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From: Lorna Newcomb <>
Subject: Re: [Fwd: V.O.C.]
Date: Fri, 05 Sep 1997 12:07:19 -0700


The Würtemberg Regiment has always been of interest because many German
soldiers decided to settle at the Cape and I have often wondered if any
of them served in this army. Published genealogies seldom mention the
names of their regiments.

Quarterly Bulletins of the South African library 1966 and 1974
respectively contain material on this subject which is from a
biographical study of Magister J F Spönlin who was chaplin to the
regiment at the Cape 1788-90 and the letters of Baron von Wolzogen
1788-89 who wrote from the `Promontory of Good Hope'. In his editorial
comments on the latter, O H Spohr says the following and I quote:- `The
Cape Würtemberg Regiment must have been one of the last regiments to be
actually sold by the ruler of a small state like Würtemberg. The ruler
was then a Duke with enormous spending and other powers. He assisted
very greatly in enriching his country with many illegitimate children of
his own. He could have supplied enough officers for a regiment from the
76 natural sons he acknowledged.'... a genealogical nightmare!!!

W O Mentzel wrote an interesting book during the 18th century on life at
the Cape and gave vivid descriptions of what happened to a soldier once
he had accepted the `penning'. Sorry, I do not recall the exact title.

I Look forward to your next gleanings, Lesley.
Lorna.

Lesley A. Robertson wrote:
>
> As several people showed interest in the early german settlers (and as my
> VOC gleanings this week will include a number from Hamburg when I get the
> boat names checked), I'm forwarding a message (with permission) I
> recevied from someone on soc.genealogy.german.
> Lesley Robertson
>

> Regarding military personnel of german origin for the V.O.C. : the company
> hired a whole regiment from the duke of Wuerttemberg to protect the Cape
> colony. This regiment was then transported to Java for further duties and
> was later disbanded by Daendels. There is a good book on that
> "Wuerttemberger Kapregiment". There was also a regiment "de Meuron", swiss
> I believe, which may also have been hired on a similar basis. During the
> bataafse Republiek, a large group of german/austrian p.o.w.s and deserters
> from the austrian army in France were also hired by the dutch government
> and transported to Java.
>

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