William Balne, SV/PROG

https://www.eggsa.org/newspapers/index.php/south-african-commercial...

South African Commercial Advertiser
WRITTEN BY SUE MACKAY ON 19 FEBRUARY 2010. POSTED IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER 1824-1856.

South African Commercial Advertiser 1851 - 4 - October to December

Saturday 6 September 1851

MARRIAGES
In St.Paul’s Church Rondebosch by the Rev J Fry AM:
Aug 26: Mr. William BALNE, bachelor, to Miss Ellen JOHNSON, spinster.

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Death Notice : https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQX-C9X8-G?mode=g&i=7...

According to the memories and personal research (with living descendants and archival records) of Helen E Cock-Collins: The families of (brothers) Vincent and half-brother William did not know of/talk about each other. The cousins (children of the two men) did not know of the existence of each other. William owned a lot of property, whilst Vincent died insolvent.

Speculation that William "disowned" his father, possibly upset at his second marriage?

Birthdate copied from a document known as "the Balne family bible" by descendant Dorothy Langham (via daughter Alice, who married Jakob Prillevitz), sent to Helen E. Cock-Collins.

Place of death (last address) recorded by handwritten transcript of MOOC Archives death notice. 17 Church St Mowbray. Lists all children (the women with their married surnames) and says it was signed by son-in-law G.W. (?) Morom - although Emily's husband was George Davis Morom...?

Buried at St Peter's Cemetery in Mowbray, Cape Town, with his wife Ellen. No photos online yet (Aug 2015). General article about the cemetery here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cape_Town_-_St_Peter's_Cemetery,_Main_Road,_Mowbray.JPG Inscription:Thy will be done - who departed this life on 9 March 1902 in his 73rd year.

Several properties around and including what is now 1 St Andew's Road (corner of Rouwkoop Road), Rondebosch, were bought for William by his father (Vincent), when he was 19 years old, in 1849. The railway line from Salt River to Wynberg was built in 1864 and ground was expropriated for this by the Railway Administration. Cape Town Municipality acquired land at a much later date, to build the road. Also, the Dutch Reformed Church apparently built on some land once owned by the Balnes. (Documentation to follow - obtained from the Deeds Office.)

Willliam subsequently owned a lot of property in Rondebosch - Belmont Road, Liesbeeck Road, Albion Road, Station Road, Rouwkoop Road, Station Road - mainly "workmen's cottages". There's an implication that he may have been a bit of a "slumlord". He was taken to court by Liesbeeck Municipality about various matters, such as the possibly fetid water, possibly the cause of diptheria in the area (possibly a gravel pit?) - dismissed due to insufficient evidence. There's a report that wells on the properties between Station Road and the river were unfit for domestic use and drinking, in 1896. He was ordered to close the wells over. Further prosecution in 1897 when work was still not completed. He was ordered to provide privvies for his tenants.

Also - according to Hazel Hoy, there was a family story that he fell out with one of the Anglican churches relating to building work, and thereafter refused to have any more of his children baptised C of E, so the remainder became Methodists(?).