Richard Joseph Painter, b1

Eldest son of Samuel Richard Painter and Harriet Bailey; born in London 10.10.1803; settled in Fort Beaufort; was a member of the Legislative Council 1866-68 and of the House of Assembly 1854-65; died in his residence at Fort Beaufort 15.10.1881 (Age 78).

Richard PAINTER

For many 1820 Settlers the move to the Cape Colony was a blind and hopeful step to try and evade the consequence of unemployment caused by the Industrial Revolution. Those unemployed were searching for a better life in a new, vast and different land. They adapted their lifestyles and endured the hardships to establish a home in a foreign land.

Richard Joseph PAINTER was born in London on 10 October 1803, the eldest son of Samuel and Harriet PAINTER. He came out as a young man of 17 years and six months. This meant that he was a mere six months too young to receive an allotment of land.

Richard came out with his parents, accompanied by his brother and two sisters. Frederick Thomas 6, Mary 5 and Harriet a mere 7 months. They came out as members of Sephton's party on the ship Aurora. They were placed originally at Rietfontein, which lies between the Kowie and Kasouga rivers. The family later moved to Salem, but retained their land at Rietfontein. (Richard himself remained to look after it). Samuel acquired a portion of land of 6 morgan.

Richard himself was visually a short, thick-set man (this characteristic is definitely passed down) of about 5' 7". His temper was equally short and once his mind was made up it took a lot of persuading to change it.

In 1832 Richard married Martha URRY in the Anglican church (now the Cathedral) in Grahamstown. Martha was the second daughter of James and Mary URRY, who came out on the Weymouth. Tragically, Martha passed away in 1836, only four years later, leaving her husband with two very young children to take care of. They were Edwin Joseph b. 1834 and Elizabeth b. 1835. Richard sold his land at Rietfontein and moved to Grahamstown, where he set up an auctioneering business under the name of PAINTER & JARMAN.

Three years later Richard married again, this time to Mary KIRKMAN. The couple were married in Port Elizabeth. A story is told after the wedding she rode "Pillion Style" on horseback with Richard to the Kowie for their honeymoon.

Richard, together with his new wife and two children, moved to a farm on the Koonap river and two years later he purchased the farm "Waag Kraal", which he duly named "Yellow Wood Trees". This farm, now known simply as "Yellowwood", is owned by Geoffrey PAINTER, Richard's great great grandson. The farm is situated 13.5 miles from Adelaide and 14.5 miles from Fort Beaufort and at that time comprised of 1700 morgan. Richard lived in Fort Beaufort until 1843 where he practised as an auctioneer and general agent. He lived in Durban Street in a house diagonally opposite where the Presbyterian church stands today. In 1843 he moved permanently onto his farm.

Richard's connections and devotions to the church were extremely strong and he was always very firm in his Christian views. Originally he and his wife Mary were members of the Independent "Congregational Church" in Grahamstown, but in 1847 he broke away and formed a Presbyterian Congregation in Fort Beaufort. This met for the first time on 10 September 1847 under the leadership of the Rev. BIRT. Richard PAINTER and a Mr. HOPE were the deacons on that occasion.

Rev. Joseph GILL took over the post of minister shortly after the little church was erected in Durban Street. Shortly after he took over Richard mysteriously resigned from all his clerical posts and his attendance of Sunday services dwindled. PAINTER gave no apparent reasons for his resignation, but it is fairly obvious that he and the new reverend did not see eye to eye. This suspicion was very much supported when PAINTER's son Henry (b. 1851) was christened in the Wesleyan Church. It was only after Rev. DORRINGTON had taken the place of Rev. GILL that PAINTER's attendance became regular once again.

In 1854 Richard was elected to represent Fort Beaufort in the Legislative Assembly at the first Cape Parliament. Richard was, in his own right, a great politician. The accumulation of facts that he had at his disposal, and his amazing ability to grasp the attention of the house always saw that his ideas were considered. In 1860 the Cape Argus said of him, << "Although the little man somewhat obstinately opposes some very valuable measures, he is a staunch representative of Fort Beaufort and the surrounding neighbourhood.">> And in 1864 Limner said of him,

"For he is a little, and very little gentleman.">>

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Death Notice: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQX-HSSX-R?i=119&...