Henry Thomas Butler and his wife, Emily Maud (née Shaw) emigrated to South Africa with their only child, Henry James Butler (born Castleford, 6/6/1900) around 1910. Henry James married Evelyn Estelle (née Wells, born about 1903), probably in the mid-1920s, and their only child, Pauline Shirley Butler, was born in late 1927. It seems that they subsequently divorced, and Henry married a second time, to Elizabeth Katharina (née de Wet). Henry James died in December 1943, when his residential address was 35 Wadley Road, Durban, and his occupation given as “Manager”.
Although Henry James’ death notice implies that Evelyn might have re-married, giving his first wife’s name as “Evelyn Lowenthal (previously Butler, born Wells)”, subsequent ships’ passenger lists would seem to contradict this. In several ship’s lists up to 1953, Evelyn Estelle Butler of exactly the right age is recorded, giving professions as “Industrialist” and “Managing Director”.
Pauline travelled alone from Cape Town to London in 1946, when she was aged 18, giving her occupation as “Student”. Whether she was intending to attend university in the UK or not is unknown, although it seems likely that she was, as a “P. Butler, female, born 1928, travelled from Southampton to Cape in November 1951, giving her occupation as “Editing Assistant”. She subsequently married John Arthur Richard Boyd Sievwright (born 1917 in Edinburgh); they divorced in 1960.
After this, the trail goes cold. I have contacted the few Sievwrights remaining in South African telephone directories – they are all related to each other, but not to J.A.R.B. Sievwright. A “J.A. Sievwright” travelled from Southampton to Port Natal in July 1946, giving his occupation as a Salesman, so he may have been emigrating alone, hence leaving no relatives in S. Africa.
Does anyone have any links to or knowledge about a wealthy family of cloth manufacturers in Durban named Wells? Or any information on Pauline?
Many thanks
Tim
Moderator Comment: Detail modified/removed at the request of Tim
