RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: DeanneandTony on Wednesday 15 April 09 06:34 BST (UK)
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My great uncle - Walter Alfred Thomas Hanchant left Australia c 1902 bound for South Africa and the Boer War. After the war he settled in SA and also took part in WWI.
His first marriage was to an Elizabeth Shelton (I believe that she had been previously married) and his second to a widow Mrs Gillespie.
Although I have had contact with 2 grandchildren they know little of their grandfather's life in South Africa - he died c 1942 - and I would love to know more about his life there.
He worked for the Pretoria Portland Cement company.
Deanne
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Hi Deanne
From the National Archives in Pretoria:
DEPOT TAB
SOURCE MHG
VOLUME_NO 0
REFERENCE 3325/42
DESCRIPTION HANCHANT, ALFRED WALTER THOMAS.
STARTING 19420000
ENDING 19420000
REMARKS SURVIVING SPOUSE ALETTA HENDRICA HANCHANT. (BORN VAN DER WESTHUIZEN).
DEPOT TAB
SOURCE MHG
VOLUME_NO 0
REFERENCE 69887
DESCRIPTION HANCHANT, ELIZABETH CATHERINE. BORN FRANCIS.
STARTING 19290000
ENDING 19290000
REMARKS SURVIVING SPOUSE ALFRED WALTER THOMAS HANCHANT.
From the above it looks like his second wife was Aletta. In the Archives there is also this reference:
DEPOT TAB
SOURCE MHG
VOLUME_NO 0
REFERENCE 7005/57
DESCRIPTION GILLESPIE, ETHEL MAY. BORN HANCHANT.
STARTING 19570000
ENDING 19570000
REMARKS SURVIVING SPOUSE JOHN WILLIAM GILLESPIE
which may suggest that one of his children married a Gillespie and not that he married a Gillespie.
You can google Pretoria Portland Cement and on their website you will find this timeline which may be of interest: http://www.ppc.co.za/ppc/view/ppc/en/page53
The best advice is to obtain copies of the documents in the Estate Files listed above. The Death Notice will list all children and the Liquidation & Distribution Accounts will give you some insight into their standard of living.
Regards
Moira
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Also from the NA Archives, there is a record for Shelton, James
surviving spouse Elizabeth Catrine Shelton (born Francis)
in 1908.
Here's a son of his who died in WWII:
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=993979
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Thanks very much JoRose and Moira - I'll look at those References.
When I first went to Pretoria in 1990, it was almost impossible to get to look at things and when I went back 10 years ago I just wasn't there for long enough.
With regards to Uncle Walter's second wife Aletta she was a Gillespie by marriage and his daughter Ethel married her son John - makes for some very complicated family ties! The whole Gillespie clan has inter-family marriages through it and in 1990 I met one man who was related to me in about 7 different ways!
Can either of you tell me, when I apply for the document copies should I specify that I need them in English? My written Afrikaans is non existent even though I can understand the spoken. Also what sort of costs are there do you know?
Deanne
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Dear Deanne,
My great great grandmother was Elizabeth Catherine Francis, married to James Shelton who died: 13 April 1908 in Pretoria. Our family knew she remarried but we didn't know who she married. How wonderful to find a relative. Their son James Ernest Shelton B. 1903 was my great grandfather. Do you know anything about Elizabeth and your great uncle? Do you have any pictures or information regarding her family?
Thanking You
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How wonderful! Finally another relative! I'll PM you and let you know what we have we unfortunately is very little!
Kind Regards
Deanne
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Hello
I think I have details on the Hanchetts
My great grand father john gillespie was married to Aletta hanchett
And it appears Elizabeth Catherine was the first wife
Any more you can shed on this line as to Walters line
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Deanne
Could you contact me as my mother was gillespie
And Ethel was my grandfathers sister
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Have contacted you via PM
Deanne
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Claire would love to be in touch re the Hanchant family and Elizabeth. Deanne