Tuesday 2 September 1890

DIED at Beaufort House, Grahamstown, on 2nd September 1890, of Bronchitis, Sarah, widow of the late Hon. Robert GODLONTON, aged 85 years, dearly beloved and deeply regretted.
The Funeral will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) at half past 3 o’clock. All friends are cordially invited.

OBITUARY
DEATH OF MRS. GODLONTON
We regret to have to announce the death of this much esteemed lady, who expired at her residence, Beaufort St., early this morning, after an illness of about a week. The complaint which proved fatal to her constitution was bronchitis, the symptoms of which were removed by the care of her medical attendants, but the system was too feeble to rally. Mrs. GODLONTON was one of those who arrived with the Settlers in 1820, and she went through all the hardships of those early days in company with her first husband, Mr. RICHARDS, having to flee from their residence at Little Kleinemonde in the war of 1835, and losing all their property. The disasters and hardships of that year led to the death of her husband; and subsequently the widow was married to the Hon. Robert GODLONTON, and passed the remainder of her life in Grahamstown. She had attained the age of 85 at her death; and leaves to survive her one son, Durban GODLONTON Esq. of London, and five daughters, Mrs.W. AYLIFF, Mrs. B. HOOLE, Mrs. A. WEBB (Somerset East), Mrs. SMITH, wife of Rev. John SMITH (Natal) and Mrs. BALL, wife of the Rev. Mr. BALL, residing in England. Mrs. GODLONTON was universally respected and beloved, and her kindness to the poor was as systematic as it was quietly done. We learn that the funeral ceremony will take place at Commemoration Church at 3:30pm tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon.

Thursday 4 September 1890

FUNERAL OF MRS. GODLONTON
The funeral of this deceased lady took place yesterday afternoon. The procession started from the residence in Beaufort St. about 3:30pm, the pall-bearers being Messrs. C.R. GOWIE, John E. WOOD M.L.A., John WEBB, H. WOOD, P. IMPEY and J. SLATER. There was a considerable attendance of friends. The funeral service was conducted in Commemoration Church, the Revs. T. CHUBB, W. IMPEY, W. HOLDEN and H. COTTON taking part in it. After the procession had been reformed, it proceeded to the Wesleyan Cemetery, where the remains of Mrs. GODLONTON were laid to rest in the family vault by the side of her late husband, the Hon. R. GODLONTON, and under the shadow of the beautiful and imposing monument which has recently been erected to his memory. It is a touching fact that it was in visiting her late husband’s grave last week in order to see to the ground being kept in good condition that Mrs. GODLONTON contracted the disease (bronchitis) which a few days later caused her death. Many tasteful garlands were brought by friends and deposited at the tomb. We should mention that by a mistake in our last issue we omitted to give the name of Mr. Robert RICHARDS, of Natal, among the children of the deceased.

FATAL ACCIDENT
On Tuesday last (says the Press) Miss Annie GRIMBEEK, daughter of Mr. J.A. GRIMBEEK of Wagendrift, Pretoria district, went out for a ride with her younger brother at four o’clock in the afternoon. The brother proposed a race and the spirited sister coincided. They had not gone far when Miss GRIMBEEK fell from her horse, her foot remaining fast in the stirrup. She was dragged over a distance of more than a mile, and received frightful injuries, to which she succumbed within five hours after the mishap. The deceased was only 23 years of age. The horse she was riding was the well-known race-horse Honesty and belonged to Mr. O’NEIL.

Tuesday 9 September 1890

DIED OF MORPHIA
At Maritzburg Dr. HANDOCK, the resident surgeon of the Grey Hospital, had died from an overdose of morphia.

DEATH FROM INFLUENZA
The Uitenhage Times says that the prevailing epidemic, influenza, has caused the death of Mr. Peter Albertus BASSON, who on Friday was attacked with the usual symptoms of influenza; inflammation of the lungs with hemorrhage followed, and on Tuesday the symptoms suddenly took a serious turn, and he died at ten o’clock. Dr. LAMB was immediately on the spot, and pronounced death to be caused by inflammation of the lungs. Mr. BASSON was 45 years of age and leaves a widow and family.

FATAL ACCIDENTS
Two dreadful railway accidents occurred at Capetown on the 1st inst. Mr. BELL, employed by Messrs. Robertson & Bain, was taking leave of a friend as the Kimberley train started. The friend held his hand a second too long, and BELL was pulled between the carriages. He was literally cut to pieces, and carried some distance in pieces. The second case was that of FLETCHER, a private in the East Yorkshire Regiment, who got on the line near Claremont, and the train passed over him, severing his head completely from the body.

DEATH OF MISS K. PERKS
The Cape Mercury records the very sudden death of Miss Katie PERKS, second daughter of Mr. G.P. PERKS of Kingwilliamstown. On Tuesday afternoon she went out to the residence of Mr. R.J. DICK, about three miles from town, and played tennis. Some of the players were walking home, she amongst them, and several times during the walk she complained of feeling faint, and sat down. She managed to reach home, however. Later at night she began to expectorate blood, and a doctor was sent for, but about four o’clock on Wednesday morning she died from internal haemorrhage caused by a broken blood-vessel. The exertion of a long walk after tennis evidently proved too much for a system not naturally robust, though the deceased was the very picture of health. Miss Katie PERKS was a general favourite, and the feeling of sympathy with her family is widespread.

Thursday 11 September 1890

BIRTH at Grahamstown, Sept. 10th 1890, the wife of A.D. IMPEY of a daughter.

SAD DEATH
The Independent says: The death of Mrs. C.D. CUMMING, under sad circumstances, occurred this morning at the residence of Mr. E.H. DAMANT, Beaconsfield. It was only the other day that the now deceased lady, aged about 75 years, travelled from near Grahamstown to be present at the marriage of her three grandchildren – two grandsons and a granddaughter – which event was chronicled at the time. Mrs. CUMMING, during her stay here, contracted a very severe cold, and getting worse, inflammation of the lungs set in, to which disease she gradually succumbed. The body is to be taken to Grahamstown for burial. We tender our sincere condolence to the many relatives and friends of the deceased in their bereavement.

THE LATE MRS. GODLONTON
During a memorial service at Commemoration Church on Sunday morning last, the Rev. T. CHUBB who officiated read the following notice with respect to the life and character of the late Mrs. GODLONTON.
Mrs. GODLONTON was born at the farm Battlesden, in Bedfordshire, in 1805. It was also the birthplace of her father and the home of her grandfather, and is still occupied by members of the family. In the last century Wesley sent one of his choice men to preach in Bedfordshire. The father, Mr. ATTWELL, was a strict Churchman and had no sympathy with dissent; but when there was difficulty about a room for the service, the eldest sister pleaded with her father that the Rev. Mr. OLIVER might be allowed to preach in the barn. This sister was among the first-fruits of his labours, but Mrs. GODLONTON, who was younger, did not join the Wesleyan Church till after she came to this Colony with her parents in 1820. She then became a member and remained so till the day of her death. She was a staunch Methodist; her spiritual life responded to the ministries of this Church; and she was in entire sympathy with its aims and methods. She was in her younger days a Sunday school teacher, and in her later years an active member of the ladies’ benevolent Society, and was ever ready to help in every good work; and to the last, when health permitted, attended regularly, and with deep enjoyment, the House of God for worship. She was of a retiring disposition, a humble but most cheerful Christian, a faithful wife, an ideal and devoted mother, and a most sincere friend. She was most sympathetic to those who were in trouble, most tender and thoughtful to the sick, and ever forgetful of herself; and although she has seen storms and cloudy skies, domestic troubles and difficulties, sorrows and bereavements, yet through all there has been a consciousness of sunlight beyond the clouds. She was respected by all who knew her, and beloved by many.
The following remarks, taken from a recent issue of the D.F. Advertiser, were also read in continuation of the above: - Telegrams, come from whence they may, are anxiously looked for in Kimberley, seeing that residents are made up of people from every part of the world. Sometimes they bring joy, at other times sorrow to the recipient. It was of the latter class that was received yesterday from Grahamstown, conveying the intelligence of the death of Mrs. GODLONTON, relict of the late Hon. R. GODLONTON. Need we say the name is historical, conveying as it does vivid reminiscences of early times from 1820, when the British Settlers landed in Algoa Bay. The anxieties of these days were great, and as one and another pass away who were the subjects of the vicissitudes of colonisation then, we are reminded that the present is not always worse than the past. “The good old times” is a fine sounding expression, but in South Africa it is synonymous with struggles of a severe character, not only against adverse fortune, but also to maintain that liberty which Englishmen are accustomed to enjoy in the Od Country. The men who have to pass through this ordeal would have been less successful but for the support and encouragement received at their own homes. When biography shall be written of the actors in those scenes, the women will be seen, grand characters, true helpmeets, and amongst them will prominently figure the name of Mrs. GODLONTON. She was spared to old age, and saw her children and grandchildren settled in life ere she was called away. A very large circle of friends, as well as relatives, mourn her death, and by the poor she will be greatly missed for her unobtrusive charity and kindness. Those in affliction and trouble ever found in Mrs. GODLONTON a ready sympathiser and wise adviser, showing her large-heartedness, and abnegation of self. She manifested in her life all the beautiful characteristics of a thoroughly Christian woman, always ready for duty, and furnishing a bright example by her loving desire for the good of others. To the members of the family we tender our sincere sympathy in their bereavement, and trust that this sorrow will be assuaged by the recollection of her noble life and peaceful end.

Saturday 13 September 1890

BIRTH at Laurence St, Grahamstown on the 11th inst, the wife of Martin H. COOMBE of a daughter.

Tuesday 16 September 1890

DIED at the residence of her son Charles (Alicedale), Sept. 15th 1890, Mary, the beloved wife of the late Joseph GREEN, aged 64 years and eight months.
Art thou weary, art thou languid,
Art thou sore distrest;
“Come to me” saith One, “and coming
Be at rest.”
The Funeral of the above will leave Trinity Church tomorrow (Wednesday)afternoon at 4 o’clock. All friends are kindly invited to attend.

OBITUARY
We regret to hear of the death of Mrs. Joseph GREEN, at Alicedale. It was known that her illness was dangerous, and in consequence the members of her family were summoned to her bedside. We tender our sincere condolence to the deceased lady’s sons and daughters, who are much respected in Grahamstown and district. The body of the late Mrs. GREEN was brought up from Alicedale this morning, and is awaiting interment at the residence of her son, Mr. W. GREEN, in Market Square. The funeral will take place from Trinity Church tomorrow afternoon at 4 o’clock.

CULPABLE HOMICIDE
The E.P. herald says that a white man named Joseph ALBERT has been arrested at the Bay on a charge of culpable homicide, it being alleged that he caused the death of a native boy at Jansenville by thrashing him.

Thursday 18 September 1890

BIRTH at Grahamstown on Monday September 15th, the wife of Mr. W.G. CINNAMON of a daughter.

MARRIED at Christ Church, Grahamstown, on Saturday Sept. 13th 1890, by the Rev. M. Norton, Colin Campbell, ninth son of David MACKAY, to Mary Louisa, fourth daughter of the late John MARSHALL.

Saturday 20 September 1890

BIRTH at Port Alfred on Monday September 15th 1890, the wife of Mr. A.E. SCARLES of a daughter.

ACCIDENT AT KIMBERLEY
Yesterday morning (says a Kimberley paper) a white man, known as ‘Curley’ EDKINS, a driver in the employ of Mr. BETZ, soda water manufacturer, was driving a wagon along the South Circular Road when it collided with one of the poles or stays of the arena fence, with the result that he was thrown out of the vehicle with considerable force, and sustained a compound fracture of the skull. Constable NEALE, of the Municipal Police, and Mr. CARR rendered the unfortunate man what assistance they could, and conveyed him to the hospital, where he lies in a precarious condition.

DEATH OF CHRISTIAN SLINGER
This individual, who was well known to passers-by the Standard Bank, where he was Messenger, and was frequently to be seen in front of that Institution, died yesterday. He was a member of Rev. S. HELM’s Church, and bore an excellent reputation in all respects. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock.

FOUND DROWNED
For some time Mr. Joseph TOMLINSON, son of our townsman, had been missing from home, and though careful search had been made for him, advertisements inserted in the papers offering rewards, and the reservoirs dragged, no trace could be found of the missing man. Yesterday morning his sister and his aunt, who had an idea that he had fallen into the reservoir, went up to the Grey Reservoir, and it was not long before they saw a human body floating face downwards in the water. They at once concluded that it was the wanderer’s body, and coming back to town, secured Mr. [AMERY]’s attendance, and that gentleman managed to get the body on shore, when it was at once identified as that of poor Joseph TOMLINSON. Inspector LACEY and Mr. HEMMING were promptly on the spot, and the body was taken to the residence of Mr. TOMLINSON Sen. in Bathurst St., where the usual autopsy will of course be held. The deceased, who was rather eccentric at times, had never manifested any inclination to put an end to his life, and the general belief is that he missed his way in Sunday night’s fog and accidentally walked over the steep bank. The body cannot have been long immersed, for he had been seen and spoken to by some people living near the reservoir. It is earnestly to be hoped that the folly of emptying the water will not be repeated. Great sympathy is expressed for the bereaved relatives in the trial which has befallen them.

Tuesday 23 September 1890

MATTERSON. Sept 12, at the Wesleyan Mission House, Osborn, East Griqualand, the wife of the Rev. Robert MATTERSON of a son (Charles Henry Nottingham).

FOUND DROWNED in the Grey Reservoir, on Friday 19th Sept. 1890, Joseph Nicholl TOMLINSON, aged 30 years 4 months.
His languishing head is at rest,
Its thinking and aching are o’er;
His quiet, immovable breast
Is heaved by affliction no more;
His heart is no longer the seat
Of trouble and torture and pain,
It ceases to flutter and beat,
It never will flutter again.
The parents and family tender their sincere thanks to the many friends who helped in the search for him, who was lost on Sunday last.

Saturday 27 September 1890

MARRIED on Sept. 26th 1890, by the Rev. B.J. Shaw, at the residence of the bride’s father, Martin A.U. KOCH, third son of Johann J. KOCH, Frankfort, Kaffraria, to Lily, youngest daughter of Edward H. DELL, Grahamstown.

DEATH OF MR. G.B. COLE
News comes from Port Alfred that one of the best known and oldest residents of the place has died, in the person of Mr. COLE of “Cole’s Hotel” fame. There will be hundreds who will mourn his death, for the deceased was very well and favourably known to all who visited the Kowie. We tender our sincere sympathy to the bereaved ones.

Tuesday 30 September 1890

BIRTH at Fort England, Grahamstown, Sept. 27th 1890, the wife of W.F. CHAMBERLAIN of a daughter.

DIED on Sept. 26th 1890, Elizabeth COCKCROFT, wife of William COCKCROFT Sen., of Shaw Park, aged 81 years.
The relatives tender their thanks to Drs. GREATHEAD and CHEW for their unremitting attendance to the deceased.

OBITUARY NOTICE
Following close upon the death of the late Mr. G.B. COLE comes the report that another well-known Kowie resident has died, in the person of Mr. Arthur SWAN, only son of the late Mr. Robert SWAN. The cause of death is stated to have been inflammation of the bowels, and the deceased was at one time in great pain, which he bore with fortitude and resignation. He was only 31 years and 6 months old. Much sympathy is felt for his bereaved mother in her sorrow.
We have also to chronicle the sad new of Mrs. EDWARDS’s death from heart disease of long standing. The deceased lady, who was universally and deservedly esteemed, was the relict of the late Rev. Jno. EDWARDS, who was known for a long course of years as an able and successful Missionary amongst the natives in different parts of this country. She was 81 years of age and had relations in many parts of the Colony.
A third sad occurrence is the death of Mrs. MATTERSON, well known in Grahamstown. The deceased lady was the wife of Rev. Robert MATTERSON, and her death occurred shortly after the birth of her child. She sustained a severe relapse and contracted a fever from which she died. Mr. MATTERSON will have the sincere condolence of a very large section of the community in his trouble.