Thomas Shone
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Thomas Shone (1784-1868) was an 1820 Settler. Born in London to a wealthy merchant family, he joined the Royal Navy at 19 and while on board HMS Nelson, was captured by the French on 14th Aug 1803. He was imprisoned in Giuvet and Sarilibre prison camps and there he learnt his trade of shoe making.
With the aid of French Freemasons he escaped to England where he started a family in London. In 1820 his 3 children were all Weslyan baptised soon before boarding Nautilus with his wife Sarah Phillips, and sailed to Algoa Bay. He had volunteered as a labourer despite his obvious education. As part of the Scott party they were settled close to the Xhosa border and were the last to leave after the first Xhosa war broke out, losing their entire belongings. He built up a second farm which was again burnt down in a later border war. On the death of his wife Sarah in 1837 he became melancholy and decided to write a daily journal, which he continued for 30 years. It gives a fascinating insight into the day to day lives of the 1820 Settlers and their hardships. It is presently located at the Cory Library at Rhodes University.
His grandson, Thomas Leopold Hamilton Shone, founded the manganese mining industry in South Africa.
[edit] References
- The Albany Journals of Thomas Shone: Penelope Silva
- Shones of South Africa : Dudley K Shone
