Johannes BRESLER was born about 1732 in Hessen-Kassel, Germany, died on 13 Oct 1773 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, aged about 41, and was buried in Cape of Good Hope.

Noted events in his life were:

• He worked as a Soldier in 1752 in Castle of Good Hope.
• He worked as a Constable in 1762 in Castle of Good Hope.
• He signed a WILL on 3 Apr 1762 in Castle of Good Hope.

General Notes: Johannes Bresler, organ builder and carpenter in the employ of the H.O.I.K. and policeman 1758-1761, explosives expert. 

Johannes  Bresler Herkomst opvarende Hessen cassel_Datum indiensttreding 1752-05-22; Soldaat_Uitgevaren met het schip 'Woitkensdorp' Datum uit dienst 1773-10-13 Waar uit dienst Kaap de Goede Hoop; Reden uit dienst Overleden_Schuldbrief Ja; Maandbrief Nee

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Bronverwijzing Nummer toegang: 1.04.02, inventarisnummer: 6293, folionummer: 274

VOC: Scheepsnaam: 'Woitkensdorp'; Kamer Amsterdam
Bestemming Batavia_Datum afreis 1752-05-22; Aankomst kaap 1752-10-11
Ove_tekst_dasnr_reisnr 3560.5

Gegevens bij ING 

Bronverwijzing Nummer toegang: 1.04.02, inventarisnummer: 6293 

WILL INDEX; 

 Johannes married Sara DREYER, daughter of Isaak Dalgue; also known as Johannes August DREYER and Sara VAN WYK, on 13 Sep 1761 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope. Sara was born about 1723 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, was christened on 22 Aug 1723 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, died on 11 Jan 1812 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, aged about 89, and was buried in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope.

General Notes: BRESLER, SARA CHRISTINA. TESTAMENT.

Identifier: ZA KAB CJ_2677_45_1

Repository: Cape Town Archives Repository

Archivist's notes:

INVENTARIS.

Children from this marriage were:

 1.  Johannes Augustus BRESLER was born about 1762 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, was christened on 8 Aug 1762 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, died after 1785 in Cape Colony, aged about 23, and was buried in Cape Colony.

General Notes: One of the leaders of Cape Patriots

 Johannes married Anna Christina IMMELMAN on 12 Nov 1780 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. Anna was born about 1757 in Cape Colony, died after 5 Jun 1785 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, aged about 28, and was buried in Cape Colony.

Noted events in her life were:

• She was confirmed on 22 Jun 1774 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope.

General Notes: 1774; 22 Jun; Anna Christina embraced and proclaimed het Faith as a Member; Cape Town Neder Geref Church. 

[1785; 5 Jun; Johannes and Anna baptize their daughter, Anna Cornelia.]

 2.  Sara Christina BRESLER was born about 1763 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope and was christened on 27 Nov 1763 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. 

Sara married Pierre Alexander ROUBAUD SV on 25 Dec 1783 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. Pierre was born in Grasse, France.

General Notes: Pierre Alexandre Roubaud, a native of Grasse in Provence, France, arrived at the Cape in the capacity of a lieutenant in the Regiment of Pondicherry, bringing with him the bearing and discipline of European military service. His presence at the Cape reflects the broader movement of French nationals into the Dutch colonial sphere during the late eighteenth century.

 On 25 December 1783, he was united in marriage to Sara Christina Bresler, who had been baptised on 27 November 1763. She was the daughter of Johannes Bresler and Sara Dreyer, members of established Cape families whose roots formed part of the growing colonial community.

 3.  Casparus BRESLER was born about 1764 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, was christened on 26 Dec 1764 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope, and died on 9 May 1825 in Swellendam, Cape Colony, aged about 61.

Noted events in his life were:

• • • He signed a WILL.

Casparus married Elsje BOTHA, daughter of Hans Jurgen BOTHA and Barbara PAASSEN, on 11 Nov 1792 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. Elsje was born about 1760 in Cape of Good Hope, was christened on 6 Apr 1760 in Tulbagh Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope, and died about 1809, aged about 49.

General Notes: Baptism witnesses: Daniel Lombard & Elsje Botha.

 Casparus next married Isabella Hermina DE JAGER, daughter of Christian Jacobus DE JAGER and Jacoba Elisabeth [Isabella] DU PREEZ, on 2 Jan 1814 in Caledon Neder Geref Church, Cape Colony. Isabella was born about 1789 in Zwellendam, Spiegelsrivier, Cape Colony, was christened on 12 Apr 1789 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope, and died on 17 May 1853 in Riversdale, Cape Colony, 'Novo' at the age of 63ys 2mths, aged about 64.

General Notes: Sorteer onder Waveren;_Baptism witnesses; Petrus Jacobus Strydom, Anna Margaretha du Preez.

 4.  Frans Reinhard [Rynard] BRESLER was christened on 27 Jul 1766 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope and died on 28 Mar 1825 in Graaff-Reinet, Cape Colony, aged 58. The cause of his death was by suicide.

General Notes: Baptism witnesses; Frans Reinhard Riesen & Julia Sophia Riesen.

 Frans married Sara BRAND , daughter of Christoffel BRAND  and Catharina Maria BLANKENBERG , on 22 Nov 1795 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. Sara was born about 1762 in Cape Colony, was christened on 21 Mar 1762 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope, and died before 1821 in Cape Colony, aged about 59.

General Notes: Baptism witnesses; Johannes Blankenberg & Hester Catharina Brand.

Frans next married Maria Elizabeth BRINK [14] on 23 Mar 1821 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. Maria was born about 1770 in Cape Colony and died on 27 Sep 1835 in Cape Colony, aged about 65.

Marriage Notes: MARRIAGE ENTRY; Die weledele Heer Frans Rynhard Bresler van Cabo de Goede Hoop. Lid in den Edelen Achtbaren Raad van Justiitie dezea Gouwernement, Weduwenaar met Maria Elisabeth BRINK van Cabo voornt [Weduwe Wylen Jacobus Christoffel DE WITT]; met Licentie__Frans Rynhard Bresler, described as “the Honourable Gentleman” of the Cape of Good Hope, served as a member of the Honourable Council of Justice of this Government, indicating his position within the upper ranks of colonial administration. At the time of this marriage, he was a widower.

 He entered into marriage, by licence, with Maria Elisabeth Brink, also of the Cape of Good Hope. She is noted as the widow of the late Jacobus Christoffel de Witt, thereby linking two established colonial families through this union. Maria Elisabeth was the daughter of Jan Godlieb Brink and Susanna Maria de Cock, further situating her within well-established Cape lineage.

 This record not only highlights Bresler's official status within the judicial structures of the Cape, but also reflects the customary practice of remarriage among widowed members of the colonial elite, often reinforcing social, legal, and familial networks within the settlement.

 Noted events in their marriage were:

• Frans and Maria obtained a marriage licence in 1821 in Cape Town, Cape Colony.

General Notes: In 1787, at the Cape Town Nederduitse Gereformeerde Church, Maria publicly accepted and professed her faith, a significant milestone within the religious and social life of the Cape community. Such a profession of faith not only affirmed her standing as a full member of the congregation, but also reflected the central role of the Church in marking key moments in the lives of colonial families.