cape town archives repository

[maddys52]

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!

[3sillydogs]

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.

[maddys52]

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).

[3sillydogs]

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.

[Gillian Mauchan]

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

[3sillydogs]

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.
 

[maddys52]

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.  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!

[3sillydogs]

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

[maddys52]

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!