User talk:Robert Godlonton

Robert Godlonton, Hon. - Original 1820 Settler of Grahams Town, Albany, South Eastern Cape, South Africa. (1. Some Frontier Families, Ifan Mitford-Barberton, C.L.J., A.R.C.A., F.R.B.S.,F.R.G.S. & Violet White, M.C.S.P. (LON.)1968 Human & Rousseau, Cape Town and Pretoria) Also: Robert Godlonton - See Robert A. Duckworth-Ford - First Paternal Grandson of the Honorable Robert Godlonton of Grahams Town, South Africa, Original 1820 Settler -(2. Google Search/Yahoo Search Philippine Constabulary Academy Superintendents; Roots.com)

Robert Godlonton, b.1794; d.1884 - With wife, Mary Ann and small daughter, Mary Ann-in Lt. Bailie's party of the Chapman, the first of the settler ships to arrive in Algoa Bay of 9 April 1820. The party was settled near the mouth of the Fish River. Settlement called Cuylerville, after Colonel Cuyler, who accompanied them from Algoa Bay. The first Mrs. Godlonton died 1844. Their issue: Mary Ann m. Benjamin Matthew Sheperson who had three daughters and sons. Matilda Barton who married Benjamin Booth and had three daughters and two sons. John James and Emma who died in childhood; and, Caroline who died at age 8. Robert Godlonton then married Mrs. Sarah Attwell Richards, an original young settler issue. They gave birth to Benjamin D'Urban Godlonton and Sarah Harriette Godlonton. The latter married Edward Benjamin Cottrell Hoole and had three daughters and three sons. The former married, Benjamin D'Urban Godlonton married Flora Adelaide Glanville. They had six sons and three daughters. The Eldest son was Robert Godlonton b. 11 Sep 1871,(3. Mitford-Barberton, 1968); Grahamstown Weslayen Church records; et-al)

Godlonton who with others failed at farming, found employment first as a Constable, then clerk to the Landrost and later to the Civil Commissioner, Captain Duncan Campbell. Initially a stringer for the Grahams Town Journal in 1831, Godlonton became editor and later owner of the paper which became the leading newspaper in the Eastern Province. Editorially, Godlonton supported and defended the Settlers against the blatantly hostile attitude of Western Province and Great Britian. The Grahamstown Journal, albeit under a different name, had continued as the oldest newspaper in South Africa through 1968. (4.Ibid)

Accomplishments of Godlonton were numerous. Among them were the following: Founder or Controlling interest owner of eight newspapers or magazines in South Africa; Publisher of nine books or pamphlets; title of Champion of the Eastern Province; JP for Albany and Fort Beaufort; Director of Branch Savings Bank, Frontier Fire Insurance Co. and Frontier Commercial & Agricultural Bank; Held Commissions in 6th and 7th Frontier Wars; Member of Board of [Defence] in 8th Frontier War; laid the foundation stone of Settlers' Tower in Grahmstown (Grahams Town became Grahamstown). Nominee for the old Legislative Council 1850-3; New Legislative Council elected Member, 1854-1879; through 1968: Marble bust of Godlonton, Hon. Robert in the House of Parliament, Cape Town. (5. Ibid)

Other sources for further information regarding the Honorable Robert Godlonton may be found in, Dictionary of South African Biography, Volume II, W.J. de Kock (until 1970) and D. W. Kruger (since 1971), published for the Human Resources Council by Tafelberg-Uitgewerstd., 1971 Uitgewerstd.,1971; also, Wilmot and J. C. Chase, History of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, C.T.,1869; Cape Arch, C.T.: Richard Southey Collection;-Gubbins lib., U.W., Jbg.: Robert Godlonton Coll., Rhodes House lib., Oxford - Robert White Collection - "The Separation Movement During the Period of Representative Government at the Cape, 1854-72" (Unp. M.A. Th., U.C.T., 1938; D. B. Sole, "The Separation Movement and the Demand for Resident Government in the Eastern Province: Comprising a Record of Political Opinion in the Province During the Half Century, 1828-'78 (Unp. M.A. th., R. U.C., 1939; - B. A. Le Cordeur, "Robert Godlonton as Architect of Frontier Opinion, 1850-57, A.Y.B., 1959, II; - A. L. Harington, "The Grahmstown Journal and the Great Trek, 1834-43 (Unp. M.A. th.,Unisa., 1967; Private inf. from Mr. D. B. Godlonton, C.T.; "Archives Year Book for South African History," ed. by Dr. A. Kieser, Chief Archivist for the Union, et. al, 22nd year-Vol. II, Pinted by National Comericial Printers Ltd., Elsies river, C.P. for the Government Printers, 1960 - Colin Turing Campbell(Resident at Graham's Town, 1848-1871), "British South Africa,..." John Haddon & Co. 6 Bell's Buildings, Salisbury Square, London, E.C. J. C. Juta & Co., Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg, 1897, (p. 192,3)