The 'other' fighting clerk - Corporal JH Mayor, N.N.C

Over the last couple of months 'Springbok' and I have been researching the life and career of Corporal J.H. Mayor of the Natal Native Contingent.
Whilst this is still very much an ongoing project, using a wide variety of sources both in the UK, Ireland and South Africa and there are still many gaps to fill, we thought it might be of some interest to the forum...

Jesse Handcock Mayor was born in Ireland in 1859. The exact place of birth is still under investigation but it looks quite likely that it was in Dublin.
At this stage little is known of his early life, or in which year he travelled to South Africa.

However by 1877, 18 year old Jesse was living in Capetown and is known to have joined the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, (later to be renamed the Cape Mounted Rifles). He was posted to No. 7 Troop and served with them during the Eastern Frontier Campaigns of 1877/78. Mayor was entitled to the South Africa Medal with clasp for 1877-78 and is named in the medal roll as "Private Jesse Mayor," This medal was issued on 2/5/1884 [National Archives, Kew: WO100/47]
At the close of hostilities against the Xhosa, Mayor, like many men from the Colonial units, was tempted by the offer of further military action against the Zulu and in November 1878 he joined the Royal Swazi Levy in Kingwilliamstown.
The Levy, under the Commandant Rupert de la Trobe Lonsdale, arrived in Durban on the 27th November 1878 and from there its 60 officers and 120 NCO's formed the nucleus of the new Natal Native Contingent. Amongst its number were; Captain Wm Stephenson, Lieut T Adendorf (sic) and Corporal C Scammell. [A list of officers and NCO's appeared in the Natal Mercury 28/11/1878]
Mayor was posted to the 1st Battalion 3rd N.N.C., as part of No. 3 Column. He subsequently took part in the action at Sihayo's stronghold on the 12th January 1879 where he received an assegai wound to his left leg. This is mentioned by both Norris Newman, [In Zululand], and by Surgeon Dugald Blair Brown, A.M.D., [Surgical Notes on the Zulu War, The Lancet 5/7/1879].
Further confirmation of Mayor's forename is to be found in "Official Return of Casualties in Column No. 3, under Colonel Glyn, C.B., in the affair at the Ngudu Mountain on the 12th January 1879," signed by Lt Col J North Crealock;-
"1st Btn 3rd NNC - Corporal Jessy H Mayor - Slightly wounded." [NA: WO33/33]
It was this wound that put Jesse Mayor in the hospital building at the onset of the defence of Rorke's Drift on the 22nd January. His presence during the defence is confirmed by the Rev. George Smith;
"...Corporal Mayer, N.N.C., who had been wounded under the knee with an assegai at Sirayo's kraal, Bombardier Lewis, R.A., whose leg and thigh were much swollen from a wagon accident, and Trooper R.S. Green, N.M.P., also a patient, all got out of the little end window into the enclosure..." [Natal Mercury - 7/4/1879]
and more significantly by Pte Robert Jones V.C., 2nd/24th, who stated;
"...on retiring from one room into another, after taking a wounded man by the name of Mayer, belonging to the volunteers, to join William Jones, I found a crowd in front of the hospital and coming into the doorway..." [The Strand Magazine Jan/June 1891]
He is named on what is commonly referred to as the 'Chard,' Roll and also Bourne's first and amended rolls c. 1910. [Chard ~ Corpl JH Mayor, Bourne ~ Corporal Mayer...'H']
Mayor was one of 20 men evacuated by ambulance from Rorke's Drift to Helpmakaar on 26th January 1879 under the care of Civil Surgeon William Beresford.  Once at Helpmakaar he came under the care of Surgeon Dugald Blair Brown, AMD. Brown's detailed report on Mayor's injuries and subsequent medical interventions was published in The Lancet on 5/7/1879 ["Surgical Notes on the Zulu War"]
On the 15h February Mayor, and a further 19 sick and injured men were transferred to the Base Hospital at Ladysmith Base Hospital under care of Dr. Edward Jennings and Pte Sayers, A.H.C.
Jesse Mayor recovered sufficiently from his injuries and was able to join his old commanding officer, Commandant Rupert Lonsdale as a Corporal in Lonsdale's Horse. There is a second entry in the SA medal roll showing his entitlement to the medal and clasp for 1877-8-9 whilst serving with Lonsdale's Horse. This medal is also listed as being issued on the 2nd May 1884.
Interestingly his service with the N.N.C., his third military unit in as many years, also qualified him for the South Africa medal and the N.N.C. roll includes a 'Corporal JH Mayor' as entitled to the medal with clasp 1878-9. The roll states that this medal was "Issued" on 30th June 1882. However it remained unclaimed and was returned to the Mint on 28th November 1911.]

At the conclusion of the Zulu War Jesse Mayor returned to the Cape. It is believed he may have seen further military service during the Basuto uprisings of 1880-81. He later settled in Salt River, Cape Town.
In September 1883 Mayor wrote to the Cape Government seeking employment, enclosing testimonials from Commandant Lonsdale as to his character. In the letter he stated that he had been at Rorke's Drift and that he had been in the hospital at the time of the attack. This is a full transcript of the letter;

To: The Honorable
The Colonial Secretary

104 Caledon Street
Cape Town
22nd June 83

Sir
I have the honor to elicit employment under the Government in any suitable capacity.
I am 24 years of age, a fair clerk, of business habits and speak the dutch language. I served through the Gcaleka and Gaika rebellion in the C.M. Rifles for which I received the war medal with clasp for 1877-78, in the Zulu war in the Native Contingent as a N.C. Officer and was severely wounded in the first engagement fought at Sirayo's stronghold on January the 12th, served also at the defence of Rorke's-drift post after escaping from the hospital there on January the 22nd 1879. I also served in Lonsdale's Horse during the latter part of the same war, in 1880 & 81. I served as a corporal in Baker's Horse during the disturbance in Pondoswine country and took part in the operations in Griqualand-East and Basutoland.
I hope Sir that having served my adopted country for so long a time and been severely wounded in its defence, I may be considered to have some claim, and that you will favorably consider this my application.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servt.
Jesse Handcock Mayor

p.s. I submit for your perusal two certificates as to character which kindly return. JHM

[Cape Town Archives Depository: CO Vol.4234, Ref M78]

Unfortunately for Mayor the Cape Government could provide no assistance and a note added to his letter records simply; "Refuse request. Note there is no suitable opening, return testimonial."
The testimonials were duly returned and sadly no copies remain with this file.

The Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902
On 15th January 1900, Jesse Mayor joined Roberts' Horse. He appears in the Nominal Roll as 2228 Trooper J Handcock Mayor, age - 40, Nationality - 'Irish.' with his next of kin being listed as 'A Mayor, wife of Essex Square, Woodstock, Cape. [NA: WO127/19].
He served with them at the actions at Driefontien, Paardeburg, Relief of Kimberley and the eventual capture of Bloemfontein on 13th March 1900.
The following day, and whilst stationed in Bloemfontein, Trooper JH Mayor deserted.
[There is no evidence of his rejoining Roberts' Horse or of his being caught and punished for his desertion. His QSA medal with clasps for Paardeburg, Driefontein and Relief of Kimberley was forfeited upon his desertion]
His movements for the next ten months are not known but on 14th January 1901, and now back in Cape Town, Jesse Handcock Mayor enlisted in the Western Province Mounted Rifles for 3 months service.
The enlistment papers record that he was aged forty and that he was employed as a clerk.
Under any previous service in the Colonial Forces it states;- "1877/81 - 1900"
His next of kin is given as his wife, Annie Catherine Mayor, then living in Regent Street, Salt River, Cape. He was posted to 'A' Company and given the Regtl. No 474 [NA: WO127/167]
The WPMR took part in numerous operations in the Western Cape, for the most part in small detachments protecting lines of communication and escort duty, but with the occasional sharp clashes with rogue Boer Commandos.
At the completion of his service with the WPMR Mayor then enlisted in 2nd Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles in Capetown for a further three months service on 9th April 1901.
Once again the enlistment papers record that, he was 40 years of age, and again gave his next of kin as his wife, Annie Catherine Mayor, of 37 Regent Street, Salt River, Cape. [NA: WO126/44]
Interestingly this time he stated that he had previous service with; - "Cape Garrison Artillery, W.P. M. Rifles, F.A.M.P. and Baker's Horse."
Mayor appears in the QSA Medal rolls for both the DEOVR and WPMR and received the medal with clasp for 'Cape Colony.' [NA: WO100/242 & 278]
His 3 months service with the DEOVR would have ended in early July 1901, and at this stage his movement afterwards are unclear.
However there is a further entry in the QSA medal for a Lineman JH Mayor serving with the Engineering Staff of the Cape Post and Telegraph Department. It is also noted that this man was present at the action at "Fish River." (The exact date of this particular action is not given...but it is known that various skirmishes took place along the river between Boer commandos, under Commandant Kritzinger, and British forces from early February into August 1901). At this stage we do not know whether this was Jesse Handcock Mayor.
At the end of the war Mayor returned to the Cape and found employment as a clerk. At the time of this death he was working as a Checker, (a clerical position), for the SAR and H, a government controlled organisation being the SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS AND HARBOURS .

Mayor, his wife Annie and their children moved a couple of streets from Regents Street, Salt River to a new house in Roberts Road in neighbouring Woodstock. This was a considerable improvement from his former home in Caledon Street, even then a very dubious area. It subsequently became known as District 6 and was bulldozed in the early apartheid years. The house in Robert Street in Woodstock, then a fairly new area, the street names are the clue, Kitchener, Roberts etc. So built after the Boer War. It is now an area that is going through a gentrefication with developers buying streets and renovating.

Jesse Handcock Mayor died at his home, 5 Robert's Road, Woodstock on 10th September 1915 at the age of 56. He is buried in Woltemade Cemetery, Maitland, Cape along with his wife Annie, (who died in 1928), and son, Frederick Harold, (died 1929).
There are six children named on his Death Estate:- Joseph Thomas, Annetta Emily, Edith Maud, Alfred, Fred Harold, and Nellie Ethel Mayor.
We are still researching additional details as to the date and place of marriage to Annie Catherine Coskey and the exact dates of birth of his five children.
However a little over a year after Jesse's death his eldest son, Joseph Thomas Mayor, then serving with the 2nd SA Inf. was killed in action during the ongoing battle of Delville Wood in France. [CWGC]

Attached are photographs of Jesse Handcock Mayor's grave and also of his former house in Roberts' Road, Woodstock. The third photograph shows members of the Irish Squadron of Roberts' Horse c. 1900. It is not known if Mayor is amongst them...but you never know....!!
Photographs of the grave and house appear courtesy of Springbok, who I must thank for his considerable assistance with this research, not only for his frequent trips to the Cape Archives but also for searching for the burial registers and eventually locating Mayor's last resting place.

sorry photos not uploading..I will try again later !!

Hi Lee,
Thanks for that researching . It brings Mayor back to life.
Now it seems the two fighting "clerks" were together at the Sirayo kraal action.

regards,

PS; Please tell Frank that if he watched less cricket he could do more valuable research like that, or alternatively he could get on his horse and get up to Helpmekaar, where he is urgently needed.

5 Roberts Road, Woodstock where Jesse Handcock Mayor died


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Excellent work, keep it up.   

Agree with Littlehand , certainly excellent work those men ! .   
90th

As Lee says more to still do to 'flesh out' the man. But to give a touch of colour to him, attached is the original letter found in the archives.
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Cheers

Good stuff springy . Well done      
Cheers 90th

Excellent work.

Hi Lee

Just joined this forum and found this information on J H Mayor.

I have an interest in J H Mayor through researching my maternal grandfather's origins, who was born in Uitenhage in 1897. I believe my grandfather's mother Kathleen Mayor is Jesse Handcock Mayor's younger sister.

It is interesting to note the involvement of a number of generations in naval and military service, as detailed below. It is also of interest that Jesse Handcock Mayor's son Joseph Thomas Mayor served and died in WWI, and is most likely named after his paternal grandfather.

I have detail from South African records that show J H Mayor living at the same address as his father Joseph Thomas Mayor in Capetown.

1878 Cape Voters List Western and Eastern Cape 1878 Cape Colony Publication 11/1/7
Residence 104 Caledon Street, Municipality of Green Point, District 6. Bookkeeper
Qualification: Householder
Municipality: Green Point
District No 6
Notes: Cape Town Archives Repository
Occupation: Bookkeeper
Electoral Division: Cape Town
Provincial District: Western Cape
Voter Roll No 516

1881 Almanac
J. T. Mayor
Profession: Clerk, Railway Station
Source: Ancestry24

1882 Voters List
Residence 104 Caledon Street, Municipality of Green Point.
Occupation: Accountant.
Electoral Division: Cape Town
District 6
Occupation: Salary
Voters Roll No 475
Source: Cape Town National Archives

1882 Voters List
Jesse Handcock Mayor
Residence: 104 Caledon Street
Occupation: Clerk
Electoral Division: Cape Town
District 6
Qualification: Rate payer
Voters Roll No 474
Source Cape Town National Archives

Joseph Thomas Mayor was born 23 January 1830 in Ryde Isle of Wight to Jesse Mayor and Catherine Handcock, who were married 15 January 1829 in St Marks Church of Ireland Dublin. Jesse worked as a manufacturing chemist in Dublin in the 1830s, and died 5 June 1862 in Dublin, with Catherine dying on 14 March 1877 in Dublin.

Joseph enlisted in the Royal Navy 5 November 1853, and served in Crimean War on HMS Diamond as Able Seaman, and was awarded Crimean and Turkish Medals and clasp for Sebastapol, and Medal for Good Conduct and Long Service.

Joseph joined British Army 86 Foot Regiment (Royal County Down) in Dublin 31 March 1858.

Joseph Thomas Mayor married Mary Jane Lynch on 4 December 1858 in Buttevant Co Cork Ireland while he was based at the British Army barracks in that town.

The British Army Muster records show that Joseph and Mary's first child was probably born in November 1859, and other children born July 1861, November 1864, January 1869, September 1870, and May 1872. As only children's ages are recorded for these quarterly records, the actual dates are not definite.

Total service (including RN) was 21 years and ? days. The October - December 1864 October show him firstly in Curragh Camp Ireland and ending at Gibraltar. His discharge record shows he spent 30 Months in Gibralter, 8 months in Mauritius, and 7 years 5 months at Cape of Good Hope after first arriving in Port Elizabeth in the April - June 1867 quarter prior to going to Mauritius. Transferred to Cape Castle Garrison 28 July 1873. Discharged 14 May 1875 as Garrison Sergeant Major.

Thus 1867 or 1868 was when the family arrived in South Africa with Jesse Handcock Mayor.

Joseph Thomas Mayor is shown as living in Somerset East when his daughter Catharine Mayor married William Taylor Green on 14 March 1894.

Joseph was living 135 Queen Street Port Elizabeth 20 May 1895 when grandson William Taylor Green born.

Joseph was admitted Old Somerset Hospital Cape Town 26 November 1896, and died there 20 December 1897.

Joseph's daughter Catherine's first husband William Taylor Green died in Somerset East 30 May 1899, and she remarried James Henry Donsworth on 18 Sep 1905 in Uitenhage. The family migrated to Australia in 1907.

James Henry Donsworth served in the Uitenhage Volunteer Rifles
Rank attained in Boer War: CPL, Date Effective: 11/10/1899
He fought in AIF in WWI enlisting 23 Aug 1915 and was posted as no 7568 Cpl 15 Bty 5 Field Artillery brigade. He was promoted Wheeler-Sgt 1 November 1915 and Fitter S/Sgt 10 March 1916 and posted to 5FAB HQ. He was badly wounded on 1 Nov 1917 with a severe gunshot wound to the right thigh He was returned to Australia on 5 April 1918 as being unable to recover for operational service and was discharged medically unfit 30 November 1918.

James Henry's step son William Taylor Donsworth (my grandfather's elder brother) enlisted AIF Regiment No. 6542, Rank Lance Corporal, Surname Donsworth, Given Names William Taylor, Unit 1 Field Ambulance
Enlistment Date 8 June 1915, R.J.G. 25 September 1919, and was awarded Military Medal in 1917 for gallantry.

My grandfather Nendick Thomas Donsworth enlisted AIF Regiment No 7494, Rank Gunner, Signalman
Surname Donsworth, First Name Nendick Thomas, Unit 4 Field Artillary Brigade
Enlistment Date 7 June 1915
Returned to Australia 23 March 1919

Nendick trained in Egypt prior to going to Gallipoli, then returned to Egypt where he trained again with James Henry and William Taylor, prior to going to France in 1916, where they served for the remainder of the war, before returning to Australia.

I have not been able to determine the definite dates for births of those children born in South Africa, including that of my great grandmother Kathleen Mayor, who was probably born Capetown either 1868 or 1870, or date and place of death of Mary Jane Mayor, her mother.

Best wishes

Philip

Lee Stevenson wrote:

Over the last couple of months 'Springbok' and I have been researching the life and career of Corporal J.H. Mayor of the Natal Native Contingent.
Whilst this is still very much an ongoing project, using a wide variety of sources both in the UK, Ireland and South Africa and there are still many gaps to fill, we thought it might be of some interest to the forum...

Jesse Handcock Mayor was born in Ireland in 1859. The exact place of birth is still under investigation but it looks quite likely that it was in Dublin.
At this stage little is known of his early life, or in which year he travelled to South Africa.

However by 1877, 18 year old Jesse was living in Capetown and is known to have joined the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police, (later to be renamed the Cape Mounted Rifles). He was posted to No. 7 Troop and served with them during the Eastern Frontier Campaigns of 1877/78. Mayor was entitled to the South Africa Medal with clasp for 1877-78 and is named in the medal roll as "Private Jesse Mayor," This medal was issued on 2/5/1884 [National Archives, Kew: WO100/47]
At the close of hostilities against the Xhosa, Mayor, like many men from the Colonial units, was tempted by the offer of further military action against the Zulu and in November 1878 he joined the Royal Swazi Levy in Kingwilliamstown.
The Levy, under the Commandant Rupert de la Trobe Lonsdale, arrived in Durban on the 27th November 1878 and from there its 60 officers and 120 NCO's formed the nucleus of the new Natal Native Contingent. Amongst its number were; Captain Wm Stephenson, Lieut T Adendorf (sic) and Corporal C Scammell. [A list of officers and NCO's appeared in the Natal Mercury 28/11/1878]
Mayor was posted to the 1st Battalion 3rd N.N.C., as part of No. 3 Column. He subsequently took part in the action at Sihayo's stronghold on the 12th January 1879 where he received an assegai wound to his left leg. This is mentioned by both Norris Newman, [In Zululand], and by Surgeon Dugald Blair Brown, A.M.D., [Surgical Notes on the Zulu War, The Lancet 5/7/1879].
Further confirmation of Mayor's forename is to be found in "Official Return of Casualties in Column No. 3, under Colonel Glyn, C.B., in the affair at the Ngudu Mountain on the 12th January 1879," signed by Lt Col J North Crealock;-
"1st Btn 3rd NNC - Corporal Jessy H Mayor - Slightly wounded." [NA: WO33/33]
It was this wound that put Jesse Mayor in the hospital building at the onset of the defence of Rorke's Drift on the 22nd January. His presence during the defence is confirmed by the Rev. George Smith;
"...Corporal Mayer, N.N.C., who had been wounded under the knee with an assegai at Sirayo's kraal, Bombardier Lewis, R.A., whose leg and thigh were much swollen from a wagon accident, and Trooper R.S. Green, N.M.P., also a patient, all got out of the little end window into the enclosure..." [Natal Mercury - 7/4/1879]
and more significantly by Pte Robert Jones V.C., 2nd/24th, who stated;
"...on retiring from one room into another, after taking a wounded man by the name of Mayer, belonging to the volunteers, to join William Jones, I found a crowd in front of the hospital and coming into the doorway..." [The Strand Magazine Jan/June 1891]
He is named on what is commonly referred to as the 'Chard,' Roll and also Bourne's first and amended rolls c. 1910. [Chard ~ Corpl JH Mayor, Bourne ~ Corporal Mayer...'H']
Mayor was one of 20 men evacuated by ambulance from Rorke's Drift to Helpmakaar on 26th January 1879 under the care of Civil Surgeon William Beresford.  Once at Helpmakaar he came under the care of Surgeon Dugald Blair Brown, AMD. Brown's detailed report on Mayor's injuries and subsequent medical interventions was published in The Lancet on 5/7/1879 ["Surgical Notes on the Zulu War"]
On the 15h February Mayor, and a further 19 sick and injured men were transferred to the Base Hospital at Ladysmith Base Hospital under care of Dr. Edward Jennings and Pte Sayers, A.H.C.
Jesse Mayor recovered sufficiently from his injuries and was able to join his old commanding officer, Commandant Rupert Lonsdale as a Corporal in Lonsdale's Horse. There is a second entry in the SA medal roll showing his entitlement to the medal and clasp for 1877-8-9 whilst serving with Lonsdale's Horse. This medal is also listed as being issued on the 2nd May 1884.
Interestingly his service with the N.N.C., his third military unit in as many years, also qualified him for the South Africa medal and the N.N.C. roll includes a 'Corporal JH Mayor' as entitled to the medal with clasp 1878-9. The roll states that this medal was "Issued" on 30th June 1882. However it remained unclaimed and was returned to the Mint on 28th November 1911.]

At the conclusion of the Zulu War Jesse Mayor returned to the Cape. It is believed he may have seen further military service during the Basuto uprisings of 1880-81. He later settled in Salt River, Cape Town.
In September 1883 Mayor wrote to the Cape Government seeking employment, enclosing testimonials from Commandant Lonsdale as to his character. In the letter he stated that he had been at Rorke's Drift and that he had been in the hospital at the time of the attack. This is a full transcript of the letter;

To: The Honorable
The Colonial Secretary

104 Caledon Street
Cape Town
22nd June 83

Sir
I have the honor to elicit employment under the Government in any suitable capacity.
I am 24 years of age, a fair clerk, of business habits and speak the dutch language. I served through the Gcaleka and Gaika rebellion in the C.M. Rifles for which I received the war medal with clasp for 1877-78, in the Zulu war in the Native Contingent as a N.C. Officer and was severely wounded in the first engagement fought at Sirayo's stronghold on January the 12th, served also at the defence of Rorke's-drift post after escaping from the hospital there on January the 22nd 1879. I also served in Lonsdale's Horse during the latter part of the same war, in 1880 & 81. I served as a corporal in Baker's Horse during the disturbance in Pondoswine country and took part in the operations in Griqualand-East and Basutoland.
I hope Sir that having served my adopted country for so long a time and been severely wounded in its defence, I may be considered to have some claim, and that you will favorably consider this my application.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your obedient servt.
Jesse Handcock Mayor

p.s. I submit for your perusal two certificates as to character which kindly return. JHM

[Cape Town Archives Depository: CO Vol.4234, Ref M78]

Unfortunately for Mayor the Cape Government could provide no assistance and a note added to his letter records simply; "Refuse request. Note there is no suitable opening, return testimonial."
The testimonials were duly returned and sadly no copies remain with this file.

The Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902
On 15th January 1900, Jesse Mayor joined Roberts' Horse. He appears in the Nominal Roll as 2228 Trooper J Handcock Mayor, age - 40, Nationality - 'Irish.' with his next of kin being listed as 'A Mayor, wife of Essex Square, Woodstock, Cape. [NA: WO127/19].
He served with them at the actions at Driefontien, Paardeburg, Relief of Kimberley and the eventual capture of Bloemfontein on 13th March 1900.
The following day, and whilst stationed in Bloemfontein, Trooper JH Mayor deserted.
[There is no evidence of his rejoining Roberts' Horse or of his being caught and punished for his desertion. His QSA medal with clasps for Paardeburg, Driefontein and Relief of Kimberley was forfeited upon his desertion]
His movements for the next ten months are not known but on 14th January 1901, and now back in Cape Town, Jesse Handcock Mayor enlisted in the Western Province Mounted Rifles for 3 months service.
The enlistment papers record that he was aged forty and that he was employed as a clerk.
Under any previous service in the Colonial Forces it states;- "1877/81 - 1900"
His next of kin is given as his wife, Annie Catherine Mayor, then living in Regent Street, Salt River, Cape. He was posted to 'A' Company and given the Regtl. No 474 [NA: WO127/167]
The WPMR took part in numerous operations in the Western Cape, for the most part in small detachments protecting lines of communication and escort duty, but with the occasional sharp clashes with rogue Boer Commandos.
At the completion of his service with the WPMR Mayor then enlisted in 2nd Battalion, Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles in Capetown for a further three months service on 9th April 1901.
Once again the enlistment papers record that, he was 40 years of age, and again gave his next of kin as his wife, Annie Catherine Mayor, of 37 Regent Street, Salt River, Cape. [NA: WO126/44]
Interestingly this time he stated that he had previous service with; - "Cape Garrison Artillery, W.P. M. Rifles, F.A.M.P. and Baker's Horse."
Mayor appears in the QSA Medal rolls for both the DEOVR and WPMR and received the medal with clasp for 'Cape Colony.' [NA: WO100/242 & 278]
His 3 months service with the DEOVR would have ended in early July 1901, and at this stage his movement afterwards are unclear.
However there is a further entry in the QSA medal for a Lineman JH Mayor serving with the Engineering Staff of the Cape Post and Telegraph Department. It is also noted that this man was present at the action at "Fish River." (The exact date of this particular action is not given...but it is known that various skirmishes took place along the river between Boer commandos, under Commandant Kritzinger, and British forces from early February into August 1901). At this stage we do not know whether this was Jesse Handcock Mayor.
At the end of the war Mayor returned to the Cape and found employment as a clerk. At the time of this death he was working as a Checker, (a clerical position), for the SAR and H, a government controlled organisation being the SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS AND HARBOURS .

Mayor, his wife Annie and their children moved a couple of streets from Regents Street, Salt River to a new house in Roberts Road in neighbouring Woodstock. This was a considerable improvement from his former home in Caledon Street, even then a very dubious area. It subsequently became known as District 6 and was bulldozed in the early apartheid years. The house in Robert Street in Woodstock, then a fairly new area, the street names are the clue, Kitchener, Roberts etc. So built after the Boer War. It is now an area that is going through a gentrefication with developers buying streets and renovating.

Jesse Handcock Mayor died at his home, 5 Robert's Road, Woodstock on 10th September 1915 at the age of 56. He is buried in Woltemade Cemetery, Maitland, Cape along with his wife Annie, (who died in 1928), and son, Frederick Harold, (died 1929).
There are six children named on his Death Estate:- Joseph Thomas, Annetta Emily, Edith Maud, Alfred, Fred Harold, and Nellie Ethel Mayor.
We are still researching additional details as to the date and place of marriage to Annie Catherine Coskey and the exact dates of birth of his five children.
However a little over a year after Jesse's death his eldest son, Joseph Thomas Mayor, then serving with the 2nd SA Inf. was killed in action during the ongoing battle of Delville Wood in France. [CWGC]

Attached are photographs of Jesse Handcock Mayor's grave and also of his former house in Roberts' Road, Woodstock. The third photograph shows members of the Irish Squadron of Roberts' Horse c. 1900. It is not known if Mayor is amongst them...but you never know....!!
Photographs of the grave and house appear courtesy of Springbok, who I must thank for his considerable assistance with this research, not only for his frequent trips to the Cape Archives but also for searching for the burial registers and eventually locating Mayor's last resting place.

Hi Phillip
JT Mayors name cropped up on a couple of occasions whilst I was rummaging through the archives but put onto the back burner for a while.
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE CO
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 4200
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE M38
PART 1
DESCRIPTION MEMORIAL. JT MAYOR. REQUESTING APPOINTMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
STARTING 18780000
ENDING 18780000



Document 2 of 4
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE CO
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 4249
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE M40
PART 1
DESCRIPTION MEMORIAL. JT MAYOR. REQUESTING EMPLOYMENT.
STARTING 18850000
ENDING 18850000



Document 3 of 4
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE CO
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 4249
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE M67
PART 1
DESCRIPTION MEMORIAL. JT MAYOR. REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PROCEED TO
HOPETOWN.
STARTING 18850000
ENDING 18850000



Document 4 of 4
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE CO
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 4249
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE M68
PART 1
DESCRIPTION MEMORIAL. JT MAYOR. REQUESTING GAOLERSHIP AT HOPETOWN.
STARTING 18850000
ENDING 18850000

Catherine Taylor Greens name also popped up on a list of insolvent estates in Kimberly, sorry I didn't keep a note on the actual file number.

There are still a few issues that Im still busy with connected to the Mayor family, such as the 104 Caledon Street. It seems at this stage as though it was a hotel and accomadation address.

Interesting research well done that man.

Regards

Philip
How very interesting!
Since Jesse Handcock Mayor was born in Nov 1859 do you happen to know whether Joseph (and therefore the 86th Regiment) was still in barracks in Buttevant Co Cork at the time of his birth?

Great piece of work. Well done all.

Steve

Phillip
I will be going to the archives in a couple of weeks and will access the info the have on JT.

Cheers

Thanks for your responses springbok9.

Would be most grateful if you are able to find any more detail.

Regards

Philip

springbok9 wrote:

Phillip
I will be going to the archives in a couple of weeks and will access the info the have on JT.

Cheers

Phillip
I don't know if your aware but Jessie remarried after his first wife died. The second Mrs Mayor was Annie Catherin , nee Caskey died 20th May 1928.

Regards

Thanks for this.

I did not know this. I thought that Annie (as I have been) informed Coskey was his only wife, and was aware of her death and some of the information available on her death notices.

Do you know the name of his first wife?

Philip

Ive been trolling through church and parish records trying to find that out. Lee came up with the idea that as they were from Ireland then Catholic would be the probable religion, no such luck at the records office in Mowbray unfortunately. So far Ive found they were married in St Andrews Church Cape Town but Ive had no luck so far in getting passed that point
Some other titbits you may be able to slot into the scheme of things.
The original death notice was issued on the 14th September recording his death on the 10th September 1915. His children were listed as Joseph Thomas, Anneta Emily, Alfred, May Edith, Nellie Maude and Fred Harold.
Noted on that death notice is that Anneta Emily was married to William A Kyle.
It was she who signed the death notice as being present at the death.

This is where it gets interesting
The grave records indicate he was buried on the 11th September 1915.

After searching around for a while I found a second death notice dated 26th November 1920
All the data was the same except for a strange omission of Joseph Thomas the eldest son from the list of children.
Added at the bottom was also a note 'Interest in Insurance policy' under his estate.
I then found a Bond of Surety signed by Annie on 27th November 1920. And the appointment of her as the Executor and holder of the insurance money, 33 pounds, on behalf of the youngest son Frederick Harold.

Also noted on that death certificate below the list of children is the following:

All of the first marriage
The only minor in this case being Frederick Harold.

On the first Death Notice there were three children listed as being minor, Frederick, Nellie and May Edith.
So if the second notice was merely a copy of the first notice, possibly they lost the first one, why the differences???????

And then to really confuse the hell out of you, scrawled in the top left hand corner of the Master of the Supreme Courts Copy is: Reported Alive.

That's as far as Ive got. I know lee is also waiting for answers.

Sorry one other small thing
Edith May (Mary) married a William Henry Keller and then later a Mr Kelly in between she seems for a while to have used a German name.

Cheers

Cheers

Steve
Can you e mail it to me, rather difficult to read

Cheers

Frank

I have increased the size.

Steve

Hi Philip

Thanks for all the additional information!
It never ceases to amaze me just how much more 'new' information there is still out there waiting to be found.

Thanks again Frank for all the time and effort you've put in at the archives!

Hi Lee
Fraid you started whats become a bit of an obsession my friend.
Hopefully I will have some answers in the not to distant future. Jessie is certainly more than first meets the eye though.

Cheers

All

I have copies of the two death notices of Jesse Handcock Mayor as noted by Springbock.

In 2011 I was in brief email contact with a great granddaughter of Jessie Handcock. I sent copies of these death notices to her, and she replied with the following information.

I have removed some surnames from the information as follows, as I am not able to confirm with her whether she agrees to it being shared.

* * *
Another thing was I knew that there was something 'wrong' in the family and one of your documents seem to throw some light on it, all the children received an allowance from a trust fund (I believe it was substantial) which incidentally was handled by Sir de Villiers Graaf of Rondebosch, Cape Town. This all was suddenly stopped for my grandmother Annette Mayor *** and the story was told that the sisters lied and caused trouble. The other person whose allowance was stopped was Edith Maud ***, my great aunt May.
On the document you sent me, Annie Coski/Mayor's Death cert from 1912 my grandmother's name is given as *** but by this time had been 'remarried' to my grandfather for about 10 years as her husband, ***, had died. I do know that my mother has repeatedly tried to obtain a copy of this document and to date it hasn't been found - I now have another relative on what I am beginning to think is a pointless quest.

* * *
I have lost contact with this lady as both her and my email addresses changed since this correspondence.

I believe the omission of Joseph Thomas Mayor from the 1920 Death Notice is due to the fact that he had been killed in WWI in 1916.

The Ancestry tree added has some correct information, but I believe it has left out the generation of Jesse Handcock Mayor's parents Joseph Thomas Mayor and Mary Jane Lynch.

I did find a possible, but less probable reference to Jesse Handcock Mayor's mother Mary Jane Mayor's death as follows, as there are some differences. Her name appears in the later British Army Muster Reports as Jane Mayor. The age at death is also out of the expected range, as this age would indicate she was born 1810, which would make this Jane 20 years older than Joseph Thomas Mayor. I would have expected Mary Jane Mayor was closer to 50 years of age in 1882.

Capetown St Georges Cathedral Records

From historicalpapers
Jane Myers
No 1051
Place of death Capetown
Date of Death 12 May 1882
Date of burial 14 May 1882
Age 72 years
T. F. Lightfoot

Philip

Hi Phillip
I have 'discovered' quite a few documents that I will access in a couple of weeks when I get back from iSandlwana.
On the estate papers from Jessie there was only ' furniture' listed the insurance of 33 pounds cropped up 5 years later.
Im also following up on Ediths marriage and subsequent insolvency.
It really has developed into an interesting paper chase.

I will try and get out to Milnerton to get data on the burial of Jane Myers and possible her grave.

Cheers

Phillip I can answer one or two question for you, In 1885 Joseph Thomas and his wife were both in good health and working together in Hope Town, he as a Gaoler and she as the Matron.
I can also confirm that they received interest from a bequest, administered by The Sir Deviliers Graaf Trust. I cant locate where it came from but do have the dates involved. And I do know the reason it was terminated. I have the various documents on order and will have them in a couple of weeks.
Incidently I followed another trail for a lady by the name of Annie Catharine Coskey, this after the death of 'our' Annie. She was married to a retired civil servant in Cape town by the name of Hubert Edward Coskey. He is possibly a brother-in - law or cousin to Jessie. but that needs to be chased down.
Edith was quite a wealthy lady at one point, in fact there was a mistake made in the archive records listing her as 'illiqud' but when I followed through on her marriage and life she left an estate of 1342 pounds, all to her husband William Henry Keller.
More later

Regards

Sorry should have added that JT died in Somerset Hospital in December 1897 after spending a year there, on the death certificate there is a note: " No known relatives " Quite sad that considering at least one son and a brood of grandchildren lived less than 2 miles away.

Thanks Springbok

Thanks for the additional information about JT and his wife working in Hope Town.

I was aware of the death of JT in Somerset Hospital, having obtained a copy of the death notice. I also thought the same thoughts about the sadness of 'no known relatives'.

Philip

Hi Phillip
As promised:
JT applied for a government post having been made redundant.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
The following month he became aware of a post in Hopetown
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
He was successful in pretty short order which would lead me to believe the paperwork was just a formality
However he was short of money so requested an advance
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

And got it. Hence the two of them moved to Hopetown for a while. That should eliminate the other avenue for Mrs Mayor you were chasing.

Hope that is of assistance.

Regards

Lee
You were speculating at one time on the Birthplace of Jesses wife Annie Catherine. On her death certificate her birthplace is marked as Cape Town
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
I have located a family resident in Sea Point with the surname Coskey. Johannes Wilhelm and Catharina Elizabeth, Im trying to tie them back but there is a sizable gap around the time of Annie Catherines birth date. Also a lot of confusion in that Herbert Ernest Coskey married a lady by the name of Annie Catherine, but not our Annie, she was still around after 1928. ( And being sued for restitution of conjugal rights.
That seems to run in the family as Edith Maude, Jesse and Annies daughter was sued by Myderd Jacobus Greef for the same thing. Also one other of there daughters, Anetta Emily was sued by her husband William Ashmore Kyle again for restoration of conjugal rights. Interesting family to say the least.

Springbok

Much appreciated. This detail helps to fill out more detail of JT Mayor and Annie Mayor nee Coskey.

Best wishes

Philip

There was a J.H. Mayor that served with the CGE and DEOVR during the 1880/90's, must be the same man:

Enlisted 17.11.87. Private, Cape Garrison Engineers. Company Sergeant Major. Resigned 1.7.92. Enlisted 15.7.92. Pioneer, Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Volunteer Rifles. Discharged 1.1.99.

Hi Cam
Thank you the info, could I ask the source so I can follow up. JT his father was Garrison Engineer in 1885 so its highly likely JH followed suite. Lee in particular is very keen on establishing his movements.

Regards

Hi Springbok, Cape Archives DD7 series that are in date order.

Cam.

Hi Cam

Just wondering, how are the service details recorded for the CGE and DEOVR - individual service papers or in the form of a register perhaps?

Frank - Slight delay but will go in post this weekend !!

Hi Lee
That's not problem.
Cams been giving me information that I will follow up on this week before I head of to NZ. There are a couple of discrepancies that spring to mind.
Cam has Jesse as Cape Garrison Engineer between 17 November 1887 until 1st July 1892. In that period however he was with Roberts Horse for 2 months in 1900 and WPMR for 3 months in 1901. Would he have taken leave of absence to transfer into a fighting regiment?
Its interesting that the gaps are starting to close in.
Regards

Just came across this...

Morton and Eden Ltd Auction Rooms, London
10/6/2010
Sold for £350.00

‡265 Crimea Group awarded to Garrison Sergeant-Major Joseph Thomas Mayor, late 86th Foot and Royal Navy, Three: Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued, Army Long Service and Good Conduct, Victoria type 3 (engraved in caps. Garrison Serjt. Major. J.T. Mayor, Staff of the Army), Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, very fine or slightly better (3) £300-400
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal recommended by G.O.C. Cape of Good Hope 24 November 1875.
JOSEPH THOMAS MAYOR was born in Southampton 23 January 1830 and entered the Royal Navy as an Able Bodied Seaman 17 November 1853. During the Crimean War he served with the Naval Brigade aboard H.M.S. Diamond. He left the Navy 8 October 1857 and the following March joined the 86th Regiment with which he served until July 1873. On 28 July 1873 he was made Garrison Sergeant-Major at Cape Town. He was discharged 6 July 1875 and spent his retirement at Queenstown, Cape Colony. (Offered with a quantity of photocopied research).

Hi Phillip,
It's good to finally find you, you have certainly obtained a great deal of information. I can probably add a few things that may, or may not be of interest. Briefly (I am writing from memory as I am not currently by my pc) Jesse Mayor (1st) married Catherine Hancock - lived at 23? Tritonville Road, Donnybrook, Dublin. (Griffiths), the pharmacy they had was in Capel Street, Dublin. He also owned a Pharmaceutical company with a very pretentious name, I can only recall the second half of the company's name, which was in Mecklinberg Street Dublin called (-) medicated throat lozenge company. Sometime after he died Catherine moved to Arnott Street Dublin (it was the Jewish area) it is no longer there but I did speak to an ex resident who was in her 90's in 1996. Catherine died of Dropsy (kidney failure) on or about 17th March (must check the year and exact date), her daughter Jane Heldon was the only one present. I saw her will which listed what I was told was a substantial amount of money. This is the first document I saw in Dublin and I now wish that I had obtained a copy as I didn't realise the importance of the information. She is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetry, I then tried to find details from the church records (Protestant) but unfortunately they had had a flood and the majority of the pages were washed clean and there were no records that could be seen. Joseph Thomas totally eluded me, he would be my G,G Grandfather. My mother told me that Jesse Hancock Mayor was a very tall, thin red headed man which may be of help when viewing photographs, he married Annie Coskey/Koskie, my mother said she was a 'White Russian', she was Jewish and had sister/s and they were known as "The Coskey Girls.
. My Grandmother, Annette Emily Mayor married William Kyle, who the family believed/was told was dead, I subsequently learnt he returned to the U.K. The family at this time were staying with Jesse Mayor and Anne Coskey Mayor in Dublin Street, (not a typo) Woodstock, they had 3+ children, she then married Daniel Peter Spannenberg, my mother was their first child. It was at about this time that the allowance was cut off. incidential information Edith Maud (May) went to the Catholic Convent in Woodstock, she was a really nice old lady who was a Matron and worked way past retirement age at a boys boarding school in the Karoo. Annette Emily's daughter 'Smally" Kyle worked her entire life for Woolworths in Cape Town and took part in the strikes in 1922.
I really must thank Springbok for all his research. Are you related?
Regards,
Ruth.

Btw - as regards Annette Emily Mayor, she apparently had a "very strong Irish accent" and the "Coskey girls" came to Cape Town via Ireland (family legend).
Regards ,
Ruth.

Ruth
Good to hear from you, always nice to pad out the details. I do have quite a lot of information from the Archives if you would like copies im more than willing to oblige.

Lee
Great find, amazing the amount of information that's come to light from your original idea.

Regards

Frank

Ruth
I do have some very specific details on your branch of the family from Annette Emily that Ive never published. Again more than happy to share with you.

Regards

Frank

I would really appreciate that Frank, the family appear to be really good at hiding the information and "not talking", it's like getting blood out of a rock, I have been trying to get details for years. my email is Ruthdzierzba@yahoo(dot)com.
Thank you,
Kind regards,
Ruth

Hi Ruth
I have sent of what I have gleaned of your family, going back to 1841. Once you read the essay you will probably understand why the family doesn't like to talk to much. Enigmatic I know. Have fun.

regards

frank

Hi ruth
I cant seem to get through to your e mail address?

Frank

Hi Frank,
I don't know why - [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - try to cut and paste or maybe find me on facebook Ruth du Toit (I have a coastal scene as my profile pic). Are you on fb, or what is your email address? I really would like to make contact.
Ruth

Hi Ruth
E mail me on [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and I will resend.

Cheers

Frank

Ruth
E mail on the way, enjoy.

Cheers

Hi all
Just joined as researching daughter in laws tree which includes Jessie Mayor line forward to Daniel Spangenberg. Ruth Dzierba was the now late auntie to my daughter in law. Great to see more info on the tree. Have found Jessie Mayor (born 1798) died 1862 lived Chalemont Mall Dublin buried Mt Jerome Cemetery, Dublin and Catherine Handcock the father of John Thomas listed on familysearch.com inc SA Cape town image of death cert. May find in the post office directories a listing for his pharma company. Any other info or links to other people welcome. Contact is [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Cheers
John Rowley

Hi John
I have done a lot of research into the Mayor family. Im sorry to hear of the death of Ruth, we corresponded for a long period sharing information.
Regards