MYSTERY OF THE SERIAL BRIDE REVEALED

A newspaper article with South African origins circulated widely around the world in the early 1900s. The first one I found was in January 1911. It was a popular story because the subject was a much-married woman who was “mother to 50 children.” The syndicated article gave her name as Theila M. DE BEER, who was living in the Kroonstad district in 1911. I went searching for the facts, and after a lot of digging in the archives, I discovered that her name was Hyla Margaretha DE BEER.

Hyla was born on 20 November 1832, likely in the Somerset East area. She was the daughter of Andries Francois DE BEER and Susanna Johanna MOMBERG. She was baptised on February 3, 1833, in Somerset East. In the baptism register, her name is written as Hyla.

Her first marriage was to Petrus Jacobus LUBBE on 07 November 1849 in Potchefstroom. She was almost 17 years old, and he was 22 years old. In the marriage registry, her name was written as Heyla.
He was born circa 1827 and died prior to 1853.
They had one child: Johannes Hendrik LUBBE, baptised on August 14, 1850, in Potchefstroom. He died in 1932.

Her second marriage was to Nicolaas Marthinus PRETORIUS, a widower, on 27 January 1853 in Potchefstroom. She was 20 years old, and he was almost 25 years old. In the marriage registry, her name was written as Hilda.
He was born on April 28, 1828, and baptised on May 15, 1828, in Cradock. He died prior to November 1854.
His first marriage was to Elizabeth Susanna Catharina KEKEMOER on July 2, 1845. They had three children.
Hyla had one child with Nicolaas: Johannes Cornelis PRETORIUS, born on 18 April 1854 and baptised on 08 May 1854 in Potchefstroom. He died circa 1866.

Her third marriage was to David Stephanus PIETERSE on 11 November 1854 in Potchefstroom. She was almost 22 years old. In the marriage registry, her name was written as Yda.
He was born on March 5, 1812. He died on 11 June 1866 at Jakkalsfontein in the Kroonstad district.
He had eight children with his first wife, Dina Margaretha MULLER (married 16 February 1839).
Hyla had five children with David:
Susara Johanna Josina PIETERSE was born circa 1856
Andries Jacobus PIETERSE was born circa 1859 and died in 1929.
Anna Elizabeth PIETERSE was born circa 1862 and died in 1937.
Hyla Margaretha PIETERSE was born circa 1864.
David Stephanus PIETERSE was born circa 1865 and died in 1919.

Her fourth marriage was to Daniel Lodewicus CRONJE on 29 July 1868 in Kroonstad. She was almost 36 years old. In the marriage registry, her name was written as Hyla.
He was born in July 1799. He died on 20 May 1878 at Kollenfontein in the Kroonstad district.
He had three children with his first wife, Anna Hermina STEYL (married 03 April 1820).
Hyla had three children with Daniel:
Daniel Lodewicus Andries Petrus CRONJE was born circa 1869.
Johannes Jurgen Jacobus CRONJE was born circa 1871.
Johanna Jacoba CRONJE was born circa 1876.

Her fifth marriage was to Hendrik Balthazar Louis KLOPPER on 25 October 1882 in the Vredefort Magistrate’s Court. She was almost 50 years old. In the marriage registry, her name was written as Hyla.
He was born on 15 November 1806. He died on February 5, 1888, in Kroonstad.
He had one child with his first wife, Jacoba Wilhelmina GREYLING (married 17 September 1826).
With his second wife, Maria Margaretha VAN DER MERWE (married 07 January 1828), he had eleven children.
Hyla did not have any children with Hendrik.

Her sixth and last marriage was to Coenraad Hendrik Van WYK on June 3, 1889, in Kroonstad. She was 56½ years old. In the marriage registry, her name was written as Hyla.
He was born circa 1827. He died on 18 November 1901 in the Kroonstad Concentration Camp during the Anglo-Boer War of pneumonia.
He was in the Klerksdorp Concentration Camp from 25 September 1901 to 28 September 1901 and thereafter in the Kroonstad Concentration Camp. The English confiscated his farm stock.
He had nine children with his first wife, Catharina Maria Magdalena SEVENSTER (married 07 February 1849).
Hyla did not have any children with Coenraad.
Her name was written as Heila in his death notice.

During the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), Heila was in the Klerksdorp Concentration Camp from 25 September 1901 to 28 September 1901 and thereafter in the Kroonstad Concentration Camp.
She died on 26 May 1911, at the age of 78½ years old, at home: Klipdrift, Vredefort district.
Her death notice shows her birthplace as Natal, which seems incorrect.
Her name was written as Hyla in her death notice.
She had 10 children of her own and was stepmother to 35 children.