Albany Reminiscences

The Reminiscences of an Albany Settler

First presented by the Rev. H. H. Dugmore at Grahamstown in 1870, fifty years after the arrival of the British Settlers, The Reminiscences of an Albany Settler is a vivid first-hand account of the people, struggles and everyday experiences that shaped the early Eastern Cape. 

Dugmore had himself come to South Africa as a child in 1820, and his recollections bring the period to life with unusual immediacy. He remembers the voyage from England, the settlers’ first arrival in Algoa Bay, the difficult journey inland, the establishment of their homes, failed crops, shortages, frontier dangers, early trade, religion and education, and the wars that repeatedly disrupted the growing settlement. Throughout, he names individuals, families and places, often adding personal anecdotes that preserve details rarely found in official histories.

This new edition adds a further dimension through a substantial collection of carefully selected historical illustrations directly related to the text. Portraits of figures such as William Shaw, Robert Godlonton, Sir Harry Smith and Sir Benjamin D’Urban appear alongside early views of Grahamstown, Salem, Fort Wiltshire, Butterworth and other places described by Dugmore.  

For descendants of the 1820 Settlers, family historians and students of Eastern Cape history, this is much more than a memoir. It is a window into the world in which their ancestors lived, worked, worshipped, struggled and built new lives — preserved by someone who was there.  

Language: English
Format: Downloadable PDF (± 2.7 Mb)
Pages:  87

The Reminiscences of an Albany Settler

The Reminiscences of an Albany Settler is ’n lewendige eerstehandse vertelling deur eerw. H. H. Dugmore van die mense, ontberings en alledaagse ervarings wat die vroeë geskiedenis van die Oos-Kaap help vorm het. Dit is aanvanklik in 1870 publiseer, vyftig jaar ná die aankoms van die Britse Setlaars. 

Dugmore het self as kind in 1820 na Suid-Afrika gekom, en sy herinneringe bring hierdie tydperk op ’n besonder direkte en persoonlike manier tot lewe. Hy vertel van die seereis uit Engeland, die Setlaars se aankoms in Algoabaai, die moeilike reis na die binneland, die vestiging van hul nuwe wonings, mislukte oeste, voedseltekorte, gevare aan die grens, vroeë handel, godsdiens en onderwys, asook die oorloë wat die jong nedersetting telkens ontwrig het. Deur die hele werk noem Dugmore persone, families en plekke by naam en voeg hy dikwels persoonlike staaltjies by — besonderhede wat selde in amptelike geskiedenisse bewaar gebly het.

Hierdie nuwe uitgawe voeg ’n verdere dimensie by deur ’n besondere versameling historiese illustrasies wat direk by die teks aansluit. Portrette van onder andere William Shaw, Robert Godlonton, sir Harry Smith en sir Benjamin D’Urban verskyn saam met vroeë afbeeldings van Grahamstad, Salem, Fort Wiltshire, Butterworth en ander plekke wat Dugmore beskryf.  

Vir nasate van die 1820-Setlaars, familienavorsers en belangstellendes in die geskiedenis van die Oos-Kaap is hierdie veel meer as net ’n boek met herinnerings. Dit bied ’n venster op die wêreld waarin hul voorouers geleef, gewerk, aanbid, gesukkel en nuwe lewens opgebou het — opgeteken deur iemand wat self daar was.  

Taal: Engels
Formaat: Aflaaibare PDF (± 2.7 Mb)
Bladsye:  87