Fynney family

[Boy Scout]

In looking for the Fynney family of South Africa my wife and I have been passed some unauthenticated notes by an e-mail correspondent to the effect that a Harry Francis Fynney born Natal 10th October 1852 died 1935 was a Lieutenant with " Tonijast Troop in Africa" 1891-92.
I have entered this into a search engine on the web but failed to obtain a significant response. Does "Tonijast Troop" have any meaning or could anyone point me in the right direction for further research.
 
Boy Scout

[izabel]

I think it is the Tongaat troop.  The Fynney family had a sugar estate in Tongaat.  It would possilbe have been one of the mounted rifle troops

[Boy Scout]

Thanks for that izabel,
I was aware that Fielding Best Fynney b1808 was a sugar planter but he died in 1880 at Ormskirk England his wife returned to South Africa and a son Frederick Bernard was involved with King Cetewayo as an interpreter. Do you have any references regarding the sugar plantation that I could look up, my knowledge of South Africa is limited but growing with this research.
Your explanation fits in as I am aware that members of the family were border agents and one became a member of the Natal Mounted Police who seem to be almost Military in their role. 

Thank you again


Boy Scout

[joahou]

Boy Scout,
Hi, my name is Jo-anne Hounsom and I am from South Africa.
I have recently become interested in tracing some of my roots.

I have information that FB FYNNEY and his wife Frances arrived at Port Natal, South Africa in 1850 with their children Frederick, Oswald, Alfred and Arthur.

I am interested to know what happened to the children and my particular interest is Oswald. I know he became the Magistrate of the Ubombo district and I think he had children Eric and Eileen but I am not sure.

I think Oswald is my great great grandfather.
Any info you have would be appreciated.

Thank you.
regards

Jo-anne Hounsom

[pampoen]

Hi as an ex resident of Natal I suspect the surname Fynney is incorrect.I think it should be Fynn.I looked on Google and I found this on Wikipedia.

First European settlers.The modern city of Durban dates from 1824, when a party of 25 men under British Lieutenant F. G. Farewell arrived from the Cape Colony and established a settlement on the northern shore of the Bay of Natal, near today's Farewell Square. Accompanying Farewell was an adventurer named Henry Francis Fynn. Fynn was able to befriend the Zulu King Shaka by helping him to recover from a stab wound he suffered in battle. As a token of Shaka's gratitude, he granted Fynn a "30-mile strip of coast a hundred miles in depth."

To see more look up first European settlers on Wikipedia.Hope this helps.

Regards Derek

[joahou]

Thanks Pampoen but it is definitely Fynney. They arrived on the King William and settled in Verulam.

[pampoen]

Hi from British Settlers in Natal 1824-1857 by Sheila O Byrne Spencer on the web. Sugar, it was, that came to the rescue, redeeming Murray’s assessment of the coastlands, and boosting the export picture. A number of Byrne settlers ventured into this sphere. With their proximity to the coast, Irons’ settlers were ideally situated for the cultivation of sugar. Matthew Barr, J. C. Blamey, F.B. Fynney, Thomas Groom, Samuel Hill,. J. T. Polkinghorne, and Charles Povall come to mind in this regard. William John Campbell whose abandoned allotments were in the Richmond area, eventually settled near Verulam. Of the Byrne settler families, the Polkinghornes are still cultivating sugar, while the Campbells remained in the industry well into the twentieth century.

I take it FB is Frederick Bernard?If you can get hold of Sheila or someone who has the book you may find more info.Cheers.

[Boy Scout]

Hello joahou,
You are quite correct the Fynney family arrived on the King William. What is not clear is which of his two wives travelled with him.
In 1849 Fielding Best Fynney 1808-1880 arrived in South Africa together with children as you describe, plus Ocea Fynney who was born during the voyage.
In 1830 he married a Francis McFarlane they had two children. In 1838 he married a Louisa Birtles 1814-1914, they are on census together in Manchester England in 1841 together with Frederick Bernard 1839-1888. On 24th March 1873 he again married Louisa Birtles in Manchester England. The two children from his first marriage did not travel to South Africa. Louisa Birtles is the mother of the children you describe. As for Oswald I have one born in Natal 1872 who is her grandson and on census with her in England in 1881. I have a copy of Shelagh OByrne Spencer's notes which I can let you have. I believe that you need to make one more post, you can be a brief as you like, hello will do and then we can use the personal message system to swap information. Look forward to hearing from you
Cheers Boy Scout

[Boy Scout]

pampoen,
Thanks for the input. FB Fynney appears twice.
The father being a Fielding Best Fynney 1808 to 1880 and his son as you say a Frederick Bernard Fynney 7th August 1839 to 4th June 1888.
Your list of names is interesting as the Ocea Fynney I mentioned in my previous post marries a James Roach Blamey in 1871, this family also being on your list.
The passenger list for the King William also shows the Blamey family.

Cheers
Boy Scout