William Charles Guest

Other Events and Attributes:

• _EMPLOY: 1875, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa; Post Office Agent
• other: 1876, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa; Member of Parlliament
• other: 1878, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa; Voters Roll
• other: 14 May 1882, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; Shipping list

Notes:

from an article in 'Familia' by a J.van der Merve. It would appear he gleaned most of the information from an Obituary published at the time William Charles's death.

William Charles developed a great devotion to the Dutch Reformed Church, the church of his mother. He served the congregation at Oudtshoorn as a Deacon and at the time of his death was an elder at George. At the same time he also served as a Post Office agent in Oudtshoorn. He was the close friend and confidant of at least three well-known ministers, the Reverends Tobias van der Riet of Oudtshoorn and Johan Ballot and Amoldus Kuys of George. It was due to his initiative that the Church began a pension fund for its ministers, but it was with less success that he attempted to set up a sustenation fund when the Nieuwe Kerk was established in Cape Town. Donating the first twenty-five pounds towards the proposed fund, William Charles maintained that the Church had acted unwisely in allowing the formation of a new congregation, as it would be too small and poor to support itself.

William Charles subsequently represented his district in the Legislative Assembly for some years (1874-1878) but did not seek re-election on the expiry of his term. William Charles devoted his latter years to the propagation of a railway link between Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn via George, but did not live to see his wish fulfilled, in common with his other ideal of seeing Boer and Briton bound into a common South African people.

‘The world is,’ De Kerkbode stated in his obituary, ‘through his decease, one truly good man poorer.’

The following article appeared in "Zingari"
Zingari 4 June 1876
Our Portrait Gallery
Mr WC Guest , whose portrait we give with our present issue is the well known and deservedly popular representative of Oudsthoorn. He formally resided at 'Van Wyks Kraal" about five miles eastward of the town where for many years he carried on an extensive business and was one of the most enterprising farmers. Owing to failing health about four years ago he was obliged to relinquish business and retire to the genial climate of George where under the providence and successful medical treatment he gained his former robust health. During his residence at 'Van Wyks Kraal' Mr Guest was often urged to become a candidate for a seat in parliament, particularly in 1865 when Oudtshoorn was made a separate electoral division. Feeling however a strong disinclination to the stormy seas of politics and having little confidence in his own fitness to discharge duties of a very important character he resolutely declined until further pressure was brought to bear upon him at the last General Election, which he yielded to the solicitations if his numerous friends and accepted a requisition which resulted in his return as one of the representatives of that division.
Those who have had occasion to travel to the district of Oustshoorn either from choice or necessity will remember his kindly hospitality and desire to make every visitor feel thoroughly at home. Mr Guest rendered good service to his church not only as a deacon and elder, but as a member of the building committee in collecting subscriptions for the beautiful edifice which was then in the course of erection but which unfortunately now remains unfinished this church when completed will be the finest in the colony. Indeed no local institution was considered complete unless he was a member of it. And well it was si as he has been the most determined opponent of everything that was not strictly just and honourable. For many years he has been a Justice of the Peace for Oustshoorn and George and in both capacities he has acted in a manner to inspire confidence in all his proceedings. Since his residence at George Mr Guest has been able to devote more time to public affairs than formally. He had not long been resident before he was elected elder of the church and the same unbounded confidence is shown in him by members of his church as at Oudtshoorn. He takes great interest in the spread of religion and education and is ready to extend a helping hand to all Christian churches satisfied that each has its own peculiar sphere of usefulness and deserves encouragement. The present session of parliament is the second he has attended and if he has as yet been a silent member it may probably be with a view of making himself thoroughly acquainted with the rules and mode of proceedings of the house. Some may consider that it would tend to accelerate public business if there were more silent members in Parliament. Mr Guest is a conservative in politics but at the same time 'progressive' as the 'Journal' hath it. He is a large landed proprietor and a successful ostrich breeder. He is married to the elder daughter of the late Dr Pawle who arrived in the colony in 1820 as the medical officer in charge of the 'Belle Alliance'. His father is still living at George in the enjoyment of good health and a strong constitution having now attained the ripe old age of 90 years.
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Birth Date derived from Death Notice

Guest W.c.
Surname : GUEST
First Names Or Initials : W.C.
Title : Guest W.c.
Title : Mr.
Passenger Notes : For Cape Town
Ship Name : R.M.S. Warwick Castle
Ship Captain : J.C. ROBINSON, Commander
Voyage Started From : Natal & Coast ports
Voyage Ended At : England
Via1 : Cape Town
Arrival Date : 41 May 1882
Arrival Time : 8:30 a.m.
Arrival Port : Cape Town
Transcriber Name : Pam Allman
Image Name : PasengerList013.JPG
Source Or Reference : CC 3/8/2
Source Location : National Archives Cape Town
Collection
Passenger Records

William married Jemima Pawle, 1820 Settler on 9 Aug 1838 in George, Western Cape, South Africa. Jemima (daughter of James Pawle, 1820 Settler and Jemima Bacon, 1820 Settler) was born on 20 Apr 1820 in Mid Ocean between England and South Afica; died on 26 May 1900 in George, Western Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Jemima Antionette Guest was born on 22 Feb 1841 in George, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 4 Jan 1901 in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa.
2. William James Guest was born on 14 Apr 1843 in Van Wykskraal, Oudtshoorn; was christened on 7 May 1843 in George, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 7 Aug 1926 in George, Western Cape, South Africa.
3. James Henry Pawle Guest was born on 23 Jul 1850 in Beaufort West, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 15 May 1874 in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, South Africa.
4. Sarah Elizabeth Guest was born on 29 Apr 1852 in George, Western Cape, South Africa; was christened in 1852 in Swellendam, Western Cape, South Africa.
5. Charles Edward Guest was born on 11 May 1854 in George, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 7 Jan 1927 in George, Western Cape, South Africa.