Carl Heinrich Ferdinand Kruse (1823 - 1911)

Born 25 May 1823 in Prussia, German Empire

Husband of Mary (Roney) Kruse — married 8 Jun 1857 in Milang, South Australia, Australia

Died 27 Jun 1911 at age 88 in Strathalbyn, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ed Noack [send private message]

Biography

Born: Carl Heinrich Ferdinand KRUSE, on 25 May 1823 in Prussia (possibly the port town of Kiel, Schleswig Holstein). He was later known in Australia as Charles Henry Ferdinand KRUSE. His father is Christian Frederick KRUSE, mother not named.

Carl is a younger brother of Christian KRUSE (1817 - 24 Dec 1898, age 81) of Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein. (7)

Arrived in SA: on the ship 'John R. Moller', 500 tons, Captain Lubeck, from Hamburg 05 October 1853, arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia 07 February 1854. (2)

Married: on 08 June 1857 in the Lake Hotel Milang to Mary RONEY (Mary is variously referred to in the records as LONG daughter of John LONG on the Marriage Register, as RONEY, LONG and LONEY on the Births Register for her children and as RONY in her newspaper notice of death. The Passenger list of the 'Nashwauk' 1855 has her as "Roney, Mary age 25 Domestic Servant Galway". South Australia Immigration Historian, Reg Butler, adopts this name in his Passenger List. (8.3) This is, therefore, the preferred family name for Mary.

Children:

1. Mary Christine Catherine KRUSE, born 11 Jul 1858 in Milang, married Henry HOARE on 03 Sep 1878.

2. Sabina Charlotte Elizabeth KRUSE , born 1860, married William Bailey VOCE on 30 Oct 1880.

3. Heinrich Christian Ferdinand KRUSE, born 16 Jun 1863 in Milang, married Kate Matilda MILLAR

4. Honora Martha Johanna KRUSE, born 18 Apr 1866 in Milang, married George Thomas BURGESS on 25 Sep 1901.

Residence: Milang, South Australia

Occupation: Boat builder, riverboat captain.

"AN OLD INDENTITY OF MILANG. Capt. C. H. F. Kruse, whose portrait we elsewhere reproduce, is not only a very old identity of Milang, but a colonist who has had many varied experiences in the old world as well as in the new. Born on May 25 in 1823 in Wiemar in Germany, he came of a stock of seafaring men his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father, having been master mariners, the latter being presumedly lost at sea in his own brig, the Kelsena, the vessel leaving Wiemar for Hull in 1825, and never afterwards being heard of. Young Kruse went to sea himself when fourteen years of age under an uncle's tutorship, and in 1845 having previously passed his examination as mate was appointed to that office in the brig Cathrina, and a little later as chief mate of the barque Friederich Franz, the captain of which was an old friend of his father. The night on which Capt. Kruse was supposed to be lost was a fearful one, over a hundred vessels being wrecked in various parts of the German Ocean and English Channel during its terrible storms. In 1850 the subject of this sketch left the sea and started business ashore as sailmaker and ship's chandler, but three years years later left Germany for Australia, arriving in Adelaide in 1854, Mr. J. M. Wendt, the well known jeweller of Adelaide, being the only fellow passenger surviving. Here again young Kruse took up seamanship. After some varied coastal experiences, which are told of very interestingly by the subject of them, giving vivid idea of the shipping trade and facilities of early days, and causing comparison with present comfortable and expeditious conditions, Capt. Kruse, for by this time he had secured his certificates, left the water again and proceeded up the country. He went first to the Hills district, spending some time at Mts. Crawford and Pleasant, and Lyndoch Valley and Blumberg, subsequently working his way on to Milang instead of to Goolwa, where he intended to settle. He arrived at the lake-side on February of 1856, and took a hand in the building of the jetty then being proceeded with. As there were no roads or teams then to Adelaide, all cargo came via. Port Elliot to Goolwa, and thence per boat to Milang and Wellington, and Capt. Kruse arranged to fetch timber from Goolwa for the jetty. When this was finished he was engaged by Messrs. Tripp & Landseer, and for some time was skipper of their boat the Gem, later on taking charge of Mr. Duryea's schooner Coquette, which was launched at Glenelg on thesame day as that on which the Governor drove down the first screw pile of the jetty there. The Coquette was sailed round to Port Elliot and then dispatched per tram line to Goolwa, as the owner would not risk sending her in at the Murray Mouth, and she was soon actively engaged on the lakes. The fall of freights just about this time caused the failure of the speculation, and Capt. Kruse found himself without occupation, but as he had just married, he lost no time in seeking a new engagement, and soon found a berth under Mr. Gollan who was building a new house at Campbell House Station. In 1858 he settled for good in Milang, and shortly afterwards purchased boats and began trading on his own account on the lakes and up the Coorong, being the pioneer of the business. In 1860 Mr. Frank Potts completed for him a new boat, called the " Ponkaree " (native name for a big jumping mullet) and as the desert country was being taken up a steadily increasing trade set in, which, however, the drought beginning in 1866, pulled back heavily. Capt. Kruse therefore turned his attention to the fishing industry then commencing to become established, and purchased teams to run vans to the Adelaide market, but the venture tuned out a profitless one and was soon abandoned. In 1869, he rebuilt the Ponkaree, transforming her from a 7-ton schooner to one of 21-tons, and resumed trading operations on the lakes and river, changing the routes of the craft. For a long time Mr. Thos. Bowman's business took up most of Capt. Kruse's, time and he was a very busy man. In 1891 he started a new schooner the Ada and Clara—named after Mr. Bowman's daughters, but the work was not a success, and he got Mr. Bowman to take the boat off his hands. Since then Capt. Kruse has been living a retired life, his 80 years of life having deserved a long rest. He is still hale and active, however, and each annual regatta at Milang finds him in his place on the bridge as timekeeper for the various sailing races, as well as an energetic member of the committee." (3)

Died: on 27 June 1911

Place of burial: Milang Cemetery, Milang, South Australia.

Sources

(1) Genealogy SA 'Biographical Index of South Australians' Database.

KRUSE Carl Heinrich Ferdinand. Birth c1823. Death 27.6.1911. Burial Milang SA. Arr SA by 1878.

(2) The South Australian Register, Wednesday February 8th 1854:— Arrival: Monday [sic] February 7th, the ship John R. Moller, Preh. [!], Master from Hamburg the 5th October, the Cape of Good Hope the 23rd December 1853. Passengers: Mrs. Popham ; Messrs. Schoenenberger ; Fiesk ; Burmeister ; Fuber ; Ulbrich; Tressen ; Goldking ; Prafer ; Niere ; Hehn and Wienberg in the Cabin. Messrs. Allworden ; Braun ; Hapseaht ; Wands ; Piening ; Stare ; Fajer ; Schroder ; Kruse ; Reidhmann ; Schippan (4) ; Tolger ; Grafe ; Fass and Anna Rose (4) in the steerage.

http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/johnrmoller1854.shtml

(3) Genealogy SA, 'Marriage Registrations' Database, South Australia.

KRUSE Charles Henry Ferdinand, age 34 and LONG Mary, age 25. Marriage Date 08-Jun-1857 in Lake Hotel Milang. Groom Father, Christian Frederick KRUSE. Bride Father, John LONG. Registration District, Strathalbyn. Register Book/Page 30/8

https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php

(4) Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA : 1866 - 1954) View title info Thu 14 Apr 1904 Page 3 AN OLD INDENTITY OF MILANG.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/96960541searchTerm=C%20H%20F%20Kruse

(5) CORRESPONDENCE. "C. H. F. Kruse, Milang, is surprised that the president of the Marine Board should favor the construction of a canal from Goolwa to Victor Harbor. He thinks the expense of dredging would be too great to warrant the undertaking, and he doubts whether there would be an increase of traffic. Our correspondent points out that the tendency of foreign woolbuyers to come to Adelaide instead. of making their purchases in London is increasing and he thinks they will ship direct from Port Adelaide."

The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Sat 5 Dec 1908 Page 18 CORRESPONDENCE. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5150232?searchTerm=C%20H%20F%20Kruse

(6) NOTES AND QUERIES. HALF-CASTES AT POINT MACLEAY. "C.H.F. Kruse." Milang, writes:—"I see that the Aborigines' Friends' Association has notified to the superintendent of the Point Macleay Mission Station that 14 half-caste young men must leave the settlement and be thrown on the labour market. Is this Christianity? Surely the Christian religion is deteriorating, for every parent or guardian looks out when the boys leave school to get a place where they may learn a trade. Has the A.F.A ever done so? Where are the 14 young men to go, as there is no work for the men the district. The station at Point Macleay ought long ago to have been self supporting. The girls should have been qualified lor domestic service and the young men apprenticed to trades. The natives were far more industrious before the Point Macleay Station was started. What became of the boot factory? Mr. T. R. Bowman presented them with machines, and a boot factory was established; and when they could not make enough to fill their orders it was given up. Why did not the authorities teach the girls to spin and make stockings— an industry which would bring in money to support the old ones. When Bishop Selwyn went to New Zealand he made men of the Maoris first and then made Christians of them. Here the tendency is to make so called Christians of them, and then keep them in comparative idleness."

The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) View title info Wed 14 Dec 1904 Page 9 NOTES AND QUERIES.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56579442?searchTerm=C%20H%20F%20Kruse

(7) "KRUSE.—On the 24th December, 1898, at Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Christian Kruse, for many years British Consul and Eheren Burger of the town of Kiel, and eldest brother of Captain C. H. F. Kruse, Milang, in his 81st year."

Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912) Mon 20 Feb 1899 Page 2 Family Notices.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/207914532?searchTerm=C%20H%20F%20Kruse

(8.1) "KRUSE.— On the 21st May, Mary Kruse, wife of Captain C. H. F. Kruse, of Milang; maiden name, Mary Rony, aged 61 years 2 months. Arrived in the ship Nashaing, and wrecked at Noarlunga 1855. Was the oldest resident in Milang." ( refers to the wreck of the 'Nashwauk' on 13 May 1855 at Port Noarlunga. The Passenger List includes "Roney Mary 25 Domestic Servant Galway)

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Tue 26 May 1891 Page 4 Family Notices

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/48101575?searchTerm=C%20H%20F%20Kruse

(8.2)"On 13 May 1855 the immigrant ship Nashwauk, of 762 tons, only 18 months old, and carrying some 300 Irish girls, crashed ashore south of the mouth of the Onkaparinga at about 3 a.m. The passengers were able to be taken off the stricken ship and were cared for by local people. The following morning the steamer Melbourne and Government schooner Yatala were sent from Port Adelaide to pick up the stranded passengers. However, some of the immigrants were reluctant to board ship again and were taken to Adelaide in bullock wagons."

https://www.sahistorians.org.au/175/chronology/may/13-may-1855-wreck-of-nashwauk.shtml

(8.3) BUTLER Reg. Overseas Arrivals to South Australia - early 1855. SHIP NASHWAUK – 258 passengers from Liverpool, ran aground off the mouth of Pedlar Creek near Moana before reaching Pt Adelaide 12/5/1855 Shipwreck account Observer 19/5/1855 p164a Official investigation Observer 2/6/1855 p176c. RONEY, Mary (//c1830-//) Dom servant from Co Galway, Ireland. R

https://localwiki.org/adelaide-hills/Overseas_Arrivals_to_South_Australia_-_early_1855

(9) Louise Kruse (born Kloepper). In MyHeritage Family Trees. https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-1-153387141-1-502106/louise-kruse-born-kloepper-in-myheritage-family-trees