Edward John Hulley ³

  General Notes:

Edward John Hulley was probably born in the Trapp's valley area of the Albany District of the Easter Province.

During the later kaffir wars he was commandant of the Grahamstown Burghers. He had his own flag that was found a few years ago amongst the possessions of the late William Gradwell, a son of Edward, and was presented to the Albany Museum. The background of the flag was a bright red on which there were several letters stitched along the edges with black thread: and the inscription"V - Crown - R" and the words "Rule Britania".

Edward John was a farmer and moved from place to place in search of suitable soil. At one time he was in Somerset East, at another back in Albany where he owned "Governers Kop". This large hill stood well out on the landscape and was visible from the then Grahamstown to King williamstown road that formed the boundary of the farm.

On the farm worked a Hottentot named Villem Mkuba who grew up on the farm with Edward John's sons, one of whom (Thomas Benjamin) taught Villem to read and write, which later was to be his downfall.
In 1895 Thomas B was a native Commisioner at Umtali, Rhodesia. Villem entered the district with a "Get rich quick scheme"; this was to collect hut tax from the local natives, that he sway the native Commisioners doing and issued receipts as they did. Villem armed himself with a rifle and revolver to discourage arrest. This availed him nothing. Thomas Benjamin was given 50 European Police under an Inspector and instructed to get Villem. Early one morning Villem was rudely awaken by thomas B pointing a revolver at him and saying he was wanted. His loaded rifle was against the hut wall and the loaded revolver by his side. Villem was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour on the Cape Town breakwater where all long term prisoners were sent. When the Bubonic plague broke out in Cape Town in 1901 Villem was immune and did such good nursing work serving his fellow prisoners that he was reprieved.

Edward John was attracted to the Kimberly mines where he pegged claims and worked them. Legend has it that 22000.00 pounds worth of diamonds were deposited in a bank in that town. After Edward's death the sons called for the diamonds but they could not be found and were never recovered.

Edward John later moved to Smithfield, Orange Free State where he died from pleurisy, having been predeceased by his wife.

The orphaned familygradually made their way back to Grahamstown, working at first for relations and afterwards had trading stores in such places as Maclear, Ugie in the Border districts.

  Events

• Occupation. ³ Farmer - Governors Kop

Edward married Mary Gradwell.³ (Mary Gradwell was born circa 1823 ³ and died on 02 Aug 1872 in Griqualand ³.)