Foreword

There has been extensive research that has been conducted by independant researchers regarding the name of Gillmer in South Africa. In conjunction with the surviving research of A. Gillmer (nee Geyer) and recent researchers (S. Manson et al.) - the hope is that this page survives as a modern/digitized account of the family history in South Africa. This project serves the descendants of William Gillmer and Benedicta Benge.

A brief introduction

William Gillmer of Sussex and Benedicta Benge of Mountfield, Sussex came to South Africa with a few of their children and settled in Cape Town, the Cape of Good Hope, around 1822. In the early years, the family grew as they settled in the diverse communities near the Cape Castle (Boom Street, Barracks Street, etc.). In this project, details and references that recount some of the surviving family lines will be recounted here.

Special Mentions

Although this project serves the community of the Gillmer families in South Africa, it also aims to recognize the efforts undertaken by researchers at their own expense. A. Gillmer (nee Geyer), S. Manson and independant South African Family Search experts are but a few that have worked tirelessly to find, source and accurately index details about the various family lines.

From England to the Cape Colony: Part I

In order to understand the origins fo the Gillmer family in South Africa, one must first establish their beginnings in England. The first account referenced was that of the Marriage of Benedicta Benge to William Gillmer on 17 August 1809 in Mountfield, Sussex, England (see: Parish Register Transcription Mountfield_Vol 3_1657-1810_PAR 424/1/15). This information has proved useful in finding out more about the respective births of William and Benedicta.

William and Benedicta Benge were both born within the vicinity of the historical lands of Sussex, England. One can identifiy through the archives that William was baptised within a 3 mile radius of Mountfield, Sussex between 1789 or 1795 (respectively, 6 June 1790 in Mountfield, Sussex or 6/17 April 1795 in Battle, Sussex). The latter of the three records suggestion is the least probable, based on the respective age that William may have passed away at in the Cape (mentioned later).

One should note that a transcript taken from a book, British Settlers in Natal: Vol 7 Gadney - Guy by Spencer, Shelagh O'Byrne, makes mention that a William Gillmer may have come from Scotland, but this remains to be seen in any way as marriage and birth records for children and the vicinity within Sussex shows that this account is unlikely.

As for Benedicta, she was most certainly baptised on 25 March 1792 to John (born 1771) and Susanna Benge (nee Perry) (born unknown) in Mountfield, Sussex ( East Sussex Record Office; Brighton, England; Sussex Parish Registers; Reference: Par 424/1/1/4). Benedicta was the first born of three known children. Her siblings were Richard (* 1794, Mountfield, Sussex) and Susanna (* 1797, Mountfield, Sussex).

Next, taken from a biographical book to be published by S. Manson, herewith information regarding Benedicta's family is referenced:

Unfortunately, records indicate that Benedicta’s mother passed away in 1798 at Mountfield, Sussex and was buried later that year (⚰︎ / ⚱︎ 14 Sep/Dec 1789). John died in 1811 and was buried in Mountfield, Sussex (⚰︎ / ⚱︎ 25 August 1811). Benedicta and William later got married in Mountfield, Sussex in the presence of two individuals James Swect-{illegible} and Easter Soutere (⚭ 17 August 1809). They were married at the All Saints Church near Mountfield. (S.Manson, A biographical account of the Gillmer Family in South Africa, 2023)

All Saints Church is located about 3 miles north of Battle, Sussex in Church Road, Mountfield, East Sussex.

Settling in the Cape Colony: Part II

Over the course of the next 11 years, the family would grow as they would have 3 children born respectively in Sussex and lastly in Kent, before starting their voyage to the Cape. A letter sent in 1842 to the Governor and Commander-in-chief of the colony of the Cape, Sir George Napier indicates that William had been a resident of Cape Town for 20 years which suggests that the Gillmer arrived and settled in the Cape roughly in late 1821 or very early January 1822.

William was very much involved in Wesleyan affairs n Cape Town. Weselyan, is defined as committed to evangelism and discipleship and adheres to the teachings of Charles' brother John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement (Noah Blakemore Briggs,Wesleyan Church History, Beliefs & Organization, Study.com, accessed: 2024). As indicated by the business partners he worked closely with, one being a prominent business man, and money-lender of the Cape, James Mortimer Maynard (with whom he had entered loan agreements with and eventually legal entanglements, Maynard vs. Gillmer Trustees).

Between 1827 - 1849, William primary residence was in Cape Town. His occupations were listed as a sawyer (±1827 ~ ±1841) and ironmonger (±1841 ~ ±1849). The main residence and places of businesses were at 17 St. Jan Street (1827 - 1829), 11 Boom Street (now Commercial Street, near Buitenkant Road, 1833 - early 1841), 25 Grave Street (late 1841), 42 Boom Street (1845), and 28 Grave Street (1847 - 1849). Boom street seems to be his primary living and business residence spanning multiple years in a sporadic fashion. This part of Cape Town was mostly inhabitited by followers of the Wesleyan faith (as previously mentioned), but also by immigrants of various backgrounds.

William himself was active in his church community in the early phase of the 1830s, as indicated in a book titled, Memorials of South Africa. The following quote was given that describes his involvement with a church being erected on the 29th September 1934 in Somerset (in the region of Church Street, Somerset West).

“The people here soon determined to erect themselves a
chapel, and in this undertaking they were assisted by Mr.
Gilmer of Cape Town, and other friends, who supplied them
with a pulpit, window - frames, door, &c. The chapel,
when completed, was opened by Mr. Cameron, after which, several
received the truth , and a small society was formed among
them .”

This is in relation to one of the previously oldest churches in South Africa, located in Somerset West. Unfortunately, the front side of the building collapsed in 2010. The original church was located on the property roughly at, -34.08589110775725, 18.84959275840322.

Life in the Cape Colony: Part III

Between 1839 - 1942, we learn about the financial difficulties faced by William Gillmer and his businesses in Cape Town. The most prominent cases involve insolvency, debt owed to him and business partnerships ending. Some of the most prominent were recounted in Wood vs. Gillmer, Maynard vs. Gillmer Trustees which can be find in various versions of the Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of the Cape of Good Hope.

to be continued soon...

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Other Individuals

The following individuals bare the same surname, but a direct link with William Gillmer (progenitor of this project's family) has yet to be ascertained. Notes from the author: It is probable that the individuals listed may share direct or in-direct links from England.

• Thomas Ellis Gillmer, (b. November 1882 in Jansenville, Cape Colony, South Africa ~ d.18 May 1956 in Uitenhage, Cape Province, South Africa) grew up with the Fletcher family, a farming family from Jansenville District. At the tender age of 15, he enlisted in the British Army and served in the Goringe's Flying Column (in the Anglo Boer War / African War). After the war, he settled in Uitenhage and married Mary Gwendoline Robinson on 27 May 1907 in Uitenhage, Cape Colony, South Africa. They had two little girls, Dorothy Irene (b. 7 February 1908) and May Elizabeth (b. 25 October 1910). Unfortunately, both the mother and children had all passed away at some stage before 1916. Later, Thomas married Gladys Eva Wootton on 27 September 1916 in Uitenhage, Cape Province, South Africa. The couple had 7 children between the years of 1916 - 1929. Family accounts state that he was a reserved person who never spoke about his Gillmer origins. Although some of the Gillmer family of William Gillmer knew of Thomas and shared speculative accounts of their relation, no physical nor archival records survive to indicate the true link. Family Search Profile: GZN4-DQX

Additional Resources

Births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales

National Automated Archival Information Retrieval System (NAAIRS)