Australian Diaspora
From Tulbagh to West Australia
The third "pioneer" Hendrik Johannes Walters married Magdalena Catharina Reyneke on 19 April 1829 in Tulbagh. Hendrik died young at 37 years on Amakwaseiland near Tulbagh on 1 October 1842 and left his five under age children behind.
His first child, Adam Johannes Reyneke Walters, was borne in 1830 and married Maria Jacoba Magdalena Smuts on 23 Julie 1850. Adam had to sell his farms Leuwenvlei en Wolwekraal near Riebeek-Kasteel due to drought and cattle losses. Adam decided to move to the Northern Cape and became a transport driver. Adam became the founder of all the Northern Cape Walters families from Victoria West to Loxton, Carnarvon, Van Wyksvlei and others. For more information consult the Walters Family book.
Alida Johanna Walters- the pioneer mother of many Australian families
Hendriks's son, Samuel Hendrik David (*1840), were borne shortly before his fathers death. Samuel Hendrik David married Susanna Petronella Reyneke and all of their first three sons died young. Their daughter, Alida Johanna Walters (*1881) married Carleton Brailey, and emigrated to Australia in 1913 to start a new Australian Diaspora. Samuel Hendrik Dawid bought the “Oude Bakkerij” from the baker Frans Nicolaas van Wyk's wife in 1896. Samuel was a transport rider "togryer" and his wife a seamstress. His first wife, Susanna Petronella Reyneke, died in 1894 and he remarried Helena Aletta Visser. Her name and signage can be seen on a photo taken by Elliot early in the century. Gabriel Christiaan Theron bought this property from the insolvent estate of Samuel Hendrik David.
Alys Fane Troter, an English lady who tranversed the Cape and Boland from1896-1898 with her bicycle wrote and sketch with love our family heritage. She was enchanted with the twisted chimney of of Samuel's house and decided to sketch it. After the disastrous earthquake 1969 the fire place and twisted chimney, as can be seen in the adjacent photo of the well known Pierneef wood carving, was restored. This house can still be viewed today and named as the “Oude Bakkerij”.
Walters decendency again become farmers in Australia
Carleton and Alida's son , Samuel Walters Brailey, borne in Tulbagh in Pondoland in 1911, became a successful farmer in Manjimup, Western Australia. Alida's daughter, Julia, married James Lee (*1929). Their daughter, Julia Doreen Lee, (Moulds) is the author of Shifting the pieces.
Doreen Moulds -Walters decendant and writer.
Doreen Moulds lives with her husband in Lesmurdie, Western Australia. She is currently writing a novel based on the research undertaken for her book Shifting the pieces. Doreen is the Grand Daughter of Alida Walters who married Carleton Brailey. Her book, Shifting the Pieces is a rich tapestry of family life. Its immediate setting is the District of Warren in Western Australia but its roots go back to England in 1855, in particular to Bishops Tawton in Devon, and Doreen’s great-grandfather Her memoirs and research unfold a story of travel and hope, love and dedication across paddocks and continents, not only through the members of her own forbears, the Braileys (and Walters), but also through the lives of other settlers who made up the community based just north of Manjimup known as Linfarn. Doreen has brought her subjects to life and it is easy to Conjure up a picture of her family around the fire, scrambling for light from the single lamp so they can study and read, safe under the roof that is riddled with bullet holes.
Shifting the Pieces
I personally recommend this book that describes a wonderful history of our founders and offsprings from England, South Africa and Canada with strong Christian values. Without our forefathers will, courage and believe we would not be here! : Special word of thanks to Doreen for reminding us of our family values and the wonderful new information about our Australian Diaspora. This page is my tribute to Alida Walters and her Australian families.
ISBN 0 957 8580 4 3