An extract from “Thus came the English” by D.E. Rivett
Jeremiah Goldswain, and Eliza Debenhan whom he wished to marry, had to appear before the landdrost so they walked thirty miles through the thick bus to Graham’s Town where the Martimonial Court met once a month. They were made to wait for four hours before the landdrost saw them, after being questioned, they were told to return in a fortnight to get a licence and pay fifteen shillings.
“The following Morning we returned home and on the forteenth day I left again for Gramham’s Town and got the Licence and returned home on the evening of the fifteenthday: this was a jurney on foot of 120 miles – They day we ware Marred, we left the reasadence of my wifes father in Hymans Partey for Willsons partey more then ten miles to the residence of the Revt. Mr Bordsmands and wen we got to the house we found to our Great Disopintment he had left for Grahams town a bout half and hower on horse back”
Goldswain borrowed a horse from his father in law to try and find the Wesleyan minister Reverend Stephen Kay. He rode about the country looking for the minister, meeting friends who wished him much joy.
“I told them that if that was the Joy that I was to have to walk and ride and run as I had dun and had to do so meny miles before I could git Marred I hope that wold be the Last time that I should be under the painful nesetey of having to go so meney Miles. As soone as I had taken a little refreshment I a gain mounted my poney: I had alreddey walked and road 20 Miles and wen I was leveing the House my intended father inlaw called out to me stated that he hoped that I wold have Mersey on the Horse: I said that I wold ride his tale off but what I wold find they Minester.”
By the time Jeremiah Goldswain found the Reverend Kay, he had added forty miles to his total and the married couple did not reach home until 8:30 that evening.
