Lewis Alford 1839-1900 merchant in Capetown about 1855-1865

[queencorgi1]

I'd really appreciate some help with this man! Lewis Alford was a schoolmaster's son from Devon and in 1851 he was a draper's assistant in Romsey, Hampshire. However, he evidently went out to South Africa and made a lot of money as a 'merchant', returning to England by 1867 where he made two 'good' marriages. Both his sons were army officers, which shows that Lewis could afford to pay the heavy costs involved. He appears to have been able to live off what he'd gained in South Africa, dying in 1900 and leaving an estate valued at £79,816 (something over £8 million in current values).
However, I haven't found anything about Lewis in South Africa, nor do I know what sort of goods a Capetown merchant might have been dealing in which would prove so profitable. Any thoughts anyone?

[hanes teulu]

Are you familiar with NASA? 
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dr?20250624093010AF65A200

Spotted a Lewis Alford under "RSA - All Archives .....". Click on RSA and pop "Alford" in 1st field and "Lewis" in 2nd - hit "Search". Should tell you "12 documents found"
Click on "Saved Queries".
Click on "(alford)AND(lewis)"

These records contain very little, if any real detail. They are an index to documents held which can be requested from NASA.

Note - the site is not "secure".

FamilySearch might be worth checking also.

[hanes teulu]

The name of the gentleman that got married identical to a name recorded on the NASA site.

Home News for India, China and the Colonies, 18 Nov 1865

[hanes teulu]

Contributors to the "Alexandra Orphanage for Infants (Hornsey Rise)" - wonder if Louis Alford is Lewis given the name of the gentleman listed before him? Or coincidence?

Christian World, 11 Feb 1870

[hanes teulu]

Yep - check out Louis Alford at NASA "RSA - All Archives ..."

[hanes teulu]

Did he marry Florence Ila Stamford?
There's a Lewis Alford, Merchant and Florence Ila Alford baptising a daughter at The Cape 22 Feb 1876.

[ShaunJ]

He appears to have been a partner (with Peter Turner Wills) in the firm of Alford and Wills, of Capetown and London.

1867 directory:  https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Cape_Town_Directory_for/r8oNAAAAQAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22alford+and+wills%22+capetown&pg=RA1-PR71&printsec=frontcover

[hanes teulu]

That's them - Wills was born Musbury, Devon and on the '71 census is described as a "Cape Merchant". On 5 August '73 he and Marianne are baptising a child at the Cape. The eldest child was baptised about 1869 at the Cape.
Added - the baptismal record '73 has occpn. "Merchant" - no hint as to what type.

[hanes teulu]

One of the entries under NASA (if I recall correctly) had a three way partnership at one point.