Joseph Dicks, SV/PROG

DEPOT Genealogical Society of SA

DESCRIPTION Dicks, J - Gravestone.

STARTING 1811

ENDING 18850718

REMARKS St. Luke's Anglican Church, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal.

SUMMARY + Joseph Dicks. Born 1811. Died 18-07-1885 (?should be 1883?)

Nurseryman, Innkeeper, Farmer.

~~~~~~

From http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/26872749/person/1938229406/story/8...

Joseph Dicks left England for the Cape on 27 Dec 1829, arriving 30 March 1830. He then went on to Western Australia, to Swan River, in July 1830. He appears in the 1832 Australia Census as a labourer.

On 6 Feb 1835 he left Freemantle on the brig Dart, bound for Mauritius. His occupation given on the passenger list was labourer and stonemason. He arrived in Cape Town in March 1835.

He married Jane Loxton 5 Dec 1836 (c 28 Feb 1807, Somersetshire - 9 Nov 1877 Howick) in Wynberg.

Joseph Dicks was born on 9th January 1809 in Fro, Wiltshire England. His coming to South Africa was somewhat romantic., He was a younger son of a 'titled' family. When 19 years old he ran away from College and sailed for the Cape on 27 December 1829, arriving in Cape Town on 20th March 1830. After a few months he decided to leave Cape Town and reembarked to arrive at the Swan River Australia in July of the same year. Joseph found that Australia was a land of immense waterless plains without roads. Gold was not discovered there until 1951 and employment was difficult to find. In the 1832 census in Western Australia he was listed as a 'labourer'. While there he developed a longing to see his much loved mother and thought of returning to England to his childhood home that he left some five yeras before, so he left Australia on 6 Feb 1935 and set sail on the brig 'Dart' where he was listed as a stonemason. The ship called at Mauritius later in February and arrived in Cape Town harbour in March 1835 when he was handed a letter bearing the sad tidings that mother had passed away. He decided not to continue his journey and settled in Claremont now a suburb of Cape Town. Twenty months later on the 5th December 1836 he married Jane Loxton in the St. Johns Church Wynberg, whom he had met in Cape Town. Jane was born in Somersetshire and came to Capetown with her parents who were now a well known Cape Town family. She was a shy and diffedent girl. Here they lived for another ten years before deciding to explore new pastures.In August 1846 they left Capetown for Natal where they arrived in September 1846. Natal was then a new Province of South Africa, without towns or roads and with a small native population. As there were just a few Europeans and abounding with wild animals from the elephant. Joseph Dicks and his family left Cape Town for Natal aboard the 'Flora' for the last time in August 1846 and made up his mind to settle in there in September, he arrived with his family [including son Henry Samuel Dicks [born17 April 1839].first in Durban and then in Maritzburg, but for the first six years seemed to have lived a nomadic life. For short periods they lived 'near the park' in Durban and then in Pietermaritzburg. After that they went to the Vanderplank's farm near Otto's and to the little Bushmans River near Doornkop. Here they had to go into laarger due to trouble amongst the Zulus. On their return they found all their crops destroyed and the roof of their house pulled off by monkeys. After another sojourn in Maritzburg, they spent nearly four years on 'Mill Park' farm [now Adamshurst] near Howick. They moved to Howick in 1953 becoming one of its founders. Being fond of trees and flowers the first gum trees were brought by him for Govoner West to be planted near the Market Square in Maritzburg He was one of the founders of Howick, where some of his descendents still live. A certain George Holgate, who had bought property at the first village sale, was the district postmaster. He and Joseph Dicks were for long the sole residents of the place. The slow growth of the village was little to the liking of Mr. Holgate. On the 7th March, 1857, he memorialised the govemment with a plaintive protest. "More than six years have elapsed," he wrote, "since these promising circumstances (situation, government promises of water and a bridge) induced memorialist and his neighbour, Mr. Dicks, to settle at Howick. Yet the village is still unsupplied with water. There is no bridge over the river, the traffic is rapidly on the decline and there is no chance of any additional inhabitants. If the erven were now brought into the market by the unlucky proprietors memorialist is of opinion there would scarcely be a bid for them." Mr. Holgate, in short, considered he had been had. Nevertheless, despite Holgate's pessimism, Howick did grow. In 1869, when Thomas Baines passed that way, he found it to be a pretty township; "with its neat, substantial little church, its inn and other houses showing here and there through the dark foliage of tall Australian gum trees."[Bulpin] He imported plants and shrubs from England and had a beautiful English country garden in the Government Gardens in Natal. He was very keen an Botany and brought the first gum seeds to South Africa. * He and his wife entertained Queen Victoria's second son Prince Alfred when he visited Howick: in 1860 Joseph's, father and mother belonged to the Clurch of England, as did Joseph's, but in the process of time they fell under the spell of Methodism, and became attached to it for the rest of their days, They lived God-fearing lives, setting their children a worthy example being very particular as regards the Sabbath Days, the worship of God and morals in general.

GEDCOM Note

The family history of Peggie Howard (born Alice Evelyn Ball) relates: "His coming to South Africa was somewhat romantic. He was the younger son of a titled family When 19 years old he ran away from college and sailed for the Cape on 27th Dec 1829, arriving in Cape Town on 20 Mar 1830. He decided to leave Cape Town for Australia in 1830 before finally making up his mind where to settle and he arrived there in July 1833. While there he developed a longing to see his mother and thought of returning to England, so he left Australia in Feb 1835, arrived at Mauritius in 1835 and arrived in Cape Town in March 1835, when he was handed a letter to say that his mother had passed away. He then settled at Claremont, now a suburb of Cape Town. "On 5th December 1836 he married Jane Loxton, whom he met in Cape Town. In August 1846 they left Cape Town for Natal, where they arrived in September 1846. Natal was then a new province of South Africa, without towns or roads and with a small native population, a few Europeans and abounding with wild animals from elephant downwards. They decided to settle in Howick. Joseph Dicks was one of the Founders of Howick. He imported plants and shrubs from England and had a beautiful English country garden. He was very keen on Botany and brought the first gum seeds to South Africa. He also set out the Government Gardens in Natal. He and his wife entertained Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred, when he visited Howick in 1860. "Joseph's father and mother belonged to the Church of England, as did Joseph, but in the process of time they fell under the spell of Methodism and became attached to it for the rest of their days. They lived God-fearing lives, setting their children a worthy example, being very particular as regards the Sabbath Day, the worship of God and morals in general. "Jane and Joseph Dicks are buried in the Anglican Graveyard, around the church, at Howick, side by side."

The Garstang family record refers to him as the "younger member of a good family" and records that he sailed to Cape Town, then .. "After a few months he re-embarked, arriving in Western Australia in July 1830. In the 1832 Australian census he was listed as "Labourer" In 1835 decided to return to his mother and childhood home, setting sail on the "Dart" on 6 Feb 1835, arriving in Cape Town via Mauritius in March. There he got a letter saying his mother had died so he settled in Claremont. (There met and married Jane Loxton) With first 4 of their children, he and his wife Jane (and Jane's brother Henry Loxton) boarded the "Algoa" on 20 Aug 1846, bound for Durban. They first lived in Durban, then Pietermaritzburg, then "Vanderplank's farm near Otto's", then to Doornkop, then back to Pietermaritzburg, then to Karkloof and finally to Mill Park Farm, Howick in the mid 1850's. From 1868 Joseph owned part, then all, of "Greendale" where he died. He is acknowledged as a founder of Howick (indicated on a tablet at the museum) and during his life he had a keen interest in botany, developing a beautiful country garden at his home and introducing the first gum trees to South Africa. When Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred, visited South Africa he stayed at their hostelry in Howick."

Another record says he sailed for South Africa with his father, James Dicks, on the ship "Weymouth" in Ford's party, leaving in Dec 1819 - Jan 1820. (This may be an error as there were several Dicks families - Ephraim, James&Jane, James&Dinah who did sail with Ford and settled in the E Cape area.)

Sheila Spenser's account in "British Settlers in Natal 1824 - 1857" gives a fuller account of Joseph's life as well as that of John Day, his son Isaac Walter's father-in-law.

Sherryn Hinnett wrote and copied by Stuart Dicks:

Born in Wiltshire England 9/1/1809 , nurseryman ,inkeeper ,farmer. He left UK 27/12/1829 . He arrived Cape Town 30/3/1830. Left for Australia July 1830 . Arrived back in Cape Town March 1835 on brig ." Dart" - left Freemantle Australia 6/2/1835. Married Jane Loxton, St Johns, Wynberg 5.12.1836 by Rev Holt Oakes, father of T. H. E. Oakes. Jane born in Pilton, Somerset 1/8/1808. Joseph, Jane and 4 children left Cape Town 28/8/1846 on a ship "Flora" and arrived in Durban 14th September 1846. Jane's brother Henry with them. Lived in and around Durban and Pmb, then settled in Howick -- one of the original founders of Howick. Known as "Old Dicks" - owner of Umgeni Hotel. He and George Holgate --ferryman and postmaster were sole residents for the a time. Reputed to have entertained Prince Alfred, 2nd son of Queen Victoria, when he visited Howick in 1860. Believed to have brought seed of the blue gum and wattle from Australia. By 1868 he owned part or all of the farm "Greendale" near Howick (part of Allemansdrift). This is lot 51, Pmb. county , which he named "Mill Park". Title was issued on 11/3/1858 but in July 1862 ownership passed to Henry Brooks and William Adams. It would seem that they changed its name to Adamshurst. Joseph died at the home of his son at Greendale in Howick 18.7.1883 (death certificate descrbes him as a farmer) -- buried at St Lukes, Howick (members of Anglican Church but family became Methodists.) Jane died 9/11/1897 -- buried next to Joseph.

Details of St Johns Church in Wynberg where Joseph was married to Jane:

Name: St Johns Church

Denomination: Anglican Address: Wynberg 7800 Telephone: 021-7978968 Fax: 021-7619020 Email: theoffice@stjohns.org.za Minister: Rev Andrew Gready Year start: 1833 Registers: 1831 - Marriage, baptism, burials at St Johns parish office, Wynberg Graveyard: Yes – still in use Notes: Booklet - Church on the hill by K. Vos

A posting by Geoff Dicks in 2010 relates:

http://genforum.genealogy.com/dicks/messages/445.html ntblDicks Family, Frome, border of Wiltshire, 1809, NamibiantblPosted by: Geoffrey Dicks <http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-genforum/email.cgi?303280228> (ID *****0228)Date: March 13, 2010 at 04:33:24ntbl In Reply to: Re: dicks family uk (wiltshire,1840 ,london1891) <http://genforum.genealogy.com/dicks/messages/354.html> by Colin Edwardsof 454 Dear Colin. I live in Namibia. I thought this may interest you. Possibly we may have mutual ancestors. My great-great-grandfather, Joseph Dicks, was born in Frome, border of Wiltshire, on 9 January 1809. He left England for the Cape aged 19, arriving on 20 March 1830. He left again for Australia, arriving there in July 1833, before returning to South Africa via Mauritius in 1835 where he settled in Claremeont. In December 1836 he married Jane Loxton. In 1846 they moved to Howick, in Natal, of which he was one of the founders. Joseph and Jane had six children: George William, Henry Samuel, Ellen Mary, Sarah Matilda, Joseph Edward and Isaac Walter. Joseph died in 1883 and Jane in 1897. Both are buried in the Anglican grave yard, Howick.

Henry Samuel Dicks was my great-grandfather. He married to Johanna Petronella Allen. They had 14 children: Georgina (Sophie), William, Jane, Emma, Henrietta, Jessie, Alice, James, Henry, George, Johanna, Grace, David and Isaac.

The latter, Isaac Rowland Graham Dicks was my grandfather. He fought the Germans in South West Africa in the First World War and was so taken with the country that he moved here with his wife, Ivy, five children and his brother Jim (James). James later moved to Rhodesia and repeatedly invited my grandfather to follow, which, thank heavens, he did not do. Jim's son Allen Gerald Dicks was killed in the bush war in the 1980's.

Isaac and Ivy had seven children: Marjorie, Maureen, Roy, Fay, Edith (Bunty), David (my father) and William (Billy). Of these Roy, Fay and my father have passed away. And here we still are. My uncle Billy and I are the only remaining Dicks family members in Namibia. Regards Geoff Dicks

GEDCOM Note

another comment says dob was 19 Jan 1808

The family history of Peggie Howard (born Alice Evelyn Ball) relates:
"His coming to South Africa was somewhat romantic. He was the younger son of a titled family When 19 years old he ran away from college and sailed for the Cape on 27th Dec 1829, arriving in Cape Town on 20 Mar 1830. He decided to leave Cape Town for Australia in 1830 before finally making up his mind where to settle and he arrived there in July 1833. While there he developed a longing to see his mother and thought of returning to England, so he left Australia in Feb 1835, arrived at Mauritius in 1835 and arrived in Cape Town in March 1835, when he was handed a letter to say that his mother had passed away. He then settled at Claremont, now a suburb of Cape Town.
"On 5th December 1836 he married Jane Loxton, whom he met in Cape Town. In August 1846 they left Cape Town for Natal, where they arrived in September 1846. Natal was then a new province of South Africa, without towns or roads and with a small native population, a few Europeans and abounding with wild animals from elephant downwards. They decided to settle in Howick. Joseph Dicks was one of the Founders of Howick. He imported plants and shrubs from England and had a beautiful English country garden. He was very keen on Botany and brought the first gum seeds to South Africa. He also set out the Government Gardens in Natal. He and his wife entertained Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred, when he visited Howick in 1860.
"Joseph's father and mother belonged to the Church of England, as did Joseph, but in the process of time they fell under the spell of Methodism and became attached to it for the rest of their days. They lived God-fearing lives, setting their children a worthy example, being very particular as regards the Sabbath Day, the worship of God and morals in general.
"Jane and Joseph Dicks are buried in the Anglican Graveyard, around the church, at Howick, side by side."

The Garstang family record refers to him as the "younger member of a good family" and records that he sailed to Cape Town, then ..
"After a few months he re-embarked, arriving in Western Australia in July 1830.
In the 1832 Australian census he was listed as "Labourer"
In 1835 decided to return to his mother and childhood home, setting sail on the "Dart" on 6 Feb 1835, arriving in Cape Town via Mauritius in March. There he got a letter saying his mother had died so he settled in Claremont. (There met and married Jane Loxton) With first 4 of their children, he and his wife Jane (and Jane's brother Henry Loxton) boarded the "Algoa" on 20 Aug 1846, bound for Durban. They first lived in Durban, then Pietermaritzburg, then "Vanderplank's farm near Otto's", then to Doornkop, then back to Pietermaritzburg, then to Karkloof and finally to Mill Park Farm, Howick in the mid 1850's. From 1868 Joseph owned part, then all, of "Greendale" where he died. He is acknowledged as a founder of Howick (indicated on a tablet at the museum) and during his life he had a keen interest in botany, developing a beautiful country garden at his home and introducing the first gum trees to South Africa. When Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred, visited South Africa he stayed at their hostelry in Howick."

Another record says he sailed for South Africa with his father, James Dicks, on the ship "Weymouth" in Ford's party, leaving in Dec 1819 - Jan 1820. (This may be an error as there were several Dicks families - Ephraim, James&Jane, James&Dinah who did sail with Ford and settled in the E Cape area.)

Sheila Spenser's account in
"British Settlers in Natal 1824 - 1857" gives a fuller account of Joseph's life as well as that of John Day, his son Isaac Walter's father-in-law.

Sherryn Hinnett wrote and copied by Stuart Dicks:

Born in Wiltshire England 9/1/1809 , nurseryman ,inkeeper ,farmer. He left UK 27/12/1829 . He arrived Cape Town 30/3/1830. Left for Australia July 1830 . Arrived back in Cape Town March 1835 on brig ." Dart" - left Freemantle Australia 6/2/1835.
Married Jane Loxton, St Johns, Wynberg 5.12.1836 by Rev Holt Oakes, father of T. H. E. Oakes. Jane born in Pilton, Somerset 1/8/1808.
Joseph, Jane and 4 children left Cape Town 28/8/1846 on a ship "Flora" and arrived in Durban 14th September 1846. Jane's brother Henry with them. Lived in and around Durban and Pmb, then settled in Howick -- one of the original founders of Howick. Known as "Old Dicks" - owner of Umgeni Hotel. He and George Holgate --ferryman and postmaster were sole residents for the a time. Reputed to have entertained Prince Alfred, 2nd son of Queen Victoria, when he visited Howick in 1860. Believed to have brought seed of the blue gum and wattle from Australia. By 1868 he owned part or all of the farm "Greendale" near Howick (part of Allemansdrift). This is lot 51, Pmb. county , which he named "Mill Park". Title was issued on 11/3/1858 but in July 1862 ownership passed to Henry Brooks and William Adams. It would seem that they changed its name to Adamshurst.
Joseph died at the home of his son at Greendale in Howick 18.7.1883 (death certificate descrbes him as a farmer) -- buried at St Lukes, Howick (members of Anglican Church but family became Methodists.) Jane died 9/11/1897 -- buried next to Joseph.

Details of St Johns Church in Wynberg where Joseph was married to Jane:

Name: St Johns Church

Denomination: Anglican
Address: Wynberg 7800
Telephone: 021-7978968
Fax: 021-7619020
Email: theoffice@stjohns.org.za
Minister: Rev Andrew Gready
Year start: 1833
Registers: 1831 - Marriage, baptism, burials at St Johns parish office, Wynberg
Graveyard: Yes – still in use
Notes: Booklet - Church on the hill by K. Vos

A posting by Geoff Dicks in 2010 relates:

http://genforum.genealogy.com/dicks/messages/445.html
«i»ntbl«b»Dicks Family, Frome, border of Wiltshire, 1809, Namibia«/b»ntbl«b»Posted by: «u»«/b»Geoffrey Dicks <http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-genforum/email.cgi?303280228>«/u» (ID *****0228)«b»Date: «/b»March 13, 2010 at 04:33:24«b»ntbl In Reply to: «u»«/b»Re: dicks family uk (wiltshire,1840 ,london1891) <http://genforum.genealogy.com/dicks/messages/354.html>«/u» by Colin Edwardsof 454
Dear Colin. I live in Namibia. I thought this may interest you. Possibly we may have mutual ancestors. My great-great-grandfather, Joseph Dicks, was born in Frome, border of Wiltshire, on 9 January 1809. He left England for the Cape aged 19, arriving on 20 March 1830. He left again for Australia, arriving there in July 1833, before returning to South Africa via Mauritius in 1835 where he settled in Claremeont. In December 1836 he married Jane Loxton. In 1846 they moved to Howick, in Natal, of which he was one of the founders. Joseph and Jane had six children: George William, Henry Samuel, Ellen Mary, Sarah Matilda, Joseph Edward and Isaac Walter. Joseph died in 1883 and Jane in 1897. Both are buried in the Anglican grave yard, Howick.

Henry Samuel Dicks was my great-grandfather. He married to Johanna Petronella Allen. They had 14 children: Georgina (Sophie), William, Jane, Emma, Henrietta, Jessie, Alice, James, Henry, George, Johanna, Grace, David and Isaac.

The latter, Isaac Rowland Graham Dicks was my grandfather. He fought the Germans in South West Africa in the First World War and was so taken with the country that he moved here with his wife, Ivy, five children and his brother Jim (James). James later moved to Rhodesia and repeatedly invited my grandfather to follow, which, thank heavens, he did not do. Jim's son Allen Gerald Dicks was killed in the bush war in the 1980's.

Isaac and Ivy had seven children: Marjorie, Maureen, Roy, Fay, Edith (Bunty), David (my father) and William (Billy). Of these Roy, Fay and my father have passed away.
And here we still are. My uncle Billy and I are the only remaining Dicks family members in Namibia.
Regards
Geoff Dicks

GEDCOM Note

presumably he died young as another son was named Joseph - in 1809