Alberta Sephton

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Family/Spouse: ?? Atkinson. ?? was born est 1866. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Charles Atkinson was born est 1892.
2. Jane Atkinson was born est 1893.

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Charles + Maria Helena Alberta van Wyk. Maria was born on 21 Jul 1843 in Bethulie, Free State, South Africa; died on 23 May 1921 in Umpukane Mission, Clocolan, Free State, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2768
• Name: Thomas Hezekiah Sephton 1820
• Occupation: a Carpenter
• Religion: the Protestant Church
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Deptford, London, England
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

He was taking "Blue Pills" which we now know is a mercury compound. He then broke a leg due to the bone softening effect of the mercury, and was bedridden for about a year before he died. According to AA Roberts he died in the evening, after a long and protracted affliction which he bore with exemplary patience and resignation.

Educated in England came to South Africa with the 1820 settlers, was one of the Sephton party led by his father Hezekiah. As he was morethan 18 years of age at the time he was considered an adult and came under his own name not as part of his father's family. He was granted an erf on the bank of the Assegai River and was the Southern boundary of the village where it adjoined Cornelious van Schalkwyks farm- ( afterwards bought by the Wesleyn Society and turned into a mission station by William Shaw and named Farmerfield.) Only one erf lay between Thomas Sephton and van Schalkwyk, that of Thomas Selom-King still owned by Kings decendants and known as " Kingston ". After his marriage they lived in Grahamstown for a time, their eldest child was born in Bathurst street. . He joined the Wesleyan missionaries and became associated with Rev. James Archbell at the Platberg Wesleyan Mission Station south of the Vaal River near to Kuruman which was North East of Bloemfontein, there he laboured with Rev Edwardson the mission station established by Rev Archbell.
The tribes there (Baralong and Korrana) were being harassed bytribes from the North and after a plague of smallpox, which descimated them (whole famillies died and the huts were closed up,) Thomas cared forthe sick and also took the disease and was very ill. The missionaries then persuaded the remnant to move East and they eventually settled nearTabaN'chu, the area having been purchased from the Basutho chief Mosheshe though the efforts of Richard Giddy. Thomas was then sent to Ratabane , North of Thaba'Nchu, to open a mission station and subsequently to Umpukani. After Thomas died Richard Giddy (who had married Thomas' eldest daughter) took Thomas' 5 childrenas he had promised Thomas he would and they were brought up with his own children by their sister Sarah Jane.
A visitor at Thaba Nchu in 1839 reported on his return to the Colony" Thomas H. Sephton is a quiet steadfast worker and a great deal of good work has been done. No man ever devoted himself to a worthy cause with more zeal and consistant perseverance".

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Aurora

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Aurora

Died:
Description: a severe & protracted affliction.

Thomas married Sarah Clarke Prynn, 1820 Settler on 10 Aug 1825 in Grahamstown Church (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Sarah (daughter of William Prynn, 1820 Settler and Jane Clark, 1820 Settler) was born on 12 Jan 1809 in England; died on 23 Dec 1840 in Coranna Station, Lesotho (Basutoland); was buried in Grahamstown Cemetery (Settlers), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2743
• Name: Sarah Clarke Prynn 1820
• Religion: the Protestant Church
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

She died three days after the birth of her ninth child, Charles Edward Sephton and her husband took her body to Grahamstown by oxwagon for burial because she made him promise that she would not be buried in "the wilds of Africa".
According to AA Roberts she died at 2 o'clock pm at Coranna Station,Bechualand

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Aurora

Died:
Description: at 2pm

Notes:

Married:
Description: Rev Thomas Ireland

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2764
• Name: Hezekiah Sephton 1820
• Occupation: a Carpenter
• Residence: Bedford Court (No:1), New North Street, Red Lion Square, London, England
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Deptford, London, England

Notes:

THE SEPHTON FAMILY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Hezekiah was a carpenter aged 43 and his wife also aged 43 when they came to South Africa he as the leader of the largest party among the 1820 settlers. They sailed in January 1820 on board the Aurora and there was an unusually hard frost sufficient to freeze the Thames over which delayed their departure till February. The Aurora sailed from Deptford getting only as far as Gravesend where they were delayed by unfavourable winds till 15 February. The ship Aurora was commanded by Capt. Pearson and it took them 3 months to reach their destination arriving on Monday 15th May anchoring in Algoa Bay. The party consisted of : Men 101, Women 82, Children over 14 years 15, Children under 14 years 146, Total number of party 344. Founded the village of Salem.

Letter to Lord Bathurst -London November 11th 1819.
My Lord having been disappointed in Mr. Thomas Colling he not being able to go out at the head of 100 families as accepted by you,and as I am selected by that company to succeed him, - I hereby agree to accept of the terms proposed by His Majestys Government to take 100 Settlers under my care to the Cape of Good Hope, and wait your pleasure for such other necessary information as may be required for our guidance.I am Etc.
Signed Hezekiah Sephton.

2nd Letter to Lord Bathurst. London November 18th 1819.
My Lord, - Having accepted Wm.Shaw as our minister to accompany me with 100 Settlers to the Cape of Good Hope, I herewith submit to you his inclosed testamonial as a proper person to officiate in that capacity.
Your most obedient Etc.
Signed Hezekiah Sephton.

From Algoa Bay the party was sent to Rietfontein between the Kasouga and Kowie Rivers.( now Barnsville Park ) where they were ousted to make room for a friend of the Governor, Lord Charles Somerset.- " General Campbell ". This was very vexatious and felt to be unfair, but there was no remedy, and the party were obliged to retrace their steps westward to where the Mantjes Kraal River joins the Assegai Bush River and where they arrived on Tuesday 18th July and pitched their tents, and founded the village of Salem, which means " peace " and is the only village founded by a settler party that still exists today. A community notable among the settlers for the order with which its affairs were conducted both temporal and spiritual.
Subsequently Hezekiah Sephton was granted land on the Mantjes Kraal River situated between Hope Fountain and Salem Commonage - which he named " Salem Park ". Salem Park was " Free Hold, " not a quit rent farm . Sephton lived for some time on this farm and then disposed of it to William Trotter, also of Sephtons Party; who eventually sold it out in 22 undivided shares and it became known as " Trotters Location " or " Trotters Valley " and was occupied chiefly by Kaffers who were a source of annoyance to their neighbours. His farm has had several owners since he parted with it and now is again known as " Salem Park ".

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Aurora

Hezekiah married Jane Hardy, 1820 Settler on 7 Mar 1797. Jane (daughter of William Hardy) was born in 1777 in England; died in 1840 in 'Maantjies Kraal', Salem, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2769
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

She was a converted Jewess

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Aurora

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2742
• Name: William Prynn 1820
• Occupation: a Husbandman and Farmer
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

Name seen as PRYNNE but definitely PRYNN

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Aurora

William + Jane Clark, 1820 Settler. Jane was born on 13 May 1781; died on 4 Mar 1861 in 'Lindale', Salem (nr), Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Barkly East Cemetery, Barkly East, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 2741
• Name: Jane Clarke
• Settler: 15 Feb 1820, Gravesend, Kent, England

Notes:

Jane Prynn started the first infants school in Grahamstown. Her granddaughter Sarah Jane Sephton was at school there when her mother died in 1840. At that stage she had been there for three years. P3 of "Agnes Tales"

There was also a school run by Miss Slater and Isabella, Mary Ann and Elizabeth attended this. P6 and P46 of "Agnes Tales"


I am not sure of Jane Prynn's dates but Miss Slater could have taken over by the time the Sephton children attended it ca. 1842.

from Cynthia Giddy's notes
The sampler which Jane Prynn embroidered states "Sacred to the memory of Mary Jane Prynn born in London the 13th of August 1817 died Boschuana Land the 10th September 1832. She has joined her sister Mary Ann and brother John Henry." This sampler is in the SA Cultural History Museum and is unusual in that it was done by an adult. The suggestion is that Mary Jane started it and her mother finished it. At least three children were therefore born after they arrived of whom Mary Ann and John Henry died young. Thomas is assumed to have been born after their arrival in 1820.

Settler:
Sephton's party on the Aurora