Andreas Gustav Erlank, SV/PROG

Gustav ERLANK , * __.04.1758, † Graaf Reinet 27.08.1823, stam- vader van die Erlanks is afkomstig van Uppsala in Swede net noord van Stockholm. Hy sluit in 1776 by die Nederlandse vloot aan en dien op die skip De Maria wat op 23.8.1788 by Knysna strand. Hy verloor as gevolg hiervan al sy persoonlike besittings. Vir 12 jaar is hy geregsbode te Graaff- Reinet. In 1802 is hy sipier te Graaff-Reinet en in 1804 in diens van Daniel du Toit in Drakenstein. In 1807 is hy terug in Graaff-Reinet waar hy op 27.8.1823 sterf (65.4.-) x Kaapstad 10.4.1794 Catharina Maria WILKEN d.v. Joachim Wilken van Altmark, Brandenburg en Francina van der Nest (sy xx Graaff-Reinet 9.10.1825 Zacharias Wrecht uit Denemarke)

Bron : Maiores Volume 3, Jaargang 2009

Maria, a 908 ton Dutch flute, hired by the H.O.I.K. under Captain Pieter (Pierre) Seskers sailed from Amsterdam on 13.07.1786. It dropped anchor in the Cape from 02.01.1787 until 29.01.1787, and anchored in Batavia 15.05.1787

The ship left Ceylon on 08.12.1787 with a cargo of linen, cotton, coffee, spices including pepper, and sapan wood, and was ordered to sail past the Cape. On 13 August 1877, Maria was met off Plettenberg Bay by the Cape packet Meermin, and found to be in a condition of distress. The ship had sprung a leak, and 21 of the 40 crew members had already died from scurvy. Only the captain and 4 crew members were still able to walk.

The "Meermin" under Captain Arij Steijne assisted the "Maria" to sail into the bay and anchor. The Maria lay at anchor for 10 days and on 23.08.1788, driven by a strong south easterly wind, broke anchor, tipped seaward and was stranded near Robbeberg in Plettenberg Bay.

The Maria broke up, and was a total wreck. According to the 4 crew members, the pepper clogged up the engines, and accordingly the water could not be pumped out fast enough. The only cargo that could be saved was the linen and wood.

Known Survivors :

Gustav Erlank 19

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