===================================================================== Match: Bowles Source: SOUTH-AFRICA-IMMIGRANTS-BRITISH-L@rootsweb.com From: "Rosemary Dixon-Smith" <dixonsmithbygad@eastcoast.co.za> Subject: Re: [ZA-IB] DYASON 1820 Settler at the Battle of Trafalgar Reading the post on the 1820 Settler who was on Victory at Trafalgar reminded me of a remark in a brilliant article by Kay Priestley which appeared in Ancestors magazine (the mouthpiece of The National Archives, Kew) in their edition of June/July 2000. She says: "Information should not be thought of as 'right' or 'wrong' but as having some element of truth, not necessarily 100%. For instance, if there is a family story of a sailor ancestor who served with Nelson then there probably was a sailor ancestor, but over the centuries a story has 'walked'. Nearly at Trafalgar, becomes at Trafalgar, and then serving on Victory at Trafalgar. Cynical researchers say that the reason Victory nearly sank after the battle was the weight of all the people's ancestors who claim to have been on board!" Extrapolating this idea in a South African context, if the numerous people who claim that their ancestor was a defender of Rorke's Drift in the Anglo-Zulu campaign of 1879 were to be correct in their hopeful assumption, the British would have out-numbered the Zulus at that battle and the course of history would have been radically altered. A chap called Clausewitz was writing of history when he said: "A great part of the information obtained ... is contradictory, a still greater part is false and by far the greater part is of doubtful character." Although he wasn't thinking of family history, his words still apply. Family history is an interesting obsession, but it often involves dealing with uncertain information. Regards all, Rosemary www.genealogyworld.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Thelma Hurly <tjhurly@mweb.co.za> To: <SOUTH-AFRICA-IMMIGRANTS-BRITISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 12:54 AM Subject: Re: [ZA-IB] DYASON 1820 Settler at the Battle of Trafalgar > A bit late in the day with this perhaps, but if anyone is researching one of > their folks said to have served with Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar, or > any other battle,this is a good Site > > http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Trafalgar/ > > Thelma - Johannesburg S.A. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Pat Bailes" > To: <SOUTH-AFRICA-IMMIGRANTS-BRITISH-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 3:04 AM > Subject: Re: [ZA-IB] DYASON 1820 Settler at the Battle of Trafalgar > > > >I would like to ask a favour. > > In searching through the history of the Kariega Baptist church I have come > > across various descriptions of Richard Bowles' military career. > > He was in the military. > > He served in the Royal Navy. > > He served at Trafalgar. > > He was on HMS Victory. >

Linne, I wish I had a $ for every South African who had slapped me on the back and said what a fine fellow my ancestor was to win the Victoria Cross at Rourkes Drift. AND the " Victory " was, of course, manned by Maoris !! Regards Peter CHARD in New Zealand . -----Original Message----- From: Linne Gravestock [mailto:linne@gravestock.name] Sent: Monday, 14 March 2005 7:58 p.m. To: BOWLES-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Richard Bowles in S. Africa + advice ===================================================================== Match: Bowles Source: SOUTH-AFRICA-IMMIGRANTS-BRITISH-L@rootsweb.com From: "Rosemary Dixon-Smith" <dixonsmithbygad@eastcoast.co.za> Subject: Re: [ZA-IB] DYASON 1820 Settler at the Battle of Trafalgar Reading the post on the 1820 Settler who was on Victory at Trafalgar reminded me of a remark in a brilliant article by Kay Priestley which appeared in Ancestors magazine (the mouthpiece of The National Archives, Kew) in their edition of June/July 2000. She says: "Information should not be thought of as 'right' or 'wrong' but as having some element of truth, not necessarily 100%. For instance, if there is a family story of a sailor ancestor who served with Nelson then there probably was a sailor ancestor, but over the centuries a story has 'walked'. Nearly at Trafalgar, becomes at Trafalgar, and then serving on Victory at Trafalgar. Cynical researchers say that the reason Victory nearly sank after the battle was the weight of all the people's ancestors who claim to have been on board!" Extrapolating this idea in a South African context, if the numerous people who claim that their ancestor was a defender of Rorke's Drift in the Anglo-Zulu campaign of 1879 were to be correct in their hopeful assumption, the British would have out-numbered the Zulus at that battle and the course of history would have been radically altered. ( SNIP )