THE SWISS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 1652-1970 - swissroots-za.ch

Stein, Jean-Gottlieb (de) born TG. Entered as Captain-Lieutenant, 1.6.1781. Captain,
1..7.1783. Died at Tricomalee, 22.11.1793. / 1 Meuron, Guy de: Le Régiment Meuron,
1781-1816, p. 328.
Stoffel(d), Jean-Antoine born St. Gall SG. Entered as Cadet. Sub–Lieutenant,
1.7.1784. Resigned, 13.1.1791 to join the Dutch artillery in Ceylon. / Meuron, Guy de:
Le Régiment Meuron, 1781-1816, p. 329.
End of Regiment Meuron
FATHER AND SON SERVE 60 YEARS AS ORGANISTS OF GROOTEKERK
Grond(e)ler, Henry Francois baptised 8.8.1762 at St. Theodor Church, Basel, son of
tailor Hieronimus Gründeler and Maria Magdalena Imhoff. 1 Arrived from Lausanne
VD (at the invitation of Susanna Nicolet?) on Rotterdam Welvaren with pay fl 13.
Listed as soldier, 1784-1789, 2 but may well have been employed in some other capacity.
It is possible that he had musical training in Switzerland and was now giving music
lessons. He certainly had the opportunity to play the organ of the Grootekerk and when
in 1790 the official organist Modeman became sick, he was appointed his assistant and
his successor in 1797. After Grondler’s death 1818 3 his son Frans was appointed to the
position which he held until his death in 1856. Father and son together thus served 60
years, from 1797 to 1856, as organists of the Grootekerk. 4
Soon after his appointment as assistant organist Grondler married Wilhelmina
Appelonia, daughter of Johan Christian Broodryk of Schwarzburg, Germany. They had
two children:
1. Susanna Robertina baptised 1793 (Colonel Robert Gordon and his wife Susanna
Nicolet were her godparents), married 1810 Willem Coert Boonzaaier, a dancing
teacher active in the amateur theatre societies until the 1830íes.
2. Frans Christian David baptised 1795 (David Le Double of Geneva was his
godfather). Trained as musician by his father. Married 1818 Catharina Petronella
Dell and they had two daughters:
2.1 Julia Jacoba baptised 1819, married A.E. van Wyk Keet.
2.2 Apolonia Wilhelmina baptised 1821.
/ 1 CH, Staatsarchiv of Canton Basel-Town; 2 KAB, MR 1784-1785; NL, ARA, MR
1784-1785; 3 KAB, MOOC 6/2; 4 Hopkins: Die Moeder van Almal.
Simmerman, Johan Jurgen born Toggenburg SG [Zimmermann?], arrived 8.8.1783
on Rotterdam Welvaren for Kamer Rotterdam. 1784 Soldier with pay fl 13, 1786-1787
piper. / KAB, MR 1784-1787; NL, ARA, MR 1784, 1787.
Schiess, Hendrik Ludwig, no origin given. Swiss? 1783 recorded as burgher who was
sent away. 1 1798 burgher of Graaff-Reinet serving in the 1 st Company Burgher
Dragoons. 2 / KAB, BRD 9 General Roll of Citizens of the Cape; and BKR 25: 2 KAB, J
113 Monster Rolle.
Buehler, Pieter born Berne. 1784 soldier, sick. / KAB, MR 1784.
Lehr, Jan Fredrik born Zurich [Därgelen ZH?]. 1784 convalescing. / KAB, MR 1784.
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