Johann Bohlmann (1812-1901)
Johann Bohlmann (b.1812 Thedinghausen, French Kindom of Westphalia - d. 1901 North Adelaide, South Australia) was a master tin metal worker from Bremen who arrived in South Australia aboard the "Heerjheebhoy Rustomjee Patel" in 1846 and lived in South and North Adelaide until his death.
Johann Bohlmann | |
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 Johann Bohlmann and his granddaughter Kitty circa 1895 | |
| Born | Johann Büssenschütt 1 March 1812 Thedinghausen, French Kingdom of Westphalia |
| Died | 10 December 1901 North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Resting place | North Road Cemetery, South Australia |
| Nationality |
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| Other names | John Bohlmann; John Bohlman |
| Occupation | Tin metal worker (Blechenschläger) |
| Spouse(s) |
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Biography
Johann Bohlmann was born Johann Büssenschütt, the illegitimate son of Gesche Büssenschütt and Georg Friedrich Bohlmann, on 1 Mar 1812 in the village of Thedinghausen. At the time Thedinghausen was in the area under the control of Napoleon's Kingdom of Westphalia, but by 1813 it had reverted to the Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, before the Prinicipality was raised to the Duchy of Brunswick in 1815. These complexities of life mark Boihlmann's life story before his migration to Australia.
In 1814, Johan and his mother moved to Bremen, where Gesche married the elderly widower Albert Wohlers in 1815. One son was born to thge mariage: Heinrich in 1816, given Johann his first half-brother. In his early teens, Johann was apprenticed as a Blechenschlager [tin metal worker] and by the time of his marriage at age 30 to Anna Louse Hartmann in 1841, he was listed as a Blechenschlageramtsmeister, or official with the guild. Johann's guild and apprentice records have not yet been identified, but a normal timeline would be for the apprenticeship to begin at age 15 for 7 years, followed by 3-4 years of journeying before a tradesperson would be considered for admission as a master to the guild. By the time of his marriage, Albert Wohlers had died (1829), Gesche had remarried (1830 to Franz Heinrich Carl Kohlwes) and her third child and son had been born (1833 Carl Kohlwes).
Johann and Anna had two children during their life in Bremen, living on the Papenstrasse. Franz Carl was born in 1842 but died at the age of one. Anna Louisa was born in 1844.
In 1846, the entire extended family made the migration journey to South Australia. On the Pauline travelled Gesche, FHC and Carl Kohlwes, Heinrich Wohlers, his wife and children, and the eldest two children of Gesche's brother, Johanna and Albert Büssenschütt. Following a month later on the Heerjeebhoy Rustomjee Patel was Johann, Anna Louise and Anna Louisa.
On arrival, the family split up with those from the Pauline moving the German area of Hope Valley, along with a number of their shipmates, while Johann and his family settled in the city itself. This was probably an economic decision based on the likelihood of work in Johann's trade. Initially living in Gilbert street, then Currie street, the family purchased land in on Kermode Street in North Adelaide in 1848 and built a house. The family had increased with a son, Johann, born in 1848 and another son, Jacob Conrad, born in 1850, though Johann and Anna's daughter had died in 1847. Tragedy struck again when Anna Louise died in 1855, leaving Johann a widower with 2 young sons. In 1855 he married
Family
Johann Bohlmann had a wide and extended family in South Australia. His mother was Gesche Kolwes of Hope Valley, and his two half brothers, Heinrich Wohlers and Carl Kolwes, also lived in that district. His uncle Johann Hinrich Büssenschütt also lived in the north east suburbs of Adelaide. A niece, Gesine Wohlers married Håkan Linde, and another niece, Gesine Kolwes, married Wilhelm Gustav Kindermann.
Johann married Anna Louise Hartmann in Bremen in 1841, prior to leaving for South Australia. The couple had the following children:
- Franz Carl - 11 Jul 1842 Bremen - 1843 Bremen
- Anna Louisa - 25 Jul 1844 Bremen - 22 Feb 1847 Adelaide
- Johann - 13 Feb 1848 Adelaide - 2 Nov 1869 North Adelaide
- Jacob Conrad - 11 Mar 1850 North Adelaide - 16 Jul 1880 Adelaide
Johann's wife Anna Louise died in 1854 and Johann married the recent arrival Catharina Seecamp in 1855. The following children were born from this second marriage:
- Gesina - 27 Nov 1855 North Adelaide - 1 Sep 1858 North Adelaide
- Julius - 22 Jul 1857 North Adelaide - 29 Oct 1933
- Anna Catharina - 9 Jul 1859 North Adelaide - 15 Jul 1939 Adelaide
- Adelheit - 1 Oct 1861 North Adelaide - 20 Dec 1952
- Gesiene - 12 Aug 1865 North Adelaide - 15 Sep 1939
- Henry - 30 Nov 1867 North Adelaide - 26 Jul 1949
- George Albert - 27 Apr 1870 North Adelaide - 24 Dec 1938 Adelaide
Residences in the City
Evidence of residence is limited before 1848. The death of Johann's daughter in February 1847 has them living in Gilbert Street, South Adelaide, and the Kermode Street, North Adelaide, property where Johann lived until his death in 1901, was purchased on the 20th of October 1848, though it appears that Johann had been making payments on it before May 1848. The lack of Citizen Rolls before 1852 and complete Assessment Books before 1850 mean that a detailed list of residences is an estimate. The likely residences are:
| Dates | Place | Current Address | Co-ordinates |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1846 - Mar 1847 | Gilbert Street, South Adelaide | (exact location unknown) | |
| April 1847 - March 1848 | Solomon Buildings, Currie Street (Acre 114 near Rosina Street) | -34.924456, 138.595763 | |
| March 1848 - 1852 | Union Street, North Adelaide (Acre 710, near the corner of Kermode Street) | ||
| 1852 - 1901 | Kermode Street, North Adelaide (Acre 724) | 152-154 Kermode Street | -34.91114, 138.595408 |
Work in the City
Johann initially worked as a tinsmith in his own business, having a workshop on his Kermode Street property from 1848 - 1860. In 1860 he joined the SA Railways as a tin plate worker and, apart from a break between August 1863 and April 1864, worked for them at the Adelaide Construction Department until his retirement on 4 August 1888 at the age of 76.
Published Obituary
From the Adelaide Observer, Saturday 21 December 1901:
" Mr. John Bohlmann, a colonist of 55 years, died at his residence, Kermode street, North Adelaide, on Tuesday night, at the age of 90 years. The deceased gentleman was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1811, and arrived in South Australia by the ship Patell in 1846. Soon after coming to this state he joined the Locomotive Department, which was then established at Bowden. Mr. Bohlmann retired in 1888, having retained the respect and regard of his superior officers and fellow-workmen. He resided in North Adelaide for 51 years, and up to within a few days of his death he enjoyed fairly good health. He has left a widow, three sons—Messrs. H. Bohlmann, of H.M. Customs; J. Bohlmann, of Messrs. H. Muecke & Co., Port Adelaide; and Mr. G. Bohlmann—and three daughters."[1]
This obituary, and an abridged version, appeared in a number of South Australian newspapers.
References
- ↑ "Concerning People". Adelaide Observer. Adelaide, South Australia. 21 Dec 1901.