Diary entry sheds light on Kowie history
This series about our town’s history is an extract from ‘Looking Back at Port Alfred’ by the late Douglas Bailes. It is transcribed by Sue Gordon, with permission from Pat Bailes and the Kowie Museum
An extract from handwritten notes by William Cock. Unfortunately there is no indication as to why he was writing this story, which starts in 1819 with his departure from England.
Regrettably the narrative is incomplete as there are pages missing from the file.
“About 1826, I paid a visit to Cape Town. Whilst there I learnt the price of provisions at St Helena, with the assistance of my agents, Messrs Carfrey & Co. I purchased a vessel that had been taken as it was a slaver.
“A very smart fast sailing schooner about 135 tons. My agents, becoming acquainted with the purpose for which the vessel was purchased, expressed a desire to participate in the speculation, this led eventually to my becoming a partner in Carfrey and Co’s house.
“Then in the schooner Umvoti, I proceeded to Algoa Bay, took in a cargo of beef, butter and about 200 sheep and 16 oxen.
“On our passage, captain Palmer lost confidence in his chronometer. We were three days sailing to windward under the impression we had passed the Island. The third day we learned from a vessel bound to England, the Patience that we had not passed.
“The next morning at daylight we sighted the Island. The oxen were sold at £3 (cost £1.10/-), the sheep for 40/(cost 4/6). A public sale of the cargo was held, a Mr. Soloman attempting to damage the sale of Cape beef. I requested the man I brought with me in charge of this stock to knock up their heads of the casks. I pulled off my jacket turned up my sleeves and exhibited the beef for which I obtained 8 pence per lb; at that time about 3 to 4 pence per lb in Cape Town.
“Carfrey and Co sent several shipments of beef to Mauritius cured under my superintendence.
“In December 1834, the [Sixth Frontier] War broke out. The commission experienced great difficulty in procuring supplies.
“Transport from Port Elizabeth to Graham’s Town rose to 20/- per 100 lbs. [The amaXhosa] occupied the Addo Bush. I was fortunately in a position to render considerable service to the government in procuring supplies. Early in 1836, we dissolved partnership and I prepared for returning to England with my family, but previous to doing so paid a visit to the Kowie, and for about a month occupied what is at present called the pavilion.
“Whilst there, I was led to think how much it was to be regretted that such a fine estuary was not made available for a port, situated so near Graham’s Town and the finest county in the colony.
“I accidentally mentioned this to Mr Hodgskin who paid me a visit, never thinking anything possible respecting it.
“I embarked with my family in the Maria, Capt Burton, sometime in April
1836. The passage was far from agreeable.
“Two officers of the Cape regiment made themselves very disagreeable to my family and Dr G Atherstone then going to England to pass the hospitals.
“The Maria arrived in the Thames in
August. It was not my intention when I left the Cape to return to the Colony.
“My late partners however, induced me to join the London and Cape house and in December, I again left England for the Cape, with my family and accompanied by my sister and her family in the William Foster. The owners put an excellent steward in the ship. I laid in my own stores. We had a fine and agreeable passage of 63 days.
“Shortly after my arrival in Cape Town, I took charge of the business. Mr Hodgskin, one of the partners, leaving for England.
“The chief part of the time I remained in charge of the Cape Town business. I resided at [Liesbeeck] Cottage Ronde Bosch. Here if I could have foreseen the trouble, labour and anxiety that awaited me in connection with the opening of the Kowie, in the possession of every convenience and comfort I should have remained.
“After the return of Mr Hodgskin from England, I removed with my family to Graham’s Town and took charge of the business there.
“Whilst in Cape Town, I with several other gentlemen were consulted by the directors of the Cape of Good Hope Bank as to the establishment of a branch bank at a prospectus for the establishment of a bank at Graham’s Town published.
“An independent bank proposed, the shares all taken except such as were reserved for Cape Town and England.
“The bank was established and proposed with £6 13/4 paid up. When I left the directors shares were selling at £40-£42.”
There is evidence suggesting the confiscated slaver schooner may have been the Dom Pedro Duque de Porto, even though its size and the date purchased are at variance with other records.
The “pavilion” building was on the hill above today’s Marina, on the Royal Alfred Estate.
A copy of the surviving page of this ‘diary’ of William Cock may be viewed in Richmond House Museum, Port Alfred.