Source: FAFdJ (family archive Felix de Jongh now in the Dutch National Archive)
Letters written in French from the duke Charles Bernhard van Saksen (Saxen) Weimar-Eisennacht (1792-1862) to my ancestor Coenraad Alexander de Jongh. The Duke was a high ranking German officer active in the Napoleonic wars. He was friend and family relation to the Dutch crown prince (later king William II) via his sister in law Maria Paulowna, who was married to his older brother Karel Frederik and a sister of Anna Paulowna married to William II). The duke himself was married to Ida van Saksen-Meininge. He entered the Dutch service in 1815 and became commander of the 2nd division of the Dutch army during the revolt of Belgium around 1830. He is remembered in a statue dated 1866 on the Lange Voorhout and in the name of the Weimarstraat both in the Hague.
Mr C.A. de Jongh around 1863, Duke C.B. van Saksen Weimar-Eisennacht
Coenraad Alexander de Jongh (1803-1873) a lawyer of the royal domains in Antwerp, sun of Erdwin Adrianus and Theodora Jordens returned to his fathers home in Rotterdam at the onset of the rebellion in Belgium where he joined the Dutch army. He served in the army division of Van Saksen Weimar as liaison officer of one of the staff officers General- Major Baron Des Tombes. During this military campaign Coenraad Alexander was awarded an honorary medal. (knight of the military order of king William, class 4). When his father died in 1833 leaving him penny-less he decided to go to the Dutch Indies (now Indonesia) and passed exams as civil servant in that colony in 1834.
There are two (short) letters of the Duke in the family archive in that first period
Letter written in French dated 27 October 1832 from the Duke Charles Bernhard von Saksen (Saxen)-Weimar-Eisennacht to Coenraad Alexander de Jongh. The letter is a condolence regarding the death of his stepmother.
Letter written in French dated August 4th 1834 from the Duke Charles Bernhard von Saksen (Saxen)-Weimar-Eisennacht to Coenraad Alexander de Jongh. The letter is A felicitation on his appointment to civil servant of the Dutch Indies.
Much later the Duke became commander of the Dutch colonial army as lieutenant general effective from April 14th 1849 to 1852. Coenraad Alexander de Jongh was at that time president of the judicial court of Samarang. In 1850 De Jongh was later moved to the capital city Batavia were his last function was vice president of the High-court. He returned in 1863 to the Netherlands.
Google map of Java.
Batavia is now Jakarta, Weltevreden is near Batavia, Samarang is now Semarang. Salatiga is in the residency of Samarang
The following letters from the Duke from this period are kept in the archive
Letter written in French dated Batavia April 28th 1849 from the Duke Charles Bernhard von Saksen (Saxen)-Weimar-Eisennacht to Coenraad Alexander de Jongh in Samarang. A reply to an earlier letter from Coenraad Alexander with a description of the so called overland journey of Van Saksen Weimar to Batavia.
Letter written in French dated Batavia June 4th 1849 to Coenraad Alexander de Jongh in Samarang. Reaction on a letter from De Jongh dated May 29th. Main topic is the death of general Michiels, killed during action in Bali.
Letter written in French dated Weltevreden June 19th 1850 to Coenraad Alexander de Jongh in Samarang. The Duke finally sees an opportunity to make the long promised visit to the house of Coenraad Alexander in Samarang.
Letter written in French dated Salatiga September 19th 1850 to Coenraad Alexander de Jongh in Samarang. Incomplete. At the time De Jongh is in the process of moving to a new post in Batavia. The Duke has been on inspection tour during which he has fallen ill and has also been injured, reason to return to Batavia by (Marine) steam boat Etna from Samarang to Batavia. He invites De jongh with his family to join him.
My attempt of a free English translation with help of a French friend is added in square brackets [ ] Constructive comments are highly appreciated.
hdebie45.deds.nl/Genea