KAYSER, Frederick Gottlob Gloubefest ¹

  Events

• Historical, 1829-1896, Eastern Cape South Africa. ² From E. Neville Sparkes comes the following summary of the life of Frederick Kayser.
Rev. Frederick KAYSER 1829-1896
In the year 1826 a Mission Station was established by the Rev. John BROWNLEE on the banks of the Buffalo River where the town King William's Town today stands. It was here, on Jan 28, 1828, that Frederick Gottlob Gloubefest KAYSER was born. He was the first born child of the German born Missionaries Rev. Fredrickus Gottlob KAYSER and his wife Christiana Maria, née BOEHRER, who had recently arrived from Bethelsdorp near Port Elizabeth. The parents were learning something of the Xhosa people and the conditions in Kaffraria before establishing their own Mission Station. In 1833 they set to work at a site on the Keiskama River granted to them by the local chief. This site was abandoned in 1836 when a better one was offered further up the river. Here the station, Knapp's Hope was built and it was here that Fred spent most of his long life. In 1841 he was enrolled as one of the first pupils of the first pupils in the newly established Lovedale Institute. So at the age of thirteen he became a boarding pupil in what in those days was a mixed institution. There were twenty pupils in the first enrolment, nine of these being European and these mostly the sons of Missionaries. White and black slept in separate dormitories, but all other activities were undertaken together. Fred's younger brother Henry and his future brother-in-law, James BENNIE were fellow boarders.
Little is known of Fred's scholastic achievements, but the story is told that he was most adept at catching crows. These were plentiful in the area and most destructive to growing crops. Efforts were made to scare them off by catching one of them and dressing it up in rags and coloured paper and releasing it. No doubt this was only effective for a short time and the process had to be repeated.

• Historical. In 1842 he was enrolled as one of the first pupils in the newly established Lovedale Institute. At the age of 23 he became a boarding pupil in what in those days was a mixed institution. There were 20 pupils in the first enrolment, nine of these being European and these mostly the sons of Missionaries. White and black slept in separate dormitories but all other activities were undertaken together. Fred's younger brother Henry and his future brother-in-law, James Bennie were fellow boarders.
Little is known of Fred's scholastic achievements, but the story is told that he was most adept at catching crows. These were plentiful in the area and most destructive to growing crops. Efforts were made to scare them off by catching one of them and dressing it up in rags and coloured paper and releasing it. No doubt this was only effective for a short time and the process had to be repeated.

Frederick married Sarah Margaret BENNIE on May 14, 1855.¹ (Sarah Margaret BENNIE was born on Apr 5, 1828 ¹ and died on May 20, 1885 in Alice, Cape Colony, Southern Africa ¹.)

• Historical. According to Neville Sparks they had six sons and seven daughters.

Frederick next married Sarah Ann CUMMINGS. (Sarah Ann CUMMINGS was born on Jun 17, 1849 ¹ and died on Aug 22, 1926 in Middelburg, Cape Colony, Southern Africa ¹.)

• Family. According to Neville Sparks they had at least 6 sons the eldest of which was Frederick Gottlob Birt Kayser