Joseph de Graft Hayford
Joseph de Graft Hayford (1840–1919) was a Ghanaian Wesleyan Methodist minister who was a prominent figure in Fante politics and society in the Gold Coast.[3] He was one of the founders of the Fante Confederation[4] of 1867 and one of the first political detainees in Ghanaian history.[5]
Joseph de Graft Hayford | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1840 |
| Died | 1919 (aged 78–79) London, England[2] |
| Occupation | Wesleyan Methodist minister |
| Spouse | Mary Ewuraba Brew [citation needed] |
| Children | Josiah Hayford, Isaac Hayford, Ibinijah Hayford, Ernest James Hayford, Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford, Mark Christian Hayford, Hester Hayford, Helen Mary Hayford, and Sydney Spencer Hayford [citation needed] |
Background edit
De Graft Hayford was a supporter of the Methodist church planter Thomas Birch Freeman and when Freeman was forced to resign from his post in 1857, de Graft Hayford also left the church; he later returned and became a preacher for the denomination.[6]
He has been described as "one of the greatest politicians of his day, and the most active member of the Fanti Confederacy of 1867".[7] When the Confederacy was declared illegal, he was one of the four leaders to be arrested on a charge of conspiracy, the others being James Hutton Brew, James F. Amissah and George Kunto Blankson.[8]
Family edit
Of the Anona clan of Cape Coast, he was the son of Rev. James Hayford and Elizabeth de Graft.[9] He was the husband of Mary Awuraba Brew[10] (daughter of the prominent Gold Coast trader Samuel Collins Brew and Adjuah Esson) and his children were: Rev. Josiah Hayford, Isaac Hayford, Ibinijah Hayford, Rev. Dr Ernest James Hayford,[11] Rev. Mark Christian Hayford, [6] Rev. Mark Christian Hayford, Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford,[12][13] Hester Hayford, Helen Mary Hayford and Sydney Spencer Hayford; he was the brother of Rev. Isaac Hayford and Lucy Hayford.[14]
J. E. married Adelaide Casely-Hayford[15][16] and the poet Gladys Casely-Hayford was Joseph's granddaughter.
His descendants continued to be leaders in law, politics and arts, and in 2008, the Casely-Hayfords were named as the most influential black family in the UK.[17]
References edit
- ^ "Rev. Joseph de Graft-Hayford". Geni.com. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ Casely-Hayford, Augustus Lavinus. "A Genealogical Study of Cape Coast Stool Families (PhD Thesis)" (PDF). The School of Oriental and African Studies. p. 209, note 23.
- ^ Stanley, Brian (2009). The World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh 1910'. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 98. ISBN 9780802863607.
- ^ David U. Enweremadu, "Casely-Hayford, Joseph Ephraim", in Henry Louis Gates, Jr, Emmanuel K. Akyeampong, and Steven J. Niven (eds), Dictionary of African Biography, Oxford University Press USA, 2012, Vol. 2, p. 43.
- ^ Attoh Ahuma, Rev. S. R. B. (1971) [1911]. The Gold Coast Nation and National Consciousness (Second ed.). Routledge. p. 5. ISBN 9781136971068.
- ^ a b Brill website "Mark Christian Hayford: A non-success story", article by G. M. Haliburton published in the Journal of Religion in Africa XII, I (1981).
- ^ "Tribute to Dr Louis Casely-Hayford". Graphic Online. 14 December 2014.
- ^ Tapan Prasad Biswal, Ghana, Political and Constitutional Developments, Ghana, Political and Constitutional Developments, New Delhi: Northern Book Centre, 1992, p. 21.
- ^ Geni website, Elizabeth de Graft
- ^ Brittany Rogers, "Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford (1866-1930)", BlackPast, March 28, 2009.
- ^ "Ernest Hayford, Physician, and Lawyer born", African American Registry website.
- ^ Taylor Francis website, Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford, African American Registry website.
- ^ "Joseph E. Hayford, Editor, and Author born"
- ^ Geni website, Rev Joseph de Graft Hayford
- ^ Oxford Research Encyclopedia website, African History section, Casely-Hayford, Adelaide and Gladys, article by LaRay Denzer
- ^ Brittany Rogers, "Adelaide Smith Casely Hayford (1868-1960)", BlackPast, March 8, 2009.
- ^ Coventry University website, "Chancellors of Coventry University | 1996", article on Margaret Casely-Hayford.