Early Years:
John Patrick 'Jack' was born in Reddersburg on 19 August 1873, the fifth of the Patrick Lynch and Catherine (Mandy) Lynch children. He was baptised on 2 December of that year; John and Bridget Kelly were his baptism sponsors.[1]
Baptism of John Patrick Lynch |
Little is known of Jack’s early years at this stage but his interview with the columnist Renier that was published in the Volksblad on 12 November 1956, gives some insight.[2]
Jack was the Baptism sponsor to John, son of James and Elizabeth de Scally, at the child’s baptism in 1993. James was a blacksmith who was acquainted with the Lynch clan and whose daughter, Helen Pauline de Scally, would become Tom’s wife in later years.
Anglo Boer War:
Bloemfontein Floods:
There were catastrophic floods in Bloemfontein on 17 January 1904. The Royal Hotel was swept away and the proprietors, Mr and Mrs Smith, and their entire family, perished in the floodwaters. The Friend gives a detailed account of these events.[3] The article states:
Marriage:
Jack Lynch, aged 31, married Minnie Louise Brumund Yelling, aged 25, at a private residence in Stockpoort, on 28 February 1905. Six sons were born of this marriage:
Jack's Inheritance:
In his last Will and Testament, Patrick Lynch of Springfield left to John Patrick Lynch in 1909 a portion of Springfield, in extent “one thousand one hundred and thirteen morgen or thereabouts, which is called “Clare” and which includes the house erected thereon, and which I am at present occupying, and the arable lands and gardens I am presently cultivating.” That he had already been farming on it for some time is confirmed by Pat Lynch in his letter to Mr Christy in 1903. Pat mentions that Jack is building a house and is planning to marry in the next year. Somerset Playne[4] compiled a beautiful book on the farms of the Orange Free State and, in it, mentions that Jack has “constructed a brick residence in a modern style.” It is interesting to note that Jack's sons would, in later years during service in WWII, give the address of their next of kin as variations of this house; Jack Lynch of Clare House, Kerelaw; Shamrock, Kerelaw, or simply PO Kerelaw! Playne mentions that Jack had only been in possession of the farm for three years when he visited which would have meant that he saw it 1912. He writes that a special feature of the farm was the breeding of horses. There were twenty breeding mares of which 10 were of superior size and strength. The stallions were Rissio, by Bothwell Osteria, the winner of the Merchants’ Handicap at Johannesburg and the Metropolitan Stakes in Cape Town; and Chance, by Melgo Lassie. Chance had won many races in the Transvaal, and his sire was a well-known performer on the Turf prior to the late war. Playne also makes mention of a flock of 500 Rambouillet Merinos with the stud rams having been bought from the noted Cape breeders Messrs Edwards Bros of Schoombie. Jack, according to Playne, also asserted that Swiss goats would do well on the farm and was to import some immediately. The picture painted by Playne implied that Jack had invested quite a bit of capital in his farm. Clare was well fenced and paddocks had been erected for the livestock. There were many springs on the farm and with the water from the Rhenosterspruit, there was sufficient for farming and domestic purposes.
Difficult Times:
These were difficult times, and on 4 August 1917, Jack entered into an agreement with Max Levin to sell half of Clare, farm No 520 District of Bloemfontein, for an amount of £2825.0.0. There was a bond of £2000 on the farm, the interest on which was in arrears, and Jack did not want to be forced to sell “his livestock at a sacrifice.” These facts are visible because Jack had to petition the Courts to have the “fidei commissum” imposed by Patrick Lynch of Springfield’s Will removed from the farm. The petition was granted and the sale of half of Clare went ahead.[5] Unfortunately, matters did not improve on Clare and on 17 November 1922 Jack was forced to petition the Courts to be declared insolvent and surrendered his Estate for the benefit of his creditors. The cause for the insolvency was “misfortune and without any fraud on his part”.[6] Cousin Victor Laughlin Kelly petitioned the Courts on 15 December 1939, to plead for the financial rehabilitation of Jack Lynch, who had no fixed assets and was being supported by his six sons. This would probably have been done to enable Jack to apply for a state pension.[7]
World War I:
According to his obituary, Jack saw service in WW I, supplying horses and mules to the South Africa Forces in South West Africa and later in East Africa. It has not yet been possible to locate all his records of his service in the First World War but a leave record shows that he attested in the SA Service Corps (Transport and Remount) on 11 April 1915. His Regimental Number was 1471 and his Rank H/Cond.? Interestingly his Next of Kin appears to be Francis Lynch who was living in Pietersburg. Jack left the service at his own request on the 9th of July 1917.
Later Years:
At the time of his interview with Renier of the Volksblad, Jack was 83 years of age but, according to the journalist, would have little to do accepting his age. “I can understand this once Uncle Jack had told me about his gardening and challenged me to find a single weed in his vegetable garden. While Uncle Jack’s neighbours are still buying vegetables at the market, he already has those from his own garden on the stove!” This must have been the garden on Springfield, Tom's farm. Jack was received into Nazareth House in Kimberley on the 3rd of March 1963 and he passed away there on the 27th of April 1964 at 90 years of age.[8]
Death Notification of John 'Jack' Patrick Lynch |
His mortal remains were returned to Bloemfontein and he was buried from the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart at 11 am on Thursday, 30 April 1964.[9][10]
Obituary Jack Lynch |
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