Extract from '1935 Woman of South Africa'

D'ASSONVILLE Mrs. ALETTA FREDRIEKA, was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Terblanche (Miss Margaretha Veldtman) both descendants of the Huguenots who came to South Africa in 1688. She was married to the late Monsieur Henri Emile D'Assonville, who landed in Port Elizabeth in 1859, starting business at Assegai Bosch, Humansdorp; in 1873 he went to France with his family and returned in 1874. Shortly before coming to South Africa the first time he saw service in India and it was while on active service that he took part in the relief of Lucknow. He died in 1908. His father served in the gallant "Charge of the Light Brigade" (Crimean War) as General d'Assonville; for his bravery there he was awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honour and a title. Mrs. d'Assonville was born at Hoffman's Bosch in the Zitzikama, district Humansdorp, C.P., in 1834; married in 1864. Had five sons and three daughters. She enjoyed very good health, was very active and bore her age remarkably well; at the age of nearly 100 years she could still sew without glasses. Was well-known amongst the poor for her kindness to them. In her old age she lived with her youngest daughter in the Humansdorp District. An unfortunate fall made her helpless and she died at the ripe age of 101 years, five months. During her lifetime her chief interests were homecraft and gardening.