Beart family in Natal

[Tinker]

Patrick Adolphus Beart, born 1865, Scotland (of English parents), his widowed mother and several siblings (there were 6 in all) came out to Natal in the 1890s and it's driving me potty trying to find out more about the family's doings in South Africa, as I keep running into dead ends. I've combed the NAAIRS site and the internet in general, without getting much further in my search.

Patrick married Margaret Pascoe Cooper in S.A., 1890 (by Special Licence), and had two children by her, but one died in infancy and the other in WWI. I have just discovered that he was in the Imperial Yeomanry Scouts during the Boer War, gaining the rank of sergeant, and his brother, George Frederick, in the Imperial Light Infantry. One of Patrick's sisters (Louisa Clarissa) set up a Girl's High School in Durban circa 1902. I was told, years ago, that he spent much of his married life travelling in China and that his wife ran a dressmaking business in Durban called "Madame Nicholl," though I don't know how true this is. There's also a possibility that one of the Beart boys was fighting in German South West Africa during WWII, but I'm struggling to get any solid info to confirm whether this is so. Can anyone help with any details whatsoever about the family? I'd be very grateful!

[Sue Mackay]

Can't see anything on Patrick I'm afraid, but if you have access to Ancestry at your library and can bring up the Incoming Passenger lists, then specify Durban, there are a dozen or so enries for Beart, mainly with initials only, on ships arriving from SA between 1892 and 1935

[Richard1955]

There are loads of messages on Ancestry for Patrick Beart including census but I assume this is you Tinker.
I have googled the name and found a downloadable document on:www.
eggsa.org/Pietermaritzburg%20Masters%20Office%20estate%20fil es.htm
This might be of some help.
Also a Thomas Beart on www.
angloboerwar.com/south

[Tinker]

Hi Sue
I've had a look on the passenger lists and thought I might have found Patrick's mum and two of the youngest children but mum's age/d.o.b is just over a decade out, so I can't say whether that's them for sure. I have found a Mr G.F Beart and a Mr W.J Beart travelling to the Cape, who are very likely mine, as their initials tally with siblings, even though there is no birth year given for either - the George Frederick I mentioned above, and William John, Patrick's eldest brother.

Richard
Yes, you're right, those are my posts you found! I'm off to have a look at the document you mentioned and will let you know if it's any good. I saw Thomas, but he's not one of mine, alas!

[Sue Mackay]

I'm off to have a look at the document you mentioned and will let you know if it's any good. I saw Thomas, but he's not one of mine, alas!

The link that Richard gave is broken but if you go to the eggsa site and click on Help and Find, then Google Search (which searches the whole eggsa site) and type in Beart you will find references to Patrick Adolphus and Louisa Theresa in the Natal Estate Files. Copies can be ordered using the eggsa Document Ordering Service at nominal cost.

[Tinker]

Thanks, Sue! I managed to find it in spite of the broken link. At first I thought the docs might be a bit pricey, but working out the exchange rate it might not be too bad. Only thing is, they won't tell you how many pages there are before you order it. Might be worth a shot though!

[Richard1955]

Go for it Tinker. I have a good feeling about it and there doesn't seem to be much else at the moment.
I thought I saw £1 a page but may be wrong and as you say, you don't know how many pages.
Note: If a hyperlink is broken you can copy and paste the address in the address bar at the top of your browser.

Good luck
Richard

[Sue Mackay]

Thanks, Sue! I managed to find it in spite of the broken link. At first I thought the docs might be a bit pricey, but working out the exchange rate it might not be too bad. Only thing is, they won't tell you how many pages there are before you order it. Might be worth a shot though!

Click on the FAQ where it says Document Ordering Service on the eggsa home page. It explains about the charges and the number of pages - you can stipulate a maximum.