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

outstanding personality. Besides serving the Company as Secretary of the Court of
Justice and member of the Council of Policy 1756-1785. he was appointed Independent
Fiscal in 1771, Market Master in 1779, President of Council of Civil and Marriage
Affairs in 1781, and Senior Merchant in 1785. He had a brilliant intellect, corresponded
with scientists world-wide and had an extensive collection of books and paintings. He
took an active part in social life and was a staunch member of the Lutheran community
which had unsuccessfiully applied for permission to build a church. When he died he
was given a state funeral.
At 5 o’clock in the afternoon Mr. Oloff Martini Bergh was solemnly laid to rest in the
Grootekerk. At the head of the funeral procession marched 200 soldiers, behind them
Captain de Lille followed by Captain van Huyden. The soldiers’guns veiled in black
were carried under the right arm and the flags carried so low that they dragged along the
ground. The officers’caps were covered with black material. A short distance behind
this formation the weapons of the deceased were born by Ensign Thomas Schoemaker.
Then came the two funeral orators leading the coffin which was draped with a black silk
cloth and carried by twelve assistants, the four junior merchants holding up the corners
of the cloth. The family walked behind the corpse, followed by the Governor, the
Council of Policy, the Company’s senior servants in the church, civilian and military
service, various leading burghers and clerks in the Company’s offices in that sequence,
with other burghers and the Company’s foremen bringing up the rear of the procession.
While all the bells of the church and the Castle were ringing, the procession moved
from the house of mourning directly to the Heerengracht where it turned at Colonel de
Meuron’s residence, thence past the widow de Wet’s house to the Grootekerk. The
soldiers presented arms and the military band, with drums and flutes draped in black,
played a mournful salute while the coffin was borne into the church, and when it was
lowered into the grave three salvos were fired, the bells ceasing to ring at the firing of
the salvo.
After the ceremony the procession left the church with the soldiers again carrying
their guns under their right arms and the drummers beating the retreat.
Beyl, Johannes born Zurich, arrived 15.12.1774 on Vroue Maria Jakoba for Kamer
Haarlem, 1775-1777 soldier. / KAB, MR 1775-1777; NL, ARA, MR 1775-1777.
Palingh, Hans Wedders born Jony [Palley of Jongny near Vevey VD?]. 1775 sailor,
sick. / KAB, MR 1775.
Koeken / Knoetsen Tomas born Thun [Knuchel ? of BE?]. 1775 able seaman and
assistant to gunners. / KAB, MR 1775.
La Conta, Michael born Berne [Lacombe of Begnins or Orbe VD?], 1776 soldier,
sick. / KAB, MR, 1776.
Wilhelm, Jochem Hendrik born Basel. 1776 recruit. / KAB, MR 1776.
Weybel, Jacob born Rapperswil BE [Weibel?], arrived 1776.1.16. on Popkensburg for
Kamer Zeeland. 1776 soldier, 1777 sick. / KAB, MR 1776-1777.
Wolfert, Johannes born Zurich, arrived 16.1.1776 on Botland for Kamer Amsterdam.
1776-1781 soldier. / KAB, MR 1776-1781; NL, ARA, MR 1776-1777, 1780-1781.
Bauaud, Benjamin born Switzerland [Baud of GE or VD?]. Attested burgher, died
Waveren (today Tulbagh) 1776.2.7. / KAB, MOOC 6/1.
Rossel, Jacob born Basel, arrived 13.3.1776 on Noordbeek for Kamer Zeeland. 1776-
1777 soldier. / KAB, MR 1776-1777; NL, ARA, MR 1776-1777.
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