United Albany Brethren benefit society

Abstract

In the last century friendly "societies" offered men a form of insurance by the establishment of common funds from which payments could be made to members in time of sickness or other troubles; they also offered convivial activity and good fellowship at meetings. The United Albany Brethren Benefit Society was a Grahamstown example of these societies. It was founded by British settlers in 1828, and came to occupy a special position in the city and surrounding areas as one of the earliest local institutions and one closely identified with the history of Grahamstown and the Albany settlement. Skilled artisans made up the bulk of the membership, though some went on to positions of considerable importance. The Society survived all the problems of the 19th century but seems to have succumbed finally to the upheavals of the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902.