National Archives of South Africa Documentation

Wednesday 24 February 2021

George Augustus Leonard De Friedland

George Augustus Leonard De Friedland





About:

  • Born 30 September 1879 in Härlunda, Kronoberg, Sweden [Source: Cousin has birth certificate]
  •  Moved to USA at ± 9 years old
  • Europe Political Map 1905
  • Ran away from home @ 17 years old (± 1900?). From USA.
  • Arrived in the Cape before 1900 [Source: Granny] on the Tarantula [Source: John]
  • Applied for letters of naturalization in 1904 [Source: KAB = CO-8611-22]
  • Major in South West Africa during World War I?
  • His father died in USA ± 1921
  • Started Masonic lodge in Johannesburg - Sons of SA
  • Was a major & led mounted troops in parade for Prince of Wales’s visit to Johannesburg in 1925.
  •  Died in Pretoria 22 May 1964 [Source: TAB = MHG-3849/64 & tombstone & cousin has death certificate], aged ± 85 years.
  • Buried: Zandfontein Cemetery, Pretoria, Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa. NB: Date of birth on tombstone is 1884, which is incorrect!
 

 NB: No official documentation ever records George Augustus Leonard De Friedland's name to include the name "von Wallenstein", nor has my family ever known him by this name.

 

 

George Augustus Leonard De Friedland - Tombstone

Parents:

  • Father: Anders Magnus Jonasson, born: 19 November 1861 in Härlunda, Kronoberg, Sweden. Died: 10 February 1924, Geneva Township, Kane, Illinois, United States

     

    Mother: Signild Mary Kjellsson, born: 25 November 1862, Sweden [Source: On shipping list, according to Imelda]. Died: ± 1898

     

    Father involved in Swedish Lutheran church, father’s father a minister? [Source: Granny]

     

    Paternal Grandfather: Jonas Andersson Fridlund, born: 16 September 1826, Voxtorp, Småland, Sweden

     

    Paternal Grandmother: Catharina Svensdotter, born: 1824, Vostra Torsas, Kronoberg, Sweden. Died: 25 June 1900, Härlunda, Kronoberg, Sweden

  • Father involved in Swedish Lutheran church, father’s father a minister? [Source: Granny]

Siblings:

  • Carl Julius Friedland, born: 11 May 1888 Geneva, Kane County, Illinois, USA

     

    John William Friedlund, born: 24 June 1889 Geneva, Kane County, Illinois, USA. Died: 29 May 1955 Elgin, Kane, Illinois, USA. Married: Opal Fay Bell

     

    Victor Thurman Fridlund, born: 25 March 1891 Geneva, Kane County, Illinois, USA. Died: 7 March 1936 Elgin, Kane, Illinois, USA.

     

    Edwin Ludwig Friedlund, born: 30 December 1892 Geneva, Kane County, Illinois, USA. Died: June 1980 Alhambra, Los Angeles, California, USA. Married: Evangeline Anna Iulo

    Edwin Ludwig Friedland

     

     

    Herman Sextus Fridlund, born: 12 July 1895 Aurora, Kane County, Illinois, USA. Died: 25 May 1954 Douglas, Oregon, USA. Married: Viola Thressa Kent

     

    Lillie Anna Kataren Fridlund, born: 18 December 1897 Aurora, Kane County, Illinois, USA. Died: 12 December 1971 Oregon, USA


Places lived in South Africa:


  • ± 1910 - Kimberley diamond diggings. Met our great grandmother.
    Du Toit's Pan Road Kimberley, 1899
  • 1918 - 20 Millbourne Road, Bertrams
  • ± 1922 to ? - 60 Putney Road, Brixton (with children & Ruby) Were living here during Miners’ Strike
  • ? - end of Goldman Street, Florida (with children & Ruby) - big garden with stream running through it.
  • ±1927 - Hamburg, near Roodepoort (with children, Granny in Std 3).
  • ? short period - 2 rooms in a back yard (with children) after losing Singer Machine shop.
  • ± 1928 - traveller for Union Art Co. No fixed address? Granny boarded with acquaintances. Rogna taken with him.
  • ± 1929 - 10 Verona Street, Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg (with Billie & children)
  • 1956 - 6 Hilary Manor, Green Point, Cape Town

Work:

  •  ± 1918 - before Great Depression - African Life Schlessinger
  • Before Depression - Singer Sewing Machine shop, Roodepoort - owned (Rogna worked there in afternoons)
  • During Depression - Union Art Co. - worked as a traveller
  • ±1929 - Premier Art Co. - owned (met Billie, when commissioned to have to an artist paint her grandparents’ likenesses from photographs.)



Marriages (5):

 1. Christina Avelina (born Grainger). [Source: TAB divorce record]
  • Became Mrs Fisher
  •   Divorced from George Augustus Leonard de Friedland 1919* [Source: TAB]
*NB! He was already “married” to Johanna Catharina Elisabeth Jacobs at the time of this divorce!
  • Children from this marriage: Carl, Louis & Gloria (“quite a few years older than Rogna”)
  • Divorced when she had an affair & married Mr Fisher
  • Mr Fisher died in 1922 Miners’ Strike?

2. Johanna Catharina Elisabeth Jacobs (our great-grandmother) [Source: TAB]
   
    Johanna Catharina Elisabeth Jacobs
  • Divorced from George Augustus Leonard de Friedland 1921. [Source: TAB]
  • Her parents died when she was 14 years old of ‘flu epidemic
  • She had 2 sisters, and they married 3 brothers who were prominent in Kimberley, where they lived
  • Met in Kimberley at diamond diggings
  • Married ± 1911 for 7½ years
  • Her children from previous marriage to Mr Engelsman: Violet, Amy & Vernon
  • Children from this marriage: Rogna (born 1912) & Härdis (born 11 May 1918)
  • Dressmaker
  • Granny saw her intermittently through her childhood, when she showed off Granny to her friends. Granny last saw her when Granny was about 18-20 years old (i.e. about 1937). She was said to have returned to Kimberley to her family there. Rogna told her children that she had died when Rogna was young. [Source: Granny]



3. Ruby Mullens (neé Few) 
  • Father had leather & saddler store in Commissioner Street, Johannesburg (?)
  • Married before 1922 Miners’ Strike
  • She had children from previous marriage: Stanley & Freddy
  • They were married ± 5 years until ± 1927
  • Dressed as Brittania on horseback in parade at Prince of Wales visit to South Africa in 1925 & was thrown from horse
  • Mentally insane & allegedly abused her children & my grandmother
  • Died during a kidney operation
  • No record of a divorce in the archives


4. Johanna Christoffelina Joubert (born van Staden)
  •  Called “Billie”
  • From Daspoort, Pretoria
  • Aged 19 at time of marriage in ± 1929
  • Married for 25 years until ± 1954
  • Divorced 1938. Restitution of Conjugal Rights 1955 [Source: TAB]

5. Gertrude Eileen [Source: TAB death record for George]
  • Married Leonard when he was about 80 in 1954. [Source: Granny] Note that Leonard was supposedly 81 when he died in 1964!
  • Wife at the time of Leonard's death in 1964 [Source: TAB]



#DeFriedland

Wednesday 26 March 2008

Härdïs Linnea (De Friedland) Swan: My Grandmother



Härdïs Linnea (De Friedland) Swan, daughter of George August Leonard De Friedland & Johanna Catharina Elisabeth Jacobs

About:

  • Born 11 May 1918: 20 Millbourne Road, Bertrams, Johannesburg, South Africa
    Härdïs Linnea (De Friedland) Swan
  • Second daughter of George August Leonard De Friedland & Johanna Catharina Elisabeth Jacobs (my gran spelled her mother's name Johanna Katrina Elisabeth Jacobs, but official records show the other spelling.)
  • Younger sister to Rogna
  • Registered birth name: “Baby” De Friedland
  • Married in 1939 to Douglas William Swan (born 22 April 1908, died August 1975)
  • 3 Children:
Swan children: (Left to Right) Pam, Lyn & Steve
Pamela Margaret (born 3 September 1941), married John Stones 1 February 1964, had 2 children: Katherine Anne (born 9 June 1969), Jonathan Michael (born 1 June 1970)
    Marilyn Joan (born 2 July 1943, died 20 August 2014), married Dennis Jane, had 2 children: Gareth (born 13 September 1966), Gregory (born 10 April 1969)

    Stephen Douglas (born 23 October 1946),married Marilyn Sinclair, had 4 children: Susan, Gordon, Wendy & Anne

    • Died 26 May 2001 - Johannesburg from heart failure
    • Härdïs loved her family & was often surrounded by adoring Maltese dogs. She was a wonderful loving Granny!
    • Härdïs had blonde hair & blue eyes. About 5’2” tall
    • Favourite perfumes: 4 7 11 & Blue Grass
    • Favourite colour: lilac or mauve
    • Härdïs loved music & dancing. She especially liked Julio Iglesias & songs from the musicals e.g. South Pacific.
    • Härdïs was a smartly dressed lady who always wore earrings, a brooch & her lipstick.
    • She had a wonderful sense of humour!

    Places Lived In:


    Johannesburg, 1920s
    • 1918 - 20 Millbourne Road, Bertrams, Johannesburg, South Africa
    • ± 1919 - 1921 - Mrs Mc Carthy, address unknown
    • 1922 - ? - 60 Putney Road, Brixton (with father, Ruby & Rogna & Ruby’s children Freddy & Stanley)-property owned by Mr Marshall
    • ? - end of Goldman Street, Florida. (with father, Ruby & Rogna & Ruby’s children Freddy & Stanley). Big garden with stream running through it.
    • 1927 - Hamburg, near Roodepoort (with father & Rogna, Granny in Std 3).


    • ? short period - 2 rooms in a back yard (with children) after losing Singer Machine shop.
    • ± 1928 - boarded with acquaintances, “Scotts” & Moois”, without father or Rogna.

    • Depression - Swedish Missionary in Wilgespruit, near Roodepoort with Knut & Alfa Swenson
    • Depression - Mr & Mrs Simpson (Scottish) in Roodepoort. They owned a stationery shop in Market Street, Johannesburg
    • ± 1929 (aged ±11 years old) - 10 Verona Street, Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg (with father & Billie)
    • 1939 - 58 Berg Street, Rosettenville, Johannesburg
    • ± 1942/3 - State Mines, near Brakpan
    • ±1946 - 58 Berg Street, Rosettenville, Johannesburg
    • ±1959 - Wexford Court, Albert Street, Rosettenville
    • early 1970s - Hercules Court, Linmeyer, Johannesburg
    • ±1975 - Russell Street, Durban
    • ±1980 - 61 Rosey Street, Rosettenville, Johannesburg
    • 1982 - Scott Street, Scottburgh
    • ±1985 - 61 Rosey Street, Rosettenville, Johannesburg
    Härdïs pictured second from the right, next to Doug Swan.

    Work:


    • Hairdresser
    • Motor Industrial Council, Durban
    • Dental Assistant, Johannesburg
    • Doctor’s Receptionist, Scottburgh


    My grandmother, Härdïs & I (Katherine).