The early history of Hankey 1822-1847

Abstract

Various issues emerge from a study of the first twenty-five years of the history of Hankey, which began as a station founded by the London Missionary Society in 1822. From the outset it constituted a unique experiment in Khoi land ownership, preceding the establishment of the Government inspired Kat River Settlement by seven years. Land acquisition in Hankey became a complex and disputed issue which was never satisfactorily resolved. Hankey was the scene of several early irrigation schemes. The most important of these featured the excavation in 1844 of a tunnel 240 metres long through the Vensterhoek Mountain, the first of its kind in the country. The tunnel was designed by the missionary William Enowy Philip and executed with the help of a band of Khoi labourers. It functioned successfully for 125 years until superseded by a modern irrigation network in 1970. Although Hankey during 1846. far removed from the eastern colonial boundary, was affected by the Xhosa wars which erupted there the 19th century, particularly those of 1835 and All able-bodied men on the station were called up for active service, on the settlement. which caused a severe manpower shortage During the 1835 war the men were kept on duty for nearly a year and came out in mutiny against their officers. They were truculent and embittered upon their return and found readjustment difficult. This adversely presented Melvill. affected the harmony of the entire community and problems for the resident missionary, John In December 1838 when the ex-slaves were released from their apprenticeships, many of them had nowhere to go. Hankey played an important part in accommodating some of these people by establishing two out stations for this the purpose, Cambria and Kruisfontein. A number of manumitted slaves also settled in Hankey. In 1838 industry spinning, for their missionary Edward Williams established a wool at the institution and gave formal instruction in weaving and knitting. These crafts were taught educational value rather than their economic potential. After 1842 William Philip arranged for the young men on the station to learn carpentry, blacksmithery and waggon building. In the field of higher education Hankey was a pioneer centre. Thomas Durant Philip founded a seminary there in 1847 for the sons of missionaries and suitable candidates from other racial groups who wanted to enter the ministry. A study of this nature involves an examination of the characters of the missionaries serving there during the period under review. With one exception, they were men of an exceptionaly high calibre. John Melvill gave up a life of comparative ease as a Government Surveyor in Cape Town to serve the missionary cause. Edward Williams was the first missionary at Hankey to make contact with the White farmers in the district and to minister to their spiritual needs. William Philip, his successor, being a qualified medical doctor, was able to provide them with a health service. Upon his death by drowning in the Gamtoos River, his brother Thomas Durant Philip took over the station and completed the Hankey irrigation system. Dr. John Philip, the Superintendent of the London Missionary Society in Southern Africa, was responsible for the founding of Hankey. He chose it as his place of retirement in 1850 and died there on 27th August, 1851.