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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: Deb$ on Wednesday 04 November 20 17:02 GMT (UK)

Title: Cradock Kloof Convict Station
Post by: Deb$ on Wednesday 04 November 20 17:02 GMT (UK)

Hi everyone:

I'm new here! Looking for any information on Cradock Kloof Convict Station in South Africa, in particular, the constables who were employed there. Do you know if they were actually military personnel or were they hired from the citizenry to be constables? Trying to track down an elusive relative.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: Cradock Kloof Convict Station
Post by: pampoen on Thursday 12 November 20 10:43 GMT (UK)

Cradock is a place in the Cape Province. Kloof station is just outside Durban in Natal. Check on Google Maps.

Title: Re: Cradock Kloof Convict Station
Post by: ShaunJ on Thursday 12 November 20 11:01 GMT (UK)

It's the Cradock's Kloof pass north of George in the Western Cape. Road building there was carried about by convict labour.

Have you searched for your relative's name on NAAIRS?

Title: Re: Cradock Kloof Convict Station
Post by: Deb$ on Saturday 14 November 20 15:11 GMT (UK)

Yes, I have, but no luck. That may be due to the number of ways that his name has been spelled though - sometimes McBain, McBean, McBane, MacBean. I'm going to have another look. I did find some interesting old books and reports on Archive.org, though none specifically related to this relative.

I'm thinking that the men they hired as constables may have been former military, but I've looked through the military records on ancestry and findmypast and I haven't been able to find anything yet. My Great Uncle left a brief family tree (though not completely accurate - some dates and spellings are incorrect) where he says he believes he was from Eatonborough Scotland.

Thanks for the tip,

Title: Re: Cradock Kloof Convict Station
Post by: vangasser on Monday 16 November 20 14:35 GMT (UK)

Hello, I remember there was a Mr. Bain in the South African Police Band, in Pretoria. He was one of the percussionist team. Three beats Mr. Bain. It might just be possible that the Mac or Mc ma have been left out of the surname. Just a thought. Thank you, Ed.

Title: Re: Cradock Kloof Convict Station
Post by: Rena on Monday 16 November 20 16:11 GMT (UK)

With reference to your mentioning "military".

I was wondering whether you knew of the Cape Colony volunteer units.

http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol014jh.html

Title: Re: Cradock Kloof Convict Station
Post by: Deb$ on Tuesday 17 November 20 21:57 GMT (UK)

Thanks so much, I'll have a look there.

Title: Re: Cradock Kloof Convict Station
Post by: Skoosh on Wednesday 18 November 20 09:16 GMT (UK)

Edinburgh?

Skoosh.

Title: Re: Cradock Kloof Convict Station
Post by: Deb$ on Wednesday 18 November 20 15:08 GMT (UK)

First of all  thank you Ed! I missed your comment. I'll have a look at the Bains as well.


Skoosh, I questioned the Eatonborough myself, but I'll give Edinburgh a try - it may very well be the answer. I couldn't find many references to an Eatonborough in Scotland, I thought perhaps it might be a reference to Eaton. My great uncle was elderly when he wrote is memoir. He was fairly close, but not totally accurate. Names and dates were slightly off.

Thanks to everyone here for taking the time to help.