Joseph Reffell (1794-1829), Colonial Secretary of Sierra Leone

It would appear that Joseph Reffell (1794-1829) was quite probably the founder of the South West African (Sierra Leone) branch of the Reffell family. This was due to his position in His Majesty's Foreign Service in the early 19th century, as it is believed that he actually died a childless widower in the fever epidemic in that country of 1829.

Joseph's background was quite lowly, his father John was stated to be 'a man without education and in a low situation in life...' and it is not yet known how Joseph came from this to such a high position in the Foreign Service.

The service record of Joseph is summarised below:-
1814 - Arrives at Freetown
1826 - Colonial Secretary and Superintendent
1828 - Secretary to the mixed British & Brazilian Commission at Sierra Leone
1829 - Joseph dies

When Joseph died on 3 July 1829, it was believed that he had left a large estate in Sierra Leone and in the Easter term of 1833 his father John, mother Mary, brother Thomas Richard and sister Mary Ann (now married to James Partridge) went to court over who was the rightful claimant to it. It later transpired that in fact there was no great land holdings in Sierra Leone and the estate was limited to a small holding in bank shares.

A large members of this branch in the 20th century were in the Merchant Navy, including CF Reffell and James Nicholas Reffell who were unfortunately enough to be torpedoed at sea in the First and Second World Wars respectively. A article about some of the descendants from the original family who took the surname of Reffell can be found in the Reffell Education Foundation.