Tag Archives: John Sutherland

Colonial History of Knysna 1770-1890 (Part 3 – Magistracy)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The History of Knysna – Knysna becomes a Seat of Magistracy: By 1848 the population of, what was to become the village of Knysna, excluding the families of the gentleman farmers, viz. Rex, Duthie and Barrington, and their retainers, consisted of a tiny (white) population of only 10 adults and 5 children! But the character of Knysna was soon to change. In 1847 John Sutherland built a stone school building and by 1855 there were 55 school children attending class. The building of the school was closely followed by the … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Colonial History of Knysna 1770-1890 (Part 2)

Mike Hampton Posted on by

The History of Knysna – Belvidere, Portland & the village of Newhaven: The next major player to settle in Knysna was Captain Thomas Henry Duthie, late of the 72 Highlanders, who married Caroline Rex and, in 1834, bought the farm Uitzicht from his father-in-law George Rex, which had been re-named Belvidere by Rex, located on the west side of the Knysna Estuary. Here, in 1848, Duthie built a stone farmhouse and raised a family. He was also the driving force behind the building of the little Norman style sandstone church … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!

Knysna’s First School

Mike Hampton Posted on by

John Sutherland, son of Col. John Sutherland who bought the Melkhoutkraal Farm from the estate of George Rex, founder of Knysna, laid out the village of Newhaven and built this school building. Bishop Robert Gray used the school decked out with flowers for the first Anglican Church service in Knysna on Sunday 17 September, 1848. The school was used as a licensed church for services including marriages, until the completion of the first St George’s church. The property was transferred to the Union Lodge of Free Masons at Knysna in … Read the full article…

The truth may be bitter but sharing it is sweet!