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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: jaelma on Saturday 04 November 17 14:30 GMT (UK)
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Dear All I wonder if anyone can help me find out about a Charles Matthews born August 15 August in Henbury Gloucestershire England. He was married to Emily Unknown a South African. They had two daughters Emma born c1882 and Elizabeth born c1887. Charles built up an Hotel Trade in Cape Town. He certainly travelled to NZ to see his brother Edwin and was in SA in 1917. One or both of his daughters is said to have died on May 24 at Sea Point Cape Town.
I am travelling to Cape Town later this month, so it would be great to have any information to follow up. Thanks a lot Janet Matthews
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I take it that is your tree on line, so you are only looking for SA information?
Jennifer
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All I know is his early life in the U.K. and what family have told me. We know very little about his life in SA. Janet
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Hi Jaelma
Did you look at findmypast for the passenger lists (UK - South Africa and back / South Africa - New Zealand and back)?
Did you look at familysearch for BMD in South Africa or passenger lists (especially New Zealand)?
Did you look at the links for websites/databases in South Africa in the subforum for emigration to South Africa here on rootschat?
Did you look at the newspapers of New Zealand https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/
Regards
Svenja
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Dear Svenja, I have tried some of these in the past, but will check all again. Thanks Janet
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Hi Jaelma
THURSDAY 27th JULY 1882
BIRTH
MATTHEWS - On 25th July 1882 a Daughter to the wife of C MATTHEWS at Cape Town
https://www.eggsa.org/newspapers/index.php/cape-times/1181-cape-times-1882-3-july-september
Regards
Svenja
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Dear Svenja, That is brilliant information. Haven't found anything on Family Search or Find My Past. Having difficulty with dealing with the Emigration records on Rootschat but will persevere. Thanks again Janet
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This looks like it might be a reference to Charles and his daughter Emma:
http://www.eggsa.org/library/main.php?g2_itemId=531169
Charles Matthews, J.P. born at Gloucestershire, England, 15 August 1855, died at Sea Point, 14 August 1923
also
Emma Br???, nee Matthews, born 25 July 1882, died 26 June 1928
I think this might be daughter Emma/Emily, she was divorced from a Mr Brunt:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2QM-F82M
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl
Search here in "All Archives Repositories and National Registers of non-public records"
Put Matthews and Brunt in two different search boxes, you should find a reference for divorce between Emily Brunt, born Matthews, and Edmund Ludwig Christian Brunt, in 1918.
There is also another reference in 1939 to a woman who may be Emily Matthews/Brunt's daughter.
I think this might be Elizabeth's burial, married to Henry Christie Flockhart; the date of birth looks to me like 1886 and the date of death is May 24 which matches your earlier suggestion of one of his daughters having that death date:
http://www.eggsa.org/library/main.php?g2_itemId=3406896
http://www.identitynumber.org/marriage-lookup-surname-results1.php?surname=MATTHEWS
- this website
Emily Matthews and Edmund Brunt, 1904:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01l04/
Elizabeth Matthews and Henry Christie Flockhart, 1913:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01l03/
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Dear Jorose, I am truly thankful and utterly amazed at what you have found out. If I may I will reply in detail tomorrow. This is all too much to take in this evening. So many thanks for all you have done for me. When I come to South Africa from the U.K. later this month I shall visit my grandfather’s grave in Johannesburg. Little did I expect maybe to visit his uncle’s grave in Cape Town. Many many thanks Janet Matthews
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Dear Jorose, I have now accessed all the documents. I am going to copy our conversation and send to a cousin for her views and comments.
I had Charles' birth as 1856 rather than 1855. There is record of his birth on the database registered in Sep 1856. I have also been told by family information that he was baptized on March 9th 1857.
I wonder why Emma calls herself Emily although on her tombstone we revert to Emma.
Interesting to see there is a daughter named Emily. If I've read it correctly married to John William Turner.
Is there any possibility of finding the marriage of Charles and his wife Emily. Sorry no surname known. If the first child is born 1882 , then the marriage might be just prior to this.
We think Emily (senior) survived after her husband's death and although visited Canada returned to SA.
Let me again say a great big thank you. I shall study all the material over the next few days. Maybe speak again.