The Ahlschläger family tree and a collage of old and new family photographs,  including some short stories about interesting characters in the family over the  years is an endeavour to preserve and record as much family history as possible in  order that future generations will have some idea about the Ahlschlägers of Africa  over the past +- 200 years.
 Some folk are not interested in their family history at all, some partly  and some become interested as they get older.   Fortunately you find some that love  history and it is those people for whom we should be thankful.    In the Ahlschläger case, we must always be thankful to one, Granny Therese Ahlschläger  (nee Rewitsky), who was one of those who always took a keen interest in our family  history.   She kept all the old family photographs and wrote their names on the  back.   I remember Uncles and Aunts saying to Gran; "Do you want these old cepia  and black & white photos and papers, otherwise they will be burnt", she was always  happy to accept any old photos etc.  Those old "papers" were all the original  documents from Germany, of marriage and birth certificates, testimonials, army  clearance forms and the original passports with all the names, dates and addresses.    Had she not looked after all these priceless pieces of "paper" as they were called,  they could have been destroyed or lost.
 One Sunday morning in 1963 granny Therese and I sat on the veranda of 31 King Edward Road,  Cambridge, East London enjoying a cup of tea chatting about the old days on the farm,  Wattlegrove. Suddenly Gran got up and went to the dining room dresser and brought out the old  Bakers biscuit tin where she kept all the old family photos and documents relating to our family  emigrating to South Africa.  She sat down and said in a very serious voice: "You have always shown  a keen interest in our family history - when I am gone you must promise me you will look after  what is in this tin, it's all about our family". I duly promised that I would. After her death in 1973 I was handed the Bakers biscuit tin and a few items which she had left me   in her Will. Fortunatly the tin sealed well, not allowing fish moths and moisture to damage the  contents.
 For the next forty years the tin found a corner in the study cabinet. I retired in 1998 and began  collecting old photographs and old documents wherever I could, it was only after the German  Settler 150 year anniversary, I was assisted by Stephanie Victor, historian at the Amatola Museum  in King Williamstown, who put me in contact with Anne Clarkson, a professional geneaologist, who  lives in Somerset West and specialises in the German Settler history. I contacted my niece, Karen Ahlschläger, who lives in Malmesbury, she liaised with Anne Clarkson  and 
 as a result, Anne was able to trace and have copies made of well over 200 documents from the Cape  and Pretoria National archives concerning the Ahlschlägers, the oldest being the handwritten  passenger list from the sailing ship, Wilhelmsburg, dated 13 January 1859, listing the Ahlschläger  family details, plus death notices, Wills, estates, title deeds etc., over the past 175 years.    With all this information now available my research really gained momentum, then with the help of  counsins Tony and Verina Ahlschläger in East London I was able to compile about 95% of our family  history, of which has been included in my website: www.ahlschlager.tribalpages.com When as much as possible has been recorded a master copy will be made of all documents, old family  photographs etc. and copies will be available to whoever would like a set. Then the original  documents will be handed to National Archives and a set each to both Amatola and East London  Museums history/archive departments.
 Finally I wish to thank all those who have assisted me in my research, but above all to  Therese Alvine Ahlschläger, who instilled in me the interest to start and grow the family tree.  I  have kept my promise, that the Ahlschlägers, as well as all family branches of the future have a  record of the family's heritage, before all is lost and forgotten over time.

All these pages would not have been possible without my dear Bev, spending many long hours in my  study on the computer editing all my notes and information onto my Tribalpages Website, after a  full day at her work.   I am sincerely most thankful for your assistance in compiling the family  history.

Arthur Ahlschläger, Author.