The Cotton Germans of Natal – Walter Volker

From Bramsche to New Germany – the Story of the Bergthiel Colonists and their Descendants 1848 – 2006

A4, 723p incl. 40p colour.

This book is a well-researched record of 187 individuals (of which 114 were adults) who landed in Natal in March 1848. Most of them came from the cotton milling town and immediate district of Bramsche in northern Germany. They were recruited by Jonas Bergtheil, who wanted to start a cotton growing and milling enterprise in Natal. His idea later failed but the settlers decided to stay. The book has maps, photos, statistical analysis, extensive bibliography, and some stories of the early days as told by some of the older descendants. The largest part of the book is made up of 43 families’ genealogies (including Bergtheil’s and the family of their first pastor, the Rev. Posselt). The book also contains sections in German, although the genealogies are in English.

The families covered are: Ahmann Bierbaum Bührmann Erfmann Hilmer Laatz Mühlenbruck Oberreuter Paul Rabe Sander Schallenberg Sieksmeyer / Sixmeyer Wehaus Aulfes Böhmer Dinkelmann Fortmann Klüsener Lange Nezeker / Naezeker/ Näseker Oellermann Pienemann Rachmann Schäfer Schmidt Thöle Westermeyer Bergtheil Bosse Driemeyer Freese Königkrämer Meyer Nipper Ortmann Posselt Rethmann Schefermann Schwegmann Torlage Wiemann Winter.