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From: "Edward Martin" <>
Subject: Headen family in the Cape
Date: Sat, 03 Jul 1999 10:51:42 +0100


Has anyone out there come across references to the HEADEN family in the Cape
in the early 19th century?

For some time I have being trying to find out more about my
great-great-grandmother,
MARY ANN HEADEN, who married GEORGE JOHN NICHOLLS at St George's,
Grahamstown 17 Oct. 1843.
The register states that she was a spinster 'of this parish, of full age,
residing in Grahamstown. She was literate and the witnesses to the marriage
were Arthur Searle, Emily Ogilvie (she reappears as the godmother of one of
Mary Ann's children in 1851) and Jabez Hart. The marriage is reported in the
Graham's Town Journal, but no details of her parentage are given.

George John Nicholls was born in London in 1819, came to Cape Town in Aug.
1841, went on in Dec. 1841 to set himself up as a merchant in Grahamstown in
partnership with A. Chiappini & Co. Transfered the business to Mossel Bay in
1844. Closed the business 1845 and returned to Grahamstown with support from
Hamilton Ross & Co of Cape Town - listed as a merchant in High Street 1848-9
and in New Street 1853. 1854 moved to Cape Town and set up Porter, Nicholls
& Vanderbyl with Francis Porter (brother of Hon. William Porter,
Attorney-General of the Cape) and Porter's brother-in-law. 1856 partnership
dissolved and was in business on his own account in Cape Town until 1875,
when he returned to London, where he died in 1907.

Mary Ann died in London 16 Oct. 1877, aged 49 - this suggests that she was
born c. 1828 and therefore was not of 'full age' when she married in 1843.
Family legend has it that she was an 'Irish countess' - however although the
name Headen certainly occurs in Ireland (Co Carlow especially) there is no
evidence for any associated title.

The only clue I have got so far is the Cape of Good Hope Almanac of 1836
which lists a MARY HEADEN as having a retail shop at 1 Barrack Street, Cape
Town. She could be Mary Ann's mother, but I need proof and would love to
have further details as to who Mary herself was.

Can anyone help !

Edward Martin

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