A letter in Africaans (I think).

[Paul Caswell]

Hi again all,

This is the only other item written in what looks like Africaans in the legal saga surrounding my great grandfather's death in Durban, Natal in 1898.

Anyone fancy translating it?

Hi-res images at:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/03yk/

http://www.rootschat.com/links/03yl/

[meles]

1st Page:


"Krugerdorp 12 August 1899
[name not clear]
Veldkornet
[address not clear]

Dear Sir

Estate J Caswell

Herewith please find the death notice and inventory in connection with the estate including doctor's certificate of Mr Caswell

He was long without services relating to his ill health and has no property except certain interest and claims in name of other people. Certain friends [without] [illegible] and was [ill. of [ill.] costs to one sanatorium at Durban where he later died. The amount owing was not enough together with the cost to cover the overdue account. And therefore the undertaker reduced his bill. 

He has therefore nothing in his estate because while [ill] and his underage child was found in England and his son..."

meles

[meles]

2nd page

"... is therefore hampered and also has nothing from the esate.

It appears therefore that the certain 14 claims in which he had an interest had a difficult saleability [ill.] The death certificate can be made up later signed by his son.

Would these documents after completion to the Master of the Court so that an [edict] can be placed.

[ill.]

signature"

OH is struggling with old Afrikaans!

meles

[Paul Caswell]

Thats excellent meles! And so quick! Thank you.

On the "...[without] [illegible] and was [ill. of [ill.]...".

The story behind this is that a few weeks before he died Tyndall (a Solicitor) clubbed together with some friends to send him to Durban for his health. Unfortunately he died there. The 'for his health' bill shows a payment amount that is short of the bill total.

On the "... estate because while [ill] and his underage child ".

Could 'wife' fit? Or perhaps 'estranged wife'? He did leave an estranged wife and an 11 year old son (my grandfather) back in England at the time.

Paul

[AlexanderBG]

On the "... estate because while [ill] and his underage child ".

I think the [ill] word is weduwe (widow)

[Paul Caswell]

That would fit perfectly AlexanderBG. Thank you.

Paul

[Paul Caswell]

Here's a link to the 'hospital' bill (its the second of the two on the page):

http://www.rootschat.com/links/03yn/

I just love this one! One dog walk, one bottle of brandy. A man after my own heart.

Paul