Thomas Billson, 1820 Settler

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 860
• Settler: 13 Feb 1820, Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Notes:

Settler:
Carlton's party on the Albury

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Watson. Elizabeth was born in London, England; died in 1917. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Edwin Thomas Billson
2. Elizabeth Charlotte Jane Billson
3. Henry Reuben Billson was born on 26 Jun 1855; was christened on 7 Oct 1855 in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
4. Ellen Emma Billson was born on 25 Sep 1858; was christened on 15 May 1859 in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
5. Amy Elizabeth Billson was born on 10 Dec 1861 in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 30 Jun 1862 in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 20 Jan 1896 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
6. Arthur Humphrey Billson was born on 2 Jul 1864; was christened on 26 Jul 1866 in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 859
• Occupation: sawyer
• Settler: 13 Feb 1820, Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Notes:

Thomas Bilson (1794 to 07.03.1835) came out with the Calton party on the ship “Albury”, arriving in Port Elizabeth on 28 May 1820. The family was settled on allotment 34 at Clumber, but after 2 years they moved to Port Elizabeth where he became a Constable due to his military background (he had served in the Royal Horse Guards & was shot through the leg in a charge at the Battle of Waterloo)
Thomas was killed in conflict with the natives. It appears that all the children spelt the surname BILLSON after the second L was added in 1864

EP Herald, 24 March 1981
Casualty at Waterloo killed in Xhosa clash
From Kenneth C. Billson
2 Ralston Road,
Fernglen, P.E.

Following the publicity given to the recent TV series, "The Settlers", I
thought that this true settler story might prove interesting.

March 7, 1981 marked the 146th anniversary of the death of my
great-great-great-grandfather, Thomas BILSON (BILLSON),
who was killed at Trompetters Drift on the Fish River near Frasers Camp
in 1835 during the Sixth Frontier War. Thomas BILSON was a sergeant in a
civil force from Port Elizabeth (Elizabeth Town) serving under Captain
HARRIES in Sir Harry SMITH's campaign to quell the Xhosa invasion led by
HINTSA.

On March 7, 1835, 100 Xhosa crossed the Fish River and seized draught
oxen on the settlers' side of the river. A patrol of 20 men set out to
recover the cattle but observed 1000-1500 Xhosa on the other side of the
river. A small party was detached to reconnoitre but their position
became untenable and in an ensuing encounter eight of the small party
were killed, including Sergeant Thomas BILSON, then aged 41. Thomas
TITTERTON, Francis CLARK, Robert SHAW (a wagonmaker from Grahamstown)
and four Hottentot assistants.

Thomas BILSON, a sawyer, his wife Mary Jane née CURTIS, both aged 27 at
the time, and their children Eliza, aged five (married STONE), Thomas
Junior, aged four (my great-grandfather who later farmed near Humansdorp
and after whom a siding on the Apple Express narrow gauge line is
named), and six-month-old John, arrived in Algoa Bay in 1820 in the
'Albany' in Dr. CALTON's Party.

They originally came from St. Margaret's parish in Leicester. Thomas
BILSON had served in the Royal Horse Guards and had been shot through
the leg during a charge at Waterloo. It was said that "he was an
industrious and deserving man and much esteemed by his fellow townsmen".

His son John, then aged 15 years, was also killed in the war of 1835,
but in September, only six months after the death of his father Thomas.
Two more sons, William and Robert, and a second daughter, Mary Jane
junior (married LUTMAN), were born to Thomas and Mary Jane BILSON before
Thomas was so tragically killed at Trompetters Drift. (The second "L" in
BILLSON seems to have been added around 1864. Mary Jane later married
Charles WOOD, also a settler.

The BILSON family appear to have lived in the Chapel Street. Victoria
Street, Constitution Hill area, Port Elizabeth and although some of the
descendants of Thomas BILSON and Mary Jane have spread to other parts of
South Africa, primarily the Reef, many still live in and around Port
Elizabeth.


Settler:
Carlton's party on the Albury

Thomas married Mary Jane Curtis, 1820 Settler in 1815 in St Margaret, Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Mary was born about 1793; died on 4 Oct 1864 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 863
• Settler: 13 Feb 1820, Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Notes:

Settler:
Carlton's party on the Albury

William + Margaret, - wife of William Bilson. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]