Pilgrim's Rest

A project intended to record all the early pioneers and gold prospectors connected to Pilgrim's Rest who are on our Geni tree. Several South African families have their roots in Pilgrim's Rest when the gold rush in the late 1800's attracted diggers from worldwide.

Brief History

Mining in this region of Mpumalanga dates back many centuries, when unknown miners worked quartz reefs in the area for gold. Proof of these diggings can still be found in this area.

Gold was found in the upper reaches of the Blyde River on the farm named Ponieskrantz in September 1873 by Alec “wheelbarrow” Patterson, near what was to become the centre of the Pilgrim's Rest gold mining district (Hall, 1910). He had left the Mac-Mac area to search for a place that was less congested.

Though the discovery was kept as a secret, the inevitable happened when a second prospector William Trafford also discovered gold close by.

What they had found in this beautiful valley drew optimistic gold panners and prospectors from all over the country and the World.

The early discoveries were of gold nuggets in alluvium, including the 3.6 kg Nellmapius nugget, the 3.7 kg Lilley nugget and the 6.6 kg Breda nugget (Cartwright, 1961). The alluvial diggings soon gave way to the primary sources of the gold and ore bodies or “reefs” were mined from stratiform gold-quartz-carbonate sulphide veins in dolomitic rocks of an early Proterozoic succession of rocks that came to be termed the Transvaal Supergroup.

On 22nd September 1873 Pilgrim's Rest was officially proclaimed a gold field and Not even a year later, 1500 diggers worked 4000 claims around the streams of Pilgrim's Creek. By 1876 most of the tents were replaced by permanent structures, and many made their "gold" from the various businesses supplying the diggers with necessary provisions. The scattering of tents and rudimentary shacks had grown into a flourishing little village complete with sturdy brick houses, church, shops, canteens, a newspaper and the well-known Royal Hotel.

The diggers called it Pilgrim's Rest because here, at last, after so many false trails and faded dreams they had truly found their home.

In due course the alluvial deposits were depleted and the locals turned to forestry.

Towards the end of the 19th century claims were bought up and underground mining started by the company known as TGME. An estimated production of about 200 tons of gold are believed to have been recovered from the Pilgrim's Rest Goldfield making it the third largest gold-producing area in South Africa after the Witwatersrand and Barberton Goldfields (Ward and Wilson, 1998)

Mining was closed down in 1971 and the village sold to the government as a national museum. Transvaal Gold Minings Estates, currently part of the listed Simmers and Jack, started gold mining again in 1998. The town’s original architecture remains largely unchanged, because the town was declared a National Monument now a provincial heritage site in 1986. The village has been painstakingly preserved as a "living museum" and is a major South African tourist venue. The residents still number in the hundreds.

Pilgrim’s Rest was the location of an emergency mint during the Anglo Boer War. This mint struck the famous and extremely rare VeldPond.

We invite you to participate in this project and add profiles of people connected to Pilgrims Rest.

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How to Participate

• Add the profiles of the diggers and people connected to Pilgrim's Rest to the project. If the person is on Geni please add the link to their profile, and make this a bold entry. If the person is not on Geni add a link to an external source but do not make the link bold. This will help us to see who still needs to be added/found on Geni.
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(1) How to Add a Profile to a Project Page

(2) Suggested Letter to Profile Managers of Profiles added to this Project

The Diggers

• Alex Patterson "Wheelbarrow Alec"
• William Trafford
• William Charles Scully
• Cunningham the New Zealander
• Tommy Dennison. "The Highwayman"
• Elizabeth Russell Cameron
• Matthias Mockett "The Bosun"
• John Swan, digger of "Swans race"
• G. Russell
• S. Lilley, found a nugget weighing over 6 kg in mass

Other Notable Characters

• M. V. Phelan, sarted the newspaper- the Gold News, later renamed The Gold Fields Mercury
• Reverend St. Charles Frederick Cawkill Barker, set up a school and church in a tent, and later in a shack
• Reverend Frank Dowling a well know Pilgrim's Rest missionary/minister
• William Napier son of William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier of Merchiston
• Richard Alan Barry Manager of Transvaal Gold Mining Enterprises

The Farmers

• Johan Coenraad Marnewick1856-1935
• Jacoba Barendina van Gass 1862-1940
• Philippina Wilhelmina Marnewick1855-1922
• Anton Preiss

The VeldPond Team

• Andries Gustav Erlank Pienaar, Head of the Field Mint
• GE Waldeck, Project leader and official in charge of the Field Hospital
• Michael Joseph Cooney, Essayer
• Philippus Johannes Kloppers, Designer
• William George Reid, Blacksmith/Mechanic
• Dick/Dirk Graham, Gold Smelter

The Anglo Boer War POWs

• Ernest Hendrik Gabriel Bauling
• Jan Borghorn
• Arthur Davies
• Charles Edward Heckett Marsh
• Hendrina Wilhelmina Meyer
• Jacobus Diedlof Meyer (Dietloph Jacobus)
• Johannes Hendrik Meyer
• Jozua Meyer (Josiah)
• Kyla Magdalena Meyer
• Charles Alexander Vincent Morsh
• William Morsh
• Bessie Gladdys Morsh
• Blanche Emilie Mabel Morsh
• Emilie Maria Mary Morsh
• Florence Emilie Morsh
• Florie Morsh
• Laurince Caufiela Morsh
• Mary Martha Davis Morsh
• Herman Pieterson
• Gustav Otto Schenkel (Mrs)
• Henry William Spinner
• Brechtje Maria Stander
• Hendrik Christoffel Stander
• Wilhelm Ferdinand Philip Alexander Steyn
• Karel Gustaf Wolf
• Frederik August Wolf
• Wilhelmina Christina Wolf

Pilgrim's Rest Mine Archive

These are the names in the file indexes. Thanks to Tessa King on RootsWeb

• Charles Arthur LLOYD m Adriana Maria CORNELIUS. Father: William Walter Lloyd.
• Crisp Alfred Brinton ARNOLD.
• Edmund Alexander WHITFIELD m Esther Sheanna MACDONALD. Parents: Edmund Ernest & Jessie Helen Whitfield.
• Francis Cecil WOOD marriage certificate to Maud DESMOULINS and birth certificate of their daughter Kathleen Marjery.
• Frederick Hugh DAMANT m Louise du TOIT.
• George BANCROFT m Isolina Grocianni.
• H N SCOTT (Newspaper photograph).
• Joseph Leitch MARTIN.
• Mary Elizabeth BAILEY nee CORMACK - quite a bit on the family with names and dates.
• Thomas STIRTON (family tree)
• Tommy Dennison - The Highwayman
• D C Diespecker
• Beretta Familie
• Jacob de Clerq
• J H de Beer Obituary
• May Diering
• Bourke of Bourke's Luck - Bernard Thomas
• Beretta Paspoort
• Hamilton Barry
• Earl of Barrymore
• Sir Jacob Dirk Barry
• The Barry Family of Grahamstown
• Barry Family - References to
• Richard Alan Barry
• Gordon Barry
• Margery Barry
• Barry Family Tree
• Blenkins Family and Reminiscences of Georgina Lister
• R A Barry - Record of Employer
• R A Barry Death Notice (probably newspaper article)
• Edwin Blacklow
• Bazett Blenkins
• H R Botha
• Mrs Bancroft's 100th Birthday
• Lena Bruyns
• Visit of Earl of Athlone
• Claud Coghill
• R V M Barry falls to his death
• C Coghill & T Dennison
• Chapman family and house
• Tommy Dennison
• Petrus de Klerk and Maud nee Price
• Diedzar Family
• Rudolph Diespecker
• D Aulsebrook & family
• L D Breyentenbach Baptism certificate
• D J Muller & F Dietrick
• Charlie Brown
• Brief van Diespecker 1937-1942
• Meg Blane Obituary
• Peter de Klerk
• Henry Frank Dowling
• Robert Edgar John Dyke-Poynter
• Barghoorn broers begrawe in Pilgrim's Rest
• Barbara Hill relives the history of PR
• Henry Thomas Glyn
• Sir Percy Fitzpatrick
• Barbara Hill going to the bioscope
• Barbara Hill on medicines and remedies
• Rudford Vernon Peter Fullard
• Mrs Maude Graham (letter)
• Mrs Maya Parsons (letter)
• Mrs Vyveen Ada Russel (letter)
• Thomas Hart se graf (grave)
• Griffiths family also Fraser
• E B Gleaser - Forestry Pioneer
• A R C Flowler - interview
• Hugh Exton's Life History
• Earls Family Chronicles - Thomas Earl
• Basil Guest obituary
• Eston - boy drowned
• Mrs D J Kiezer nee Diespecker
• Jubie Kock
• Christiaan Johannes Jacobus Joubert
• Jewish Community of PR
• Italian Community of PR
• Mr M C Kienader - death
• Alf W Johnson
• Every grave has a story
• Memoirs of Mrs Kelly, wife of Sydney Kelly (1933-1942)
• P J Kloppers
• FAA Kerl
• C W A Jones (funeral leaflet)
• Lilley Family, also J Schultz and McFarlane
• Lilley Stamboom soos verskaf deur Mev B Spencer Feb 1997
• King's water race
• Kuzzulo Letter & In search of a better life (a Croatian Settler in SA)
• Lambourn
• John Khumalo
• C J Hoolboom
• Terence John McCaw 1913-1978
• Markus: The last of the diggers
• Eddie Maluka 1902-1989
• McEwan
• Alice McNally
• Honest John McIntyre - Geslagsboom (family tree)
• Nellmapius
• Elsie Packman
• Richard James Pascoe
• Thomas Flemming McLachlan
• W M Prinsloo
• M Owen
• Around the Kitchen Table
• Gouddorp or Spookdorp
• Brige ontvang Mnr E Evans
• Adv Oswald Pirow
• Capt W MacDonald
• B Maller
• Death Notice William Napier x 2
• Milnerton Ford
• J M Owens Blasting Certificate
• Sheila Margaret MacFarlane
• Jim Mashego
• Phelan Familie photo
• Traffords of Swythanky
• Danie Theron
• R A Steenkamp
• Maria Shires
• William Charles Scully
• Goldie Stevens
• Dr Pieter Spaarwater - doodsberig
• Elizabeth Russel
• Rabbich
• George Alfred Robertson
• Stecholl or Steckhall
• My skoolhou jare
• Strauss - last of the pilgrims
• J H Schoeman
• G A Robertson
• P Sim
• E Trafford
• Saga of Ikey Sonnenberg
• Jack Steckoll
• War Graves: Pascoe and Fullard
• James Stopforth
• Mr Gunnar Utterstrom
• Mr Herbert Rhodes
• W C Scully
• William Sloan
• Theron married to A G Griffiths
• Turner & Beatty
• Stirton Family tree
• William Russel letter
• Shipham family
• St. Leger Denny & Ryder families
• I C Stein interview
• B Williams letters to W G Edwards
• Dr G Winckler
• Williamson Family
• Gen Ben Viljoen
• N R Winn
• E Williams
• Constance Vivian
• Vogil enquiry
• F C Wood
• A N C Vogel
• Marie Venter - Granny turns 94
• T W van Beuge
• Henry Ward grave in Cornwall

Methodist Parish Records for Pilgrim's Rest (pre 1900)

• Entry #3 Child: Fanny Lucy CURRIE Parents: William Henry and Mary Emily Born: 3/6/1895 Baptized: 4/14/1895
• Entry #4 Child: Hugh Bannink WILLSON Parents: Ralph Herbert and Clara Maria Born: 1/8/1892 Baptized: 5/25/1895
• Entry #5 Child: Berendina Sarah WILLSON Parents: Ralph Herbert and Clara Maria Born: 1/28/1895 Baptized: 5/25/2895
• Entry #6 Child: Ann Matilda MACNICOL Parents: Angus and Harriet Hannah Elizabeth Born: 12/12/1894 Baptized: 6/9/1895
• Entry #7 Child: John Wesley Frost STEVENS Parents: John Wesley Frost and Magdalena Petronella Born: 9/22/1895 Baptized: 11/24/1895
• Entry #8 Child: Alfred Henry SWAN Parents: William and Carolina Eliza Born: 8/29/1895 Baptized: 12/21/1895
• Entry #9 Child: Mary Nash Frost VAN LELYVELD Parents: Philip Frost and Alice Maria Born: 2/11/1896 Baptized: 4/12/1896
• Entry #10 Child: Joshua MEYER Parents: Dietloph Jacobus and Hendrina Wilhelmina Born: 4/4/1895 Baptized: 4/26/1896
• Entry #11 Child: Ruby Daisy Walkinshaw FROST Parents: Cornelius and Martha Katrina Born: 6/7/1896 Baptized: 7/12/1896
• Entry #12 Child: Alexander David DODDS Parents: Alexander and Elizabeth Crolan Born: 8/5/1894 Baptized: 9/13/1896
• Entry #13 Child: Mabel VAUGHAN Parents: William Rhys and Ellen Louisa Born: 11/24/1896 Baptized: 12/13/1896
• Entry #14 Child: Elizabeth Agnes DODDS Parents: Alexander and Elizabeth Crolan Born: 11/16/1896 Baptized: 12/20/1896
• Entry #15 Child: Annie Margaret UMPLEBY Parents: John William and Sarah Jane Born: 4/16/1896 Baptized: 12/21/1896
• Entry #16 Child: Angus Campbell MACNICOL Parents: Angus and Harriet Hannah Elizabeth Born: 4/15/1896 Baptized: 2/7/1897
• Entry #17 Child: Harriet Margaret PARKER Parents: Alfred and Margaret Born: 2/16/1897 Baptized: 3/3/1897
• Entry #18 Child: Valentine August James GARDNER Parents: Valentine and Frederica Augusta Born: 12/10/1897 Baptized: 2/14/1898
• Entry #19 Child: Lorna Evaline SMITH Parents: Henry William and Catherine Born: 7/17/No Entry Baptized: 11/20/1897
• Entry #20 Child: Anne Ellen JONES Parents: John and Jane Born: 10/11/1897 Baptized: 11/14/1897
• Entry #21 Child: Gerhardt Peter BOUWER? Parents: Peter Erasmus and Maria Magdalena Born: 5/29/189(7?) Baptized: 2/13/1898
• Entry #22 Child: Johanna Hendrina LESSING Parents: Nicolas Christavel and Carolina Elizabeth Born: 11/10/1897 Baptized: 3/13/1898

Pilgrim's Rest, Main cemetery

• ARCHER Arthur
• ARCHER Catherine :: ARCHER Doreen
• ARCHER Ida -1938 Died aged 53 years
• ARNOLD Crisp Alfred Brinton -1923 Died aged 59 years
• BALL Walter -1912 M.B.B.S. London. Husband of Laura BALL, died aged 34 years
• BANCROFT F.J. 1874-1874
• BARCHOORN Eeddo Tjeerd 1870-1896 :: BARCHOORN Jan 1864-1911
• BEER Johannes Hendrik, de 1869-1913 Maboompi
• BERETTA Rodoleo
• BLACKLOW Edwin -1890 Born at Tasmania - This stone has been erected by his universal friends
• BLENKINS B.G. -1874
• BOYCOTT George William -1880 Died aged 28 years
• BURROWS Joseph -1880 A Native of England, died aged 50 years
• BYERLEY Selina 1868-1878 Daughter of C. & S. BYERLEY, died aged 10 years
• CAMPBELL Agnes Theresa 1897-1897 Beloved daughter of William and Hannorah CAMPBELL
• CAMPBELL Tower Moorcroft 1899-1926
• CHAITOW Charles -1933 Aged 57 years
• COOK Ernest Davis 1864-1915 Born in England
• CORMACK Harry Ewan 1872-1927
• DAVIES George -1918 Of Tredecar, Monmouthshire, died aged 38 years
• DAVIES Kenneth Elsoon -1933 :: DAVIES ? Washington -1925
• DAVIES Morgan -1918 :: DAVIES Glyndwr Winslade -1935 Died aged 47 and 34 years
• DENTON John Charlton :: DENTON William Peter Beloved sons 2 years 11 months - 4 months 11 days
• DOWLING Adelaide -1884 Died aged 2 years and 11 months
• EDWARDS Evan -1941 Born in Llwyngroes, Cardiganshire South Wales. Died aged 57 years
• EDWARDS Mary Sarah -1921 Wife of Evan EDWARDS, died aged 35 years
• FARNZON Jesse -1899 Born Redvasgris? Warshire England - aged 21? years
• GARDNER
• GIBSON Charlie -1892 Son of Frederick & Maud GIBSON, died aged 1 year, 11 months and 19 days
• GIBSON Frances Ethel -1918
• GILES Idris -1918 Late of Glanmorgan, Wales. Died aged 38 years
• GLINISTER James E. -1878 Died aged 46 years
• GRIFFITHS Winston Price Son of W.P. & M.M. GRIFFITHS, died aged 2 years
• HAMMERBERG John -1892 Born in Sweden
• HANCOCK J. -1925 Born at Carmarthen, Wales
• HENEGAN Charles Lucas -1915 Died aged 48 years
• HITCHINS Israel -1876 Accidentally killed at Spitzkop
• HUTTON Sidney Sheppard -1920 Formerly of Cape Town
• HUZZELO Jurvis - 1915
• JONES Edward -1921 :: POWELL Arlene Cathryn 1956-1986
• JONES Henry Ceredig, Roberts -1959 & Ria JONES -1997
• JONES Morpuddilir -1912 Daughter of W. & H. JONES, Brown's Hill
• JONES William Thomas -1951 & Grace Roberts -1950 Died aged 82 & 70 years
• JOUBERT Johanna Magdalena Cornelia 1895-1896 Daughter of J.S & E.J.M. *JOUBERT
• KIERNANDER Montagu -1945 & Lily -1972 :: KIERNANDER Eston James Watts 1912-1922 Beloved and only son of Lily and Montagu KIERNANDER - Lily 92 years
• KNOX Charles A.N. -1896 Husband of Bertha A. KNOX, died aged 29 years
• KUCULO Mahn -1913
• KUZZULO Julius -1926 :: KUZZULO Juliette 1915
• LAWRENCE E. 1862-1904 Born Upwell, Norfolk. England
• LAWRENCE W. 185?- Born in Norfolk, England
• LEADLEY Edward Sidney 1887-1888
• LEADLEY Philip Edward -1877 aged 3 years and 11 months
• LILLEY William Herbert -1903
• LONG Sidney Herbert -1903
• LORD Joseph -1878 Accidentally killed, aged 46 years
• LOUW Willie 1889-1918
• MANN Michael -1927 Son of Gladys & Keith MANN
• MARSH Minnie E. -1893 :: MARSH Walter -1901
• McFIE Bro John -1878 aged 58 years
• McLEAN John -1892 Born in Scotland. This stone has been erected by his personal Friends a record of their Universal .....steem of his kindness and self denial for others
• MILLS John -1894 :: WILLIAMS Elias -1895 Died aged 28 and 31 years
• MITCHELL John 1838-1892
• MORGAN James Harris 1842-1921 & Jane 1840-1931 Born at Ross, Herefordshire
• MORRIS John David -1898 aged 29 years. Born at Dithim. Duan. Llaharug. Cararroeshire, North Wales. Died in Pilgrim’s Rest, ZAR.
• MORSE William -1914 March 24, 1914 - Age 29 - He met his death at the Vaalhoek mine
• MURRAY George Death date looks like 1897
• MURRAY Hugh John -190? aged 40 years, died 9 January 190?
• NIGRA Carlo 1866-1907
• OWEN Ann Ellen -1893 :: OWEN Baby Born Carharw....., Wales - aged 36 years - Beloved wife of Ellis OWEN
• OWENS William Michael
• PACKMAN W. Kennett -1936 :: PACKMAN Alice Annie 1854-1895 :: PACKMAN C.
• PARKER D. Phillip -1883
• PARKER Florence May 1868-1889
• PASCOE R.J. Leslie -18?? Only son of W.J. & S. PASCOE of Ferreira Deep Ltd. Johannesburg, formerly of Truro, Cornwall
• POTGIETER Hermanus Lambertus 1865-1922
• POTGIETER Johannes Hendriekes 1898-1918
• REES Duwyn Victor 1906-1968
• REES Mary Alice -1918 Of Tonyrefail, Glanmorgan Wales. Wife of David REES, died aged 43 years
• ROBERTS Henry 1875-1906 Of North Wales. Met with a fatal accident at Jubilee Mine, aged 31 years
• ROBERTS Mary -1912 Born Yale, North Wales. Beloved wife of G.J. ROBERTS -Aged 42 years
• ROBIN George -1896 Born Glasglow, Scotland - aged 24 years
• ROY Charles James 1850-1883 Born at Great Hanmore, England
• SANDERS Fred J. -1878 Shot in a skirmish with Kafirs - aged 24 years
• SCHARPER R.
• SCHENK Harry -1915 Died aged 52 years
• SCOTT Thos. Pringle 1854-1939 & Petronella J. 1856-1952
• STEIN
• STOCK Arthur Percival 1891-1925
• Tim STOCK
• SUTHERLAND Donald Of Scotland
• THOMAS Edward -1915
• TUFFIN Norman -1922 Youngest son of Charles & Annie TUFFIN of London, England. Died aged 32 years
• VALINTINE John Bernard Son of H.F. & C. F. VALINTINE, died aged 2 years
• VILJOEN Pieter Ernst 1913-1920
• VILJOEN Walter 1971-2004
• WALKER Daisy Elizabeth 1892-1893 Daughter of Hopson & Margaret WALKER
• WATKINS Theophilus Clifford -1893 Son of Walter & Liliy WATKINS, died aged 2 years
• WILLIAMS Mabel -1923 Wife of Roderick WILLIAMS. Born Abertillery. Mon., died aged 29 years
• WILSON Douglas -1912 Son of Martin & Beatrice WILSON
• WILSON James Henry -1912 Son of John and Anna WILSON. He died 24 Febr 1912 - 5 months
• WILSON Martin Jones -1912

References

• Wikipedia Pilgrim's Rest
• Pilgrim's Rest official site
• VeldPond the true facts
• Pilgrim's Rest Main cemetery

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