James Robinson

Sue's Mackay advised that James Robinson was missing from the earlier lists of 1820 settlers, but got added later.

KNOWN FACTS

Born - about 1798
Birthplace - probably Lancashire
Nephew of Mary E. Oertel according to The Settler Handbook 1987 by MD Nash

"The party sailed from Liverpool in the John on 13 January 1820 and reached Table Bay on 19 April and Algoa Bay during May. One of the emigrants, Henry Hudson, died on board the John before sailing; his widow went on to the Cape with the support of her nephew, James Robinson. The party's first location, named Trappes Valley after the Provisional Magistrate of Bathurst, proved inadequate, and further land was assigned to three separate divisions under Cawood and Griffiths, Murray, and Watson".

Notes from Robert S.J. Prestwich

James Robinson aged 21 of Hayhurst's party, was on board the ship "John" and was described to be the nephew of Maria Oertel. This is most likely more related to Henry Hudson, possibly Henry's older sister's child who probably married a Robinson c1795 and James was their issue. This James Robinson was supposed to escort Maria Oertel to South Africa, after the death of Henry Hudson in January 1820. However this job was taken on by John Bold. His son Peter, who was 18 years, was (Colin Turing Campbell's list of 1910) given that task. Peter joined the the Party in the late December of 1819. The dates, time, ages and situations all work perfectly.

Campbell's list was made from the January 1820 list which is no longer in the Kew archive in London. Peter was doing an apprenticeship (Letters of John Bold) and was given permission to go by his overseer"

Many of the "farmers" deserted after the dreadful weather of 1821/2. Maria and George A Whitehead moved to Rietfontein where George worked for Henry Crause. probably early 1823. There is a James Robinson who was interned in Somerset West hospital and another who requests a passage back to England. Both suit the dates. Same person? Possibly".