Additional information sent in by David Butler: grave of Sergeant William SALT (1793-02.01.1860).
He came to the unsettled Eastern Cape Frontier with the 38th Regiment of Foot in 1818. The Battle of Grahamstown 1819 may seem insignificant however it was pivotal. Following the success of a fierce battle that lasted barely an hour with some credit given to William's courageous young French wife Elizabeth, the British Government proceeded with their plan to settle 3000 unsuspecting English Settlers into this disputed territory a year later.
After the battle, the Salts remained in Grahamstown where their only child a daughter Elizabeth Margaret (jnr) was born in 1822. SALT took his discharge from the military and pursued various exploits without sufficient enterprise to guarantee any success. By 1836 the family had come to settle on the farm of widow Ann Edwards at Post Retief.
After daughter Elizabeth's marriage to John Joseph SMITH jnr of the farm Haartebeesfontein (Waylands), the Salts moved to live with her in Smith's Kloof about 6km from Post Retief . Elizabeth Salt with a wagon and span of oxen set herself to trading in the remote districts of the Cape Colony and beyond . She died suddenly on the "Eve" of the 8th Frontier War in September 1850 in the vicinity of Tarkastad . The exact location of her grave is unknown.
William lived a further 10 years after the death of his wife. He is buried in the Post Retief Cemetery above the Church of St John, Winterberg, a few kilometres from the military barracks Post Retief.
Acknowledgements to Dr Carl Kritzinger, a Smith/Edwards descendant— at Waylands Country House.
Date: 15 Jan 2011
Contributed by: Leslie de Klerk & Rosaleen Flanegan
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