RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: rance on Tuesday 06 March 07 12:42 GMT (UK)
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I'm trying to trace a JOHN ALFRED CASWELL who emigrated to South Africa shortly after WW1.
The only information I have is as follows:
Born 1889 Wales.
Married Mary Adelaide Wilson (possibly in Port Elizabeth).
Spent the rest of his life in Pietermaritzburg.
Worked for the South African Railways.
Died approx. 1937
Was father to 13 children.
Any help of where to start very much appreciated.
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Hallo,
have looked at both the 1891 and 1901 Wales Census and found:
1891 Census:
Isaac, b. 1842 Gloucestershire
Mary, b. 1843 Salford, Somerset
John, b. 1881 Ebbw Vale,
Alfred, b. 1890 Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire
Isaac, b. 1873 Ebbw Vale
Sarah Ann, b. 1877 Ebbw Vale
but no John Alfred.
For 1901 Census
Mary, b. 1842
Alfred b. 1890
John, b. 1881
Isaac is now married to:
Sophia, b. 1876
Sarah A b. 1898
Hope this is of some help.
Vivien
Isaac b. 1900
Bertie b. 1896
Ada M, 1mth
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Many thanks for such a quick reply Vivian. I have a copy of the birth cert for Alfred Caswell b.1890 (and several others!) but I cannot be sure if I have the right person. Maybe I'll get a response from someone in South Africa - knowing that he had 13 children there must be some descendants around I would hope.
Anyway I'll keep digging.
Thanks again
Kim
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Hi Kim
know the feeling about not being sure of have the right one. But it is fun to search and "meet" the Rootchatters who are all very helpful
Good luck with your search.
Vivien
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Found the following on NAAIRS - I think Joan should read John . The death notices are from the Pietermaritzburg Archives
DEPOT NAB SOURCE MSCE TYPE LEER VOLUME_NO 0 SYSTEM 01 REFERENCE 25916/1937 PART 1 DESCRIPTION CASWELL, JOAN ALFRED. (S/S MARY ADELADE). STARTING 1937 ENDING 1937
DEPOT NAB SOURCE 1/PMB TYPE LEER VOLUME_NO 3/1/2/19 SYSTEM 04 REFERENCE 26/1/2/701 PART 1 DESCRIPTION MAGISTRATE, PIETERMARITZBURG: WELFARE SOCIETY. CHILDREN OF MARY ADELAIDE CASWELL. STARTING 00000000 ENDING 00000000 REMARKS NO CORRESPONDENCE FILED. SEE FILE 33/2/6/15.
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Many thanks for the info from NAAIRS site. At least I can now confirm when he died.
The year of John Alfred's birth was taken from my father-in-law's (who died last month) bith cert & it simply states place as Wales. My husband's family emigrated back to the UK in the 1950's so we don't have any contacts in South Africa.
Anyhow that's not your problem!
Many thanks
Kim
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Hi Rance,
I also checked NAAIRS for you and found the same information as Izabel. Why don't you try the White Pages - South Africa. Here's the link. Maybe if you can track down any Caswell names, just write to them - no harm in doing that. Also try that South African link I gave you earlier in PM.
http://196.15.219.249/
CP
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Rance,
Here's another link - South African Message Board at:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.africa.southafrica.general/mb.ashx
The trick is to leave messages everywhere and believe it or not - you do get some responses.
If I find anything else I will let you know.
Good luck
CP
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Just found 2 more links for you:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/southafrica/
http://www.kuijsten.de/navigator/southafrica/index.html
CP
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Hi Cornishpasty
Sorry I've been away for a while so no chance to reply to you. Many thanks for all the suggestions - I'll give them a go as soon as I can - fingers crossed I may get lucky!
Cheers
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No worries Rance, just let me know if I can help you in any way. Good luck.
If I come across anything else on the NAAIRS site or the SA BRITISH Immigration site, I will let you know. Did I give you the linke for the Cape Town site??
Hugs
CP
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Hi CP
Don't think you gave me the Cape Town link - as yet haven't had chance to look properly but any help very much appreciated.
Thanks R
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Hi Rance,
Here's the link:
mailto:SOUTH-AFRICA-CAPE-TOWN@rootsweb.com
Good luck.
Hugs
CP
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Another link to check.
http://home.global.co.za/~mercon/index.htm
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Hi Kim.
My name is Johnathan Wepener, my grandmother Winafred Margret Wepener is the last living daughter of John Alfred Caswell and Mary Adelaide Wilson. She currently lives in potchefstroom South Africa.
I was busy with a visa aplication where I needed details of my grandparents and their parents, that's when I decided to google my great grandparents one of which was John Alfred Caswell and came across your inquiry.
My family and I are very excited to have found you. We would love to hear from you.
I hope to hear from you soon.
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Hi Jonathon, lovely to hear from you. I need to check a few details but I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Regards, Kim
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Here is the link for John Alfred Caswell's death notice
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS7R-L9K4-B?i=1306&cat=229462