Notes for Frederick Seyler: Silesia is a region of SW Poland and north-centre Czechoslovakia. It covers 49,286 square kilometres and has a population of more than 9 million. The region became part of Poland in the 900's. Austria took over Silesia in 1526 and Prussia seized northern Silesia from Austria in 1742. In 1919, after WW1, Germany and Poland divided northern Silesia and southern Silesia became part of Czechoslovakia. Poland gained control of the entire northern part in 1945 after WW2. When Frederick Seyler was born, Silesia was part of Austria and he would have spoken Austrian (German) as his first language.
In the Middle Ages Silesia was inhabited mostly by people of Slavonic ethnic background and belonged at first to Poland and later to Bohemia. Since the 13th century Silesia together with Bohemia has come under German cultural and political influence. In the 16th century it became part of Austria and a significant part of the inhabitants were germanized. This process continued during the next centuries. In 1742 Prussia conquered most of Silesia, only the southernmost regions (marked in orange on the map below) of Opava and Cieszyn remained Austrian.
In 1815 the eastern part of Saxony was incorporated into Silesia, while the northernmost part of Silesia, the enclave of Swiebodzin (Schwiebus) became part of the Province of Brandenburg (marked in red on the map of Brandenburg). In the 19th century the greater part of the Silesian people were Roman Catholics. In the western and central regions practically only German was spoken, while in the eastern part of Silesia (Upper Silesia) the Polish language was predominant.
As independent Poland came into existence in 1918, the Polish speaking populace also wanted to belong to it. After three Polish uprisings and a plebiscite, the region was divided between Poland and Germany (the area which became then Polish is shown in green). Small fragments of Middle Silesia (marked in cyan) were also incorporated into Poland and a little area in the south (marked in magenta) - into Czechoslovakia.
After WWII, the greater part of Silesia became part of Poland. Only three districts west of the Neisse River remained German (they are now part of the State of Saxony). The German inhabitants of the province either escaped or were expelled from Silesia after 1945 and the Poles from the formerly Polish regions in the East settled there.
The map shows the territory of Silesia at the beginning of the 20th century. The colored regions are explained above. The pink line is the present border between Poland and Germany. Polish and German names of cities are provided.
Frederick Seyler (along with a party of Jesuits lead by Fr Kranewitter) left Hamburg on "SS Alfred" from Germany 15 August 1848, landed at Port Adelaide 8 December 1848. Frederick Seyler and his brother Alfred went to live "near" Clare South Australia. He lived with Jesuit Monks at what is now the Sevenhills Winery. In 1852 Frederick moved to St Kilda, Victoria.
Frederick Seyler was amongst the cabin passengers, 9 of them including two Jesuits, two women and one child. Two hundred others were ordinary passengers.
"Sevenhills" was founded in 1851 in Clare by Fr Kranewitter and Bros Schreiner and Sadler. The monastery was established by the Jesuits from Silesia and it is not surprising that Frederick Seyler and his brother settled there first in Australia. The Jesuits came to Australia after Emperor Ferdinand unwillingly signed a degree expelling Jesuits from Austria. Franz Joseph revoked the decree in 1852.
Seyler, Frederick Event: Gazetted 21 Aug 1863 Place: Victoria Comment: Unclaimed Ship Letters. Source: Government gazette. Victoria. p. 1840 GSV library location: F 328.945 VIC
Name: Seyler, , Mrs Event: Gazetted 21 Aug 1863 Place: Victoria Comment: Letters detained at Dead Letter Office. Source: Government gazette. Victoria. p. 1842 GSV library location: F 328.945 VIC
More About Frederick Seyler: Burial: June 1866, Melbourne General Cemetery / Melbourne, Australia. Emigration: 1848, To Adelaide South Australia on the 'Alfred'.566 Occupation: Accountant.
More About Frederick Seyler and Harriet Marris: Divorce: 18 June 1865, St Kilda, Victoria, Australia. Marriage: 13 May 1856, St Kilda, Australia.567
Children of Frederick Seyler and Harriet Marris are:
+Louisa Emma Susanna Seyler, b. 09 July 1858, St Kilda, Australia568, d. 07 May 1932, Raglan Street, Sale / Victoria, Australia569.
Elizabeth Annie Seyler, b. 27 September 1859, St Kilda, Australia, d. 11 November 1932, Heidelberg / Melbourne, Australia570.
Unknown Seyler, b. 29 October 1860, St Kilda, Australia, d. 29 October 1860, St Kilda, Australia.
Frederick Seyler (b. 29 December 1823, d. 18 June 1866)
Notes for Frederick Seyler: