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Jacob Letterstedt

1796.12.15 - 1862.03.18

At the age of 26 Jacob Letterstedt married the 44 year old widow Maria Barendina Dreyer on 1822.08.14 in the Evangelische Luther Kirche in Cape Town. She was 18 years older than him.

In his later life Jacob Letterstedt was a prominent figure in the Cape in business and political circles.

1. Origin
2. Marriage to Maria Barendina Dreyer
3. The brewery
   1. Josephine Mill
   2. Beer brewery, Ohlson's
4. Newlands and rugby
5. Consul
6. Marriage to Lydia Meredith Boys

1 Origin

Jacob Letterstedt was born Lallerstedt and most probably changed his name because he fled from debtors in Sweden. It must be added that once he acquired wealth later in his life, he settled his debt.

Lars Letterstedt was a trumpeter of the Oestergoetland Cavalry Regiment. His father was probably the sheriff of Joenkoeping. There was also a minister of religion with the name Lallerstedt who published several religious documents. Lars Letterstedt was married twice. His second wife, Engla Margaretha was the daughter of a chief official of the regional government. They had a son, Johan Gabriel Letterstedt. Gabriel was first involved with the Oestergoetland cavalry and later he had a farm in Vallerstad village. He also seems to have been married twice. His second wife was Greta Kristina Palmgren, daughter of Inspector Palmgren. Jacob Lettersted was their son.

Jacob Letterstedt wanted to start a business and borrowed money for that purpose. The business went bankrupt and he fled. He arrived at the Cape of Good Hope around 1822 at the age of 26. He worked as gardener for Maria Barendina Dreyer, widow of Jan Frederik Dreyer.

2 Marriage to Maria Barendina Dreyer

The 26 year old Jacob Letterstedt married the 44 year old widow Maria Barendina Dreyer.

3 The brewery

Jacob Letterstedt started a brewery in the Cape of Good Hope. Anders Ohlson bought the brewery in 1889.

1 Josephine Mill

In 1840 Letterstedt built a mill for his brewery. This was a breast-shot mill, and named after the Queen Josephine of Sweden.

2 Beer brewery, Ohlson's

Ohlson bought out the brewery.

4 Newlands rugby and cricket

Some of the land on which the Mariedahl Brewery was situated on the Liesbeek River was leased to the Western Province Rugby Union on 1889.04.04 for 50 Pounds the first year, and then 100 pounds per annum thereafter. By then the land belonged to Lydia Corinna D'Oligny Letterstedt, who eventually sold the property in 1894 for 2500 pounds. The move to buy the land was supported by Cecil John Rhodes and Onze Jan Hofmeyer.

5 Consul

Jacob Letterstedt was appointed as Consul to His Majesty the King of Sweden for the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. After a gift of 10'000 pounds to the Royal Academy of Stockhom he was ennobled. Sir Harry Smith, Governor of the Cape, appointed him to the Legislative Council of the Cape of Good Hope.

6 Marriage to Lydia Meredith Boys

Letterstedt met Lydia Meredith Boys (1851.10.09) during a trip to England. Lydia was the granddaughter of Sir JP Meredith. Her father was Captain Vernon Harcourt Boys and her mother Sarah Meredith (1827 - 1905.02.07 in Paris). Jacob Letterstedt and Lydia married and they had one child, a daughter Lydia Corinna D'Oligny. After Letterstedt's death Lydia Meredith married Paul de Jouvencal in France.

Lydia Corinna D'Oligny Lettersted was 13 years old when her father died. He left his entire estate to her except for 1'000 pounds and all private trinkets, ornaments and books which were bequeathed to the mother. At the time of his death his assets amounted to 238'050 pounds.

Lydia Corinna D'Oligny Lettersted married the Vicomte Jean Antoine Etienne Loppin de Montmort, who died in Nice on 1915.08.06. She was also known as Mdme Lettersted de Montmort.

©1999 Jacques Steyn