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Messages - patrickahill

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1
South Africa / John Hill and family
« on: Friday 18 October 13 15:58 BST (UK)  »
Hello
I'm looking for any record of  my family  named Hill.
who arrived in South Africa in 1898 from England having  departed London 16th Dec 1897.
The father was John Hill and his partner Matilla (or Matilda) Townsend.
It is believed he ran away from England with Miss Townsend and adopted the name of Hill(mothers's maiden name who were from Baldock Hertfordshire), his born name being Michael Saunderson born in Thames Ditton, UK
They were married in Vereeninging  by magistrate  Ewan Warde Bowen I would think in 1898.
Any suggestions as to how I can get a marriage certificate? I tried with home affairs a few years ago and their search petered out- Are their people specific personnel or companies who have access to records in Pretoria as a business perhaps?
at the time of departure their children were:
Harold Claude Hill aged 10
Hubert Hill aged 6
Reginald Hill aged 5
Madeline Hill aged 4
Margaret Hill aged 2

I ve heard that John Hill was a churchwarden in some anglican church and the children were in a choir.
Indeed my grandfather Harold Claude was a very accomplished organist and choirmaster.
Ive also heard that the father John Hill had a shoe business with various outlets called the
"Commonwealth Shoe Co Ltd"

I would believe my grandfather Harold Claude Hill must have finished his schooling in South Africa probably Johannesburg and would value any information on this.
Sometime about 1911 to 1913 the family migrated to Kaitaia New Zealand where they farmed.
They retired to Auckland where he died.

However Harold must have returned or stayed here and married my grandmother Dorothy Mary Ogilvie Harvey( daughter of John wardell Nicholson Harvey and Constance Ogilvie) in Grahamstown on 31 March 1913 . John W N Harvey farmed on Rietfontein between Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort had two brothers William and Archibald.
It would also be of interest to know of this side of the family too.

Patrick
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2
Hampshire & Isle of Wight / Re: Saunderson
« on: Friday 18 October 13 14:40 BST (UK)  »
Hello again Daisypetal  and Tom
Just been onto the family history again and referring to the departure details you posted for Mr J Hill and family on 16 Dec 1897.
Do you have more details, ships name, passenger lists etc or can you tell me where you sourced the information please.
It would seem from the age of Mr J Hill that he could be lying again about age as I believe he was born in Thames Ditton in 1852.
I guess that it was not an official name change- would there be record of that? and that maybe she was a common law wife because according to his will of which i have a copy from New Zealand he was married in South Africa presumably on arrival in about 1898!
His son Harold Claude, my paternal grandfather(b 1877) therefore about would have presumably done hid early schooling in London- would there be any records of that?
And then ,the mystery to me is Michael's wife Matilda (nee Townsend) who according to census was born in Liverpool presumably about 1859, but who according to her will was from Cambridge and went by name of Matilla Hill.
Family rumour has it that she eloped with Michael but have  no evidence of that.
I would like to find out more about this woman.
thanks
Patrick

3
Hampshire & Isle of Wight / Re: Saunderson
« on: Saturday 30 April 11 17:04 BST (UK)  »
Thanks Daisy,
All very interesting.Makes sense as one of his daughters was margaret.
regards

4
Hampshire & Isle of Wight / Re: Saunderson
« on: Monday 25 April 11 21:37 BST (UK)  »
Ok thanks Tom for that bit of advice.I am new at this forum.
Your research ties in with a little that I have done.
I am the grandson of the Harold Saunderson(Hill) that DaisyPetal wrote about on sunday 4th july in this forum.
It has been a mystery to our family as to why there was a name change-maybe because he ran away from his wife Laura and married Matilla in South Africa.
And why to the name John Hill
I would be interested in tracing Saundersons who might be related as i  obviously dont have real Hill ancestors
I have records of his will anyway  in which he says he(M S) changed his name to John Hill for "business reasons"(fishy indeed) but am interested to find out more.
On what basis then,do you undertake your research on these things?
regards
Patrick

5
Hampshire & Isle of Wight / Re: Saunderson
« on: Monday 25 April 11 21:01 BST (UK)  »
Hello whim and tom Piper,

Re the Michael Saunderson(John Hill) story.
I am a descendent of his and am very interested to chat about what I know and what your connections are .
Patrick Hill.
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6
Hampshire & Isle of Wight / Michael Saunderson
« on: Monday 25 April 11 19:41 BST (UK)  »
I recently found this page on internet:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=465466.0

which is a discussion between whim and Tom Piper around 01 July presumably 2010 about Michael Saunderson.I have information on this person and would like to chat with these people about him but am uncertain how to get into or reactivate this forum.
Would be interested to chat to these people.
Thanking you
Patrick Hill

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