BC 597 THE BROWN FAMILY PAPERS BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE The collection relates to the Brown, Solomon, Middleton and Naude families, their individual lives, and their inter-relationship. The Brown Family Papers refer to John Brown of Carpow (ca. 1695- 1733) the honest weaver; John Brown of Haddington, Scotland (1722-1787) author of the self- interpreting Bible; John Brown of Whitburn (1754-1832); Samuel Brown (1779-1839[?]), founder of Village Itinerary Libraries; John Croumbie Brown (1808-1895), missionary of London Mission Society, and later Colonial Botanist (1862-66), and Professor of Botany, S.A.C., 1862-67; John Brown medical practitioner, ('Rab') (1810-1882); John Brown (18421929) District Surgeon, Fraserburg (1865-1876), later of Edinburgh, and Burnley, Lancashire. John Brown of Haddington's first wife was Janet Thomson, and after her death, his second wife was Violet Croumbie. Janet bore him 8 children, of whom John Brown of Whitburn was the eldest son. He first married Isabella Cranston, and afterwards Agnes Fletcher. Their daughter Erskine married John Croumbie, eldest son of Samuel Brown. John Croumbie and Erskine's 4th child married Mary Solomon, 3rd child of Henry Solomon and Julia Middleton. Out of this alliance Rachel, their 2nd child, married James Dick, and their eldest daughter Margaret (Mollie) first married Stanley F. Smith, and later L. Marriott-Earle. Janet, their 2nd daughter, married Archibald McGregor, whose eldest daughter Sheila married Stewart Truswell. Pieter Hugo Naude's connection with the Brown family arose because of his marriage to Julia Mary, 3rd child of John Brown and Erskine Brown. Solomon Family There are references to Nathaniel Solomon of Kent, married to Phoebe de Mitz of Leyden, 3 of whose 21 children, Saul (1776 - ?), Joseph and Benjamin, went to St. Helena. Joseph married Hannah Moss, and later came to Cape Town. The most prominent children of this marriage were Henry Solomon (1816 - 1900), Saul (1817-1892), and Edward (1820-1886). Henry married Julia Middleton. Mary, 3rd child of their family of 11 children, married Dr. John Brown, Fraserburg. Saul married Georgiana Thomson, 3 of whose offspring were Saul, W.E. Gladstone and Daisy. Of Edward's marriage to Jessie Matthews were born Edward (later Sir), Richard (later Sir), William (later Sir) and Emilie. A family connection of the Solomons is William Harry Ramsbottom (1894- 1960). Apart from the family, amongst those referred to in the collection are: Thomas Arbousset, John Bokwe, J. Buchanan (later Sir John Buchanan), Napoleon Buonaparte, Rev. James Cameron, (S.A.C. Professor of Latin and History), H.M. Cameron, Capt. Campbell, John Cane, Jean-Eugene Casalis, Rev. G.F. Childe, (S.A.C. Professor of Mathematics), Sir Lowry Cole, Rev. Cousins of Madagascar, Dr. Drew, Dingaan, H.M. Dyke, Dr. Ebden, John Fairburn, F.G. Farewell, Rev. Fraser, Sir John Fraser, T.E. Fuller (later Sir Thomas Fuller), Francis Fynn, George Greig, Bishop Gray, George Grei, Hlambabanzi, Lieut. James S. King, Rudyard Kipling, Dr. Lister, Sir Henry Littlejohn, David Livingstone, Sir James MacKenzie, Rev. John Moffat, Moss Family of St. Helena, Prof. R. Noble (S.A.C. Professor of Literature and Physical Science), Dr. John Philip, Thomas Pringle, Olive Schreiner, Shaka, Dr. Shand (Tulbagh District Surgeon), Dr. Simpson, Col. Somerset, Sir Richard Southey (Colonial Secretary), R.L. Stevenson, Dr. J. Stewart, A.C. Swinburne, W.M. Thackeray. THE COLLECTION Period covered; 1808-1974 Page 1 of 12 The Brown Papers were presented to the University of Cape Town Libraries in 1975 by a descendant of the Brown Family, Yrs. J. McGregor, and number approximately 377 items. The papers reflect family histories, social, religious and historical matters, and some medical aspects. The geographical areas covered are Fraserburg, Cape Town and district, and Natal in South Africa; St. Helena; Haddington and Edinburgh, Scotland, and Burnley, Lancashire, England. The collection includes references to church work and ministers in Congregational, English, Dutch and United Presbyterian churches; missionaries and missions, including London Missionary Society social reform in many facets in Christian Temperance Societies, Mutual Improvement Society Women's suffrage, Poor Law and workhouse; the early days of printing in the Cape in 'The Commercial Advertiser’, 'Argus Company' and 'Government Gazette.' South African College events, staff and students appear in this collection. Types of material are correspondence, documents, articles, family trees, a large photographic section, watercolours, sketches and an engraving, press cuttings and books. A. Brown Family History A1 Aunt Rachel. Ivy Bank, Haddington. Article by Rev. Wm. Thomson in Haddington Courier 6 pp. August 1907. Photo of Haddington Church. A2 TSS. reminiscences of Doctor John Brown in his 81st year. - 8.10.1922. 12pp. A 3 Clipping from 'Veld trust', September 1954.'Pioneer Soil Propagandist "Hard work it may be; but hard work has its rewards," by C.L. Wicht. 3pp. re John Croumbie Brown A 4 MSS. notes on "Cousin Phoebe". (Nobbs) 4pp. Unsigned. Sept. 1972 A5 TSS. article 'Doctor John Brown the author of 'Rab and his friends' An appreciation. Poem by Robert Louis Stevenson' To Doctor John Brown,' and poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne 'To Dr. John Brown.' MSS . note on 1st page I think this is a paper given by Ray Dick to her study Circle - Rab was a cousin of grandmother. 20pp. Undated A6 Family tree of Rachel Dick lp. Undated A7 Printed extract ‘Dr. John Brown' from. unknown publication pp-5-8. with photograph of Dr. John Drown. Undated. A8 MSS. Memoir of Mrs. Brown. 3pp.Note "copied by my Grandmother Erskine Brown about her mother, R.E. Dick". Undated. A9 Printed pamphlet 'A Pioneer of Botany and Forestry at the Cape of Good Hope.By P. Nobbs M.B., B.S. Personal copy of R.E. Dick. A10 TSS. Cc. ‘Notes on the life of Dr. John Brown of Burnley and Cape Town.’ 2pp. Undated. Unsigned. A11 TSS. 'Notes on the life of Dr. John Brown.’ Annotated. 1p. Undated. Unsigned A12 TSS. Extract from “John Brown of Haddington” by Robert MacKenzie. P.1. Undated A13 2 TSS. Cc’s extract from “John Brown of Haddington” by Robert MacKenzie. P.1. Undated A14 TSS. Copies of Inscriptions of Brown graves, at Haddington, Scotland. Unsigned. Undated. A15 MSS. Article re Croumbie Siver Teaset. Undated. Unsigned. A16 1 envelope addressed to Mrs. R.E. Dick, Kenilworth, 18.10.1955 A16.1 2 xerox copies and negative of Brown Family Tree. (Negative housed in BZD). Solomon Family History A17 Copy MSS. letter headed Cape Town from Edward Solomon, 15.8.1835, re his conversion to Christianity, 3PP. with Page 2 of 12 A18 TSS. article headed 'Edward.' undated. 2pp. MSS. Article beginning "after his conversion from Judaism..." Undated. Unsigned. 2pp. A19 MSS. note written by Erskine Brown to her sister-in-law re christening of Miss Margaret Solomon 23.12.1844 A20 In Memoriam. J.S.S. Julia Sophia Solomon. 18.2.1901. An address delivered in New Church, Sea Point, on 22.2.1901, by the Rev. Dr. Cameron. Printed by request for private circulation. 17pp. A21 TSS. Extract from Tsala ea Batho on Sir R. Solomon, K.C., L.C.B., K.C.M.G., by the Rev. Rose-Innes from ‘The Christian Express’, (now the S.A. Outlook). lp. 13.12.1913. A22 TSS. extract from S.A. Law Journal, vol.45.p311, 1928, re Saul Solomon, and TSS. extract from S.A. Law Journal, vol.56, p.441, 193p, re W.H. Ramsbottom. A23 The Public Work of Miss Emilie Solomon. Extract from South African Outlook. May 1, 1939. p116-117, A24 TSS. Extracts re Justice William Henry Ramsbottom from Rand Daily Mail, The Star, The Emmanuel College Magazine, The S.A. Law Journal. 1958-1961. 8pp. A25 TSS. Extract from The Friend re. W.H. Ramsbottom from an article contributed by Leslie Blackwell, former M.P. and Judge. 24.6.1966. A26 TSS. Extract re Justice William Henry Ramsbottom from S.A. Law Journal. 1961, and TSS. Extract re Saul Solomon from S.A. Law Journal, 1961. A27 TSS. Extract re the Late Hon. Saul Solomon from The South African Law Journal, Feb. 1961, and TSS. Copy letter from R.H. MacKintosh, retired police pathologist, re Mr. Justice Saul Solomon from ‘The Star’. 27.12.1960 A28 TSS. Cc. Article ‘Nathaniel Isaacs, a Natal Founder, by Louis Herrman, 1961. 29pp. Personal copy of M.G.Earle. A29 TSS. Cc. Article ‘Nathaniel Isaacs, a Natal Founder, by Louis Herrman, 1961. 29pp. A30 Letter from Secretary, The Jewish Museum, Cape Town, to Miss M. Dick, Wynberg, re loan of a prayer book of the family of the late Saul Solomon, dated 1.6.1961, with A31 MSS. Article re Solomon Family Prayer Book. 2pp. Unsigned. Undated A32 MSS. Article re Mother Hannah and re Prayer Book. 1p. Unsigned. 4.7.1926. A33 MSS. statement headed The Tryst, Kenilworth, with Mary Brown's mark re Prayer Book.. 29.4.1932. A34 TSS. cc. document of notes inside grayer book, including family dates. A35 TSS. cc. re Capt. Wiilliam E.G. Solomon from The Times, Wed. Dec. 22, 1965. lp. A36 Printed article 'The Pioneers' re Mary Solomon in The Bluestocking. Vol. XXX. No 11. April, 1973, p.33. A37 MSS. article 'From notes from H.M. Cameron, obtained from Aunt Bella Solomon and Aunt A.M. Solomon. lp. Undated. Signed ‘M.B.’ A38 MSS. 'Notes from Uncle Saul (Father's Brother) given to me. (M.B.) Unsigned. Undated A39 MSS. Article ‘How they went to St. Helena. Notes from Mrs. Godfrey, Bayswater. Signed ‘M.B.’ 1p. A40 MSS. Article ‘Traditions and Memories concerning our grandparents. Joseph and Hannah Solomon, with Introduction. 17pp. and notes 6pp. A41 TSS. Cc.article ‘Traditions and Memories concerning our grandparents.