Sea View (M 13)

Name: Sea View
Sea View, Natal: circa 1836

(See British Settlers in Natal: Spencer pages 174-177)

Robert Newton Dunn (1796-1847) arrived in Natal circa 1836 and purchased the deceased James Collis' farm Sea View in 1838. Where he built a magnificent house and premises at South Coast Junction (now Rossburgh). One of Dunn's properties was Saunder's Kraal, renamed Bellair (5170 acres) After Dunn's death at age 51 his wife continued to live at Sea View. She laid claim to five 3000 acres farms between the Umlazi and Umbilo rivers. (see 1842 Map)

John Dunn, son of Robert Newton Dunn, was granted 10 000 acres of land by Zulu king Cetshwayo after the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. John Dunn, a white Scottish trader, had married into a leading Zulu family. John Dunn died in 1885.



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OGLE, FYNN, COLLIS , BIGGAR, DUNN & WOOD FAMILIES - KEY DATES AND TIMELINE
1785 - Shaka Zulu was born
1795 - Dingaan was born in Babanango
1820 - Circa: Richard and William WOOD and other relatives sailed from Worcester, England - WOOD family files
1824 - The first white settlers were 26 hunter/traders arrived at Port Natal. Before the end of the year only six remained - Spencer.
1824 - Henry Francis Fynn and Henry Ogle amoungst those who remain and lived to see Natal as a British colony -Spencer.
1826 - William WOOD Baptized October 8th 1826
1826 - October. The Zulus deemed all persons who 'wore clothes' to be Europeans - this included Hottentots (Fynn P129)
1828 - Shaka Zulu. Killed by Dingaan
1828 - Dingaan became paramount chief of the Zulu's
1830 - James Collis started trading in Natal - Cradle Days of Natal' by Graham MacKeurtan P171
1830 - William WOOD says he arrived in Natal per Circe (Cpt. Blinkenstock) - his statement has been record by a number of historians
1831 - No mention of WOODs in Travels and Adventures by Nathaniel Isaac
1831 - Jacob (Jocot) Sembite shot dead by Ogle at Canes request with approval of Dingaan - MacKeurtan P167
1831 - March: COLLIS sells his farm and leaves for Graham's Town with party of 10 Europeans & 3 wagons- Shelagh Spencer Vol. 4 P149
1831 - August: James COLLIS and party of Englishmen were in convoy on the way to Port Natal - Diary of Henry Francis Fynn P207-P209
1831 - Richard WOOD arrived in Natal with James Collis - History of South Africa by G. McCall Theal (ref Mike O'connor)
1832 - James Collis given Port Natal by Dingaan - Shelagh Spencer Vol. 4 P150
1832 - James Collis returns on a further trading expedition - MacKeurtan P167
1832 - Three Cawooods, Samuel, James and Joshua - all 1820 settlers in Natal to trade ivory, left in 1833 - MacKeurtan P167
1832 - CJ Pickman arrives in Natal
1834 - April. James Collis and Richard WOOD left (from Graham's Town) for Natal. "Rule of Fear" P153
1834 - Circe's first voyage (after registration) to Natal took place in 1834
1834 - Richard WOOD, (late arrival - in employ of James Collis), remains in Natal - Dairy of Henry Francis Fynn - P236
1834 - Richard WOOD already in Natal - mentioned in a number of books
1835 - At close of 1834 J Bertram visits Dingaan and reports that 16 Boer wagons with 40 shots arrived at PNÊP169
1835 - January. Allen Francis Gardener - arrives in Port Natal -Warmly received by James Collis - MacKeurtan P171/172
1835 - March. The Circe left Port Elizabeth on her third voyage which was to Port Natal - Records of Natal Vol. 3
1835 - After leaving Natal the Circe was never seen or heard of again - Records of Natal Vol. 3
1835 - FYNNs leave Port Natal - They returned some time later- MacKeurtan P169
1835 - Dr Andrew Smith and Mr Edie Journey through Natal and send favourable report to Cape - MacKeurtan P169
1835 - About 30 male residents in Port Natal - Cradle Days of Natal' by Graham MacKeurtan P171
1835 - Other 1820 settlers in Port Natal in 1835 - see list below
1835 - Dingaan orders that no White Man can trade except under Gardener's permit - MacKeurtan P171
1835 - Allen Francis Gardener presides over meeting that establishes town of D'Urban - MacKeurtan P171
1835 - Richard WOOD, signs support of missionary establishment at Natal request, to Captain Gardiner. Annals of Natal, Vol. I
1835 - September. James Collis killed in an explosion - MacKeurtan P184
1835 - William WOOD: before he was 12 was a full partner of Robert Russell in a hunting expedition (1835-11=1825)
1836 - American Missionaries arrive Port Natal - Cradle Days of Natal' by Graham MacKeurtan P171
1836 - American Missionaries describe home of the WOODs and say only 2 white woman living in Natal - MacKeurtan P302/330
1836 - Gardener makes unfavourable allegations to the 'Select Committee' about the Settler in Port Natal - MacKeurtan P188/189
1836 - First Fruits Saga: JEKE, JEMISE AND KAJU - see Mike O'Connor's notes
1836 - William WOOD: Attends American mission school - Cradle Days of Natal' by Graham MacKeurtan P171
1836 - William Wood: was the only white child of 12 that was enrolled enrolled at Champion's school - "Rule of Fear" P189
1836 - May. Alexander Harvey Biggar moved to Natal with his younger son George
1836 - Robert Newton Dunn and his wife Ann moved to Natal. Ann Dunn was the daughter of Alexander Harvey Biggar Biggar
1836 - June. William WOOD: went on a trading mission (the Jeke and Jemuse story) - "Rule of Fear" P191
1836 - William WOOD: at age 12 was member of expedition against the Swazi Chief Soposa (1836-12=1824)
1837 - Wesleyan missionary Edwards and his wife horrified by reports of cannibalism - MacKeurtan P122
1837 - Port Natal Volunteers under Commandant AH Biggar formed and disbanded - MacKeurtan P198
1837 - In May Captain Allen Gardener returns and his claim to authority is 'rejected' by the Settlers - MacKeurtan P198
1837 - William WOOD: mistaken for a boy of about 16 years of age
1838 - William WOOD: before he was 14 saw Retief killed by Dingaan (1838-13=1825
1838 - February 6. Retief Killed by Dingaan. Revd Owen and (young) William WOOD witness the slaying
1838 - Richard WOOD and brother William WOOD are killed at the Battle of Tugela.
1838 - Richard and William WOOD killed by Natives, young William escaped and swam to safety - WOODY's family files
1838 - William WOOD and his mother 'walk' to Graham's town - 4 month Journey - Collard Papers
1838 - Robert Newton Dunn (1796-1847) arrived in Natal circa 1836 and purchased the deceased James Collis' farm Sea View in 1838.
1840 - Statements Respecting Dingaan by William WOOD - published by Collard & Company, Heerengracht 1840
1842 - Map of Port Natal dated 1842. Shows camps of Wood's, Mr Dunn's, American Church Mission, Berea, Boere Camp etc.
1843 - Circa: William WOOD circa 17 yrs old, transporting supplies into the interior of Africa (1826+17=1843)WOOD files
1843 - The British were at war with the Natives when William WOOD was transporting supplies in Africa - WOOD files
1846 - Young William WOOD lived in the wilds of Africa until he was about 20 (1826+20=1846) - WOOD family files
1849 - January. William WOOD married in January at age 22 (1849-23=1826)
1854 - The first school Richard WOOD (son of WIlliam WOOD) attended was in Clonmel, Tipperary Co. Ireland
1856 - Circa. Richard WOOD next attended school in Boothe, a suburb of Liverpool . William WOOD kept a hotel in Liverpool.
1858 - Liverpool to Antwerp, Belgium from Antwerp on 1 September - arrived in New York on the 23rd of October.Ship Mary Glover.
1860 - William WOOD and son Richard, Both in U.S.Civil War, Savage Station. Picture
1868 - Richard WOOD started west to become a telegraph operator at Elko, Nevada
1874 - Feb. 15, Richard WOOD marries Martha Crowley
1904 - Sea View Government School established
1923 - Issue of crown grant to JC Chesterton & J Anderson as trustees of Sea View Assembly Hall. Lot l of 126 of block E of farm "Seaview"
1985 - October. Mr Fynn had 1 European wife and 6 African wives. He is the father of some 40 Natal families - Sunday Times

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Durban, Natal: 1858

(Excerpt from Reminiscences of Old times in P. M. Burg by William James (in the Natal Archives) as printed in More Annals of Natal by A.F. Hattersley.)

"On the 25th March 1858, I arrived in Natal by the sailing ship Quathlamba of 400 tons burthen, in command of Captain Harrison, leaving London docks on the 12th December 1857.

Vessels arriving in those days had to anchor in the outer anchorage, as there was never more than four or five feet of water on the Bar. Passengers were towed into port in a lighter, and carried to shore on the back of a native, as no landing stages or wharves then existed. This operation had its amusing side, especially to the lady passengers.

The Point at this time looked anything but inviting to newcomers, with only one permanent building, the Custom House; and some ramshackle wooden buildings in the occupation of a couple of landing agents. Huge sandhills abounded almost to the water's edge. As no hardening had yet been done, the ground was a deep loose sand. A narrow causeway, about 12 feet wide, had been cut through the natural bush to enable loaded ox-waggons and carts to reach Durban. Not more than two or three sailing vessels arrived at the Port per month.

In order to give a true picture of what Durban was like in 1858, I can best describe it just as a sandy flat. The Town gardens were an open piece of waste ground, the wind having full play on the fine sand, creating sand drifts. An open drain extended extended from vacant land, then called "the Flat", across central West Street and emptying itself into the Bay. This was Milne's drain. The "back beach," as it was then called, was almost blocked by a high mound of sand, which was added to on every occasion of a strong wind. The beach facing the outer anchorage was seldom, if ever, free from wrecks.

Grey Street was the boundary of Durban, and beyond was a fairly dense bush. The large trees harboured a number of small monkeys. The whole of the Berea was covered with thick bush in which grew very large indigenous trees which were the source of supplies of firewood to the residents of Durban."



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History of Durban by Peter Johnston

Durban lies in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal which is the ancestral home of the Nguni people. Probably the first European to have sight of the bay around which Durban was to develop was Vasco De Gama on his pioneering sea voyage to India in 1497. There were other brief visits to Durban, mainly by shipwrecked sailors, but nothing of real importance happened for centuries. The European settlement of South Africa began in Cape Town in 1652 with the arrival of Jan Van Riebeeck to provide a half way halt for ships of the Dutch East Indian Company. It subsequently fell under British rule and it was from Cape Town in 1823 that Captain Owen of the Royal Navy sailed, being charged with a survey of the southeast coastline. A favourable report was made of the Bay as being the best site to establish a port to trade with the local Nguni. A trading company was floated in Cape Town which received the blessing of the Governor of the Cape, and in 1824 about 30 Europeans settled in Durban with the purpose of trading in skins and ivory.

At this time all the Nguni tribes had been united under Shaka who was the King of the Zulus. Shaka had great powers of leadership, was a brilliant military tactician but was ruthless to his enemy. When the White traders arrived there were very few black tribes between the Tugela River to the north and the Umzimvubu River to the south. In the Durban area there were about 200 refugees from the Luthuli clan who lived on the headland to the south of the Bay referred to as the Bluff.

The party of Europeans made immediate contact with Shaka who granted them a section of land of about 35 kilometres along the coast and 160 kilometres inland. The small settlement barely survived and by the end of 1824 only six were left. This number gradually increased over the years until in 1835 seventeen men gathered at the home of F. Berkel for a meeting under the chairmanship of Captain Alan Gardiner who had established a mission which he named Berea. At this meeting it was decided to name the small settlement DOUrban after Sir Benjamin DOUrban who was Governor of the Cape Colony at that time. In 1838 Dingane, who had succeeded Shaka in 1828 gave all the territory between the Tugela River and the Umzimkulu River to Boers who were people mainly of Dutch descent who had trekked overland from the Cape to escape British rule and were looking for land to farm. They established their capital in Pietermaritzburg, about 90 kilometres inland from Durban. The Boer Republic of Natalia was founded and Durban was considered part of it.

Tension between Boer and Brit reached a head when Captain Smith was sent to Durban with a small force of soldiers with instructions to keep the peace between the Zulus and the Boers. This was resisted by the Boers and the small British force was defeated by them at the Battle of Congella and besieged in their camp. There followed an epic ride by Dick King who undertook the journey on horseback to Grahamstown, in the Cape Colony nearly one thousand kilometres to the south to call for reinforcements. In little over a month the siege was lifted, by 1844 the Boer Republic of Natalia was annexed to the Cape and named the Colony of Natal. Most of the Boers left to settle further into the interior of South Africa.

From 1849 to 1851 over 4 000 British settlers came to Natal under a scheme which was devised by Joseph Byrne. There were many businessmen amongst them and from this time onwards the small village of Durban began to progress. Shortly after this event it was found that sugar was a suitable and profitable crop to grow and the development was rapid. It was this development which prompted the Province to import labourers from India and these in turn were followed by traders. Today their descendents form a very important part of the Durban citizenry. In 1854 the settlement was granted borough status and the first Mayor and Council were elected. By the end of the century Durban had electric lighting, water borne sewerage, water reticulation and hardened roads. The harbour which had caused problems because of the low clearance on entry was finally dredged to sufficient depth to allow large ships entry and from this time onwards Durban progressed to become AfricaOs largest port.

Although Durban was originally founded as a port to trade with the people of KwaZulu-Natal it was fortuitous that gold was discovered in Gauteng (previously known as the Transvaal) in 1886 and it served as a port for the ever increasing population of the hinterland. The first railway line in South Africa was laid out in Durban in 1860 linking the port with the town. During the remainder of the century the railway system was extended and by 1895 the line had reached Johannesburg which was the centre of the gold mining industry. There were also lines to the Free State and to the north and south of Durban. Not only were these lines important for the movement of goods but they also served many passengers and Durban became important as a holiday resort, a position it has retained ever since.

Towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century many industries came to Durban. There were industries that were port related such as marine engineering works and stevedoring companies. It was found at that time that Durban was advantageously situated for the manufacture of paint. The long sea haul from England was economical for the importation of many paint components and the shortest route to the major market at Johannesburg was another advantage.

The discovery of coal in the Dundee area of KwaZulu-Natal was a boost to the railway service and enabled Durban to become a major port for the bunkering of ships. The construction of the Maydon Wharf in 1905 increased the capacity of the port still further and the dry dock which was installed shortly thereafter added a further dimension to the port. Today Durban is a very well equipped harbour and the main container port for South Africa.

The population of Durban has always been augmented by the arrival of military personnel during times of war who elect to stay on thereafter. This happened after the Zulu War of 1879, the War of Independence in 1881, the Boer War of 1899-1902 and the two World Wars. Some of these soldiers turned out to be prominent citizens in subsequent years.

Mainly with the advent of the railways, a number of villages sprang up around Durban. Some of them on higher ground or in attractive coastal areas became fashionable residential suburbs and by 1932 the density of the population around DurbanOs boundaries made it logical to incorporate these areas. With this incorporation the surface area of Durban increased almost sixfold and in 1935, one hundred years after the name of Durban was decided on, the town was granted City status.

During the 20th century, the City has witnessed a large increase in industry and a corresponding addition in the unskilled and semi-skilled labour force. From about 1930 onwards this led to an unplanned development of shacks and other dwellings in open spaces around the periphery of Durban. From about 1960 onwards the city responded with a vigorous housing programme which has resettled many of these workers in formal homes in townships around Durban. The apartheid policy of resettlement and the impact it had on city form cannot be ignored. An electric train service is provied to the townships.

From 1996 Durban has once again been enlarged to form a Durban Metropolitan Area which contains over 2.3 million people and which is divided into a series of sub-structures that have independent status.
Source: http://salbu.co.za/salbu/SeaView.html
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Sea View Government School 1948

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