View Full Version : Unexpected death in South Africa
Delphinus
05-10-2010, 7:50 PM
Through the Probate Calenders I have found that my 2x great grandmother died in South Africa whilst either on holiday or visiting family, I have no idea how to obtain the death certificate and the location of her burial. The information I have from the Probate Calender is;
Hannah Margaret Wonnacott of Dalton Lancashire Wife of William died 20/02/1906, in the hospital, Towes River, Worcester, Cape, South Africa.
I would appreciate any help as it would appear she is the only member of my direct line to have died in SA.
olliecat
05-10-2010, 10:55 PM
I have no experience with death certificates in South Africa; however I thought I would see what I could find on this.
The National Archives have a short section on overseas births marriage and deaths here (http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Overseas_Births%2C_Marriages_and_D eaths), but it doesn’t go into very much detail. Also, some information is given on Findmypast for deaths overseas. See the consular section near the top of this page:-
findmypast.co.uk/helpadvice/knowledge-base/overseas-military/records.jsp (put www. in front)
Both of these indicate that ...
"overseas records are somewhat incomplete, as registration is not compulsory for British nationals abroad"
Also ...
"countries within the British Empire / Commonwealth will retain their own records"
I am not sure of the status of South Africa at the time of Hannah's death. It was not long after the 2nd Boer war and may have been under British sovereignty. A death certificate may have been issued for her in South Africa and matters left at that.
I searched for Hannah Wonnacott in the GRO Consular Death Indices on Findmypast but couldn’t find anything. You may wish to check these indices for yourself. Since her death was probably registered in South Africa, you could try applying for her death certificate from the South Africa Department for Home Affairs (http://www.dha.gov.za/). Click on Civic Services, then Death Certificates. They have a form (BI-132) for applying for death certificates. You are expected to provide all the details - date, location etc, but you have some of that information from the probate.
Slightly discouraging is that the link to the form does not work. However, you will find the same form on the South Africa High Commission website here (http://www.southafricahouse.com/Consulate/Cr_DeCr.htm). They are based in London and you are in Devon so you could ring them up and ask for their advice; there is a phone number on the page. They might just refer you back to the South Africa Department for Home Affairs.
Hope this helps a little.
Kerrywood
05-10-2010, 11:19 PM
Through the Probate Calenders I have found that my 2x great grandmother died in South Africa whilst either on holiday or visiting family, I have no idea how to obtain the death certificate and the location of her burial. The information I have from the Probate Calender is;
Hannah Margaret Wonnacott of Dalton Lancashire Wife of William died 20/02/1906, in the hospital, Towes River, Worcester, Cape, South Africa.
Try searching the National Archives of South Africa (NAIIRS) (http://www.national.archives.gov.za/naairs.htm) databases.
From the menu on the left, select Search National Automated Archival Information Retrieval System, and search each database separately. You'll find there was an inquest into her death.
olliecat
05-10-2010, 11:38 PM
That's a nice find Kerrywood.
There is also a death notice and estate paper for a William Wonaccot in 1896. Related?
Delphinus
06-10-2010, 7:38 AM
Many thanks Olliecat and Kerrywood for the informaion I wil have a look at the South African site later today, I will let you know how I get on.
Sue Mackay
06-10-2010, 11:56 AM
When you go to NAAIRS, only type in the name Wonnacott under RSA - this will bring up all hits in the database and Hannah's entry is the first, though it is listed as HM Wonnacott so putting Hannah into the search box doesn't bring it up.
Unforunately it says that a) the document is in Cape Town (KAB) and b) it is a covering letter only. Cape Town, unlike the archives in Pretoria, Pietermaritzburg and Blomfonetein, have decided in their wisdom to ban the use of digital cameras, so the service of the Genealogical Society of South Africa to photograph and e-mail records for a very nominal fee does not apply, and I have heard that it can take a very long time to use the official copying services.
You might get more information from the death notice of William Wonnacott dated 1896. I suggest that you subscribe (free) to one of the South African mailing lists (http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/intl/ZAF/) and see if there is someone local who is willing to go into the Cape Archives and make a transcription. As you would have the exact reference this shouldn't take long, and you could always offer to do a lookup in Devon RO in exchange.
thecouch
06-10-2010, 3:36 PM
Hi there,
Just wanted to thank Kerrywood and others for posting information regarding the website for NAAIRS - very helpful to me and was not aware of it. I had an important 'hit' in my first search of the databases just now. So, I'm just wondering if someone could clarify the steps one needs to take in ordering/purchasing documents listed from any particular search. Unfortunately I don't seem to grasping the obvious from the disussion that has taken place so far. Any additional clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
thecouch
Sue Mackay
06-10-2010, 4:26 PM
Hi there,
Just wanted to thank Kerrywood and others for posting information regarding the website for NAAIRS - very helpful to me and was not aware of it. I had an important 'hit' in my first search of the databases just now. So, I'm just wondering if someone could clarify the steps one needs to take in ordering/purchasing documents listed from any particular search. Unfortunately I don't seem to grasping the obvious from the disussion that has taken place so far. Any additional clarification would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
thecouch
Have a good read of this thread (http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?21140-On-Line-Sources-for-South-African-Genealogy) as well as my reply to Delphinus above. If the hit you have has the reference VAB (Blomfontein Archive, covering the former Orange Free State), TBD (Durban), NAB (Pietermaritzburg, covering the former Natal) or TAB (Pretoria, covering the former Transvaal) then you can order copies via eggsa, the e-branch of the Genealogical Society of South Africa. It is only KAB (Cape Town) documents for which they cannot offer this service.
Go to eggsa.org (put www. in front) and click on FAQ in the Document Ordering Service box. This gives step by step instructions.
Delphinus
06-10-2010, 7:16 PM
Many thanks for your help Sue I think I will have to do as you suggest and see if I can find someone locally to go and have a look and transcribe it for me
thecouch
06-10-2010, 7:17 PM
Brilliant Sue! The simplicity and clarification I was looking for. I can access my key hit through the eggsa.org website and will do that directly. I only have one hit that is a KAB. Just wondering, where else can you look for Vital Statistics info for South Africa. The piece of information I found confirmed a likely time period for the death of one my grandmother's sisters as well as a name for her second husband. So I interested in pursuing this information (ie. death/second marriage info etc) a little further if possible.
Thanks again,
thecouch
Sue Mackay
06-10-2010, 7:44 PM
Just wondering, where else can you look for Vital Statistics info for South Africa. The piece of information I found confirmed a likely time period for the death of one my grandmother's sisters as well as a name for her second husband. So I interested in pursuing this information (ie. death/second marriage info etc) a little further if possible.
All my South African ancestry is from the early part of the 19th century, so I am not an expert on more modern records. You may find some pointers here (http://www.genealogyworld.net/tracing.html) or here (http://home.global.co.za/~mercon/FAQ.html).
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