There is this amazing old post/fort about 25 kilometers out of Port Alfred. One has to drive though the exquisite Kap River Reserve to get here, but well worth the effort.(sorry in advance re the name, but I am simply reporting history here ne? ) A very rocky road awaits, and you eventually get to the cemetery, on the left, towards Grahamstown. The fort is another 4 kilometers further on. Now this arduous journey/road, is the main/important road, built by soldiers, not only as a means to get through to Grahamstown, on horseback or wagon, but served as a border post between the Lower Albany and Peddie, with the Fish River as the boundary. Attacks were frequent from Peddie, as where the isiXhosa raided, and cattle theft was the order of the day :) At the end of the Fourth Frontier War of 1811-1812, Colonel Graham instituted a series of posts from which patrols could guard the drifts across the Fish River. These posts were either rehabilitated farmhouses of wattle-and-daub or stone built shelters enclosed by primitive earthen redoubts with loopholes. Different sources give the number of forts as six, twenty and thirty. One source says they were first manned by burghers from George and Swellendam, while another refers to them being occupied by the “Cape Regiment”. According to one source, the first four posts were located at Van Aardt’s Post, near the present Longhope siding; on the abandoned farm of Coenraad Buys; at Kranz Drift near the present Pigot Bridge; and at Old Kaffir Drift Post which was later called Cawood’s Post. Later two additional posts were established at Noutoe, a farm situated on the road between Bruintjies Hooghte and Uitenhage; and on the farm of Commandant Piet Lombard, about 48km west of Fish River Mouth. To date we have been unable to find further information on the Coenraad Buys or Kranz Drift posts. According to a different source, the existing fortifications at Graaff Reinet and Uitenhage were included in the line of forts. Thereafter, the first fort was at Noutoe which was also to be the headquarters. However, after construction had already commenced, Graham decided it was unsuitable and Andries van Stockenstrom identified the abandoned farm, de Rietfontein, of Lucas Meyer as being more suitable. This headquarters was later named Grahamstown by Governor Cradock. According to Colin Coetzee, there was a front line of posts along the Fish River: Kruger’s; Rodewal; van Aardt’s; Paul Bester’s; Piet Coetzer’s; Jan de Lange’s; Van der Merwe’s; Junction Drift; Wentzel Coetzer’s; De Bruijn’s Drift; Coetzer’s Drift; Hermanuskraal; Waaiplaats; and Lower Kaffir Drift. There was a second line of posts at Brakfontein; Kommadagga; Swartwaterspoort; Rietberg Hill; Sandflats; Sidbury; Assegaaibos; Noutoe (MacNiel’s); Blaawkrantz; Lombard’s; Rietfontein; Okkert Heyns; J Oosthuizen’s; Sutherland’s; Reed River; and Olyvenfontein. He also mentions other, possibly earlier posts including Van der Walt’s; Slagboom; Coerney; Addo; Addo Drift; Addo Heights; Meyer’s; Vermaak’s; and a second Jan de Lange’s in the Uitenhage district. Because of the temporary nature of the construction, allied to the fact that some two hundred years have elapsed since these posts were constructed, few if any remains are extant. Additional information. Kaffir Drift aka Cawoods Pass, close to Clumber, was a settlement for the following Parties: The party Leaders on the Nautilus were: Charles CRAUSE John MANDY Thomas OWEN Thomas ROWLES George SCOTT -------------------------------- Kaffir Drift Farm No. 94 Division of Bathurst Field Cornetcy of Cutlerville [sp] Cuylerville West side: Kap River Upington Road Farm Mandys Location North West: Outspan and Pont Reserve North East: Fergans Location [not sure of spelling?] East side: Scotts Bottom No. 95 [3686/1884] Rowles Location -------------------------------- James and John CAWOOD, s.o. David CAWOOD and Mary SMITH Mary Hanna CAWOOD, d.o. James CAWOOD and Elizabeth HARTLEY, m. James FORDRED Ann CAWOOD, d.o. John CAWOOD and Ann MURRAY, m. William MANDY **James and John were brothers, making Mary and Ann cousins. ______________________________________________________ The next is pasted from a newspaper of 1877 William Cawoods Obituary A KEIGHLEY COLONY AT THE CAPE The unsparing hand of Time is gradually removing from our midst the brave adventurous band, who in 1820 settled in Lower Albany, and laid the foundation of the prosperous Eastern Province and the country beyond, as we find it today. Few, however, of those whose demise has been recorded of late years took so prominent a part in the early history of South African Colonization as did the brothers Cawood, the elder of whom, James Cawood, died in February of last year. In our issue of 3rd instant, it was our melancholy duty to record the death at Cradock, on the 1st instant, of the next eldest brother of that distinguished family: William Cawood. He was the second son of Mr. David Cawood, who in 1820, left his ancestral home, Way Bank Hall, Yorkshire (where the Hon. S. Cawood, the junior of the well known tri-partnership of Cawood Brothers, was born) for South Africa. The family then consisted of six sons and three daughters. It now numbers, all told, over 370 members. They settled at Kafir Drift (Known since the death of the head of the family as Cawoods Post). Each of the Brothers bore the stamp of the true Yorkshire breed, and each singularly, retained the twang of his native county. They were associated with the early settlers in their neighbourhood in most of the stirring scenes and contests with Kafirs that were incidental to the settlement of Lower Albany. The rough border life of these times, was a fitting prelude to the after career of the three brothers: James, William, and Samuel, who in 1832 and 1833 made extensive hunting trips into the almost unexplored territory of the ferocious Zulu Chieftain Dingaan. These expeditions extended very frequently far beyond the Vaal into the unknown regions beyond. Such a life, though congenial to the tastes of these adventurous Albany youths, was nevertheless fraught with perils and dangers of no ordinary description which were however bravely met, and though losses from various causes were often their lot, they succeeded in accumulating sufficient from their profits to give them a start in that career in which they have been so successful. Previous to taking up his permanent residence at Cradock, Mr. William Cawood lived for a few years at Somerset East, from whence he removed in 1849, remaining in Cradock for about a year. In 1853, however, he took up his abode permanently in that town, from which time to the date of his death, 24 years, he lived in Cradock. The experience and knowledge his life and character have given to a large circle of friends in that town and district, is well expressed by a private correspondent whose letter reached us by Sundays post, viz., that a more upright and honourable man never lived. He was always the same: if he said a thing you could depend upon him. Naturally of a retiring disposition, it is really wonderful how he exercised so much influence; and there is no doubt that the influence he had gained in the Cradock and surrounding districts, was as deservedly acknowledged by all, as it was wide spread and genuine. In public matters he kept aloof, except that he was a Municipal Councillor for 20 years, and only retired last year on account of his failing health, and with a well earned resolution of the Board, thanking him for his long and valuable services. Although not caring to mix much in politics, he never hesitated in giving his opinion, and was a staunch and uncompromising Eastern Province man. His worth as a Colonist was recognised by Governor Barkly, who conferred upon him, much against his inclination, and against his express wish to be relieved of such duties as the office would entail upon him a commission as Justice of the Peace. Like all British settlers of 1820, Mr. Cawood was as loyal a subject of the British Throne as ever breathed, and like his brother in Grahamstown, never lost an occasion of showing it. Only last Queens Birthday, Mr. Cawood, with his own hands, hoisted his splendid collection of flags in honour of Her Majesty and this was an act of loyalty he regularly performed every 24th May. It would have been better for the colony, if a constant stream of immigrants comprising men of the same stamina had continued to pour into it from that time to the present, or indeed, if even now a similar class of men were being introduced to cultivate our comparatively unutilised coast land, and to colonise the immense tracts of fertile country that have just been added to the British Possessions north of the Vaal. One has not far to go to see the great esteem in which the late Mr. Cawood was held. During his brief illness, anxious inquiries were received by his family as to his health from all parts of the colony as well as the Free State. His funeral was the largest ever seen in Cradock; at least 200 people following his remains to the grave, including English, Dutch and coloured people, whilst at the Cemetery there must have been, we are informed, at least between 300 and 400 people. He lived to a good old age, nearly seventy seven. There are not a few young men in Cradock who have grown up from boyhood to manhood in daily contact with Mr. Cawood, who are indebted to him for kindly advice, given in a quiet, thoughtful and gentlemanly way, that they felt it impossible to go away without being impressed with his worth. He is a man who will be missed more so from a small community such as Cradock, than in a large place. (Taken from a newspaper of August 18th 1877). So, in conclusion, lots to read. However, many pages tell of Cawoods Post, and Kaffir Drift Post being the same place. NOT SO, they are ona completely different side of the river :) Loads of perhaps missing links here? I posted the cenopath a few times as it is difficult to read.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Apr 2014 22:51:56 +0000
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