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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: mikesel on Thursday 29 March 18 16:24 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I wonder whether anyone on here might be able to help me.
I am researching Alexander McTAVISH, who, according to family history emigrated to South Africa sometime around 1880 to 1885 following a family argument.
We know that he married a South African woman, Annie Nellie JORDAN, (who was born in Winterburg, Cape Colony around 1873), sometime prior to 1890, as they had 2 children together in 1890 and 1891, both children being born in Queenstown.
Further family history is that Alexander was a mounted police officer and as Queenstown was the HQ for 5 District Cape Mounted Police, it is possible that he was a member of the Cape Mounted Police.
To date I have not been able to confirm whether this is correct and am wondering whether anyone knows whether service records for the Cape Mounted Rifles survived and if so how I might be able to search them to see if I can find Alexander?
Of interest is that in November 1901, Annie was in England where she re married, her status on the wedding certificate being shown as widow. This indicates that Alexander would have died prior to 1901. Possibly coincidentally, her 2nd husband, William JOHNSTON had served in the British Royal Artillery in South Africa from 1899 to 1901.
Thank you in anticipation
Mike
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There's a service record in the Transvaal archives https://goo.gl/hEBmnL
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Looking at the South Africa Medal rolls, there is an A Mctavish (395) in A Division, South African Constabulary. Clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and Transvaal. Discharged 30/9/01.
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There are a number of Alexander McTavish's on our archives. Could you give us a little more information, such as his parents names or those of his children, it would help to narrow it down. The Death Notices from that far back don't always list the spouse's name.
From the date of the Service record it would seem he may have served in the Anglo Boer War. You would have to order it from the archives as they are not online.
Sue
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The passenger list for the Kinfauns Castle arrived Southampton on 19 July 1901 includes the following family, travelling from Natal:
A McTavish 26 occupation: wife
EW[? hard to read] a girl aged 8
RG a boy aged 8
Is that Annie and children?
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I found this, not sure if it is your Alexander but worth taking a look:
http://www.ancestors.co.za/database/member/constabulary-view.php?q=6113
Just tried the link and it won't take you to the info if you're not signed in. It is free www.ancestors.co.za then go to database and search Constabulary just enter his name.
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Hi Sue
Thank you for getting back to me. Unfortunately, I am still trying to track down Alexander's parents and all I know with any certainty is that he married Annie Nellie JORDAN in South Africa probably somewhere around 1890 and had 2 children, Ellen Martha McTAVISH, born at Queenstown, Cape Colony 12/05/1890 and Robert John McTAVISH born 28/11/1891 also at Queenstown.
At the moment, my theory is that Alexander died sometime before 1900 and Annie Nellie met her future second husband William MITCHELL, who was serving in the Royal Artillery during the Second Boer War either before or after Alexander died. He was from Bristol in the UK and as Annie has no apparent link to the UK it seems to point to the fact that she and her 2 children followed him back to the UK to marry and start a 'new life'.
Family history is that Annie was from a Boer family and in the circumstances at the time, is it possible that she 'anglicised' her name to become more acceptable when she arrived in the UK? On her UK Marriage certificate she gave her father's details as John Peter JORDAN, (Deceased) who had been a farmer.
Once again thank you for your help and best regards
Mike
There are a number of Alexander McTavish's on our archives. Could you give us a little more information, such as his parents names or those of his children, it would help to narrow it down. The Death Notices from that far back don't always list the spouse's name.
From the date of the Service record it would seem he may have served in the Anglo Boer War. You would have to order it from the archives as they are not online.
Sue
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Hi everyone
Thank you so much for all you help. I have got a few more leads to work on now and I am sure I will be able to track him down!!
Best regards
Mike
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Hi Shaun
Maybe I am being rabbit dense, but do you know whether is it possible to access the SA archive files online?
Best regards
mike
There's a service record in the Transvaal archives https://goo.gl/hEBmnL
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do you know whether is it possible to access the SA archive files online
Not records of service as far as I am aware. But that record (dated 1901) is I think the one that has been transcribed on the website that 3sillydogs posted the link to, and the same man that I found in the Boer war medal rolls. Not looking like your man because of the discharge date 30/9/01, the fact that he is recorded as being single, and his age - he would only have been 11 when Ellen was born.
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Hi Shaun
I thought that might be the case the search goes on!!
Thanks for your help
Mike
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I thought that might be the case, but it was worth a look anyway.
It is possible that she would have anglicesed her name, which could have made her maiden name possibly Jordaan
It is possible that Alexander died, but they could have also divorced. Given the time it is possible that "widow" would have been more acceptable.
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do you know whether is it possible to access the SA archive files online
Not records of service as far as I am aware. But that record (dated 1901) is I think the one that has been transcribed on the website that 3sillydogs posted the link to, and the same man that I found in the Boer war medal rolls. Not looking like your man because of the discharge date 30/9/01, the fact that he is recorded as being single, and his age - he would only have been 11 when Ellen was born.
Hello
With a free sign in - the South African Constabulary (early 1900s) were on the Family Search (FS) a few months ago.
They are on long reel/s of film, which has been converted to b&w digital images and were available to download.
The Attestation Paper and usually one other sheet, gives date of birth and place, etc.
ADDED
Known as Record of Conduct and Service
Find their SAC or FSP etc., Volume number with Service Number here first, once you have found that, you might be able to find the Volume and film on FS ...
http://www.national.archives.gov.za/index.htm
"Search National Automated Archival Information Retrieval System"
GO TO POST #15
Mark
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Added to previous post.
Plus in index of the catalogues ...
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl
Just checking the list, as to which records I found my relative under. It took me several hours to find a return to get the Service Number and Volume Number.
Trying to work it out again where I found my Volume and Officers Service Number (needed for FS)
GO TO NEXT POST ...
Mark
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Hello
Off the Menu All Archives Repositories and National Registers of non-public records
I found my relative listed here in the S A Constabulary
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300gi?20180330201101B98D5969%26DB%3DRSAE
If you find a possible relative/s initial and surname, take a note of all returns that might relate to the person, as you will need the Series (several letters), Volume number and the accompanying number (which hopefully should be the Service Number).
GO TO NEXT POST ...
Mark
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For South African Constabulary Record of Conduct and Service details ...
Menu
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl
It should be this link (below) off the menu (above) for the bulk of the South African Constabulary
"All Archives Repositories and National Registers of non-public records"
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300gi?20180330201101B98D5969%26DB%3DRSAE
Type in surname 1st line
Type in 'Conduct' 2nd line
(or try 'Service' instead)
press Search button
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Hopefully you will get the number of document (titles) saved
click "Saved Queries"
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Next page (not featured)
click relevant link
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Hopefully, the results Page ;D ;D with the relevant:- Source; Volume Number; Reference; Officer Name details all to be noted down as they are required to find in the Family Search catalogue reels.
If name only, click again for any details.
If the S.A. Source is 'FSP' many of these are online.
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Family Search (South African - Source FSP)
Some reels are converted to digital images online (free sign in required to Family Search).
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjbqcrL4pTaAhWMXMAKHUWHCqIQFggnMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Fsearch%2Fcatalog%2F543629&usg=AOvVaw0SQ3SBYvKb0esOAtgAC8sC
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/South_Africa_Online_Genealogy_Records
Mark
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Hi
Once again thank you everyone for your help. I have now found out from other family members that Alexander was believed to have served as a mounted policeman in Queenstown and that he was shot outside his home, subsequently dying of his wounds. His hometown seems correct as his 2 children Ellen Martha, (b.12/05/1890) and Robert John (b.28/11/1891), both show on the UK 1911 Census as having been born in Queenstown, Cape Colony, while Annie is shown on the same document to have been born in Winterberg, Cape Colony in about 1873, - her maiden name would have been Jordan or Jordan and her father, who was a farmer was named as John Peter.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to confirm exactly when this occurred, but his wife Annie McTAVISH arrived back in the UK in July 1901 and in November 1901 she re married William JOHNSTON at Bristol. William had been serving in the Royal Field Artillery in South Africa from 1899 to October 1901 when he returned to the UK and as Annie had no other known links to the UK it seems that she got to know William either before or after Alexander was killed and travelled to the UK to marry him.
Does anyone have any idea what newspapers covered the Queenstown area around 1900 as I would like to see if there is any record of a policeman being shot and killed in Queenstown around this time?
Thanks
Mike
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You could try www.eggsa.org they have a number of newspapers that have transcribed and are searchable. Not sure what periods they would cover but it may be worth a look.