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British Settlers in South Africa who landed before 1820
This list of Settlers who went to South Africa prior to 1820 are listed in the book "Roll of the British Settlers in South Africa ~ Part 1 up to 1826" by E Morse-Jones. (Published under the auspices of the 1820 Settlers Monument Committee A A Balkema/Cape Town 1971 2nd
Edition). The names were posted by Tessa King on Rootsweb in 2004
The aim of this project is to link profiles on Geni to the names in the list, and to expand notes about individuals - mostly on the Profile page in the "About Me" field, or here if no profile exists.
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Moodie's Party
Benjamin Moodie (1789 - 1856), Captain in the Leigh Militia, was the eldest son of James, the ninth Laird of Melsetter, the family estate in the Orkneys, which was at that stage deep in debt. Benjamin Moodie hoped to save Melsetter by initiating a scheme of assisted emigration to the Cape. Moodie's was the first large party of British settlers who went to the Cape Colony.
Having heard of Colonel John Graham's idea to populate the Zuurveld with Scottish Highlanders. Graham visited the Highlanders while on home leave in 1813, after the 'sweeping' of the Zuurveld under his command during the Frontier War of 1811/1812. He apparently had permission to find out whether any Highlanders were interested in migrating to the Cape.
In 1816, Moodie wrote a memorial to Lord Bathurst of the Colonial Secretary, with a proposal for a scheme to settle members of the Highland 'agricultural classes' in the Cape Colony. Although this proposal received no encouragement, Moody spent several months in the south of Scotland during 1816 and 1817, recruiting for the scheme, preferring young, single men of good character, laborers or artisans.
Moodie hoped to get assistance from the British government for the costs of their passage to the Cape, where he intended employing the best of these laborers on his own land, hiring out the others. From the more than 1 500 who applied in the space of a few weeks, Moodie chose 200 men, entering into written contracts with each regarding the terms of their 'apprenticeship' with him. He then set about finding a means of transporting them, eventually entering into an agreement with a visiting Cape Town merchant, Hamilton Ross (1774 - 1853), which secured their passage.
Moodie's parties sailed in the Brilliant, Clyde or the Garland. He sent his settlers out in groups of 50 at a time. The Brilliant took the first group to South Africa early in 1817.
Soon after arriving in the Cape, Benjamin Moodie acquired the farm 'Groot Vaders Bosch,' near Swellendam. However, his plans to establish himself as a landowner soon foundered. His request for financial assistance from the British government had been ignored, and Hamilton Ross, the agent with whom he had made a verbal contract to share the costs of the venture, failed to meet his obligations.
Moodie found himself having to try to recoup his costs from his apprentices. But the Scots artisans soon realized the shortage of skilled craftsmen and artisans in the Colony and some broke their written agreements with him, while others took up to ten years to repay their debts.
In July 1818, the family home of Melsetter in Scotland was sold. His youngest brother, John Wedderburn Moodie, had joined Benjamin by then, and brother Donald, who was a RN lieutenant, also came out after their father's death in 1820. John Moodie returned to England after about 10 years in South Africa, and wrote a book about his experiences. Benjamin and Donald Moodie both became prominent members of their communities.
Benjamin established himself in the Western Cape. Donald married Sophia Pigot, and lived in the Eastern Cape and later Natal, where he became Colonial Secretary. Their grandsons, Thomas and Dunbar Moodie, eventually led a trek to Rhodesia where they founded the town of Melsetter.
Brilliant 1817
March 1817 Capt. Moodie and 52 of his party set sail from London.
- Anderson: George. Gardener
- Anderson: Robert
- Bain: Colin. Cooper
- Baxter: William
- Cameron: William. Saddler, Wife and 5 children did not embark
- Clark: Andrew
- Crail: Robert. Smith
- Cunningham: Alexander 22
- Dodds: Archibald. Blacksmith. Wife did not embark
- Elliott: George
- Gordon: James. Gardener. From New Battle, near Dalkeith (Scotland)
- Gray: William 23, Carpenter
- Hauton: James, 25, Joiner
- Hay: John Captain,
- Henderson: John, Cooper
- John Hill, 17, Gardener.
- Hunter: Thomas. Blacksmith
- Jarvis: William. Cooper
- Charles Kincaid, 27, Saddler
- Laing: John. Surgeon
- Lister: Jeffray. Millwright,
- Lyall: William. Gardener
- McDonald: Donald, 24
- McDonald: Thomas, 28, Blacksmith
- McLaughlan: John Jeweller
- McLeod: Murdoch. Cooper
- McNeil: Donald. Moodie
- Alexander MacPhail. Builder
- James MacPhail . Builder
- Mitchell: Thomas, 22, Wheelwright
- Moodie: Benjamin. Capt Leith Militia & Party Leader, Moodie, Brilliant, 1817.
- Wife Marjory Malcolmson
- Murchison: John. Blacksmith
- Neilson: George
- Nicol: George. Mason. Wife did not embark
- Parker: James. Cooper
- Paterson: Archibald. Cooper
- Reid: James Millwright.
- Wife : Ann Purves and 3 children did not embark (?)
- Alexander Reid, 8 Son of James
- Sanderson: John
- Scoon: James. Blacksmith http://www.donjgrant.me.uk/sct17.htm
- Scott: William. Blacksmith
- Strath: Scott. Cooper
- Tait: Alexander, 23, Carpenter
- Tait: Thomas. Cabinetmaker
- Tester: John. Gardener
- Wallace: David. Moodie
- Whitelaw: John, 20, Joiner
- Wright: John, 24, Carpenter
Members on either Clyde or Garland 1817
The Garland left London for the Cape on 6 May 1817, and arrived in Table Bay at the end of August with about 90 members of the party. The 'Clyde' sailed at the end of May 1817 and arrived at the Cape on 27 September with 49 of Moodie's Party,
- James Abercrombie 21, Surgeon - sailed on the Clyde
- Allan: John. Rat Killer
- Anderson: William,. Bricklayer. Wife and child did not embark
- Armstrong: John, 20, Coppersmith
- David Arnot 22, Cooper
- Bartie: John
- Bathgate: John
- Bell: James
- Bertram: John. Ploughman, Moodie. Wife did not embark
- John Black Millwright. Wife and 5 children did not embark
- Blacke: William
- Blaike: James
- Robert Blaike
- Burns: Peter
- Butters: Edmund
- Cairncross: James Baker
- Cairncross: John, Baker
- Thomas Cairncross 17
- Cairncross: William 29
- Cairns: Alexander. Woodman
- Carr: Thomas, Carpenter (Thomas was a member of Mouncey's Party ??)
- Carse: George
- Cockburn: George
- Collie: Kirkpatrick
- Coultherd: James
- Cousin: James. Carpenter. Wife did not embark
- Cuming: Niman
- Curdie: Michael
- Cutting: John
- Cutting: William
- Darling: James
- Davidson: Adam. Blacksmith. Wife did not embark
- Davidson: Alexander, 32
- Davis: John Woodman
- Donald: George
- Douglas: John, 18,
- Downie: James. Farmer
- Dryden: John. Carpenter
- Edington: Andrew. Moodie
- Edward: Hugh. Moodie
- Fleming: William
- Fotheringham: J
- Fotheringham: W
- Frier: Robert Mason
- Gentle: Alexander
- Gibby: James, 21, Carpenter
- Graham: Andrew. 93rd Regiment
- Gray: John. Cabinetmaker. Wife did not embark
- Gruar: David McKenzie (Grewar).
- Gruar: John. Cooper (Grewar)
- Grubb: James. Plasterer
- Hardie: James, 25, Cabinetmaker
- Henderson: John, 23, Mason. Wife did not embark
- Hogg: James
- Hogg: John. Shoemaker
- Hume: David, 19
- Jackson: James,
- Jacobs: William
- Jardine: Robert
- Johnston: John. Gardener
- Johnston: Patrick
- Kater: Thomas
- Kay: James
- Kerr: Archibald, 25
- Kilpatrick: Alexander, 26
- Laidler: John
- Laidler: Thomas
- Laing: Peter
- Learmouth: James. Carpenter, Moodie. Wife did not embark
- Lillie: Alexander
- Low: James
- Low: Robert. Gardener
- Lowrie: Allan
- Lowrie: James
- McDonald: Alexander. Silversmith
- McGregor: John. Cooper
- McHardie: Charles. Gardener
- McHendrick: James
- McKenzie: John
- McLachlan: John 35
- McLennan: Alexander
- McLuckie: William, 20
- Mathieson: Job
- Meikle: James, 25, Cooper. Wife did not embark
- Mill: William. Ploughman. Wife did not embark
- Millar: Robert. Blacksmith
- Morrison: Alexander. Cooper
- Morrison: William
- Murray: Andrew. Farmer. Wife did not embark
- Muter: John
- Muter: Robert. Harness maker,
- Nasmyth: John
- Norval: Archibald
- Norval: John. Horsebreeder.
- Norval: William
- Ogilvie: Robert. Tailor
- Paterson: David
- Pennycock: William. Ploughman
- Prentice: Thomas. Moodie
- Robertson: James. Tailor
- Rodgers: David
- Ross: Andrew. Jeweller
- Ross: George
- Ross: Robert. Cooper
- Scoon: Robert, 28
- Scott: George. Mason. Wife did not embark
- Scott: Thomas
- Scott: William
- Selkirk: James. Carpenter
- Sharp: Archibald
- Simpson: Archibald
- Simpson: James. Shoemaker
- Small: James
- Smith: Anstruther, 23, Painter
- Smith: George
- Smith: James,. Blacksmith
- Smith: Thomas
- Spence: Thomas
- Stephens: James
- Stephenson: George. Ploughman
- Stephenson: John. Plasterer
- Stewart: Archibald
- Strachan: John, 18, Carpenter
- Strachan: John. Plasterer
- Sutherland: Robert. Painter
- Syme: John
- Symington: James
- Taylor: James
- Thomson: Robert, 17, Baker
- Thomson: Walter
- Tolmie: James,
- Vawser: William, 26, Teacher
- Wait: James
- Wife : Alison Bain
Children :
- James William Wait 8
- William Wait 7
- Alexander Wait 4
- Thomas Walter Wait 2
- Walter Wait born at sea
- Waiter: John
- Wallace: Alexander
- Wallace: James 24, Gardener. Wife did not embark
- Watson: Andrew
- Watt: James
- Weatherhead: G
- Weir: John , 28, Gardener
- Wilkie: James
- Wilson: John
- Winter: George
- Young: George
Independent
- Archbell: James, 23, Missionary - 1818,
- Atmore: William. Surveyor- 1819
- Wife Ann Chamberlain]
- Bailey: Samuel, 36, Surgeon - 1814,
- Bain: Andrew Geddes, 19, Saddler - Princess Charlotte, 1816,
- Barker: George, 26, Lay Missionary - 1815
- Wife Sarah Williams
- Barry: Joseph, 21, Wine Merchant - Duke of Marlborough, 1817,
- Bartlett: John. Lay Missionary - 1813,
- Brownlee: John, 26, Lay Missionary - 1817,
- Buck: John. Merchant -1817,
- Cairns: James. Surgeon - 1813,
- Collison: John. Wine Merchant - 1815,
- Campbell: Joseph, 27, Carpenter, Londonderry, 1818,
- Cane: John. Carpenter - 1813,
- Chamberlain: Ann, - 1819,
- Christian: Ewan, 23, Merchant - 1807,
- Crowther: William - 1816,
- Damant: Thomas. Capt 54th Regiment, - 1817,
- Dixon: Charles, 25 - 1806, wife Elizabeth 30
- Dixon: Daniel. Merchant, - 1818,
- Doughty: Thomas, 46, Bookbinder - 1813,
- Doyle: Thomas, 27, Lay Missionary - 1806, wife Catherine 17
- Duncan: Kenneth, 20 - 1806,
- Durham: Edward, , Builder - 1819,
- Eaton: Richard, 37, Merchant, -1808, wife Sarah 34
- Ebden: John, 19, Clerk - 1806,
- Edwards: E. Minister - 1817,
- Evans: John. Missionary - 1818,
- Fynn: Henry - 1808, wife Elizabeth children Eliza 3 & William 2
- Fynn: Henry, 15, Medical student - 1818, Son of Henry Fynn
- Gill: William, 27, Surgeon - 1819,
- Gosling: James. Leader of his own party, Gosling - 1818,
- Harrington: J. Merchant - 1817,
- Hartley: Richard. Surgeon - 1813,
- Henderson: Philip, 30, Shipwright, , , 1809, Brother of Thomas (not listed)
- Henderson of Willson's Party
- Holding: Thomas. Clerk - 1819,
- Hopley: William. Schoolmaster - 1813,
- Howell: James - 1807,
- Hutton: J. Merchant - 1817,
- Johnson: John Lt. RN - 1818,
- Jones: R. Merchant - 1817,
- Joseph: George - 1819,
- Kitchingman: James. Missionary - 1818.
- Levey: Joseph 32. Brilliant - 1817
- Wife Elizabeth Wesson 24
Child :
- Joseph Levey born at sea
- Mackrill: Joseph, 51, Botanist - 1814,
- Matthews: William - 1819,
- Melville: John. Surveyor - 1811,
- Moffat: Robert, 22, Missionary - 1817,
- Ogilvie: George, 35 - Tait - 1819,
- Rafferty: John, 23, Saddler, - 1818,
- Read: James. Shipwright, - 1813,
- Ross: George - 1807,
- Rowlandson: Thomas - 1818,
- Rutherfoord: Howson. Merchant - 1818,
- Sanderson: Thomas. Merchant - 1817,
- Scott: A. Merchant -1817
- Shaw: Barnabas, 27, Minister - Eclipse, 1816, wife Jane
- Smith: Adolph. Schoolmaster - 1813,
- Stone: Richard, 26, Merchant - 1807,
- Stretch: Charles Lt - 1817,
- Tait: Peter. Leader of his own party, Tait - 1818,
- Thom: George, 24, Minister, - Isabella, 1812,
- Thomas: George. Master Mariner - 1819,
- Thompson: George, 22, Merchant - Garland, 1818,
- Thompson: John, 22, Merchan - 1809,
- Titterton: William, 46 - 1819, wife Elizabeth
- Tunbridge. Naturalist, - 1807,
- Turr: Frederick - Schoolmaster - 1813,
- Twycross: Stephen. Merchant - 1817,
- Wallace: Edward, 27, Master Mariner - 1818,
- Williams: Joseph. Missionary - 1816, wife Elizabeth
Further Reading
- Cornelis Pama (Dr.), British Families in South Africa - Their Surnames & Origins, ISBN 0-7981-2957-3 (Johannesburg, Transvaal: Human & Rousseau, 1992), Pg. 114. Cit. Date: 16 Apr 2011.
- "British Residents At The Cape 1795 - 1819, Peter Philip " (This book gives references to many more sources.)
- ( Afr Book) "Stamregister Van Die S.A. Volk / Family Register of The S.A. Nation" - Dr. D.F. duT Malherbe."
- "A Study In Pioneering - Edmund H. Burrows"
- (Afr. Book) "Die Herkoms van die Afrikaner 1657 - 1867 , J.A.Heese"
- "The story of the British Settlers of 1820 in South Africa - Harold Edward Hockly "
- "Roll Of The British Settlers In S.A. - E. Morse Jones ".
- "The Moodies Of Melsetter - Edmund H. Burrows"
- Dr. D.F. Du Toit Malherbe (Emeritus-Professor, University of Pretoria), Stamregister van die Suid-Afrikaanse Volk - Family Register of the South African Nation, third (enlarged) ed. (Stellenbosch, Cape Province: Tegniek Bpk., Sep 1966)
- Cornelis Pama Dr., Die Groot Afrikaanse Familienaamboek, ISBN 0 7981 1561 0 (Cape Town, South Africa: Human & Rousseau, 1983), Pg. 237. Cit. Date: 11 Oct 2009.