Thread: Sly Family South Africa

I need help in finding the parents of William Wesley Sly born 1907 in South Africa. I have been told they came from Bristol in England but have no proof and cannot find anything on the net. Your help will be greatley appreciated as I have been trying for over 5 years now. We dont have any databases in SA as UK and US have.

Found on freebmd
Bristol marraige for a Richard Arthur Sly to either Rose Champ or Florence Maud Thorne DEC qtr vol 6a page 46 .

Did William Wesley have anymore brothers/ sisters ? Can you tell us anything more about him ? Any details on his birth certificate ?

Hello Joy

I have done an UK search on the surname and there are pages of them!

There is a site Ancestry24 which you may find useful to look at , I found the following entry:

SLY William Wesley St Pauls Rondebosch Baptisms 1855 - 1952 witnesses SLY x 2
also on the preview page the name Fay Edna BIRCH

Do you have any other details about William, from his birth or marriage certificate or when you think his family entered RSA

elsabels

Hazelnut SNAP!

Hi Hazelnut,

Sorry I have taken so long to reply but research so many web sites I end up forgetting which ones I have posted threads on. Thanks so much for the info it is something to go on that I didnt know. William Wesley Sly I think was born in South Africa, I have applied for a full birth certificate but its like pulling fowls teeth in S.A. they just say sorry cant find it, the records office is in such a mess. He had a brother by the name of Lester Francis but thats about all I know. He told my husband that he shoud be very proud of the Wesley name as it was passed down over several generations, but thats all that was ever said about the family. Your help is very much appreciated.

Hi Elsabels,

Sorry I took so long to acknowledge your post, there are evidently only two Sly families in S.A. but I find that hard to believe, the other gentleman in our phone book said his dad's name was also William Wesley but we cant seem to tie the two up. The one you found for Rondebosch could be his dad as his Grandfather was burried in Maitland in the Cape. I have no info of when the family came to S.A. and have applied to Home Afairs for a full birth certificate but I think I may as well have chucked the application in the dustbin, I believe their records office is in such a mess that they just reply "Sorry nothing on file" well thats South Africa for you" I really do appreciate all the help as every little bit gives me something else to go on. Thanks a mil.

Crew Lists
Willian SLY aged 26
year of birth 1846
place of birth New York
Previous ship AMERICAN (crewlist.org.uk)
Previous ship year: 1872
Capacity AB ( presume Able Bodied seaman)
Vessel EGYPT
Vessel registered no: 65865
Registered Liverpoool
Gross Tonnage 2959
Horse POWER 600
Period on the Crew List 17/12/1872 - 19/01/1873
Master F GROGAN
Masters ADDRESS 33 Belmont Road Liverpool
Masters Ticket no 6170 GROGAN
Log book available YES
Record office LIVEPOOL ref'ce 387 CRE

This looks like the William Wesley SLY who married Bessie BEEDELL

Hi Chris,

The info you give is the original family I thought we were linked to but speaking to another Sly in phone book in SA says it is his family link and he doesnt seem to think we are related, but I am sure that somewhere down the line there must be a link. Thanks for the info.