Notes : Willem George (1784-1853), was one of our most
illustrious forefathers
Willem George inherited the cloth firm. He was
not a very good salesman and the firm did not expand much under his
supervision. He was really more a military man. He was a member of the
"gewapende schutterij van Amsterdam" (armed guards of Amsterdam). He was very
much a patriot and pro the House of Orange. As a young lieutenant he took part
in the siege of Naarden, against the French troops of Napoleon in 1814.
In
1813 there were rumours in Amsterdam that all was not well with Napoleon's
army. Besides Kozaks were entering Holland. The French garrison fled from
Amsterdam to Utrecht. There were riots in Amsterdam but the "Schutterij" took
control of the city and installed a new mayor. In the meantime Kozaks had
captured Weesp and Muiden. The French held the fortress of Naarden.
In March 1814 the "Amsterdamse Schutterij" went to Naarden with a
considerable force, and summoned the French to surrender, which they refused.
Then a siege was started. During a counter attack by the French, some Dutch
officers were captured, but a small force of twenty soldiers under the
command of lieutenant W. G. Wehlburg managed to set them free.
The medal given to all officers who took part in this siege is in my possesion.
Willem George reached the rank of leutenant colonel and became a
batallion commander.
He was knighted by King William III in 1842.
He became a well known and important citizen of Amsterdam. He was rich
enough to send two sons to university.
From 1848 until his death in 1853, he was a trustee or governor of the
"Van Brants Rus Hofje", a small court for poor elderly women.This court was,
and still is owned by the Lutheran Church at Amsterdam. At present it is one of
Amsterdams many monuments.
Willem George married
Maria Haver (1785-1856), in 1807 in the Lutheran Church in Amsterdam.
They had 7 children. Two children died in early childhood. Their only daughter
was 4 years old, and the baby boy a only a few months.
After these
two unhappy children they had 5 sons.
Dr. Willem George. Medical doctor.
Emigrated with his whole family to South Africa and became the first Wehlburg
in Africa.Cornelis Herman. Took over the cloth firm, had only one
daughter. Thomas. Ship broker. Had 3 daughters and one son. The son
emigrated to U.S. and had only daughters. Johan Pieter. Died young
unmarried. Adeler Frederich. Assay master. The forefather of the Dutch
and American Wehlburgs. |