Buchanan in Durban and Cape Town, South Africa, 1919.....

[gpc52]

Hello

This is the second thread that I will have started this year and involves my father's grt-grandparents, who were Buchanans and came from Benbecula.

This time I am starting the thread by looking for a Buchanan in Durban, South Africa who ran a 'Boarding House' with his wife up to 1919. In 1919 his wife died and he went to live with his daughter Emily ?????, née Buchanan, in Cape Town at 6 Kimberley Villas, Observatory.

At the time he was 80 years of age and so would have been born about 1839 possibly on Benbecula or South Uist. Emily's children referred to him as Grandpa. He certainly had two sisters, one was Mary Buchanan and the other was Isabella Buchanan, who became Isabella Slater. You will find a great deal of information about Mary and Isabella in my other thread on this site.

Emily was almost certainly married to Willie or William but I do not know her married surname. They had the following 5 children in 1919; Beatrice, Willie, Alice, Dolly and Gerty the youngest age 3. So Gerty would have been born in 1916.

In 1919 Emily had been in South Africa for 5 years, having arrived in 1914. She also had staying with her, Alf. Willie in 1919 is a foreman on the railways and earns £500 per year but was expecting to be transferred up country. There may be a connection with Johannesburg.

If you know the first name of the grandfather (grandpa) or Emily's married name I would be very pleased and grateful to know it. We then might be able to tie the information back to Isabella and Mary.

Thank you for your help.

Graham (Norwich)

[Liz Turner]

Dear Graham

Have you been able to make any progress with your search?

I've come across a reference to the Archives of the Principal Immigration Officer, Cape Town (PIO). These apparently contain passengers' declaration forms for the period 1904-1967 and give details of passengers entering South African Ports. There is search facility at:-

http://www.national.archives.gov.za/

It might be worth having a look at the site if you've not already done so (and my apologies if you have!), to see if you can make some progress.

I don't know how useful you'll find this site, but it might give some good background info for you. I know nothing about South Africa.

http://www.rupert.net/~lkool/page2.html

Good luck!

Liz

PS - Just found this wee site which might lead you to some info.

http://members.aol.com/rprost/passenger.html

Off now to refresh the G&T!

Liz

[elgarvmatt]

Graham, there is an excellent South African site - www.ancestry24.co.za - that may be of some help wih your query.
They have a few good Forums and an extremely helpful Manager.
Good Luck!
Elgar