Salem, Eastern Cape

Salem
1820 Methodist Church in Salem
Salem
 Salem shown within Eastern Cape
Salem
Salem (South Africa)
Salem
Salem (Africa)
Coordinates: 33°28′17″S 26°29′00″E / 33.47139°S 26.48333°E / -33.47139; 26.48333Coordinates: 33°28′17″S 26°29′00″E / 33.47139°S 26.48333°E / -33.47139; 26.48333
Country South Africa
Province Eastern Cape
District Sarah Baartman
Municipality Makana
Time zone UTC+2 (SAST)
PO box 6150

Salem is a settlement in South Africa, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Grahamstown and 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Alexandria. It was founded as a settlement of the Hezekiah Sephton party of 1820 Settlers comprising the following families and individuals: Jones, John Filmer, Wm. Muir, Urry, Watkins, Colling, Booth, Rees, Talbot, Bryant, Wm. Penny, Oats, Prior, Timlett, Rayner, Prinn, Istead, Jenkinson, Cyrus, Wells, Marsh, Serle, Sparks, C. Penny, Witherage, Gush, Wickman, Clark, Watson, Hancock, Shaw, Webb, Kidd, Meller, Evans, Hogsflesh, Slater, Croft, Turpin, Brown, Ochse, B. Rudman, S. Rudman, Caldicott, Watkins and R. Jones. The families travelled in three parties from Port Elizabeth, the last arriving at the Salem site on July 23rd.[1]:11 The name is of biblical origin (Genesis 14:18) and, proclaimed the Sunday after their arrival by the Reverend Shaw[1]:18, means 'peace'; the local application refers to a reconciliation between sects.[2]

A church built form mud blocks and thatch was consecrated in 1824, and replaced by a stone structure in 1832. The church often served as a refuge for women and children during the Frontier Wars. Several settler houses, built in the Georgian style, have been preserved.[3]

In December 2017 the Constitutional Court upheld a land claim lodged in respect of the Salem Commonage by descendants of the black community that previously occupied the land.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Powell, F. Whinchcombe (1960). Hancock's Drift: The Story of the Great Wagon Road. 21 Berg Str, Pietermaritzburg: F.W. Whinchcombe.
  2. ↑ Raper, P. E. (1989). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 395. ISBN 978-0-947464-04-2 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ↑ Sandra Olivier (2005). Touring in South Africa. Struik. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-77007-142-1.
  4. ↑ "Salem Party Club and Others v Salem Community and Others (CCT26/17) [2017] ZACC 46 (11 December 2017)". www.saflii.org. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.