George Frederick Watkins Kershaw

• Updated from FamilySearch Family Tree via son Joseph Hyrum Watkins Kershaw by SmartCopy: May 26 2015, 3:17:02 UTC
• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees by SmartCopy: May 26 2015, 3:37:10 UTC

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George Fredrick Watkins Kershaw was born May 15, 1824, at Clarkwell, London, England. Son of George Kershaw, and Sally Watkins. George Kershaw is the son of George Kershaw, born in London, England, in 1800, and died in the year 1863.

Mother, Sally Watkins Kershaw, was born 1798, in Wales and died May 15, 1824; she died when George F.W. was 3 hours old.

His father had a stationary business. But George F.W. was educated in the Ministry of the Church of England. However, he was not interested in that so learned a trade and apprenticed as a free masonry, which usually starts at the age of 14. He also liked to mold patterns from clay, and many models of buildings.

In the year 1849, the English Government was sending colonizers to South Africa. George had a choice of joining the "Boer War" or sailing with a group of colonizers, who settled in Cape Colony and Port Elizabeth.

To pay his way there, George helped with the cooking. As a reward for colonizing, they would receive 100 acres of land, and could borrow 10 lbs. (5.00) from the English Government, and pay it back in three payments.

He met his future wife on board the ship, 30 days after landing, he married Eliza Byard, December 17, 1849, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

George F.W. Kershaw was a builder by trade; being able to construct a building from the first Architectural plans to the masonry and carpentry work.

On April 12, 1865, the Kershaw family sailed from Port Elizabeth on the 'Mexicana', bound for New York. Mr. Kershaw was engaged as cook.

George took sick on the 10th of May, and was very sick until June 6, when he died at 4 o'clock p.m., at the age 41.

A lot of the passengers became ill from dysentery. George was one of them, he was given some medicine, but he died. Another source suggests that he may have actually died from a drug over dose by the ships Captain as he had a heavy hand with the medicine.

He was buried at sea, in Lat. 2516 North and Long. 66.25 West. Distance from New York 980 miles.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 16 2016, 3:07:07 UTC

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George and Eliza were originally from England. They met on board a ship to South Africa, fell in love and were soon married. Their children were all born in South Africa. It was there that they became members of the LDS church and in a very few years, they desired to come to ...Zion.... George and his family sailed for America aboard the ship, Mexicano but while crossing, he fell ill and died at sea, 980 miles from New York. George was rebaptized on 4 Feb. 1895.

Left with family from South Africa on ship MEXICANA, 12 Apr 1865 to Immigrate to Utah.

SAILING NUMBER 14: MEXICANA Departure: April 12, 1865 Passengers:

George Frederick Kershaw (buried at sea)

Eliza Byard Kershaw

Anna Maria Kershaw

Joseph Hyrax Watkins Kershaw

Lydia Eliza Kershaw

Samuel Frederick Kershaw

George Jabez Kershaw

Adolphus H. Noon (assistant in charge and company clerk)

Emma Noon

Alanzo A. Noon

Catherine Slaughter (husband came later)

Martha Slaughter

Sarah Slaughter

Henry Smith (assistant in charge)

Martha Knight Smith

George Henry Smith

Anna Smith

Harriet Smith

William Smith

Martha Mary Anne Smith

Sarah Rachel Smith

Rosa Elizabeth Smith

Charlotte Amelia Smith

James Knight

John Drisial

David J. James

Thomas Kemp

Caro Kemp

John Kemp

Henry Kemp

Sophia Wakeford

William D. Newsome

Catherine Newsome

John C. Glanfield

Amy Harding Francom (husband did not come)

John Francom

Samuel Francom

Mary Anne Francom

James Francom

William Priestley

Joanna Priestley

Phena (folly) Priestley

Sopia Priestley

Alexander Feddes

Greig Sims

Elizabeth MacDermatt Sims

Jane Sims Minor

G. Atwood (missionary) - in charge

2 Kaffir servants

Total: 49 passengers

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