Papers relating to James Dunbar and family

Date: 1811 to 1840
Location: Cape Town

James Dunbar (abt.1785-1840) British Army Officers' Widows' Pension Forms.^[1][2]

Registered for placing on the Pension List the Widow of
An Officer who Died on Half Pay
Came this day before me,
And made oath that she was lawfully married at Cape Town
on the 7^th day of April 1811 to James Dunbar
late a 1^st Lieutenant on Half Pay of the
21^st Regiment of L^t Dragoons who died
at Wynberg on the 1^st day of February 1840
aged Fifty two years;- that ever since his decease she
has continued a Widow and is so at this present period
And that she has no Pension, Allowance, or Provision
from Government.
Signature of the Widow} Anna Dunbar
Her Place of Residence} Wynberg, Cape of Good Hope
Sworn before me at Wynberg
the 13^th day of March 1840 [stamp: Public Record Office]
Signature of the Magistrate} G Hougmore [...] Magistrate
Place or County for which he [...]} Wynberg District, Cape of Good Hope
D346
The Certificate of the Age of the late L^t
Dunbar is not in the Cal[...] but he was
born at Liverpool in the year 1787 -
His death was occasioned by the small pox on
a constitution infirmed from a Service of 34
[...] years in India & the Cape of Good Hope [...]
[Continued in side margin]
*Annex a certified Copy of the Parochial Register
of the Marriage Certificate, showing the Officer's Age
and the date and cause of his death, should also
be annexed.

[Page 2 left hand]
N.B. If the Marriage of the parties took place
before the Officer was placed on Half pay, the
following Certificate must be filled up
and signed in the manner pointed out
below, but if the Marriage took place
after the Officer was placed on Hald pay,
the Certificate is not required.

We do hereby Certify to the best of our knowledge
and belief, that Anna Dunbar now residing
at the Cape of Good Hope was the lawful Wife of
James Dunbar who formerly served on Full Pay
as a Lieutenant in the 21^st Regiment of L^t Dg^s
and died at Wynberg on Half Pay of the 21^st
Regiment of L^t Drg^s on the 1^st Feb^y 1840
wherefore we do humbly recommend her as a
deserving object of Her Majesty's Royal
Bounty - Given under our hands this
Day of [no date]
To be signed by the Colonel
and Agent of the Corps
in which the Officer last served [Signatures illegible]
[In side margin]
*When the Colonels signature cannot be procured,
that of the Commanding Officer is required.
Widows of Staff Officers are to be recommended by the Officer under whose
Command their late [...] were serving at the time of their Death.
[Page 2 right hand]
Cape Town
Settlement of Good Hope
April 7^th 1811
Here are to certify, that all required forms & ceremonies
having been complied with James Dunbar Lieute[nant] in
N.M. 21^st L^t Dg^s & Anna Catherina van Reede
van Oudtshoorn, ^^{Native of Cape & daughter of Baron van Oudtshoorn}
on the seventh day of April, one
thousand, eight hundred, & eleven, were married
by me
R Jones
Chaplain of Brigade
[stamp: Public Record Office]
Marriage solemnized in the presence of us
[...]Reede Van Oudtshoorn
E Kinsten
E Schrader
[...] Higgins Capt 21^st Drag[oons]
[2 signatures illegible]
D346 2

[Page 3 right hand]
An Extract from the Public register of S^t George's Church
at Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope.
Marriages
1811
Cape Town.
Settlement of Good Hope
Apr^l 7^th 1811.
All requisite forms & ceremonies having been complied
with, James Dunbar, Lieu^t in H.M. 21^st L^t Dg^s &
Anna Catherina van Reede van Oudsthoorn, native of
Cape, & daughter of Baron Van Oudsthoorn, on the seventh
day of April, one thousand eight hundred & eleven, was
married by me
R Jones,
Chaplain of Brigade.
In the presence of us.
W.F. Van Reede Van Oudsthoorn
W.W.Higgins Capt. 21^st Drag^s
E.S.Schrader
H. Cloete Jr
E. Kirsten
E. Schrader
This marriage was solemnized by us
James Dunbar
Anna Catharina van Reede van Oudsthoorn
[stamp: Public Record Office]
I Certify that the Above is a true Extract from the Register
of Marriages kept in S^t George's Church, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope,
By Me,
[Illegible signature]
Cape Town
February 12^th 1840
D346 3

[Page 4 right hand]
Translation
The undersigned, Preacher to the
Dutch Reformed Community at Cape Town
Cape of Good Hope, witnesseth herewith,
that, in accordance with entry made
in the Books of this Church, the Sacrament
of Holy Baptism, was, on the sixth
day of January in the year of our Lord
Eighteen hundred Two and twenty, ad-
ministered to a child, named,
Sophia, Georgina, Antoinette, born
on the 4^th December 1821 -
Of whom is father James Dunbar
Mother Anna Catharina
van Rede van Oudtshoorn
Witnesses - Johanna, jakoba Kirsten
[stamp: Public Record Office]
Capetown, Cape of good Hope
the 12 March 1840
Signed (A Fawley?)
This is a literal translation
[next line overwritten by:]
(The original of this Certificate was returned
to Mrs Dunbar 11^th May 1842)
D346 4

[Page 5 right hand]
Extract from the Register of baptisms in
the Military Chapel. Cape Town, Cape of
Good Hope.

1825
October 1^st George Van Reede (twin) Son of James
Dunbar Esq^r Ass^t Barrack Master
General and Anne Catherine his
wife born 6^th September 1825
baptized by me
(signed) George Hough [A. M.?]
Colonial & Act^g Military Chaplain
A true Copy
Edward Judge [...]
[..] Chaplain to the Troops
Cape Town
February 29^th 1840
[stamp: Public Record Office]
D346 5

[Page 6 right hand]
Extract from the Register of baptisms
in the Military Chapel. Cape Town,
Cape of Good Hope.

1825
October 1^st Thomas Clement (twin) Son
of James Dunbar Esq^r Ass^t Barrack
Master General and Anne Catherine
his wife born 6^th September 1825
baptized by me
(signed) George Hough [A. M.?]
Colonial & Act^g Military Chaplain
A true Copy
Edward Judge [...]
[..] Chaplain to the Troops
Cape Town
February 29^th 1840
[stamp: Public Record Office]
D346 6

[Page 7 right hand]
Chaplaincy of Simon's Town
Cape of Good Hope
These are to Certify that Anna
Maria Matilda, Daughter James
Dunbar Esquire and Anne Catherine
his Wife, Born 17th December 1829
was baptized and received into
Christ's Flock this 15^th Day of January
1830.

A true Copy of Parish register examined by me
being without the signature of the Officiating Minister - except
ing that it is one ^^among many others which appear to have received
a general signature of the late Rev^d G. W. Sturt A. B.
J. A. Blair
Provisional Chaplain.
Simons Town
February 14^th 1840
[stamp: Public Record Office]
D346 7-

Sources

1. ↑ Military: "British Army Officers' Widows' Pension Forms 1755-1908"
   Archive: The National Archives; Reference: WO 42/14/14
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 2 July 2023)
   First name(s): James; Last name: Dunbar; Regiment: 21st Regt Of Foot; Death date: 01 Feb 1840; Death place: Wynberg; Marriage date: 07 Apr 1811; Marriage place: Cape town; Spouse's first name(s): Anna Catherina Van Reede; Spouse's last name: Van Oudtshoorn; Piece description: Officers' Birth Certificates, Wills & Personal Papers. British Officers & their families. D. 298-395.; Piece date range: 1776-1881.
2. ↑ https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1902587 WO 42. D. 298-395 Date: 1776-1881 Held by: The National Archives, Kew