From Switzerland to Brazil

I am descendent not only from the french "Pinel" but also from the swiss "Rime" and this blog is about the Rimes from Switzerland who emigrated to Brasil.

First a little history of the times that gave cause for the emigration.

Europe exploded in an atmosphere of misery and uncertainty, giving rise to other revolutionary movements, such as the invasion of Russia in 1812, by the French, as a consequence of breaking the commitment to join the Continental Blockade and the explosion of the Spanish revolution in 1813 that, in support of England, broke the political compromise with France, forcing it to return to the Spanish crown to its rightful king.

At the end of 1815, after the fall of Napoleon, the representatives of the allied countries, who defeated him, met in Austria, more precisely in Vienna, and in a broad congress, Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia, legitimate representatives of conservatism Traditional European, recover their privileges and resume the control of the political power and the working masses in Europe. This meeting is historically known as the Congress of Vienna.

During the summer of 1816, unexpected climate changes left countries in the Northern Hemisphere suffering from devastating famine and epidemic outbreaks. These weather patterns were the result of the Volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in Sumbawa, Indonesia, on 10 April 1815.

The consequences were therefore inevitable. Thousands of Swiss leave their country and emigrate to other countries in search of better living conditions.

During the summer of 1817, the French sailboat Emilie leaves the port of Le Havre toward South America. Its destination is the city of Rio de Janeiro. On board, a diplomat of Fribourg brought the commitment to an important mission. Charged by the Swiss government, its objective was to propose to the court of King John VI the delivery of a group of Swiss emigrants to Brazil.

The voyage toward South America began on September 12, 1819, from the port of St-Gravendeel. On that date, the Hamburger sailboat Daphné , carrying 197 colonists, took the favorable wind and took the route to the ocean. The next day, left, successively, the "Urania", with 437 immigrants, of Berne, and the American "Debby Elisa", with 233 Jurasianos. A month later, the settlers remaining in Mijl, were sent to Amsterdam and from there to Den Helder. From this port left, on 10 October, "Heureux Voyage," with 442 passengers, the "Elizabeth Marie", with 228, and "Camillus" with 119 emigrants. And yet, in the first half of October, the sailboat "Trajan" leaves the port of St-Gravendeel, carrying the baggage of the settlers.

Arriving in Rio de Janeiro, the settlers did not immediately disembarked but received on board the Brazilian authorities, doctors and officials of the customs. Small sailboats led the settlers by the inside of the Bay, entering the mouth of the River Macacu and reaching Tamby (current Itambi).

In Tamby, 60 tents were erected to welcome, for 5 days, the weary travelers, the first rest ashore after months of navigation. From this village, the group left by land, with carts used to transport children, women and baggage. The men continued on foot or on horseback.

Finally, after this stage of 12 days, considered the most peaceful of the trip, ended a long journey. Of the 2,006 emigrants who left Switzerland, 1631 arrived in Nova Friburgo, being recorded during the entire journey, 389 deaths and 14 births.

The settlers who embarked in Rotterdam on the ship Urania, led by Captain Bochs on September 12, numbering 437, arrived in Rio de Janeiro on November 30, 1819 and at Morro Queimado on December 11, having lost 109 people in the crossing.

Source: Compiled from information posted in the “Centro de Documentaçao D. João VI” Nova Friburgo, BR

http://www.djoaovi.com.br