South Africa Links

The Featherstones in South Africa

Robert, being the third son of John and Rosetta Featherstone (nee Gibbons) was born on 27th June 1790 at Molton, Devon and baptised in Chittlehampton in the same year. He was one of ten children. Legend has it that Robert, in consequence of a quarrel with his father, ran away from home, and, on the 14th March, 1808, giving his age as eighteen years, enlisted in the district of Birmingham as a private in the second Battalion of the 38th Regiment of Foot (afterwards known as the South Staffordshire). His military record states as follows:
Transferred 1st Battalion 25th November 1814; promoted Corporal 17th March, 1818; embarked for Cape of Good Hope 12th June 1818; disembarked at Cape Town 2nd November 1818; transferred(by order of Lord Charles Somerset) to Cape Infantry 25th October 1819; transferred to Cape Cavalry 25th March 1827; Acting Garrison Sergeant, Grahamstown from January 1830; discharged to Out Pension 25th September 1830 per War Office Authority dated 23rd June 1830.

Robert arrived in Grahamstown in 1819 and his regiment took part in the Battle of Grahamstown in April 1819.

In 1822 he married Lucy Finaughty. Lucy and her brothers William and  John accompanied by their Mother, arrived in South Africa in 1820 with a party of 1820 Settlers. She was fifteen at the time. Robert and Lucy lived in Grahamstown and surrounding districts for all of their married life. It is said that they had thirteen children of whom five died soon after birth. Those who survived are as follows:

Rosetta, born Kaffir Drift 18th December 1826, died Port Alfred 2nd December 1902
Louisa, born Fort Beaufort 15th January 1829, died Vryburg 9th August 1900
John Henry, born Grahamstown 19th November 1830, died Glen Doone, Miller Station 2nd June 1891
Elizabeth Ann, born Grahamstown 18th October 1832, died Bedford, England 12th December 1915
Zipporah, born Grahamstown 3rd January 1835, died Muizenberg, Cape 8th June 1912
William George, born Fort Beaufort 21st August 1836, died Stanhope Farm, Amabele Station 7th September 1915.
Robert, born Fort Beaufort 16th November 1837, died East London 8th November 1917
Gertrude, born Fort England 22 February 1842, died Kalk Bay, Cape 13th September 1910.

Robert and Lucy have many descendents throughout South Africa and elsewhere. Many of these are farmers.

A smattering of Featherstones who don't seem to be related to the above appear in various documents from time to time but no research has yet been done on their origins.

Sgt. Edward Featherstone died on 18.9.1857 and lies buried in the Old English Cemetery in Grahamstown.

Alexander Featherstone was a diamond miner living in Kimberley.