Thomas Shone

Thomas Shone (1784–1868) was an 1820 Settler in South Africa. Born in London, he went to sea at 18 (or before) and while on board the Lord Nelson, was captured by the French on 14 August 1803. He was imprisoned in Givet and Sarrelivre prison camps and there he learnt his trade of shoe making. Lord Nelson (East Indiaman) see 2nd Voyage. This fully describes the capture and recapture of the vessel concerned. Thomas Shone was not in the Royal Navy but was an Ordinary Seaman, joining the East India Company in 1802 (see ships' records and French POW records).

With the aid of French Freemasons he escaped to England where he started a family in London. In 1820 his three children were Weslyan baptised soon before boarding Nautilus with his wife Sarah Phillips, and sailed to Algoa Bay. He had joined a party as a labourer despite his ability to read and write. As part of the Scott party, which meant he was bound to work at his master's command, almost as a slave for five years to repay the cost of his voyage, they were settled close to the Xhosa border and were the last to leave after the first Xhosa war broke out, losing their entire belongings. He built up a second farm which was again burnt down in a later border war. On the death of his wife Sarah in 1837 he became melancholy and decided to write a daily journal, which he continued for 30 years. The journal provides insight into the day-to-day lives of the 1820 Settlers and their hardships. It is located at the Cory Library at Rhodes University.

His grandson, Thomas Leopold Hamilton Shone, founded the manganese mining industry in South Africa.

References

• The Albany Journals of Thomas Shone: ed. Penelope Silva (1992) (Graham's Town Series 12.) Cape Town: Maskew Miller Longman, for Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
• Shones of South Africa : Dudley K Shone