| Notes |
- PRIVATE
- I have not been able to connect Robert Samuel Langford to Richard Sancreed Langford (great-grandfather of Ian Derek van Zyl). At one time he seemed a promising candidate to be R S Langford's "brother in Natal", mentioned by RS Langofrd in a letter, but the dates do not match up so this has been disproved. I did extensive research into Robert Samuel including writing an article in Genesis (journal of the Genealogical Soiety of South Africa, 4/2008) before concluidng there is no recent link to the direct line Langford family.
Born c. 1827 according to King William passenger lists and 1841 England census.
Born in Essex acc. to special licence for marriage.
Arrived on King William January 1850 as a settler dispatched by W J Irons' Christian
Emig.& Colonization Society. His father Revd. Robert Langford, Baptist Minister was on the committee (in England) of the Society. The King William sailed from London/Plymouth on 20 October 1849 and arrived at Port Natal(Durban), South Africa on 22 January 1850.
Sept 1850. – living in Pmb. – press advert that he intended teaching music to youth of both sexes.
Sept 26, 1850 - among a list of settlers in Natal Witness - asked to contavct registrar of deeds to take up Land Grant - no evidence that he ever did.
Jan 5, 1852 - played in a cricket match for the East End on market square
March 15, 1851 - letters waiting for him (among many others) at the post office in Durban, according to Natal Witness
April 1852 - declared bankruptcy, chief assets an erf in Verulam (£5) and 75 acres of land near Verulam (£5). One of his creditors was Elizabeth Wickes, his future mother-in-law
1 May 1852 – A printer in Pmb, married Mary Horton Wickes (born c.1825, Leicestershire), also ex King William.
1852 end – printer, 75 Burger St, Pmb.
March 1852 - involved in an altercation between J.C. Byrne and Mr Archbell the printer
June 15, 1852 - was a passenger to Table Bay on the Ceres in the Cabin.
3 Jan 1853 – notice in Natal Independent that infant son died in Pmb. The date implies that she was pregnant when they married.
July 22, 1853 - received a parcel by ship - in Natal Witness "Shipping Intelligence" section
28 Jan 1854 - son born in Pmb.
8 May 1854 printer, Erf 18 Burger St, Pmb., occupier – voters' roll.
18 May 1854 wife a dress maker of Burger St. (advert)
Nov. 1854: left Natal for C T on Natal in fore-cabin – [i.e.not poor!]
Nov 1856: wife and 2 [or 3] children [sources differ] left on Rosebud for C.T.
The following declaration is contained in the records of his bankruptcy proceeding in April 1852, held in the Natal Archives, and contains an interesting insight into the life of an early settler
In the Insolvent Estate of Robert Samuel Langford at the first and final meeting of Creditors on Thursday the 8th of April 1852.
Examination of the Insolvent on oath.
Robert Samuel Langford, being duly sworn, states
I arrived in this colony on the 23 January 1850 (sic) as an Emigrant under the Society called the Protestant Association, and as such became entitled to 50 acres of land and the Erf as scheduled by me the addtl 25 acres was added by the Local Government. My trade or profession was that of a Printer, but I had no idea of what business I should follow on my arrival in this Colony. I brought no goods with me and I don't think I had £5 in Cash when I landed in this Colony. Between four and five months after my arrival I took my first employment with Mr. Archbell as a Printer and have continued with him in that employment ever since. My wages were the first month I think £6 15s and was then raised at the rate of £85- per annum, and I drew salary at that rate up to about the middle of November 1850, when it was raised to £120 a year and continued at that rate up to the present time. Since my arrival here I further received through Mr. Moreland a remittance from England amounting to £5- also from
I have had 7 or 8 horses in this district of them I generally got back about the price paid except the last one upon which I lost to the acct of abt £2-.
I positively deny at any time previous to or after my surrender having told Mr John Burk that I had received an order on Mr Archbell for the sum of £70- or thereabouts or that Mr Archbell had received such a sum or any order to draw any sum of money for my benefit but since my surrender Mr Burk attempted to persuade me to pay his account, promising to keep it secret and at the same time threatened that if I refused to do so, he would oppose me, or words to that effect.
I believe I said to Mr Burk that a friend of mine would advance his Security to Mr Archbell, who would give me his own Bills to the amount I might have said of about Seventy Pounds; in order to meet my liabilities but since the issue of the Writ of Execution against me, the Party who was willing to become security then withdrew.
Signed Robert S Langford
The Wesleyan Settlers
Captain Benjamin Avery of the King William couldn't have foreseen the nightmare voyage ahead when his ship sailed for Natal on 20 October 1849. Overcrowded with more than 270 passengers and crew, scarlet fever broke out and claimed the lives of sixteen children during the 91-day journey. Adding to the death toll, two seamen were lost overboard.
The vessel was the first to bring a separate group of Wesleyan Methodists, under the auspices of W J Irons, among them being the GARLAND and STARR families. Spare a thought for Anne IRELAND, whose husband Robert died on board, leaving her with 7 children - plus an infant named Ocean Robert, born at sea. The Wesleyans were to settle at Verulam.
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1827 - Bef 1861 (33 years)
[3, 4, 5]