Notes |
- Born at Sittingbourne, Kent, England, on the
16th August, 1812.
On 17th July, 1937, he was married in St. George's Church, Grahamstown, by the Rev. John Heavyside, to ELIZA ALEXANDRINE SMITH, born 19th May, 1819, Montmartre, Paris, France. Witnesses, Henry Talbot and Ruth Talbot née Sweetnam. Her parents were John Joseph Smith and Marie Anne Josephine Smith née de Fallaux, 1820 Settlers or Rowles' Party.
James Sweetnam died on 23rd May, 1887, aged 74 years 9 months. His widow, Eliza died on 2nd August, 1902, at Zuiwerfontein, Post Retief, Winterberg. They are both buried in the church-yard at Post Retief, where tombstones mark their graves.
They had thirteen children.
Here follows an extract from, probably, the Fort Beaufort Advocate of June, 1887:
We have been favoured with the following particulars concern¬ing the life of the late Mr. James Sweetnam whose demise we noticed in our last, and which we are sure will be read with interest by all who knew him.
James Sweetnam was born at Sittingbourne, Kent, England, 16th August, 1812. When 8 years old, his parents, with 2 of their daughters brought him to this Colony with the celebrated British Settlers of 1820. They came by the sailing vessel "Weymouth* which contained the emigrants called the "Dover Party".
At twenty years of age he arrived here in the Winterberg where a few years afterwards Miss Smith became his wife, who, in widowhood deeply mourns his loss.
Before the 1850 war he was appointed Field Cornet and resiqned after holding the appointment a good few years. During the war the burghers were under his command, and it is a significant fact that it is close to the Farm "Sittingbourne", Lower Bllnkwater, became his property by a special grant from the Government in honourable recognition of his services in the field. For several years he sat in the Divisional Council representing the Winterberg and Blinkwater Wards. About twelve years ago the honour of being a Justice of the Peace was accorded him. Nearly 10 years past (cl876), the Captaincy of the “Winterberg Greys” volunteers fell to his lot, the command of whom he also held throughout the 1878 war, and likewise the Tambookie and Basuto Wars.
Mr. Sweetnam was a Church-warden a long time and always took great interest in Church and School matters: indeed the erection of the Church and Parsonage has boon to e large extent due to his exertions. From his family, neighbours and all who knew him sufficient evidence is bourne to prove that he possessed in good measure the qualities of a Christian; a kind husband and an affectionate father. He suffered for two years from the disease (heart disease contracted through exposure to cold and damp in Basutoland war) which has just taken him away from us. For some time past he knew he could not live much longer. Before the end came he was resigned, had prayers with the family and then calmly went to sleep on Monday 23rd May, 1887. On Tuesday the deceased was buried in the church-yard, the Inscription on the coffin being "James Sweetnam born August, 1812 at Sittingbourne England".
Gathered around the grave were many friends and relatives from far and near, bearing testimony to the good character of the departed one, thus showing their last respect and esteem in which he was held. From his life and death one cannot but say that his memory will be a blessed one. Whilst others around us sleep in the dust, he, no doubt will be held in affectionate remembrance. He was blessed in this life, became a blessing amongst the people, and now we believe he is blessed in the life that is beyond us, for we feel assured that he has found in Heaven the mercy which every human spirit so much needs.
- Numerous descendants of James SWEETNAM spell their surname SWEETMAN. This variance was noted and established during legal proceedings ending in 1910.
Reference: Messers Hockley and Sutton of Fort Beaufort or Successors.
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