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

[hanes teulu]

https://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZACGHSCRpSearle/1865/14.pdf

[hanes teulu]

I think NASA has an "Alford, Wills and Abbott" - dated after Lewis' death. Spotted this Co., albeit Willis not Wills -
https://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldgframes.php?bldgid=15255

Doesn't add to knowledge of type of commerce but there's an address.

[queencorgi1]

Thanks to everyone for your activity! Now I know he had a partner. Interesting that partner married sister of (one of) Alford's wives. I have the details of his wives and offspring already ... just wish I knew how he (and presumably partner) made so much money ...

Particular thanks for the link to the archives! No, I didn't know about this -- South Africa hasn't really come up for me before.

What was the boom industry in Capetown in the mid-century? Diamonds? Gold? I feel it must be something where a man could make a huge fortune really quickly?

[ShaunJ]

Looking at cargo manifests in the Cape and Natal News, Alford and Wills imported a lot of haberdashery, apparel, cottons, millinery, also occasionally some books and hardware. So it looks like a drapery business with a few side lines.

[queencorgi1]

Thank you so much Shaun but seems remarkable that they made so much money doing that. Might they have been exporting other goods of some kind in the other direction?

Also, fits in of course with him originally having been a draper's assistant!

[hanes teulu]

Did he marry Florence Ila? Did he marry money? Did he leave HIS money or HIS WIVES' money. He returned to this country at some point but if he married Florence Ila he was back in SA in 1875. The business did not end with his return in '67.

[queencorgi1]

Hi there, yes, he did marry Florence (who subsequently sued for judicial separation on grounds of cruelty, unsuccessfully). Florence's father was Lt Col Henry Stamford of the Bombay Horse Artillery. His previous wife Fanny Boom was described in the marriage announcement as daughter of Richard Boon of Chidham, Sussex, and niece of Alexander Scrutton, of Blackheath Park (location not stated). Mentioning these gentlemen suggests that they were well-to-do.

[hanes teulu]

Thanks for confirming marriage - May 1873.
Unable to find Lewis and Fanny on the '71 Census. Son Frederick L Alford, age 2 with grandparents and described as "son of a Cape merchant". Does this indicate he was back in SA?

Lewis is on the '81 Census with dau. Alice, born SA 1875. Cannot find him on the '91 Census. Florence Ila is with her mother on the '91 Census at Paddington.

Have you found Lewis '71 and '91. I am thinking he did not return permanently in '67 and spent some time in SA after this. It might help explain the dates of partnerships on NASA, which extend beyond 1867, unless he didn't play an active role? 

[queencorgi1]

Fanny died in 1868, aged 24. I agree, Lewis Alford is not in the 1871 census and I think he probably did go back to South Africa. He is in the 1891 census, living at his final address of 2 Westbourne Terrace with his sons Henry and Charles. I note that Florence is using her maiden name!
Peter Turner Wills was also born in Devon, like Lewis, so I think that's their original connection. His father was a farmer. Like Lewis, Peter was a draper's assistant (1851 census)! I wonder if they worked in the same shop. He was in Dorchester in 1851. 1861 he was calling himself a 'Cape Merchant' and lodging quite modestly in Deptford but 10 years later he is living in Blackheath, having married Marianne Boon, Fanny's sister. The 1860s seem to be the decade where Alford and Wills made their money!