Maria Elizabeth Somerset Van Ryneveld
(1841-1913)

Maria Elizabeth Somerset Van Ryneveld ² ^,10

Born: 23 Jul 1841, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa ² ^,10
Christened: 19 Aug 1841, Grahamstown Cathedral (St Michael and St George), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Marriage (1): Christian Frederick Heugh on 1 Mar 1860 in St. James' Church, Graaf Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Died: 13 Jan 1913, Graaf Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa aged 71 ² ^,10

Family Links

Spouses/Children:

1. Christian Frederick Heugh

(+ Shows person has known children.)

bullet Birth Notes:

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/IGI/family_group_record.asp?familyid=308835191&indi_id=100300216246&lds=1®ion=0&frompage=99

The location maybe Grahamstown not Graaf Rheinet

And

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/igi/individual_record.asp?recid=100300216240&lds=1®ion=0®ionfriendly=&juris1=&juris2=&juris3=&juris4=®ionfriendly=&juris1friendly=&juris2friendly=&juris3friendly=&juris4friendly=

Also Says Grahamstown

And

http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/Genealogies%20of%20old%20South%20African%20Families/page_02857.pdf

And

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQF-QS9Z-V?i=277&cc=2517051

bullet Christening Notes:

Maria Elizabeth Somerset
Baptised: 1841, Aug 19
Born: 23rd July 1841
daughter of: Honoratus John Robert & Harriet Forbes RYNEVELD
Occupation: Ensign in the Cape Mounted Rifles
Residence: Graham's Town
Baptised by: John Heavyside - Colonial Chaplain
Source: Grahamstown - St George (Anglican), Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Baptism register, 1837-1848, page 41, entry number 324. Repository: Cory Library, MS 14 878-2. Transcribed by Lynn Couperthwaite as part of the eGGSA Project, from photographs by William Jervois

bullet Death Notes:

National Archives of South Africa (NASA)
Database: Cape Town Archives Repository

DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 13/1/2154
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 105
PART 1
DESCRIPTION HEUGH, MARIA ELIZABETH SOMERSET. BORN VAN RYNEVELD. LIQUIDATION AND
DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNT.
STARTING 19130000
ENDING 19130000

And

http://ancestry24.com/search-item/?id=C1313268

And

http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/Genealogies%20of%20old%20South%20African%20Families/page_02857.pdf

And

Death Notice.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQF-Q9HW-6?i=13&cc=2517051

bullet Sources of information or noted events in her life were:

• General Comment. There are three records petaining to her in the National Archives of South Africa (NASA) Database: Cape Town Archives Repository.

• General Comment. ¹⁰ Wedding described in "Fashionable Wedding"

• Web Based Info. http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/Genealogies%20of%20old%20South%20African%20Families/page_02857.pdf

And

http://www.busvannah.co.za/memory/Docs/Thomas%2520Van%2520Rooyen%2520Family%252010%2520Oct%25202012.pdf

• General Comment. Wedding described in "Fashionable Wedding"

• General Comment. There are three records petaining to her in the National Archives of South Africa (NASA) Database: Cape Town Archives Repository.

Maria married Christian Frederick Heugh on 1 Mar 1860 in St. James' Church, Graaf Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa. (Christian Frederick Heugh was born calculated 27 Oct 1832 and died on 27 Apr 1893 in Graaf Reinet, Eastern Cape, South Africa.)

bullet Sources of information or n events in their marriage were:

• Web Based Info. http://ancestry24.com/wp-content/uploads/pages/Genealogies%20of%20old%20South%20African%20Families/page_02857.pdf

And

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-23581-9904-71?cc=1468076&wc=SFV4-VZS:44975801,44975802,49157301,47837101
Witnesses:-
P. Heugh
James. H. Murray

• General Comment. Married Christian Frederik Heugh in 1860. Her wedding in Graaff Reinet is described in the article "Fashionable Wedding"., written under the heading "REMINISCENCES OF 65 YEARS AGO" by J.C.S. Haarhoff, of Brighton Keep, Graaff Reinet

Fashionable Wedding
I witnessed the wedding of Mr. C.F. Heugh, of Aberdeen, to Miss M.E.S.H. van Ryneveld (Maria, (Molly) Elizabeth Heugh), the only daughter of Capt. Honoratius van Ryneveld , eldest brother of George and Daniel, on the 1st March, 1860. Capt. Van Ryneveld's wife was a daughter of Adm. Sir. W.M. Heathcote. General Somerset was present at the wedding, and insisted on military postilion style, which was the first and only time postilions have ever been utilised at a wedding in the Gem of the Desert. Those responsible for the unique get-up of the wedding turn-out secured Mrs. S.E. Wimble's splendid landau. A squadron of cavalry was at the time stationed at Graaff Reinet. The officers in command were Maj. Campbell, Capt. Thursbay and Lieut. Humphries. The latter undertook to secure four well matched horses for the landau. Ralphe Aderne, land-surveyor, bestrode the right leader of the team, and Lieut. Humphries the near right one. They were dressed alike in tight-fitting white breaches, Easton jackets of rifle green cloth, patent leather top-boots, boat-shaped caps and showy brass buckles on the side, strap under the chin, and white gauntlets. It was a very swagger display, and much admired. When the equipages drove up, the ladies were escorted to their respective places. Plush carpeting was laid down from the front door to the carriages. First emerged the Captain (this is incorrect as Natie died in 1854) with the bride, his daughter on his arm; next followed Gen. Somerset with the bride's mother, the bridegroom bought out the bridesmaid (Miss Lettie Grisbrock), who, in after years married Prof. Guthrie of G.R. College. The equipages moved on in a stately manner. The second carriage was lent for the occasion by Mrs. M.H. Benjamin; it was drawn by a pair of beautiful white stallions.
Gen. Somerset and Capt. Van Ryneveld (this was 1860- Somerset left for India in 1853 and Natie died 1854) stepped into the first carriage, along with the happy bridegroom. St. James Church, where the marriage ceremony was performed by Canon Steabler, was crowded with interested spectators. After the ceremony the wedding party returned to Capt. Van Ryneveld's residence to sit down to a sumptuous feast prepared for them. It was undoubtedly the grandest wedding that ever took place in the dear old Gem.
Little did I imagine at the time that when I reached my 20th year, the gentleman whom I saw married so grandly on the 1st march 1860 would become my boss. I entered Mr. Heugh's service as a book-keeper, and had a very happy time in Aberdeen. My employer was like a kind father to me. He had one child when I entered his service, a son about 2 years old, and named Henry - our H.H. Heugh now of Oudtshoorn. The Heughs were a fine and very popular family.
I well remember the poetry etc. that my old friend taught me of an evening. Henry Heugh will smile when he reads this, for he knows that his dear old Dad, who was a very fine type of colonist, made all the lads learn poetry, recite, and generally improve their minds. Alas, the good old days of yore!
Regarding Maria van Ryneveld's family, I may add that Gen. Sir Henry Somerset who was Lieut. Governor of the Eastern Province for a time, was Mrs. C.F. Heugh's uncle. Her maiden name was Maria Elizabeth Somerset van Ryneveld. Daughter of Capt. Honoratius van Ryneveld; her mother's maiden name was Harriet Forbes Heathcote, a daughter of Admiral Sir Wm. Heathcote. Lady Henry Somerset was also a Miss Heathcote.
J.C.S.H.
(The above notes by Mr. Haarhoof were presumably written in 1925. Understandably the writer's recollection of the occasion was not perfect. Lyn Shaw met the writer's daughter when visiting Graaff Reinet in 1961 - she was the curator of the Reinet House Museum - A.J.van Ryneveld)

• Correspondence. ² Extract a letter from Mr. J.C.S. Haarhoof, of Brighton Keep, Graaff Reinet
Fashionable Wedding
I witnessed the wedding of Mr. C.F. Heugh, of Aberdeen, to Miss M.E.S.H. van Ryneveld (Maria, (Molly) Elizabeth Heugh), the only daughter of Capt. Honoratius van Ryneveld , eldest brother of George and Daniel, on the 1st March, 1860. Capt. Van Ryneveld's wife was a daughter of Adm. Sir. W.M. Heathcote. General Somerset was present at the wedding, and insisted on military postilion style, which was the first and only time postilions have ever been utilised at a wedding in the Gem of the Desert. Those responsible for the unique get-up of the wedding turn-out secured Mrs. S.E. Wimble's splendid landau. A squadron of cavalry was at the time stationed at Graaff Reinet. The officers in command were Maj. Campbell, Capt. Thursbay and Lieut. Humphries. The latter undertook to secure four well matched horses for the landau. Ralphe Aderne, land-surveyor, bestrode the right leader of the team, and Lieut. Humphries the near right one. They were dressed alike in tight-fitting white breaches, Easton jackets of rifle green cloth, patent leather top-boots, boat-shaped caps and showy brass buckles on the side, strap under the chin, and white gauntlets. It was a very swagger display, and much admired. When the equipages drove up, the ladies were escorted to their respective places. Plush carpeting was laid down from the front door to the carriages. First emerged the Captain (this is incorrect as Natie died in 1854) with the bride, his daughter on his arm; next followed Gen. Somerset with the bride's mother, the bridegroom bought out the bridesmaid (Miss Lettie Grisbrock), who, in after years married Prof. Guthrie of G.R. College. The equipages moved on in a stately manner. The second carriage was lent for the occasion by Mrs. M.H. Benjamin; it was drawn by a pair of beautiful white stallions.
Gen. Somerset and Capt. Van Ryneveld (this was 1860- Somerset left for India in 1853 and Natie died 1854) stepped into the first carriage, along with the happy bridegroom. St. James Church, where the marriage ceremony was performed by Canon Steabler, was crowded with interested spectators. After the ceremony the wedding party returned to Capt. Van Ryneveld's residence to sit down to a sumptuous feast prepared for them. It was undoubtedly the grandest wedding that ever took place in the dear old Gem.
Little did I imagine at the time that when I reached my 20th year, the gentleman whom I saw married so grandly on the 1st march 1860 would become my boss. I entered Mr. Heugh's service as a book-keeper, and had a very happy time in Aberdeen. My employer was like a kind father to me. He had one child when I entered his service, a son about 2 years old, and named Henry - our H.H. Heugh now of Oudtshoorn. The Heughs were a fine and very popular family.
I well remember the poetry etc. that my old friend taught me of an evening. Henry Heugh will smile when he reads this, for he knows that his dear old Dad, who was a very fine type of colonist, made all the lads learn poetry, recite, and generally improve their minds. Alas, the good old days of yore!
Regarding Maria van Ryneveld's family, I may add that Gen. Sir Henry Somerset who was Lieut. Governor of the Eastern Province for a time, was Mrs. C.F. Heugh's uncle. Her maiden name was Maria Elizabeth Somerset van Ryneveld. Daughter of Capt. Honoratius van Ryneveld; her mother's maiden name was Harriet Forbes Heathcote, a daughter of Admiral Sir Wm. Heathcote. Lady Henry Somerset was also a Miss Heathcote.
J.C.S.H.
(The above notes by Mr. Haarhoof were presumably written in 1925. Understandably the writer's recollection of the occasion was not perfect. Lyn Shaw met the writer's daughter when visiting Graaff Reinet in 1961 - she was the curator of the Reinet House Museum - A.J.van Ryneveld)

Van Ryneveld Table of Contents | Van Ryneveld Surnames | Van Ryneveld Name List

There will inevitably be errors and omissions and the whole purpose of creating this online record, is to invite feedback and corrections.
The data is specifically for non-commercial use and my clear intention is to build family records. The data may, therefore, not be used in any way for the purposes of financial gain.

Caveat:- Throughout the project UK GRO birth, marriage and death index data appears. The GRO data appears in Quarters. Q1 = January, February and March, Q2 = April, May, June , Q3 = July, August and September and Q4 = October, November and December. Similarly, Mar Q = January, February and March, Jun Q = April, May, June , Sep Q = July, August and September and Dec Q = October, November and December. Where these dates occur, they represent the date of Registration of the event rather than the date of the actual event. Logically, registration occurs AFTER the event. In some cases this may be days or months or even years after the event. The important thing is that the event was recorded and a copy of the document of registration could be obtained if necessary. This also applies to South African NAAIRS records.

Similarly, the UK system is confusing to the uninitiated because registration districts can span several counties. Accordingly GRO locations may not record the true location of the event. They do record where the record is actually kept or recorded.

Caveat #2:- I have used URL's throughout the website as sources. The URLs are often from paid subscription sites so you may not be able to access them without an account. Inevitably there are broken URL's. I have been to every URL recorded here and at the time they were operational. In this regard, the Ancestry24 records are a problem. There are numerous references in the South African data citing Ancestry24 records. Unfortunately Ancestry24 has closed down and these records are no longer available on line.

The early South African records on this site would not have been as good as they are without the work done by Delia Robertson. Where there are website addresses containing http://www.e-family.co.za... I record the citation should read Robertson, Delia. The First Fifty Years Project. This website can be found at First Fifty Years

Maria Elizabeth Somerset Van Ryneveld 2,10

Maria Elizabeth Somerset Van Ryneveld ² ^,10