SOUTH-AFRICA-L Archives

Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 1998-06 > 0896875544


From: Amanda Warkus <>
Subject: KETH / WARKUS FAMILIES
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 14:05:44 +0200


Hello all! This is my first attempt on the "list" and was wondering whether anyone out there would have some information for me. Here's the info (sorry it's a long one):-

BACKGROUND

Basically I am trying to research the KETH / WARKUS families of the Eastern Cape (Kaffraria). In a nutshell, Joseph Keth, Shoemaker (b. 1810) and Katherine Keth (nee Buhl) (b. 1809) and their 6 children:

Wilhelm (baptised 2 Sept 1937, died 25 Aug 1884), Married Wilhelmina ?, No children.
Barbara (baptised 7 July 1839)
Henry Joseph (baptised 25 Oct 1840, died 8 July 1901), Married Ernestine Rose (born 1845, died 29 Nov 1930), 15 children. Extensive family tree compiled by Mrs Rona Steel (nee Keth) - now deceased.
Anna Maria (baptised 13 Feb 1842)
Catharina (baptised 22 Apr 1844)
Jacobus (baptised 26 Oct 1845)

* (baptised in Roman Catholic church, Alsheim).

Left Hamburg port on 31 May 1858 onboard the "La Rochelle" and arrived in South Africa on 28 August 1858. The family is said to have originated from Alsheim, Swabia in Germany (Black Forest region?)

Some settled in Breidbach and Berlin outside King William's Town to become farmers/wagon makers. Most descendants are still resident in the Eastern Cape region today.

What puzzles me is that I have also obtained copies of death notices for a Johannes Keth (died 18 Sept 1881) from the HSRC. On this notice he names Joseph & Katherine Keth and his parents. He married Martha Louise Koch (died 13 June 1916). Their children:
Wilhelmina Collins (nee Keth)
Julie Daubermann (nee Keth)
August Keth
Anna Keth
Auguste Berndt (nee Keth)
Joseph Keth

I have no idea how he fits into the picture, as no Johannes Keth is amongst the 6 children who came to SA?

Ernst Warkus (b. ?, died 16 Apr 1884). Originated from Adelnau, Posen in Germany (now Odolanow in Poland). Not known when or how he came to South Africa, however reference is made in a book "Germans in Kaffraria, published by J F Schwar & B E Pape, KWT, 1958, page 34) where is is mentioned as being a member of the King's German Legion in Kaffraria in 1857 and granted a piece of land in Hannover. Reference is also made to Frankfort and King William's Town. Ernst married Louisa Fick (b. 1845, died 17 Feb 1875 at age 30). Their children:
Robert
Rosa
Authur
Maria

Anyone out there with knowledge of the German Legion in Kaffraria 1856-1857? I would like to find out when and on which ship Ernst Warkus came out to SA and any other info regarding his involvement in the German Legion.

I have made contact with the Cory Library (Rhodes University) who have very kindly sent me numerous NAREM (National Register of Manuscripts) printouts for each family available at the Cape Archives. I desperately wish to obtain copies of these documents. Any suggestions on how best to go about obtaining these?

Anyone with information or advice please contact me, my email address is :

Kind regards
AMANDA WARKUS

This thread: