Marie Kleemann

Photo panel

On the previous day before dawn
A woman had died
Who had been ill a long time.
Was not, as usual, cast into the sea.
The carpenter made a casket
To enclose her dead body
This we brought to the shore.
A request for a grave was made
There to bury our dead
So that she, as at home,
A place to rest may have.
All of us went to the grave,
And sang a burial hymn
This was our first business

Translated by a poem written by Wilhelm Milde (1798-1884) a fellow passenger aboard the Solway.

Top Panel

Friedrich Wilhelm Kleemann

Friedrich Kleemann was born in Raddack, Prussia in 1798 and married C. Maria Helm in 1826.

Lower Panel

Opposed to the King’s forced unification of the Lutheran and Calvinist churches, and suffering significant persecution, many ‘Old Lutheran’ families fled Prussia to countries offering religious freedom.

The Kleemann’s and their children departed Hamburg on the Solway on 3 June 1837. Mrs Kleemann died of pneumonia on 14 October, two days before arriving at Nepean Bay. She is buried in this cemetery. Friedrich left Kangaroo Island in 1842, moving first to Klemzig, and later to the Barossa Valley.

Lower panel (previous version) Unable to accept changes within the Lutheran church in Prussia, they were amongst several families, who decided to emigrate in order to preserve their old Lutheran faith.
The Kleeman's with their five children aged between 3 months and 8 years left Hamburg on 3rd June 1837. Their youngest child died during the voyage.
Mrs Kleemann died on 14th October 1837, two days prior to arriving at Reeves Point, Kangaroo Island.

Top Panel (previous version)

Marie Kleemann
Marie Helm married Friedrich Kleemann in 1826. They lived in the village of Raddack, Pommern, Prussia.

Sacred to the memory of
[Liebling]
who died at sea
on the ship
"Solway"
14th October
buried 16th October
1837
the loved wife of
Friedrich W.
Kleemann

For a descendants report of Friedrich W. Kleemann see https://www.kipioneers.org/families/kleemann-friedrich-wilhelm