George Duffy (1816 - 1843)

Born 1816 in England, United Kingdom

Died 30 Jul 1843 at about age 27 in Albany, Cape Colony

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Biography

George was born in England

He was 4 years old when he came to the Colony with his parents as part of Bailie's 1820 Settler Party.

George was murdered while on a hunting trip into the interior near the Unmata and Tietsa Rivers; he is believed to have died on 30 July 1843. He was unmarried.^[1][2]

Death Notice of George Duffy

The details of his death are recorded in the Thursday, 31 August 1843, edition of the Cape Frontier Times:^[3]

MURDER OF GEORGE DUFFY

We subjoin from an authentic source the following account of this murder, which comprises all the circumstances that are at present known concerning it. We understand that twenty five natives were employed by the Rev Mr GARNER to accompany him to the scene of the murder, of whose exertions that gentleman speaks in terms of the warmest praise – and we hope that the government will remunerate them for their services.

The name of the young Bushman, mentioned below, is Gena, the son of Caba, and he lives with some other Bushmen near the kraal of a chief named Diko. And it is thought that by his assistance (if a reward were offered) some clue might be obtained to the discovery of this treacherous and cruel murder.

On the evening of the 3rd instant, a Hottentot lad, named Andries BARTMAN, arrived at Mr. GARNER's residence in Capai's country, who stated that he had fled from the spot where his master, George DUFFY, had been murdered by three natives. He further stated that Mr. DUFFY left Butterworth with a waggon and twelve oxen, and accompanied by a female, a Hottentot man named Cobus TRUMPETER, his wife, and two children, and himself; that they had been engaged in hunting in the neighbourhood of the upper parts of the rivers Umtata, Tietsa and Tina. Whilst on the banks of the last named river, Mr. DUFFY and his party were visited by three natives, named Nani, Umgeno and Kosana, who told them that they procured food and tobacco from some of their friends, who are living with the Ampondo chief Diko. Mr. DUFFY subsequently purchased two horses from these natives, for which he gave two duffel carosses and a quantity of beads. After the bargain was struck the men accompanied the waggon to the vicinity of Buntingville, where they bought some corn, and then returned to the Tina, where an ox was shortly afterwards killed by lions. Mr. DUFFY subsequently agreed to meet the same three natives at a place called Roda, for the purpose of hunting buffaloes. It appears that the Hottentot Cobus, who had informed his master of his intention to reside on the mission station, and who had previously sent his wife and children there, as well as the boy Andries, both urged Mr. DUFFY to encamp nearer the station, as they deemed it unsafe for him to be alone so far distant from it. They also hinted their suspicion of the three natives. Mr. DUFFY refused to listen to their counsel, and then rode towards the mountains. Cobus then left him, promising to return – his master having previously told him he would find him by tracing his spoor. Andries further stated that his master was afterwards joined by the natives, and some game was killed. They were also visited by Bushmen, from whom the natives purchased three horses for beads. A few days after this these horses were eaten by lions, a circumstance at which the natives were much chagrined. The lad stated further that on or about Tuesday 30th ult the whole party went out to hunt in different directions whilst he was sent to look after the oxen, and on his return he found his master murdered, and the female tied to the waggon wheel. The natives immediately seized and bound him, but soon unloosed him, ordering him to drive the waggon to another part of the mountain, but the waggon sticking in the mud, could not be moved on that evening. Here they were visited by some Bushmen on horseback, and an ox was slaughtered. After examining the contents of the waggon the Bushmen laughed and said "Why did you kill the white man?". They replied "that their horses had been killed by lions, and that he had refused to lend them oxen to carry their game". After this they then gave the Bushmen two carosses, who departed on the following morning. The waggon was then extricated from the mud, and the natives then proceeded to a small bush at the foot of the mountain, where the waggon again stuck fast. Here they rifled it and then went to sleep in a neighbouring bush. The native named Nani told Andries and the female that they must remain with them, and promised Andries that he would soon accompany him to Graham's Town. After this the oxen strayed, and upon the natives sending Andries to look for them, he took the opportunity of flying to the mission station. The above is, in substance, the statement of Andries.

On the following morning the Wesleyan missionary, Mr. GARNER, collected a party of about 30 men and rode off to the scene of the murder. They found the waggon, and saw a Bushman sitting on top of the mountain. Mr. GARNER remained with two men at the wagon, and gave orders that no hostilities were to be resorted to, except in case of an attack or for the rescue of the female. After a while three natives were seen near the top of the mountain driving the cattle, but they fled after throwing one assegai; some shots were then fired in the air, and the bush was searched and nine oxen were recovered, and a few trifling articles besides. The woman was also found in the bush. Most of the other things, including bugle of waggon, chain, three guns, beads, carosses, seem to have been previously disposed of by the natives to the Bushmen. An old horse was also found, which was claimed by a Bushman, who called out from the top of the mountain that it belonged to him and then fled. The following particulars of the murder were then obtained by Mr. GARNER from the woman, from whose statement it appeared that after the horses of the natives had been eaten by the lions they accused Mr. DUFFY of having shot them. This he denied, but they said they heard a gun fired. He still persisted in his denial. When Mr. DUFFY and his party had gone out the natives returned and asked where he was. She said he was gone to hunt – and told them they could not find him; shortly after this he came home, and was sitting with the three natives close to the fire talking about game. The woman it appears then warned him to keep his gun near him but he made no reply. After their meal was concluded the natives exclaimed "See, there is a jackal running", and they all stood up, and on Mr DUFFY turning round Nani stabbed him with an assegai in the loins. Mr. DUFFY then called out for his gun, and the woman was in the act of reaching it to him when Nani attempted to stab her but missed. The natives then seized the gun, and she then rushed to him when they again stabbed him. She then clasped him in her arms, and he entreated her to fly; they again stabbed him until he dropt down dead. They then rifled his pockets, and tied up the woman, and threatened to kill the boy on his return, but she begged of them to spare his life, which they did: and he was in consequence only tied up.

The woman corroborated the statement about the visit of Bushman &c and further stated that on the morning the boy ran away they asked her if he knew where Mr. GARNER's station was. She said he did not – and that he only knew where Mr. JENKINS lived – they then said he would never get there for the lions would eat him. The woman says further that the Bushmen have a great many horses and three large herds of cattle over the mountains, some of which they had taken from the Boors. The Bushmen, the woman states, promised to return on the following day to purchase iron &c with horses. The natives afterwards talked about killing the woman and burning the waggon – for Nani said to her – "I dreamt last night that the boy was eaten by lions. We might as well kill you, for if you run away you will be eaten too." A young Bushman then said "Why will you kill her – let her go – you have killed the man, why will you kill her?" An altercation ensued, and the Bushman said "if you kill me my father's people will kill you all". He then addressing himself to the woman said "hide yourself, and I will take you in the morning to the nearest white men". It appears that on the morning of the arrival of Mr. GARNER, the natives had put a riem round the poor woman's neck, and asked her to teach them to shoot.

And when she said she did not know how they struck her with the gun, and had her dragged into the bush while they proceeded to burn the waggon – threatening to kill her when they returned. In the meantime the young Bushman perceived Mr. GARNER and his party and gave the alarm. The Bushman then untied her, and told her to make her escape. Mr. GARNER remained on the spot until midday, and then left it, after directing his party to scour well the bush, but nothing more, it appears, was found. Mr. GARNER also directed strict search to be made for the remains of the murdered man for the purpose of burial, but without success. And the woman says she was told by the Bushman that the body had been devoured. Part of his shirt and trowsers has been found, and there was a great deal of blood about the spot where the murder was committed, but no part of the body has been discovered.

Sources

1. ↑ South Africa, Cape Province, Probate Records of the Master of the High Court, 1834-1989", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP74-NZL5 : 27 April 2020), George Duffy, 1843-1846
2. ↑ Added by Des Lynch on 1 January 2021
3. ↑ Cape Frontier Times 1843 3 July - September, Thursday 31 August 1843, Written by Sue Mackay. Posted in Cape Frontier Times

• "South Africa, Cape Province, Probate Records of the Master of the High Court, 1834-1989", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP74-NZL5 : 27 April 2020), George Duffy, 1843-1846. Researched and attached 2 Oct 2020 by Drika (Aucamp) Brown