William R. Sandbach

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    William R. Sandbach
    William R. Sandbach
    Mrs. Sara M. Sandbach, born Jkvr. van Capellen; photo by her niece Alexine Tinne. Earlier painting here.

    William Robertson Sandbach (1813-1891) was a West-India merchant who translated Ottema’s Dutch 1872 Oera Linda translation (and introduction) into English, possibly helped by his wife Jkvr. Sara Maria van Capellen (1807-1881), who had been lady-in-waiting to princess Sophie of Württemberg (1818-1877), married in 1839 to prince William Alexander P.F.L. of Orange (1817-1890), who would become king William III in 1849. The translation was published in 1876 as The Oera Linda Book by Trübner & Co. (London). No other works by him are known but he did add a translator’s preface to the book. Sandbach’s mother (Elizabeth Robertson) was from a old Scottish family of ministers/ theologians.[1]

    Eight letters from W.R. Sandbach to J.D.C.C.W. Baron de Constant Rebecque (1841-1893) — married to a niece[2] of Sandbach’s wife and chamberlain of King William III —, dated between May 1886 and March 1890 are in the Dutch National Archives[3], but these contain no reference to Oera Linda. In these years, Sandbach’s address was 10 Prince’s Gate, London.

    In March 1874 a brother-in-law of Sandbach, Jhr. Otto Willem Hora Siccama (1805-1879) referred to Ottema’s Oera Linda translation in a letter to his daughter Henriette,[4] the same niece of Sandbach’s wife, mentioned earlier. He concluded: “You understand that this book amuses us terribly.”[5]

    Notes

    1. ↑ Some more details on blog post Sandbach
    2. ↑ Jkvr. Henriette Sara Hora Siccama (1844-1924)
    3. ↑ Nationaal Archief, inv.nr. 2.21.008.01 / 121Z
    4. ↑ Nationaal Archief, inv.nr. 2.21.008.01 / 126B
    5. ↑ Whole Dutch fragment: ...* heeft mij gister medegebragt: “Thet Oera Linda bok” de vertaling van een overoud Friesch handschrift, waar uit blijkt dat Min-erva eene fraaije blonde Friesche meid was en Neptunus een Friesche Zeekoning geboren te Ouddorp bij Alkmaar en daar bekend als Neef Teunis. Gij begrijpt dat dat boek ons schrikkelijk amuseert. (*name or first word not deciphered yet)

    Genealogy (Ahnentafel)

    Sara and William Sandbach

    1) William Robertson Sandbach, born 7-3-1813 Liverpool, died 25-9-1891, son of 2/3;

    married (1) 9-5-1837 Toxteth Park, Liverpool

    Hester Willink, born 1813, died 27-10-1837 Paris, daughter of Daniel Willink (Dutch Consul to Liverpool) and Anne Latham;

    married (2) 1852

    Jkvr. Sara Maria van Capellen, born 13-1-1807, died 12-7-1889 London, former lady-in-waiting to princess/ queen Sophie of the Netherlands, daughter of Jhr. Theodorus Frederik van Capellen and Petronella De Lange;

    (No children known)

    2) Samuel Sandbach, born 19-8-1769 Tarporley, died 25-05-1851 Woodlands, West-India merchant, son of 4/5;

    married 15-12-1802 Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

    3) Elizabeth Robertson, born 14-12-1782, died 26-9-1859, daughter of 6/7.

    Children:

    1. Anne Sandbach, born 27-9-1803 Liverpool, died 1-6-1890 London; married 26-5-1825 Aigburth, Liverpool Charles Stuart Parker, born 15-6-1800 Glasgow, died 26-10-1868 Liverpool, merchant Liverpool, son of Charles Stewart Parker en Margaret Rainy (9 children)
    2. (Samuel James, born 3-1-1805, died 29-7-1817)
      Margaret Tinne-Sandbach
    3. Elizabeth Sandbach, born 23-5-1806, died 13-3-1881
    4. (James Watson, born 1-4-1809 Liverpool, died 19-10-1819)
    5. Margaret Sandbach, born 8-8-1811 Liverpool, died 10-4-1868 Liverpool; married 16-04-1833 Aigburth, Woodlands/Childwall: John Abraham Tinne, born 16-2-1807 Liverpool, died 20-1-1884 Lancashire, son of Philip Frederick Tinne and Anna Rose (10 children)
    6. Henry Robertson Sandbach, born 25-9-1807 Liverpool, died 10-6-1895; married (1) Margaret Roscoe, born 1812, died 1852, daughter of Edward Roscoe and Margaret Lace; married (2) Elizabeth Charlotte Williams, born 1827, died 20-5-1911, daughter of Martin Williams (5 children)
    7. William Robertson Sandbach, born 7-3-1813 Liverpool => 1)
    8. Mary Rosina Sandbach, born 28-5-1815 Liverpool, died 23-5-1882; married 7-7-1835 Liverpool Henry Harrison, born 10-12-1795 Manchester, died 22-4-1871 Liverpool, merchant Liverpool, son of William Harrison and Helen ... (11 children)
    9. Gilbert Sandbach, born 11-1-1817 Liverpool, died 10-3-1882; rector of Upper Sapey; married 1846 Margaret Maxwell, born 26-8-1825, died 28-8-1884, daughter of Archibald Maxwell (11 children)
    10. Samuel Sandbach, born 3-7-1818, died 18-7-1849; married 1844 Anne Maxwell, born 1821, died 1896, daughter of Archibald Maxwell (2 children)
    11. Martha Tinne Sandbach, born 20-7-1822, died 29-4-1891; married Robert Mcleod Fraser, born 12-1815, died 1896 (5 children)
    12. Julia Trail Sandbach, born 19-2-1828, died 9-4-1890; married Harold Barkworth, born 6-5-1827, died 9-2-1902 (11 children)

    4) Adam Sandbach, born 1-9-1723 Tarporley, died 1783 or 1784 Tarporley, son of 8/9;

    married (1) ca. 1747

    Jane ...;

    married (2) 1-1-1752 Tarporley

    5) Martha Oulton, born 1727, died 8-1769, daughter of 10/11;

    married (3) 18-4-1775 Tarporley

    Mary Maulton

    Children:

    1. from (1): Catherine Sandbach, born ca. 1747 Stone; married 30-4-1770 Stafford Richard Snape
    2. from (2): Elizabeth Sandbach, born 28-08-1753 Tarporley; died ca. 1800; married 22-8-1772 Tarporley Samuel Wilkinson, died ca. 1800, son of Ann ...
    3. Margaret Sandbach, born 9-3-1756 Tarporley; died 19-11-1854 Tarporley; married 18-10-1774 Tarporley: Samuel Cowap
    4. (Martha, born 28-12-1758 Tarporley, died 8-10-1759 Tarporley)
    5. Martha, born 1-1-1761 Tarporley
    6. John, born 17-10-1762, Tarporley
    7. Sarah Sandbach, born 19-8-1764 Tarporley; married (1) William Ankers; married (2) ... Fargison
    8. Mary Sandbach, born 26-9-1766 Tarporley, died 29-12-1857
    9. Samuel Sandbach, born 19-8-1769 Tarporley => 2)
    10. from (3): Adam Sandbach, born 19-7-1776, Tarporley, died after 1800

    6) Harry Robertson, 1748-1815, minister of parish of Kiltearn

    7) Anne Forbes, c.1754-1826, daughter of William Forbes.

    8) Adam Sandbach, son of Adam Sandbach and Deborah ..., born ca. 1690 Tarporley, died 4-9-1740 Tarporley, wheelwright;

    married (1) 14-6-1709 Tarporley

    Mary Huxley, daughter of Richard Huxley and Katherine Hughes;

    married (2) 13-3-1719 Tarporley

    9) Elizabeth Hodgkins, born 4-1696 Tattenhall, died 26-3-1768, daughter of Richard Hodgekins and Rachael Dutton.

    Children:

    1. from (1): (Mary, born 18-6-1710 Tarporley, died before 1720)
    2. Elizabeth, born ca. 1716
    3. (Adam, born ca. 1716 Tarporley, died 13-5-1716 Tarporley)
    4. from (2): Mary Sandbach, died after 1800
    5. Margaret Sandbach, born 27-12-1725 Tarporley, died after 1739
    6. John Sandbach, born 25-12-1719 Tarporley, died 1796
    7. Adam Sandbach, born 1-9-1723 Tarporley => see 4)
    8. William Sandbach, born 26-2-1727 Tarporley, died 25-1-1804 Burton-by-Tarvin
    9. Samuel, born ca. 1730
    10. Joseph, born 2-4-1733 Tarporley
    11. Sarah Sandbach, born 23-9-1735 Tarporley, died after 1800
    12. Daniel, born 19-3-1739 Tarporley

    10) Thomas Oulton, 1702-1763

    11) Elizabeth Challoner, 1706-1768

    12) Gilbert Robertson, 1702-1774, son of George Robertson and Christiane Douglas

    13) Christiane Bayne, died c.1764, daughter of John Bayne and Ann Bethune

    Sandbach’s Preface of 1876

    Translator’s Preface.

    The work of which I here offer an English translation has excited, among the Dutch and German literary societies, a keen controversy in regard to its authenticity — a controversy not yet brought to a conclusion, some affirming that it contains internal evidence of truth, while others declare it to be a forgery. But even the latter do not insist on its being the work of a modern fabricator. They allow it to be one hundred, or perhaps one hundred and fifty, years old. If they admit that, I do not see why they refuse it a greater antiquity; and as to the improbability of the stories related in it, I refer the reader to the exhaustive inquiry in Dr Ottema’s Preface.

    Is it more difficult to believe that the early Frisians, being hardy and intrepid marine adventurers, sailed to the Mediterranean, and even proceeded farther, than that the Phoenicians sailed to England for tin, and to the Baltic for amber? or that a clever woman became a lawgiver at Athens, than that a goddess sprang, full grown and armed, from the cleft skull of Jupiter?

    There is nothing in the narratives of this book inconsistent with probability, however they may vary from some of our preconceived ideas; but whether it is really what it pretends to be — a very ancient manuscript, or a more modern fiction — it is not the less a most curious and interesting work, and as such I offer it to the British public.

    In order to give an idea of the manuscript, I have procured photographs of two of its pages, which are bound with this volume.

    I have also followed Dr Ottema’s plan of printing the original Frisian opposite to the translation, so that any reader possessing a knowledge of the language may verify the correctness of the translation.

    In addition to the Preface which I have translated, Dr Ottema has written two pamphlets on the subject of the Oera Linda Book (1. Historical Notes and Explanations; 2. The Royal Academy and Het Oera Linda Bok), both of which would be very valuable to any one who wished to study the controversy respecting the authenticity of the work, but which I have not thought it necessary to translate for the present publication.

    There has also appeared in the “Deventer Courant” a series of twelve letters on the same subject. Though written anonymously, I believe they are from the pen of Professor Vitringa. They have been translated into German by Mr Otto.

    The writer evidently entered upon his task of criticism with a feeling of disbelief in the authenticity of the book; but in his last letter he admits that, after a minute examination, he is unable to pronounce a positive conviction either for or against it.

    His concluding remarks are to the following effect: —

    handwriting 1890

    “If the book is a romance, then I must admit that it has been written with a good object, and by a clever man, because the sentiments expressed in it are of a highly moral tendency; and the facts related, so far as they can be controlled by regular history, are not untruthful; and where they deal with events of which we have no historical records, they do not offend our ideas of possibility or even probability.”

    Wm. R. Sandbach.


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