James Mortimer Maynard

Old Wynberg Village was declared an urban conservation area in 1981 as it is home to one of the biggest collections of historic properties in and around Cape Town. History Levi and Sarah Maynard, originally from Huntingdonshire, arrived in the Cape Colony on 1 May 1820. Their son, James Mortimer Maynard established himself as a well-known bachelor with substantial assets by the time he settled in Wynberg. In 1838, James took over the farm of Rozendal and later another property from widow of the late Mr. Ellert who previously established this land, to make up the site for his home, Maynard's Villa. James reinvested his profits in property. He derived a considerable income from his tenants and he was soon recognised as one of Cape Town's premier landlords with political and economical power. In 1841, the remains of Napoleon were exhumed from his grave on St Helena and moved to Dôme des Invalides in Paris. James Maynard then bought the gates that guarded the St Helena tomb and had them shipped to Cape Town to be placed at the driveway to his estate. The Willow grove at Maynardville were cultivated from cuttings taken from the trees surrounding the tomb. The gates remained at Maynardville for 100 years, after which they were returned St Helena to be restored to the original site. At the age of forty-six he married the widow of Charles Napier. James Maynard died on 9 September 1874. As he failed to produce an heir, his estate went to his nephew, William Mortimer Maynard Farmer. source http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4VZF1_calling-wolfe?guid=60c25...

National Archives, Kew, London

RG4/4388

James Mortimer, the son of Levi and Sarah MAYNARD, was born 8 April 1800 in the parish of Eaton Ford in the County of Bedford, baptised and registered this 30th day of June 1818 in City Road Wesleyan Chapel, St.Luke's, London

Death Notice - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ6-GQS3-5?i=1838...