William Alfred Campbell (abt. 1879 - 1962)

Born about 1879 in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ancestors

Husband of Edith Marion (Armstrong) Campbell — married 11 Mar 1908 in Emoyeni, Inanda, Natal, South Africa

Died 1962 at about age 83 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Biography

William Alfred "WAC" Campbell was born about 1879 in Natal, South Africa. He was a son of Sir Marhall Campbell and Lady Ellen Campbell nee Blamey. His grandparents, William and Agnes Campbell and Blamey, had emigrated from England in 1849-50 and become prominent sugarcane producers in Natal. WAC worked in the family plantations.

WAC married. After becoming a widower, he moved into his parents' large homestead, Muckleneuk.

He passed away in 1962 at Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

http://www.kznhass-history.net/files/seminars/ButheleziEtAl2011.PDF

In 1850 William (c.1821-1865) and Agnes Campbell, the grandparents of Killie and William, immigrated to Natal from Scotland as Byrne settlers. They initially settled in Durban where William, who had worked for the Scottish railways, obtained a contract for the building of a pier on the northern side of Durban bay.

Thereafter they moved to a farm near the Umhloti River, where William grew sugar cane, and in due course their son Marshall (1848-1917) became the owner of a successful sugar estate. In his later years he became a member of the Natal Legislative Assembly and after Union became a Senator for Natal in the Union Parliament. Marshall Campbell was knighted in 1916 for his services to the country.

When Marshall retired from active farming he moved to the newly built family home Muckleneuk in 1914, and this is where his daughter Killie Campbell lived until her death in 1965. Her brother William, also known by his initials WAC, moved into Muckleneuk when he became a widower.

William Campbell collected material culture relating to traditional African Society, such as beadwork, basketry and pottery. In a handwritten draft of an article for Ilanga lase Natal, Dhlomo reported that William Campbell intended to set up a museum of “Ancient Zulu Customary Articles” and that William was hoping to build the museum in Durban “where it will be within the reach of all Africans”. The article described the type of material that William wished to house in the museum, including “varieties of grass-baskets and grass-pots, assorted grass food and table mats, sleeping mats, handles, special old Zulu men snuff holders (made of horn), scrapers, open clay pots, spears, special trappy arrowlike spears, short spears, full size skin shields, medium and small size skin shields, and many other things of Zulu interest. There will be pictures and photographs of all Zulu Chiefs and other articles of ancient Zulus.”

South Africa, Natal Province, Civil Marriages, 1845-1955

William Alfred Campbell

Date: 11 Mar 1908 at Emoyeni, Inanda, Natal, South Africa

Spouse's Name: Edith Marion Armstrong ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ "South Africa, Natal Province, Civil Marriages, 1845-1955," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDZQ-J8C : 10 March 2018), William Alfred Campbell and Edith Marion Armstrong, 11 Mar 1908; citing Emoyeni, Inanda, Natal, South Africa; 00646; National Archives and Records Service of South Africa, Pretoria; 1,795,571. Added on 27 Mar 2020 by Ian McArthur

• Wikipedia: Sir Marshall Campbell; accessed 7 Jul 2017 by [McArthur-306|Ian McArthur].