South Africa

English emigration to South Africa occurred in two main waves:

1. The early colonisation in the 1820-30s with its rush for gold and its Dutch-English rivalry. Sponsored immigration from Britain in the second quarter of the 19C created a significantly larger European population in the Cape (http://www.ahtg.net/TpA/safr2001.html)
2. The third quarter of the 19C when men and families from many countries came in far greater numbers and established settlements further and further from their main centres.

The first recorded South African Brokets came in 1861 just before the second wave. William and Amy TOOKEY and their young family left the tiny village of Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire for Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, and descendants still live in the province and elsewhere. There was also emigration to South Africa from Scotland, which was perhaps the origin of some of the Natal Brocketts.

1. National Archives

Below are all entries 1800-1929 in the National Archives of South Africa online catalogue (NASA) as of Sep 2005 for Brockett—and Brocket / Broket:

Insolvent Liquidation And Distribution Account of William Brockett. No personal details beyond the name are provided, but this was the business of William husband of Amy (MHHD), rather than of their 2nd son, who would only have been 19 in 1870.

Insolvent Liquidation and Distribution Accounts of William Brockett of Kraggakamma. Again, no personal details beyond the name and place are provided, but in conjunction with information from MHHD it was most probably the business of William husband of Amy, rather than of their 2nd son, who would only have been 25 in 1876.

Certification of the first and final Liquidation and Distribution Account in the Insolvent Estate of Edward John Brockett of Kragga Kama in the district of Port Elizabeth, given in Cape Town 20 Jul 1877. Sequestration date 4 April 1876. Amount owing: £611 10s. Eldest son of William and Amy, aged about 28 in 1876.

Mortgage for Alfred James and Charles Thomas Brockett trading as 'Brockett Brothers' 12 May 1896 from Conrad Christian Silberbauer and Johannes Sellengrebel le Sueur for £650, interest payable on 30 Jun and 31 Dec @ 6% p a for a property measuring 8 square roods and 98 square feet in Campbell Street, Port Elizabeth.

Mortgage for William Edward Brockett 3 Nov 1903 from William Henry Dalley and William Henry Phillipson for £600, interest payable ½ yearly on 30 Jun and 30 Dec @ 6% p a for a property measuring 34 square roods and 66 square feet in Baird at the Corner of Baird and Billsin Streets, Uitenhage. William Edward was the 2nd son of the 1st son of William and Amy.

Mortgage for Eliza Brockett, born Pearson, Widow, 12 Mar 1906 from Reginald Vyvyan Dix Harper for £100, interest payable on 30 Jun and 31 Dec @ 7% p a for a property measuring 34 square roods and 104 square feet in the Town of Port Elizabeth on the south side of Baakens River.

Certification of the first and final Liquidation and Distribution Account in the Insolvent Estate of Charles Thomas and Alfred James Brockett trading as 'Brockett Brothers' given in Cape Town 19 Aug 1907. Amount owing: £2605 8s 7d.

William, Cambridgeshire Farm Bailiff, bap 13 May 1821 Guilden Morden, and his wife Amy emigrated to South Africa on the Rajasthan and landed in Algoa Bay—adjacent to Port Elizabeth—29 June 1861 (Passenger list, permit R492/P463).

The family then comprised: William, aged 37, Farm Bailiff, Mary [sic] 36, Edward John, 13, William, 10, Arthur, 5, and an unnamed male infant. Descendants of son Alfred James reported that his parents emigrated from London and that Alfred James was born on board ship in the Bay of Biscay 25 May 1861 (GWB). If the family was still in England for the census that year, taken on the night of 7 April, none was recorded. The family settled in the Port Elizabeth area, Eastern Cape.

William had only been about 6 back in Bassingbourn when his mother died, and was presumably raised thereafter by his stepfather. The Guilden Morden Chapel records have 3 entries for William: 'Admitted 30 Dec 1841. Departed 10 Jun 1842. Dismissed to Bassingbourn Independent Church 1 Mar 1849.' William married Amy TOOKEY 6 Apr 1847 in Royston New Meeting House (MC). Amy signed with her mark on her sons' BCs in 1854 and 55, her name mistakenly given as Ann in the latter. William's occupation: 1841 Agricultural Labourer (census), 1851, 54 Farm Bailiff (census, BC son).

MHHD has the following additional details about William in the Port Elizabeth area:

NASA recorded the insolvency of 1870 and another in 1876. Kraggakamma was a small community of perhaps 100 families in 1870. Amy died 1 Dec 1884 in Port Elizabeth, aged 62, buried in St George's Park Cemetery (MHHD). William died 1901, aged about 80, and was buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (SECMI). Children:

1. Edward John, b 1848 Bassingbourn. Married Margaret BILLSON. Edward died 1882. Margaret died 1921. 2 daus, 2 sons.
2. Elizabeth Tookey, b 1849 Bassingbourn (Q1). No further record found. Not with the family when they arrived in South Africa.
3. William, b 1851 Bassingbourn (Q1). Married Annie RUSSELL. 4 daus, 2 sons.
4. Alfred Thomas, b 4 Sep 1854 Bassingbourn (BC), died 1854 Royston District, Herts (Q4).
   
5. Arthur, b 1855 Bassingbourn. Married 1st Louisa NEWTON. Louisa died 1891. 2 sons, 1 dau. Arthur married 2nd Eliza PEARSON. Arthur died 1895.
6. Alfred James, b 25 May 1861 on board ship. Married Edith Wearing GLOVER. Edith died 1933 and Alfred 1950. 4 sons, 4 daus.
7. Walter, b 1863. 1 son.
8. Charles Thomas, b 1869. Married Blanche Elizabeth .... Charles died 1946. I son.
9. Herbert Charles, b 1872. Married Ellen Florence MORTIMER 1898 Richmond, Cape Province. He died 1939. She died 1948. 6 daughters, 2 twin sons:

    

1st s/o William and Amy, b 1848 Bassingbourn (Q1). Recorded in Kragga Kama in 1876. Married 23 Jan 1872 Margaret BILLSON in Bride's Home Baptist Church (MHHD). Edward died 10 Feb 1882 in Port Elizabeth, aged 37, buried in St George's Park Cemetery, occupation: Salesman, of Russell Rd (MHHD). Margaret died 12 May 1921 in Port Elizabeth, aged 73, buried in St George's Park Cemetery (MHHD). The 1922 First Liquidation and Distribution Account for Margaret Brockett (MOOC 13/1/4416 19) would have been for this Margaret. Children:

1. Florence May, b 7 Nov 1879, one of twins, died 18 Jun 1880 aged 7 months 11 days (MHHD).
2. William Edward. Was William a twin? Married Mary STUART of Uitenhage. In 1903 William Edward obtained a mortgage for a property in Uitenhage, x m NW of Port Elizabeth. 1 dau, 2 sons.
3. Ernest Evelyn, b 7 May 1880. Married 1st Victoria Rubel SMITH 2 Oct 1901 Baptist Church, Port Elizabeth (MHHD). Victoria died 3 Oct 1902, aged 22, and was buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (MHHD; SECMI). He married 2nd Gladys IMPEY 5 Dec 1903 St Cuthbert's Church, Port Elizabeth. Ernest and Gladys both died 24 Jul 1907, aged 27, and were buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (MHHD; SECMI). No known issue.
4. Ethel Jane, b 28 Jun 1882. Married 27 Jul 1910 Percy BURGESS in Holy Trinity Church, Port Elizabeth (MHHD). Percy was a Draper, and died 21 Apr 1942 in Port Elizabeth(MHHD). Ethel died 29 May 1970, and was buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (MHHD). No issue.

2nd s/o William and Amy, b 1851 Bassingbourn (Q1). Married 30 Jun 1886 Annie RUSSELL in the Baptist Church, Port Elizabeth, both residing Buffelsfontein, Port Elizabeth (MHHD). A widow in 1918 Annie inherited 37 Sherlock St from her sister Ellen (MHHD). The youngest two, the sons, went to Nazareth House Orphanage, Port Elizabeth, when their father died and started work aged 12 in Port Elizabeth. Children:

1. Emily. Married ... WILLIAMS.
2. Maud. Married ... BAKER.
3. Connie. Married ... HEATH.
4. Amy. Married ... DYMOND.
5. Stanley Alfred. Married Elizabeth Doris GAINFORD.
6. William. Married ... .... Had a large family in Ladysmith, Natal, some of whom moved to Johannesburg.

3rd surviving s/o William and Amy, b 19 Sep 1855 Bassingbourn (BC). Married 7 Jun 1881 Louisa NEWTON in the Methodist Church, Port Elizabeth (MHHD). Arthur was a Storeman with Savage and Sons, Rock St, Port Elizabeth and in 1882 in Mitchell St (MHHD). Louisa died 3 Apr 1891, aged 35, and was buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (SECMI). Children:

1. Arthur Norman b 1882. Married Florence Elizabeth ... Arthur Norman died 12 Dec 1934, aged 52, and was buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (SECMI). Florence Elizabeth died 30 Mar 1963, aged 77, and was buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (SECMI).
2. Henry Elliott b 3 Jan 1886, bap 14 Feb 1886. Alive 1895.
3. Beatrice Louisa b 18 Oct 1887, bap in Methodist Parish, Port Elizabeth 16 Nov 1887. Alive 1895.

Arthur married 2nd Eliza PEARSON. Arthur died 29 Apr 1895 (MOOC 6/9/339 842) or 16 Apr (MHHD) at 26 Rock St, Port Elizabeth, and was buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (SECMI). Eliza widow of Arthur, was presumably the same as the Eliza widow recorded 1906 and 1920. She died 1919 (MHHD note).

4th surviving s/o William and Amy, b 25 May 1861 on board ship (GWB), christened 5 Apr 1863 in the Methodist Church, Port Elizabeth (MHHD). Married 13 Mar 1887 Edith Wearing GLOVER in the Baptist Church, Port Elizabeth (MHHD). Alfred opened a Butcher's shop Jun 1891 in Port Elizabeth on the corner of Lansdowne Place and Campbell St, opposite A.Baldie's Store (MHHD). From 1908 they were living at 76 Irvine St, and 1916-17 at 80 Irvine St (MHHD). NASA has 3 documents concerning Alfred with his brother Charles: a mortgage bond in 1896 (DOC 4/1/475 ref 1922) and an insolvent liquidation in 1907-8 and 1909 (MOIB 2/3105 ref 558 and 2/3189 ref 371). Edith died 29 Mar 1933 and Alfred 4 Jun 1950, aged 89, and were buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (SECMI). Edith's Estate Papers are dated 1933 (MOOC 6/9/4251 ref 37338) and Alfred's 1950 (MOOC 6/9/17267 ref 3414/50). Children (GWB):

1. Alfred Haddon, b 18 Dec 1888 (first son—MHHD). Secretary in the Gold Mines. Married Alice .... Alfred's Estate is recorded from 1976 in the Pretoria Supreme Court (MHG 0 ref 4117/45). 1 son, 1 dau.
2. Sidney Walter, b 18 Dec 1892; m Jessie GREEN. Sidney Walter's Estate is recorded from 1976 in the Pretoria Supreme Court (NASA MHG ref 3876/76). 3 sons.
3. Edith Winifred, m Percy WISE. NASA has Edith's Estate Papers from 1949 (MOOC 6/9/16457 ref 4981/49). 1 son, 2 daus.
4. Nellie [Ellie?] May, b 10 Mar 1895; m Albert Edward COPPIN. 2 sons, 2 daus.
5. Ada Mary, m Sydney FOWLDS. 1 dau, 3 sons.
6. Bernard Milner, b 1899, d 9 May 1901 in Port Elizabeth aged 1 year 11 months (MHHD), buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (SECMI).
7. Ruby Olive, b 3 Jun 1902; m Erroll MILDENHALL. 1 dau.
8. George Clifford, b 15 Aug 1908; m Florence ....

5th surviving s/o William and Amy, b 24 Sep 1863 in Port Elizabeth, bap New Church (MHHD). GWB gave Walter as the eldest of the 3 brothers he knew of—Walter, Alfred James and Charles Thomas—but he was not on board the ship with the rest of the family and the only suitable birth recorded in the UK GRO 1837-90 was Walter Andrew born 1858 Northampton and he emigrated to New Zealand with his parents c 1876. Nor are any relevant second-name Walters found in the GRO. So Walter was younger than Alfred James. Perhaps GWB heard that there had been an older brother of Alfred James and assumed that Walter was he. Walter's Estate, recorded in 1897 in the Pretoria Supreme Court (NASA MHG 0/B1412) might provide more details. Walter's wife is not known but according to GWB, they had a son:

Stanley.

6th surviving s/o William and Amy, b 6 Feb 1869 in Port Elizabeth, bap New Church (MHHD). Married Blanche Elizabeth ... Charles and Blanche had an ostrich and chicken farm in the San Platz area, near Port Elizabeth, but with the slump in ostrich feathers and Newcastle Disease wiping out the chickens, they left the farm and Charles became a Butcher, and in latter years a Shoemaker. As listed under Alfred James, NASA has 3 documents concerning the brothers 1896-1909 and 'Brockett Bros' their Butcher's business. Charles died 1946, aged 77, and was buried in South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth (SECMI). Child:

William 'Bill' Thomas, Banker; b 27 Apr 1906; d c 1983; m Edna Elizabeth ... (GWB). 1 son, 1 dau.

7th surviving s/o William and Amy, b 1 Oct 1872 (Source: Tony McCabe, Mortimer family website). That he was another child of William and Amy TOOKEY was deduced from the fact that one of his daughters was named Amy Tooky. GWB and others did not know of him. He married Ellen Florence MORTIMER 3 Jan 1898 Richmond, Cape Province. He died Jan 1939, aged 66. She died 9 May 1948, aged 74, bur South End Cemetery, Port Elizabeth. Children 2 twin sons, 6 daughters:

1. Zema Florence, b 1899
2. Baden Edward, b 1900
3. Ronald Mortimer, b 1900
4. Lily Alexandria, b 1902
5. Agnes, b 1904
6. Amy Tooky, b 1906
7. Ellen Margaret, b 1908
8. Olive Joyce, b 1911.

A 1st cousin twice removed of William of Bassingbourn, fought as a soldier at Ladysmith, Northern Natal, from 30 Sep 1899 to 15 Jul 1900 and was deafened by the big guns.

There was also emigration to South Africa from Scotland.