James Boardman (1858 - 1879)

Born 27 Mar 1858 in Middelburg, Transvaal

Ancestors

Died 8 Dec 1879 at age 21 in Dordrecht, Eastern Cape

Biography

Friday 19 December 1879

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE

(Dordrecht Guardian)

A sad accident, resulting in the death of Mr. James BOARDMAN, a fine promising young man in his 21st year (son of Mr. Philip BOARDMAN of Holbrook, near Barkly) occurred at an early hour on Monday morning last, on the farm of M. BROMLEY (Driefontein) about two miles from Dordrecht, on the road to Grahamstown, the particulars of which will be gathered from the following deposition taken before Mr. H.A. JENNER, acting C.C. and R.M. Clement PENNY stated:- I was travelling from Barkly to Queenstown with two wagons loaded with wool. The deceased and myself were lying asleep on the top of the front wagon, and at about half past three in the morning I was startled by hearing the driver of the wagon say “Pas op boss” (Look out master) and before I had time to get off the wagon had capsized, and the deceased and myself both fell underneath the wool. It was about two hours before they got me out, as the boys had first to pull the wagon off the wool before they could get at us; they first found the body of the deceased, who was quite dead. I was seriously hurt and bruised all over. The wagon capsized in a large sluit. The driver had got a short distance off the road, and I presume that owing to its being dark he could not see the sluit until he was on the edge of it. The boys were all perfectly sober; BOARDMAN told them that the road was good from Dordrecht, and it is the usual thing when the road is good for the leader to throw up the reins and come to the wagon. I do not attribute any blame to the boys as being the cause of the accident. (The article continues...)

Sources

• www.1820settlers.com

[McArthur-306 : Ian McArthur - 20 Feb 2017]