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Occupation Interests / Missionaries in Africa from England
« on: Wednesday 01 October 08 04:09 BST (UK) »
I have a specific question about an ancestor, but thought I would leave this website open in case other ppl are looking for missionaries who emmigrated from England to Africa.
This relates to my ancestor MARGRAY, William, originally from Topsham, Devon.
He married a UNKNOWN Millicent (Milley) and they had two children William in 1807 and Martha Millycent in 1809 (both in Topsham, Devon).
Martha also used MARGRIE as her maiden name, so the spelling could be like that. She married an Anglican reverend, so we are guessing they were Anglican missionaries.
We believe the family left for Africa soon after Martha's birth, without William Jnr. (guessing he died young, we have no death record).
The story goes:
"Martha's father was a missionary in Aftrica where he and his family were massacred by the natives.
A neighbour, Mr Goldsmid, realised that one of the family was unaccounted for and after a search found the little girl, Martha, who had run off into the bush to escape.
He took her to his home where she lived for some time, until it was decided that she should be with her relatives in England.
When she grew up, Martha was so grateful to the old Jewish man, that she gave her daughter the name Goldsmid in his honour."
We have no record of the emmigration to Africa, nor where they went, nor when Martha returned. In fact, we have no idea if the story is at all true, or simply a family history legend.
Any ideas?
This relates to my ancestor MARGRAY, William, originally from Topsham, Devon.
He married a UNKNOWN Millicent (Milley) and they had two children William in 1807 and Martha Millycent in 1809 (both in Topsham, Devon).
Martha also used MARGRIE as her maiden name, so the spelling could be like that. She married an Anglican reverend, so we are guessing they were Anglican missionaries.
We believe the family left for Africa soon after Martha's birth, without William Jnr. (guessing he died young, we have no death record).
The story goes:
"Martha's father was a missionary in Aftrica where he and his family were massacred by the natives.
A neighbour, Mr Goldsmid, realised that one of the family was unaccounted for and after a search found the little girl, Martha, who had run off into the bush to escape.
He took her to his home where she lived for some time, until it was decided that she should be with her relatives in England.
When she grew up, Martha was so grateful to the old Jewish man, that she gave her daughter the name Goldsmid in his honour."
We have no record of the emmigration to Africa, nor where they went, nor when Martha returned. In fact, we have no idea if the story is at all true, or simply a family history legend.
Any ideas?