22
Losing one husband could be considered
bad luck, but losing four could be construed
as carelessness – or perhaps marrying the
wrong kind of man. Catharina Ustings was
already a widow at 21 when she strode
ashore on Woodstock Beach in 1662. It’s
not known whether she left Germany as
a widow, or whether her husband died on
board the ship – a not unlikely scenario –
but you can’t help wondering what made
her decide to set off on such a perilous
voyage. Whatever her original plan was,
she would have found the rough and ready
settlement at the tip of Africa a far cry
from 17th century Germany.
She married soon after arriving, and lost
her husband number two, Hans Ras, to a
lion while he was out hunting. Actually,
it’s amazing he survived long enough
to be eaten by a lion as he got drunk on
his wedding night and crashed his wagon
racing his best man home (as one does).
Oh – and then got stabbed in the ribs while
fighting about who caused the crash (as
one does).
Undaunted,
but hubby
Schanffelaar,
number four,
Catharina married again,
number three, François
died out hunting. Hubby
Laurens Cornelisz, died out