Thursday January 5, 1886

DIED,- At Imvani, on X-mas morning, George Dennis, aged eight months and 11 days, only child of Jos H. And Emma BARNES.

Friday January 8, 1886

DROWNED AT CHALUMNA.- It is with deep regret that we record a fatal bathing accident during the New Year holidays. From what we can gather it appears that on New Year's morning five young ladies staying on the farm of Mr E. HOLDSTOCK, of Chalumna, went for a bathe in the Chalumna river. After they had been away some time a message was brought to the house that something had happened to one of the bathing party, and Mrs HOLDSTOCK, together with others, went to the river when it was found that her daughter, aged 14 years, was drowned. The accident occurred owing to the unfortunate young lady getting out of her depth, and as no means of saving her were at hand her companions were powerless to render assistance. We tender our condolence to the bereaved family in their sudden sad affliction. It seems but a short time, though it is a year ago, since it was our melancholy duty to record the deaths of the Misses BROCKS by drowning, and now again at the return of the same festive season a gloom has been cast over the district and sadness brought into the households of the many friends and relatives of the bereaved family. Watchman.

Death of the Rev. Wm. GREIG.
A private telegram was received in town on Tuesday that the Rev. William GREIG, of Seymour, had died on Sunday evening. The death is attributed to dysentery. Mr GREIG was for some twelve or fifteen months junior Minister to the Wesley Church in this town and left here for Seymour in May last. The Rev. Gentleman was very much liked here and his early deceased has cut off a most promising career. Mr. GREIG had not been long married, and the sympathies of the district are with the young widow in her bereavement.

Tuesday January 12, 1886

FATAL BATHING ACCIDENT.- The old year closed in a melancholy way on two farms, two hours ride from Sterkstroom, and the Tarkastad Division. It appears that three children belonging to two neighbours, Messrs. BOTHA and HATTINGH, were bathing in a dam on Mr. HATTINGH's farm. They got on a stump of wood which was drifting into deep water, when the youngest of the three turned back. The two others, one a BOTHA and one a HATTINGH, got out of their depth, fell off, and being unable to swim were drowned. These are the bare details which have reached us, of a sad accident which had plunged two of our neighbouring district farmers families into grief and mourning.

Friday January 15, 1886

MARRIAGE AT KIMBERLEY- On the 5th inst. Mr. Henry E.O. GREEN eldest son of the Rev E.P. GREEN, M.A., Vicar of St. Simon Zelotes, London, was married to Annie Scott WARING, youngest daughter of the late Henry Reade SCOTT-WARING Esq. of Crossbeck Hall, Durhan. The Rev. E.P.
GREEN was the first clergyman of the Church of England appointed to the then new township of Queenstown and Mr. H.E.O. GREEN was born in Queenstown in 1858. The happy bridegroom is a newphew of Colonel GRIFFITH's and thus by birth and connection is attached to this district. We wish him and his bride all happiness and prosperity.

Tuesday January 19, 1886

In Estate of Late Mr. SHEPSTONE.- On 17th February Mr F.H. JONES will offer for sale property as per auctioneer's notice.

Friday January 22, 1886

DIED,- On the 18th January, 1886, Robert William, infant son and beloved son of C. And M. JAY.

Tuesday January 26, 1886

SUDDEN DEATH of the REV. R. TEMPLETON, M.A.- The utmost concern and regret universally felt to-day on the news being wired from Coerney that the body of the Rev. R. TEMPLETON, M.A. had been found in the bush near that station. The full particulars have not as yet reached us, but from what had been furnished we learn that Mr. And Mrs. TEMPLETON were staying at the hotel Coerney, and that he was missing on Monday, having lost his way in the bush. Mr. Robert TEMPLETON went down immediately on the news reaching town, and yesterday evening Mr. Joseph WOOD, M.L.A., brother-in-law of the deceased, Mr. John WEBB and others went down in the evening train to aid in the search for the missing gentleman. Under what circumstances the search was prosecuted we do not at present know; except that life was extinct when he was found by those searching the bush. The remains of our deceased fellow-citizen will we understand, reach town by to-morrow's early morning train. He had but recently been married, and had departed with the heartiest good wishes of all his good friend for a needed holiday. So sad and mysterious a termination to a wedding-tour has rarely been chronicled. Mr. TEMPLETON as is well known throughout the Colony, had for many years been the Principal of the Grahamstown Public School, in which capacity he enjoyed an unusually high degree of reputation and success. His death in the midst of full usefulness is indeed a public loss, and will cause the deepest regret in a very wide circle of friends; indeed it may truly be said that his private virtues and amiability had rendered him endeared to all who knew him. We can but offer our sincerest sympathy to the families that will be bereaved by this sudden and distressing dispensation of Divine Providence. – Journal.

DEATH of a NONAGENARIAN.- On Tuesday afternoon, 12th inst., there died at Wellington Mr Carl Andres MARAIS, in his ninety-third year. He was one of those who took part in the first commando (1811-12) sent from the West, after the establishment of British rule at the Cape, against the Kafirs, the particulars of which, even in the minutest details, he could still relate at almost the last moments of his life. Piet RETIEF, the well-known pioneer, of DINGAAN fame, conducted the western contingent, as far as Uitenhage, but the operations in the east were commanded by Colonel GRAHAM (grandfather of our present High Sheriff), and it was at this period that Grahamstown was founded, which event, we (Cape Times) believe, was witnessed by the gentleman whose death is recorded above.

Friday February 5, 1885

SUDDEN DEATH OF A CHILD.
Inquest at Donker Hoek.
On 31st ultimo Mr Field Cornet JUDD held an inquest on the body of a child named Johanna Christina SCHUTTE who died suddenly on 30th ultimo at the farm Donker Hoek the residence of Mr S.C. SCHUTTE in the district of Sterkstroom. Stephanus Christoffel SCHUTTE stated: The deceased was my daughter. I always considered her a healthy child. Yesterday she was playing about all day with the other children apparently quite well and went to bed in her usual state of health. At about 7-30 this morning she was dressing, I thought very slowly. I said to her "my child make haste and dress yourself." She bent over to pull on her stockings and gave a cry as she did so. "Oh! Father I have such a pain in my heart." I then saw for the first time that the child was ill. I picked her up and in less than five minutes after that cry, she was dead in my arms. I don't know what caused her death. I have no reason to suspect that her death was caused by unfair means. Her death is to me unaccountable. 
Mr JUDD deposed to having examined the body and said the back of the body and neck were much discoloured. No other marks were on the body. He decided medical evidence were necessary and so called in Dr. BERTRAM. Mr BERTRAM, M.B., London, with the consent of the father held a post mortem examination and deposed the body is that of a well-grown little girl fairly nourished. No external marks of violence on the body. Rigor mortis well developed, post mortem lividity extensive over the back. Position of body Supine. On exposing the thoracic viscera the heart was seen to be greatly distended, filling closely the pericardium which contained but little fluid. Further examination proved that heart substance between the ventricles (Septum) contained a cyst (probably hydrated) cavity the size of a hen's egg, and that this had been relieved of its contents by rupturing into the right ventricle. In my opinion the immediate cause of death was paralysis of the heart, due to over distension from the sudden accession of the contents of the ruptured cyst into one of its cavities.
A verdict was returned of death from natural causes.

Tuesday, February 9, 1886

On 6th instant, the Wife of Mr. G. WINGHAM of a Son.

FELL ASLEEP,- At Glen Brock, on the 7th February, 1886, Richard Cockin, dearly beloved son of W. And E. JAKENS, aged 3 years, 3 months and 3 days.

DEATH of Mrs. A.C. BELL.- Scarcely two months ago Mr A.C. BELL, M.D.C. and J.P., and his family were plunged into mourning for the sad death of his nephew at Port Alfred. On Thursday right Mr BELL received a telegram from Aliwal North (wither Mrs. BELL had gone for a change of air, having been ailing for some time) which decided him to go there at once, although the messaged gave no cause for alarm. On Sunday evening telegrams were received here that Mrs. BELL died about 5 p.m. on Sunday from stoppage of the heart. The funeral was to take place at Aliwal North where Mrs. BELL's father, Mr BURNETT, had resided some years back, as Resident Magistrate. We tender the sympathies of the whole town and district to Mr BELL and family in their bereavement.

Friday February 12, 1886

DEATH of MRS. S. McCUNE.- We regret to have to record the death of Mrs. S. McCUNE, which took place suddenly on Wednesday afternoon last. We understand the cause of death was affection of the heart. We tender our sympathies to Mr. McCUNE and the family in their bereavement.

Tuesday, February 16, 1886

BIRTH,- At Queenstown, on the 9th of February, the Wife of W.H. BREMNER of a Son.

DIED,- At Queenstown, on the 15th February, 1886, after a long and painful illness which he bore with a Christian patience and fortitude, Philip BACKHOUSE, of Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, aged 60 years, 3 months, and 24 days, leaving a widow and large family of children to mourn their irreparable loss. Mrs. BACKHOUSE desires to tender her sincere thanks to those friends who so kindly assisted her during her husband's illness.

Friday February 19, 1886

MARRIAGE.- The Rev. H.J. ORGAN, Curate of St. Michael's, and Mrs. STOW were married early on Wednesday morning by the Rector. The matter had been kept a profound secret and the attendance was limited to a very few. The Rev. H.J. and Mrs. ORGAN left for East London by the early train. We wish them all happiness.

Tuesday March 2, 1886

DIED,- At Whittlesea, on the 20th February, 1886, Ernest Walter, youngest son of J.W. and M. FORRESTER, aged 10 months and 8 days.
DIED,- At Peuleni, February 25th, 1886, at the residence of her son, H.H. McDONALD, Eliza McDONALD (born FYNN), widow of the late Donald McDONALD, of the District of Queenstown, aged 81 years.

DEATH OF MRS. DONALD McDONALD.- We regret to have to chronicle the death of Mrs. McDONALD, widow of the late Donald McDONALD of this District, and mother of the family of that name, so well known in the Queenstown division. Mrs. McDONALD; whose maiden name was FYNN, was born in Worcestershire in 1805 and came to the Colony in 1808, when she was but three years of age. She was married in 1824, and left a widow just 18 years ago. She lived for some time in the town of Queenstown where she made many a friend. Through an invalid for some years, the old lady enjoyed the best of health, and preserved all her faculties to within a few hours of her death. Her retentive memory and genial humour will long be remembered by those who had the privilege of her acquaintance, but only those who knew her best will appreciate the reality of their loss. The funeral took place on Friday last and was attended by a large number of relatives and friends.

Friday March 5, 1886

BIRTH,- At Queenstown on the 2nd March, 1886, the Wife of Dr. H.T. BATCHELOR of a Daughter.

Death of Mr. G.W. SCANDRETT.
Queenstown was startled on Tuesday afternoon by the receipt of telegrams from East London, that Mr. G.W. SCANDRETT had passed away quietly in his room, after tiffin, at the Buffalo Hotel. Mr. SCANDRETT had been ailing for some time and accompanied by one of his children, had gone to East London for change of air. Mr. SCANDRETT came to Queenstown some 25 years ago, where he has carried on business ever since, and where he was esteemed and respected by all. He was 47 years of age and leaves a widow and large family to mourn their loss. The remains were brought up from East London on Wednesday and yesterday morning the funeral took place from the Presbyterian and Congregational Church. The Revd. J.P. RITCHIE conducted the service...

Tuesday March 9, 1886

MARRIED,- By Special License, on the 3rd instant, at Cala, by the Revd. J. WILSON, Edward Gilbert HALL, Government Surveyor, fourth son of R.T. HALL, Esq., C.E., to Kathleen Eleanor, second daughter of John WILSON, Esq., of Cala, Emigrant Tembuland.

Friday March 12, 1886

DIED.- At Dwing Fontein, District Dordrecht, George Hostin, eldest son of George Harrison and Mary Maria COCKROFT, aged 17 years and 23 days.

Tuesday March 16, 1886

SUICIDE.- Mr T. HOPPER, a carrier, residing near Shaw Park, has committed suicide by drinking one of Coopers' Carbolic sheep dip powders in a tumbler of water. He leaves a widow and eight children.

Friday March 26, 1886

MARRIAGE OF MRS: GORDON.- Mrs. GORDON, the widow of the late Dr. GORDON was married on the 16th instant to Judge BUCHANAN the President of the Kimberley Bench. The ceremony which was very quiet was performed by the Rev. J.T. LLOYD. Mrs BUCHANAN is a sister of Mrs. A.D. WEBB of Queenstown, and a niece of the Hon'ble J.P. BERTRAM, Sterkstroom. The many friends in this district will unite with us in wishing the bride every happiness.

FORT JACKSON.- The sale in the insolvent estate of H.J. ADKINS takes place to-morrow at the Fort Jackson Hotel.