Edwin Horace Fradd 1856

Edwin Horace Fradd was born in 1856 in Durban, Natal, South Africa; the only child of Joseph Ede Fradd (a Woolen Draper) and Susan nee Norway who had emigrated from Egloshayle, Cornwall England.

In 1870 Edwin was orphaned when both of his parents died. It is presumed that he returned to England to be raised by relatives. Temple Lodge (Freemason) records state that he was living in 21 Albion Road, Dalston, London; where he was initiated into the Freemasons at aged 14! Edwin was also associated with the Lodge of Albany, in Newport on the Isle Of Wight. Usually the most basic requirement under most Grand Lodge (the center of authority for Freemason groups) jurisdictions is that men are accepted aged 21 years and over. Some jurisdictions accept men who are 18 and over, and in other cases exceptions are made for the sons of members, or for university students. This seems to be the case for Edwin.

England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, London

He married Martha (Mattie) Southwell on the 7th of January 1880 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England and  the 1881 England and Wales Census shows Edwin, Martha and their  6 months old daughter Beatrice living in Newport, Isle Of Wight, Hampshire with his Brother-in-Law, Thomas Lee. Edwins "Rank, Profession, Occupation" was listed as "Income derived from interest of moneys." One assumes he was bequeathed quite a substantial amount of money/assets from his parents, being an only child.

Newport, Isle Of Wight, Hampshire, England

At some stage, Edwin has joined the Isle of Wight Rifles, also known as the 8th Territorial Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment or Princess Beatrice’s Isle of Wight Rifles. Perhaps that is why he named his daughter Beatrice.
The Isle of Wight Rifles were an artillery and infantry volunteer corps, raised in response to a threat from the French, during the Napoleonic Wars. In April 1882 the London Gazette published Edwins promotions to Lieutenant in the 1st Rifles. Edwin and Martha had two more children while living on the Isle of Wight; Julia Constance Mary and Charles Cecil Norman Fradd.

The London Gazette, Promotions, April 4th 1882

Edwin travelled to Australia around 1884 where it is known that he took up residence in Norwood, South Australia. It's suspected that he travelled to the Broken Hill region to take advantage of the discovery of the large silver ore-body.

¹Initial discovery and testing by prospectors was followed by small-scale mining through partnerships and syndicates, involving local frontier entrepreneurs who had some capital and initiative to develop the mines. Syndicates commonly formed a stepping stone to companies, which could then attract more investors to provide the capital necessary to develop the larger and more complex deposits.

Gold Find Article - Terowie, South Australia 1888

H. J. Southwell, a director of "The Broken Hill South Australian Company" of which Edwin was secretary (mentioned in a newspaper article in April 1888 in relation to gold finds), died on the 13th June 1888  of Typhoid Fever and was buried in the Broken Hill Cemetery. Henry James Southwell was Martha's brother. Martha's daughter Beatrice also died of Typhoid, aged 9.

Lorraine & Fradd share brokers was formed, before Edwin formed the company "The Broken Hill Proprietary Silver Mining Company" in June 1888.

The South Australian Register, Adelaide, SA; Monday 25 June 1888, Page 8

 Martha and Edwins 3 children were mentioned in shipping records as travelling from Sydney to Adelaide in 1887. Martha Fradd nee Southwell died in Sydney on the 22nd of February 1889 aged 30. Edwin had residence in Darlington and Balmain - inner city suburbs of Sydney in 1890 where his occupation was listed as a clerk.

The Inquirer and Commercial News, Perth, WA; Friday 17 November 1893

Edwin remarried Emma Harriett Holthouse of Semaphore, Port Adelaide, South Australia in 1891 where they had two children together; Horace Lyle, and Annie Richbelle Fradd. 
Emma was mentioned in a newspaper article in 1893 with her step son and two children travelling to South Africa where their third sibling Edwin Nevill Norway was born in 1895.
Edwin Horaces' mother's maiden name was Norway.

When the Second Anglo Boer War broke out in 1899, Edwin volunteered as part of the "1st Active Service Section of the Isle of Wight Rifles"(Regimental Number 737).  He had served as a Sergeant with the Bethune's Mounted Infantry (a colonial unit) during the Ladysmith relief operations before transferring as a Lieutenant to the Menne's Scouts, on the15th of December 1900.

Edwin's Queen's South Africa Medal.

Edwin settled in Durban when the war ended in 1901 and records show he was seeking employment at that time.Emma died  before 1921 and Edwin died on the 8th December,1922 in Northdene, Gauteng, South Africa.

¹ 'Tackaringa' First step to Broken Hill - by Ken McQueen.