Joseph arrived in 1830, as a teenage boy with his father, Thomas Pethick (1786-1858) and his mother Mary Creft (*1792 Née AVENT) from the United States of America and settled in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The Jeffery’s been British, but has left England for America in 1818. Joseph was born in Dawlish, Devonshire, England on 12 April 1818. Jeffery means “Almighty and calmness”
He married Elizabeth KESTELL (1811-1869) a London born woman on 19 July 1838, in Grahamstown, Cape Colony. This was Elizabeth's second marriage and she was the daughter of British citizens Charles (*1787) and Grace (*1791 Née WHENMOUTH)

Joseph and Elizabeth managed a hotel in Port Elizabeth.

They had the following children:

b1 Charles Avent *20 February 1839 in Port Elizabeth, he never married, †15 March 1869 in Philippolis, Orange Free State.

b2 Caroline Ann *15 November 1841 in Port Elizabeth, she never married, †28 December 1862 in Philippolis.

b3 William Roland *10 January 1843 in Port Elizabeth, X Elizabeth AINSWORTH on 9 January 1865 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, †4 March 1888 in Potchefstroom, Transvaal.

b4 Joseph Plantagenet *30 January 1845 in Port Elizabeth, X Mathilda Ann FRANCIS, †29 June 1894 in Philippolis.

b5 Edward Pethick *12 May 1847 in Port Elizabeth. X Carolina Catharina Elizabeth de SWARDT, XX Catharina Sybranina MARAIS, †7 November 1922 in Delportshoop, Cape Province

Joseph was declared insolvent in 1847 and moved to Kabeljous River, 70km south west of Port Elizabeth. He and his business partner John GLENDINNING, ran a wood cutting business in the Tsitsikamma forest. They shipped it from Kabeljous River to Port Elizabeth.

b6 Alfred Machin *14 August 1850 in Kabeljous River, †24 July 1855 in Klein Zeekoe Rivier.

Joseph moved to Klein Zeekoe Rivier, about 3km from Kabeljous River. Klein Zeekoe Rivier was a “coloured” fishing community. He and Glendinning ran numerous business ventures from here. He purchased the first declared stands in Klein Zeekoe River. He build a property called “The White House”.

b7 Eliza Jane *14 November 1852 in Klein Zeekoe Rivier, X 6 September 1870 Charles Thomas WELSFORD, †23 July 1925 in Benoni, Transvaal.

b8 Frederick Johstone *9 January 1854 in Klein Zeekoe Rivier

In 1856 Joseph was declared insolvent again and moved to Philippolis and stayed there until his death there on 18 August 1864. Klein Zeekoe Rivier named changed to Jeffreys Bay. It was named after Joseph Avent JEFFERY.

Sources:

• Naairs
• Familysearch
• History books about Jeffreys Bay