Jessie Garness Amm

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Jessie married Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Philip William George McEwan
2. Adeline Jessie Sabina McEwan
3. Frances Rosamond McEwan
4. Joan Marjory McEwan
5. Maxwell Dixon George McEwan
6. Garness Enaid McEwan

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Name: Phillip Amm
• Occupation: Planknek, Waterberg; a Farmer
• Occupation: a Wagon driver

Notes:

A Philip AMM married a Amelia Ann VERITY in Salem on 2:4:1874.They both apear to have been widowed.

Died:
Description: Malaria and Cardiac Failure

Death Notice and Death Cert in Archives File

Philip married Elizabeth Frances Verity on 18 Aug 1858 in Salem, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Elizabeth (daughter of John Verity and Ann Amelia Leach, 1820 Settler) was born on 26 Aug 1842 in Fresh Fountain farm, Oliphants Hoek, Uitenhage District, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was christened on 5 Mar 1843 in Bathurst, Eastern Cape, South Africa; died on 3 Aug 1894. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Name: Elizabeth Francis (Amy) Verity

Notes:

Died:
Death Notice in Archive File

Notes:

Married:
witnesses; Joseph Gush, Richard Amm

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: a Carpenter
• Occupation: a Schoolmaster

Notes:

Philip was the son of Simon Amm, Sea Captain, master of the Boat Canada which brought some of the settlers to the Cape in 1820. Simon was lost at sea with his two elder sons.
Young Philip grew up in Cape Town with his mother. As a young man he moved to the Eastern Cape in search of work which he found with Richard Gush, the carpenter, at Salem.
He later married Richard's eldest child, he remained the rest of his life in the Eastern Cape where he farmed.

Buried:
Description: grave PH 15

Phillip married Mary Hannah Gush, 1820 Settler on 6 Aug 1834 in Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mary (daughter of Richard Gush, 1820 Settler and Margaret Evans, 1820 Settler) was born on 20 Feb 1813 in London, England; was christened on 28 Mar 1813 in Great Queen Street Wesleyan Chapel, Holborn, London, England; died on 10 Aug 1860 in Salem, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2841
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

London Metropolitan Archives: (Non Conformist Baptisms):
Mary Hannah, daughter of Richard and Margaret GUSH born 20 February 1813 in the parish of Christchurch and registered 28 March 1813 in Great Queen Street Wesleyan Chapel, Holborn

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Brilliant

Notes:

Married:
Description: Rev John Heavyside

Witnesses: Richd Gush, Mary Marsh

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Died:

John died in the asylum (General Hospital, Grahamstown) and at one time they lived in the Alexandria Area "Buys Kloof" No. 290. They had five children.

John married Ann Amelia Leach, 1820 Settler on 10 Feb 1834 in Grahamstown Church (St George's - Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Ann (daughter of Benjamin Leach, 1820 Settler and Ann Oxenham, 1820 Settler) was born in 1818 in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, England; died on 20 Mar 1875 in Salem, Eastern Cape; was buried on 21 Mar 1875 in Salem, Eastern Cape. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2471
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Notes:

name signed Amelia LEECH in Marriage Register


Ann and her husband, Thomas Eastland, went to live in Fort Beaufort District, where he was killed in the war of 1850-3. (War of Umlanjeni, Dec. 1850). Apparently he was murdered by rebel Hottentots on his doorstep and his house burnt down.

Settler:
Parkin's party on the Weymouth

Buried:

She was buried in Salem as widow Amm on 21st March 1875 by Rev. Edwards of the Methodist Church.

Notes:

All the family information supplied by Hugo Slater.

Married:
Description: Rev John Barrow

Witness: Eliza Rayster?, SJ Caldicott

Notes:

lost at sea c 1827

from https://www.tristandc.com/po/stamps202005.php
The St Helena Women, arrived 1827
The story goes that the five men living in "Bachelor's Hall" in the 1820s, badly feeling the need of female companions, persuaded Captain Simon Amm of the Duke of Gloucester to bring them five women from St Helena in 1827. Captain Amm made a request to the Governor of St Helena who wanted written assurance that the women would be looked after. The captain landed the women on the beach then made off, not staying to see the men's reaction to the women he had brought.

from https://www.tristandc.com/history1817-1853.php
The world's first and most successful Blind Date?
In 1826 sailor Thomas Swain, from Hastings in Sussex arrived (with many stories including one that he had aided the wounded Nelson see left) and brought up the number of bachelors to five. Only William Glass had a wife and family, so Simon Amm, captain of the Duke of Gloucester, a regular visitor to Tristan, was commissioned (allegedly for a sack of potatoes per woman) to try to persuade suitable partners from the island of St Helena to try their luck with the lonely men. Amazingly Amm returned in 1827 with five volunteers, and it is reported that Thomas Swain,( who had vowed to take the first woman to step ashore), duly took Sarah Jacobs for his wife. By 1832 Tristan had a population of 34 with 6 couples and 22 children!

Simon married Elizabeth Hollett on Yes, date unknown. Elizabeth was born on 27 Jun 1777 in Bigbury, Devon, England; died on 6 Jun 1849 in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2840
• Name: Richard Gush 1820
• Occupation: a Carpenter
• Birth: 24 Apr 1789, Beer, Axminster (nr), Devon, England
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

THE GUSH FAMILY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Richard Gush was born at Beer, in Devonshire. His parents were members of the Episcopal Church of England. He was a spirited lad who often spent his leisure trying to obtain useful knowledge. At age 14 he was apprenticed to a carpenter which trade he followed for most of his life. When he was 17 he was confirmed and after the ceremony told his companions that he would now not commit sin since his God parents were no longer responsible for his conduct, hereby showing his ignorance of these things.
At age 21 he went to London with his youngest brother and they lodged in the home of a pious Wesleyn family and eventually Richard joined the Wesleyans and became a Sunday school teacher. In his 23rd year he married Margaret Evans which was a happy union. Along with several other Wesleyan families he emigrated to the Albany district of South Africa. Richard was part of the Sephton party which was by nature a religious band. Most of this party, 66 families, were on the Aurora however some 35 families sailed on the Brilliant, with Gush as their leader. They arrived at Simons Bay on 30th April 1820, and at Algoa Bay on 15th May 1820.
While still in London Richard met with a Richard Barrett a minister of the Society of Friends and eventually he himself embraced the Quaker principals On reaching South Africa Richard settled in the Salem area, and apart from a stay of 2 years in Grahamstown this was his home for the rest of his life. The Old Farm was looted and burnt by the impis of the Gaika Chief Hintsa. He was a Methodist lay preacher and helped to build the church in 1822 as also the one which succeeded it in 1832. He did much of his work as a carpenter under a large tree which grew near the front door of his home which was not far from the village of Salem.
Richard Gush possessed a tender loving spirit with a keen sence of justice which caused him to feel that slavery was wrong, also his Quaker principals made him feel that violence of any kind was contrary to the will of God. He gained fame for an act of bravery during the frontier war of 1834 / 35 when Salem village was threatened by a large band of Caffres. He being a pacifist and opposed to bloodshed rode out unarmed with a person named Woest to meet the Caffres and persuaded them not to attack the village, in exchange he fetched two loaves of bread weighing about 15 pounds a 10 pound roll of tobacco and pocket knives for them.
Tradition has it that Salem was not again threatened by Caffres.
He was a total abstainer from alcoholic liquors for more than twenty years, desiring by his example to induce others to abstain from these intoxicating drinks, which he saw, often betrayed, even religious professors, into sin: he also laboured to put a stop to the sale of intoxicating liquors, which, as in other places, had long proved a great injury in the neighbourhood in which he resided.
He was noted for his strict honesty and truthfulness. Though often placed in circumstances in which these qualities were tested he would not yield in any degree to the temptation of falsehood. " To convey an untruth in any way, is equal to telling a lie. "
Having given up his business of carpenter and builder, the last seven years of his life were spent in tending to his garden, which was a great source of pleasure to him, and afforded him much opportunity, for contemplation, and communion with his God and Saviour.
A few weeks before his death, he grafted a number of trees; and on one of his daughters saying to him, that the garden was well stocked; he replied, that if sold they would realize five pounds, which sum he intended to give to the Bible Society that year. His intention was carried out by his children, though they kept the trees as memorials of their honoured parent, whose deep interest in circulating the Holy Scriptures, was one of the many evidences he gave, of his high esteem for the Sacred Volume.
Towards the close of his life, Richard Gush had thought of making a voyage to England to visit his relations, and enjoy the company of Friends for two or three months. His family were beginning to make preparations for his voyage; and one of them remarked, that it would soon be time for him to be going. He replied, " I have had some thoughts lately, that the Lord is about to give me Heaven instead. " His wife being on a visit to some of their children at Woodbury, about twenty-five miles from Salem, he joined her, intending to return in a few days, but was prevented by the great heat of the weather. In the morning of the 20th of September 1858, he complained of spasms, which soon passed off. In the course of the day, while walking in his room, he several times repeated these lines:
Who can sink with such a Prop,
That bears the world and all things up.
About seven o'clock in the evening, he suddenly became insensible; and on reviving, he requested his wife to come to him that he might take leave of her; having bid her farewell, he waved his hand, as if to signify that he had done with earthly objects. He then required to be left in quiet, when all but his eldest son retired from the room. Joseph when observing him looked as if he wanted to say something, asked if he wanted to speak and he replied, " Yes -- Heaven. " His son then knelt by him and silently prayed, that his father might be permitted peacefully to enter the realms of eternal bliss; and Richard Gush, as though his spirit was in secret union with that of his son, emphatically responded -- Amen. He then said " Joseph, set your affections on things above. " After a short time his son again addressed him, saying " My dear father, the God who has sustained you through life is able to support you in death." He fervently replied, " Yes;" and then quietly breathed his last. He was nearly 70 years of age. His remains were removed to Salem, where he was buried in the Churchyard, and followed to the grave by a large number of his friends among whom were four ministers, three of them Wesleyans and one Baptist.
His two eldest sons, regarding their father's objection to the practice of putting on black; as a token of mourning, abstained from doing so , thus honouring his memory, as true mourners for the loss of a parent, who by precept and example had trained them up in the fear of the Lord, and whom the Lord had greatly blessed, and made a blessing to many.

( Originally published by " The York Friends " Tract Association. 1860. )
His grandson Rcigard Cherry Gush wrote on 4 Sep 1920 " When the settler Richard Gush landed in Salem, he dug out a room in the banks of the Assigai or Salem river, which he called the 'Salt Box' and lived in it with his family until the river flooded and washed them out like rats out of a bourah. see https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVZ-5SMP-T?i=1125&cat=305287

County Devon
Place (with link) Seaton
Church name (with link) St Gregory
Register type (with link) Parish Register
Baptism date 24 May 1789
Person forename Richard
Person sex M
Father forename Thomas
Mother forename Mary
Father surname GUSH
Film number 22-051
Transcribed by Dawn G
File line number 1531

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Brilliant

Richard married Margaret Evans, 1820 Settler on 2 Feb 1812 in London Church (St Anne's - Soho), London, England. Margaret (daughter of Joseph Evans and Hannah Grainger) was born on 21 May 1790 in Bradfield, Berkshire, England; was christened on 20 Jun 1790 in Bradfield, Berkshire, England; died on 20 Apr 1881 in 'Woodbury', Salem, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Salem, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 3790
• Name: Margaret Evans 1820
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Brilliant

Notes:

Married:
Name: Margaret Evans
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 2 Feb 1812
Marriage Place: Saint Anne Soho,Westminster,London,England
Spouse: Richard Gush
FHL Film Number: 918596, 918597, 918598, 918599, 918600, 918601, 918602

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 816
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Notes:

Settler:
Cock's party on the Weymouth

William married Elizabeth Garness, 1820 Settler on 18 Jun 1799 in St Anne's, Soho, London, England. Elizabeth was born in 1783 in England; died on 11 Dec 1837 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 14
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Notes:

Settler:
Cock's party on the Weymouth

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 Ann Oxenham, 1820 Settler on 7 Aug 1815 in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, England. Ann (daughter of Abraham Oxenham and Ann Mayle) was christened on Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2472
• Name: Ann - wife of Benjamin Leach
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Notes:

Settler:
Parkin's party on the Weymouth

Notes:

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

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.


Benjamin Leach, farmer of the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. He was a stonemason (said to have come from Crediton), he emigrated to South Africa in 1820, in John Parkins's party from Devon, on the "Weymouth" - sailed from Portsmouth in Jan. 1820, arrived at Algoa Bay, South Africa, in May 1820. Settled with the rest of Parkins's party on Devonshire Farm, on the Kariega River in the Eastern Cape. In 1822 the whole of Devonshire Farm (665 morgen, i.e. 1,330 acres) was ceded to him. He left the property after bitter experiences during the raids at the beginning of the Frontier War of 1935. Died 3 June 1872, aged 83 at Salem, near Grahamstown, in the Cape.

He moved to Grahamstown after the 6th Frontier War (1834 - 5). Shortly after his arrival he obtained a permit to deal in ivory and became a successful Ivory Trader.

He acquired Lot 127, Hill Street, Grahamstown, 1 May 1835, selling on 17th July 1848 to John Hartley for Three hundred and thirty pounds.

In the 1840's he built a new house at 21 West Street, Grahamstown, overlooking the Market Square. This house was proclaimed a Historic Property in 1987 - article in Grocott's Mail (formerly the Graham's Town Journal) Sept. 1987. This house is now owned by Professor Ross Harker.

Married:

After his wife, Elizabeth died, Benjamin married Ann. Ben and Ann were married by special licence, she was a widow of Richard Middleton and living at St. Giles, Oxford. The witnesses were Joseph West; Mary West and Philip Gardner.

Eynsham - this village is about 5 miles west of Oxford, England.

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.