Wilhelm BUISSINE was born about 1746 in Hanau, Hesse, Duitsland. He died on 15 Feb 1815 in Cape Colony, age 68yrs 6mths.
Wilhelm signed a will on 5 Sep 1777 in Castle of Good Hope, Cape of Good Hope.

Hanau was first mentioned as a settlement in 1143. It was the site of a castle that used the river Kinzig as a defence. The castle belonged to a noble family that began calling themselves "of Hanau" in the 13th century. A village developed around the castle, and it became a town in 1303. As a result, of this history, Hanau's main church stood outside its walls in the village of Kinzdorf. The villagers moved into Hanau and Kinzdorf became an abandoned village, leaving only the church. In the 15th century the status of the Hanau parish church was transferred to the church of Mary Magdalene within the town walls.In 1746, the city of Hanau was the capital of the County of Hanau, which had recently passed to the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel in 1736.The territory of the County of Hanau primarily stretched from east of Frankfurt am Main through the Kinzig valley to Schlüchtern and into the Spessart mountains, largely positioned to the north of the Main River.

A formal petition was submitted by Captain-Military Wilhelm Buissine, a native of Hanau, to the Honourable Cornelis Jacob van de Graaff, Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and later also addressed to his successor, Joachim van Plettenberg, Extraordinary Councillor of Netherlands India and Governor of the Cape, together with the Council of Policy.In his respectful memorial, Buissine provided a detailed account of his long and faithful service. He stated that he had arrived at the Cape in 1764 aboard the ship Lijcochton as a soldier, earning a monthly wage of nine guilders. His steady advancement through the ranks followed: he was promoted to Corporal in 1766 with a salary of fourteen guilders per month, and to Sergeant in 1769 with a monthly wage of twenty guilders. On 24 November 1773, upon the expiration of his term, he re-engaged under a new three-year contract at an increased salary of twenty-four guilders per month. Thereafter, on 13 February 1776, through the favour and confidence of the Governor and Council, he was appointed Ensign (Vaandrig) of the Castle with a salary of forty guilders per month under a further five-year engagement.According to the tenth article of the instruction issued under the authority of the Governor and the Major of Artillery, Buissine was to remain, in all matters concerning military service, under the command of the Head and Chief of the Militia. In accordance with these regulations, and following precedent, the title and rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, together with the corresponding pay and emoluments, had previously been conferred upon officers in similar positions.Having served the Cape garrison for a period of fifteen years with diligence and exemplary conduct, Buissine humbly petitioned for permission to repatriate to Europe. He expressed his strong desire to depart under reduced pay, accompanied by his wife, Johanna Josina Keeve—whom he had married at the Cape—and their infant son, Petrus Stephanus, then aged approximately fourteen months. He requested passage on one of the return ships sailing to the Netherlands. The principal purpose of his journey, he explained, was to settle the estate of his deceased parents, divide the inheritance with his co-heirs, and personally attend to outstanding matters in Europe. At the same time, he made clear his intention, once these affairs were concluded, to return to the Cape of Good Hope. In consideration of his loyal and commendable service record, the authorities granted his request.
He was permitted to depart with his family aboard the frigate De Herstelder under the stipulated conditions. Furthermore, it was recommended to the Lords Major in the Netherlands that, should Buissine seek to return, he be favourably considered for reinstatement in his former capacity as Ensign in the military establishment at the Cape.Thus, Wilhelm Buissine’s petition not only reflects a career of steady advancement and faithful service but also illustrates the administrative processes governing military personnel at the Cape of Good Hope during the late eighteenth century, as well as the personal circumstances that often necessitated temporary return to Europe among colonial officers.

Wilhelm married (1) Johanna Josina KEEVE daughter of Hermanus KEEVE and Johanna Christina DELITSCH on 8 Sep 1776 in Cape of Good Hope Neder Geref Church. Johanna was born about 1760 in Cape Colony. She was christened on 20 Jul 1760. She died on 11 Sep 1791 in Cape Colony.
          Baptism witnesses; Johannes Josephus van Dyk & Johanna Elizabeth de Wit.

Wilhelm and Johanna had the following children:

1. Hendrik BUISSINE was born about 1777 in Cape of Good Hope. He was christened on 28 Sep 1777. He died on 18 Sep 1778 in Cape of Good Hope.
          Baptism witnesses; ‘Kinds Vader’; Pierre Etienne Buisinne & Theodora Petronella Elizabeth Croeser.

2. Petrus Stephanus BUISSINE was born about 1778 in Cape of Good Hope. He was christened on 20 Dec 1778 in Drakenstein Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. Petrus was employed as Military Cadet in 1785 in Castle of Good Hope, Cape of Good Hope. He was employed as Major of the Co. Regt en dienst in 1807 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope.
          Baptism witnesses; Petrus Stephanus Buissine & Theodoora Petronella Croeser

Petrus married Anna Magdalena DE VILLIERS daughter of David DE VILLIERS and Maria Magdalena DU TOIT on 3 Jun 1799 in Paarl Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. Anna was christened on 25 May 1777 in Paarl Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. She died on 7 Aug 1837 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, residence of her son W.S. Buissine.
       Baptism witnesses; Jan du Toit & Johanna Pienaar.

3. Johanna Christina BUISSINE was born about 1781 in Delft, South-Holland, Netherlands. She was christened on 20 Sep 1781 in Delft, South-Holland, Netherlands. She died on 24 Apr 1832 in Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, age 50yrs 6mths. She was buried in Cape Colony.

Johanna married Christopher BIRD about 1800 in Cape Colony. Christopher was born about 1769 in Reigate, Surrey, England. He died in 1861 in England.

December 1822;
Letter dated in December 1822, that the Rev. John Bird, brother to the Secretary at the Cape, was a regular Jesuit, and that he and the Secretary were both educated at Stoneyhurst . Deponent further following up his research found, that Colonel Bird was from descent of a bigotted Roman Catholic family, that his mother 's name was Weston of Darnsfield Court near Weably in Herefordshire, and that one of his sisters conducted a Nunnery at Taunton in Somersetshire.

NEWLANDS, 23rd September 1823;
I Christopher Bird do promise and swear that I will faithfully and diligently execute to the utmost of my abilities the several duties of the office, Place of Trust, or Profit conferred on me. So, help me God OI (Signed) C. BIRD, Colonial Secretary and Registrar. Sworn before me at the Cape of Good Hope this 23rd day of September 1823. (Signed) J. A. TRUTER, Chief Justice.

DATE 1825
Contents. PAGE 18 May Note from the Commissioners of Enquiry to Lieutenant - Colonel Bird; 19 May Letter from Lieutenant - Colonel Bird to the Commissioners of Enquiry

IN MEMORIAM. The late Mr. John Bird, C. M. G. The late Mr. John Bird was descended from an old English Catholic family, and was born at Liesbeek Cottage, Rondebosch, near Capetown, on the 18th of April 1815. He died on the 28th of May, 1896, having but lately passed the 81st year of his age.
His father, Lieutenant -Colonel Christopher Bird, was attached to the Foreign Department of the War Office, and was employed on some important diplomatic services at the time of the French Revolution.
He proceeded in 1797 to the Cape of Good Hope as Assistant - Quarter Master - General, and in 1800 married the eldest daughter of Major Buissinne who, at Cape Town, had commanded the European regiment in the service of Holland. In 1807, Colonel Bird was appointed Deputy Secretary, and subsequently Colonial Secretary at the Cape, from which last appointment he retired in 1824, ultimately returning to Europe, where he died in 1861 in his 92nd year.

4. Hermanus BUISSINE was born about 1784 in Cape Colony. He was christened on 5 Sep 1784 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope.
           Baptism witnesses; Petrus Keeve and Aletta Jacoba Laubscher.

Wilhelm married (2) Susanna Margaretha SMUTS daughter of Michiel SMUTS and Susanna DE KOCK on 9 Sep 1792 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. Susanna was born about 1756 in Cape of Good Hope. She was christened on 23 Jan 1757 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. She died on 21 Oct 1823 in Cape Town, Cape Colony, at the age of 64yrs 9mths. She was buried in Cape Colony.
          Baptism witnesses; Michiel Smuts & Helena Malan.

Wilhelm and Susanna had the following children:

5. Susanna Margaretha BUISSINE was born about 1793 in Cape of Good Hope. She was christened on 19 May 1793 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. She died on 8 May 1875 in Wynberg, Cape Town, Cape Colony, age 82yrs. She was buried in Cape Colony.                          Baptism witnesses; Johannes Smuts & Susanna Smuts.

Susanna married John BLAKE on 4 Jun 1810 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. John was born on 26 Dec 1782 in Charlinch Somerset, England. He died on 24 Dec 1827 in Cape Town, Cape Colony. He was buried in Cape Town, Cape Colony.

6. Charlotte Wilhelmina BUISSINE was born about 1794 in Cape of Good Hope. She was christened on 5 Oct 1794 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. She died on 12 Feb 1871 in Cape Town, Cape Colony, residence St George's Str. She was buried in Cape Town, Cape Colony, at the age of 76yrs 4mths 11dys.

Charlotte married (1) Joseph FERRIS on 4 Jun 1810 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope. Joseph was born in 1785 in Cornwell, England. He died on 14 Oct 1812 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
Charlotte married (2) John James GRINDLEY [aka GRINBY] on 6 Jan 1814 in Fort William, Bengal.
A Cape Town Slave Proprietor; Folio 102.
Charlotte married (3) Marthinus Adrianus BERGH son of Olaf Marthinus BERGH and Johanna Carolina WIESER on 27 Apr 1835 in Cape Town Lutheran Church, Cape Colony. Marthinus was born about 1790.

7. Maria Christina BUISSINE was born about 1796 in Cape of Good Hope. She was christened on 23 Oct 1796 in Cape Town Neder Geref Church, Cape of Good Hope.
          Baptism witnesses; The honorable Reverend Christiaan Fleck & Miss Maria Smuts.

[Christiaan Fleck, born at Cape Town on 23 October 1756 and baptised there on 31 October 1756, pursued his theological studies at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. He was ordained as minister of the Cape Town congregation on 3 April 1780 and delivered his inaugural sermon on 12 August 1781. A committed advocate for education, he petitioned the Netherlands authorities to send more and better-qualified schoolmasters to the Cape. As a member of the school commission, he submitted a comprehensive educational plan to the authorities on 5 September 1791, calling for improved educational opportunities as well as the establishment of French and Latin schools. These proposals ultimately culminated in the founding of the South African Athenaeum in 1829. He further contributed to the introduction of evangelical hymns into the Cape Town church on 9 January 1814. On his initiative, the Bible Society of South Africa (today the NG Kerk Uitgewers) was established on 19 May 1818, of which he served as the first chairman. He died at Cape Town on 26 October 1820. He married first, on 26 September 1784, Susanna Margaretha Cruywagen, and secondly, on 2 January 1796, Maria Smuts.
[Acknowledgement: South African Biographical Dictionary, Vol. III.]