Emily
Elizabeth Greathead née Stanton
Mother of Joyce Greathead, born 10 Aug 1909
Emily was the second daughter and seventh child. Her earliest
memory was of watching funeral courtage of her brother
Herbert (1st child) born 1857 died 1872 with her mother,
as women did not go to burials in those days. Herbert
was kicked in the head by a horse in 1867 he had a silver
plate screwed over the hole. In 1872 he was kicked again
in the head and died.3 Emily Elizabeth Stanton was born
on 24 August 1870 in Kingwilliamstown, Cape Town, South
Africa, Emily was brought into the world by her father
in an ox wagon. The black midwife arrived late, this was
known as Kafreria.
When she ws two months old, herparents after wrapping
her in blankets, fled with her when plundering tribesmen
set fire to their farmhouse. She was the daughter of
John Stanton and Charlotte Whittle. She married Henry
Percival Greathead, son of William Wright Greathead
and Emily Jane Halse, on 19 August 1890 in Johannesburg,
Transvaal, South Africa, Emily had spent most of her
life in Ficksburg until her marriage when she and her
husband moved to Johannesurg. Two years later they settled
on their Barvale farm, near Nelspruit. Her husband Henry
died on 31 October 1930 in Johannesburg, Transvaal,
South Africa, aged 63 and Emily shouldered the responsibilty
of carrying on the farm and rearing the children.2 Emily
celebrated his 100th birthday with a family party. She
was still getting up at 5 o'clock every Friday when
she travelled to Nelspruit to visit the morning market
and doing her weekly shopping. She died in August 1975
in Transvaal, South Africa, The newspaper article about
her death stated she had been in bed with influenza
but seem to be recovereing when she beacme ill again.
She died of pneumonia on the farm near King William's
Town.
