John Clark Collection
Henry Cloete (1792-1870) was the first Recorder of Natal and very learned in Roman-Dutch law as used in Natal. The British government regarded him highly because of his services to them in conducting a kind of census of all the original farms granted to the Voortrekkers between 1839 and 1843. Very jealous of his position, Cloete quarreled with Theophilus Shepstone and Benjamin C.C. Pine, the second governor of Natal. In the second quarrel, Pine suspended him upon which Cloete sailed to Britain at his own expense and brought his case before the colonial secretary. He was successful in his appeal and returned in triumph to Natal to resume his duties. Sometime later he was transferred to the Supreme Court in Cape Town where he completed his successful career. He wrote an excellent book about the Boer emigrant farmers based on five lectures delivered before members of the Natal Society.