Information supplied by Richard Ball

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Alexander Spalding Colour Sergeant, Royal Sappers and Miners (1852) 1 of King William's Town Barracks born circa 1812, Woolwich, Kent 2 died 11 August 1888, Garden House, Banks Drift, in the residence of Alexander Spalding 3 Notes: He joined the Royal Marines at Woolwich on 25th October 1831. He was 5 foot 7 3/4 inches tall, his hair was light brown, his eyes grey, his complexion fair. He gave his birthplace as Woolwich, his age as 19 and his trade as bricklayer. He had the letters 'E.M.A.S' marked on his right forearm. The same details appear on his discharge papers dated 30th June 1853 where his age is given as 47 years and 6 months and his height as 5 feet 9 inches. On the 3rd April 1833 he transferred to the Sappers and Miners as a private. He was promoted 2nd Corporal on 1st May 1837, Corporal on 1st June 1841, Sergeant on 10th April 1844 and Colour Sergeant on 11th July 1848. Between 1836 and 1843 he was stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In August 1845 the 9th Company of the Royal Sappers and Miners, to which he was then attached, was transferred from Mauritius to the Cape where the War of the Axe was being fought on the Eastern Frontier. During the next eight years this regiment saw more action than most infantry regiments. The bloodiest single action for the Corps occurred on June 12th 1852 when a party, including men of the 9th Company, left Grahamstown to escort nine wagons to Fort Beaufort. On a hill near the Koonap River the convoy was ambushed by rebel Hottentots. Four of the advance guard were killed in the first attack. They fought a retreat from wagon to wagon and into a nearby ruined farmhouse where they managed to hold out until assistance arrived. Alexander Spalding distinguished himself during this action. He received his discharge at the Cape 29th August 1853 on medical grounds of 'chronic rheumatism accompanied with nervious debility', settling in King Williams Town on a pension of 2 shillings a day. Information: G.R.Evison, The South Africa 1853 Medal, published Samson Books, 1978. The quotes of the Royal Sappers and Miners movements and actions at the Cape come from this book. Public Records Office, Kew: Description Books for the Woolwich Division of the Royal Marines ADM 158/66 WO 97/1152. No. 1488 Color Sergt. Alexaneder Spalding, Discharge Papers, 30th June 1853, Royal Sappers and Miners WO 22/243 (1853-56) and WO 22/244 (1876-79) Pension records

married 24 February 1834 at St. Luke, Old Charlton, Kent 4 Ann Smith circa 1814-1874 nurse and midwife 5 of Taylor Street, King William's Town 6

Anne b.1835 children Sarah 1836 - 1917 children John 1838 - bef.1888 Robert c1839 - 1885 children Albert Alexander c1841 - 1930 children Emma Isabel 1843 - 1847 Joseph James 1846 - 1915 children George b.1849 Margaret born and died 1851 Martha b.1852 Dina Maria b.1854 Charles Smith b.1857 children

children of Alexander and Ann Spalding Anne Spalding born 1835 born 8 March 1835 baptized 3 June 1835, St Luke, Old Charlton, Kent, by the Revd. A. Drummond, Rector  married 12 June 1850 Holy Trinity, King William's Town James Hampson 7 born circa 1824 corporal, Royal Engineers of Fort Murray Sarah Spalding 1836-1917 born 3 October 1836, Halifax, Nova Scotia baptized 23 October 1837, Halifax, by the Revd. J.T. Twining D.D. died 25 July 1917, Fort Jackson, Eastern Cape buried St. Stephen's, Fort Jackson, Eastern Cape  married 16 February 1852 Holy Trinity, King Williams Town Henry James Adkins 1827-1914 general dealer (1903) of Gonubie District John Spalding 8 1838-before 1888 born 2 July 1838, Halifax, Nova Scotia 9 baptized 22 July 1838, Halifax, Nova Scotia died before 1888 10 Notes: there is a death notice for a John Spalding, parents unknown, aged about 31 years, store and canteen keeper, who died in the Masonic Hotel, Hebron, 11 April 1872. It is noted that his wife had run off with Cruikshank. (MOK 1/1/3, 138) Robert Spalding circa 1839-1885 born circa 1839, Halifax, Canada died 23 January 1885, Spitzkop, District of Barkly, Griqualand West  married 15 January 1861 Trinity Church, King William's Town Sarah Jane Abernethy circa 1844-1891 of King William's Town Albert Alexander Spalding circa 1841-1930 born circa September 1841, Nova Scotia died 16 August 1930, Red Hill, Tabankulu  married East London Catherine Ann Treasurer 11 died after 1930 Emma Isabel Spalding 12 1843-1847 born 15 February 1843, Halifax, Nova Scotia 13 baptized 7 March 1843, Halifax, Nova Scotia 14 died March 1847, Fort Beaufort 15 buried 24 March 1847, Fort Beaufort 16 Joseph James Spalding 1846-1915 born 29 June 1846, Fort Beaufort, Cape Colony baptized 23 July 1846, Fort Beaufort, by the Revd. H. Beaver died 9 August 1915, at the house of H R Wade, Tsolo, Tsolo District  married 14 December 1868 Holy Trinity, King William's Town Charlotte Elizabeth 1840-1911 George Spalding born 1849 born 10 February 1849, Fort Cox, Cape of Good Hope 17 baptized 19 February 1849, Fort Cox, Cape of Good Hope Margaret Spalding born and died 1851 born March 1851 18 died 19 August 1851 buried King William's Town Martha Spalding born 1852 born 23 May 1852, King William's Town, Cape of Good Hope 19 baptized 27 May 1852, King William's Town Dina Maria Spalding born 1854 born 27 May 1854 20 baptized 25 June 1854, Holy Trinity, King Williams Town  married 1 December 1875 Wesleyan Methodist Church, Kimberley, Cape 21 Alexander Coltman butcher 22 of Kimberley 23 Charles Smith Spalding born 1857 born 5 March 1857, King William's Town baptized 23 April 1857, Methodist Church, King William's Town  married 27 June 1892 Makeking - Wesleyan Methodist Church Martha Johanna Louw born circa 1866

click on names in blue to move around the family tree small blue numbers provide the source of the fact to which they are attached all material on this page copyright Richard Ball 2017

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