Investigating James Robinson

South African 1820 Settler

Hayhurst's Party

Settler's list

The party sailed from Liverpool in the John on 13 January 1820 and reached Table Bay on 19 April and Algoa Bay during May. One of the emigrants, Henry Hudson, died on board the John before sailing; his widow, Mary E. Oertel went on to the Cape with the support of her nephew, James Robinson.

Maria E.M. Oertel was first married to Henry Hudson (c1781 -1820) and then married George Alexander Whitehead on 28 February 1822.

The party's first location, named Trappes Valley after the Provisional Magistrate of Bathurst, proved inadequate, and further land was assigned to three separate divisions under Cawood and Griffiths, Murray, and Watson".

The purpose of this project is to find the origins of James Robinson, aged 21, a farmer, who arrived in South Africa in 1820, and to discover what happened to him subsequently.

Facts known about him are few, and hopefully more will be found in due course.

Please add any information you may have, or contact a collaborator to have it included.

James Robinson

KNOWN FACTS

• Born - about 1798
• Birthplace - probably Lancashire
• Nephew of Mary E. Oertel according to The Settler Handbook by MD Nash

Notes, information and FOUND references to explore

James Robinson== 1820 Settler (1798 - ?)

(Not all relevant)

From Robert S.J. Prestwich

James Robinson aged 21 of Hayhurst's party, was on board the ship "John" and was described to be the nephew of Maria Oertel. This is most likely more related to Henry Hudson, possibly Henry's sister's child. This James Robinson was supposed to escort Maria Oertel to South Africa, after the death of Henry Hudson in January 1820. However this job was taken on by John Bold. His son Peter, who was 18 years, was (Colin Turing Campbell's list of 1910) given that task. Peter joined the the Party in the late December of 1819. The dates, time, ages and situations all work perfectly.
Campbell's list was made from the January 1820 list which is no longer in the Kew archive in London. Peter was doing an apprenticeship (Letters of John Bold) and was given permission to go by his overseer"
And

"Regarding James Robinson circa 1798. He was the nephew of Maria Oertel. (Hudson). It is probable that Henry Hudson's older sister married a Robinson about 1795 ish and James was their issue. The Grahamstown James Robinson is the man. Many of the "farmers deserted after the dreadful weather of 1821/2. Maria and George A Whitehead moved to Rietfontein where George worked for Henry Crause. probably early 1823. There is a James Robinson who was interned in Somerset West hospital and another who requests a passage back to England. Both suit the dates. Same person? Possibly".

Records found have been transferred to "other" James Robinson (c1802- Sept 1859) - James Robinson

Evidence is needed to establish whether he is the 1820 Settler or not

Marriage 1874
Marriage of a Thomas Robinson, Police Constable, born in King William's Town to Martha Jurgens on 02 Feb 1874 at Kimberley

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9SW-74NY?i=17&cc=...

SEARCHED

• King William's Town, Cape Province, South Africa Baptism Records 1849–1863