SOUTH-AFRICA-L Archives

From: "Tessa King" <>
Subject: [ZA] Pilgrim's Rest
Date: Wed, 4 Dec 2002 17:35:27 +0200

Hi to all the listers

While I was on holiday in Pilgrim's Rest I managed to spend a day at the Transvaal Gold Mine Estate & Pilgrim's Rest Archives. I was left pretty much to my own devices whilst there as the lady in charge was busy organising a "Gold Rush/Digging" event which attracts international visitors. I found the information for which I was looking, namely Hugh MacDougall and his family. Ellen had posted one of the baptisms for this family...can't find the rest even though they were living in Pilgrim's Rest. Perhaps they visited Scotland and the deed was done while there. Anyway, while there I photographed the indexes to the various files which have a little bit of personal information on various Pilgrim's Rest residents, old and new. I thought I would post the names in case they are of interest to anyone. But I did copy some things which I will list first.

I have a five page letter written on the 27th J..... 1876 regarding the death of 'your lordship's brother and my friend, William NAPIER' ....a narrative of what had transpired causing this event. It looks like it is a handwritten copy of the original letter written by D W Dunbar, as there are odd spaces where obviously the handwriting was illegible. There is also a hand drawn picture of the headstone erected "In loving memory of William John, 2nd son of William John, Lord Napier, who died here of fever, January 15th 1876 aged 59 years."

A 3 page letter regarding Tommy Dennison aka "The Highwayman" - an Irishman who came to Pilgrim's Rest and robbed the wagon bringing the bullion from Lydenburg to Pretoria. On opening the boxes he discovered they were filled with half crowns and he was so disgusted that he went into town (PR) and bought drinks for everyone. He was promptly arrested and sent to jail for 5 years in Pretoria. He returned to Pilgrim's Rest and did many things - entertainer, bar tender, train driver etc. Quite a colourful character.

Photocopy of an old photo of Rev Frank Dowling a well know Pilgrim's Rest missionary/minister.

Small family tree on the PURCELL name. John Purcell married Mary Ann ? There daughter Maud Mary married Herbert William Charles LILLEY and then William Price GRIFFITHS. No dates, just names.

Copies of Baptism Certificates as listed by Ellen for Methodist Church, Pilgrim's Rest - photograph of fairly clear photocopies as follows:
Entries 57-60, 85-88, 97-104, 117-124, 140-148, 165-168, 173-176, 189-196, 201-204, 221-224, 277-290.

A nine page report of a conversation transcribed from a tape by Mr F G Brown of Ipswich, on Florence BROWN nee CHAPMAN who spent her youth in Pilgrim's Rest. No names or dates - just stories of her life in Pilgrim's Rest.

I think it best to list the other names in a separate email.

Take care
Tessa

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• [ZA] Pilgrim's Rest by "Tessa King" <>