British Settler

Henry Inggs 18, together with his parents and 7 siblings, were amongst 400 pioneer passengers on board the Settler ship Indian Queen.

• Departed : Liverpool on 23 May 1858
  
• Arrival : Port Elizabeth 23 July 1858, after 61 days at sea.
  

Children :

• Henry Inggs 18
  
• Caroline Inggs 16
  
• Harriett Inggs 14
  
• Jonathan Inggs 12
  
• Eliza Inggs 11
  
• Walter Inggs 8
  
• Frederick Inggs 6
  
• Emily Inggs 2
  

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Henry Inggs, 18, must have met Martha Pullinger, 17, on board (or even before as they both came from Surrey) because they went on to marry at St Mary's Church, PE, on Jul 5, 1860. They moved to Uitenhage in 1867 where he established the first of his several woolwashing establishments. He died in office as mayor on March 20, 1892.

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1867: Established woolwashery at Springfield, Uitenhage

1889-1892: Mayor of Uitenhage

Obituary (either Uitenhage Times or Chronicle)

THE LATE MR. H.W. INGGS.

Our pen has been but too busy of late

reporting the decease of prominent and

respected members of this community; but

it is with more than ordinary sorrow that

we record the death of Mr. Henry W.

Inggs, Mayor of Uitenhage. This sad event

was so sudden that the announcement was

a severe shock to the community. At the

last Town Council Meeting the Mayor had

presided with his usual shrewdness and

courtesy, and it was remarked by those

who met him in the latter days of the

week, that he seemed, if possible, in better

health and spirits than usual; and, we

believe, when he retired to rest on Satur-

day evening, there was nothing to suggest

or foreshadow the impending event. At six

on Sunday morning he was seized with a

fit. Drs. Vanes and Lamb were sent for,

and everything was done that could be

done, but as the first fit was speedily fol-

lowed by others, the doctors saw that the

result must be fatal and that it would come

very soon A daughter who resided in Port

Elizabeth was telegraphed for, and there

being no train till evening, drove up, hoping

to see her father alive but alas! as she

approached the town, the flag on the Town

Hall, hanging halfmast high, revealed to

her the sad truth that her father had passed

away.

Mr. Inggs, who was in his 53rd year,

we believe first came to Uitenhage to settle

in January, 1867, in the capacity of Mana-

ager of the Springfield Woolwashery, which

was opened on the 9th of that month. Our

woolwashing industry was then in its in-

fancy, and Mr. Inggs with his natural talent

for engineering, soon brought the new

works to a pitch of perfection which ensured

profitable employment to the establishment

and increased dividends to the sharehold-

ders. We believe Mr. Inggs soon became

Managing Director of the Company, which

continued to flourish under his manage-

ment. A few years ago the Kruis River

Works was in the market, and Mr. Inggs

became the purchaser. The skill which had

served the Springfield Company so long

and so well was now transferred to his own

establishment and employed for his own

benefit with similar success; and a few years

ago his business had sufficiently extended

to encourage him to purchase the estab-

lishment of Mr. James Stratford who had

died. For years he served his fellow towns-

men well as member of the Town Council.

and on the decease of the late Mayor, Mr.

Dolley was elected to the Civic Chair,

which he filled with so much credit that at

the last election he was re-elected; and

it is very probable, had lived, he would

have been asked to represent the Division

in Parliament.

During his term of office he has had

more, perhaps, to test his fitness for the

office, than any of his five predecessors -

and alas! predeceased Mayors. He has

twice had to represent his fellow townsmen

as host; first at the farewell dinner to Mr.

Philpott, and next at the banquet given

to their Excellencies Sir H. B. Loch and

Lady Loch. He rose to both these occa-

sions, and discharged the agreeable, though

by no means easy, duties to the satis-

faction of the Guests, to his own dignity,

and to the credit of the community. Into

the less agreeable, but more ardent duties

of his position he entered with his whole

heart; bringing to bear an amount of ability

which was of great value to the town. In-

deed we are informed that be had post-

poned an intended trip to England out of

regard for his official duties. Had he been

spared to carry out projects he had formed,

he would have raised this place to a posi-

tion it ought to occupy, at the same time

erecting a lasting monument to himself.

Just now there are some very important

Municipal matters pending. Of these he

seemed to have an entire grip; and in that

respect his death at this juncture will be a

great public calamity. But apart from the

emphasis given to the sadness of the event

by his public position, the loss of such a

man, even as a private citizen, will be

severely felt and regretted beyond his imi-

mediate circle. If the bereaved widow and

family can be consoled by the knowledge

that their sorrow is shared by the entire

community, they may be assured that they

have that consolation. Great sympathy

was felt at Port Elizabeth, and on Monday

morning, Mr. Hardy, Acting Town Clerk,

received a telegram expressive of the regret

and sympathy of the Town Council of Port

Elizabeth, stating that their Mayor would

attend the funeral. This took place on

Monday afternoon. The procession was

perhaps the longest ever marched in Uiten-

hage. The pallbearers were Mr. M McIlwraith,

Mayor, and Mr. Brister, ex-Mayor of Port

Elizabeth, A. Stewart, Esq., Dr. Frazer,

Mr. T.W. Gubb, and Mr. C. Robertshaw.

Next in the long procession to the relatives,

came the Town Council and Town Officers;

then the inhabitants in large numbers. The

street where the cortege started was

lined with natives who reverently uncov-

ered their heads and joined in rear of the

procession. The Service was read very im-

pressively by the Rev. Mr. Ecclestone.

Pastor of the Union Church, of which the

deceased was a prominent member. During

the funeral all the shops and places of busi-

ness were closed. A very large number of

wreaths were sent, some of which were of

unusual size and beauty.