Rachel Tanner (Ray) Markham (1842 - 1916)

Born 13 Jun 1842 in Bideford, Devon, England

Ancestors

Wife of Benjamin Markham — married 1 Jul 1875 in St. Matthias Church, Umgeni, Durban, South Africa

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1916 at age 74 in Grey's Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

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Biography

By 1851, Rachel and her sister Lydia were being raised by their older half sisters Sarah, Hannah and Isabella at #2 Richmond Hill, New Stretford Road, Barton Upon Irwell, Lancashire.

By 1861, Rachel and Mary were living with their oldest half sister Sarah and her family in Clifton, Gloucestershire.

In 1871 Rachel and her three sisters were teaching at a ladies school in Bedford and Kempston.

On July 1, 1875, Rachel married Rev. Benjamin Markham, Assistant Curate, Cathedral of St. Saviour, Maritzburg (Pietermaritzburg) in a ceremony at St. Matthias, Durban, Natal, South Africa. Benjamin was a widower when married to Rachel Tanner Ray.

In 1884 her husband was posted as Priest in Charge at Polela where he bought 1100 acres on the Lurane River and built a home there which he named Ashtonvale in honour of Rachel's birthplace. This homestead now named Ashtonvale Guest Farm is precisely the same place named "Polela". Benjamin Markham built his own private family chapel here near his house at Ashtonvale.

Whilst at Ashtonvale, Benjamin had the Holy Trinity Church built (made from Yellowwood trees) on land bought and donated by Rachel's brother in law, Pascoe Fenwick of England.

The village of Bulwer was named after the Governor of Natal Province. What is now the "office" in Benjamin Markham's house at Polela/Ashtonvale, used to be the post office, where Rachel Markham acted as postmistress from 1885.

In the 1901 England Census, Rachel was back visiting in England, staying with her sister Lydia and her husband in Kensington, London.

In 1902 Benjamin sold Ashtonvale and moved to Benrae (the name of their new house and property) in the village of Bulwer. Sometime later, Benjamin went blind. Benjamin passed away in 1908 and she died in 1916. They are buried next to each other in the Churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, Bulwer. This church is made completely from wood, and is probably the best preserved church of its kind in this country.

Will

Will No. 375. Filed 15-09-1916. This is the Last Will and Testament of me Rachel Tanner Markham (born Ray), widow of the late Benjamin Markham of Bulwer, in the Division of Polela, Colony of Natal, who being at the date thereof in health of body and of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and capable of performing any act requiring thought, judgment or reflection, do hereby declare to make this my Last Will and Testament.

I cancel, annul and make void all Wills, Codicils and Testamentary acts heretofore made and executed by me, and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament.

I nominate constitute and appoint my stepson BENJAMIN THOMAS KELLY MARKHAM of Pietermaritzburg, and my son-in-law EDWARD GRAHAM of Melrose, Boston, Impendhle Division, Natal, to be the Executors of this my Will and Trustees and Administrators of my Estate and Effects, hereby granting unto them all such powers and authority as may be required or allowed in Law, but especially those of assumption, substitution and surrogation.

I give, devise and bequeath the whole of my Estate and Effects, movable and immovable, corporeal and incorporeal, personal and real, and whether the same may be in possession, reversion, remainder or expectancy, wheresoever the same may be, nothing excepted unto my said stepson BENJAMIN THOMAS KELLY and my children EVELYN HANNAH RAY, WILFRID LAWRENCE WARD, RICHARD ALBERT CLEMENT, REGINALD CECIL STENTON, equally share and share alike. Declaring however that should any of them predecease me leaving issue, the child or children of such who may predecease me shall have in equal share of such predeceasing parent.

And I reserve to myself power from time to time and at all times to alter, cancel or revoke these presents in whole or in part by any writing hand, either at the end hereof or by a separate writing, hereby desiring that all shall be as valid and effectual as if inserted herein.

All which I declare to be my Last Will and Testament, desiring that it may have effect as such or as a Codocil or otherwise as may consist with Law.

Thus done and executed at Bulwer in the Division of Polela, Colony of Natal, aforesaid on the second day of December in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine hundred and Eight in the presence of the Witnesses hereto subscribing.

Signed by the said Rachel Tanner Markham (born Ray) the Testatrix of this Will in the presence of this Will in the presence of us then present both together and offixing our signatures hereto as Witnesses to the said Will in the presence of the said Testatrix and of each other. R.T. MARKHAM. Winifred Wynne. Clifford Wynne.

CODOCIL. This is a Codocil to the above Will of me Rachel Tanner Markham (born Ray) widow of the late Benjamin Markham and at present residing at Winter's Kloof dated the 2nd of December 1908;

Whereas I have by my said Last Will appointed my stepson Benjamin Thomas Kelly Markham and my son in Law Edward Graham to be the Executors of my Will and Administrators of my Estate; and whereas I wish to appoint my son Richard Albert Clement Markham of Braamhoek Bethlehem District, Orange Free State, Farmer, to be a further Executor and Administrator;

Now therefore I do constitute and appoint the said RICHARD ALBERT CLEMENT MARKHAM aforesaid to be an Executor of my Last Will and an Administrator of my Estate and Effects and I declare that he shall have and enjoy the same powers and authorities as are granted by me said Will to the two Executors and Administrators, already thereby appointed. I further direct that in all matters pertaining to my Will and the administration of my Estate and Effects the three Executors and Administrators shall act jointly.

Thus done and executed at Pietermaritzburg, Natal, this Twenty seventh day of April in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifteen in the presence of the Witnesses hereto subscribing. R.T. MARKHAM.

Signed by the said Rachel Tanner Markham (born Ray) the Testatrix of the above Will in the presence of us then present both together and affixing our signatures hereto as witnesses to the Codocil in the presence of the said Testatrix and of each other. Dacre A. Shaw. S.W. Blight.^[1]

Sources

• 1851 England Census, Lancashire, Stretford, 3c, pg. 2 of 30.
• 1861 England Census, Gloucestershire, Clifton, Clifton, District 15, pg. 12 of 59.
• 1871 England Census, Bedfordshire, St Paul, Bedford and Kempston, District 7, pg. 17 of 46.
• 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".
• Marriage Entry: Benjamin Markham and Rachel Tanner Ray.[1]
• 1901 England Census, London, Kensington, Kensington Town, District 29, Class: RG13; Piece: 23; Folio: 86; Page: 23.
• Tombstone, in graveyard of Holy Trinity Church in Bulwer, Natal, South Africa.
• Descendants of Benjamin Markham, Rev. (Clerk In Holy Orders).
• Rev. Benjamin Markham (FreeSpace).

References

1. ↑ Submitted by Tom Watson.