MANLEY – WILLIAM

Hill Street, farmer. Registered as a voter in the electoral division of Graham’s Town

(27.8.1853 p.4 c.5)

DEATH OF MR. WM, MANLEY

The Diamond Field Advertiser records the death of Mr. William Manley, formerly of Grahamstown, at the ripe age of 68 years.

The deceased was the fifth son of Thomas Manley, of an old Cheshire family, one of the British Settlers of 1820 who settled at a beautiful spot close to Grahamstown, which was afterwards known as “Manley Flats.”

Mr Manley had seen much active service. During the Kafir war in the Transkei he performed yeoman service against the raids of the Kafir hordes on the settlers’ homesteads. At one time he occupied the position of Commandant of the Burghers of the East London Division. When Sir Harry Smith proceeded from the Eastern Province to the Free State to punish the recalcitrant Boers, the late Mr Manley accompanied him and was present at the action commemorated in Colonial history as “Boomplaats”.

On things quieting down, he set himself to farming pursuits till the Diamond Fields opened up, and like many other Eastern Province men, proceeded to the Vaal River Diggings, where he met with varying success. On the Dry Diggings being discovered he became one of the first claimholders in the New Rush Mine. For the last 11 years he had been in the employ of the De Beers Consolidated Mines Company, by whom he was held in high esteem. He was so unassuming in his manners that he was beloved by all.