SOUTH-AFRICA-L Archives

From: robin volkers <>
Subject: Request re my family names
Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 22:20:00 +0000

Following on from my general query re India(ns), I would like to ask for
any available information about specific names.

STOWELL
"My" line of this name can be found in India from 1819 onwards, and I
think that some of the names which dropped out of sight may have come to
South Africa. One instance that I do know of is John Harry Stowell, born
in India in 1869. At some point he moved from India to South Africa; he
became a signalman on SA Railways, and lived at Vogelfontein. He is
believed unmarried. From there he joined the British Army (date and
place unknown), becoming a Corporal in the 5th Bn South Wales Borderers.
He was killed in France on 10th Nov 1916.

I have a photcopy of a death notice - (a notice completed pursuant to
the provisions contained in "The Administration of Estates Act 1913")
signed by a brother in London, but I am not sure if this was an English
form or South African. There was no estate to worry about.

VOLKERS
I am of course interested in any of my name in South Africa but
appreciate that there may be too many, not connected in any way, to
justify a request. However, there is a marriage which I have been unable
to trace and it could well have been in South Africa (on the way to
England).

My grandmother, Ellen Volkers, died in Simla in Oct 1900, and my
Grandfather, Robert Charles Francis VOLKERS, subsequently married her
younger sister Mary Edith Maude STOWELL. I think it would have been
after March 1904 when he connverted to the Catholic faith (in Simla) -
both wives were Catholics, but the second seems to have been stronger in
the faith. There was a son born in Jan 1908, and I am quite sure that he
was legitimate. I have searched in India, England, marriages at sea, and
British Consular records without success. Can anyone help?

VANSTRATTEN
I have found several variations in this name, eg Vaunstrettan,
Vanstraten.

Hubert Vanstratten enlisted for the East India Company Infantry at
Capetown in 1797. He was described as a labourer from Leydane
(presumably Leyden) in Holland, and born c1770. Although he became a
Quartermaster Sergeant, he seems to have been a fairly rough sort of
person. Certainly prolific with his children, but there is a dearth of
marriage records for the various mothers. I think that one of his
children, then a widow, became one of my GGGms.

I assume that he had been in the Dutch garrison of Capetown, and would
appreciate any hints on finding more.

Regards
Robin Volkers

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• Request re my family names by robin volkers <>