The Risley Family
Alice
Douthera (Risley, Barker)
White
Birth: 24 October 1854, in Kingston, Surrey, England
Father: William
Risley
Mother: Emily (Ward) Risley
Married (1st): R. D. Barker
Married (2nd): Harry White on
30 April 1883 at St Peter's Cathedral, in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, by
the Venerable
Archdeacon
Colley.
Children:
Sources:
- Birth: FORD family tree
supplied by Esme Fuller
- Marriage (1st):
described in notice of her second marriage as "widow
of the late R. D. Barker, Esq. of Pietermaritzburg": Natal Witness 2
May
1883
- Marriage (2nd): Natal
Witness 2 May 1883
Clara Risley
Birth: 4 December 1856, in Uxbridge, Middlesex,
England
Father: William
Risley
Mother: Emily (Ward) Risley
Death: 16 September 1857, in
Uxbridge, Middlesex, England
Sources:
- Birth: FORD
family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
- Death:
England Death Index (3Q1857 v3a p19); exact date from FORD
family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
Clara
Ann Risley
Birth: 27 September 1859, in Blyth, Nottinghamshire,
England
Father: William
Risley
Mother: Emily (Ward) Risley
Sources:
- Birth: England
Birth Index (3Q1859 v7b p34); exact date from FORD
family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
Emily
(Risley) Ford
Birth: 20 November 1852, in Kingston, Surrey,
England
Father: William
Risley
Mother: Emily (Ward) Risley
Married: Edward Funnell Ford
on 28 September 1875, at St Peters Cathedral, Pietermaritzburg, Natal,
by the Lord Bishop of Natal
Children:
Notes:
Immigrated to South Africa in 1866
Arrived in Durban, South Africa aboard the Natal
Star in 1866
Memories: Extract from The
Daily
Tribune - Wednesday October
26, 1938
WAGONS BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES
TO THIS WOMAN PIONEER
As the Voortrekkerwagons creaked over the
Pietermaritzburg streets this
morning they reminded the respected senior generation of the days when
wagons were not historic relics but were almost the sole means of
transport.
It was in one of those lumbering vehicles that an
excited
little 14-years-old
girl made her first journey to the village which was to be her "home"
for
the remainder of her life. In the midst of the Centenary celebrations
today,
Mrs. E.F. Ford, the little girl of yesterday, recalled another gala
day.
It was the day when the whole of Durban went on holiday to celebrate
the
opening of the long anticipated lighthouse. It was on that same day
that
Mrs. Ford, her mother and six younger brothers and sisters disembarked
from the sailing vessel Natal Star, in which they had sailed from
England.
"We thought Durban was a lovely place", smiled Mrs.
Ford to a Daily
Tribune reporter. "Everyone was on holiday, just as they are to-day.
Flags
were flying everywhere. Even the boats on the bay were decorated."
Their first home was a rambling thatched roofed
cottage with mud floors
in Pietermaritz Street, opposite Temple Street.
Mrs. Ford went to school in Miss Newcombe's "Select
Establishment for
Young Ladies" in Pietermaritz Street. Her brothers were foundation
members
of Hilton College, under Dr. Neunham. Youth was hardy in those days.
"After
the holidays the boys thought nothing of walking home from school",
said
Mrs. Ford.
Mrs. Ford's father was one of the earliest city
councillors of Pietermaritzburg.
A few months later she moved with her husband to
Chase Valley. There
they set to work building a home for themselves out of the veld. They
planned
gardens and planted citrus trees, laying the foundations of what is now
a thriving citrus farm, Kingston Lodge.
QUEER FARM NAMES
The Fords lived there for
40 years. A well-known
neighbour of theirs was Judge Phillips, owner of "The Chase". He had
wonderful
gardens and planted trees imported from all parts of the world. The
judge
had a humerous taste as far as the names of his various homes were
concerned.
His first farm at Karkloof was called "The Start". Then he moved to
"The
Chase", and he ended his journey at a farm at Cope's Folly,
appropriately
named "The Finish".
Mrs. Ford still remembers how wildly
excited
she was when her husband
bought their first motor car. It was a regal affair that looked nice
but
had very limited capabilities. It was one of the earliest models and
travelling
in it was hazardous, to say the least. It took it all its time to get
along
itself without any passengers sitting in it, said Mrs. Ford.
Sources:
- Birth: England
Birth Index (1Q1853 v2a p154); exact date from FORD
family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
- Marriage:
Natal
Witness 8 October 1875
-
The Daily Tribune, October 26 1938
-
FORD family tree supplied by Esme Fuller

Frederick
William
Risley
Birth: 17 April 1858, in Uxbridge, Middlesex,
England
Father: William
Risley
Mother: Emily (Ward) Risley
Notes:
Twin brother to William
Frederick Risley
Immigrated to South Africa in 1866
Arrived in Durban, South Africa aboard the Natal
Star in 1866
Foundation member of Hilton
College, Hilton, Natal, South Africa
Frederick performed well academically, receiving a
prize at Hilton's
first prize-giving, as recorded in this report from the Natal
Witness
on 27 December 1872.
HILTON COLLEGE
On Wednesday 18th instant the pupils of Hilton College
were assembled for
the purpose of distribution of prizes previous to breaking up. A few
friends
had been invited to be present and it had been intended that the
masters
and senior pupils should act the Merchant of Venice
in the evening,
but the sudden and dangerous illness of Mrs Newnham put a stop to those
festivities.
The pupils being all assembled, the Principal addressed them
in a few
words. He pointed out the priciple which guided him in adjudging prizes
and stated that he would never give a prize for mere cleverness; that
industry
and good behaviour were what he desired to encourage; that it was
nothing
to him if through the colony "Hiltonian" and "cleverness" became
synonymous;
the desire of his heart was that "Hiltonian" and "gentleman" should be
convertible terms; that he had to thank the parents of many of his
pupils
for their liberality, whereby they had enabled him to mark the merits
of
many scholars whom he would have had to pass over had he only depended
on his own purse; that those boys who had not obtained prizes must not
be discouraged or think that they were thereby marked out as bad or
idle;
that his pleasant though difficult task had been, where all were good,
to separate the very good.
He then called each prize-winner and with a pithy exhortation
delivered
him his prize or prizes. The names are as follows:
First Division, including Fifth and Sixth
Forms: A. Baker, universal
proficiency; J. Polkinghorne, 1st prize, distinguished advance; W.
Birkett,
2nd do.; A. McKenzie, 3rd do.; W. Henderson, 4th do.; J. Polkinghorne,
1st prize, distinguished industry; W. Birkett, 2nd do,; R. Dixon, 1st
prize,
special advancement; J. Allison, 2nd do.; G. Robinson, 3rd do.; S.
Middleton,
4th do.; G. Salmon, 1st prize, general advancement and honourable
conduct;
G. Law, 2nd do.; E. Acutt, 3rd do.
Second Division, including Third and Forth
(sic) Forms: C. Henderson,
1st prize, super-eminent advancement; A. Butcher, 2nd do; C. Henderson,
1st prize, distinguished industry; A. Ross, 1st prize, special
advancement;
W. Leathern, 2nd do.; F. W. Risley, 3rd do.; J. Peniston, 4th do.; W.
Bowes,
1st prize, general advancement; H. Acutt, 2nd do.
Third Division, including First and Second
Forms: E. Randles,
super-eminent advancement; H. Brickhill, 1st prize, distinguished
advancement;
-. Middleton, 2nd do.; -.Macfarlane, 1st prize, special advancement; A.
Newnham, 3rd do.
A newspaper article about Frederick's father
mentions
Frederick as being
"one of Natal's most energetic prospectors"
Sources:
- FORD family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
- Pioneers
of Natal - The Natalian (Pietermaritzburg), September 11
1908
Henry
Risley
Birth: 17 August 1864, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
England
Father: William
Risley
Mother: Emily (Ward) Risley
Death: 18 August 1864
Source:
FORD family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
John
Edward Risley
Birth: 6 January 1863, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
England
Father: William
Risley
Mother: Emily (Ward) Risley
Notes:
A newspaper article about John's father mentions John as
being "a leading
agent and broker in Durban"
Sources:
- FORD family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
- Pioneers
of Natal - The Natalian (Pietermaritzburg), September 11
1908
Joseph
Risley
Father: Unknown Risley
Notes:
When Joseph's parents died while he was still young, Joseph
was left
in the care of his elder brother, William. Joseph, like his brother,
emigrated
to Natal and settled in Pietermaritzburg. He became a partner in the
firm
Harwin
& Risley (later Harwin & Co.) was was one of the City
Fathers.
Source:
Pioneers of Natal - The Natalian (Pietermaritzburg),
September
11 1908
Joseph
Risley
Birth: 1 April 1861, in Blyth, Nottinghamshire,
England
Father: William
Risley
Mother: Emily (Ward) Risley
Notes:
A newspaper article about Joseph's father mentions Joseph as
being
"on the Rand"
Sources:
- Birth: England
Birth Index 2Q1861 vol 7b pg 33; exact date from
FORD family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
- Pioneers
of Natal - The Natalian (Pietermaritzburg), September 11
1908
William
Risley
Birth: 1828 in Muswell Hill, London, England
Father: Unknown
Risley
Married (1st): Emily Mason Ward on
21 June 1851
in St George Hanover Square district, London, Middlesex
Children:
Married (2nd): to Matilda
Death: 29 November 1894
Buried: in Edmonton Church-yard,
London, England
Biography: Extract from The
Natalian - September 11, 1908
PIONEERS OF NATAL
THE MEN WHO MADE THE COLONIES
"There were Giants in those Days"
WILLIAM RISLEY
"An honest man's the noblest work of God"
Who of old Natal, and especially of
the old
days of Pietermaritzburg,
does not remember the rugged, kindly face and the short, sturdy
well-knit
form of William Risley - once so well known in our streets, on our
Market
Square or throughout the colony!
In the Days of his Youth
The subject of this biograpy was no
means born
in the lap of luxury.
He first saw the light in 1828 at Muswell Hill - then quite a country
place
but now a thriving suburb of the great metropolis of the Empire - and
from
his earliest boyhood his was a life of strenuous effort and of hard
work.
Losing his father and mother at an early age, he was left with the care
of a younger brother on his youthful shoulders, but nobly and well he
performed
the self-imposed task. This brother was the late Joseph Risley (also
well-known
and well-remembered in Pietermaritzburg), who afterwards became a
partner
in the then firm of Harwin & Risley (now Harwin & Co.)
and was
for some time one of our most respected City Fathers.
His Education
William Risley was not only a
self-made man -
he was a self-educated
man, and he has often told the present writer with glee, how after his
day's work was done, he copied an old English dictionary, from end to
end,
three times, so as to perfect himself in the spelling and meaning of
every
word in the English language! Truly a Herculean task and one which only
a youth of the dogged determination of a subject of "this autobiography
would" attempt. But horticulture was his hobby, and he made himself a
theoretical
and practical master of the art in every branch, and in all its
attendant
industries. He served for many years in various large nursuries, and
afterwards
in sundry poitions of high truston gentlemen's estates in the old
country,
thus perfectu\ing his earlier technical education.
His Advent in Natal
But all this arduous toil was
telling even on
William Risley's splendid
constitution, and it became necessary for him to seek a warmer climate
than that of old England. He had married a most estimable lady, and,
leaving
her in charge of their family of seven young children (of whom his
eldest
son were twins), he came to this colony in the year 1860, and
proceeding
at once to Pietermaritzburg, he commenced business as a practical
gardener
and florist in Pietermaritz Street, in what was then known as "Winter's
Field," near the foot of Raven Street, - a couple of hundred yards from
where the "Natalian" office in Church Street now stands. He varied his
hard work at this occupation by occasional shooting trips, for he was a
splendid shot and an expert taxidermist, and he was one of the first of
Natalians to send Home cases of specimens of South African birds and
fauna.
Many of to-day's followers of the art of taxidermy in Natal owe their
knowledge
to lessons from William Risley.
During this period he, with the most laudable of
intentions, attempted
for Natal what has proved such a curse in the eastern colonies of
Australia.
He indroduced some thirty pairs of rabbits, but they increased and
multiplied
and spread to such an extent that Mr. Risley speedily saw that what he
had intended as a blessing would become a curse, so he summoned the
assistance
of some local sportsmen, and in a day's "battue" put an end to the
existence
of "bunny" in Natal.
As Farmer and Transport Rider
But as to-day, so then --- business
in this
city, in the sixties, was
not flourishing, and in partnership with his old friend, William
Pidsley,
William Risley tried his hand at farming on one of the late Mr.
Vanderplank's
blocks of land in the neighbourhood of New Leeds. Their efforts met
with
some success , and with the addition of several up-country
transport-riding
trips the partners succeeded in making farming, on modern systems, pay.
But William Risley's energetic nature required greater scope than that
accorded by the tenure of a leasehold farm, and after a few years the
opportunity
he sought occurred.
As Diamond Digger and
Gold-Seeker
His wife and family had joined him
here in
1866, coming out in the ship
"Natal Star" (Captain Hodge), and in 1869 the news of the first
discovery
of diamonds in West Griqualand reached Natal, and William Risley,
accompanied
by four other old Pietermaritzburgers - "Ben" Moody, McGregor
(subsequently
Mayor of Kimberley), James, and Burmiston, set off for the new El
Dorado
to try their luck.
The usual vicissitudes of the pioneer digger's life
attended them, and
after a year of hard work resulted in bare living expenses - and often
very poor living at that. On his first arrival, in what is know
Kimberley,
he "pegged", five claims, but as subsequently the mining law allowed
only
two to one man, he gave one away, sold one for £5, and parted with
one for a secondhand umbrella - and not too good an umbrella either!.
And
such is the irony of fate that no sooner had Risley thus disposed of
some
of his surplus ground than the claims he had parted with began to yield
diamonds galore, while the two he had retained proved for months
practically
barren! For a time it looked as though there was nothing for it but a
return
to Natal empty-handed and with empty pockets, but at last the fickle
goddess,
Fortune, smiled upon Risley's efforts; and, having once turned her face
in his direction, made such ample amends for previous neglect, that in
1871 the temptation to look once more upon the scenes of his boyhood
proved
stronger than the mere amassing of wealth, and he took a trip Home. And
he made the same mistake as was made by hundreds of others ---- the
continuity
of the lasting powers of the greatest diamond fields the world has ever
seen. His claims were in the very heart of the Kimberley Mine, and had
he only "held on" until the great amalgamation came off, William Risley
would have become a multi-millionaire. But, unfortunately for himself
in
a way, he was one of those "of little faith", so instead of placing his
property in the hands of responsible friends for a time, he sold out -
lock, stock and barrel, and sailed for the dear home-land.
On his return to South Africa he tried his luck for
some months at alluvial
gold digging at the Pilgrim's Rest Fields, but with only limited
success.
As Seedsman and Florist
Returning to Natal, he successfully
set to work
to re-establish his
old seed and nursery business, this time purchasing the block of ground
in Church Street, in this city, on which now stands the millinery
establishment
of the Misses A. & A. Meadows. He also secured a farm in the
Chase
Valley, where his eldest daughter and her husband (Mr. and Mrs. E.F.
Ford)
now reside and this farm supplied and fed an ever-increasing business.
His noble wife and his sons and daughters, all lent a helping hand, and
the business prospered, and rapidly became the most flourishing seed
and
plant business in Natal - in fact its fame spread throughout the length
and breadth of South Africa. It was at Mr. Risley's farm, in the Chase
Valley, that the tuber-rose industry was initiated, and for some years
there it flourished, and only a change of fickle fashion prevented it
becoming
a permanent local industry. William Risley, too, may be styled the
"father"
of Natal's wattle bark industry, for he was the first to recognise the
enormous possibilities it contained for the colony.
A
Great
Bereavement
In 1878 William Risley suffered an
irreparable
loss in the death of
his
wife who had so bravely struggled with him in days of
poverty, and
who had so nobly helped him towards prosperity. His family lost a
dearly-loved
mother, and the whole community lost a true friend and a grand example.
The death of Mrs. Risley made a breach in the charitable ranks of
Pietermaritzburg
which was hardi to fill. Her charity was "not as sounding brass" - it
was
unostentatious, unassuming, and kindly. Her left hand hardly knew what
her right did, but to this day many can testify to the many solid acts
iof true Christian kindness of one who had well bourne her burden and
share
in the hard work, and difficult struggles, in the early days when Natal
was in the making. The late Mrs. Risley did the present writer many a
little
kindness in his early days in this colony, and he salutes her memory
with
deep respect. May she rest in peace!
Closing Scenes
For some eight years after his sad
loss,
William Risley remained in
Natal, and for a brief period he was a member of the Town Council of
this
city, but to a man of his energy and vitality the pettiness of parish
politics
were repugnant. As a councillor, he believed rather in the "fortiter in
re" than the "suaviter in mode", and as he abhorred narrow-mindedness,
he retired from the Council Chamber, to the regret of a great majority
of his fellow citizens. In conjunction with Mr. P.R. Murphy, he was for
many years a churchwarden of St. Peter's Cathedral, and nothing pleased
him better than to give picnics to the choir and Sunday School children
of the church. One of my earliest recollections of this city is a
picnic
given by Mr. Risley at The Chase on New Year's Day of 1877, and a most
enjoyable day it was. His experience in arboriculture and horticulture
was such that even to-day his notes are Natal's highest authority, and
are to-day referred to as final on abstruse points.
He married again, and decided to end his days in
his
native land, and
he accordingly returned to England, and at Muswell Hill he successfully
produced roses, carnations, grapes, tomatoes, etc., etc., for the
Covent
Garden market. But increasing years and the hardships, privations, and
exposures of his early days made him a martyr to rheumatism, and his
latter
time was aggravated by its ravage. ........... Muswell Hill ....... he
died on the ... November 1894, in the sixty-sixth year of his age and
the
mortal remains of one of the men who had helped not only to make the
colony,
but who been largely instrumental in making this city, were laid to
rest
in Edmonton Church-yard. "Peace to his ashes, rest to his ransomed
soul".
William Risley was essentially one of the men who,
by sheer pluck, by
hard work, by an indomitable will, were the Pioneers of Natal. He was
no
frothy politician, no windy orator. He believed in the old Latin motto,
"Res non verba", and he acted up to it. Men of William Risley's stamp
are
the men wanted in Natal to-day.
His Descendants
Of his family, one of his sons is in
one of the
largest business houses
in Harrismith; another is one of Natal's most energetic prospectors; a
third is on the Rand; and the youngestis a leading agent and broker in
Durban. His oldest daughter is the wife of Mr. E.F. Ford, the
well-known
carriage-builder and wagon-maker; and the two others are well-known and
highly respected residents in this city.
William Risley lived an earnest, energetic,
strenous
life, and his example
is one which is worthy of every imitation by Natalians of the
generation
of to-day.
By "AJAX"
Notes:
The newspaper article quoted above indicates that William
emigrated
to Natal to in 1860 and was followed by his wife and children in 1866.
This is inconsistent with his seventh child being born in
Nottinghamshire
in August of 1864. It seems more likely that William only went to Natal
some time in 1864 or 1865.
At the time of his death, William was working as a
florist for Floral
nursery on Southbury Road, Enfield, Middlesex.
Will:
THIS IS THE LAST WILL of me WILLIAM RISLEY of Natal
House Bycullah Road
Enfield Middlesex Gentleman I nominate and appoint Peter Rathbone
Murphy
of Oldbury Villas Southbury Road Enfield Gentleman Executor of this my
Will I direct the payment of my just debts funeral and testamentary
expenses
so soon as convenient after my decease I give devise and bequeath unto
my dear Wife Matilda Risley all my estate and effects both real and
personal
whether in possession reversion remainder or expectancy for her sole
separate
and absolute use and benefit I revoke all prior Wills IN WITNESS
whereof
I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of March One thousand eight
hundered
and eighty nine -- WM RISLEY -- Signed by the said William Risley the
Testator
in the presence of us both present at the same time who in his presence
at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed
our names as Witnesses - GEO CHAS H JENNINGS Solr 69 Leadenhall Street
London - W E CHILD Clerk to Messrs Jennings & Son 69 Leadenhall
Street
Solrs London
ON the 31st day of December 1894 Probate of this
Will was granted to
Peter Rathbone Murphy the sole Executor
Probate: RISLEY William of
Floral
nursey Southbury-road Enfield
Middlesex florist died 29 November 1894 Probate London
31 December
to Peter Rathbone Murphy gentleman Effects £376 7s 11d
Sources:
- Birth: FORD family
tree supplied by Esme Fuller; age at death was
65
- Marriage: England Marriage Index (2Q1851 vol 1 p55); exact date from FORD family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
- Pioneers
of Natal - The Natalian (Pietermaritzburg), September 11
1908
- Death: Probate records;
England Death Index 4Q1894 vol 3a pg 21

William
Frederick
Risley
Birth: 17 April 1858, in Uxbridge, Middlesex,
England
Father: William
Risley
Mother: Emily (Ward) Risley
Death: 10 August 1935, in
Harrismith, Free State, South Africa
Notes:
William was a twin brother to Frederick
William Risley.
he immigrated to South Africa, arriving in Durban aboard the Natal
Star
in February 1867. In 1872, he was a foundation member of Hilton
College, Hilton, Natal, South Africa, starting there the day
the school
opened.
William moved to Harrismith in the Free State with
the business house
he worked for, and was there from at least 1908 when the fact is
mentioned
in an article in The Natalian until his death.
The "little Risleys" are mentioned in the Diary of
Duncan McKenzie who
was also a founder pupil of Hilton College. It did not take long for
them
to get in a scrape as recounted in this story, reprinted in Lift
Up Your Hearts pg 175-6: Extracts from the Diary of
Duncan McKenzie
(1877)
"9th June 1877
It is about a year since I left Hilton College, but
nevertheless
I intend to return back to my school days and relate a few interesting
happenings of that period...
... The first day we arrived at Hilton, we did not
like it. We never
knew a soul, and the look of Mr. Newnham's big sjambok was quite enough
for me, as he came walking up to meet us; but when we came to hear that
he had no less than three, it frightened the lives out of us.
The big one he called Lamb's Tail, the second Cat's
Tail and the
third Rat's Tail.
Mr Crowe, the senior master also had one, a
two-tailed one, so there
were no less than four sjamboks in the school.
The first row that we got into was on Wednesday
afternoon when some
of us set off to get some maas at some native's kraal.
When we got there, there was no one at the huts
except children,
whom we told to go and call their parents.
As it was getting late we told a little girl to get
us some maas,
which she did, and we paid her for it, and ate until we had had
sufficient,
and then set to and splashed all the youngsters with the remains,
making
their heads white; but when they started crying, we decided it was time
to leave. We had only gone about 300 yards when we saw the kraal head,
Gwen, arriving at a fast pace. He never stopped to ask his children
anything,
as he could see what had happened, so we started running; but we had
about
two miles to get back to school and were all in a big fright,
especially
the little Risleys. One of them was singing out not to leave him, as he
was tired, so I caught his hand and helped him along. We hid in the gum
trees near school, until we thought all danger was over.
As however some boys told us that Gwen had been to
see Mr Newnham,
we waited in suspense, and sure enough next morning after prayers, Mr
Newnham
said "Will all the boys that went to Gwen's for maas yesterday please
stand
up." Up we stood, and he carried on, "Boys, you have only been here a
few
days and I am sorry to say that you have misbehaved yourselves, so you
must pay 6d each for the maas, and you ought not to have taken
advantage
of the children when their parents were away. That will do." And right
glad we were to get off so lightly."
Obituary:
Dated Saturday 17 August 1935, in the Harrismith Chronicle:
OBITUARY
WILLIAM FREDERICK RISLEY
We regret to record the death of Mr. William Frederick
Risley, who
died at the local Hospital on Saturday after a long and painful
sickbed.
Mr. Risley, who was born at Uxbridge
in
England, in April, 1958, was
one of twins, his brother being named Frederick William.
He lived in England until he was seven years old,
and then came out
to South Africa with his parents in the "Natal Star", an old sailing
vessel,
arriving here in February, 1867, after a voyage which was notable for
its
many vicissitudes. Their arrival at Durban coincided with the opening
of
the first lighthouse at the Bluff, and the town as a result was "en
Fete".
After staying in Durban for a couple of years they moved to Maritzburg,
and Mr. Risley's brother related how one the most interesting sights of
those days was the strings of ox wagons coming down to the coast from
the
interior. They often attained a length of 40 miles, and were packed
closely
from the Maritzburg Market Square to "World's View", where the new
broadcasting
station is now situated.
When still a young man, Mr. Risley entered the
service of Messrs. Parker,
Wood and Co., and was associated with that firm for 45 years, the last
few years being as manager of the local branch.
With his twin brother and Mr. George Law, Mr.
Risley
was a foundation
pupil of Hilton College at Maritzburg, the three of them enrolling the
first morning the school opened.
In Harrismith Mr. Risley was known to everyone of
the older citizens,
and during his long stay here, his quiet, unassuming and honest nature,
endeared himto a very large circle of friends, all of whom will mourn
his
death. He was a Christian in the very best sense of the word, and one
whose
life can be taken as a model by the younger people of Harrismith.
Sources:
- Obituary: The
Harrismith Chronicle 17 August 1935
-
FORD family tree supplied by Esme Fuller
-
The Natalian (Pietermaritzburg), September 11 1908; an article titled Pioneers
of Natal
Unknown
Risley
Children:
Notes:
William and Joseph's father and mother both died when the
children
were "at an early age", and Joseph was left in the care of his older
brother,
William.
Source:
Pioneers of Natal - The Natalian (Pietermaritzburg),
September
11 1908
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