Benjamin Wellem (William) Leach

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Her last known address was the farm Macomos Kraal, District Victoria East

Died:

Age at time of death was 47 years 4 months. Death notice No 311 was signed by the surviving widow Sophia Sarah Leach (born Fitchat)

When her husband died, Sophia Sarah Leach (born Fitchat) was pregnant with a child, George. He was born two months after her husbands death. George Leach was born 1907

Benjamin married Sarah Sophia FitchetAlice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Sarah (daughter of Thomas Fitchet and Catherine Sarah Wewege) was born about 1868 in Albany District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 13 Feb 1946 in Elsrock farm, Albany District, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Benjamin William Leach was born in Victoria East.
2. Edward Johannes Leach was born in Victoria East; died on 9 Oct 1957.
3. Thomas Reuben Leach was born in Mar 1893 in Victoria East; died on 13 Nov 1925 in Kenton, district Peddie.
4. George Leach was born in 1907 in Victoria East; died on 6 May 1921 in Victoria East.
5. Peter Herman Leach was born in 1899 in Macomos Kraal, dist. Victoria East, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 21 Oct 1925 in Victoria East.
6. Nefthalde Sarah Leach
7. Ann Elizabeth Leach

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

In his death notice his mother Elizabeth Julia is listed as 'Oxenham' the surname of his step-mother.

Died:

When he died he was sixty four years old.

Death Notice No. 4860 erroneously states his mothers name as Elizabeth Julia - (her surname is erroneously given as Oxenam) according to research done by Edward Martin and John Oxenham her name was in fact Elizabeth Leach (born Oxenham)

He left estate consisting of cattle and landed property.

Edward married Agatha Hermina Botha on 26 Dec 1838 in Uitenhage. Agatha (daughter of Hermanus Botha and NN Pn) was born on 15 Nov 1823 in Uitenhage; died on 15 Jan 1903 in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her father was Hermanus Botha, son of Theunis Botha, burgher of Swellendam in the Cape. He was living in 1877 and was literate.

Died:
At the time of her death she was 79 years and two months. Death Notice No 364 was signed by her son T T Leach at Alice on 20th January 1903

Notes:

Edward Leach (Farmer) of the Cape of Good Hope. He did not apparently emigrate with his father in 1820. He died 28th December 1877, aged 64, at Alice in the Cape. (Left estate consisting of cattle and landed property.)

Note from Ben Leach : One record states that there were 16 children of which 4 died in infancy. Also that children were baptised by Rev. Fish in the Nederduits Gereformeerde church, MacClean Town

Married:

They were married by Rev. Alexander Smith of Uitenhage.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2470
• Occupation: 1813, Eynsham, Oxfordshire, England; Mason
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Notes:

Benjamin and Ann and their young daughter Ann Amelia came out to South Africa with the 1820 British Settlers.

They sailed with Parkin's Party from Deavon (Devon). They left from Portsmouth on "Weymouth" in January, 1820 arriving at Algoa Bay in May 1820. They were located on "Devonshire Farm" on the Kariega River. In 1852 they moved to Poplar Grove, Whittlesea.

The Parkin party settled on "Devonshire" a Quitrent farm (Aly. Q 1.70) on the Kariega River in the Bathurst district. On 23rd January 1824 Benjamin Leach (Leech) was granted the Parkin Party farm "Devonshire" (No. 456) (665 morgen 232 roods). When John Parkin probably left for Cradock Place, Benjamin Leach became party head. He was granted the remainder of "Devonshire" ("Devonwoods No. 457") (Aly. Q 2.6) 834 morgen 368 roods and disposed of it to the estate of Charles Webber on 12th December 1860. The Leach Home was burned down twice during the Kaffir Wars.

Benjamin Leach acquired the farm "Buys Kloof" (Alx. Q 1.14) (presently No. 290 of the Division of Alexandria) from the widow of Johannes Germanus Vogel on 6th July 1838. He transferred it to John Sweet Distin on 15th June, 1858. When the country was taken from the Tembu after the War of Umlangeni it was opened up as far north as Queenstown (proclaimed as a district in 1853), John (Benjamin) Leach son of Benjamin Leach trekked (10) to that district in 1852 and acquired the farm "Vaal Krans" (4) bar Whittlesea, District of Queenstown. This farm was later renamed "Poplar Grove" 370. No further reference to the farm "Vaal Krantz" could be found. However, "Poplar Grove" 370 was a consolidation of the farms "Well Pleased", "Brak Kloof", "Drummond" and "Ensan". The former two being acquired from the insolvent estates of James Slee and J Arnold, "Drummond" from D McDonald and "Ensan" was an additional grant. All the portions were given to John Leach in an amended Quitrent grant. According to the returns of the Field Cornet of the time, farms were granted to Leach, Wainwright, John Staples and John Filmore. "Poplar Grove" and other adjacent farms were ceded to the Republic of Ciskei.


Birth:
Name
Benjamin Leach
Gender
Male
Baptism Date
1 Feb 1778
Baptism Place
Combe,Oxford,England
Father
Will. Leach
Mother
Martha
FHL Film Number
95233
Household Members

Name
NameWill. Leach
NameMartha
NameBenjamin Leach



Settler:
Parkin's party on the Weymouth

Died:

In 1872, after his third wife's death (Aletta Pitout) he came to live with Richard H Amm who had married his granddaughter, Garnis Verity. They lived in "Hope Cottage" near Salem and died in their house on 3rd June 1872 in his 84th year (on his last birthday he turned 83, born 1789), according to the Grahamstown Journal of 12th June 1872 ((pl c 77). He was buried in the Wesleyan Church cemetary in Salem. It is told that he was a very heavy man and was carried to his grave by six coloured farm workers, probably Xhosas. (The grave has not been located).

He lived for a considerable time at Coega and also at Uitenhage (Probably "Buys KlooF") "Buys Kloof" is near Sandflats on the Upper Bushmans River.

"Aluin Krantz" is a farm adjacent to "Buys Kloof" and the author believes that it belonged to Benjamin Henry Leach, son of Benjamin Leach.

Benjamin married Elizabeth Julia Douglas on 11 Feb 1811 in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Thomas Douglas and Elizabeth) was born in 1793 in Oxfordshire, England; died on 24 Nov 1814 in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Married:
Text: Benjamin Leech & Elizabeth Douglas 18 Feb 1811
Book: Volume Three 1723 - 1800 Burials (Burial)
Collection: Oxford: - Register of Marriages, 1559-1837

Notes:

He was the son of Theunis Botha and was living at Swellendam in 1877. He was literate.

Hermanus married NN Pn on Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William + Martha. Martha was born in 1744 in Combe, Oxfordshire, England; died on 29 Jun 1822. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas + Elizabeth. Elizabeth was born in 1751; died in 1804. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]