James Robinson (c1798 - ) 1820 Settler Hayhurst Party

Very curious indeed.
James Robinson, s.o. Thomas Robinson (Umbrella maker) and Mary, marries in 1841 one Jane Jubber. Her birth date is given as 27, the same year as that of Ann Lewis. She also marries a James Robinson

The James Robinson that is of our concern was born in 1797/8. making him 29 to 30 years older than Ann Lewis. This seems unlikely, but possible of course. But a James Robinson, hotel keeper, in the district of Alice, Victoria East dies in 1869 aged 50. The document is "signed" X bay one Ann. Seems that this is not the James we seek.

A further James Robinson applies to the Governor in 1813, and makes a further number of applications to government. So he is out of the question.

That which we do know from Morse Jones is that James Robinson of Hayhurst's Party was on Hayhurst's Commonage in early 1820. By early 1823 he had moved to Grahamstown.
From there on there is no sight of him.
He may have joined the Navy as there is the death of a James Robinson in 1859 at Seaforth Cape Town late of the ship HMS Bellish. Possible, but there is so little information on the document.

He is not listed as a casualty of the so called Kaffir wars of the time.
Many young men travelled to the interior, hunting or trading. He may very well have been one of them who died or was killed. His death never reported.

Best, Rob Prestwich

I have a copy.
But I have hunted it down.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQF-V9NG-V?i=827&...

Now now June Barnes..........

Wiliam Henry Hudson or Henry William Hudson, has some affiliation with John Bold who was a watchmaker. I suspect it had something to do with watches., However, WH or HW may show in the 1819 version of Gore's Encyclopaedia of Liverpool.of which no copy is available online. The Bodleian Library in Oxford has a copy as do some other specialist libraries. May very well offer a clue.

The premises which WH or HW Hudson held as his address was Sir Thomas Buildings when he died on the 5th January. Those premises were No.59, and a Mr. Grimshaw had a business there making tools for the construction of the watches. Hayhurst's partner Whitley, write from that address in mid 1820 to the Colonial Office.

Going back to the James Robinson of Kingwilliamstown (Qonce today) born circa 1802/3,........
he gives his age as 21 born 1797/8. Add 5......1803 ish
Maria Oertel gives here age as 27 born 1791/2. Add 5 .....1796/7 which suits the birth of her children. If she was 27 she would have had her last 3 children in her forties. 46, 43 and 41.
Possible today, but the improbable then.
HW or WH gives his age as 42 born 1777/8 . Add 5 ......1782/3 which suits his age at the time of death.

It was fairly common for the poorest who within 5 years could see a marked difference compared to those more well off to adjust their age to appear healthier.

We know that Henry had two sons. James by Ann? and Richard by Maria. If you have done a DNA test you may find connections through their families of today. James went to Cape Town, and Richard went to Burghersdorp.

If you are in England, why not try the Bodleian?
Best, Rob Prestwich.