Tuesday, April 20, 1869

BIRTH, - at Grahamstown, on Thursday, 15th April,1869, the wife of C.D. GRIFFITH, Esq., Civil Commissioner and Resident Magistrate of Albany, of a Son.

DIED at Queenstown, on Wednesday, 14th instant, Zenobia Adelaide, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Richard WRIGHT aged 2 years and 27days.

Mr. John RICHER died very suddenly in Capetown, and was buried on the day fixed for his wedding, April 27, 1869

DEATH OF SAMUEL KAMA – From Middle Drift we learn that the eldest son of the chief KAMA died last week, and was buried with great ceremony. The cause of death was consumption – K.W.T. Gazettte.

THE LATE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF DROWNING. – The result of the investigation held by Dr. GRIMMER, district surgeon, and Mr. MERRIMAN, civil commissioner’s clerk, into the circumstances attending the death of Hans LESSING, who was drowned in a dam at Roode Poort, near Colesberg, fully proves the case to be one of determined suicide. The hands were tied behind in a very ingenious manner. Slits were cut at each end of a piece of reim, and slip nooses made, through which deceased must have passed his hands, afterwards pulling the nooses tight round his arms. A large stone was attached to the neck, and the spoor shows that deceased ran down the steep bank of the dam, and plunged into the water, which is somewhat deep. The deceased was missed and traced about an hour after the occurrence must have taken place. The deceased is said to have been of unsound mind for some months past. – Colesberg Advertiser.

No papers for May

Tuesday, June 8, 1869

INQUIRY HAVING BEEN MADE FOR Samuel GOODWIN, it is requested that any information respecting him may be communicated to the Colonial Office. GOODWIN is stated to have arrived in this colony between 30 and 40 years ago. He served in Her Majesty’ 38th Regiment and was in action at Waterloo.

Tuedsay, June 15, 1869

FATAL ACCIDENT. – A very melancholy accident happened near Port Elizabeth on Saturday morning last. A woodcutter named BENECKE, having his gun with him was, during his breakfast hour, on the look out for game. He had seen a buck run through the bush, which however escaped him. Shortly afterwards, seeing the bush in the same direction agitated as he believed by another buck, he took aim, and as soon as the object became indistinctly visible he fired. Rushing to the spot, instead of a buck he discovered his own step son, a boy of six years and a half, who was bringing him his breakfast, lying dead, two of the loopers with which the gun was loaded having passed through his head. The poor man appears very much distressed, and there seems to be not the slightest doubt but that the melancholy affair was purely accidental. – G.T. Advertiser.

Friday, June 25, 1869

DEATH OF MRS. CHRISTIE. – We notice with regret the sudden death of this respected lady on Thursday last at Mowbray. She was the eldest daughter of the late Dr.PHILIP, and sister to the Rev. W.B. PHILIP of this town.

Tuesday, June 29, 1869

DEATH OF MRS. SOUTHEY. The Standard says: “It is with very sincere regret we have to announce the decease, on Sunday lst, of Mrs. SOUTHEY, the much-esteemed wife of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Mrs. SOUTHEY had been for more than two years an invalid, and during the past few months had suffered intensely. The deceased lady, born Isabella SHAW, was 59 years of age at the time of her death, and came to this Colony with her parents when extremely young. The SHAWs settled down in the neighbourhood of Grahamstown, and Mrs.SOUTHEY was married we believe, in 1831 – exactly thirty-eight years ago. Her parents died while on the Frontier, and two of Mrs. SOUTHEY’s brothers were killed in the Kafir War of 1835. Mr. SOUTHEY’s part in that war is well known in the Colony, and, together with her husband the deceased lady at that time underwent many severe trials. Mrs.SOUTHEY spent the greater part of her life on the Frontier. She lived in Grahamstown shortly after her marriage, and again when Mr. SOUTHEY was appointed Secretary to the Lieut.-Governor. She also resided for several years at Graaff-Reinet, and for a considerable time at Swellendam, in which place Mr. SOUTHEY held the office of Civil Commissioner, and where his wife was much esteemed for her benevolence and kindness of heart. Mrs. SOUTHEY expired at nine o’clock on Sunday evening, at her residence Plumstead, Wynberg and leaves five sons, of whom only two were present at her death-bed, to mourn the loss of one of the most affectionate of mothers.” [A great number of families, relatives of deceased, will be thrown into mourning in this town and district by this sad affliction. – Ed. F.P.]