This project is designed to collect Research Information, Discussions, Queries etc on the Pitt family of South Africa.

Core profiles

• William Pitt (1753 - ) of Tetbury, Gloucestershire

His sons:

• Robert Pitt Snr (1777 - ) m Lucy Rapley come to SA in 1820 in Sephton's Party
  
• William Pitt (1777 - 1850) m Mary Rogers come to SA in 1826 in Shepherd's Party
  

THE PITT FAMILY IN SOUTH AFRICA

The Pitt family came out to South Africa from Gloucestershire in two groups, both headed by sons of William Pitt & Jane Long who lived at Tetbury.

These brothers may have been twins, since it is known that the one, Robert Pitt - a husbandman and turnkey, was born in 1777 and was an 1820 Settler who came to SA in Sephton’s Party with his wife, Lucy Rapley and 8 year old son, Robert Pitt.

Whereas, although the date of birth is not confirmed, it appears that the other brother, William – a shoemaker - may also have been born in 1777, and he and his wife, Mary Rogers, having agreed on 7.5.1826 to pay half their fare, were enabled to join his brother in the Cape Colony. They came out in Shepherd's party in 1826, bringing with them five children, 22 yr old Sarah [although it is uncertain whether this person is actually a conflation with John’s wife Sarah, below], 13 yr old William, 10 yr old James, 7 yr old Thomas and 23 yr old John Pitt. The latter was married to Sarah Roberts, and they appear to have had two children with them on the boat: 1 or 2 yr old John, and baby Mary. Both had just been christened in Middlesex.

• 1.Robert Snr (1777 - ) m Lucy Rapley
  • 1.1 Robert Jnr (1810) m Mary Short
    • 1.1.1 Mary Ann (1836-1873) (married William Forrester)
    • 1.1.3 Joseph (1839 - 1922) (married Charlotte Blackbeard)
    • 1.1.4 Sarah Jane (1840 - ) (married Robert Swan)
    • 1.1.5 Selena Elizabeth (1842-1845)
    • 1.1.6 James (1844 - ) (married Martha Hood)
  • 1.2 James (1813 - < 1820)
  • 1.3 Joseph ( 1818 - <1820)
• 2.William (1777 - ) m Mary Rogers
  • 2.1 John Pitt (1803 Buckinghamshire – 1870), m Sarah Roberts
    • 2.1.1 John (1824 - ) (His wife was a nurse in Grahamstown).
    • 2.1.2 Mary. (1826 - ) (married Joseph Green);
    • 2.1.3 Sarah (1827 – 1893) (married 1847 Samuel Wood)
    • 2.1.4 Ruth (married Edward Dicks);
    • 2.1.5 Ann (married George Flannigan)
    • 2.1.6 Jane (1830 – 1893) (married 1851 Henry Webster).
    • 2.1.7 Phillis (1830 – 1898) (married 1850 William Freemantle). It has been suggested that she was born in London, but as the family were in the Cape Colony by 1826, this may not be so, although her Uncle William did return to England after coming out with the family.

2.1.7i Patience Anne (Annie) Freemantle b. 1850 in Burgersdorp., d. 1912 in Burgersdorp a spinster.
2.1.7ii Lois Emma Freemantle b. 1852, d. 1926 in Queenstown.
2.1.7iii William Roberts Freemantle b. 29 September 1854 in Burgersdorp, d. 2 August 1923 in Welgenoit Dist. Marico, Tol.
2.1.7iv John Henry (Jack) Freemantle b. 8 July 1856 in Burgersdorp, d.1907 in Burgersdorp. m Lizzy Bibbey in 3 June 1891.
2.1.7v. James Albert (Jimmy) Freemantle b. 10 June 1861 in Burgersdorp, d. 30 September 1917 in Dordrecht.
2.1.7vi Alice Jane Freemantle b. 28 November 1862 in Burgersdorp d. young.

• **2.1.8 William (1836 – 1850)
  • *2.1.9 Elizabeth (1841 – 1888) (married 1861 John Ashenhurst)
  • 2.2 Sarah (1804 -) (if she isn’t a conflation with John’s wife, Sarah Roberts)
  • 2.3 William (1813 -), (who returned to England)
  • 2.4 James (1816 - 1842), (married 1837 to Penelope Short Grit)
  • 2.5 Thomas (1819 -), (married Dinah ? and died in Grahamstown; they had three children) [Primary Source: http://www.genealogy.amay.co.uk/main.php?p=FF2-pittRoberts. Edits based on new data welcomed - Sharon April 2014].

Although one source has suggested that “The John Pitt who married Sarah Roberts 'was a descendant of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham and Prime Minister of England during the reign of George III. William Pitt was also a witness signatory to the Will of Hannah Lightfoot, morganatic wife of George III and mother of George Rex, who was banished to South Africa and settled in Knysna.” The former claim is disproved by the fact that the Prime Minister had neither spouse, nor children; and the latter by DNA tests in 2004 disproving any royal connection. [Sharon April 2014]

Queries & Discussion

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Resources

• http://www.genealogy.amay.co.uk/main.php?p=FF2-pittRoberts

Jump Back to:

• WELKOM CUZZINS: Geni SA Projects' Main Site Index & Help Page
• 1820 Settlers
• 1820 Settlers Sephton's Party
• Post 1820 British Settlers in SA

See Also Related Geni Project Pages:

• Index of Other SA Surname Projects
• SA Progenitors on Geni