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Surnames R to U

SUMMERTON - SOMERTON

John born during the last quarter of the year 1839 and registered (as John Summerton) in Banbury, Oxfordshire (Dec Q 1839 ref page 15 volume 16 line 28)  was the 2nd son of James Summerton (Somerton) of Hook Norton (who was born 1813 in South Newington, Oxfordshire).

His mother was Jane Phipps, born 1815 in Hook Norton.

James & Jane, his parents, married 10 March 1834 in Hook Norton

John married Mary Cronin in Westminster London 1866 (Sep Q 1866 ref 1a 726), and they had 4 children:

In Census of 1841, John is a 1 year old with his parents, James & Jane and siblings, George & Ruth, living in Hook Norton and listed as “John Summerton”
In Census of 1851, John is 11 years old, shown as a Plough Boy and living with his parents, James & Jane and siblings, George, Sarah and Thomas (this brother also came to South Africa)
In Census of 1861, John is shown as a General Labouer, a Lodger in Broadway Southside, Greenwich, in the region of St Paul's Deptford aged 20 and listed as “John Somerton”

John died 21 October 1920, Provincial Hopspital, Port Elizabeth

b1        John Daniel born 1867 & died 1869 in London

b2        George born 1st quarter of 1869 in Lambeth, London (Mar Q 1869 ref 1d 363 as Somerton). He emigrated with his father and “step mother” about 1876 to Port Elizabeth.

George married Ellen ALLAN, 6 July 1891 at St Augustine's, Port Elizabeth -  and they had 7 children :

In 1895, George was a Machinist in Uitenhage
In 1944, George lived 22 Main Cottages, Geldenhuys Deep, Cleveland – occupation listed as: Fitter
In 1946, George was living in Cleveland, Johannesburg

George (ID 324/834117) died 30 April 1958 at Princes Nursing Home, Johannesburg 

b2.1     John born 7 September 1891, Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, died 21 August 1931, Johannesburg
b2.2     George born 23 September 1893, died 20 May 1954
b2.3     Robert born 5 August 1895, Durban Street, Uitenhage, Eastern Cape
b2.4     Lily born 16 June 1899, Uitenhage, Eastern Cape
b2.5     Mabel born 20 May 1901, Uitenhage, Eastern Cape
b2.6     Dorothy born 7 November 1903, Uitenhage
b2.7     Arthur born 3 September 1907 

b3        Rose born September quarter 1871, Lewisham, London (Sept Q 1871 as Somerton). She emigrated with her brother, George as a 5 year old.

Rose did not marry but helped with her half-sibling at their home in Walmer, Port Elizabeth (27 Villiers Road)

Rose died 24 June 1946, Provincial Hospital, Port Elizabeth

b4        John James born 1874 & died 1875 (not sure if this child was John Somerton  & Mary Cronin's baby or John Somerton & Emma Robinson's baby (birth registered in Shoreditch, Sep Q 1874 ref 1c 87)

During 1874 John Somerton / Summerton became involved with Emma “Robinson” and the above John James could have been her baby. 9 other children were born to John & Emma. Mary Cronin was deserted in London in 1874. No record of a marriage for John and Emma has been found in either England or South Africa. Also the surname attributed to Emma is also unproved.

b5        Emma born 8 August 1875, Shoreditch (as Somerton Sep Q 1875 , Shoreditch , ref 1c 89). She also emigrated with her half-siblings, George & Rose as a baby. Emma married Thomas McINTOSH in Durban and they had 5 children:

          Thomas Walter (b 14 April 1904); Hilda (b 24 April 1905); Mabel Edith (b 14 May 1909); Ivy S (b 21 September 1910) and Ethel                           Winifred  (b 26 August 1912)

In 1946 Emma was widowed and living 20 Clyde Street, Durban

b6        Lily born 19 March 1877, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. Apparently born in a tent.

Lily married William Douglas in Johannesburg on 23 September 1903

In 1946 Lily was widowed and living at 92 Bulwer Road, Durban

Lily died 31 May 1964, Wentworth Hospital, Durban

Children of Lilly & William:              

Winifred born January 1904, Johannesburg seems to be their only child                                                           

b7        Henry born 17 September 1878, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Henry married Maggie ANDERSON, 14 November 1905, in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape

Henry died 13 June 1942 at Addington Hospital, Durban

Henry & Maggie had 5 children:

b7.1     Henry Matthew Joseph born  about 1907
b7.2     Edward John born 22 July 1908, died 10 September 1961, Cape Town
b7.3     Hilda May born about 1912
b7.4     Frederick Charles born about 1913
b7.5     Elsa born about 1916

b8        Minnie born 17 April 1880, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Minnie married George STEWART on 1st August1914 in Johannesburg

b9        William born 12 June 1882, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, died 26 January 1963, Ottery, Cape

William married Decima Alice HALL, 30 August 1916, area of Darling in the Waterberg, Transvaal

In 1946 William was living Wynberg, Cape

William and Decima had 4 children:

b9.1     Blanche Emma born 26 July 1917, Nylstroom, Transvaal, died 1 March 2002, Kenwyn, Cape
b9.2     Alfred William born c1919
b9.3     Decima Muriel born 14 Sept 1921, Nylstroom, Transvaal, died 6 October 2002, Hermanus, Cape
b9.4     Beatrice Eda born 23 July 1924, Nylstroom, Transvaal, 6 April 1998, Pinelands, Cape

b10      Charles born 13 December 1885, Port Elizabeth, E Cape, died 20 October 1959, Port Elizabeth

Charles married Maria Carolina SHARP 2 October 1907

Charles and Maria had 7 children:

In 1946 Charles & Maria lived at 23 Villiers Road, Walmer, Port Elizabeth

b10.1   John Charles born about 1908, died 19 August 1945, Cape
b10.2   Ethel Angeline born about 1910
b10.3   Agnes Maud born about 1911
b10.4   Iris Edna born 11 July 1914, Port Elizabeth & died of measels 4 July 1917 at the family home in Villiers Road, Walmer, Port Elizabeth
b10.5   Hazel Stella born 28 April 1916, Port Elizabeth, died 7 November 2004, Cape
b10.6   Nova Margaret born about 1921
b10.7   Geoffrey born about 1926, died 1986

b11      Frederick John born 27 July 1887, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, died 27 June 1943, Cape Town

Frederick married Violet DONALDSON, 9 October 1912, Port Elizabeth

Frederick & Violet had 4 children:

b11.1   Audrey Gladys born about 1916
b11.2   Daphne Hellen born about 1918
b11.3   Frederick George born about 1920
b11.4   Desmond Arthur born 29 September 1922

b12      Mary Jane (Polly) born 30 May 1891, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Mary Jane married Ernest Samuel DIGGERY in Port Elizabeth on 8th March 1911

b12.1   Bernhardt Ernest
b12.2   Godfrey William
b12.3   Ivy Joyce b 2 February 1924

b13      Edith Elizabeth born and died 1893, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

All information was from old family members & Family search.org

Family names which might have descendants from John Summerton:

Jones                           McIntosh                    Douglas                                  Bellamy                       Stewart

Diggery                       Gordon-Cumming                                                      Stahlknecht                 Paulsen

Oosthuizen / Oosthuisen                                Gibson            Cooper            Woolley                       Haywood 

It is possible to give more details if anyone is interested.
Please email: summerton[@]blount.co.za


Thomas Somerton / Summerton was the 3rd son of James & Jane (Phipps) Somerton / Summerton of Hook Norton, Oxfordshire

Thomas was born Dec Q 1844 in Hook Norton (Registered in Banbury Dec 1844  ref: v16/p13, as Thomas Summerton).  Thomas died 5 June 1935 in The Hogsback, Eastern Cape on the farm, Allangraove and is buried in the Alice Cemetery.

In Census of 1851 in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, Thomas is shown as a 6 year old scholar, living with his parents, James & Jane, and siblings, George, Sarah & John (whom also emigrated to South Africa)

In Census of 1861, Thomas was living at “Park Gate”, Hook Norton with his parents, James & Jane, and siblings, Rose, Annie & James and a  3 year old niece  and is shown as a 16 year old Agricultural Labourer, and now as Thomas Somerton.

Thomas emigrated with his youngest brother, James, in 1875.

Thomas married Sarah TERWIN, 17 April 1878, Methodist Commemerative Church, Grahamstown.

In 1891 Thomas was given land in The Hogs Back (Lot F Hogsback Plateau), but in 1892 (Railway Guard at Victoria Street) & 1893 (Packer of Gardener Street) he was working in Port Elizabeth, most likely to be able to get money to establish his farm.

Thomas & Sarah 6 children:

b1        Elizabeth Jane, born 23 March 1879, Eastern Cape (most likely Peddie)

            Elizabeth married twice:

            1st to Thomas Daniel LAMB, 8 February 1916, Cathcart, E Cape,

            with whom she had 2 sons:

            Godfrey Thomas (b 9 February 1916) and Kenneth Rogers (b 22 September 1919)

            2nd to Aubrey Clifford Woods, 29 October 1924, Matatiele, Cape (they were both widowed)

b2        Annie Maria, born 17 January 1881, Hogsback, E Cape

            Annie married Herbert George FRANCIS, 26 November 1906, Victoria East, E Cape

            Annie & Herbert had 5 sons:

            Walter Melville (b c1909); Cyril Bertram (b c1907): Herbert Thomas (b c1910); Lionel Wilfred (b c1912) & Clarence Edgar (b 26                     January 1916)

            Annie died 20 October 1969, Vlakpan, Naboomspruit, Transvaal

b3        John Godfrey, born 1882, Hogsback (usually called J G or Godfrey)

            John married Harriet MATYE, 9 June 1930, Seymour, Stockenstroom, E Cape

            John & Harriet had 8 children:

     Idah Bertha; Charles Fanele; Joe; Stephen Nokedi; Gerald; William; Albert Tholbile & Headman Themba.
     Monica Patience was adopted by JG and Harriet in 1950                 

            John Godfrey died 2 April 1966

b4        Frank James, born 16 June 1884, Blackwoods, Hogsback, E Cape

            Frank married Elizabeth McClure, 5 September 1928, Boksburg, Transval (they divorced)

            Frank & Elizabeth had no children    

            Frank died 19 May 1947, Allengrove, Alice, E Cape

b5        Albert Richard, born 1887, Hogsback, E Cape

            Albert married Violet MATYE, Harriet's sister, also on 9 June 1930, Seymour, Stockenstroom, E.Cape.                                                                      Albert & Violet had 7 children:

            Andrew G; Alfred Freddie; Nelson Mawonga; Louisa; Thelma V; Rotha & Sheila

            Albert died 27 April 1965, The Hogsback, E Cape

b6        Lucy Millicent, born 3 November 1889, Hogsback, E Cape

            Lucy married Bernard Oswald FRANCIS, 20 June 1932, Seymour, E Cape

            Lucy & Bernard had no children

            Lucy died 4 December 1949, Alice, E Cape

Sources:

NAAIRS
Family Seach
FreeBMD
FreeCen
Family history written by Pauline Ashbridge
eGGSA gravestones

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