Please Note: Most, but not all, of the stories about the Molteno and related families were written by family members and were published in the Chronicle of the Family, 1913-20. They are currently being digitised and edited by me. Other stories I have to write from scratch, using what information I have been able to find. All this work is inevitably taking a huge amount of time. Currently, therefore, only a handful of the stories can be seen on the website. In due course, however, you will be able to click on each particular story and go straight through to it.

Anthony Molteno – The family establishes itself in London

Anthony Molteno settles in London as a printseller (Robert to write)
James Anthony Molteno’s family (Robert to write)
John Molteno’s family (Robert to write)
Happy Ending? John Molteno is robbed in 1803 (Robert to write)
(plus several more)

Boer War

Betty and Caroline unsuccessfully to the rescue – Emily Hobhouse’s deportation (Robert to write)
(plus lots of other accounts)

Cambridge

Percy Molteno as a student at Trinity College,Cambridge, in the early 1880s (from Francis Hirst’s unpublished biography of Percy, extracts from pp. 131-7) Go to Galleys 1-100. See pp. 166-171.
Fitzbilly cakes at Cambridge — Their Old Cape Dutch origin (pdf) — Marion Cran’s account of how Caroline Murray brought this recipe to the students at Cambridge (The Gardens of Good Hope, London: Herbert Jenkins Ltd., 1927. pp 83-85.)

Claremont House

The Cape – Life in the old days

Caroline Murray’s Reminiscences of the Old Cape (pdf) for a picture of life in the Cape in the 1860s.
Dr Charles Murray’s account from the 1880s, ‘Medical practice in the Old Cape Peninsula’ (Chronicle Vol 7 No 2 April 1920 pp 53-56). Go to Chronicle, April 1920.
Lil Sandeman’s Diary — My Journey to Africa, 1905-06 for an account of what life was like in Cape Town for the more privileged strata of society.
Donald Molteno’s 5^th birthday party at Fish Hoek (Chronicle, Vol 1 No 1 April 1913 p 13) Go to Chronicle, April 1913.

Deaths

Sir John Charles Molteno – his life and death (The Lantern, 4 September 1886) (reproduced in Chronicle Vol 2 No 2 August 1914 – pp 25-28) Go to Chronicle, August 1914.
Vyvyan Molteno ‘in memoriam’ (Chronicle Vol 1 No 2 August 1913 p 41) Go to Chronicle, August 1913. See also his tragic motorbike accident and the funeral at Parklands (Robert to write from Betty Molteno’s account.)
Mary Blenkins ‘in memoriam’ (Chronicle Vol 1 No 2 August 1913 p 41) Go to Chronicle, August 1913.
Annie Blenkins (nee Jarvis)’s last days, 1914 (author not specified) (Chronicle Vol 2 No 2 August 1914 pp. 23-24). Go to Chronicle August 1914.
Caroline Murray’s recollections of Molteno family life in Beaufort West in 1850s (Chronicle Vol 2 No 2 August 1914 pp 23-24) Go to Chronicle August 1914.
In Memoriam (Chronicle Vol 2 No 1 April 1914 p 18) Go to Chronicle April 1914.
Ian Bisset’s death in the East African campaign, 1917 (Chronicle Vol 5 No 1 April 1917 pp 21-24) Go to Chronicle April 1917.
George Murray’s death on the Western Front, 1918 (Chronicle Vol 6 No 2 August 1918 p 35-39) Go to Chronicle August 1918. See also George Murray in his School Days at Bedales (Chronicle, Vol 6 No 2 August 1918 pp 39-40) Go to Chronicle August 1918.
Alice Greene’s death, 1920 (Chronicle Vol 7 No 2 April 1920 pp 56-57) Go to Chronicle April 1920.
Percy Molteno’s funeral – The Last Stand, 19 September 1937

Farm Life

Kamferskraal by Lil Molteno (Chronicle Vol 1 No 1 April 1913 pp 6-8) Go to Chronicle April 1913.
Farewell to Janet – Life at Kamferskraal, by Lil Molteno (nee Sandeman) (Chronicle Vol 1 No 2 August 1913 pp 32-34)
The Karoo – Drought, Plagues and Deluges at Kamfers Kraal, 1915-1919 (Chronicle, Vol 3 No 2 August 1915, p 26; Vol 4 No 2 August 1916, p 45; Vol 4 No 3; December 1916, p 64; Vol 5 No 1 April 1917, p 3; Vol 5 No 3 December 1917 pp 50-51; Vol 6, No 3 December 1918 p 71; Vol 7, No 1 July 1919 p 5). Go to these issues of the Chronicle of the Family.
Kamferskraal let by Wallace to Joe Wilmot, (Chronicle, Vol 6 No 1 April 1918 pp 7-8) Go to Chronicle April 1918.
A New Great Trek – Wallace Molteno’s family move from Kamferskraal to Nelsport, Easter 1918, by Lil Molteno (nee Sandeman) (Chronicle, Vol 6 No 2 August 1918 pp 62-64)
The Nelspoort Mission School by Lil Molteno (Chronicle, Vol 7, No 2 April 1920 – pp 51-52) Go to Chronicle April 1920.
Harold Anderson’s farm at Norvals Pont in the Karoo, 1913 – dawn of modern irrigation — by Ernest Anderson (Chronicle, Vol 1 No 3 December 1913 pp 48-50) Go to Chronicle December 1913.
Effie Anderson settles in on her husband’s farm, Inungi, East Griqualand, 1915 — by Effie Stanford (nee Anderson) (Chronicle, Vol 3 No 1 April 1915 pp 12-15) Go to Chronicle April 1915.
Caroline Murray visits Effie and Elliot Stanford at Inungi, and Evelyn and Gordon Murray at Cedarville (Chronicle, Vol 5, No 2 August 1917 pp 38-42) Go to Chronicle August 1917.
Tom Anderson visits the farms of his son, Harold, and his daughter, Effie Stanford — by Tom Anderson, (Chronicle, Vol 5, No 2 August 1917 pp 45-46) Go to Chronicle August 1917.
Farming in East Griqualand — by Gordon Murray or Harold Anderson (Chronicle Vol 6 No 1 April 1918 pp 18-19) Go to Chronicle April 1918.
Elgin — Episodes of Farm Life, 1918 — by Kathleen Murray (Chronicle Vol 6 No 1 April 1918 pp 29-31) Go to Chronicle April 1918.
Shepherds go to school — Lil Molteno’s Farm School at Nelspoort — by Lil Molteno (nee Sandeman) (Chronicle, Vol 6 No 2 August 1918)
The Cottage on the Hill – Tommy Thomas and Brenda Molteno’s new home in Elgin, 1920 (Chronicle Vol 7 No 2 April 1920 pp 34-36) Go to Chronicle April 1920.
Ted & Harry Molteno join the picnic (pdf) — Marion Cran’s account of an Elgin picnic, 1927
Among the Peaches at Elgin — Kathleen Murray’s farm, 1926 (pdf) — by Marion Cran

Hawaii – Frank Molteno & his descendants

Frank Molteno’s adventure while fur hunting along the Californian coast (Robert to edit his own account)
Frank Molteno, whaler (Robert to write)
Frank Molteno’s family (Robert to write)
Revolution in Hawaii? Charles Molteno gets detained (Robert to write)

Hercules Jarvis

The Jarvis Family – Grandpapa Jarvis & Somerset House. Go to Caroline Murray’s Reminiscences of the Old Cape (pdf), pp 5-7.

Ireland

Rural Life in Ireland in 1913 — Dr C. F. K. Murray revisits his ancestral village (pdf)

Kenya – Surveying, Hunting and Farming

Jarvis and Lenox Murray’s experiences – extracts from their letters in almost every issue of the Chronicle of the Family.
In the Aberdare Forest, 1911 — by Jarvis Murray (Chronicle Vol 1 No 1 April 1913 pp 15-22) Go to Chronicle April 1913.
Having trouble with lions and starting to farm — by Jarvis Murray (Chronicle Vol 1 No 2 August 1913 pp 37-40) Go to Chronicle August 1913.
Elephant Hunting and Finding a Farm — by Jarvis Murray (Chronicle Vol 1 No 3 December 1913 p 53-55) Go to Chronicle December 1913.
More big game; more farming — by Jarvis Murray (Chronicle Vol 2 No. 1 April 1914 pp 11-13) Go to Chronicle April 1914.
Lenox Murray has a narrow escape (Chronicle Vol 2 No 2 August 1914 p 21) Go to Chronicle August 1914.
Farming in Kenya — Jarvis Murray starts again in 1919 — by Jarvis Murray (Chronicle Vol 7 No 1 July 1919 – p 2; and Vol 7, No 2 April 1920 – pp 33-34) Go to Chronicle July 1919.

Love Stories

Betty Molteno and Alice Greene become partners, Port Elizabeth (Robert to write)
Barkly Molteno – his untold story (Robert to write)
George Murray and Margaret Molteno (Robert to write)

The Peckham Moltenos — Fred Molteno’s family

Caroline Molteno (nee Bower) moves to Peckham (Robert to write)
Fred and Laura Molteno’s infant prodigy son. (Robert to write)
Musical Moltenos – Agnes and Laura Ada Molteno (Robert to write)
Great Aunt Molly and the Music Hall (Robert to write)
Bill Molteno Durrant, designer of London Transport’s Routemaster bus (Robert to write)
Bill Molteno Durrant, Director of Tank Design during the Second World War (Robert to write)

Political Engagement

Betty Molteno’s friendship with John Dube and Sol Plaatje (Robert to write)
Gandhi – Betty Molteno facilitates his meeting with Prime Minister Botha’s wife (Robert to write)
Weaving, Gandhi and Betty – origins of an idea? (Robert to write)
(lots more to be written by Robert about various members of the family, notably Percy, James, Charlie and Donald Molteno)

Religious Commitment

A Nun’s story — Catherine Molteno, Sister de Sales’s life (Robert to write)
Kate Molteno’s story Gallipoli (Robert to write)
Gallipoli, 1915 – and how Paul Batley became a Catholic monk (Robert to write)

Royalty

King George V gives a banquet for the Life Guards and the Blues, 1913 — by Ernest Anderson (Chronicle Vol 1 No 2 August 1913 p 25)
Review of the Household Troops at Windsor, 1913 — by Ursula Bisset (Chronicle, Vol 1 No 2 August 1913 pp 30-31) Go to Chronicle August 1913.
A Visit to Flag Captain Barkly Molteno on HMS Antrim — by Margaret Molteno (Chronicle Vol 2 No 3 December 1914 pp 55-56) Go to Chronicle December 1914.

Scotland

A Day on Schiehallion — by Islay Bisset (Chronicle Vol 1 No 3 December 1913 p 48)
Travelling in Scotland from Glen Lyon, Spring 1915 — by Caroline Murray (Chronicle, Vol 3 No 2 August 1915, p. 44-48) Go to Chronicle August 1915.
Glen Lyon – Kenah Murray’s family joins the family gathering in Fortingal, 1918 — by Hilda Murray (Chronicle Vol 6 No 3 December 1918 pp 67-68) Go to Chronicle December 1918.
Glen Lyon House and a trip on Lady Currie’s steam yacht Iolaire, 1919 (Chronicle Vol 7 No 2 April 1920 pp 30-31) Go to Chronicle April 1920.

The Sea

Table Bay tragedy — John Molteno rescues drowning passengers during a storm (Robert to write)
The Wreck of H.M.S. Captain, the first Royal Navy steam-powered battleship, 1870 by Dr Charles Murray (Chronicle Vol 2 No 1 April 1914 pp 13-18)
Mediterranean Storm – John Molteno and his daughters, Betty and Caroline, almost drown (Robert to write)
Charlie Molteno nearly drowns while fishing at Kalk Bay (Chronicle, Vol 1 No 1 April 1913 p 5) Go to Chronicle April 1913.
Picnic at Fish Hoek — Donald Molteno’s 5^th birthday, by Mary Molteno (Chronicle, Vol 1 No 1 April 1913 p 13)
A Visit to H.M.S. Antrim at invitation of Flag Captain Barkly Molteno — by Margaret Molteno (?) (Chronicle, Vol 2 No 3 December 1914, p. 55-56) Go to Chronicle December 1914.

Travels

Wagon Journeys from Beaufort West to Cape Town, 1850s — by Caroline Murray. Go to Caroline Murray’s Reminiscences of the Old Cape (pdf), pp. 7-9.
John Charles Molteno and his family sail to England, 1860 — by Caroline Murray. Go to Caroline Murray’s Reminiscences of the Old Cape (pdf), pp. 15-16.
John Charles Molteno takes his family travelling in Europe, 1861 — by Caroline Murray. Go to Caroline Murray’s Reminiscences of the Old Cape (pdf), pp. 18-19.
The Prah Expedition in the Ashante War, 1873 — by Dr C F K Murray (Chronicle Vol 6, No 3 December 1918 pp 97-100) Go to Chronicle December 1918.
Sir Donald Currie’s Tour of South, 1887-88 — Diary of his daughter, Maria Wisely (pdf)
A West Coast African voyage, 1914 — Willie Blenkins (Chronicle, Vol 2 No 2 August 1914 – pp 30-37) Go to Chronicle August 1914.
A Tour of Southern Africa — Kathleen Murray and Margaret Murray (nee Molteno) (Chronicle Vol 7 No 2 April 1920 pp 36-48) Go to Chronicle April 1920.
Visiting the Ancestral Village! – Robert Molteno made welcome in the village of Molteno, Italy — (Robert to write)

Weddings

Percy Molteno and Bessie Currie’s wedding at Garth, Scotland, 1889 (Francis Hirst, unpublished biography of Percy Molteno, pp. 169-170) Go to Galleys, pp. 1-100.
Effie Anderson’s wedding to Elliot Stanford at the Cape, 1914 (Chronicle Vol 2 , No 3, December 1914, pp 64-65) Go to Chronicle December 1914.
Clarissa Molteno’s Wedding to Captain Brabazon Newcomen in London, 1915 (Chronicle Vol 3 No 2 August 1915 p 48) Go to Chronicle August 1915.
Vincent Molteno and Eileen Wilson’s Wedding at the Cape, 1915 (Chronicle Vol 3 No 3 December 1915 pp 56-57) Go to Chronicle, December 1915.
May Murray’s Wedding to Dr Freddie Parker, 1915 (Chronicle Vol 3 No 2 August 1915 pp 44-45) Go to Chronicle August 1915.
Islay Bisset and Jervis Molteno’s wedding at the Cape, 1916 (Chronicle Vol 4 No 3 December 1916, pp 80-83) Go to Chronicle December 1916.
Marjorie Lindley and Harry Blackburn’s wedding, Cape Town, 1914 (Chronicle Vol 2 No 2 August 1914 pp 42-43) Go to Chronicle August 1914.
Barkly Molteno & Ethel Robertson’s wedding in London, 1915 (Chronicle Vol 3 No 3 December 1915 pp 56-57) Go to Chronicle December 1915.
George Murray and Margaret Molteno’s wedding in London, 1918 (Chronicle Vol 6 No 1 April 1918 p 14-19) Go to Chronicle April 1918.
Brenda Molteno and Tommy Thomas’s Wedding at Claremont House, 1919 (Chronicle Vol 7 No 1 July 1919 pp 24-27) Go to Chronicle July 1919.

World War One & its aftermath

For the main accounts of what happened to members of the family who served in the forces during the First World War, see the diaries and extracts from letters of Dr Ernest Anderson, Gerry Sandeman, Nan Mitchell, Barkly Molteno, John T. Molteno, Vincent Molteno, George Murray, Jarvis and Lenox Murray, Dr Kenah Murray and Gordon Thomas.

Zeppelin Raid over London, 1915 — by Percy Molteno (Chronicle, Vol 3 No 3, December 1915, p. 63-64) Go to Chronicle December 1915.
London air raid, 1917 — by Betty Molteno (Chronicle, Vol 5,No 3 December 1917 p. 51-52) Go to Chronicle December 1917.
The War affects civilians in Hampstead, London — by Islay Molteno (Chronicle, Vol 6 No 1 April 1918 pp 4,5) Go to Chronicle April 1918.
Shortages of food and fuel – May Murray Parker’s experience in Wales (Chronicle, Vol 6 No 1 April 1918 pp 5,6) Go to Chronicle April 1918.
The Royal Albert Hall — Londoners hail the Russian Revolution, Spring 1917 — by Betty Molteno (Chronicle, Vol 5 No 2 August 1917, pp 29-31) Go to Chronicle August 1917.
Kerensky, the Russian leader, appears at the Labour Party Conference. London, June 1918 — by Betty Molteno (Chronicle, Vol 6 No 2 August 1918 pp 60-63) Go to Chronicle August 1918.
The German Imperial Fleet surrenders, December 1918 — by Gordon Thomas (Chronicle, Vol 6 No 3 December 1918, pp 91-92) Go to Chronicle December 1918.
Peace at last — Armistice in the Great War — Alice Greene’s reactions (Chronicle, Vol 6, No 3 December 1918 – p 70) Go to Chronicle December 1918.
Surrender of General Von Lettow, German East Africa, December 1918 — by Jarvis Murray (Chronicle, Vol 7 No 1 July 1919, pp 6-8) Go to Chronicle July 1919.
Essex Hall Meetings – Betty Molteno attends; Percy Molteno speaks — by Betty Molteno (Chronicle, Vol 6, No 3 December 1918 – pp 72-79) Go to Chronicle December 1918.
President Wilson arrives in London, January 1919 on his way to Versailles — by Betty Molteno (Chronicle, Vol 7, No 1 July 1919 – pp 18-24) Go to Chronicle July 1919.
The Famine Fund for starving Children in Europe, 1919 – Raising Funds — by May Murray Parker (Chronicle, Vol 7, No 2 April 1920 – p 32) Go to Chronicle April 1920.

Molteno Family History

List of Stories