Anne Daniel

Likely the first documented problem mother-in-law of a Settler:

Extract from “Irish Settlers to the Cape” by G B Dickason “In March, 1825, His Majesty's Commissioners, Messrs Hayward & Marsh, arrived in Clanwilliam to hear the settlers' grievances ....… Anne Shawe was one of those who aired her grievances and the letter below (pages 61 & 62) was her subsequent explanation to Commissioner Hayward:

                                                        Kleine Valley, 21st March, 1825. Sir,

Mr McCleland having told Mr Shawe that I had stated to you that my hus- band has treated me with cruelty ever since we have been six months mar- ried and that we have never lived with my tolerable degree of happiness except during the time of our residence in the valleys where we were first located and that even there altho' Mr Shawe had not committed any violent outrage on me yet he treated me badly and that in answer to a question from you Sir whether this had been of long continuance that I replied it is of ten years standing, I now beg to say that if I have made such a statement it is not correct as we have lived happily in our own country and for a consider- able period in this and I can safely declare that the commencement of the treatment of which I complained was during the last year and even then there were only two instances which I thought worthy of being brought under your notice and at these times Mr Shawe was certainly intoxicated. From a com- munication made by Mr McCleland to Mr Shawe, it would appear that the impression I have made is that my husband is a confirmed drunkard, I cer- tainly said that he never treated me with violence except when he was intox- icated but then I only enumerated two instances and I must declare that I did not intend to make such an impression as I have known him to be for nearly three years, in this country without having tasted spirits and it is only within the last year that he at all exceeded. I would not have left him were it not for the complaint made by my mother and it is a step I shall ever regret having taken. However we am now happily reunited and I trust that our reconciliation will be permanent and that our friends will not be grieved or our enemies gratified by a repetition of the scenes that have lately taken place as my husband is fully resolved never again to let his troubles so far conquer him as to make him give way to excess of any sort.

    I therefore hope and entreat Sir that anything I have said or that has unfor- occurred may not have the effect of depriving my husband of your good opinion or of withdrawing from him the protection of the Government by whom should he be forsaken it will be the ruin of himself and family as his affairs are in a most critical situation and I believe it is the heavy pressure of misfortunes and disappointments that has caused him to act as he has done.

    In the hope that you will forgive the liberty I have taken and all the trouble I have given you I have the honour to be Sir Your most Obed't Humble Serv't Anne Shawe To. W. Hayward Esqre