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

Phlegel, Nicolas (also recorded as Siegel, David Nicolaas) born Basel 1649, soldier.
19.8.1671 guilty of deserting his post while on guard duty at the Commander’s quarters,
and entering the living quarters of the washerwoman Catharina of Bengal, a slave of the
Company, where he stole two fresh loaves of bread which another slave had stolen from
the Governor's kitchen. The misdemeanour was viewed in a very serious light since as
guard it was precisely his duty to prevent such thefts. He was condemned to spend two
successive days sitting on the wooden horse with a five pound weight attached to each
of his legs and to 4 months hard labour on Robben Island. In addition one month’s pay
was taken to cover the judicial expenses. 1 After serving his sentence he resumed his
duties at the Fort, now listed as Daniel Nicolaas Siegel. 2 / 1 KAB, CJ 1, pp. 705-707; 2
KAB, VC 39, Vol.2 (1672), No. 140.
Rengelsbach, Pieter born “Lauterswiel”, Switzerland [Lauperswil BE?] with 18 others
guilty of mutiny on the outward bound ship Amerika. He was branded and hanged at the
Cape. / Bruijn 1980, p. 151.
Meyer, Jacob born “Punt in Switzerland” [Bünzen AG?] arrived 1672 or earlier,
soldier, 1673 convicted for stealing brandy, punished with three lashes and five years
hard labour in the quarry on Robben Island. / KAB, CJ 780: 133.
THE CRIME THAT COST JACOB MEYER FIVE YEARS HARD LABOUR.
On 6.1.1673 a ship at anchor in Table Bay sent ashore an empty barrel to be filled
with anis arrack (a brandy distilled in East India). Due to some delay, the full barrel
could not be returned that same day and was left lying outside the Company’s wine
cellar in the Castle. The sentry posted at the entrance to the Governor’s residence, which
was on the opposite side of the courtyard, would keep an eye on it.
That night Jacob Meyer was on nightshift as guard at the inner gate of the Castle.
From his post he could see the brandy barrel. As the night wore on temptation grew
until it became irresistible. In full view of the sentry he approached the barrel, knocked
out the bung and, using his tobacco pipe, sucked out a good mouthful. Jacob was
delighted with the excellent brandy and hastened to fetch his friend Evert Faby of
Amsterdam, who was on duty elsewhere. Together they returned, bringing with them a
small tin pump from Evert’s kist in the guards’ quarters and two jugs.
They drank their fill. Evert then remembered the sentry in front of the Governor’s
residence. Instead of preventing the pilfering, that man, Wiggert Ofkens of Haarlem,
had remained inactive. Full of the spirit of goodwill, Evert went over and offered him a
drink – which Wiggert accepted. He handed his weapon, a pike, to Evert to hold while
he drank and then went over to the barrel to replenish the jug before returning it to Evert
and resuming his weapon and sentry duty.
Then no doubt in a very happy mood, each carried away his jug full of joy-juice.
When Evert arrived at the guards’quarters where he intended to place pump and full jug
in his kist, he either through drunken clumsiness or boisterous spirits, woke up the
soldiers sleeping there and a great party ensued, which left all drunk and good for
nothing on the morrow.
The next day the three soldiers named were apprehended and incarcerated. All signed
full confessions and were sentenced on 25.1.1673 by the Council of Justice under the
chairmanship of Governor Goske. The council viewed Wiggert’s action of abandoning
his sentry post and weapon to an unauthorised person in a very serious light, which
demeanour was aggravated by neglecting his duty of preventing the criminal opening of
the barrel and later by making himself party to the crime by also tapping and drinking
therefrom. Nevertheless, the Council did not wish to apply the full vigour of the law but
rather to deal leniently with the prisoner. The lenient sentence pronounced was that
Wiggert be brought to the place of execution where he was to be tied to a pole with the
hangman’s noose around his neck and to be severely scourged; then to be sent to
Robben Island to labour on public works for ten years. Jacob Meyer and Evert Faby, for
stealing the brandy and seducing others to do the same, were to be given three lashes
and then sent to Robben Island for five years. All the savings which they had
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