Alexander Forbes, 1820 Settler

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 252
• Occupation: a Boot And Shoemaker/Farmer
• Settler: 12 Feb 1820, Cork, Co Cork, Ireland

Notes:

In 1820 as Independant Settlers Alexander along with brother Edward & family left Longford for Cork (150miles) where they sailed on 12 February 1820 with William Parker's party, and arrived Simons Bay 30 April 1820, aboard 'The East Indian'. On 16 May 1820 continued onto Saldanha Bay where they disembarked.They were not happy with the land granted to them at Clanwilliam so were given the option to move to Albany where the main body of settlers were. 31 families of Parker's party moved to Albany under the direction of Scanlan, Latham & Francis where they were located at the Kap River, the Assegai Bush River and the Nazaar River respectively. Alexander was granted land by decree by Queen Victoria in the Bathurst area to farm - the farm being called 'Waaiplaats'.Records of the Magistrate, Albany Matrimonial Court held 7 September 1826. Appeared before the Board the following persons:Alexander Forbes - is 30 years of age, born in Ireland, living in Grahamstown, belonging to the Prostestant religion, not married before, no other engagement, not related to each other; Jane Thomas - 17 years of age, born in England, living in Albany, belonging to the Prostestant religion, not married before, no other engagement, produced consent of parents.The Court resolved that they should be united in Holy Wedlock when the Banns for their intended marriage should have been proclaimed three successive Sundays in the usual manner.

Alexander was seized and stabbed to death in the 6th Kaffir war on his farm on 24 December 1834 in front of his wife and 5 children (pregnant with the 6th), the house was burnt down. Jane and the children were taken to Bathurst.

The following from Alastair Stone Jul 2002 :taken from 'the chronicle of Jeremiah Goldswain''In the year 1834 when I think of that eve it grieves my Hartsore when the blacks came on us that dwelt in the east to burn and to murder and to drive of our beast when theas savages first in our borders they came they seased Mrs Frobes that dwelt on the plain poor Alick he ruen the caues to inquire they stabed him to the Hart and set his House all on fier to think of her Loss of greaf and payn Six fatherless babes andher House all in flames no fou and no Clothing and they Kaffers all in site and nought but they woods two sleap in all night' Left movable and immovable property. Death Notice signed (withan X) by his widow Jane Forbes and filed 2 June 1837.On 23 November 1847 at Grahamstown the following land was granted unto The Estate of the late Alexander Forbes a piece of land, containing 422 morgen situated in the Division of Albany,being a portion of the Location of Scanlans Party allotment No.2. Bounded on the North East by the Cap River, South East by allotment No.3, South West by land of Mr Greathead, and North West by allotment No. 1 belonging to Percival Freyne.This was transferred to S Cawood Snr on 14.6.1861 (No. 217)-Deeds Office Transfer 217/14 June 1861. The Title Deed to the tract of land granted to Scanlan's Party was originally (Nov1823) made out in the name of the head of party, William Scanlan. The deed was cancelled in 1845, so that separate title deeds could be made out in the names of the five individual members of the party who were entitled to shares of the land.Alexander Forbes's title was dated 23 November 1847. Cawood Brothers of Grahamstown subsequently bought all five shares of Scanlan's Party; four shares were transferred in Dec 1859, and the fifth - Alexander Forbes's - in June 1861, after the complications of reopening his estate had been sorted out.NB a second DN was signed by son John Alexander Forbes and filed 9 Oct 1860. At this time all the children, except Henry who had died, were married and living in Aliwal North, and anxious to appoint an Executor Dative to negotiate the sale of the landed property in Lower Albany.Name is engraved on the Cenotaph with SA War Graves Board.'In Proud Remembrance of Settlers called to Service of their Country and who lost their lives in the Frontier Wars -1834-1835, 1846-1847, 1850-1853. In many cases their final resting place is known only to God'.Forbes River: Forbes, Alexander 24 Dec 1834...

Settler:
Parker's party on the East Indian

Alexander married Elizabeth Clarke about 1816. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Forbes, 1820 Settler was born in 1817; was christened on 12 Jan 1817 in Templemichael, Longford, Ireland.

Alexander married Jane Thomas, 1820 Settler on 7 Sep 1826 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Jane (daughter of James Thomas, 1820 Settler and Mary Jane Laskey, 1820 Settler) was born in 1805 in Plymouth, Devon, England; was christened on 20 Oct 1809 in St Andrews, Plymouth, Deveon, England; died on 27 Apr 1870 in New England, Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Maria Forbes was born on 5 May 1827 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 27 Aug 1908 in Boksburg North, Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa.
2. Jane Forbes was born on 16 Jun 1825 in Waai Plaats, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 19 Aug 1910 in Kenmure, New England, South Africa; was buried in Barkly East district, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
3. Ann Forbes was born on 10 Aug 1831 in Waaiplaats, Albany District,Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 12 Jan 1921 in Lady Frere, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
4. Catherine Forbes was born on 24 Apr 1831; died after 1901 in South Africa.
5. Henry Forbes was born on 9 Jun 1833; died in 1860.
6. John Alexander Forbes was born on 4 Jun 1835 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 2 Dec 1904 in Aliwal North, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Notes:

The Forbes family arrived in Ireland from Scotland in 1600's and for services rendered to the Crown were granted land in County Longford, Ireland. Forbes was made Viscount of Granard of County Longford in 1675 -thus becoming Lord Forbes Earl of Granard, County Longford.

Edward Forbes 1791- A shoemaker from Longford, Ireland, married to Harriet McDowell, sailed with William Scanlan's Free Party of Settlers with two children listed, Alexander 2 and Harriet 1.
Alexander Forbes 1791-1834.
A bachelor farmer from Longford, Ireland, he sailed as a member of William Scanlan's Free Party of Settlers, being located first at Clanwilliam and then being moved to Albany on 30th Sept 1820. His particular allotment of land at what became known as Longford was the second allotment made by Scanlan and was then always referred to as No.2. Later it was to be called Forbes' River. He was to marry Jane Thomas at Grahamstown on 7th Sept. 1826. John Armstrong was a witness.

In addition to cattle farming, AF also practised shoemaking. At the outbreak of hostillities on 21st Dec 1834, he was returning to his homestead after visiting with Humphrey Thomas when he encountered a raiding party of Xhosa warriors. Two of them murdered AF and drove off over 120 cattle. His wife Jane and their six children were allowed to leave the homestead. Their daughter, Jane Forbes married William Isted on 5th Oct 1843 at Grahamstown. Her mother had re-married to Francis Elliot Simes on 22nd April 1839.
The estate of AF, Lot No.2 of 422 morgen was posthumously surveyed for him in terms of the Board of Commissioners award as published in the Graham's Town Journal 27th Mar 1845.
Information given above is drawn mainly from the Lower Albany Chronicles.

Alexander married Jane Williams on 30 Sep 1780 in Templemichael, Longford, Ireland. Jane was born about 1760 in Ireland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]