The Lister Family

Eileen Mary (Lister) Wells

Clara Maria "Daisy" (Risley) Lister and Eileen Mary Lister
Clara Maria "Daisy" (Risley) Lister and Eileen Mary Lister
photograph courtesy of Robert King
Birth: 31 March 1908, at 337 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal

Baptism: 8 May 1908 in St Saviour, Pietermaritzburg, Natal

Father: John Dunheved Lister

Mother: Clara Maria (Risley) Lister

Married: Richard Fletcher Wells on 24 June 1933 in St Augustine, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
Richard Fletcher Wells is recorded as a bachelor, aged 26, born in South Africa. He is in insurance and resident at Berea House, Bertrams. Eileen Mary Lister is recorded as a spinster, aged 25, born in South Africa. She is a clerk and resident at  Berea House, Bertrams. The marriage was witnessed by B.A. Watermeyer and J.B. Lister.

Richard was born on 14 March 1907 in South Africa. He worked in the insurance industry.
Addresses:
1933: Berea House, Bertrams, Johannesburg, Transvaal   (St Augustine Doornfontein Marriages 1933 #5)

Occupation: Clerk (1933)

Notes:
Eileen was remembered in the will of her aunt, 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 the administrators of my estate my holding of Pietermaritzburg Municipal Corporation (1930-40) Stock amounting to £3,500, whatever its value may be, to be held by them in trust, to pay the interest therefrom to my niece, EILEEN MARY WELLS, for a period of fifteen years from the date of my death. I direct that my administrators shall, upon the expiration of such period of fifteen years, pay over to my said niece one-half of such stock, and hold the remaining moiety to pay the income therefrom to my said niece for her life, and upon her death to pay over the same to her children in equal shares. If my said niece shall die before the expiration of such period of fifteen years, I direct that the whole of such stock shall be held by the administrators of my estate to pay and apply the income therefrom for the maintenance, education and advancement in life of any child or children of my said niece in equal shares, share and share alike. If there shall be no children surviving my said niece the capital fund shall be divided between such other beneficiaries hereinafter mentioned as may then be living, proportionately to the bequests made to them respectively.
...
  The residue of my estate, if any, I give and bequeath to be divided equally between my nieces, FLORENCE KATHLEEN COLTSON and EILEEN MARY WELLS and the child or children (if there be more than one in equal shares) of the said Alfred Vivian Edmondson

Addresses:
1933: Berea House, Bertrams, Johannesburg, Transvaal   (St Augustine Doornfontein Marriages 1933 #5)

Sources:

Geoffrey Harold Lister

Birth: 24 August 1895, at Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal

Baptism: September 1895, in St Peter, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Geoffrey Harold was born on August 24th 1895, the son of John Dunheved Lister, solicitor of P.M.Burg and Clara Maria. The sponsors are father, Harold Stuart and Annie Risley.

Father: John Dunheved Lister

Mother: Clara Maria (Risley) Lister

Education: Pietermaritzburg College, Pietermaritzburg, Natal

Occupation: Mine assayer

Notes: Geoffrey served in World War I. He was a lance corporal with the 4th regiment of the South African Infantry, and was killed in action in the Le Cateau sector in France.

Le Cateau Military Cemetery
Le Cateau Military Cemetery in France, where Geoffrey Harold Lister is buried
photograph from Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Death: 17 October 1918, in France, aged 23
The Natal Witness 4 November 1918
ROLL OF HONOUR
LISTER. - Killed in action in France on 17th October, Geoffrey Harold (South African Scottish), dearly loved second son of Mr. and Mrs. J.D. LISTER. Aged 23 years.

Buried: Le Cateau Military Cemetery, Nord department, France. His grave reference is II.C.8

Sources:

John Dunheved Lister

John Edward Risley
John Dunheved Lister
photograph from The Natal Who's Who
Birth: 18 April 1865, in Launceston, Cornwall, England

Baptism: 7 June 1865, in St Mary, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England

Father: William Lister

Mother: Mary Clarke (Walton) Lister

Married: Clara Maria Risley on 15 July 1890 in St Peters Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
John Dunheved Lister is recorded as a bachelor, of full age. He is a solicitor, resident in PMBurg. Clara Maria Risley is recorded as a spinster, aged 20, born in PMBurg. The marriage was performed by Arthur H. D. Edwards, and witnessed by Jos. Risley, Wm. Lister and Lillie Mary Murray.

Children:
Occupation: Solicitor
John was admitted as an attorney of the Natal Supreme Court on 3 June 1889 (Natal Law Reports vol 26 pxiii).

Notes:
The Natal Who's Who p118
LISTER, John Dunheved; Solicitor and Notary Public of Supreme Court of Natal; Conveyancer and admitted Solicitor in the Transvaal Colony; b. 11th April, 1865, at Launceston, Cornwall; s. of late William Lister, of Maritzburg; m., 15th July, 1890, Clara Daisy, d. of late Joseph Risley, of Maritzburg; 3 sons. Educ. Maritzburg. Hobbies: Riding, horses, and reading. Add., 3, Harwin's Arcade; and P.O. Box 166, Maritzburg. Member Victoria Club. Came to Natal as an infant. Founder of City Sporting Club (the original Sporting Club of S.A.).

Death: 18 August 1923, at 337 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa, aged 58
The cause of death is listed as cardiac disease of duration 18 months and pleurisy of duration 30 days.

Buried: 20 August 1923, in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa

Will: dated 11 November 1907, filed 4 September 1923
Pietermaritzburg Estate Files 1923 #8578 film 007866845 images 498-9
  This is the last Will and Testament of me JOHN DUNVEHED LISTER, of Pietermaritzburg, Solicitor, I being at the execution hereof in health of body and of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding.
  I revoke and cancel and make void all Wills Codicils and other Testamentary acts at any time made and executed by me, and especially a Will signed by me on the 16th day of September 1904.
  I give devise and bequeath to my son Randal Arthur, my gold watch and chain.
  I give devise and bequeath the whole of the residue of my Estate and Effects, (after all my just and lawful debts have been paid and satisfied) movable and immovable corporeal or incorporeal, and of what nature or kind soever and wheresoever situate, nothing excepted to my wife Clara Maria Lister (born Risley) absolutely as her own property and free from the possession or control of any husband she may marry, should she marry again.
  I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my brother Alfred Lister of Pietermaritzburg, Solicitor, to be the sole Executor of this my Will and Trustee and Administrator of my Estate and Effects, hereby giving and granting unto him all such powers and authority which to these offices by law belong and especially those of assumption substitution and surrogation, and I appoint my said wife to be the guardian of my minor children.
  I reserve to myself the power, from time to time of making all such additions to or alterations in this my Will as I may think fit, either by a separate act or at the foot hereof desiring that all such alterations or additions so made under my own signature shall be as valid and effectual as if they had been inserted herein.
  All of which I declare to be my last Will and Testament desiring that it may have effect as such or as a Codicil or otherwise as may consist with Law.
  Thus done and executed at Pietermaritzburg Natal, on this 11th day of November, 1907.
    J.D.Lister
SIGNED by JOHN DUNHEVED LISTER,
the Testator of this Will in the presence of us being then present both together and affixing our signatures hereto as witnesses in the presence of the said Testator and of each other.
As Witnesses
M.A.Gibson.
R.H.Tarboton.
Addresses:
1892: Town Lands, Pietermaritzburg, Natal   (birth registration of son Randal)
1897: 337 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal   (Natal Almanac & Directory 1897 p108)
1898: 337 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal   (birth registration of son John)
1908: 337 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal   (birth registration of daughter Eileen)
1923: 337 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal   (Pietermaritzburg Estate Files 1923 #8578 film 007866845 image 497)

Sources:

John Bryan Walton Lister

Birth: 4 October 1898 at 337 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal

Baptism: 8 May 1908 in St Saviour, Pietermaritzburg, Natal

Father: John Dunheved Lister

Mother: Clara Maria (Risley) Lister

Married: Ethel Natalie Servant on 12 October 1921 in Magistrate's Office, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
John Bryan Walton Lister is recorded as a bachelor, aged 23. He is an electrician, resident at 337 Burger Street, P.M.Burg, Natal. Ethel Natalie Servant is recorded as a spinster, aged 22, resident at 61 Braid Street, P.M.Burg, Natal.. The marriage was witnessed by J.C. Boshoff and A.Wichycombe.

Ethel was born on 14 August 1899 at 29 Braid Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, the daughter of John Edward Servant, a carpenter, and Mary Ann born Gilks.
Addresses:
1921: 61 Braid Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal   (Natal Civil Records Marriages 1921 Pietermaritzburg #59)

Occupation: Carpenter (1899); Electrician (1921)

Notes:
John was remembered in the will of his aunt, 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 nephew, JOHN BRYAN WALTON LISTER, the sum of FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS (£500).

Addresses:
1921: 337 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, Natal   (Natal Civil Records Marriages 1921 Pietermaritzburg #59)

Sources:

Randal Arthur Lister

Birth: 16 November 1892, at Town Lands, Pietermaritzburg, Natal

Baptism: January 1893, in St Peter, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Randal Arthur was born on November 16th 1892, the son of John Dunheved Lister, solicitor of Townlands, P.M.Burg and Clara Maria. The sponsors are Arthur Spensley Lister, J.D. Lister and C.M. Lister.

Father: John Dunheved Lister

Mother: Clara Maria (Risley) Lister

Married: Stella Stanley Martienssen on 29 June 1920 in St Augustine, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
Randal Arthur Lister is recorded as a bachelor, aged 37, born in Maritzburg, Natal and resident at Robinson Deep GM, Johannesburg. Stella Stanley Martienssen is recorded as a spinster, aged 21, born in Krugersdorp, Transvaal, and resident at 52 Soper Rd, Johannesburg. The marriage was witnessed by G.?.Dove and A.G. Christian.

Stella was born in 1898, in Krugersdorp, South African Republic, the daughter of Herman Edward August Ernest Martienssen and Eliza Ashley Stanley. She died on 2 June 1967 at At Anne's Hospital, Salisbury, Rhodesia. The cause of death is listed as hepatic failure of duration 3 weeks, cholangitis of duration 3 weeks and chronic cholecystitis of duration about 15 years. Stella was cremated at Warren Hills crematorium, Salisbury.
Addresses:
1967: 59 Broadlands Road, Avondale, Salisbury, Rhodesia   (Zimbabwe Death notices Salisbury 1967)

Occupation: Mine captain (1924); Mining engineer (1938)

Notes:
Randal was remembered in the will of his aunt, 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 nephew, RANDAL ARTHUR LISTER, the sum of TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS (£250).
Death: 26 June 1955 at Mater Dei hospital, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, aged 62
The cause of death is listed as (i) cardiac failure of duration 24 hours, (ii) secondary carcinoma of brain of duration 3 months and (iii) primary carcinoma of middle ear of duration 18 months

Buried: Bulawayo cemetery, Southern Rhodesia

Addresses:
1920: Robinson Deep Gold Mine, Johannesburg, Transvaal   (St Augustine Doornfontein Marriages 1920 #11)
1924: Robinson Deep, Johannesburg, Transvaal   (Holy Trinity Turffontein Baptisms 1924)
1938: Wanderer Mine, Selukwe district, Southern Rhodesia   (voter registration)
1941: Wanderer Mine, Selukwe district, Southern Rhodesia   (Pietermaritzburg Estate Files 1941 #32636 film 007867977 image 1529)
1955: "Blenheim", Riverside Road, Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia   (Zimbabwe Death notices Bulawayo 1955)

Sources:
Return to Chris Gosnell's Home Page

If you have any comments, additions or modifications to the information on this page, please feel free to email me.
Created and maintained by: chris@ocotilloroad.com