John Henry Engelsman ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

   Another name for John was Harry Engelsman.³

  Noted events in his life were:

• Residence, 12 Jan 1932, Longlands, Northern Cape, South Africa. ³

• Obituary: Diamond Fields Advertiser, 12 Jan 1932, Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa. ³

MR. "HARRY" ENGELSMAN

For practically half a century one of the best known and widely respected names on the alluvial diamond fields has been that of the Engelsman family. One of the most highly respected, Mr. John Henry Engelsman passed away at his late residence at Longlands on Saturday evening. The late Mr. Engelsman was born at Windsorton (then Hebron) sixty years ago, and lived all his life on these diamond fields. He married Miss Florence Maud Pearson by whom he is survived, together with four daughters and two sons, as well as by his brother and sister, Mr. Ben Engelsman and Mrs. C. Wigginton. The deceased gentleman was of a public-spirited disposition, and took the greatest interest in all movements for the betterment of the conditions of life of the river diggers. Being a very successful digger himself he was in a position, and took delight in giving generous assistance to all deserving causes and in helping his fellow diggers. He was at one time chairman of the Longlands School Committee, and served on the Diggers' Committee for many years, and was for a long time a member of the Executive Committee of the old Diggers' Union. He took a great interest and gave much financial assistance towards the building of the Longlands Town Hall, of which building he was a trustee, and he was also a trustee of the local cemetery.

The great respect in which the deceased gentleman was held was shown not only by the many beautiful floral tributes, but by the large gathering of upwards of three hundred people who assembled at Longlands from Kimberley and all parts of the river diggings on Sunday afternoon to pay their last sad tribute of respect. The funeral service was conducted by the Venerable Archdeacon J. W. Mogg. The Archdeacon delivered a touching funeral oration at the graveside.

The chief mourners were the widow and children and the sister of the deceased. The pall-bearers were Messrs. M. Wigginton, G. Engelsman, C. Pearson, Gumpley, and Davy, all relations of the deceased. Among the large gathering present were the Mayor of Barkly West (Councillor G. M. H. Barrell, M.P.C.) and the Deputy-Mayor (Councillor M. L. Genussow), Major H. P. Tuckey (chairman of the Barkly West District School Board), Messrs. C. de Kock and T. P. Hart (from Sydney-on-Vaal), Mr. and Mrs. C. Wigginton, Mr. and Mrs. Davy and family, Messrs. R. and G. Engelsman, Mr. Alf Solomon (from Kimberley), Mr. and Mrs. Crossley (brother-in-law and sister-in-law of the deceased), Mr. F. J. van Biljoen and Mr. J. Moll from Delpoort's Hope, and practically the entire population of Longlands and Winter's Rush.

The late Mr. "Harry" Engelsman was a member of the Distrikts Bestuur of the South African Party in the old Barkly West constituency days, and in him the party has lost one of its most consistent and stalwart supporters. Mr. Engelsman's death cast a deep gloom over the whole of the lower river diggings, and the greatest sympathy has been expressed with the widow and family in their irreparable loss.

• Occupation: Diamond Digger. ⁷

John married Florence Maud Pearson, daughter of Charles Alfred Pearson and Agnes Elizabeth Walford, on 28 Aug 1894 in Bernard Engelsman's house in Klipdam.^{1 2 3} (Florence Maud Pearson was born Cal May 1878 ^{1 2 6 8} and died on 8 Feb 1956 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa ^{8 9}.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage: In Community of Property. ⁷