BLYTH, David Henderson

  Events

• Family: A possible Sister and Brother.

• Birth Reference: Ref:C112829/3550, Apr 15, 1839, Dundee Angus Scotland. Does this refer to his birth date, not christening date?

• Immigration: Emigration from Dundee Scotland, Abt 1856.

• Occupation, 1861, Beaufort West. On his marriage certificate for 12 Feb. 1861 he is stated to be a Bachelor and Clerk of Beaufort West.

• Occupation, Abt 1864, Beaufort West South Africa. Stockbroker

• Voter Registration, 1878, Beaufort West. From the Voters' List Records 1878 sent to me by Dennis Green, He was Voter # 24 for the Eastern Cape Province on the Beaufort Electoral Division. The source was the Cape Town Archives Repository Vol. 11/1/8

• Historical. ¹ This Source "Hooy Vlakte" by WGH and S. Vivier gives many accounts in which David Henderson Blyth and early descendants were engaged. In particular David was an administrator and councillor of the Beaufort West Council for some 15 years. His son John Alexander met and married Cornelia Weeber the daughter of M.J.Weeber. the first Chief Justice of the town, and also a Deacon and Elder of the local Dutch Reformed Church. Thus there was also a close relationship with the local Magistrate, none other than Ebenezer Thomas Anderson, whose son William, my father, married Sheila.Blyth

• Historical. I, Ralph Blyth Anderson is indebted to Robert G.K. Blyth for the following data copied from his report headed "Descendants of John Balfour Blyth" and for much additional information supplementing my Legacy version of our joint family tree, also published on the internet as http://griquatownandersons.com and held by my son Edward in Toronto, Canada.

David Henderson Blyth is our paternal great grandfather. He was born in Dundee, Angus, Scotland in either late 1838 and not after April 1839. As is common for records of that time the christenings are more frequently recorded than the births. His christening is given as 15 April 1839. I suspect his birth date is weeks before this at most.

He emigrated from Scotland at the very young age of about 17 in 1856. The reasons for this step are not known but presumably had something to do with the dire poverty in Scotland at that time. It is thought that he initially settled in Worcester, Cape (it is not clear why he chose Worcester and whether this was the case) and shortly thereafter moved to Beaufort West. He is believed to have practised as a lawyer (there is no indication of any legal training). According to my father, his grandson, he was more of a land agent and speculator. He served on the town council for some years. There is a picture of him and some of his family in the book "Hooivlakte", the history of Beaufort West, published in the 1960's to commemorate the 125 years of the council, the oldest in South Africa. My copy has since disappeared.

On 12 February 1861 married Sophia Kinnear in the Dutch Reformed Church. The officiating minister, James Turnbull, was a minister of the free church (Wesleyan) and I assume that at that time there was no Wesleyan church in Beaufort West. Sophia was born in Worcester where her father was a magistrate. It is not clear whether he met Sophia in Worcester or after the Kinnears moved to Beaufort West.

As far as can be established all the children were born in Beaufort West although there is some doubt about John Alexander Blyth, the eldest son.

Chris Pattinson suggests that there is evidence that he lived latterly on a farm called "Fairfield or Fairview" in the Ladismith Cape district before moving to Johannesburg. This is not unlikely as his son George (our grandfather) had married into a Ladismith family. (It is not clear how our grandparents met and the timing of the stay in Ladismith may be significant. We do not know when or why he left Beaufort West.) The farm is on the edge of the village and overlooks the town and the Swartberg. He moved to Johannesburg where he died on 30 October 1908. His death notice gives his occupation as stockbroker. Sophia remained in Johannesburg and was cared for by at least two of her daughters, Laura and Annie, neither of whom ever married.
More About DAVID HENDERSON BLYTH:
Christening: 15 April 1839, Dundee , Angus, Scotland
Emigration: Abt. 1856, To South Africa, Settled in Worcester where he married. Then moved to Beaufort West where he lived for many years. Apparently lived on a farm "Fairview/Fairfield" in Ladismith district before moving to Johannesburg late in life.
Occupation: Lawyer and Land Agent

David married Sophia Catharina KINNEAR, daughter of William John KINNEAR and Johanna Sophia Carolina ITZEN, on Feb 12, 1861 in Dutch Reformed Church, Beaufort West, South Africa. (Sophia Catharina KINNEAR was born on Feb 12, 1842 in Beaufort West South Africa., christened on May 1, 1842 in Beaufort West and died on Mar 6, 1920 in 4 Pietersen St. Hospital Hill Johannesburg South Africa.)

• Alt Marriage. ² New Source gives marriage in Wesleyan-Methodist Church, Beaufort West as 12 Feb 1861, with some association with the Dutch Reformed Church. (DRC)
Since then a digital photo of the actual marriage certificate has been received confirming the 12 Feb 1861 as the true date, and the DRC the venue in Beaufort West. The certificate also reveals that Sophia was a minor, and she was married on her birthday! Thus the original date of 1857 in Worcester are replaced in this record. A subsequent Marriage Record on Microfilm # 1560855 Item30 transcribed by Nolene Lossau, and sent to me by Dennis Green, confirms that they were married in the Dutch Reformed Church, the presiding minister being Rev. W.A.Newman.