NOTE: ** denotes a direct descendent of mine in the following text
**George Adolphus Cusens was born in 1819 in Portsea, Hampshire, United Kingdom. He was the son of **Sarah Power and **Edward Cusens and was Christened on the 3rd June 1819 in the St. John’s Church. According to the 1941 census he (then 22 years old), lived in Orange Street Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire with his parents and his brother William (17 years old). George and his father are listed having the profession of “shipwright” (carpenter skilled in the repair and construction of ships), while his brother as an apprentice hair dresser. (England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975; C06315-1, England-ODM, GS Film no, 918875, 918876; and I04385-6, England-EASy, GS Film no 1596293, Ref ID 14 & 106).
George’s father Edward “Couzens” was Christened on the 11th September 1791 in St Mary’s, Portsea, Hampshire, England. St Mary’s is built on the oldest church site on Portsea Island and has a history stretching back to the 11th century. George’s parents, Edward and Sarah Power were also married at St Mary’s on the 27th February 1816. George’s grandmother was Jane “Couzens” nee Higman and his great grandmother Ann Cusens nee Hobbs. (Indexing Project (Batch) NumberC02260-0System OriginEngland-EASyGS Film number1596292Reference IDyr 1791 p 16 and English Marriages .)
According to a letter dated 1st September 1985 from Mrs Sheila Anderson, a member of the Hampshire Genealogical Society, sent to Caryl Cusens and forwarded to her cousin and my great aunt, Winsome Fanny Barker, “Sarah Couzens” died on the 18th February 1863 and is buried in the Highland Road Cemetery. She notes also that “Old Goodman Couzens” was buried at St Mary’s on the 14ht March 1689, so this may also be a distant relative!
Emigration to South Africa
George married **Mary Ann Stears (28th March 1820 – 1903) on 18th May 1842, also in St John’s Church Portsea. Mary Ann was born in Portsea according to some records, while others mention the Isle of Wight. Mary Ann’s parents were **Isaac Stears and **Elizabeth Dela Court .
George worked as a shipwright and/or ships chandler. There first born son Edward Adolphus (9th April 1843 – 1911) born on Portsea Island, Hampshire, England. (England & Wales, Birth Index, 1837-2005, Apr-May-June 1843, volume 7, Page 148)
State aided immigration to South Africa took place in the period 1846 to 1848. There was a shortage of labour in the Cape Colony and money was put aside to import bricklayers, carpenters, masons and farm labourers. Employers were able to bring out mechanics, servants and labourers according to the regulation published in the Government Gazette of 12 July 1844. Bounties were paid in accordance with the class of the immigrant, being in the order of 10-15 pounds for single men, 15-22 pound 10 shillings for couples and 3-5 pounds for children. The duty of selecting the emigrants and sending then from England was left to the emigration agents. This system was regarded as unfavourable as there was no control of the selection methods used or the ships transporting the emigrants to the Cape. In May 1845 the system was amended; the Government would introduce the immigrants after tenders had been received. Importers would be responsible for the selection of emigrants and their transportation to the Cape. The ages of the emigrants and their supervision and treatment were stipulated. The bounty per immigrant would be determined by public competition and paid only after they had satisfied the local immigration boards requirements at the port of disembarkation. This made them vulnerable to rejection at the Cape. At the suggestion of Earl Grey in 1848 the system was modified again whereby the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners examined the would be emigrants before embarkation.
Detailed records of the 1844 and 1845 schemes are lacking. Only a few immigrants came in 1844, followed by batches of immigrants between February 1846 and August 1848. They sailed in 14 ships, each carrying between 153 and 242 people and in total about 2689 immigrants arrived in South Africa. The majority disembarked at Cape Town, a few at Mossel Bay (about 11) and some (at least 450) at Port Elizabeth. In the period 1857-61 a further 9655 people emigrated from the United Kingdom to Table Bay (4671), Algoa Bay (4666) and British Kaffraria (318). (“Part 1 – before 1857; Chapter III Non German Immigration” in For men must work by E.L.C. Schnell.)
The exact details of the voyage of George Adolphus Cusens and Mary Ann Stears to South Africa are not known to me, but we can make a few conclusions by looking at the available records. They are said to have travelled with their infant son **Edward Adolphus (born 9th April 1843), suggesting that they may have been among the earlier immigrants of 1844. However, there is a record from the 1861 England & Wales Census, where a George Adolphus Cusens (41) born in Portsea is recorded as living as a lodger at 10 Brunswick RD, West Cowes, Hampshire, England. If this is the same person, which is possible, then he must have taken part in the emigration scheme of 1857-61 and not that of 1844. Unless of course, he returned to England in 1861 for a visit, and was included in the census, which is also possible. (1861 England & Wales Census: Hampshire Township: West Cowes Page: 42 Family: 69 Line: 9 Image: 18)
Interestingly, the meticulous genealogical notes of my great aunt Winsome Barker dated March 1954, George and Mary-Ann came to the Grahamstown district in about 1860. They had 9 children, and according to their birth records it fits that they emmigrated to South Africa in 1857- 61 period (between 1859 -61), but then not only with Edward Adolphus, but also with Annie, Mary, Francis, Thomas Delacourt and George Alfred.
The 1851 census tells us that Mary “Cosins” (31 – Seamans wife – born in Portsea), was living at 3 Unicorn St, Portsea, Hampshire, England along with her mother Elizabeth Stears (67 (i.e. born circa 1784) – accountant – born in Cornwall, Padstow), and her brother Joseph Stears (27 – shipwright – born in Lamport) in 1851. Elizabeth’s grandchildren (Mary’s children) were living there too. They are listed as Edward “Cousens” (7 – scholar – born in Portsea), George “Cosens” (6 – scholar – born in Portsea), Annie “Cousens” (3 – born in Portsea) and Mary “Cosens” (1 – born in Portsea). Where was George then? at sea? (1851 England & Wales Census: Parish/ Township: Portsea, Municipal borough: Portsmouth, Ecclesiastical district: Trinity, Registration District: Portsea Town, County: Hampshire, Country: England, Date: 1851, Series: H0107, Piece: 1658, Registrar’s district: Portsea Island, Enumerated by: William Manchester, Enum. district: 1P, Page: 339, Family 5, line 16, Image:1)
Children of George Adolphus Cusens and Mary Ann Stears :
- **Edward Adolphus (1843 – 1911) married **Fanny Kingdom Orchard ( circa 1849 – 7th January 1897
- George Isaac (Oct-Dec 1844 – Oct-Dec 1856) – died young
- Annie (1846-1846) – died in infancy
- ? Mary Ann (Oct – Dec 1847 – ?)
- Annie (1848 -?) – married Moore
- Mary Elizabeth (July 1849-1931) – married Pitchford
- Francis “Frank” (July 1853-1888)
- Thomas Delacourt (1855-1892)
- George Alfred (1859 – 1933)
- Harry Douglas (1862 – 1938)
