James John Symington (1858 - 1898)

Born 26 Jun 1858 in Worcester, Cape Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Catharina Maria Magdalena (Prinsloo) Symington — married 13 Dec 1894 in Zoutpansberg, Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek

Descendants

Died 29 Aug 1898 at age 40 in Shangani, Rhodesia

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

Biography

James John was born in the Cape Colony on 26 June 1858. He was the son of Daniel Gilles Symington and Glaudina Henson.

He was 36 years old when he married 30 year old Catharina Maria Magdalena Prinsloo in Zoutpansberg, Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, on 13 December 1894.^[1]

Marriage James John Symington to Catharina Maria Magdalina Prinsloo

Two children were born of this marriage:

Jubilee James Symington

Arthur Henry Symington

Another Symington Chronicle tells the story of this family:^[2][3][4]

James John married Catherine Mary (Catharina Maria) Prinsloo and they produced Jubilee James in Tarkastad, Cape Province, on 23 June 1887.  A second child was born to them in about 1895, his name was Arthur Henry. 

The family answered “Rhodes' call” and moved to Rhodesia in 1895.  Things did not go well, first, the rebellion, accompanied by the Rinderpest and then a move to South Africa interrupted by a decision to go to Enkeldoorn and settle there.  Catherine Mary died of malaria on the road between Makowries and Fort Victoria on 27 April 1898.  Jubilee James and his brother were “farmed out” while his father was transport riding; his brother went to the Engelbrechts of Driefontein.

James John died later that year, on 29 August 1898, at Shangani whilst on route to Selukwe, probably also of malaria although that is not stated.  He was buried in a shallow grave which was probably uncovered by hyenas and could never be found again.

In about 1899, Arthur Henry, who was about four at the time, disappeared from the Gwelo commonage and was never seen again; it is assumed that he was eaten by lions.

Death Notice of James John Symington

Sources

1. ↑ South Africa, Transvaal, Civil Marriages, 1870-1930," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP3K-4R9S : 27 September 2019), James John Symington and Catharina Maria Magdalina Prinsloo, Weteoreden, Zautpansberg; citing Marriage, , NARS "Civil registration (marriages - coloureds), Transvaal and Swaziland, 1898-1927." The National Archives and Records Service of South Africa, Pretoria
2. ↑ Research done by Lee Symington and correspondence from Jape and Alice Symington, Vrede, Orange Free State, dated 15 April 1931 in our possession
3. ↑ Zimbabwe Death Registers, 1890-1977; Index to Death Register, 1892-1977", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTF-F76F : 23 February 2021), J J Symington
4. ↑ Added by Des Lynch on 12 July 2021

• "Zimbabwe Death Registers, 1890-1977; Index to Death Register, 1892-1977", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTF-F76F : 12 February 2020), J J Symington