1820 British Settler

James Edwards 24, Shoemaker, together with his wife Ann Thomas 23, and their son, were part of Sephton's party of 344 people on the Aurora.

Party originated from London.

Departure Gravesend, 15 February 1820. Arrival Simon's Bay, 1 May 1820. Final Port - Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth, 15 May 1820

Area allocated to the Party : Assegai Bush River, Salem

Child :

• Daniel Edwards infant
  

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James Edwards was an 1820 settler. He was a shoemaker by trade. He married Ann Thomas in 1817. Ann had been baptised at the parish Ivechurch in the county of Kent. Their first son died before James and Ann sailed with Sephton's party in 1820 and their second son was born on board the "Aurora" on the way to South Africa. It is not clear where in the Eastern Cape they first settled, but their fifth child was born in Somerset East in 1826 and was the first of their children to live to adulthood. James was killed in a riding accident at age 47.

James Edwards, bachelor, of the hamlet of M.E.O.T. (Mile End Old Town) married Ann Thomas, spinster of the same hamlet, on the 12 February 1817.

James Edwards (signed)
Ann Thomas (X)
Witnesses: George Field and Sarah Field (X).

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Source and acknowledgement: eGGSA library (headstone).

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GEDCOM Note

Sephton’s party of 1820 settlers. IGI. DN 4726/1840, 2611/1881.

"James Edwards age 24, Shoemaker, his wife Ann 23, and son Daniel sailed
for South Africa from England with the Shephton's Party. The party embarked at Deptford, England in the ship "Aurora". They sailed from Gravesend on 15 February 1820 and reached Algoa Bay on the 15th May 1820. They named the place they located {"Salem" meaning "Peace".