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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: gordon01 on Tuesday 30 July 13 03:27 BST (UK)
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hello I am new to this and have been investigating my wife's family tree. Her great grandmother was Kathleen Montague Meyler, who arrived from taunton, arrived in Natal (i heard from family folklore to visit her brother, one a missionary who went on to India and another in Jo'burg - hugh). Kathleen never left South Africa and my wife who knew her, as she lived to 102, was born in George, RSA). So very keen to know what others know.
Regards
Gordon
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Welcome to RootsChat! ;D
You should really start a new thread with your query, and you didn't give any dates, but I reckon this might be your family?
1901 census: Class: RG12; Piece: 1876; Folio: 57; Page: 17
Lowlands, Heaver? Hill, Wilton, Taunton, Somerset
Meyler, Thomas Head M 60 Solicitor b Gloucester St Michaels, Gloucestershire
Meyler, Mary Wife F 51 b Gloucester St Aldates
Meyler, Ada M Daughter F 25 b Taunton, Somerset
Meyler, Gertrude Daughter F 22 b Pitminster, Somerset
Meyler, Evelyn M Daughter F 18 b Pitminster
Meyler, Hugh M Son M 15 Scholar b Pitminster
Meyler, Edward M Son M 14 Scholar b Pitminster
Meyler, Kathleen G M Daughter F 8 Scholar b Taunton
+ 3 servants
In 1901 she is at an Independent College: Class: RG13; Piece: 708; Folio: 45; Page: 26
South Bank, Sutton-at-Hone, Kent
Meyler, Kathleen G M Boarder F 18 Horticultural Student b Taunton, Somerset
Departed 23rd July 1907, SS Iranda, London to Port Natal
First Class Passenger, Kathleen G M Meyler, 24
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Edward Mowbray Meyler would have been the missionary.
From Cambridge University Alumni:
Born 26th November 1876
Admitted to Selwyn College 1st October 1895
BA 1898
Ordained Deacon (Hereford) 1900
Priest 1901
Curate of Ross, Herefordshire 1900-1903
Curate of Doornfontein, Transvaal, 1903-5.
P-in-C. (Priest in Charge?) of Yeoville, Transvaal, 1905-8.
Chaplain at Shahjahanpur, 1908-9;
Chaplain, Jhansi, Fyzabad and Dehra Dun, 1909;
Cawnpore, 1909-10;
Bareilly, 1910;
Mussoorie, Landour, Roorkee, Naini Tal, Allahabad, Lucknow, 1911-16.
Mussoorie, Allahabad, and Landour, 1916-23;
Agra, 1926-7.
Canon of Lucknow, 1922-8.
Vicar of Snitterfield with Bearley, Warws., 1929-33.
Vicar of Wormleighton, 1928-9 and 1933-6.
Chaplain of San Remo, 1936-44.
Licence to officiate, diocese of Peterborough, 1941-45.
Chaplain at Monte Carlo and San Remo, 1946-8.
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Yes that is correct, that is him. I am also trying to find out more about Kathleen. According to the 1901 census it had her listed as a horticultural student. I wonder if she had to be a member of the Royal Horticultural Society. I see Hugh's interests are listed as gardening. Any idea how I can find this out or where Kathleen went once she arrived in South Africa?
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Then you will need South African records - something I know nothing about!
You should start a new thread on the South Africa board.
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Hugh was in the aero club, so there is a photo of him in 1916
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Hello
This doesn't really add anything to your search. However, I live in Taunton and pass the address in the 1901 census regularly. I think it should be Lowlands, Haines Hill, unless it was something completely different in 1901.
This is a leaflet about a Taunton Heritage Trail:
http://somersetroutes.co.uk/userfiles/downloads/25/Taunton%20Town%20Heritage%20Trail.pdf
if you go to page 16 you can see a picture of Lowlands.
Regards
Suds
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Dear all,
This is very interesting. Thanks very much, taking it back a bit further, I found that William Meyler (1755-1821) is my wife's great (x4) grandfather. I read the Spenserian article with fascination. Right towards the end however it says,"Mr. Meyler was twice married his second wife has survived him, who, with two sons, and two daughters, derive every alleviation of their grief from the universal respect which is paid to his memory."
I wasn't aware of these marriages. I know he married Alice Hyatt. But I don't have any reference to the first wife (?). Reason I ask is that a William Meyler was deported to New South Wales, being convicted in Somerset Assizes. He was from Bristol:
William Meyler, one of 156 convicts transported on the Neptune, 18.03.1820. Convicted at Somerset Assizes for a term of 7 years on 27.03.1819. Arrived in Sydney, NSW 18.11.1820.
MEYLER, William. Per "Neptune", 1820
1823 Jun 21-1825 Jul 30 - Horseman. On lists of men belonging to the Government Stock Establishment at Bathurst (Reel 6031; 4/7029A pp.22-282)
1823 Jul 24 Sent to Wellington Valley with stock; appears as James (Reel 6031; 4/7029A pp.31-2)
1823 Oct 25 Listed in an extract from the Mess Book of persons victualled in the Stock Department, Bathurst, from 28 Jun to 3 Oct 1823 (Reel 6017; 4/5783 p.460)
1823 Dec 29 On list furnished by John Maxwell of men victualled in the Stock Establishment, Bathurst, between 28 Jun and 3 Oct 1823 (Reel 6017; 4/5783 p.496.
I know he got his certificate of freedom but don't know if he is related to Wlliam Meyler the poet, or someone unrelated, though the Meylers were a small family.
Be keen to know if anyone knows more or if this is just coincidence.
Regards
Gordon
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I have found the following estate file for Hugh M Meyler who was a solicitor in Utrecht Natal. Should you wish to order a copy of the file I suggest you do it through eggsa.org rather than the archives. Still searching for Kathleen!
DEPOT SAB
SOURCE CEN
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 36
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE EE2217
PART 1
DESCRIPTION HUGH M MEYLER, UTRECHT, NATAL.
STARTING 1905
ENDING 1905
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Thank you very much for this. The picture is a lot clearer. I couldn't find out where Hugh was in Natal. Searching the Natal marriage records however I found out that Kathleen got married in Natal and on the marriage certificate Hugh gave her away! Her other brother Edward was a vicar up in Jo'burg.
Would you have any idea how to find out what horticultural college she went to when she was in Taunton?
Many thanks
Gordon
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This is very exciting thank you. Since reviewing the threads, I have found out that prior to departing to South Africa in 1907, she was at St Catherine's Girls School, Bramley, Guildford. Then went to Swanley Horticultural College. Before departing to see her brother in Utrecht, Hugh.
There's an excellent archive at the girls school and it shows that she regularly wrote back. Last address for her was Laagersfarm, Noodsberg, Natal.
Correspondence to the school indicated she lost all her possessions in a fire in Ladysmith, then has an address listed in Greytown, the birth of her first daughter and the address on the farm.
She married Courtney John Dickens. Searches have not come up with anything. Where to next?
Gordon
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Here is the marriage certificate of Kathleen and Courtney https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997F-C8MB?i=2919&cc=2063749
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Here Courtney applies to shoot buck on his farm MAGISTRATE, NEW HANOVER. CJ DICKENS OF LAAGER FARM, NOODSBERG, APPLIES FOR A PERMIT TO SHOOT TWO REEDBUCK ON THE FARM LAAGER FARM. Would this be her? DEPOT NAB SOURCE MSCE TYPE LEER SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 703/1962 PART 1 DESCRIPTION DICKENS, KATHLEEN MAETTE. BORN IN CAPE TOWN. PRSP (1) WILLIAM MONTAGUE DICKENS. ESTATE NO. 702/1962. PRSP (2) PETER HAROLD SAUNDERS. (NO TRACE). DECEASED ESTATE. STARTING 19620000 ENDING 19640000.
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From the Natal Witness OBITUARY
MISS IRIS KUNZ
It is with deep regret we announce the death of Iris Doreen KUNZ, only child of Jack and Dora KUNZ, of Glenside, Noodsberg, who died at Summerville Hotel, December 2nd. She was a bright and lovable child, and much sympathy has been expressed by numerous friends by wire and letters. Many lovely wreaths were sent, especially one of Iris' emblem of her name. Among the senders were:- Mother and Daddy, Mrs DEMPSEY, Mr and Mrs J.D. DEMPSEY, Boarders of Summerville Hotel, Mrs DICKENS, Mr and Mrs CJ DICKENS, Misses DICKENS, Mr and Mrs DUFF and REDVERS, Rev. PELLISSER, Mr and Mrs STARKEY, Mrs HOOPER, Mr and Mrs BEACHEY, Mrs BEWS and Winnie, Nurse WADSWORTH, and Johanna.
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Thank you pampoen for the marriage certificate. Yes I have that, as well as the certificate for her daughter Barbara. Interesting on the former's marriage certificate that one of the witnesses was her brother Hugh Meyler.
Thanks for the application to shoot the buck and the death notice. That is indeed Kathleen's husband, Courtney.
Any idea where I can find out where Courtney Dickens came from in RSA?
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I found this on Facebook. Perhaps if you contact her she may be able to help. https://www.facebook.com/courtney.b.dickens
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He could be a relative of one of these http://search.findmypast.com.au/results/world-records/passenger-lists-leaving-uk-1890-1960?lastname=dickens&destinationcountry=south%20africa
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Here is a list of Dickens who died in South Africa. To view the records one needs a subscription. https://www.identitynumber.org/death-notices-results.php?surname=DICKENS
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Thank you for your investigations. The lady on Facebook is unconnected to the Dickens family that I am investigating. I have managed to uncover that Courtney John Dickens was born in Doornkop, Natal in the late 1880s.
So I wonder if there is a birth certificate for him? Or when his family arrived from the UK?
Kathleen had 5 children (one was Barbara, and one was William Montague Dickens that you mention below). Not sure what the order of the children was. Interestingly it was this William and his wife who were lost when a plane crashed in southern Africa (not the Helderberg) and they have a memorial in the church at Mooi River.
This was from her boarding school alumni book:
Married – 7th June, 1911 in Noodsberg
1913 VolumeNo: 3 IssueNo: 11
DICKENS.—On September 15th, at Greytown, Natal, S. Africa, the wife of W. Courtney Dickens (kathleen meyler), of a daughter—Doreen.
1911 VolumeNo: 3 IssueNo: 7
Mrs. Courtenay-Dickens (kathleen meyler), Laager Farm, Noodsberg, Natal, S. Africa