manufactured one of the very few original gramophones that were ever produced in South Africa and which was called a “melophone”. Many of these items can be seen on display in the Educational Museum in Aliwal Road, Wynberg today.

Sadness unfortunately halted joy when Richard and Helen Morris celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 6th June 1935 and then on 24 July Helen tragically passed away at home as well as Bertha, wife of Benjamin Morris, on the 6th December.

Richard at the age of 83 years old in 1936 retired from the construction industry and handed the reigns over to Frank Lardner. Frank ran the company until 1942 when he passed away. The business was then handed over to a young civil engineer, Clifford Harris. The existing premises of Rose and Longmarket Street were finally vacated when the furniture workshops and Building /Civil Engineering were consolidated and new premises built in Ndabeni.

In April 1949 Richard Henry Morris succumbed to natural causes and passed away at the age of 95 years and 5 months.

This was certainly not the end of an era for R.H. Morris Pty Ltd – as in 1952 the company was given financial backing for the New Municipal Market at Epping in Cape Town by the British Engineering giant Humphreys. The firm is no longer associated with the family. Later the company was taken over by the Fowler Group and is now in the hands of Group Five Construction who have retained the image of the name in perpetuating the fine record of the founder Richard Henry Morris.

Many of the other buildings in Cape Town which were either completed by or alterations were performed on, include the University of Cape Town, Diocesan College in Rondebosch, Music School at U.C.T. as well as many Sir Herbert Baker buildings.

In 1995 when much of this research was done I managed to find a second “melophone” and an original “Morris” desk for sale which ex-Managing Director Frank Wright was extremely grateful for me finding these wonderful company artifacts. Shortly before the final documents were found I also located the grand nephew of R.H. Morris who very kindly gave me the medal won by Richard in the “Championship of Table Bay”. This is now on display in the boardroom of Group Five Construction in Plum Park, Plumstead in the Cape.

Authors: Heather MacAlister and H.W Haddon

In 1804 he was appointed commissioner of the Loan Bank, also known as the Lombard Bank, which was established at the Cape on 15.3.1793 to save the country from imminent economic ruin. It was state controlled, and in its capacity as a lending, but not a deposit, bank lent paper money on short term. The duty of the commissioners, of whom Van Kervel was one, was to be responsible for the general management of the bank.

In 1811 he was appointed the first landdros of the George district and was stationed at the government post Outeniqualand. In June he began to plan and lay out a town that was given the same name as the district, planting two rows of oak trees along the wide streets and appointing the first elders and deacons of the Cape church there. He was the landdros at George during the ‘Swarte Ommegang’ (Black Circuit) of 1812 during which many cases involving Non-Whites were tried, and which lasted for almost four months. It was a very harassing time for the colonists since numbers of White families were accused and summonsed, even more called as witnesses, and one-third of the able-bodied men dispatched to help guard the eastern border. Van Kervel had his hands full, trying to deal with all the problems. He was the landdros at George until 1819 when he retired because of illness and age, after which he was given a pension.

On 30.9.1792 van Kervel married Johanna Hendrika Loubser, widow of Martinus Westerhof. They had no children. The special school for mentally handicapped children at George was named after him, and his family coat of arms, carved on a large stinkwood shield, is preserved in the local museum.

Source: New Dictionary of South African Biographies

Image: Groot Afrikaanse Familie Naamboek

Born 25th December, 1880, at Port Elizabeth, Cape Province. Second eldest child of Henry and Elizabeth Alexander (father a native of the French West Indies, Martinique). Educated at St. Peter’s Primary and Secondary Schools and the Sisters of Mercy (Catholic). Married Elizabeth Koster 28th August, 1901, at Pretoria. Boatbuilder by trade. Joined the British in the Anglo-Boer War, was captured at Colenso and sent to Pretoria.

After the capture of Pretoria joined the Anglican Church and was appointed chaplain at the Old Prison, eventually studying for the ministry under the Fathers Bennet and Fuller of the Community of the Resurrection, and Canons Farmer and Rev. H. Mtobi. Elected secretary of the A.P.O., Pretoria Branch, and the secretary of the committee for the purchasing of the Lady Selborne Township, Pretoria.

Resigned the Anglican Church and went to Johannesburg and joined the African Life Assurance Society as agent on their starting the Industrial Branch, and opened the Pretoria office after two and a half years. Resigned and was elected Grand True Secretary of the I.O.T.T., Northern Grand Lodge, before the separation. Re-elected 1920-21. Refused nomination 1922.
In 1924 organised the African Branch of the African Orthodox Church and was appointed Vicar-Apostolic by Bishop George A. McGuire, M.D., D.D., D.C., and in the following year was elected Bishop for the Province of South Africa. On arrival in New York was given Catholic Orders by Bishop W. E. Robertson and Archbishop McGuire respectively to the Priesthood, and on the 11th September, 1927, was consecrated Archbishop and Primate of the Province of South and East Africa, in the Church of St. Michael and All Angels, Boston, U.S. America. The Degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred by the Faculty (Honorary)) on the Archbishop.

Editor of the African Orthodox Churchman, a monthly magazine of the Province, and author of An Orthodox Catechism. Dean of the Seminary of St. Augustine for the ministerial students for the Church. Address: 3, Brimton Street, Beaconsfield, Kimberley, South Africa.

In 1844 the United Presbyterian Mission sent him to Lovedale. At Lovedale he slowly but surely crept to the head of all his classes. About 1846 he went to Scotland with Mr. Govan, and continued his studies at Inchinnan, and afterwards at the Glasgow Free Church Normal Seminary. He returned to Africa with the Rev. George Brown. Became an evangelist at Keiskama and at Amatole,. and later returned to Scotland with Mr. Niven about 1850. He entered the Glasgow University in 1851, and in 1852 he began to attend the Theological Hall of the United Presbyterian Church at Edinburgh. He completed his course in 1856, and on leaving, his, fellow-students presented him with a valuable testimonial in books, as a mark of universal respect and esteem. Having passed the final examinations, he was licensed at the end of that year by the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Glasgow to preach the Gospel. The following year he married Miss Janet Burnside in Glasgow.

This lady stood faithfully by her hunband’s side through all the difficulties of his life. The late Rev. Tiyo Soga was the father otf four sons and three daughters. His sons are well known in South Africa. They are Dr. John William Soga, M.D., C.M., Glasgow University, and Mr. Allen Soga, also at Glasgow University, who at one time acted as Assistant Magistrate at St. Marks. The Youngest son, Mr. J. F. Soga, is a M.R.C.V.S. of Dick College, Edinburgh. Tiyo Soga’s eldest daughter died in 1880. The second is engaged in mission work in the Cape Province. The youngest is a music teacher in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Rev. Tiyo Soga returned to South Africa in the year 1857 and proceeded to Peelton, in the district of Kingwilliamstown, a station of the London Missionary Society. Later he moved to Emgwali, where, along with the Rev. R. Johnson, who had been a class-fellow in Edinburgh, he set about reorganising the good work that was broken by the wars of the previous years. Rev. Soga succeeded in converting a very large number of his countrymen. Then came the task of building a church. To do this he visited a number of larger towns to collect funds. He had already preached to many European congregations with great acceptance. In 1860 lie received and accepted an invitation to an audience by H.R.H. Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh who was in Cape-town at the time. Rev. Soga travelled extensively in the Cape Province and his work grew wonderfully, but in 1866 he had to cease work for a time on account of ill-health. During his illness he completed his translation of the Pilgrim’s Progress into Xosa. He also composed a number of hymns of great merit, including the famous Lizalis’ idinga lako (Fulfil Thy promise, 0 Lord).

He gradually became worse until he could move about only with the greatest difficulty. In 1868 he rendered most valuable service as one of the Board formed for revising the Xosa Bible, which was translated by the Rev. W. Appleyard. In 1867 the Rev. Tiyo Soga moved from Emgwali to Somerville at the request of the late Chief Kreli and continued there in spite of all difficulties to preach, organise and translate. In 1871 a change for the worse came about as a result of getting thoroughly wet while visiting Chief Mapasa on mission work. He died on the 12th August in the arms of his friend, the Rev. Richard Ross, at the age of 42.
The Rev. Tiyo Soga was neither an enthusiast, a fanatic nor a bigot. He was a true Christian, a thorough gentleman, who died in the service of his Master.
From the many articles that appeared in the Press at the death of the Rev. Tiyo Soga, we can only insert the following two:
“This gentleman-for in the true meaning of the word he was, to all intents and purposes, a perfect gentleman-was a pure-born Kaffir. His father was, and still is, a councillor of Sandile’s tribe, and an avowed heathen, in point of fact, a “Red Kaffir.” His son, however, as a youth, was sent to the Missionary Institution at Lovedale, and there distinguished himself so much by his keen intelligence and his ready aptitude for learning, that he was sent home to Glasgow to prosecute and complete his studies at the University of that place. He went through the full curriculum required in Scotland from candidates for the ministry, and in due time was licensed and ordained as a minister-missionary of the United Presbyterian Church. As a preacher, he was eloquent in speech and keen in thought, and talked with a Scottish accent, as strong as if he had been born on the banks of the Clyde, instead of those of the Chumie. He took a deep interest in everything calculated to advance the civilisation of his countrymen, and did so with a breadth of view and warmth of sympathy, in which mere sectarianism had no part. Among his accomplished works we may mention his translation of the Pilgrim’s Progress into Kaffir, which so high an authority as Mr. Charles Brownlee pronounces to be a perfect masterpiece of easy idiomatic writing. His services as one of the Board of Revisers of the translation of the Bible into Kaffir have been invaluable, and will now be seriously missed. In general conversation and discussion on ordinary topics he was one of the most intelligent and best informed men we ever knew; and many an hour have we spent with him, in which one utterly forgot his nationality ar his colour.”–The Cape Argus.
” The Kaffir youth who six years before left the shores of South Africa, little removed above his Christianised countrymen, having just as much knowledge as fitted him with efficiency to conduct a station school, and just as much power over the English language as enabled him to be a tolerable interpreter to the preacher yet ignorant of the Kaffir language, now returns to his native shores and people, thoroughly educated; an ordained minister of the Gospel, an accredited missionary of the Cross, and with a knowledge of and mastery over the English language which has often surprised those best capable of judging. A wonderful transformation has been wrought during these few years. In him there comes a new power into the Colony and Kaffirland, if the Colony and Kaffirland only recognise and receive it. The mental grasp and the moral capability of the Kaffir race are demonstrated in him. Men cannot despise the Kaffir race as they contemplate him. Without race-pattern or precedent, the first of his people, often strangely alone, surrounded and pressed upon by peculiar difficulties, he has manfully and successfully wrought his way up to the comparatively high level of educated English Christian life-the conquered has become the conqueror.”

” And how was the Rev. Tiyo Soga received when he returned to his native shores and people? Perhaps it was to be expected that in the Colony there should be manifested a great amount of caution and reserve, and that not a little suspicion should be entertained regarding him. Perhaps, too, it was only natural that, with some, special enmity should be aroused, and words of strong indignation used. We can excuse those men and women now who said we had made him specially to order in Scotland, and that he was the finest specimen ever imported of home educational cramming. This was a new thing under the South African sun. The thieving Kaffir, the marauding Kaffir, the irreclaimable Kaffir, a University-educated missionary of the Cross. This was too good to be true. At least men would wait and see. It was a mere experiment, and time alone could tell how it would succeed. Few went to the length of foretelling the time, near at hand, when he would have reverted to the red clay and blanket and all the heathen ways of his people.
” But while there was much of this’ reserve and caution everywhere, and not a little such doubt and suspicion, he was received by all missionaries and by all ministers of the Gospel-with one or two painful exceptions-with open arms and with most joyous hearts. From one end of the Eastern Province to the other there were only a few so-called professing Christians-miserable specimens surely of the disciples of the Nazarene-who did what they could, by indignant word and threat, to keep him out of the pulpits of the churches to which they belonged, and who absented themselves from divine service, because, despite them, he should conduct it.

” To the fine sensitive disposition of Tiyo Soga, to his generous manly nature, all such manifestations were very galling, and very difficult to bear. He had strength of mind and he had charity and forebearance enough to rise above them, and wisdom to make of them new incentives to his life-work.”
The colonists, generally, soon came to know him. He was watched with lynx-eyes everywhere on the frontier. Whenever lie preached or lectured, or addressed, such criticising crowds flocked to hear him as was the experience of no other South African missionary of his day. Nobly he stood this public test. He came out of the fire, in public estimation, purer and stronger than ever before.”-The Journal.