1820 British Settler

Charles Clark, 36, Carpenter, together with his wife Sarah Skinner, and 3 children, were members of Wait's Division of 48 Settlers on the Zoroaster.

Party originated from London.

Departure London, 12 February 1820.

Arrival Simon's Bay, Cape Town - 30 April 1820 (Final Port).

Area Allocated to the Party Bushman's River.

Children :

• Josiah Clark 8
  
• Frances Clark 5
  
• David Clark 1
  

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http://www.southafricansettlers.com/?p=348

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He was Carpenter who came to South Africa in Wait's party as an 1820 settler. On the ship Zoroaster commanded by a Captain Thompson which sailed from Portsmouth on 12th February 1820 with two settler parties -Wait and Thornhill, on board. They reached Simon's bay on 30th April. The settlers were transshipped to the Albany for the voyage to Algoa Bay, where they arrived on 15th May. Wait's party then travelled by ox-wagon to a place originally occupied by a Dutchman Theunis Botha who had been "burnt out by raiding Kaffirs in 1819" Wait's party was located at the source of the Ghio stream near the Bushman's river. The location was first named Raven Hall and later Belton.

The settlers had been recruited in Buckinghamshire. Wait is described as a wine merchant of Walnut Tree House, Windmill lane, Brentford, Middlesex (now part of greater London)

Charles Clark went to work in Port Elizabeth after he was released from his contract with Waite. There had been a court case because Waite did not pay wages. The local magistrate- Captain Somerset- released Wait's party members on grounds of ill-treatment in October 1820. . The story was put to paper by Jeremiah Goldswain, a member of the same party. Also Assegai over the Hills by Metrovich.(See more detail on the pages of Mabel Clark and Alice Cowie)

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From the memoirs of his granddaughter Ada mcSeverney- "My grandfather Charles Clark, contracted himself, with several others, who had tendered to erect government buildings in the Cape and to build jails and houses. These men were artisans from all walks of life - bricklayers, stonemasons and carpenters. It wasn't long before these men became very dissatisfied, as they received no salary and had to live and support their families, and as a result decided to to break their contracts and appeal to the government for land on which to farm"

http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SOUTH-AFRICA/1999-01/...

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