William Terence Fitzgerald, SV/PROG

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Death notice TAB MHG 0/4794, 1889, aged 66 years. Shows 6 children. Name appears as William Terence Fitzgerald. Most refs give his name as Terence William Fitzgerald as that is the name on his gravestone. His date of birth appears on death notice as 24 Dec 1824 - gravestone gives date as 1823. Birth place was possibly Ballymore-Eustace in County Kildare. His parents names also appear on the death notice, with mother's maiden name Hester McMahon; father Terence William.

Arrived in SA about 1840 according to Malherbe. Some records state he ran away from home at early age and served with 91st Foot Regiment (Munster). In "Assegai over the hills" by FC Metrowich the 91st Regiment regiment was aboard the ship "Abercrombie Robinson" which arrived in SA waters on 27 Aug 1842. His name appears in the Munster Books of 1843 - see Albany Museum, Grahamstown. Noted he was at Fort Beaufort, Peddie, Blinkwater areas in 1843/45. His last salary cheque was on 25 Feb 1845 in Fort B, close to Tarkastad. He deserted the British army sometime in the 1840s together with his life-long friend Thomas (Tom) Kelly and joined Gert Kruger and Hermanus Steyn under General A H Potgieter with his Voortrekkers at Schoemansdal. Also fought under Pretorius in the Battle of Boomplats against Sir Harry Smith, in 1848. Both friends had married Boer girls. (Tom Kelly married a Du Plooy - also courted the daughter of Hermanus Potgieter).

After they swore allegiance to the British Crown they were pardoned for their desertion (Certificate of Discharge exists dated 8 Sep 1877).

He was a farming pioneer in the Zoutpansberg & established Ballymore Farm, (named after hometown in Ireland) which stretched from the Doorn River in the west to Klein Letaba in the Lowveld in the east. The home he built still stands today. He established himself as a trader and storekeeper. He was a friend of Venda chief Makhado who gave him permission to trade. Was also a hunter of ivory. He knew Paul Kruger.

Was a Catholic - noted in Doopboek of the Hervormde Gemeente of Zoutpansberg when children were baptised.

See article in Landbou Weekblad 11 June 1952 p. 23, which includes photo of him, his farm house and grave.

He is mentioned in several books "The chair of the Ramabulanas" by Dorothea Moeller-Malan, p. 127, 131-132, 152, 159 160, 176, 184, 187 (refers to Johannes the grandson of old man Fitzgerald), 193, 206 and the "Townspeople of the Soutpansberg" by Johann WN Tempelhoff, p. 27-28, 45 (daughter Tienie (Gertruida) Kelly).

All 6 children appear on his death notice.

Heese states there was a daughter Maria? But a Magdalena born 5 Sep 1866 - this acc. to Malherbe?

Friend of Fitzgerald

John Thomas Kelly, SV/PROG