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Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: namatse on Monday 02 February 26 14:38 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to link my Great Aunt Catherine (Kate) O'Neill, born in Ireland in 1876, to the Presidents Theatre in Pretoria.
Within the family it is believed that she stayed at Polly's Hotel in Pretoria and may have been involved with the Theatre. These links are very tenuous but what is confirmed is that she lived and died in Pretoria and in her Will she left monies to both Genevieve and Christopher Reck. The connection here is that Karl Reck had been the owner of the Theatre.
Can anyone advise how I can research this further ? Is it possible to research Pretoria City Directories for names and addresses, anywhere that I could find any listings for Polly’s Hotel and its long‑term residents. Or archival material relating to Polly’s Hotel or the President’s Theatre.
All and any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
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Do you know how old she was when she went out there? Should be on a passenger list outgoing.
Was she a single lady?
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Read this https://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php/President_Theatre
The Pretoria Hotel was on the western side of Church Square and owned by Herrington and Tossel. The building can be seen on the right in the photo, captured in 1889. It was later taken over by the German Karl Reck and its name changed to the South African Hotel (photo 2) It became a place where the German population met regularly and the forerunner of the Deutscher Verein was established there. Part of the hotel was demolished when the Netherlands Bank building was erected in 1897. To see the photos look at https://www.facebook.com/FoTHRC/posts/the-pretoria-hotel-was-on-the-western-side-of-church-square-and-owned-by-herring/1046537307670043/
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I found this article on Pollys hotel https://artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldg_images.php?bldgid=3832#10511
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Millepede, unfortunately I have no record of when she moved to SA. She appears in the 1901 Irish census with two of her brothers, they moved to Wales and are recorded in the 1911 census but Catherine is not mentioned. She never married. Can you let me know which site would have outgoing passenger list. Of course I do not know if she left from Ireland or England.
Pampoen, thank you for the links and info regarding Polly's.
Thanks for these comments and links they are appreciated.
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There are passenger lists on ancestry website. One of mine emigrated to SA in 1890 and he is on such a list.
Is there an occupation listed for her in 1901?
Just so I can find the 1901 and have a look what were the brothers names/ages?
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She is listed as Kate Neill, Domestic worker, along with two of her brothers John and Timothy. The record shows them living at House 38 in Ballincollig
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Thank you that helps. I was looking under O’Neill.
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It does become quite confusing as on some records the family surname is Neill and on others O'Neill