Gregers Mikkelsen, Rosendal, info@rosendals-slott.com; gregers@rosendals-slott.com; Johan Bennet, Lund, mob +46735466662, johanbennet@gmail.com; m.lilliehook@telia.com.
CH-757
Bilthoven, 14 juli 2022
Dear Madam/Sir,
This summer I am travelling through your country to make good quality photographs of paintings of my ancestors of the Swedish Meijerfeldt family.
In the late afternoon of 26 August I will be the neighbourhood of Rosendal, Morarp. As far as I know a painting of Johan August Meijerfeldt (1664-1749) in yellow generals costume is still in the slott somewhere. Although that part of the slott is probably in private use, I wonder if you could ask the owner to make an exception for me and have a photograph taken. If not, would it be possible that someone else takes the picture and transfers it to me?
Thank you in advance,
Hugo von Meijenfeldt
Rosendal, 27 juli 2022
Dear Hugo,
The old owners of Rosendal the Bennet family auctioned away all the castle interior incl. paintings back in 2015 I believe, and there were no paintings left when we took over the Castle.
I suggest you contact The Bennet family for further knowledge on the paintings whereabouts.
Unfortunately I do not have their contact details.
All the best in your quest.
Best regards
Gregers Mikkelsen
Bilthoven, 28 juli 2022
Dear Gregers,
Thank you very much for your information.
In 2014 I have had contact with the Bennet family: first the old Gerard Bennet, later his children Margaretha (married Lilliehöök) and Johan. When Gerard died they sold many items at an auction in Helsingborg. The painting was for sale for 60.000-80.000 SEK, but they decided to keep it because the offers were too low. I assumed that the painting had stayed in Rosendal when you took it over, but now I know the Bennet family took it somewhere else.
I will approach Margaretha and Johan.
Thanks again,
Hugo von Meijenfeldt
Bilthoven, 28 juli 2022
Dear Margaretha and Johan,
In 2014 my cousin Ingmar and I did have contact with both of you about the painting of our ancestor at Rosendal.
You withdrew it from the auction in Helsingborg. I assumed it was still at Rosendal, but the new owner Mikkelsen told me that you kept the painting.
In three weeks time I will travel with my son to Sweden to make high quality pictures of the different pictures of my ancestors. Could you inform me where the painting is now and if it would be possible to have a look at it?
Thanks in advance for your response,
Hugo von Meijenfeldt
Stockholm, 28 juli 2022
The painting is kept in a storehouse in Helsingborg (southern part of sweden) and we can arrange for a convenient time for you to look at the painting.
Johan Bennet
Bilthoven, 28 juli 2022
Dear Johan,
Thanks for your quick response. That is wonderful information!
On Friday 26 August around 16:30 hrs after visiting Sörbytorp my son and I will be arriving in Helsingborg. If we could come to the storehouse by then, watch the painting and make a sharp photograph that would be excellent.
Thanks again,
Hugo
Stockholm, 28 juli 2022
I am glad that my brother Johan can help you with your request.
Kind regards,
Margareta
Lund, 23 augustus 2022
The storehouse, where the painting of Meijenfeldt is kept, closes at 1600 on weekdays
Therefore it would be more convenient if you could come to the storehouse at 15.30 on friday 26th aug.
The adresse of the Storehouse is Västra Tallgatan 32, Helsingborg
J Bennet
Lund, 26 augustus 2022
Hello again.
It was nice meeting you, and I am glad that I could be of some assistance in your Research about von Meijenfeldt.
I have noticed that the General on the Painting was named Johan August Meijerfeldt.
I am curious about how Meijerfeldt became a dutch noble. Von Meijenfeldt.
Notice the different spelling.
Kind Regards
Johan Bennet.
Bilthoven, 26 augustus 2022
Dear Johan,
It was a real pleasure to meet you and see the painting. My son is satisfied with the quality of his photographs. It will find its way to my website.
You are right about the difference in the spelling. Occasionally I found an “n” in the name of the son of the Swedish general, Johan August jr (1725-1800). In the Netherlands I found occasionally an “r” in the spelling of our name. It is not a black-and-white picture.
I have a lot of evidence that count Johan August jr before his marriage had a natural son, again with the name Johan August, born in Swedish Pommern in 1760. That natural son left Stralsund 1780, went into French service and after that into Dutch naval service in 1793. The Dutch family Von Meijenfeldt has therefore no nobility.
I will send you the summary of the Bennet-Meijerfeldt trip. I am afraid it will take me some time.
All the best, Hugo
Bilthoven, 28 november 2022
Hello Johan,
Again thank you for receiving me in Helsingborg and showing me the painting. As a follow-up I am sending you two items:
-
- A summary of the shared adventures of Wilhelm Bennet and Johan August von Meijerfeldt.
- The photograph of the painting that my son Lester took. It is already on my website. As soon as the painting moves to Vittskövle I would be most happy to be informed.
All the best,
Hugo
WILHELM BENNET (1677-1740)
Born Åbo province, Finland 1677, died Malmö, 18 November 1740, son of Major James Bennet and Kristina Kinnemond. Joined the garrison of Riga at the age of 16 and was from then on in the direct neighbourhood of the three brothers von Meijerfeldt. See Svenkt Biografiskt Lexikon, part 3, page 211.
Prisoners of War: After the lost Battle of Poltava Carl XII asked Johan August von Meijerfeldt sr (1664-1749, of the painting in your storehouse), to travel towards Tsar Peter the Great. Bennet, auditor Löwenheim, a boy Frolich, and a trumpeter joined. Meijerfeldt had to instruct the captured Prime Minister Carl Piper not to negotiate peace, Bennet had other instructions, perhaps about exchanging the dead. Peter the Great was angry and improsened the group of five. Meijerfeldt did not make himself very popular when he was allowed to leave the camp after four weeks with Bennet to bring the Russian peace conditions to Carl XII in Bender, Moldova (then part of the Ottoman Empire).
From Bender to Stockholm: I was wrong that Meijerfeldt and Bennet travelled together. Carl XII commissioned Meijerfeldt to travel over the Carpathians to Rákóczi (rebellious Prince of Transylvania), Wilhelm (king of Prussia in Berlin) and Stockholm with letters and instructions. SBL says Bennet travelled “med depescher till envoyén vid det kejserliga hovet H. von Strahlenheim, som då vistades i Breslau”. According to the travel journals it was garde-captain Christian Bennet who joined Meijerfeldt.
Battle of Helsingborg: After arriving in Stockholm Lieutenant-General Meijerfeldt joins Stenbock’s General Staff in Osby on 1 February 1710 to stop the invasion of the Danes. Bennet is also back and fights on Meijerfeldt’s cavalry on the right flank in the Battle of Helsingborg on 28 February.
Marriage to Barnekow sisters: After Bennet married Magdalena Eleonora Barnekow on 27 October 1712, Meijerfeldt proposed to her mother Margaretha von Ascheberg. She declined. Then he proposed to her youngest 16 years old daughter Brita Barnekow. The wedding takes place at Vittskövle 13 March 1717. Bennet and Meijerfeldt now have a family relation.
Lund, 29 november 2022
Thank you for the summary about meijerfeldt.
Very interesting to read about his achievements.