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- At the age of less than 2, Petronella relocated to Swellendam with her parents and lived at the Drostdy, and also at the farm “Rotterdam”. She later relocated to Stellenbosch.
Petronella was an accomplished lady; she was talented as a writer, a poet (of the witty rhyme variety) and an artist.
Two months after her first marriage she paid a visit to the Cango Caves and must have recorded her experiences in a diary, for in 1824 she published these experiences in a Cape Town journal “Nederduitsch Zuid-Afrikaansch Tijdschrif” (first edition) under the title “Uittreksel van een reisverhaal van een Kaapsch Meisje naar de spelonk in het Cango’s Gebergte.” She is credited with the honour of being the first South African woman to have an article published in a journal. This graphic and amusing article even intrigued people up to 1961. Die Burger (20.11.1961) ran an article entitled “Lig op die ‘Kaapsch Meisje‘ in 1808 in die Grotte.”
In 1841 she wrote what has become a valuable piece of Africana, describing the people of Stellenbosch in the form of witty rhymes under the title “De Stellenbosche inwoners, meestal ingevoerd beginnende van de Drosdty (sic) tot aan het gouverments gevangenhuis.” (The Stellenbosch residents, mostly imported, starting at the Drosdty to the government’s prison.) It served as the
basis for a valuable topographical study of Stellenbosch by a Mr Johannes van der Byl, more than 100 years later. In this collection of 129 rhymes, which Petronella herself described as “lag gerymel” (silly rhymes or doggerel), she takes the reader on a journey through Stellenbosch.
Petronella was well known for her collages of certain historical buildings, social life, the fashions and mode of transport at the time. These were made of dried plants and flowers and paper figures and are to be found in the many museums in Stellenbosch and elsewhere, including at “Vergenoegd”. She also gave lessons in this art form.
Born:
- At the time of her birth, her father, Anthony Alexander FAURE, held the position of Secretary of the Stellenbosch Board of Landdrost and Heemraden.
It is likely therefore that she was born in the
“Sekretariswoning” on the corner of Dorp Street and van Ryneveld Street.
Buried:
- Petronella was buried in the DRC “oude kerkhof”, Stellenbosch
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