Benjamin Markham (1841 - 1908)

Born 1 Apr 1841 in Louth, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Elizabeth Susan Chadwick (Kelly) Markham — married 22 Aug 1871 in St. Saviours Church, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa

Husband of Rachel Tanner (Ray) Markham — married 1 Jul 1875 in St. Matthias Church, Umgeni, Durban, South Africa

Descendants

Died 21 Oct 1908 at age 67 in Benrae, Bulwer, Natal, South Africa

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Benjamin Markham migrated from England to Natal, South Africa.

Benjamin Markham was born in England.

Biography

• Baptized 1841-04-01 at (South Silverlin ?: The transcript wording here needs to be better ascertained), Louth, Lincolnshire, England, the son of Thomas Markham and Hannah Ward.
• He attended the Louth Grammar School and Priory at Louth, Lincolnshire, England.
• 1851 (Census): Louth, Lincolnshire.[1]
• 1856: "Arrived at Durban, aged 15 years to join his brother Fred who had come out earlier."
• 1857-8: Went farming with his brother James Frederick Markham on North coast of Durban.
• Benjamin was the youngest son in his family.
• 1871: He married Elizabeth Susan Chadwick Kelly, but she died 1873 only 5 months after giving birth to their son Benjamin Thomas Kelly Markham.
• 1874: Deacon.
• 1875: Markham, Ray, 1-July-1875, 6-July-1875, "At St. Mathias in the parish of Durban, by the Rev James H Taylor", "The Rev. Benjamin Markham assistant Curate of St. Saviours Cathedral, PMBurg to - Rachel T. Ray fifth daughter of the late Rev. Richard Ray of Ashton Villa, Elgin Park, Redland, Bristol, England".
• Maritz means Pietermaritzburg.
• 1879: Made Priest by the Bishop of Maritz.
• 1882: A missionary in charge of Highflats, Springvale, in the Diocese of Maritz.
• 1878: Ordained, his first posting was to Springvale Mission where as Priest in charge he assisted the Bishop in translating the Bible into the Zulu language.
• 1884: Posted to Polela.
• He (?) bought 1100 acres on the Lurane River near Bulwer and the property was named Ashtonvale in honour of his wife Rachel Tanner Ray's birthplace back in England.
• 2015: This homestead property is now known as Ashtonvale Guest Farm.
• Benjamin built a small private family chapel at Ashtonvale which remains to this day.
• While at Ashtonvale, Benjamin built the Holy Trinity Church (Yellowwood Church) on land bought and donated by his wife's brother in law, Mr. Pascoe Fenwick of England.
• 1902: His eyesight failing, Benjamin sold Ashtonvale and moved to Benrae nearby in Bulwer. Benrae is named after his own first name and his wife's surname: (Benjamin-Rae (Ray).
• 1908: He passed away and is buried in the graveyard inside the property of the Churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Bulwer.
• The original St. Saviour's Church in Pietermaritzburg was demolished and sold for one Rand. Parts of this original St. Saviour's Church in Pietermaritzburg were relocated and are now part of new church near Johannesburg, now being the St. Saviour's Presbyterian Church at 18 King Willow Crescent, Randjesfontein, Midrand, near Johannesburg.
• There seems to be third brother who came out to South Africa, but as of yet, he has not been identified, as per photograph (The Three Brothers ?). There is an apparent story about the third brother, but I have yet to verify this myself.
• Polela (GPS: -29.820330, 29.777305).

Sources

• Marriage Notice; Pall Mall Gazette; August 11, 1875; cited in Ancestry.com - PJT Tree 2014 v3.
• Markham, Ray, 1-July-1875, 6-July-1875, "At St. Mathias in the parish of Durban, by the Rev James H Taylor", "The Rev Benjamin Markham assistant Curate of St. Saviours Cathedral, PMBurg to - Rachel T. Ray fifth daughter of the late Rev. Richard Ray of Ashton Villa, Elgin Park, Redland, Bristol, England".
• Tombstone, in graveyard of Yellowwood Church in Bulwer, Natal, South Africa.
• Rev. Benjamin Markham, by B.T.K. Markham.
• Descendants of Benjamin Markham, Rev. (Clerk In Holy Orders)
• Marriage Entry: Benjamin Markham and Elizabeth Susan Chadwick Kelly.[2]
• Marriage Entry: Benjamin Markham and Rachel Tanner Ray.[3]

References