Article being copied is a work in progress, created 15 May 2023, further editing required.

John MUELLER Photographic Collection & Other Archival Material

All photographs from the John MUELLER collection except where noted.

THIELE's

Also see the following articles by Tony Finnis, historian administrator & instigator of Adelaide Hills Local Wiki.

• See also 'THIELE, Samuel & descendants'  https://localwiki.org/adelaide-hills/Thiele%2C_Samuel_%26_descendants
• https://localwiki.org/adelaide-hills/Thiele%2C_JF_-_Family_History
• https://localwiki.org/adelaide-hills/Thiele%27s_Cottage_-_Hahndorf
• https://localwiki.org/adelaide-hills/Thiele%27s_Shop_and_Residence_-_Hahndorf

A family photograph of Anna Dorothea THIELE b1856 & husband Johann Wilhelm PAECH b1850

Anna is a granddaughter of Samuel THIELE b1781ca & Anna Rosina SCHULZ b1787ca

Kavel's People by David Schubert page 155

THIELE Samuel Thiele, 57, small cottager.  Wife Anna Rosina nee Schulz, 51.  Children Johann Friedrich 26 [b Feb 28, 1812] shoemaker, Johann Wilhelm 19, tailor, Johann August, 5 [b July 6, 1833]. From Harthe, Christian Thiele, above was also a son. Settled at Hahndorf, where Samuel and his sons, Friedrich and Wilhelm each had some land and livestock. Samuel died April 1869, buried St Michael's Hahndorf cemetery.  His wife died Jan. 1862.  Friedrich [or 'Hanfried'] married Anna Dorothea Schmidt, listed above.  Theirs was the first marriage at Hahndorf.  He was elder and trustee in St Michael's congregation.  Wilhelm's wife was Eleanore Henriette Lubasch who came out on the Zebra with her family.  He farmed at Grünthal. August married Luise Thiele. Each of the 3 brothers had a number of children.

Summary

• Samuel THIELE 57, wife Anna Rosina SCHULZ 51 from Harthe, Brandenburg, Prussia, arrived on the 
• Christian 
• Johann Friedrich [Hanfried] 26, shoemaker, b1812, first marriage in Hahndorf.
• Johann Wilhelm 19 tailor married Eleanore Henriette LUBASCH, farmed Grünthal.
• Johann August 5 [b1833] married Luise THIELE.

https://cdn.environment.sa.gov.au/environment/docs/hahndorf_sa.pdf

Also refer to:

http://thiele.janmaet.com/ provided by John JANMAAT whose wife was a THIELE.

Article researched & written by Elizabeth BARNES

Samuel Thiele (Images yet to be added)

Samuel was born around 1781, according to his death certificate, in Prussia and died 88 years later in a new colony belonging to the British, at Hahndorf, in the Province of South Australia on the 23 Apr 1869.

I do not have a lot of information on Samuel pre arrival in South Australia in 1838.

What I have is anecdotal, from births, headstones, newspaper reports, Lutheran records and shipping diaries.

Samuel was already married to Anna Rosina (Rosina) Schulz when they emigrated to the new colony of South Australia.

According to Old Lutheran Immigration List (Iwan 1943) Samuel was resident of a tiny hamlet called Harthe, in Kriess (County) Zellichau, Brandenburg, [now known at Karczyn, Poland] where he was a Cottager, small farm-steader, with 3 of his 4 known sons living with him. Johan Friedrich, known as Hanfried, Johann Wilhelm and Johann August. A fourth son and the eldest known, Johann Christian, born in 1809 according to his headstone, had married a widow Dorothea Klenke, and moved to Kay, Zellichau, Brandenburg (now Kije Poland )(Yellow dots) a distance of less than 14 kms. Well within a day’s walk of his parents. Christian was a shoemaker by trade, in Kay.

Samuel along with Gottfried Lubasch, of Rissen, (Rosin, Poland) are reputed to have been in Napoleon’s Grand Armee that marched to Moscow in June 1812. It must have been a traumatic time for the Thiele family. Samuel left his wife Rosina with a 3-year-old, Christian and a new infant, Hanfried, born in February of 1812. Rosina was left to manage the farmstead and 2 small children. We have no way of knowing if Samuel was a volunteer or conscripted but he was about 32 years old.

Napoleon swept through Prussia collecting men, willingly or not and marched them all into Russia. Reportedly 450,000 men went to Russia in June of 1812. Due to the military genius of the Russian commanders, a war of attrition started immediately. Samuel and Gottfried both returned home, some of the lucky few, sometime after the end of December 1812. Only 120,000 men made it back to the Prussian border. (French invasion of Russia n.d.) On his return, Rosina and Samuel continued to expand their family. Possibly, in Oct 1816 a son Gottlob, not verified, then 1819 welcomed Johann Wilhelm and apparently in 1833 their last son Johan August was born. [I feel that he was perhaps a son of another son we do not know. I wonder how many daughters are not mentioned. Rumour has it there is a bible that listed all Rosina’s children, but I don’t know who has it.]

Reported from the Lutheran archives (The Lutheran Almanac 1928) is a passage about Samuel Thiele and Johann George Kuchel. Samuel Thiele was a member of the Klemzig parish in Brandenburg. This parish consisted of Harthe, Glotzen and Klemzig and prior to emigration had about 900 parishioners. In 1837 100 people, 40 children and 60 adults left on the river barges, so the parish lost more than 10% of its population.

“The Lutheran pioneers, as stated, had fought for religious liberty and freedom of conscience, refusing to allow the king to force upon them his own religious beliefs and opinions, however honestly held by him. The result was oppression and persecution. And incredibly severe were the measures taken against them to enforce submission to the will of the king."

In the district of Zullichau, in Silesia, (Brandenburg)two families (Thiele and Kuchel) were each fined 50 marks for non-compliance with the order of the authorities, because they had declined to allow their children to be instructed in doctrines that were antagonistic to their own religious convictions. They were either not in a position to pay the fine, or they refused to pay from motives of conscience. The consequence was the seizure and sale of Kuchel's household effects and even wearing apparel. As the proceeds of the sale did not cover the amount of the fine, another seizure and sale took place somewhat later. Thiele's fate was even more tragic. Not only were his furniture and other effects and chattels seized, but even his homestead was confiscated and sold, in the face of desperate attempts to prevent the infliction of such a crying injustice.

 A great-grandfather, who of the present writer (Pastor Brauer) had been elected a deputy by a Lutheran congregation to proceed to Berlin, and appeal in person to the king. As soon as the object of his journey to Berlin became known, the order was given to quit Berlin ''sofort" (at once). After his return to his home, he was arrested and sentenced to a short term of imprisonment for "disaffection and disobedience,"' in reality because, in child-like simplicity, he had imagined that a personal appeal to his "gracious king and land-father" would move the royal heart to do justice to the Lutherans and end their troubles and trials.” (Our Lutheran Settlers 1928)

 By 1833 the family, more than likely destitute, had moved to Frankfurt am der Oder, into a what we would now call a refugee camp. They along with other families began petitioning the King for religious freedom or permission to leave.

By 1836, Kaiser Wilhelm had had enough and granted them freedom to leave and permission to renounce citizenship. A great deal of sadness and relief was felt by these Old Lutherans. However, that permission was soon renounced.

The Old Lutherans who eventually made their way to Australia, travelled from Tschicherzig, Brandenburg, now known as Cigacice, Poland down the Oder River on river barges, through Berlin where they serenaded Kaiser Wilhelm and onto Hamburg via the canals. They stayed on the barges for nearly 6 months in 1838, waiting for a second permission which eventually happened. Captain Dirk Hahn wrote in his memoirs about the abject poverty they lived in, but of the spirit they had.

Come July 1838 the company, ships Bengalee, Zebra, Prince George and Catharina, finally leave Hamburg and Altona Harbours. The ships made the short hop to Plymouth in England and picked up Pastor Klavel. Samuel and family where on either the Zebra or the Prince George. No shipping list exist of who came on which one of the original 3 ships, that made Port Misery in November and December of the same year.  Catharina arrived In January of 1840. According to the log of Captain Hahn’s ship the Zebra, which Samuel’s sister Christiane Seuss came on, with her daughter and husband, had 200 on board, 109 adults and 91 children, consisting of 35 families, of which 13 people died, mostly of typhus and dysentery. Sea fare is a perilous way to travel and off the Cape of Good Hope, a storm was encountered which shredded the Zebra’s sails. Running repairs were carried out for 72 hours straight.

Most of the passengers, except the old men apparently, suffered from sea sickness. After a voyage of 129 days, the 'Zebra' reached Holdfast Bay, 28 December 1838, but on account of low water, did not debark in Port Misery, (there was no Port Adelaide at this time), until 2 January 1839. 

Samuel and his family are attributed to the Prince George, arriving on 18 November 1838 with most of Pastor Kavel’s flock. 14 people died on the Prince George but it had a better passage than the Zebra. The Bengalee which held the overflow of Kavel’s flock, either 17 or 22 passengers, depending on which articles you read, arrived the 16 November 1838.

Given that the Prince George and Bengalee arrived within 2 days of each other, it must have been reassuring to see the sails of each ship at various times. Travelling from Plymouth, the ships would have tracked down the coastline of Europe and Africa before round the Cape of Good Hope for the passage across the Indian Ocean.

 Previously there would have been glimpses of land and birds but once out in the Indian Ocean all that would have fallen away. Navigating across it would have been unnerving for the passengers. The knowledge that there was nothing between the ship and Australia would have been daunting. Their faith would have been of great comfort to them.

 After four months at sea, on 18 November they arrive at Port Misery. At that time Port Misery, was an estuary, not a harbour, so no facilities. The men piggybacked the women and children ashore, then went back for their worldly goods. Having loaded their worldly goods in handcarts and on their backs the new arrivals trudge towards Adelaide, a shack town on the banks of the Torrens River. Captain Hahn felt an obligation to assist the new settlers settle in and stayed ashore to negotiate land for the Germans at Klemzig and finally at Hahndorf. Named for Captain Hahn in appreciation.

Their neighbor in Harthe, Johan Friedrich Hoffmann, 61, died on the voyage out on 30 October. His wife Maria (nee Koerber) and daughter Luise, along with friends would have held a sea burial.  The body would have been wrapped in canvas, face still visible, weighted with ballast stones, and the elder of the congregation would have read out the funeral service. All those members of the congregation who could make it up onto the deck would have sung hymns. At the end the body would have been tipped into the sea. Their two adult children, who were forced to remain behind, would only get the news many months later. The Hoffmann daughter remaining in Harthe, Maria Elisabeth married August Adam. Her husband, August, refused to migrate. Their son, also remaining behind, Johan Christian, had his wife refused to migrate.  Both Hoffmann children wanted to migrate and applied for divorces. Unfortunately for them, the government refused permission.

At the beginning of January 1839, many German families, unsure if there would be enough land at Klemzig, began carrying and pushing their belongings to Glen Osmond at the base of the Foothills. Captain Hahn negotiated with Messers Dutton, Metcalfe (possibly McFarlane) and Finiss, for 150 acres in the hills, smoothing the way for the new foreigners.

“The late Mr. J. H. Angas gave great assistance in completing the arrangements, and advanced money for temporary provision till crops could be raised, which was repaid by the settlers mainly in cattle and produce. The poor but industrious community, having little spare money, were only able to hire bullock wagons for a short uphill stage of the journey from Glen Osmond to Hahndorf, with their baggage, which was mostly carried or pushed in hand carts all the distance, the whole of the settlers, old and young, alike assisting” (A Notable Anniversary 1904)

 There were no roads just animal trails and stock paths.  The land from Mr Dutton, was placed in trust until 1853, by which time the Germans had proved their worth to the new colony, but it was considered theirs from the outset.

The first thing they needed to do was clear kangaroo grass and trees. Kangaroo grass grew up to 5 feet (160cm) high and was a clumping growth plant. Very hardy plant. https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2004/themeda-triandra.html

" The first buildings were made with poles sloping like the roof of a house and thatched with kangaroo grass, and the tracks were made through the bush by means of a team of bullocks dragging a shea oak log.” (A Notable Anniversery 1904) Nothing that was of use was wasted. Samuel and his family would have survived on native kangaroo and other native animals, caught in traps, in stews and soups for many months. The ducks and hens they were supplied with, at a cost, were husbanded for further expansion, not used as supplies. Keen gardeners, any spare time was spent getting garden beds ready for planting, weeding and growing vegetables or attending church.

“When the township was first settled a large waterhole existed at the junction of the Echunga and Mount Barker Road, and another where Mr. Sonnemann's shop now stands. The newcomers found a difficulty in the fact that February was so hot, when they tried to begin cultivation with the large hoes and other implements they had brought from Germany. Their chief drawback was the want of vegetables, and early settlers speak of going to look fora plant with a yellow flower, whose root was edible, though bitter. Among the first things grown were peas, and these have remained a staple product ever since. As much as £1 was paid for a bushel of seed wheat”. (A Notable Anniversary 1904)

Samuel and his two eldest sons received blocks of land on Main Street. Lots 16, 17 (100 and 102 Main Street) and Lot 34 (now 46, 48 and 50 Main Street). Each of the original settlers who received land received about 3 acres. Wilhelm did not, perhaps due to his age, 19. Samuel is listed as a Cottager, Hanfried a shoemaker and Christian a shoemaker.  Later that year all the Thiele men bar August, only 6, made the oath of allegiance at Klemzig, along with the other German emigrants.

Rosina and Samuel must have been quite industrious because in 1841, just 2 years after arriving, and with a lot of debt, from the ship travel and purchasing the block of land and supplies, because on the 6 Mar 1841 Samuel was robbed by Joseph Glass of one pound note, approximately $3000 in today’s income. Not a small amount. Mr Glass was caught and committed in August 1841. (Supreme Court-Criminal Side 1841)

By 1844 Samuel and Rosina had cleared at least 4 acres of land, officially had 3 acres under wheat and half an acre of potatoes. They also owned 9 cattle, 2 ponies, 1 pig and 10 goats. (Allen 1844)This suggests that Samuel had purchased/attained more land. The home on Main Street had expanded to include stables and pens for all the animals and Rosina would have had a cold room/cellar to store the milk from the cows and goats in. She would have made cheese all year round, with the excess milk for use and sale. The animal waste would have been used on the vegetable gardens as compost. There is no mention of chickens, geese or ducks, perhaps they are not considered agricultural by the Government.                                              

Recognition by the British finally occurred in 1847 when Samuel was entered on the List of Colonists in South Australia, when Samuel and his sons are naturalized via an Act of South Australian Legislative Council and gain all the rights of natural born British subject. This means they can purchase and hold land and are added onto the voter’s list. This occurred on the 25^th of Mar 1847. (The Lutheran Almanac 1919, 74, 75, 80,81)

The Thiele family continued to expand, Christian and his wife now had added another 3 surviving children to his wife’s other children, by Herr Zeinert. Their second son Johan Gottlieb had died in 1845, age 2.

Hanfried had married Anna Dorothea Schmidt of Schoenborn, and they had 12 children, with a daughter Augusta Emma dying in 1861 age 2.

Johan Wilhelm married Johanne Henriette Lubasch, daughter of Gottfried Lubasch, Samuel’s fellow Moscow campaigner. Gottfried Lubasch was by now the German Arms Hotel owner, the postman, coffeehouse owner and village blacksmith. Wilhelm and Henriette had 10 children, 3 dying young. J Emilie Bertha, 15, Herman Reinhold, 6, and J Ferdinand, 5.

 August was still living with his parents, unmarried, only 14 years old. He married in 1856 Johanne Luise Thiele (of the Thiele-Hemmerling family) and had 11 children, the first 3 dying young.

Of Samuel and Rosina’s other family,Samuel’s sister Christiana and her husband Friedrich Seuss (Suss) block was situated immediately behind Samuel and Hanfried’s but on Victoria Street, Block 13.

Their neighbors in Harthe, Johan Friedrich Hoffmann who died on the outward sea journey, leaving Maria Hoffmann who travelled with them a widow, received a block of land also on Victoria Street, Block 1.  Freidrich and Maria’s daughter who travelled with them,  Luise married Christian Pfeiffer in 1840.

The Schulz family of Harthe, also suffered hardship. Daughter Ann Elisabeth dies on the voyage, her mother Dorothea dies shortly after arriving in South Australia, and Gottfried remarried Dorothea Loeffler, probably in Klemzig. He did not receive an original grant in Hahndorf. It is assumed Gottfried stayed in Klemzig. It is possible that Gottfried Schulz was the younger brother of Rosina. He died in 1878.

Samuel and his sons were becoming successful. In Feb 1850 according to newspaper Samuel held 10 acres in Kuitpo and 5 acres in Onkaparinga and his sons held in total, Christian 28 acres, Hanfried 52 acres, and Wilhelm 30 acres. (Crown Lands 1850)

In May 1851 Samuel was eligible register to vote. His name is applied to the petition below. As an upstanding member of the community one can only assume he did South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal

 South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal (Adelaide, SA: 1847 - 1852), Saturday 10 May 1851, page 2

     In 1853 Samuel passed the title of (Lot 17)100 Main Street to his youngest son, Johan August. Samuel is now 72 years old, with Rosina 65. They must have been looking to slow down. August now 20, possibly purchased his father’s original block, as August became the titleholder of record, with the Lands department.

     In 1855 the home that had been built at (Lot 17) 100 Main Street, in 1839 and his son Hanfried, next door, were threatened by fire. There are two reports in different newspapers. In one the house is inferred to as Samuel’s and the other article calls it August’s.

Add a caption THIELE Samuel Thiele's house threatened by fire South Australian Register Monday 29 January 1855, page 2-www.trove.gov.au

The other article:

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 27 January 1855, page 3

Fire at Hahndorf. — On Wednesday afternoon about 4 o'clock, a fire broke out at Hahndorf, and it was shortly seen that the premises of Mr August Thiele, a farmer, whose house, adjoining the mill recently erected by Mr. Witwer, was in flames. The fire soon caught the old mill and burned it to the ground, together with Mr. Witwer's residence. Shortly afterwards the wood in the yard caught fire

    (a very considerable quantity), and nearly the whole was consumed. The flames at length reached the new mill, and a portion of the shingles and woodwork was destroyed, but the structure generally was saved, and the engine has scarcely ceased working. Mr. Thiele’s residence, a good stone house, was entirely destroyed. The entire damage done by the fire has been estimated at about £500.

In 1856 Samuel’s youngest son August married. Johanna Louise Thiele, daughter of Gottlob Thiele and Christina Hemmerling. Not a confirmed direct relative of Samuel’s but very possibly related further back, originating from the same region of Prussia as Samuel and Rosina. August and Louise proceed to fill the house with children, one every 2 years, until there were 11 of them.

Sadly in 1862 Rosina dies and is buried at St Michael’s Church, were she and Samuel had worshipped since 1840. Her headstone was a slab of Redgum, carved or painted with her details. It is unclear which, as there is no visual record of their headstones. Only a newspaper article mentioning them.

Samuel lives on for a further 7 years, amongst the ever-growing brood of August’s family, until he passes away on 23 Apr 1869 age 88 years. At that time Samuel had four sons still alive, four daughters in laws and 27 grandchildren. 5 grandchildren had died as infants. 5 more grandchildren would arrive in the next few years after Samuel died.

A hard, perilous life was no barrier to Samuel Thiele living a long full life and leaving a very large legacy behind him.

There is no image of Samuel or Rosina Thiele that I have been able to access.

However, here are his 4 known sons.

Left J Christian Thiele and wife J. Dorothea Klenke, Right J Friedrich (Hanfried) Thiele and wife Anna Dorothea Schmidt

J. Wilhelm Thiele and J August Thiele

 In 1856 Samuel’s youngest son married and brings a bride back into the home. She is Johanna Louise Thiele, daughter of Gottlob Thiele and Christina Hemmerling. Not a direct relative of Samuel’s but very possibly related further back, as from the same region of Prussia as Samuel and Rosina. August and Louise proceed to fill the house with children, one every 2 years, until there were 11 of them.

Sadly in 1862 Rosina passes away and is buried at St Micheal’s Church, were she and Samuel had worshipped since 1840. Her headstone was a slab of Redgum, carved or painted with her details.Samuel lives on for a further 7 years, amongst the ever growing brood of August’s family, until he passes away on 23 Apr 1869 age 88 years.  A hard, perilous life was no barrier to Samuel Thiele living a long full life.

 Time Line

• 1781 birth in Prussia
• Apr 1809 birth of son Johan Christian
• Feb 1812 Birth of son Johan Friedrich (Hanfried)
• 1819 birth of son Johan Wilhelm
• Abt  1830 falls foul of Kaiser Wilhem Friedrich II
• Bef 1833 fine 50 marks for not educating his children in new doctrine. Loses the house and contents, clothing and animals. He leaves Harthe and goes to transit camp in Frankfurt  am der Oder, the first leg of the epic journey.
• Jul 1833 Birth of son Johan August at Frankfurt am der Order
• 1836 receives permission to leave, rescinded 6 months later.
• Jan 1838 arrives in Hamburg on Barges to board the George or Zebra under the auspices of Pastor Kavel and Sir George Angas Fife. Spends month confined to ships awaiting final approval to leave 
• Jul 1838 Leave Altona harbour for Plymouth, to pick up Pastor Kavel
• Nov 1838 arrive at Port Misery
• Dec 1838 Set up a settlement at Glen Osmond.
• Jan 1839 Negotiate the settlement of Hahndorf, 150 acres at 7 pounds an acre.
• May 1839 Start clearing land at Hahndorf, and commence settling. Samuel buys Lot 17 on Main Street, son Hanfried is next door. Son Christian receives a lot on the Southern end of Main Street. Sons Wilhelm and August receive no land
• 1839 Samuel gives his Oath of Allegiance to South Australia and the British
• 1841 Samuel a victim of crime, he has one pound stolen from him by Joseph Glass
• 1844 Agricultural census has Samuel holding 9 cattle, 2 ponies, 1 pig and 10 goats. He has 3 acres under wheat and half an acre under Potatoes
• 1847 List as a Colonial resident
• 1855 Samuel and Hanfried’s home come under risk of fire. More damage is actually done but neighbours trying to help put fires out. Fire started by millyard engine, as no engineer present. The wood, the old mill house, miller’s residence, a new stable and dray were all destroyed. Samuel and his son’s houses were much injured by the fire, most by neighbours removing the doors and windows.
• 1862 Rosina his wife dies.
• 1869 Buried in St Micheal’s Churchyard. Headstone was a Redgum slab, painted with his and Rosina’s details. The marker had perished by 1925

Residents of Harthe Hoffmann Johan Friedrich, Gardener, aged 61 in 1838. Daughter  Maria Elisabeth married to _August_Adam. Her husband refused to migrate. Son Johan Christian, his wife refused to migrate.  Both children wanted to migrate and applied for divorces. Refused by Government.  Wife Anna Maria Koerber, 54.  Daughter Luise, 21

Schulz Gottfried, 50 Journeyman mason. Wife Dorothea Hahn, 40. Daughter Dorothea, 19. Son Johan Gotthilf, 13. Daughter Johanne Eleonore, 11. Daughter Marie Elisabeth, 9. Daughter Anna Elisabeth 1 1/2

The following photographs are from the 

John MUELLER  Photographic Collection & Other Archival Material