Stephen Day Lynch (1878 - 1934)

Born 3 Oct 1878 in Bloemfontein, Oranje Vrijstaat

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann (Patrick) Lynch — married 21 Jun 1911 in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State

Descendants

Died 27 Apr 1934 at age 55 in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State Province, Union of South Africa

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Desmond William Kelly Lynch [send private message]

Biography

Stephen Day was the eighth child born to Patrick Lynch and Catherine Mandy. He was baptised in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bloemfontein on 31 Oct 1878; his sponsors were Robert John Williams and Mary Ann York.^[1]

Baptism of Stephen Day Lynch

Anglo Boer War

Stephen took up arms with his brothers during the Anglo-Boer War and, according to his brother Jack’s account, served as a dispatch rider in Colesberg.  Once Bloemfontein had fallen, he surrendered with the rest of the Lynch combatants.  He returned to Springfield only to be arrested with the rest of the Lynch clan and lost some of his possessions in the looting of the farmhouse.  However, there is proof that Stephen Day took the Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown and thus became what is known as a “joiner”. According to the Government Gazette, "Lynch, “Landbouwer” (farmer) and his brother Jim Lynch, of Springfield, W. Upper Modder River, took the Oath on 17 June 1901".^[2]

World War I, 1917, South West Africa

In family photographs taken by Hugh Exton in 1917, Stephen is wearing a British Officer’s uniform; he appears to be a Lieutenant. It is believed that Stephen and Jack Lynch served in the South West Africa campaign against the Germans. Both were horsemen and his uniform appears to bear this out. Anecdotal evidence has it that they served in East Africa as well.

Marriage

Stephen Day Lynch married Mary Anne Patrick, the widow Park, 21 June 1911, Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa. Francis Aloysius and Grace Lynch were witnesses at the wedding. Two years later, Mary Ann Lynch, who had been a member of the Wesleyan Church, converted to the Roman Catholic faith. On the same day, 27 July 1913, her sons William Samuel Park (9 years of age) and Robert Morgan McGowan Park (8 years of age) were baptised into the Roman Catholic Church.^[3]

Property: Shannon Valley Farm, 1909, Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa.

It is not known what Stephen Day did in the years after the war, up to the death of his father in 1909.  He probably farmed with his father and brothers on Springfield.  Stephen Day's inheritance, in terms of his fathers will, was the 1000 Morgen portion of Springfield previously known as "Woolwash", including the building erections, garden and lands attached thereto on the west side of Rhenoster Spruit.  This new farm was to be named Shannon Valley, Farm No 541.  It exists still today, although in name only, as a suburb of Bloemfontein, it straddles the railway line to the east of the City, between the railway stations of Bloemspruit and Kerelaw.   At that stage Bloemspruit Station was known as Shannon Station.

It would appear that farming Shannon Valley was not too successful and Stephen applied to sell the farm.  In December 1913 permission was granted by the Bloemfontein Supreme Court for the sale of Shannon Valley free of the fidei commissum in respect of 100 morgen thereof.  This was a provision of Patrick of Springfield’s will, which sought to prevent his sons selling their entire inheritance (see Thomas John Lynch).  The court allowed Stephen to sell his farm but he had to lodge the monetary value of the 100 morgen as an investment.^[4]

Property; 1914, Pietersburg, Transvaal, South Africa.

The family then moved to the Northern Transvaal.  According to legal documents supporting a petition re the invested funds made by him in September 1914, Stephen was residing at Orange Grove, District Zoutpansberg.   Similarly, in 1917 Stephen applied to have the £673.5.0 lodged with the Master of the Court reinvested with the Bloemfontein BoE and Trust Co Ltd, due to excellent interest.^[5]   It is not altogether clear what Stephen was doing in Pietersburg.  Anecdotal information from family members has him farming the farm Annadale in the Pietersburg district, but Annadale was a residential area created chiefly for those who had lost everything in the Anglo-Boer War and had begun to move to the town.  It was named after the surveyor’s daughter Anna and had not previously existed. 

Stephen Day Lynch apparently asked JA Jones and Co to value his property for sale, Sale 233 of 1922, with a reserve of £260.  There was a bond of £323 of the property, which consisted of erven 267268 on Pietersburg Street, and 333334 on Railway Street, some 2 and a half miles out of Pietersburg.  There was a tenant by the name of Mrs Fick on one of the properties.  Improvements included 3 large rondavels (pantry, kitchen and bathroom), a shed of some 70 by 20 yards and a borehole.  It was valued at  £800. The total value was £900 with a forced sale deemed likely to raise  £600. .   What transpired next re the sale of the land is not known but it resulted in Jones suing Stephen in November 1922 for the £54.15.4 allegedly owed to him.  The court upheld his claim and the Sheriff was authorised to dispose of Lots 267, 268, 333 and 334 in the Township of Annadale, Pietersburg, (Deed 5698/1922 SA Mutual Chambers).  Stephen was, however, able to settle the amount and the attachment of his property was withdrawn on 12 December 1922.^[6]

Died; 27 April 1934, Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa.

Stephen Day Lynch passed away on the farm Springfield on 27 April 1934. He left only his clothing. Francis Aloysius, his brother, who was present at the place of death, signed the Death Notice.^[7]

Death Notice of Stephen Day Lynch

He is buried in the Cemetery on Springfield Farm.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ OFS Catholic Church Records, Baptisms Sacred Heart Bloemfontein, Vol 1, "L" Page 50
2. ↑ State Archives, Transvaal, Government Gazette, (Pretoria),List of persons taking the Oath of Allegiance, 28 June 1901; Page 271
3. ↑ OFS Church Records, Sacred Heart Catholic Church Bloemfontein, Marriages, Stephen Day Lynch marriage to Mary Ann Park (nee Patrick)
4. ↑ State Archives, Orange Free State, VAB, Applications, HG; Petition by Stephen Day Lynch, 4/2/1/1/76, Ref 659/1913
5. ↑ State Archives, Orange Free State, VAB, Applications, HG, Petition by Stephen Day Lynch re Interest; 4/2/1/1/149 Ref 422/1917; 1917
6. ↑ State Archives, Transvaal, TAB, Civil Action, TPD, JA Jones and Company vs Stephen Day Lynch; Vol 224 Ref 223/1922; 1922
7. ↑ South Africa, Orange Free State, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1832-1989," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7PT2-G2PZ : 23 March 2020), Stephen Day Lynch, 1934; citing Probate, Bloemfontein, Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa, Master's Office of the Orange Free State Archives, Bloemfontein; 004047218
8. ↑ Added by Des Lynch on 4 August 2021