Elizabeth Dawson Frost

1821 - 1925  (103 years)

• Name	Elizabeth Dawson Frost
  Nickname	Granny Geer
  Born	16 Sep 1821	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa   [1]
  Gender	Female
  1820 Lineage	Yes
  Died	27 Jun 1925	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  Buried	North End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  Person ID	I121536	master
  Last Modified	25 Jul 2021

  
  

  Father	Philip John Frost, 1820 Settler,   b. 21 Feb 1787, Holt, Norfolk, England ,   d. 15 Jan 1867, Coega, Eastern Cape, South Africa  (Age 79 years)
  Mother	Elizabeth Doughty, 1820 Settler,   b. 1 Mar 1789, Sustead, Norfolk, England ,   d. 29 Sep 1866  (Age 77 years)
  Family ID	F20573	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Jan Philip du Prez Beneke,   b. Abt 1816,   d. 1 Jan 1853  (Age ~ 37 years)
  Married	22 Feb 1837	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  Children	1. Elizabeth Clara Beneke,   b. 12 Apr 1837 + 2. Esther Susannah Beneke,   b. 3 Nov 1843, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa   3. John Philip Beneke   4. Dorothea Maria Beneke,   b. 29 May 1849
  Last Modified	1 Oct 2015
  Family ID	F43412	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	John Charles Schwartz,   b. Abt 1832,   d. 20 Sep 1860  (Age ~ 28 years)
  Married	26 Jun 1854	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  Children	1. Susanna Elizabeth Schwartz,   b. Aft 1853
  Last Modified	1 Oct 2015
  Family ID	F43413	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 3	William Geer
  Married	1 Aug 1867	Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
  Last Modified	1 Oct 2015
  Family ID	F43414	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

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  Born - 16 Sep 1821 - Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa Married - 22 Feb 1837 - Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa Married - 26 Jun 1854 - Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa Married - 1 Aug 1867 - Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa Died - 27 Jun 1925 - Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa Buried - - North End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  The infamous "Grannie Geer' born Elizabeth Dawson FROST, b. 16 Sep 1821 in Port Elizabeth, is better known because she lived to be a very old lady, dying in her 104th year on 27 Jun 1925. She is buried in North End Cemetery next to her daughter Susanna Elizabeth Berry. The Eastern Province Herald reported an incident which took place on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the Settlers Memorial(the Campanile) on the 9th of April 1921 by the Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught. As their Royal Highness' walked to their carriage their attention was drawn to a parked car in which a frail old lady was propped up on cushions. She was Mrs. Elizabeth GEER née FROST, who was accompanied by members of her family. The Prince and Princess engaged Mrs. GEER in conversation and displayed a lively interest in the near-centenarian's reminiscences. The thrice married Elizabeth Frost left many descendents in the Eastern Cape by her husbands Jan Philip du Preez BENECKE and John Charles SCHWARTZ. At the age of 37 Ian BENECKE died, 1 Jan 1853, leaving four minor children. Elizabeth remarried. Her second husband, also a brick-maker, was John Charles SCHWARTZ. He died at the young age of 28 on 20 Sep 1860 leaving a three year old daughter Susanna Elizabeth SCHWARTZ, (the future Mrs. John BERRY). Eventually, Elizabeth was married yet again to a Mr. GEER. There were no children from this marriage, but her many descendants and relations all knew her with great affection as "Granny Geer'. Some of her descendants have memories of her as a very old lady still being very much addicted to her snuff which she had enjoyed all her life. (Her snuff box is in the collection at No. 7 Castle Hill Museum). She outlived three husbands and one of her descendants has quoted her as being fond of saying: "My first husband was a man of the Devil My second husband was a man of the World My third husband was a man from Heaven!" SOURCE: Looking Back, March 1990, East Cape Branch Genealogical Society of South Africa February 1989 Newsletter No. 9 The Settler Handbook M.D. Nash The Damants and Their Party George Printing Co (PTY) Ltd 1984 The late Mrs Christina Cunningham provided a Family Line of descent to the files at No 7 Castle Hill Notes and newspaper cuttings. Death Notices etc. on file at No 7 Castle Hill and P.E. Africana Library Letter from Elizabeth Doughty Albany Museum Grahamstown. see also http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Frost-4301

  
  

• Sources

  [S3527] 1820 Settler's Centenary Genealogical records, (https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/305287), https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVZ-5912-7?i=706&cat=305287 (Reliability: 3).