Alfred Bennett

[shaunbennett69]

Hi There
I'm trying to trace my Great Grand Father who left England to come and live in Durban, South Africa. I've got his Death Notice & Marriage Certificate, but I've have not got a clue where he was born in England. I know he came from England because I've got the Newspaper article that mentions him arriving in Durban, South Africa. According to the Newspaper article, Alfred Bennett left London on the 8th of December 1864 on the Brig "Gordon". The Master of the Brig was a D.Watson. It arrived in Durban, South Africa on the 21st of February 1865. I believe that same Brig went onwards to Australia. He died in Durban, South Africa on the 27th of July 1912. His Death Notice/Certificate etc. does not show his age at death. Can anyone assist me in confirming this information and to try and trace the Birth of Alfred Bennett. Thank you

[yorkshirecath]

When was he born Shaun and what info do you have on his parents?

[Sue Mackay]

Hi Shaun

I got your personal message on Rootschat (I'm rhoosesue!) but if you don't mind I'll answer you here because I check this site several times a day and only check Rootschat once in a while.

You say that Alfred Bennett was probably born about 1845. Unfortunately there were 144 Alfred Bennetts registered in the 1840s and six in 1845, so without having more information on his year of birth or which county he came from it is going to be very difficult to track him down.

Are there any other clues, like the name of his house/farm in South Africa? Sometimes settlers named their new home after the place they had left. Have you checked the website at http://www.eggsa.org/ (click Contents then Download Library) to see whether they have his monumental inscription transcribed?