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Elizabeth Shepstone’s Grave
Peddie district, Eastern Cape
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Click to view map Coordinates: | On the western bank of the Begha river, a short distance from the original site of the village of Wooldridge on the north eastern boundary of the farm Woolwich (Pato's Kraal) and in close proximity to the old wagon road, is a substantial memorial marking the grave of possibly the first white woman to die in the Peddie district. Her death was caused by complications caused by child birth. The memorial comprises a substantial plastered obelisk on a square plastered plinth with a rectangular sandstone grave stone inset on the north face of the plinth. A narrow brick lined grave is sited a short distance to the north. The memorial was probably constructed circa 1900 and was restored in the late 1950's under the direction of Mr. T. B Bowker M.P. It was presumably at this stage that the grave stone was protected with a woven metal screen. Elizabeth Shepstone's husband was Rev William Shepstone, then stationed at Wesleyville - and later at the the Wittebergen Mission near Aliwal North. The finely incised inscription on the grave stone reads: SACRED Elizabeth wife of Rev. William "What e'er we do whatsoever (Note: The final two lines of the inscription are no longer visible on the grave stone and have been sourced from the transcription recorded in Donald's booklet titled Peddie - Settlers' Outpost. See reference below) About two weeks prior to her passing, Elizabeth Shepstone had given birth to her 6th child, a baby girl, called Annie Jeans Shepstone. (Annie's eldest brother was Theophilus Shepstone - later knighted). Annie survived and was subsequently married in 1853 - at the age of 20 - to Richard William Hoskins Giddy, son of the missionary Richard Giddy. Richard W H Giddy became Treasurer-General of the British Colony of Griqualand West. They spent some time in Kimberley before moving to England for business reasons. Richard and Annie subsequently returned to South Africa with their youngest daughter, Mabel Shepstone Giddy. Richard W H Giddy died in Rondebosch in 1886. Annie became a much-loved grandmother to Mabel's children. Annie died on the 16th August, 1917 at the home of her son in-law Adv. William Porter Buchanan KC in Wynberg, Cape Town. She was 84 years old. Unfortunately Elizabeth Shepstone's memorial and grave have recently (c 2016) been damaged by persons unknown - probably looking for historical artefacts. One corner of the pylon had been removed and the slab over the grave had been broken up and the grave chamber opened. Attempts had also been made to remove the mesh screen over the grave stone. The natural growth of indigenous vegetation had also encroached substantially onto the memorial site. The first phase of the restoration of the damage to this memorial was completed in September 2017, with brickwork infill and the insertion of a large corner block that had remained intact. The balance of the restoration remains to be completed. Acknowledgements:
William A. MARTINSON Books and articles that reference Elizabeth Shepstone’s Grave
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