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

youngest son, James, a student in Holland, died soon after. The second son, Peter, was
killed while serving as French officer in a war between Serbs and Turks.
/ 1 MacLean, J.: Robert Jacob Gordon; 2 Barnard, C.J.: Robert Jacob Gordon se
Loopbaan; 3 Cullinan, Patrick: Robert Jakob (James) Gordon; 4 MacLean, J.: Robert
Jacob (James) Gordon; 5 KAB, MR 1787-1789; 6 KAB, BO 237; 7 KAB, MOOC 6/1; 8
KAB, DO, T6250, 16.33.1788; 9 KAB, DO, T6915, 10.2.1795.
Bienvignon [Benvegnin], Anne Albertine of Vufflens-la-Ville near Lausanne, VD
born Morges VD 23.12.1748, daughter of Jean Baptiste Benvignen and Louise
Dumont. 1 From letters preserved in the Cape Archives, 2 we know that she had a brotherin-law,
Daniel Rougemont, and a sister, Mrs. Licette Schoultz, in Amsterdam. The
letters also show that she was well educated and came from a middle-class background.
It appears that she arrived 14.4.1780 on De Paarl as personal maid or companion to
Susanne Nicolet, the bride of Robert Jacob Gordon, Commanding Officer at the Castle.
Two years after arrival on 13.4.1782 she married the widowed tailor Jan Christiaan
Yselle of Hasle BE and they had four children.
Yselle owned a house in which, as was usual then, he lived, plied his trade in one of
the rooms and took boarders. Mrs. Yselle would give preference to compatriots, officers
of the Swiss Regiment Meuron for whom she kept an open house, a doubly attractive
proposition because of her pretty stepdaughters.
After the regiment was transferred to Ceylon, officers travelling around the Cape
lodged at Mrs. Yselle’s during their stay here. Several letters of appreciation are
preserved, amongst them one from Colonel de Meuron advising that in appreciation of
her hospitality he had arranged with the firm of Rougemont & Fesquet of London to
supply her with a “very good and excellent pianoforte”. 3
After her husband's death in 1807 Mrs. Yselle had a shop in Longmarket Street. She
died 1817. 4 For children see Yselle.
/ 1 Hoge: Personalia; 2 KAB, MOOC 14/199, letters; 3 KAB, MOOC 14/9, letter
signed by J.J. Bolle, 14.3.1798; 4 KAB, MOOC 6/2.
Ter Saan, Joseph born Geneva, arrived 16.4.1780 on Patriot as naval gunner for
Kamer Amsterdam. 1781 sailor on the boat Cornelia Charlotta stationed in Table Bay,
with pay fl 16. / KAB, MR 1781; NL, ARA, MR 1781.
Van Barsten, Hendrik born Berne, arrived 31.8.1780 on Morgenster as sailor for
Kamer Amsterdam with pay fl 9, “stationed at the settlement for the duration of the
war”. / KAB, MR 1782; NL, ARA, MR 1782
Biller, Johannes born Berne [Bühler of BE or Billard of VD?], arrived 18.11.1780 on
Vrouwe Kornelia Hillgonda as able seaman for Kamer Leersum. 1781 mason with pay
fl 14, 1782-1784 carpenter at new hospital, 1783 soldier. / KAB, MR 1781-1782; NL,
ARA, MR 1781-1784.
Halfheer, Rudolf born Zurich [Halbheer?], 1781 mason, sick. / KAB, MR 1781.
Scheffer born “Zweets” [Schäfer? Schwyz?], 1781 sailor, sick. / KAB, MR 1781.
Steyger, Caspar born Meyringen / Willenberg [Steiger? born Willigen near Meiringen
BE?] Possibly arrived 1781, in 1786 renewed his contract as soldier with pay fl 13, 1
1800 in the public gardens. 2 / 1 KAB, C 747; 2 Cape Directory 1800.
92