Gibbs Family Tree

Elizabeth Maria Molteno

Elizabeth Maria Molteno

Female 1852 - 1927  (74 years)

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  • Name Elizabeth Maria Molteno 
    Nickname Betty 
    Birth 24 Sep 1852  South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Female 
    Death 25 Aug 1927  London Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Age at Death: 74 
    Death 25 Aug 1927  South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Probate Date 13 Apr 1928  London Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • The eldest of John Charles Molteno’s children. When her mother, Elizabeth Maria Jarvis, died in 1874, Betty took responsibility for bringing up several of her younger brothers. Only when she was in her mid thirties, did she begin teaching. During the 1890s, she was headmistress of The Collegiate School for Girls in Port Elizabeth, which is where she met her lifelong partner, Alice Greene.

      Betty is perhaps the most remarkable of John Charles’s children. She took up many causes, including opposition to Britain’s war against the Boer Republics. She was active in support of the rights of Indian South Africans (she was a friend of Gandhi and spoke at many of his public meetings).

      She also supported Black South Africans’ early struggles over land and political rights, and lived for a time in a cottage built for her at the Ohlange Institute (next door to Gandhi’s Phoenix Settlement) which was founded by John Dube, first President General of the African National Congress. She was a particular friend of Sol Plaatje. Betty was also a feminist and demanded the franchise for women.

    • Read more about Betty Molteno at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Maria_Molteno
    Person ID I371  Gibbs Family Tree
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2018 

    Father John Charles Molteno, Sir,   b. 5 Jun 1814, London Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1 Sep 1886, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Maria Jarvis,   b. 20 Jan 1831, Western Cape, South Africa Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Apr 1874, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 43 years) 
    Marriage 20 Oct 1851 
    Family ID F140  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Alice M Greene,   b. 1859   d. Mar 1920, Cornwall Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 61 years) 
    Family ID F1435  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 9 Jul 2017 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 24 Sep 1852 - South Africa Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Age at Death: 74 - 25 Aug 1927 - London Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 25 Aug 1927 - South Africa Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsProbate Date - 13 Apr 1928 - London Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Elizabeth Maria Jarvis.jpg
    230px-Elizabeth_Maria_Molteno_-_Civil_and_Womens_Rights_Activist_-_Cape_Town_2.jpg
    Betty Molteno (left) & Alice Greene (right).jpg
    Betty Molteno, Alice Greene with Charlie & Lucy Molteno's children, Millers Point, pre-1916.jpg

    Histories
    Elizabeth Maria Molteno.htm
    Elizabeth Maria Molteno.htm