Ray Clarence
1881 - 1962 (81 years)
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Name Ray Clarence Birth 18 Mar 1881 Highflats,Natal,South Africa 
Gender Male Death 5 Oct 1962 Bizana,Pondoland,South Africa., Burial Kokstad,East Griqualand,Cape,South Africa., Person ID I18620 My Genealogy Last Modified 19 Sep 2025 | Edit
Father Wilberforce "Forcey" Clarence, b. Abt 1840 d. Abt 1916, Brooklyn farm,Kokstad area,East Griqualand,South Africa., (Age 76 years) Mother Elizabeth "Lizzie" Ann Platt, b. Abt 1845 Marriage Abt 1880 Highflats,Natal,South Africa Family ID F302714716 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Lucy Theodora Crowder, b. 11 Feb 1884, Barberton,Transvaal,South Africa., d. 18 Sep 1952, Bergville,Natal,South Africa (Age 68 years) Marriage 9 Sep 1908 Johannesburg,Transvaal,South Africa Children 1. Lucille "Lucy" Clarence, b. 1909, Stonybrook farm,,South Africa d. 1996 (Age 87 years)2. Norah Coralie Clarence, b. 15 Sep 1911, Kokstad,East Griqualand,Cape,South Africa., d. 16 Sep 1990, East London,Cape,South Africa., (Age 79 years)3. Mildred Clarence, b. 5 Jan 1914, Brooklyn farm,Kokstad area,East Griqualand,South Africa., d. 1996 (Age 81 years)4. Theodora "Theo" Clarence, b. Abt 1916, Brooklyn farm,Kokstad area,East Griqualand,South Africa., d. Abt 1984 (Age 68 years)5. Jeanne Clarence, b. Abt 1918, Brooklyn farm,Kokstad area,East Griqualand,South Africa., d. 1920, Brooklyn farm,Kokstad area,East Griqualand,South Africa., (Age 2 years)6. Ralph Raymond Clarence, b. Abt 1924, Brooklyn farm,Kokstad area,East Griqualand,South Africa., d. 1996, Australia,,, (Age 72 years)Family ID F302714243 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 3 Apr 2020 | Edit
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Notes - «b»Narrative
«/b»In 1899, during the Anglo-Boer War, British women and children were evacuated from Johannesburg to Durban, where they were billeted on various families.«b» Lucy Crowder«/b» [15] lived with her cousins at Stamford Hill and attended Durban Girls College [where she obtained distinctions in her studies].
b»Ray Clarence«/b», a young soldier of 18 was stationed in Durban at the time. He was very 'green' and shy, but one day a lovely young girl approached him in (now) West Street and asked if he could show her the way to Stamford Hill. Ray, completely ignorant himself, assured her that he could show her the way. A tram marked Stamford Hill appeared just then, and he escorted her home. They made a secret plan to meet the next day at the Lighthouse. All that is known of the meeting is that "they kissed under an umbrella." On taking Lucy home the next day Ray learned for the first time that they were first cousins. A difficult courtship followed with much parental opposition.
In an attempt to separate them Lucy was sent to Europe 'on holiday' with her brother Percy, but they maintained a secret correspondence, weathered the storm and were happily married in 1908.
«b»Forcey Clarence«/b» sub divided the original farm and bought some extra land at Fernhill, making it possible to divide the farm three ways: with «i»Stonybrook Farm «/i»for his son Ray, and «i»Fernhill«/i» for his son Lyn while retaining «i»Brooklyn«/i» for himself and Lizzie and their unmarried daughters.
Ray and Lucy spent the early years of their married life on the farm«i» 'Stonybrook«/i»', where their daughters Lucille and Norah were born, but on the death of 'Forcey' in 1916, they moved to 'Brooklyn' farm, initially to support Ray's mother, while retaining Stonybrook as well. However, following WWl and the Great Depression, and as none of the sisters married a farmer,«i» Stonybrook «/i»was sold to a Colonel Stafford, a retired Indian Army officer.
Ray and Lucy settled at Brookly and raised the rest of their family there. They only sold the farm when Lucy's health was failing and moved to 112 Coulter Street, Kokstad in 1950.
[Source: Ian E. Thompson]
- «b»Narrative