Alexander George Cumming, Snr. SV/PROG

George CUMMING came to the Cape in about 1827. He was born in Goa in 1812 and his mother, a Spanish lady, died in childbirth and he was brought up by his two aunts in London. He was only 15 years old when he arrived at the Cape and seven years later he purchased Roode Draay, now known as Hilton, so he must have been a young man of considerable means. He married Catherine ATHERSTONE, daughter of Dr John ATHERSTONE and Elizabeth DAMANT, the same year (1834) and they lived in an old stone building, now the stables, while his magnificent new Georgian house was being built. Richard GUSH of Salem contracted to build the house and went bankrupt fulfilling his obligations, but later paid George back all that he owed, ?2000.

The CUMMING hospitality was famous in the district and dance parties were regularly held in their impressive home, with the red coats of the military much in evidence. It is thought that much of his fortune was squandered in this way. In 1874 George donated one morgen of ground, near his homestead, to the Diocese of Grahamstown on which to build the little St. Peters Church and he was regularly voted as Sidesman, while his son, also Alexander George, was with equal regularity elected Church Warden.

The CUMMINGs farmed Hilton until 1922 when it was sold to Monty HILTON-BARBER. George's youngest son, Henry Gordon, married his cousin, Bliss Annie WHITE of Brakkloof in 1885, and they lived at Willowfountain. When the two WHITE brothers, Tom and George broke up their partnership, Gordon and Annie moved to Thornkloof, adjoining Hilton. Gordon died there of pneumonia and Annie continued to run the farm with the help of her two spinster sisters, Jessie and Ethel WHITE. After her death, Jess and Ethel cared for her son Douglas and managed the farm during his minority and later when he was away serving in the forces during the Great War of 1914-1919. On his return from England, Donald sold Thornkloof but returned after the Second World War to the neighbouring farm, Broadfields. He and Phyllis lived there until 1960 when they retired to Port Alfred. They both died there in 1975 and are buried in the family cemetery at Hilton.