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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: Hrob123 on Sunday 21 February 10 13:23 GMT (UK)
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Hi I am trying to find out if anyone knows or has known of any ANNAN family in South Africa?
My mother in law's maiden name was Annan and her father was James Annan (Annon) on the records in SA. He was born c1891 in Beaufort West. I can not find any infomration about his parents etc. If he had any brothers or sisters. My mother in law thinks that he has Scottish roots. Please any help would be most appreciated.
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Hrob123.... This is a very late response.... 14 years perhaps? But, this may or may not be of any assistance. I too am having some difficulty tracing possible ancestors who may have emigrated to South Africa. Which is part of the reason for this very late post.
In a nutshell, John Johnston(e) was born in Annan, Dumfries-shire, Scotland in 1840, (According to the 1841 Scottish Census). He moved to England and the Isle of Man, where he married Jane Edgar in June 1859. Eventually they had 5 children and moved to an address in Walker Street, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. The 1881 Census records him as a 'Beer House Keeper', (a pub landlord).
After 1881, there is no verifiable information on John, his wife Jane or any of his children, save my G.G.Great Grandfather Douglas. By 1891, John's brother Peter and his wife Mary and their family have moved into the premises, and there is no signs of John or any members of his family.
Over time I have tried to trace John and his family, but there is no concrete information that tells of what happened to them. However, a female named Martha Johnston did apparently marry an Owen William Rolfe, who, it would appear travelled to South Africa. Although I can find no emigration information on any of them.
So, if any of your distant relatives had the surnames Johnston, Edgar or Rolfe, there may be a slim chance that they are originally from Annan in Dumfries.
I know it's a long shot, but hey, the information on these things does come from the strangest connections.... Good luck.
P.S. If anyone can shed any light on the likely places to look for the family, it would be much appreciated.
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Owen William Rolfe details. This one died in 1884?
DEPOT NAB
SOURCE MSC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 1/195
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 142
PART 1
DESCRIPTION ROLFE, OWEN WILLIAM. INSOLVENT ESTATE.
STARTING 18840000
ENDING 18840000
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From Familysearch.
Name Owen William Rolfe
Sex Male Age 48 years Birth Date 1852
Spouse's Name Martha Elizabeth Johnstone McAfee
Spouse's Sex Female
Spouse's Age 32 years Spouse's Birth Date 1868 Residence 1871 Tranmere, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom
Event Type Marriage Event Date 1900
Event Place Durban, Natal, South Africa.
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pampoen - Thanks for the info and the Familysearch source. I hadn't been able to find/access this detail, although I am aware of both names and have provisionally included them into my tree, but I have not been able to verify either name which definitively identifies this Martha Elizabeth as the daughter of John. I find it odd that John, together with his wife and several children seem to have disappeared off the face of the Earth. And, whilst it is a likely scenario that they as a family emigrated, I cannot find anything to link them as a family to a ships passenger list. Finally for now, would you happen to know if a). marriage certificates are obtainable from outside of South Africa? and b). whether those cerificates name parents and/or persons present?
More generally, does anyone know of any of the shipping lines, carrying passengers, that sailed from Liverpool to South Africa?
Thanks again
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Hi marriage certificates are available to view online by searching in Familysearch. Shipping lists are available on Findmypast or Ancestorsonboard but to view the actual record you need to buy credits.
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Pampoen - Thanks for the info. As it happens I found Marriage Certs for two of my relatives who married in South Africa just yesterday on Family Search. I wasn't aware of Ancestorsonboard, but I'll have a look and see if I can come up with something.
You have been a great help with this info and it is much appreciated. Cheers