George McCall Theal (1837 - 1919)

Born 11 Apr 1837 in St John, New Brunswick Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 17 Apr 1919 at age 82 in Wynberg, Cape Province, South Africa

George Theal is genealogies verbind aan Suid Afrika /is genealogically connected to South Africa

George Theal is Notable.

Biography

George McCall Theal^[1], though born and educated in Canada, was the most prolific historian of South Africa ever. Son of William Young Theal. He was also the editor of its oldest genealogical work Geslachts-Register der Oude Kaapsche Familien by C.C. de Villiers. Its three volumes, setting a standard aspired to but rarely achieved by his successors, are still highly respected.

Theal was baptized an Anglican, but quite early in his life felt more at home among Presbyterians.^[2]

He bought a plot in the cemetery of the Dutch Reformed Church, Wynberg in October 1911, a few weeks before the death of his wife. He was not formally a member^[3], and needed the approval of the Kerkraad. The tone of the discussion suggests that he was well known to them.^[4]

No full-length biography of him has been written yet.

Information on gravestone

George McCall Theal. Doctor of Laws. Historian. Born 11-04-1837 in St. John, New Brunswick. Died 17-04-1919 in Wynberg. Husband of Mary Stewart Theal.

DEPOT Genealogical Society of SA, Peter Holden

DESCRIPTION Theal, GM - Gravestone.

STARTING 18370411

ENDING 19190417

REMARKS St. John's Cemetery, Wynberg, Cape Town.

Details from the online index of the National Archives of South Africa.

Houdenbek Slave Revolt 1825

In Volume 20 of his "Records of the Cape Colony", George McCall wrote down what is still now the go-to source for the Houdenbek Slave Revolt of 1825 in the Koude Bokkeveld.

Sources

Purchase of cemetery plot

Minutes of the Kerkraad of the Dutch Reformed Church, Wynberg. Transcriptions^[4]

p243 item 7

Gecomb. vergadering op 19 Oct 1911

Kerkhof: Dr. Theal doet aanzoek om een stuk grond in het Kerkhof. Het word[t] aan Ouderl. Maeder opgedragen hem dat stuk grond te laten krygen op de gewone termen.

p246, third item

Gewone Kerkraadsvergadering gehouden. 2 Nov 1911

Grond - Dr. Theal: Oud., Ds. Maeder, rapporteert dat 'n stuk gronds tegen £4 (vier ponden) aan Dr. Theal is toegekend.

Gravestone

Find-A-Grave Photograph and supporting details courtesy of Arvin Leon Thornton Jr., Find-a-Grave member #48110330.

Death Notice

Uploaded.

1. ↑ George McCall Theal, Familysearch.org personal ID L7GK-YB1
2. ↑ Christopher Saunders, George McCall Theal and Lovedale, History in Africa, Vol. 8 (1981), pp. 155-164
3. ↑ He is not listed in the Membership records of the Wynberg DRC 1829-1900
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Dirk Laurie 27 August 2018, 29 March 2019

• Wikipedia:George McCall Theal