Emigrants to South Africa?

Kathykins · Post by **Kathykins** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:19 pm

According to family legends, and an old letter written to my great grandmother, a number of my scottish relatives, Cobbs and McKenzies, emigrated from Perthshire to South Africa around the turn of the century.

My burning question is: why? And is it at all possible to find out for sure if they emigrated, and where to? As long as my relatives stayed in Scotland I've not had too much trouble finding them, but once they leave, I get a bit lost I'm afraid!

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:28 am

Hello Kathykins,

Just some links to reading matter regarding South Africa research. (At first glance it looks as though it could be a relatively difficult area to cover).

http://www.rupert.net/~lkool/page2.html
http://home.global.co.za/~mercon/
http://www.cyndislist.com/soafrica.htm

This site is always worth a try (you never know your luck)..
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/

Alan

Post by **AnneM** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:11 am

Hi Kathy

i've been researching my husband's family history for some time. He was born in SA. Fortunately 3 out of 4 of his grandparents were born in England and I've had a fair degree of success with them, aided and abetted by those who know the English records better than I do.

However for number 4 I've so far drawn a blank. The information I've accessed leads me to believe that the indices of BDMs are not searchable by the public so if you don't have exact years you have a real problem. The national archives do have some information which can be accessed as far as I can see and this includes death notices which can be very informative or so I believe. So far I have not managed to find anything I need.

I don't mean to be discouraging but I hope you have good luck and find a way to get the info you are looking for.

There are lots of reasons why your rellies may have gone there. It was a land of real opportunity at that time and people did not have our sensibilities about taking land which belonged to the indigenous people. Maybe one of your relatives fought in the Boer War and was so impressed by the land that he felt it was right to go back. That happened with one of my husband's grandfathers. I think veterans may have got some help to move back out there.

Please let me know if you find anything.

Anne

Just remembered Findmypast.com which used to be 1837online has passenger lists for around that time which include SA. Your rellies might be on that though sadly McKenzie is not an uncommon name.

As you say luceo non uro!!!

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 6:09 pm

I'm trying to figure out how I managed to make that last post and completely fail to notice Marilyn's sticky.
Is there any way of fitting these with flashing lights, a bell, and a stick to poke me?

Inattentively yours,
Alan

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 8:22 pm

Just to emphasize that http://www.ancestorsonboard.com/ has now online, pay per view or subscription basis, the extant outgoing passenger lists for ships leaving the UK, 1890 - 1960, be that to N America, Australasia, or elsewhere in the world

David

JustJean · Post by **JustJean** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:14 pm

Really??

I thought they only had the database loaded for 1890-1929 with more to come in the future!!! Must go look...

Best wishes
Jean

Post by **marilyn morning** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:06 pm

Currie wrote

I'm trying to figure out how I managed to make that last post and completely fail to notice Marilyn's sticky.
Is there any way of fitting these with flashing lights, a bell, and a stick to poke me?

Hi Currie,

Maybe we need some whistles too.

Most of the forums have an announcement at the top of the page linking you with some useful sites. Its a work in progress by the Moderators of TalkingScot.

Regards
Marilyn

Post by **Tracey** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:41 pm

JustJean wrote:Really?? I thought they only had the database loaded for 1890-1929 with more to come in the future!!! Must go look...

Best wishes
Jean

Jean, currently they do only have up to 1929 searchable on line although i doubt it will take them long to get up to 1960 the rate they are adding data !

Tracey

davran · Post by **davran** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 5:46 pm

Kathy, don't give up. Read the advice contained in the links given to you. (It's a while ago, so I can't tell you exactly what processes I went through). I had a rellie who married and went to SA. They produced a son out there and then the husband died and the widow and family returned to the UK. I managed to contact the archives in Cape Town, who were very helpful and I now have a copy of the husband's will and death notice.

I think it very much depends on staffing levels, as I also tried to find some information from the Johannesburg records about another rellie who was in the Salvation Army, but they had no staff to do any copying there.

Good luck!

Post by **HeatherH** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:39 pm

Your correct Jean,
The ancestors on board site is still only up to 1929. Of course I'm sitting waiting for the 1930s. Must me Murphy's Luck/Law when they drew 1929 out of the hat for the cutoff date for that last installment.

HeatherH