Tracing Paternal Great Grandfather, Surname Mason

[villy]

Hello everyone. New here, so please forgive any mistakes

Looking into my family tree, especially details of my Paternal Great Grandfather, surnamed Mason, who I gather might have come out from the UK in 1857 or so? And who might have settled first in the eastern cape before moving to farm in Heilbron OFS (at the time, now Free State).

I surmise he moved to Heilbron to farm coz my grandfather (mentioned below) was born there in Heilbron – I found a pic of my grandfather’s gravestone online, with DOB and place.

My grandfather (William Thomas Mason, born in 1880) carried on farming at the Sunnyside farm in Heilbron, and my dad was born there, so I wondered if anyone had any knowledge of this or where to steer me. I am trying to locate relatives too, for any info they may have, but for now this is all the info at my disposal.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[GrannyM]

Hello, welcome to rootschat

Am I right in saying Heilbron is in South Africa? If so I 'm wondering if asking for help on the South Africa board might be worthwhile.

You need to find your great grandfathers full name first.The marriage certificates of marriages that take place in England usually give the names of the father of the bride and groom.Do you know when , where and to whom your grandfather married and if so whether marriage certificates are issued in South Africa?

[GrannyM]

South Africa board is here :
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/south-africa/

[villy]

Hi Granny, yes, Heilbron S. Africa

I will re-post on the SA board.

That's the thing, I don't know the name of the PGG, but can I'm sure sleuth it out eventually...

Tks again

[GrannyM]

Have you tried searching on www.familysearch.org

They have a few South African records, you may spot something/names you recognise.

[Richard Knott]

Welcome to Rootschat.

There is someone on Ancestry tracing this tree. Your grandfather is named, but the tree is private, so you would need to send them a message on Ancestry. Your grandfather's 1908 marriage certificate is online (see link) but doesn't name either father.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-23579-5831-36?cc=1468076&wc=SFVW-GPP:44975801,52006601,52123301,52127201

If you don't have membership I could send them a link to this thread.

Richard

[villy]

Hi Granny, tks - I searched a lot then figured out, why don't I search under my grandfather's name, since I know it and his DOB? In other searches they seem to list the parents by default. Unfortunately nothing...

Hi rj - tks - that's him!! Grandmother Catherine Hamilton Tanner. He is listed as being 28 - spot on, he was born 1880. Yes, pse send those who are tracing this tree a link to this thread, if I can get a full name of the PGG then that will surely make it a lot easier. Tks all