Extraordinary story of Mayo man in South Africa
DURING the Great Famine of the 1840s more than one million people fled Ireland, writes Dr. Ciarán Reilly. In 1848 British Colonial Secretary Earl Grey proposed that convicts be sent to the Western Cape, initially to help build the city’s breakwater and other maritime projects, but eventually to be allowed reside there. What followed could hardly have been expected by Earl Grey.
On May 16, 1849, following a large protest meeting, an anti-convict association was formed and almost 5,000 people signed a petition against establishing a penal colony. Despite the protests of the colonists and sympathy of the governor, Sir Harry Smith, Earl Grey pushed ahead with plans to settle convicts at the Cape and instructed that the Neptune III was to leave Bermuda with 300 passengers on-board, including the now infamous John Mitchel.
Reaching Cape Town in September, the 282 prisoners (18 died at sea) and crew, numbering 55 people, were made to endure a five-month stay off the coast within sight of dry land.
Vigilante groups roamed Cape Town coercing people to sign the anti-convict pledge and desist from having any dealings with those who would not sign. Lawlessness prevailed and Cape Town was engulfed in riots.
For the prisoners on-board the anchored Neptune, an unlikely hero came to their rescue.
Born in Ballinastanford, near Claremorris, in 1806, Robert Stanford was a career soldier who served in Burma and in the Frontier Wars in the Eastern Cape in 1835-36. Retiring from the army on half-pay in 1838, he bought the Kleine Valley Estate, amounting to 26,807 acres.
Stanford was amongst the most enterprising of the Cape colonists. In 1848 he purchased another holding of more than 52,000 acres at a place called Gustrouw which he intended to rename Ballinastanford, in honour of his homeplace.
Stanford originally supported the blockade of the Neptune, but he finally relented, believing that by his 'timely assistance open rebellion and civil war would be averted'.
Over the next five months Stanford and some others ran the gauntlet, supplying the ship with supplies.
Before long Stanford became a pariah in the locality. His family were pelted with eggs, his children expelled from school, and he was refused medicine for his family, resulting in the death of a child.
By February 1850 Earl Grey realised that a resolution could not be reached and he ordered that the Neptune continue on its voyage to Van Dieman's Land.
The story of the Neptune and the standoff was a pivotal moment in the history of South Africa and that of the Famine Irish. Although emigration continued to South Africa, the incident slowed the numbers travelling there.
In August 1850 Robert Stanford was received at court by Queen Victoria and knighted for his services during the standoff. As partial compensation for the troubles that he had endured, both financial and otherwise, he was given £5,000.
Stanford died on December 20, 1877, in Charlton-upon-Medlock in Lancashire. Today, the village of Stanford, about 120 kilometres from Cape Town, bears his name.
Cong Moytura Heritage Society will be holding the final talk in their spring talks series at 8 p.m. this Friday, June 30, in the Crossroads Community Centre, Cong, where Dr. Ciarán Reilly will present a talk about Robert Stanford. All are welcome. There is no charge but donations to the work of the society are appreciated.