Thursday 2 May 1889

DIED at Highland House, District of Tarka, on the 15th April 1889, of diphtheria, Adelaide Munro, aged 5 years and 4 months, eldest daughter of John Henry and Jessie Munro KING.

Tuesday 7 May 1889

INQUEST ON A SUICIDE
In the matter of the alleged suicide at Committees, and inquest was held by Mr. MACDONALD JP on the body of the man named MACEY. Dr. GREATHEAD, District Surgeon, examined the corpse and gave evidence. The conclusion come to was that the cause of death could be no other than suicide, and a verdict was returned in accordance with the evidence. The razor lying underneath the body was clotted thick with blood and hair, and was evidently the instrument of death.

BURIAL OF LORD W. CAMPBELL
Under instruction from Home, Lord W. CAMPBELL’s remains have been interred at Johannesburg. The body has been embalmed, and put into a lead coffin, a vault being specially made to receive the remains. The cause of death is a complication of disorders and failure of an originally weak heart to act.

HORRIBLE SUICIDE
A sad case of suicide (says the Cathcart paper) occurred at Mr. S.J. BROWN’s farm, Lily vale, near Queenstown, on Saturday 20th ult. Mr. BROWN had in his employ a German gardener, and missing him from his work on Saturday morning he went to the room occupied by the gardener to see if he was ill or had overslept himself. On opening the door, Mr. BROWN was horrified the find the body of the gardener on the floor, with the top part of his head blown off, and on examination it was found that deceased had deliberately committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. No motive is assigned for the rash act and deceased was at work the previous day, and nothing appeared to be amiss with him then.

Thursday 9 May 1889

BIRTH at Grahamstown on the 7th inst, the wife of G.H. FORD, of Oakwell, of a son.

ENTERED INTO REST, at Rock Cottage, at 10:30pm on the 7th May 1889, Jane, widow of the Rev. John AYLIFF, aged 90 years and 4 months.

DIED at Grahamstown on May 4th 1889, Jessie Daubione, third son of Jesse and Georgina Caroline LONG, aged 5 years and 9 months.
There’ll be no parting there.

DEATH OF MRS. AYLIFF
This esteemed Lady passed away from life very peacefully on Tuesday night. She was in her 91st year. Mrs. AYLIFF, whose maiden name was DOLD, came to this Colony in 1820 with the British Settlers, and in conjunction with her husband, the late Rev. John AYLIFF, she spent all the active years of her life in the work of missions. She lived to see various members of her family occupying important Parliamentary and official positions, and she has died in full years, in the enjoyment of a Christian hope, and in the love and esteem of a very extensive circle of friends.

OBITUARY
It is with deep regret that we hear of the sudden decease of Mrs. Chas. H. HILL, Salem. The deceased lady had been apparently enjoying perfect health up to the last, and her death was a great shock to the family, who have our sincere sympathy in their bereavement.

Saturday 11 May 1889

FUNERAL OF MRS.AYLIFF
The Funeral of the late Mrs. AYLIFF took place yesterday afternoon, leaving the residence, Grey-street, at 3 o’clock. The chief mourners were the Hon. Wm. AYLIFF, Mr. James AYLIFF and other members of the family; the daughters of the deceased lady with some other female relatives were also present at the grave. The pall-bearers were Sir J.D. BARRY, Messrs. John E. WOOD M.L.A., John WEBB, W.A. FLETCHER, B. [MOOLMAN], J. SLATER. A long procession followed the hearse. The Rev. F. MASON conducted the funeral service, in which also Revs. W. IMPEY, G.W. CROSS and other ministers took part.

Tuesday 14 May 1889

DIED at Essington, Peddie District, May 4th 1889, Owen Southey, infant son of Joseph and Sophia BRADFIELD, aged 11 months.
“Safe in the arms of Jesus”

BURNT TO DEATH
The Bedford Enterprise states that a Mrs. SMITH, housekeeper to the Rev. Father O’ROURKE, was in the kitchen at the fire, preparing the afternoon tea, when her clothes came in contact with the fire. She was alone in the house, and was discovered by a shop-boy, delivering goods, lying on the floor in flames. This happened on Monday afternoon. She lingered till 2 on Tuesday morning. She was a native of Ireland, 60 years old, and had no relatives in the country.

TARRED AND FEATHERED
An exciting scene was witnessed on the Kimberley Market square yesterday morning about 10 o’clock, when a European, in a state of nudity, with patches of tar spattered over his epidermis and feathers ornamenting the tar patches, was seen to wildly dash through the thoroughfare, pursued by a howling mob armed with more tar and an extra supply of feathers. The unfortunate creature pursued managed to dodge his pursuers and get behind some buildings down Barkly-street, but being unearthed had again to take to the open, and was chased farther, but managed to run into a river a little lower down, where the scent was lost. We (Independent) are informed that an infuriated husband headed the vengeance-seeking pursuers.

BURIAL STUPIDITY
James FORSTER, formerly in the employ of the Cerro de Pasco G.M.C., died late Monday from an attack of dysentery (says the Barberton Herald). Owing to the long standing feud existing between the Commissariat’s and Landdrost’s offices, the body was allowed to remain for 18 hours without being coffined, although the coffin was ready the evening the poor man died. Not only owing to the delay caused by the red-tapism of the officials, but the weather being exceedingly hot for this time of the year, the body swelled to twice its natural size; and whilst the funeral was being conducted by the convict establishment, the bottom of the coffin fell out. This is Christian charity with a vengeance, and we have no doubt that our religious Government will take steps to repair the rough road in which poor men travel to their last home from the Barberton Hospital.

Saturday 18 May 1889

DIED at Grahamstown, May the 17th 1889, Joseph EDKINS, aged 69 years.
“At Rest”.
The Funeral of the above will leave his late residence, Market-square, tomorrow morning at half past 8 o’clock. Friends invited to attend.

SUDDEN DEATH
We regret to hear of the sudden death of Mr. Joseph EDKINS, from heart disease. He had sawn off a heavy branch from a tree in his garden, and had called his kafir boy to help carry it away. Stooping down he lifted one end, and immediately letting it drop, fell back dead, before the native could get to him. Deceased had reached the ripe age of 69 years, and was universally respected. The bereaved family have our sincere sympathy in their sorrow.

Tuesday 21 May 1889

OBITUARY
Death claimed another victim on Saturday night last in the person of Mrs. KENNELLY, widow of the late D.H. KENNELY Esq of this City. Mrs. KENNELY, who has been in feeble health for years, had attained to five years more than the allotted three score years and ten. The family have the sincere sympathy and condolence of their many friends.

IN MEMORIAM
A funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. J. Smith SPENCER, President of the Wesleyan Conference, on behalf of the late Mrs. AYLIFF, in Commemoration Church on Sunday morning last. There was a large congregation, including many friends of the deceased lady. In the course of his remarks, the President read the following obituary notice.
The late Mrs. AYLIFF was born in London on the 8th January 1799, and the first 8 years of her life were spent in Glasgow, where religious impressions were made upon her mind, which were never obliterated. She very often referred to the Scotch godly worship of those early days, and to the delight with which she used even then to accompany her beloved and God-fearing parents to the House of God. In the year 1820 with her father and mother she came with the British Settlers to South Africa, where after arriving they were called to endure the many difficulties incident to the lives of Pilgrim Fathers, but these were cheerfully borne, and the troubles occasioned now by droughts, and then by floods, were battled with bravely from the commencement to the end. A very few years after the arrival of the Settlers in the Colony, sickness, the result of exposure and privation, attacked this family, and Mr. DOLD, the loved father, died, leaving a widow with 2 sons and 2 daughters to fight the battle of life, and to secure provision for daily need. This caused the dispersion of the hitherto united family; and among other changes which followed the subject of this brief sketch, having upon their arrival here been married to Mr. John AYLIFF, who had accompanied the family to England to South Africa, went in 1823 with her husband to reside at Somerset East. He had undertaken the duty of religiously instructing and teaching the employees of the large military establishment then under the late Robert HART Esq. of Glen Avon. After a residence there of a few years they left Somerset to enter upon the more direct missionary work which occupied the rest of their lives. In 1827 the Rev. Mr. AYLIFF was appointed to Salem and Lower Albany; and even now there are Dutch farmers residing in remote localities who speak with pleasure of the delight they derived in those early days from the visits of the young Minister, and while he was itinerating in different parts of the district the duties of the home life were superintended by Mrs. AYLIFF with all that fond love and affection which characterised her entire life. In the year 1833 Mr.and Mrs. AYLIFF were appointed to take charge of the Butterwoth Mission Station in the Transkei, where with great fidelity and zeal all the duties devolved upon them were discharged, the Kafir Chief Hinza being then the Paramount Chief of Kaffraria. The condition of the Fingoes, at that time the vassals and slaves of the Gealeka tribe, greatly excited the interest and sympathy of both Mr. and Mrs. AYLIFF, and it was among these people, then in bondage, that the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ first was embraced. Some of them after becoming Christians were baptised; and Hintza the then great Chief [sneeringly] referred to Mr. AYLIFF’s “pouring water upon his dogs”. In the year 1831 the dreadful Kafir war broke out, and terrified traders fled from their trading stations to the Institution for the protection of the Missionary family, while the dying and wounded were succoured and comforted by both Mr. and Mrs. AYLIFF, who bravely not regarding their own safety, went to assist both loyal and disloyal sufferers by the ravages of war. It was during this war that the then Governor, Sir Benjamin DURBAN, at the suggestion of Mr. AYLIFF, authorised the removal of the Fingo tribe to a locality nearer the Colony. Mr. AYLIFF at the request of His Excellency undertook the guidance of the fleeing tribe, whose escape from thraldom was attended by incidents resembling romance more than stern reality. The care of the old and decrepid devolved more upon Mrs. AYLIFF, who night and day assisting her husband did all she could for those, and the small children. They were still in sight of the Mission Station when Chapel and house were destroyed by fire, and clothing, Mr. AYLIFF’s books, furniture &c burnt. In a short while after the proclamation of peace the mission work was again resumed, and Wesleyville was the next station to which Mr. AYLIFF was designated. Here, as in previous locations, Mrs. AYLIFF ever proved a helpmeet to her husband, and though having the responsibility of a large family nevertheless found time and opportunity for attending to the duties of a wife of a missionary. In 1840 another change occurred in the eventful life of this family, and Mr. AYLIFF was appointed to form the new mission station called Haslope Hills, on the Kei River, north of the Winterberg, when as formerly Mrs. AYLIFF bent all her energies towards the advancement and improvement of those to whom her husband ministered, and in spite of difficulties almost insurmountable unceasingly laboured. In 1846 Mr. AYLIFF was removed to Bathurst and Lower Albany, and it was during their residence there that the next war broke out. They cheerfully bore the privations and shared the dangers of the people with whom their lot was [obscured], who at one time were surrounded by the enemy. Many were killed and wounded on both sides, and it was at this time that their youngest son, Mr. James AYLIFF, now the Civil Commissioner of Cradock, fell into the hands of a marauding party, but from which, owing to the care of that God who “watches every numbered hair and all our steps attends”, he providentially escaped. Mrs. AYLIFF ever after referred with deep emotion to this remarkable instance of the goodness of God. Of her it could be truthfully said: “Oh woman, great is thy faith” and her sons always while acknowledging the over-ruling providence of God are constrained to attribute their frequent escape from dangers to the efficacy of the continuous and fervent prayers of their godly mother. At Bathurst a loved daughter, aged 13, died. Medical assistance was not available, and Mrs. AYLIFF had to do what scores of Missionaries’ wives had to do, and bury her daughter out of her sight. In 1849 they were removed to Fort Beaufort, and it was while here that the war of 1850 broke out. During the attack on Fort Beaufort, wounded men were carried into the Mission House, where, with the care of a Florence Nightingale, Mrs. AYLIFF ministered comfort and support to them, while Mr. AYLIFF was helping those wounded outside. For weeks the town was barricaded, the inhabitants slept with their families in barracks, and for a long while had to endure the privations inseparable from war. It was at this time Mrs. AYLIFF’s brother-in-law, the late James HOWSE Esq, was waylaid and killed by the enemy, and it was during this residence at Fort Beaufort that Mrs. DOLD, the aged mother, died aged [83], leaving a blank in the daughter’s heart which no lapse of time again filled. On removing from Fort Beaufort, Mr. AYLIFF’s next appointment was to Heald Town, where under the auspices of the then Governor of the Colony, Sir George GREY, that Institution was [formed]. Here the energies of Mrs. AYLIFF were taxed to the utmost; and the care with which she controlled the large establishment of boys and girls is beyond all praise. All their clothing was made under her own eye, much by her own hand, while the supervision of the more domestic arrangements entailed care and anxiety beyond her strength. It was here that the great grief of her life occurred. Her husband’s health gave way, and he died in Fauresmith in the Orange Free State on the 17th May 1862, aged 64. After that Mrs. AYLIFF came and settled in Grahamstown, where up to the time when her strength gave way she was ever busily employed, like her great Master, going about doing good. She was always occupied in visiting the sick and needy, and as far as her means would admit did much to alleviate the sufferings of prisoners and afflicted. The Class she met loved her dearly, and its members still speak in terms of much affection of her unwearied efforts to promote their good. She also for a long while led a Women’s prayer-meeting, at which her constant and prompt attendance is ever remembered. In late years Death laid his hand upon the family, and in 1879 her eldest son, the Hon. John AYLIFF, the first Judge of the Natal Native High Court, was taken away; and in 1885 the Colonial Secretary of our own Colony, the Hon. Jonathan AYLIFF, died at the comparatively early age of 57, while her son-in-law, the Rev.Mr. OVERTON, in 1887 was taken away. These were shocks she never forgot, but her trust in God was never shaken, and her language was “If this cup may not pass except I drink it, Thy will be done”. For some time past her strength had been failing, and on Monday the 1st may she took to her bed and never was dressed again, and gradually became weaker and weaker. All that the care and attention of Dr. Edwin ATHERSTONE, her kind medical attendant, could do was done, but the time had come for her to die, and she seemed calmly yet peacefully to wait the event. The kindness of the Rev. Mr.and Mrs. MASON, the Rev. Mr.and Mrs. IMPEY, and her any friends, it is impossible to describe. It was a comfort to her to have two of her sons, all her daughters, and her loved daughters-in-law around her bedside, and the smile which in response to a morning greeting lit up her face, one hardly expects to witness out of heaven. But she gradually became weaker and weaker, till on Tuesday the 7th May the wheels of life stood still, and she, calmly trusting in the merits of her crucified Saviour, ceased to breathe, and thus [obscured] from earth to heaven one of the noblest women – the kindest of wives – and the fondest of mothers who ever lived on earth.

Thursday 23 May 1889

DIED at Hilton, May 19, Dora Alice Stratford, infant daughter of Rev. W.S. and Marianne CALDECOTT, aged 13 months.

ENTERED INTO REST at 3 o’clock on Sunday morning, May 19th 1889, Sophia, widow of Dennis harper KENELLY, in her 70th year.

Tuesday 28 May 1889

OBITUARY
The tolling of the Cathedral bell on the evening of Her Majesty’s birthday notified that old Mr. MORTIMER, for so long a time messenger of the R.M. Court, had passed away. The old gentleman had been in the enjoyment of a pension for some time, and was in very feeble health. The family have our sincere sympathy in their bereavement.

A GRAHAMSTOWN BOY
We rejoice to hear that Mr. Louis BENJAMIN, son of Mr. A.L. BENJAMIN, has finally completed his brilliant course of examinations and is about to be called to the Bar. He has proved himself a son of whom any father might be proud, and we trust that his career throughout will be as distinguished and successful as its commencement.

SENTENCE OF DEATH
At Mafeking one of the Bechuanaland Police named GILMORE has been sentenced to capital punishment for stabbing to death one of his comrades, named Edwin BARRY.

Thursday 30 May 1889

FELL ASLEEP at Maclean on April 27th 1889, Mary Florence, dearly beloved wife of Charles T. CROFT, deeply regretted.

PASSED AWAY at Barberton on the 25th May 1889, John, fourth son of Kenneth M. GIBSON, Newport, Scotland, and brother to James M. GIBSON, aged 30 years.

DIED at Ladybrand, 28th May 1889, William WENTWORTH, lately of Collingham, aged 45, leaving a sorrowing widow and four young children to mourn their irreparable loss.

FATAL ACCIDENT
W. Newsom VICKERMAN, a white man who was thrown out of a carriage about a week ago, has died in the Kimberley hospital, the cause of death being meningitis resulting from fracture of the skull.

OBITUARY
We regret to announce that intelligence has been received in town of the death of Mr. William WENTWORTH, late of Collingham. Mr. WENTWORTH, who was in his 46th year, had had congestion of the lungs some time back, and the cold having settled on his lungs, he found it necessary to seek change of air. The sad event occurred at Ladybrand, on the evening of the 28th inst. Deceased was one of those quiet sterling men whose death is a genuine loss to any community. He was an excellent practical farmer, his produce being always of the best quality, and his sheep particularly clean and free from scab. For many years he had a dipping tank and other appliances to make that branch of farming an entire success. How far he did succeed, the price he obtained recently for his sheep and oxen will sufficiently indicate. He leaves a widow and four young children to mourn his death. Happy may they be though even in their affliction, when men can speak of their husband and father as we heard an old friend of his speak today: “If ever there was a true consistent Christian, without bigotry but firm as a rock where his principles were involved; if ever there was a man in whose death there was hope that amounted almost to certainty, William WENTWORTH was that man.” No one could wish for a much better epitaph than that.