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Name: HOPCRAFT, John Dawson 'J.D.'

image of individualimage of individual

Birth Date: 1874 Brackley, Northants

Death Date: 16 Apr 1951 Naivasha

First Date: 1904

Profession: Farmer

Area: Loldia - partner with Lermitte in Naivasha area, 1904 'Baharini' Nakuru

Married: In Richmond, Surrey 21 Sep 1905 Emmeline Eliza Garrod b. 1878 Richmond, Surrey, d. 12 Jan 1965 Nairobi

Children: John Norman (30.5.1906 Nairobi-4.6.1978 Nairobi); Arthur Wilfred (1910 Kenya-1987 Naivasha); Robert Dawson (11.10.1914 Nairobi-2.3.1987 New Zealand)

Book Reference: Gillett, SE, HBEA, Howarth, Gethin, Mischief, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, EAMR, Playne, Drumkey, Red 22, Land, Pioneers, Gazette, Wolseley-Lewis, North, EAHB 1907, Naivasha, Carnelley, SS, Leader14, Foster, Rift Valley, Red Book 1912

War Service: Served with EAMR - A Sqdn. 17/8/14

General Information:

Gazette - Chaplin & Hopcraft Partnership dissolved on 1/3/1917 but business continued after Chaplin and Hopcraft had sold it.
KFA - Firm entrusted with the sale of surplus maize by the BEA Maize Growers' Association in 1918.
Gazette 6 Dec 1938, Rift Valley Voters List
SE - J.D. Hopcraft - July 1907
Gethin - Hopcraft (senr.) traded at Lolgorien and brought cattle from Tende to Naivasha.
Mischief - Partner of Sir Jock Delves Broughton in estate at Naivasha
Playne - Loldia Estate - Sheep, cattle, and ostriches have all been successfully raised by Mr J.D. Hopcraft on his Loldia Estate of 8,200 acres, which has some 6 miles of lake frontage. This farm is distant about 7 miles from Naivasha, which can be reached in about 1 hour by launch. Mr Hopcraft has a landing-stage and his own boat. There is plenty of timber (cedar) and scrub bush, while a water-hole at the back of the farm and a well are now being sunk. There is a stone house with a magnificent view. The farm formerly had some 40 bomas (or kraals) on it, owned by the Masai. .....…..…
Land - 1908 - J.D. Hopcraft - Grazing, 6200 acres, Rift Valley, 20-4-05, Registered 16-9-08 Land - 1907 - J.D. Hopcraft - Building, 2.83 acres and 3 acres, Parklands, 14-7-06, Registered 21-12-07 Land - 1910 - J.D. Hopcraft - Grazing and agricultural, 4687.2 acres - Naivasha District - 11/3/10 - Leasehold under Occupation Licence for 2 to 99 years from 12/10/10 - Registered 9/12/10 Land - 1911 - T.H. Drake and J.D. Hopcraft - Buildings, 7500 sq.ft. - Nairobi - 9/12/10 - Leasehold for 99 years from 1/1/11 - Registered 10/8/11 Land - 1911 - J.D. Hopcraft -Grazing and agricultural, 4556.7 acres - Naivasha - 10/3/10 - Leasehold under Occupation Licence for 2 to 99 years from 12/10/10 - Registered 31/7/11 Pioneers - Naivasha - Early settlers - One of the first was J.D. Hopcraft. He applied for land on the west side of the lake; it had to be surveyed, and much delay was caused by the loss of the surveyor; he was taken by a python when swimming the Malewa River, and his papers went with him. The Hopcraft homestead consisted of a lion-proof stockade built round a thorn tree to protect the cattle, with a one-roomed shack adjoining for the owners. Its design was copied by most of the new arrivals. Gazette - 4/11/1914 - Appt. - East Africa Transport Corps - To be Lieutenant and Transport Commandeering Officer (without pay) - J.D. Hopcraft Wolseley-Lewis - The Hopcraft family had started in the early days. Old Man Hopcraft had speculated in land and had owned a considerable amount of what is now the centre of Nairobi. He also bought land round the lake at Naivasha.
North - arr. Mombasa from England 29-3-1905 Naivasha - One of the first people to seek land round Naivasha was J.D. Hopcraft. He camped on Government Farm for the best part of a year and explored the district thoroughly eventually deciding to apply for land on the West side of the lake, naming it "Loldia": this his son still manages for the family. The land had to be surveyed and much delay was caused by the first surveyor being taken by a python when swimming the Malewa river and his papers went with him. The Hopcraft homestead was the first farmhouse in the district and its design was copied by most of the new arrivals. Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Capt. J.D. Hopcraft, c/o Newland, Tarlton & Co., 166 Piccadilly, W1 - Farm 772 Rift Valley - Member of the Rift Valley Sports Club - Jan 1929 - Elected - 1908 - J.D. Hopcraft Red Book 1912 - J.D. Hopcraft - Naivasha Gazette - 3/12/1919 - Register of Voters - Rift Valley Area - J.D. Hopcraft - Farmer - Naivasha and Mrs Hopcraft - Naivasha
HBEA 1912 has H.D. Hopcraft at Naivasha. J.D. Hopcraft and G.M. Harvey were among the earliest pioneer settlers in the Naivasha district. Gethin diary 1911 - Loydien - June 26 - 'Go over to Hopcraft's camp in the evening with Hobson & Colvile.'
Gazette 23 Oct 1951 probate
Gazette 15 Feb 1966 wife's probate

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