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

Obersberger, Martinus born Zurich. 1773 junior sailor, sick. / KAB, MR 1773.
Bejou, Frans born Berne [of Bailot or Baillod NE?]. 1774 soldier, sick. / NL, ARA,
MR 1774.
Martini, Martinus born Glarus [Marti?]. 1774 soldier, sick. / NL, ARA, MR 1774.
Spengeler Frans born Schaffhausen [Spengler?]. 1774 assistant cook, sick. / NL, ARA,
MR 1774.
STOP-OVER AT THE CAPE TO GIVE BIRTH
Ernst, Johann Georg born Berne, son of Johann Georg Ernst and Hester Johanna born
Tillier, previously married to Cornelia Phlippina Smit by whom he had two children,
Johann Georg and Anthony Philip Hendrik. 1 11.1.1774 as Lieutenant with the Dragoons
in Batavia, requested permission for himself and his wife Catharina Magdalena Verbeek
(formerly married to Louis Relian in Batavia) and her children from her previous
marriage, Hendrik Liewe and Agatha Alexandrina, to remain temporarily at the Cape
2 & 3
due to his wife’s indisposition.
During their stay at the Cape, on 2.3.1774 their daughter Martha Christina was born
and baptised in the Grootekerk. On 27.1.1775 Ernst requested permission to proceed
home with his family including the daughter born here. 4
/ 1 KAB, CJ 1097: 63, will; 2 KAB, CJ 2628:62; KAB, C 152, p. 56; 4 KAB, C 153, p.
69,
Esbag Johan Hendrik born Bernebits / Boonewith / Bernebeck near Basel [Esbach].
He could not be traced by the Staatsarchiv Baselland nor could his birthplace be
identified. May well have come from a nearby German village. He arrived at the Cape
24.4.1774 on Botland for Kamer Amsterdam. 1774-1776 wagon-maker, 177 second in
charge of wagon-makers with pay fl 9, and 1778-1796 chief wagon-maker earning in
1, 2 & 3
1795 fl 30.
Married 1782 Anna Catharina Kannemeyer of the Cape, daughter of Joachim
Kannemeyer or Kalmeyer of Berlin, a sword-maker, and his wife Magdalena of the
Cape. At the same time he bought an erf from the estate of his late father-in-law. 5 Esbag
died 8.7.1796 and a year later his widow married Philip Wagenaar of Hesse-Darmstadt,
Germany.
His children:
1. Hendrik Jacobus born 1782, married Geertruida Smal, died 1818 on his farm
Jongens Klip in the Roggeveld; 6
2. Joachim Christoffel born 1782 married 1810 Rachel Meyer at Graaff-Reinet, was a
farmer at the Fish River (Esbag's Drift is named after him). 1823 owned 10
breeding-horses, 1 draught horse, 12 trekoxen, 62 breeding-cattle, 1000 ewes and
rams, 320 goats and 2 wagons. 7 Was a Voortrekker.
3. Johannes Carel born 1784.
4. Helena Maria born 1786 , married David le Double of Geneva.
5. Rachel Maria born 1787.
6. Abraham Jacobus born 1789, married Maria Magdalena van Dyk. He owned the
farm Fish River in the Albany District where in 1823 he had 2 draught-horses, 1
breeding-horse, 8 trek-oxen, 3 breeding-cattle, 1630 ewes and rams, 190 goats and
one wagon. 7
7. Catharina Johanna born 1791, married Georg Daniel Koch who farmed between
Coega and Zwartkops Rivers and in 1823 had 3 draught-horses, 7 breeding-horses,
20 trek-oxen, 20 breeding-cattle and one wagon. 7
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