The Edmondson Family
Alfred Edmondson
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Alfred Edmondson
(click for full group picture)
photograph courtesy of Robert King
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22 June 1859, at Castlerigg, Keswick,
Cumberland, England
24 July 1859, at St
Johns in the Vale, Keswick, Cumberland, England
Joseph Edmondson
Mary (Dixon) Edmondson
Clara
Ann Risley on 23 November 1885 in St Peters Cathedral,
Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Alfred Edmondson is recorded as a bachelor, of full age. He is in the civil
service and resident in Pietermaritzburg. Clara Ann Risley is recorded as a
spinster, of full age, resident at Chase Valley, Pietermaritzburg. The
marriage was performed by Thos. Colley, Archdeacon and witnessed by William
Risley, Matilda Risley, Emily Ford and Frederick William Risley.
Civil Servant
In the 1881 census in Cumberland, Alfred is recorded as a clerk in a general
merchant's office. Alfred was appointed to a position in the Natal colonial
government on 7 August 1883 (Blue Book of the Colony of Natal 1889 pC8)
and in 1886 was a clerk in the office of the Registrar of Deeds (The Colonial Office List for 1886 p165). On
19 January 1888 he was appointed accountant's clerk in the Colonial
Engineer's office, earning an annual salary of £162 10s.
(Blue Book of the Colony of Natal 1889 pC8).
On 22 August 1889, Alfred was appointed Chief Clerk and Accountant in the
Colonial Engineer's Office (Blue Book of the Colony of Natal 1889 pN23).
At his death in 1913, Alfred is recorded as an overseer in the Roads
Department.
12 December 1913, at a road party
camp, near the farms "Minhoop" and "Prospect Estate", Babanango, Natal,
South Africa, aged 54
The cause of death is listed as pneumonia and heart disease.
1861:
Castlerigg, St John's, Castlerigg St. Johns and Wythburn, Cumberland
1871: Burns
Quarter, St John's, Castlerigg St. Johns and Wythburn, Cumberland
1881:
How Place, Castlerigg St. Johns and Wythburn, Cumberland
1885: Pietermaritzburg, Natal (Natal
Civil Records Marriages 1885 Pietermaritzburg #369)
1913: Pietermaritzburg, Natal (Pietermaritzburg
Estate Files 1913 vol 51 #150 film 007866902 image 842)
Alfred Vivian Edmondson
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Alfred Vivian Edmondson and his two
sisters
photo from Atholl Potterill
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18 April 1890, at 18 Burg Street,
Pietermaritzburg, Natal
1890, in St Peters,
Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Alfred Vivian is the son of Alfred and Clara Ann Edmondson. Alfred (the
father) is in the civil service, and resident in PMburg.
Alfred
Edmondson
Clara
Ann (Risley) Edmondson
Mary Ollie Cameron on 5 October
1931 in St Peters, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa
Alfred Vivian Edmondson is recorded as a bachelor, aged 41, born in S.
Africa. He is a civil servant and resident at 108 Boshoff St, PMburg. Mary
Ollie Cameron is recorded as a spinster, aged 27. She is a civil servant and
resident at King Edward Avenue, PMburg. The marriage was witnessed by J B
Cameron and A W Potterill.
Mary was born in 1903/4, in Pietermaritzburg, Natal. She was a civil
servant. Mary died in 1970.
Provincial Accountant
Natalia 41 (2011) pp84-5
Early days with the Natal Parks Board
Some personal reminiscences by a former Principal Scientific Officer by
Bob Crass
...
At about the
same time [1950] the board’s financial affairs were placed in the
capable hands of A.V. Edmondson, ex-Provincial Accountant. This large,
genial man was known for his interest in his many friends, especially at
the time of their demise. Attending funerals seemed to be his main
hobby. A minor quirk was to save paper by slitting open every envelope
he received, in order to use the inside surface for drafting memoranda.
I hate to think what he would have thought of the vast quantities of
paper spewed out by modern computers.
Alfred was remembered in the will of his mother's cousin, Mary Agnes
(Risley) Fenwick dated 3 July 1941 with an investment of substantial value
and her house in Pietermaritzburg:
Pietermaritzburg
Estate Files 1942 #35082 film 007869094 images 2066-8
THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me MARY
AGNES FENWICK, of Pietermaritzburg, Widow.
...
I give and bequeath to ALFRED VIVIAN EDMONDSON, the debentures
which I hold, amounting to two thousand on hundred pounds (£2,100) in the
Durban North Estate, whatever their value may be. I make this bequest to
him in gratitude for all the kindness he has shewn me and the help he has
given me from time to time.
...
I give, devise and bequeath to the said ALFRED VIVIAN EDMONDSON my
house property in Pietermaritzburg, described as Subdivision f,g,h,i, of
Erf 82 Burger Street.
1972
1950: Castlerigg, Oakleigh Avenue, Wembley. Pietermaritzburg, Natal (Braby's Natal Directory 1950 p1537)
Jessie Irene (Edmondson) Markham
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Jessie Irene Edmondson
photo from Robert Wallace
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16 April 1893
4 June 1893, in St Peters,
Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Jessie Irene is the daughter of Alfred and Clara Edmondson. Alfred is a
civil servant, resident in Berg St, P.M.Berg. The baptism was sponsored by
A. Edmondson, Edith Mills and Jessie Edmondson.
Alfred
Edmondson
Clara
Ann (Risley) Edmondson
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Wedding of Benjamin Thomas Kelly Markham
and Jessie Irene (Edmondson) Markham in 1913
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Benjamin
Thomas Kelly Markham on 4 February 1913 in St Peters parish church,
Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Benjamin Thomas Kelly Markham is recorded as a bachelor, aged 40. He is a
stock inspector, resident in Isandhlwana, Zululand. Jessie Irene Edmondson
is recorded as a spinster, aged 19, resident in Maritzburg. Consent was
given by C. Edmondson, mother and legal guardian of the bride. The marriage
was witnessed by A E Potterill and A. Edmondson.
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Gravestone of Benjamin Thomas Kelly
Markham and Jessie Irene (Edmondson) Markham in Anglican Church of
the Resurrection cemetery, Camperdown, Natal, South Africa
photo by Alta Griffiths at eGGSA
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Jessie was remembered in the will of her mother's cousin, Mary Agnes
(Risley) Fenwick, dated 3 July 1941:
Pietermaritzburg
Estate Files 1942 #35082 film 007869094 images 2066-7
THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me MARY
AGNES FENWICK, of Pietermaritzburg, Widow.
...
I give and bequeath to my cousin, JESSIE IRENE MARKHAM, the
sum of FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS (£500).
In the distribution account of the probate proceedings of Mary Agnes's will
in 1942, Jessie is stated to be "wife of Benjamin Thomas Kelly Markham of
Camperdown" (Pietermaritzburg
Estate Files 1942 #35082 film 007869094 image 2085)
27 June 1982, aged 89
Anglican Church of the Resurrection
cemetery, Camperdown, Natal, South Africa
The gravestone reads:
In Loving Memory Of / Benjamin Thomas Kelly
Markham M.C. / dearly loved husband of Irene / passed
peacefully away at Camperdown / 14th December 1950 / Aged 78 Years. / His duty nobly done /
Jessie Irene Markham / passed peacefully away on / 27th June 1982 - Aged
89 Years / fondly remembered by Hazel and Jess and their Families / Rest
in Peace
Mary Gladys (Edmondson) Potterill
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Mary Gladys Edmondson (center) and her
brother and sister
photo from Atholl Potterill
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29 November 1887, at Chase Valley,
Town Lands, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
1888, in St Peters,
Pietermaritzburg, Natal
The baptism was sponsored by Mrs C. Watling, Mary Risley and father
Alfred
Edmondson
Clara
Ann (Risley) Edmondson
Alfred
Ernest Potterill on 27 January 1909 in St Peters parish church,
Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Alfred Ernest Poterill is recorded as a bachelor, aged 26. He is a farmer
and resident in Kamberg, Mooi River. Mary Gladys Edmondson is recorded as a
spinster, aged 21, resident in Maritzburg. The marriage was witnessed by J.
E. Risley and F Potterill.
Mary's aunt, Alice (Risley, Barker) White, was returning from this wedding
when her dress caught fire as she stepped out of her rickshaw. Alice died
the next day from her burns (South Africa 27 February 1909 p485).
This amusing snippet mentions Mary as
"Auntie Potts" running a guesthouse at Kamberg, Natal
South African Archeologocal Society Gnews vol
51 pp10-11 (March 2005)
A
visit by the Abbé by Adrian Flett
In December 1945, Graham and Dulcie Clarke were honeymooning at
what was known as the Top House on Game Pass Farm at Kamberg. At that
time the farm belonged to Colonel Greene, son of Dean Greene who had
been actively involved in the Bishop Colenso affair.
One day a car arrived at the Top House and the driver introduced
himself as Clarence (Peter) Van Riet Lowe and said he had heard of the
Bushman paintings on the farm and wondered if he might see them. Graham
took him to Game Pass Shelter and to another site further up the valley
of the Mooi River; probably Kranzses Shelter.
The farm adjacent to Game Pass Farm, where the main buildings of
Kamberg Reserve now stand, was at that time owned by the Potterill
family. When Mr. Potterill died, his widow, affectionately known as
Auntie Potts, had stayed on at the farm and was running a guesthouse.
Van Riet Lowe was staying over at Auntie Potts’ guesthouse during his
visit. He told Graham and Dulcie of the Abbé
Breuil’s forthcoming visit to South Africa and asked if he might
bring the Abbé to see the paintings. In 1946 Van Riet Lowe called at
Graham and Dulcie’s home in Hilton to introduce them to the Abbé Breuil
and his secretary who travelled with him. And so the three went off to
stay at Auntie Potts’ guesthouse and to see the rock art.
In the guesthouse, Graham recalls, Auntie Potts had “rock art”
which had been painted by an artist friend. It appears Van Riet Lowe
showed the Abbé the pseudo art representing it as the real thing and the
Abbé enthused over it. Once the story came out the Abbé was not amused.
He was however, by all reports, impressed by the real thing at Game Pass
Shelter.
You wonder if Auntie Potts had caught
Van Riet Lowe with her pseudo art, on his previous visit, and he was
merely passing on the joke.
Mary is also remembered fondly by Joylan Nuttall, a trout fisherman who
stayed at her guesthouse, from Field and Tide January 1967
I have
that same anticipation in me now, as I write, for in two days’ time I go
to the Kamberg Valley. This is the sweetest, if not the most
spectacular, of the Parks Board waters, and I have known it since the
days of Auntie Potts.
Auntie Potts, in formal terms Mrs. Potterill, ran a guest farm on
the site of the present Parks Board camp for many years. The oaks that
she planted still stand.
She was a rare personality and any shortcomings there may have
been in the running of her guest farm were more than compensated for by
her force of character.
Take, for instance, the eiderdowns. Auntie Potts had one pair of
exquisite eiderdowns. And when guests made their first visit to the
farm, there were the eiderdowns in all their splendour and the beds. But
when the guests had been there some days and settled to the whimsical
ties of the place, and there were fresh guests due, off came the
eiderdowns with a flourish and a faint apology to be borne off to the
beds of the newcomers where they made that vital first impression until,
in time, the fame of the eiderdowns spread almost as far as that of
Auntie Potts.
In her day, the Mooi River swarmed with trout, mostly little!
chaps of less than half a pound with two-and three-pounders lurking in
the depths. They made a fine contribution to Auntie Potts' housekeeping
budget.
When my father, in the course of three months' long leave, caught
over a thousand trout, his hostess was ecstatic.
Mary Gladys was remembered in the will of her mother's cousin, Mary Agnes
(Risley) Fenwick, dated 3 July 1941:
Pietermaritzburg
Estate Files 1942 #35082 film 007869094 images 2066-7
THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me MARY
AGNES FENWICK, of Pietermaritzburg, Widow.
...
I give and bequeath to my cousin, GLADYS MARY POTTERILL, the
sum of FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS (£500).
In the distribution account of the probate proceedings of Mary Agnes's will
in 1942, Gladys Mary is stated to be "of Kamberg, widow" (Pietermaritzburg
Estate Files 1942 #35082 film 007869094 image 2085)
1949
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