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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: maddys52 on Sunday 05 February 17 11:04 GMT (UK)
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I'm sure there is a simple answer that I just can't see at the moment.
I can see a number of results for a search on the National Archives of South Africa website that I'm interested in from the 1800s, but can't work out to access the actual files. Do I have to contact the NASA directly, or go through a freelance researcher (which seems a bit annoying as I know which records I want)? Or are the records available online anywhere? Does anyone have any experience with contacting them - are they helpful?
Any advice would be appreciated. I'm a novice when it comes to South African research!
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Hi maddy
If it is an estate file some are indexed on Family Search. If you copy and paste the result perhaps it will help to see what sort of file it is and how to access it.
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Thanks 3sd,
I'm trying to find out about Raphael JOSEPH and his son Joshua Raphael JOSEPH who was apparently born in Cape Town around 1848. Here is one of the files I'm interested in:
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE CSC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME _NO 2/6/1/42
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 108
PART 1
DESCRIPTION MOTION. WYNBERG RAILWAY CO. VERSUS RAPHAEL JOSHUA JOSEPH, FATHER AND NATURAL GUARDIAN OF HIS MINOR SON JOSHUA RAPHAEL JOSEPH. AWARD.
STARTING 18630000
ENDING 18630000
There are a couple of others that look like they involve court cases as well, and maybe a death notice (although he died in Australia, and I have the death notice from here, so not sure that it would be any different).
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That reference is CSC is the code for the Registrar of the Supreme Court (now our High Court). Those are not online and it is more likely to be some sort of civil case between the Railway Co and Joseph probably a dispute over monies owed for something, they usually are.
The Cape Town repository has apparently banned mechanical copying of records but apparently offer a copying service themselves. I would imagine the records can still be photographed but that would entail someone visiting the archives.
If he had family here a death may still have been filed here. I have seen a number of those doing transcriptions where the person died overseas but a Death Notice is still on record here.
I see a will was filed so there must have been a reason for that. There are also quite a few litigation files for them, did they own a store or do trade of some sort?
Contact details for Cape Town
archives@pgwc.gov.za for general enquiries
records@pgwc.gov.za for records management enquiries.
It may be easier to post a request on the boards for someone visiting the archives to perhaps take photos for you.
Here is the link for the Death. It's not the DN but his Death Certificate. Must have had to be filed because there is a will on file. It's quite faded but can be read.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQF-D9DF-Z?mode=g&i=1177&cat=331262
Hope this helps somewhat.
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Hi
The Cape Archives generally does not allow photographing of any documents - you can apply but they tend to want you to fill out form confirming the documents you want to photograph and the purpose, and where you are publishing them. You can request copies - they will photocopy them at R1/page maximum of 20 pages per order
Regards
Gillian
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Thanks for that info, didn't know that they'd stopped photographing as well, just that they provided their own copy service because they had disallowed hard copying of the docs. :)
They do send a form to fill in, but I have done it and they sent a quote back telling me how much the file would be, so not so bad. ;)
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Thank you both 3sd and gmauchan. I had read on their web page that they didn't allow photographing anymore, which is why I started going round in circles wondering how to get access to their records. ;D But if they can provide copies I might try to contact them, getting a quote beforehand is always helpful.
I have a copy of Raphael's will and the NSW probate package (which Rosball very kindly photographed for me at our Archives). Thank you 3sd for the link to the death certtificate, not sure how I missed that on family search! I know the basics of his life: birth, marriage and death, but am trying to flesh it out a bit and saw these files and thought they sounded interesting, particularly the one above as it mentions his son as well. I don't know what he did in Cape Town - I have a report from a British newspaper in 1863 describes him as an "extensive merchant", and in Australia he seems to be an accountant or book keeper, although in his will he mentions his "operating instruments" which sounds intriguing. (His son was a doctor trained in London and immigrated to Australia). I wonder why the will was filed in South Africa, maybe he still had assets or debts there?
Anyway, thank you both once again!
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That death cert is not indexed on Family Search, I tracked it down from the Estate Notice on Naairs and then to the unindexed files on Family Search. It is possible that there were still debts owed or due to the estate.
If he was some sort of a trader it would explain the other civil actions that are on Naairs. I do notice that he seems to be the person being sued in quite a few of them. Perhaps why he chose to leave? I had a great uncle who also did a similar thing
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Oh that's clever - I had forgotten all about the unindexed records on family search. ;)
You're probably right, quite a few legal cases then moving to the other side of the world certainly implies something going on!
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Looking for information regarding Geoffrey Rimington and his wife.
DEPOT KAB
CSC
LEER
2/1/1/2394
01
1733
1
ILLIQUID CASES. RESTITUTION OF CONJUGAL RIGHTS. JEANNIE HAMILTON
RIMINGTON (BORN OSBORN) VERSUS GEOFFREY RIMINGTON.
19630000
19630000
Thank you in advance
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That record will not be on-line - you would need to apply to the Cape Town Archives for a copy - they charge R1/page
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Thanks I thought they may charge. Unfortunately I'm in the UK so not able to go to the archives
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At R16 to the Pound it is a very small cost!
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Do you know if I can request it by email or online?
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Here are the contact details from the website - try the reading room
Cape Town Archives Repository
Postal address: Private Bag X9025, CAPE TOWN 8000
Street address: 72 Roeland Street, CAPE TOWN
Tel: (021) 466 8100. Fax: (021) 465 2960.
Email: Archives@pgwc.gov.za (for General Correspondence)
Records@pgwc.gov.za (for Records Management enquiries)
Readroom@pgwc.gov.za (Reading Room Enquiries)
Outreach@pgwc.gov.za (Outreach Activities)
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Thank you for the information
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Hello,
I have a great-uncle who passed away in East London in Oct 1953. At least I hope it's him. The estate file on record lists John Hassold Kelley and my guy is John Hassock Kelly but close enough for now. FamilySearch has a massive file of South Africa Cape Province Probate Records 1834-1989 with links to the microfilmed records.
How do I accelerate a search for JHKelley/Kelly without opening every link? I would rather not pay KAB for photographing the estate file if it's already accessible--somehow--through FamilySearch.
Here are the details from NAAIRS:
DEPOT KAB = Cape Town Archives Repository
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/21730
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 6014/53
PART 1
DESCRIPTION KELLEY, JOHN HASSOLD. ESTATE PAPERS.
REMARKS ALSO KNOWN AS JOHN HASSOLD KELLY
Many thanks for any advice on how to search.
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Hi ..
Go to the collection South Africa, Western Cape Estate Files 1953 and look for the film that may cover what you are looking for. Documents are filed in order of file number. Your estate should be in this film ESTATES MOOC-, 6/9/21730 CAPE TOWN 6011-6015, 1953 https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/100988573?cat=2212749
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Thank you so much for your quick response! I checked Western Cape file as suggested but no joy. (I thought East London was in Eastern Cape...) Anyway I did find him indexed only in the Cape Province Probate records. Will keep searching. And yes, I think I'll end up paying for the real deal copy from the repository. Thanks again. much appreciated.
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Ah, but then I went back and followed your link --amazing-- there he was. Oh frabjous day!