Of Frykbergs Knotts and others:Information about Andrew Edward Vickers
Andrew Edward Vickers (b. Abt. 1827, d. 03 March 1873)
Notes for Andrew Edward Vickers:
Arrived in SA 1859 with a printing press.
From "That sunny dome - A portrait of regency Britain" donald a Low. 942.073
Hastings Lib.
Freedom from censorship had been won by Milton and other campaigners, and
during the Napoleonic wars there was considerable criticism but not as much
as for the Regent who was lampooned by Cruikshank, Gilray and Rowlanson.
But copies of newspapers were pretty hard to sellbecause of a heavy tax which
put papers out of the reach of all but the wealthy. Some newspapers were
'bought' by government parties and Sunday newspapers relied on sensational
stories. During the war with France foreign news was often supplied to papers
through a smuggling ring though the post office was obliged to deliver no news
to newpapers until in the hands of government. Hence the underground news from what eventually became the foreign correspondent
In 1810 all printing was done by hand about 250 editions in an hour. In 1813
Frederick Koenig demonstrated his cylinder method for steam printing
Immediately taken up by the Times.These machines printed over 1000 copies in
an hour and in 1827 the Times bought several steam cylinders which printed 4000 sheets in an hour.
Cobbett with his Political register formed a method of distributing papers
through agents and thus avoiding the tax.A paper was available to the working
men at 2d a copy. By 1816 where few papers sold more than 5000 copies,
Cobbett's Twopenny Register had weekly sales of 40.000
Andrew arrived in South Africa 1859. In the film of the Souvenir of the Centenary of the 1820 Settlers (#990176) he worked with Caldecott, Charles, 1814-1879 s.o. surgeon who Arrived on the "Brilliant" Married Martha Wright and was Member of the House of Assembly 1851, Mayor of Grahamstown 1860. Joint owner of the Eastern Province Mercantile Gazette with Mr Vickers. 1860.
From "South African Printers and Publishers 1795-1925."compiled by Fransie Rossouw
From his obituary in "The Diamond Field" 6 Mar 1873.."Came to the Cape Colony in 1859 and took up residence in Grahamstown where he advertised his new methods of printing. He started the"Eastern Province Mercantile Gazette." He then moved to Fort Beaufort where he was connected with the "Advertiser" On the discovery of the Diamond fields he, like a good many others, anxious to push his fortune came up and established the paper which now mourns him" He owned and printed "The Diamond Field" from 27 April 11871. After his death his sons, George and Henry took over the business.
At his death only George and Frances were not minors.
More About Andrew Edward Vickers and Mary Ann Dashwood:
Marriage: 18 August 1846, Barnes, Surrey UK.
Children of Andrew Edward Vickers and Mary Ann Dashwood are:
- +George Edward Vickers, b. 19 November 1847, London UK, d. 09 January 1916, Queenstown, Cape Prov., South Africa.
- Frances Vickers, b. 12 June 1850, London, d. 31 May 1934, Dorking, Surrey.
- +Henry Joseph Vickers, b. 13 June 1852, London, d. September 1895, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Eugenie Vickers, b. 19 February 1854, London, d. 14 July 1954182.
- Louisa Catherine Vickers, b. Abt. 1855, d. 20 November 1946, Johannesburg.
- Andrew Edward Vickers, b. July 1857, d. 15 September 1859.
- +Matilda Grace Vickers, b. 27 March 1859, d. 06 October 1948, 8 Lawley Road, Westcliffe Johannesburg South Africa.183.
- +Albert Edward Vickers, b. 14 August 1862, Grahamstown, South Africa, d. 17 February 1925, Chiswick, England184.
- Joseph Dashwood Vickers, b. March 1866, in South Africa, d. 28 January 1923, Johannesburg Hospital South Africa185.
- Adelaide Alice Vickers, b. Abt. 1869, Kingwilliamstown, Cape Province South Africa, d. 20 March 1920, Johannesburg Hospital South Africa186.