Help in finding ... Elizabeth Pretorious

[nzams]

Hello,

Can anyone help in tracing any details for an Elizabeth Pretorious who married John Holmes in the Johannesburg approx 1904? (her approx age then was 21years)

He was English and had travelled to SA on a ship called Devonia just prior to the outbreak of the Boer War.  After the war he married Elizabeth and they had at least 2 children in SA.

Son - John Roland Holmes born Vyrheid approx 1904
Dau - Enid Maude Holmes born Pietersmaritzburg, 7 Dec 1905

They both then emigrated to NZ in 1907.

Elizabeth is the mother of my Nanna.  Nanna cannot recall any details about Elizabeth other than the above and that she had possibly 1 brother & 1 sister.

I have a tried looking for a few avenues to source her marriage & birth cert's and also her childrens birth certs but have been unable.

It would be much appreciated for any help or guidance in obtaining any information.

Many thanks
A

[brian kaighin]

Hello A, I'm again late in coming in on this one but if Elizabeth Pretorious was South African then, with her children, the info should be in the Archives here in SA.
Regards
Brian Kaighin

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[Hackstaple]

It is likely that her surname was spelled Pretorius.

[brian kaighin]

Either have been found

[nzams]

Hi all,

Thank you to the the above people for their responses, I have tried to contact the South African Archives but with no luck.

It has been a while but further information regarding Elizabeth Pretorius has become available that I thought may help someone in helping us to find information on her parents, some is a little contradictory .....

We have Elizabeth's New Zealand death certificate stating;

Died; 27 Oct 1960 / Age; 76 / Born; Pretoria, SA, 50yrs in NZ / Married; Johannasburg, SA, Age; 21, to John Holmes

Her daughter's New Zealand birth certificate stating;

 - Father; John Holmes (Occupation; Tailor, Age; 52, Birthplace; Tavistock, Devon, England) / Morther; Elizabeth Holmes (Age; 38, Birthplace; Babango, Zululand, SA)

If no one can help find the information can anyone recommend a good researcher that I may contact?

Thanks to all again,




               

[Hackstaple]

Babanago may be the same place as Babanango Natal. Two mysteries here - the valley is far from Pietermaritzburg - about 350 kms and secondly the area - in the heart of Zululand - was not pacified after the Zulu war which included Rorkes Drift in 1877 - only 7 or 8 year before the birth of Elizabeth.

The other information does not appear to be contradictory to what you already had.

The other mystery is why a family would have migrated from Natal to New Zealand about 1907 when things were pretty rosy in South Africa but far from that in NZ.

[nzams]

The mystery deepens further.

To summarise and to also add a little extra info-


I know that John Holmes was English and had travelled to SA on a ship called Devonia just prior to the outbreak of the Boer War.  After the war he married Elizabeth Pretorius and they had at least 3 children in SA and 7 more in New Zealand.

Son - John Roland Holmes born Vyrheid approx 18 Nov 1904
Dau - Enid Maude Holmes born Pietersmaritzburg, 7 Dec 1905
Son - Thos (Listed on ship bound for NZ, see below)

Her Son, John Roland Holmes, South African birth certificate (courtesy of my Nanna) stating; Born; Vryheid, 18 Nov 1904, Parents; European

One of her other daughter's New Zealand birth certificate, (my Nanna), stating; - Born; 29 Jan 1921 / Father; John Holmes (Occupation; Tailor, Age; 52, Birthplace; Tavistock, Devon, England) / Mother; Elizabeth Holmes (Age; 38, Birthplace; Babango, Zululand, SA)

Elizabeth's New Zealand death certificate stating; - Died; 27 Oct 1960 / Age; 76 / Born; Pretoria, SA, 50yrs in NZ / Married; Johannasburg, SA, Age; 21, to John Holmes

They both then emigrated to NZ in 1907 on the St Corinthic leaving Plymouth 27 Jul 1907 destined for Wellington NZ, details from the passenger list; - John Holmes (Tailor, 35yrs), Elizabeth (Wife, 24yrs), John (Son, 3yrs), Heuda (Dau, 2yrs), Thos (Son, 1yr)

And as a curiosity my Nanna has the following personally written note in her documents; - Monuments Commission, Around his Tree, Commandant General A W F Pretorious, members of the Volkstand, and the b??ghers of the Republic of Natalia, Decided by a majority on 5th July 1842, To accept British Rule.  For what reason she has this note, she cannot yet recall.


If I was to obtain them, what information do birth and marriage certificates have on them in South Africa?  Do they normally list parent names and details

Do birth certificates normally omit the parents names?

Once again all your help is much appreciated,

Kind regards,

Aaron

[Hackstaple]

And as a curiosity my Nanna has the following personally written note in her documents; - Monuments Commission, Around his Tree, Commandant General A W F Pretorious, members of the Volkstand, and the b??ghers of the Republic of Natalia, Decided by a majority on 5th July 1842, To accept British Rule.

I suggest it said - Around this Tree - members of the Volksraad [Peoples Council] - burghers [citizens]....

The Boer General was Andries Pretorius. The city of Pretoria was named after him.

The oddity is that the actual volksraad decision took place on 8th August 1843 - it is well documented.

Pretorius remained in a state of semi-war with the British for another 10 years up until his death.