Richard Brangan Hulley ³

  General Notes:

Death date could be 9th Dec ?

Richard Brangan HULLEY
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1810 to 1888.

Richard Brangan HULLEY was born on the 5th September 1810, in Sheffield, Yorkshire - but the exact parish is not known. Other sources give the place of birth in Bandon, Cork County, Ireland - this has not been confirmed as yet. In 1820. accompaied by his parents and family, Richard Brangan HULLEY (aged 9) arrived in Algoa Bay, South Africa.

An extract from the narrative "A visit to South Africa" by James Backhouse (1838 - 1839). "After some religious services at the Kaffir District Post, we rode to Clumber, a pretty natural town in the Albany District, where the Wesleyans had a small church. On the way, we called on Richard Brangan HULLEY who related to us the following which occured, which effectively turned him to the Lord.

He was neglectful of religious things and the peace of his soul. He was asked to provide wild honey for a missionary who was ill. In endeavouring to do so, he fell from the branch on which he stood, to another branch, and eventually onto the ground, breaking one or more ribs. The injury caused great pain and lockjaw, so that he was extremely ill of 3 weeks. When in this state, he was alone and felt that unless divine mercy was extended to him, he would surely die. He arose from his bed and on bended knees, implored the deliverance. While praying he thought he heard a voice encouraging him to persevere, that his prayer would prevail. Soon after he felt a change in himself; he found his broken ribs restored to soundness; his mind filled with peace; and his body comforted. he wept with tears of joy and thanksgiving. During his illness he was unable to sleep and now lay praising the Lord for his assistance until he fell asleep. When he awoke he was still reduced in flesh, but was in good health and continued so until his full recovery."

An extract taken from Reverend Owen's visit to Zululand in 1837.

"Richard Brangan HULLEY was engaged in the month June 1837, by Francis Owen, to accompany him to Zululand as interpreter and artisan. (It is not known just where Richard learnt to speak Zulu - or maybe he could speak Xhosa, which would help to understand and speak a little Zulu)

The party started from Butterworth Mission, in Gealeland and consisted of the Reverend Francis Owen, his wife, Richard Brangan HULLEY, his wife Jane, their 4 years old son, William, and a young nanny by the name of Wood.

En route to Port Natal (now Durban), a call was made on Mr J Joyce (missionary to Paramount Chief Faku) and Dr Adams of the American Mission Board. In Port Natal, the party went to Berea House which had been build by Captain Gardiner for the Church of England Mission.

After permission was obtained from Chief Dingaan to settle in his country, the party left Port Natal in August 1837 in three ox-wagons, with Mr Richard (Dick) King as their guide. (Dick King is famous for his ride to Grahamstown from Port Natal to seek British force to come relieve Port Natal from the Boers)

Five days after leaving Port Natal, the Tugela River was crossed. Ten miles further on an American Mission, under the supervision of Reverend Champion, received the travelling party with great kindness. Here they also met a Mr Brownlee, who later became an authority on Native Affairs and Law in the Transkei. After a further 5 days trek, Dingaan's kraal of some 1000 huts was reached.

Except for one meeting when the Reverend Owen preached to the Zulu, he was not allowed to preach again.

As Richard Brangan HULLEY could speak to Dingaan in his own tongue (or there abouts from Xhosa ??) he was engaged by Dingaan to teach him to read and to write, and to act as his interpreter. However, Dingaan became too occupied with his wars with the Boers to continue his studies.

At about this time, a son was born to Richard and Jane - probably his second child, which was named Richard. Richard Brangan HULLEY was the only white man who ever presumed to make a joke with Dingaan. At the birth of this child. This was done by annoucing to Dingaan that a white stranger had arrived during the night and was now at the Mission House. Dingaan had an extraordinary system of espionage; no stranger came into his domain without the information being conveyed to him; and any neglect to acquaint him of this strangers presence meant certain death to a score of people in the vicinity. When Richard Brangan HULLEY made his statement, the Councillors around Dingaan were seen to squim with fear. Dingaan was incredulous; such a thing could never happen without his knowledge. Richard Brangan HULLEY affirmed as he said it was, but as the stranger was too weak to walk, he invited Dingaan to come and see for himself.

Once at the Mission House, Richard Brangan HULLEY introudced Dingaan to his newborn son who had arrived during the night. Dingaan enjoyed the joke so thoroughly that he promptly ordered that 10 head of cattle be given to the stranger at once. In delight at the escape, the councillors gave an impromptu war dance. This is the first and only European child to be born at Dingaan's 'Great Place'.

Early in 1838, Dingaan requested that Reverend Owen write a letter to Captain Gardiner in Durban, and also to John Crane, requesting the two of them to be present at a meeting with the Boers to be held at the "Great Place", Gingindhlovu. Richard Brangan HULLEY was sent to deliver these letters.

On the morning of the 6th February 1838, after having given breakfast to 2 of Piet Retief's party, Reverend Owen and his party heard the inflamed shouts of the blood inflamed warriors as the Boers and their servants were massacred.

Richard Brangan HULLEY's return was delayed by the flood of the Tugela River, but, on reaching the ridge overlooking the "Great Place" and in the direction of the execution ground, he observed a large flock of vultures hovering over the "place of the dead". About halfway down the ridge, as he travelled, he saw a white shirt sleeve torn from it's garment, laying beside the path, which filled him with fear, lest the Mission Party had been put to death.

When he reached the principal entrance to the kraal, he saw a pile of saddles piled one upon another. He sent a message to Dingaan reporting his return, but being anxious about his family, went off to check on the situation. His house was empty, but with the tea things not cleared away. So he went to Reverend Owen's house where he hound his family all safe and gathered in prayer.

Richard Brangan HULLEY reported back to Dingaan, where he learnt that during his absence, the Boers (numbering about 60 men with the same number of after-riders) had arrived and had what was presumed to be a satisfactory meeting with Dingaan. However, when their horses were brought up and they were preparing to depart, they were requested to enter the enclosure and to come to Dingaan to drink to his good health. He requested them to leave their arms outside the enclosure. On a sign from Dingaan, they were attacked by 1000 warriors. The Boer's necks were broken.

The dead bodies of the Boers were taken to the execution ground and left out there to decay.

Thereafter, the missionaries felt their safety insecure and so asked permission from Dingaan to leave his country. This was granted. Two men were sent with them to secure safe passage to the Tugela River. The party reached Port Natal (Durban) safely. Thus ended the mission to Zululand and Dingaan's kraal.

Richard Brangan HULLEY then had a lengthy and notable service in Pondoland. As a Catechist at Clarkbury, he did valuable pioneering work but was driven out by the Kaffir Wars (also known as the Frontier Wars) with a number of his converts. he subsequently settle in Shawbury - another Mission. He laboured between troublesome times here, but his efficient and vigorous leadership carried him through.

When he was appointed to Tsungwana (Osborne) many of his people followed him there. he did wonderful work among the AmaBaca, wielding a tremendous influence. He retired to Entambeni and started service of his own on his own farm. Here he laid the foundations fo the Entambeni Missionary Circuit. A large church has been erected at this place to his memory.

Article of the Hulley Family.

The Hulley family of Zululand. Thelma Neville. Newspaper cutting - Newspaper unknown. Sent by Noelle Reyneke of Volksrust.

The recent appeal by Mrs. Dorothy Rivett Carnac of Grahamstown for 1820 Settlers family trees has brought many strange and interesting stories to light.

One family tree that reads like a tale told by an ancient troubadour is that of the Hulley family of Natal. Their roots go right back to the Wars of the Roses and Hulleys can be traced through the stir of the Armada, on to the Battle of Waterloo, to the distant troubled frontier of the Eastern Cape, then to Natal and on to Zululand, where they penetrated into Dingaan's Great Place of 1000 huts.

And revealed in this adventurous story are the achievements of the Hulleys in the field of farming, public service and missionary work. Their descendants of today, who are spread throughout South Africa and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), continue to play and important part in the life of the country - one as a writer, one as a judge - and in many other ways.

The first member of the family to come to South Africa was Richard Hulley, a captain of artillery, who had fought at the Battle of Waterloo and because his ancestors had taken part in the Wars of the Roses, he was allowed to use the "crossed rose leaves" on his crest.

Terrors. Richard Hulley (39), his wife Ann (33) and their four children - Richard (9), Ann (6), Sarah (4) and Frances (one) - came out in the Stentor in Richardson's party and settled in the Clumber area of Albany. There Richard Hulley farmed and faced all the terrors of the Frontier Wars. He was much loved and respected, "always dressed as an English gentleman" as one of his family said of him, and died at his daughter's home in Cradock in 1847.

It was his eldest son, Richard Brangon Hulley, who went to Natal and then on to Zululand with the Rev. Francis Owen, a Church of England missionary, as an interpreter, His wife and son William accompanied him.

On the way, to what is now Durban, they passed through the present Adams Mission station and met Mr. Adams of the American Mission Board. In Durban they stayed at Berea House, which had been built by Captain Gardiner for the Church of England Mission. It was Captain Gardiner who first called the hilly part of Durban the "Berea", from the Berea Hill in St. Paul's letter.

Dingaan. Having received permission from Dingaan to settle in his country, they left for Zululand in August 1837, in three ox wagons, with Mr. Dick King as their guide. Five days later they crossed the Tugela and after a further five days trek, reached Dingaan's Great Place.

After one meeting at which Mr. Owen preached to the Zulus he was forbidden to preach again. However, Richard Hulley who could speak Zulu, was commanded by Dingaan to teach him to read and write. He seems to have gained Dingaan's confidence, for he is the only white man who every presumed to joke with the Zulu warrior king.

On one occasion, Richard Hulley announced that a white stranger had arrived during the night and was at the Mission House. Dingaan had an extraordinary system of espionage. No strangers could come to his domain without the information being conveyed to him. Any slip up in this procedure certified certain death to those responsible - plus many others besides.

When Dingaan heard Richard Hulley's news, he was astounded. His councilors were terrified. Quite unperturbed, Mr. Hulley said it was quite true. But as the stranger was too weak to walk, he invited the chief and his councilors to come and see for themselves. When they arrived at the Mission House, he introduced them to his newly-born son.

Dingaan who had a sense of humour - albeit very grim at times - enjoyed the joke and ordered that 10 cattle be given to the baby. The councilors, delighted to escape punishment, gave an impromptu dance of joy.

When the terrible massacred of Piet Retief and his party took place in 1838, Richard Hulley was away in Durban, sent there by Dingaan with a letter to Captain Gardiner. He was held up on his return by a swollen river and arrived to find a deathly quiet - his house empty and scene of terror and death on the hill. His own family, however, were safe in Mr. Owen's house and he found them at family worship.

The missionary part, horrified by the events, obtained permission from Dingaan to leave his country and were escorted to the Tugela and reached Port Natal from where they took ship to Algoa Bay.

Transkei. Richard Hulley spent the rest of his life as a missionary in what is now the Transkei and was loved and respected by all. He died in 1888 and was buried in Hopewell Farm, near Umzimkulu, East Griqualand.

This story, which is part of the Hulley saga, was sent in by Mr. Frank Hulley of Umtali, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) - the great-grandson of the original Settler Richard Hulley. The Kannemeyer family, one of whom is Mr. Justice Kannemeyer of Grahamstown, who are descendants of the Hulleys, have also contributed their family records as a result of Mrs. Rivett Carnac's appeal.

Richard Hulley's descendants have lived in many parts of South Africa and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). As letters come in from the present generation, reflecting triumph over difficulties, great courage and the spirit of fun and adventure, there is the realization that the pioneer spirit lives on.

Photos and updates by Lilli Marlene Hulley ³

  Events

• Research Data: Grave site info to be followed up on. Hello all!
I have received the following message from Giles Hulley of Switzerland (ex South Africa) who recently visited the above location. His message is self-explanatory and if there is anyone who may be able help
to correct this unsatisfactory situation, I would be pleased if they would contact me. If anyone lives near to the site and are willing to volunteer to at least clean and tidy up the Hulley grave(s) in the graveyard, that would be a great help.
<I was recently in South Africa and went to visit the Hulley family graveyard...it is on, what used to be Hopewell Farm, it starts with grave of Richard Brangan Hulley (b1810)... (I have a picture of it which I will send shortly) and includes the graves of Egeland (connection to Leif Egeland of the United Nations apparently) and Dugmore (a well known missionary of the settler time whose words are engraved on the settler monument (again I think this is the case) which are, "our people must take root or die!"...or something to this effect...I haven't actually seen it yet! The last point about the graveyard is that it is now apparently a National Heritage site, which means it cannot be altered without "official approval". Unfortunately, however, it has become a little overgrown and difficult to get to...I was wondering whether with your list of Hulley emails, you could put the word out for anyone who would be willing to try and do something about this...I am unfortunately living in Switzerland (and there are two other Hulley's here as well) so I can't do much, other than bring it to the attention of the concerned few!>
Clearly I can only be a co-ordinating point but there may be some official Government department that I could contact to seek official help to improve the site as a whole. Any ideas?
Best wishes

Ray

Richard married Jane Maria Harden on 18 Nov 1831 in Bathurst, Cape Province.³ (Jane Maria Harden was born in 1818 ³ and died on 29 Mar 1849 ³.)

Richard next married Caroline Dugmore on 17 Nov 1853 in Albany.³ (Caroline Dugmore was born on 23 Oct 1817,³ died on 12 Oct 1898 ³ and was buried in Hopewell, Umzimkulu, Natal, Rsa ⁵.)