6. Information
TWO LOVELY LADIES
Baron Alexander Wilhelm Ludwig Friederich von Buchenröder von Buschenrad married his lovely bride, Friederike Charlotte Louisa Johannette Meyer, of Hanau, Germany on 3 January 1781, her 20th birthday. He was in the military of the Prussian Court and she was a lady-in-waiting at the Austrian Court. Their marriage was given the blessing of Wilhelm, Erbprinz of Hesson.
Of this marriage, two sons were born, both dying without issue. Their daughter, Maria Therese Eleonore Wilhelmina, named after the Austrian Queen, but known as Thereschen, was born on 24 January 1786.
In 1802 the Baron von Buchenröder entered into a contract with the Dutch Batavian Government to come to the Cape in order to establish a colony on freehold ground bought from the Batavian Government in Holland. The family sailed on the Vrouw Alida Theodora on 5 October 1802 with a large number of colonists, workmen, farmers and a large supply of provisions and implements. They arrived in Simon’s Bay on 5 May 1803 (not 1802 as incorrectly carved on the marble slab).
Thereshen was now a lovely girl of 17 and had many admirers in Europe, but none were prepared to accompany the group to the Cape except for Johan Balthasar Christian Knobel, with whom she was in love. He begged to be allowed to accompany the family as manager of the colonizing group and being a well-educated man, a surveyor and very practical, his services were accepted. Thereschen and Johan were married at the Cape on 10 July 1809.
Baron von Buchenröder left for Holland to settle a dispute regarding the land for his colony, when war broke out and he was unable to return to the Cape, which had been captured by the British. He died in Holland in 1824, without seeing his family again.
The Knobel family moved to Uitenhage where Johan was the Government surveyor, returning to Wale Street, Cape Town in 1822 and the Baroness von Buchenröder lived with her daughter and son-in-law. The couple had three sons and four daughters surviving out of twelve children.
Thereschen took ill and was sent on a health visit to friends in Constantia, but she wanted to return home. On the way, they had to stop at Veldhuyzen Farm, the country residence of Mr V A Schönnberg, as she was too ill to continue, but unfortunately she died shortly after giving
birth to the twelfth child, in her 42nd year and was buried here, on the farm, on 3 March 1827. When her Mother, Baroness von Buchenröder died at Wynberg on 10 July 1831, at her request, she was buried here alongside her daughter.
It is the descendants of this Knobel family, who are today spread throughout South Africa and abroad, who care for their heritage.
contributed by: Peter and Suzette Silbernagl
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