Back to home

Claas Jansz b4 Willem c2 Nicolaas d1 Willem e6 Willem f5 Nicolaas Jacobus

Page 1 Page 2 Footnotes

Willem was the sixth child of Willem and Elizabeth Johanna Lubbe. He was born on 23 February 1805 and baptised on the 13 April 1805 at Tulbagh (43k).

Relation to President Thomas Francois Burger

He was also a second cousin to President Thomas Francois Burger of the Orange Free State. Willem's grandmother Hester Helena Burger and the President's grandfather Barend Jacobus Burger were brother and sister.

Slave Uprising and murder at Houdenbek

The family was living at Vaalkloof, when tragedy struck. Willem was twenty when his eldest brother Johannes Hendrik went on 1 Feb 1825 to the neighbouring farm Houdenbek of W.N. van der Merwe. They were planning to go duck shooting in the morning (Theal p 292). In the afternoon he was carving and cutting a sjambok. When van Rensburg entered the house again, van der Merwe instructed the slave Galant to round up a pig with the sjambok. Van der Merwe also said to van Rensburg that he was going to give further instructions to the slaves and if they disobeyed he will supple the sjambok on them the next day (subsequently in the court case Galant testified that he heard this threat). Early the next morning as the men went out of the house to the sheep kraal, the slaves ran into the house and grabbed the guns, thus commenced one of the few slave rebellions in the Cape. ⁽¹⁾ As things developed the slaves eventually were outside the house and the others were besieged inside the house. Van Rensburg tried to escape by sneaking away and jumped upon a horse and fled to go and get help. Some of the slaves pursued him on other horses and seeing their horses were faster, van Rensburg had to race back to the house. On arriving at the house the others opened the door for him and he rode right into the house with the horse.

The siege continued, then commenced negotiations with the slaves. When van der Merwe opened the door slightly to talk the slaves, they shot him. Van der Merwe's wife in the mean time went hiding in the oven. The slaves started shooting at it from the outside, and she was then injured. Van Rensburg immediately rushed to her assistance. At the same time the slave's crow bared their way into the house. Van Rensburg pleaded for mercy, however he was shot through the left arm and chest (Theal p 305, 310, 311), the teacher Verlee was also shot. The inquest revealed that van Rensburg was also beaten with either stones or sticks on the head (Theal p 256). He with a number of other were killed in this uprising. (The court case revealed that Abel the slave of Barend van der Merwe shot van Rensburg Theal p 307) The rebellion was put down and Galant and his supporters put on trial. Galant and his co-leader were hanged and their heads were placed on a pole at the intersection of the road leading to 'Scotland' and 'Friesland'. This intersection is called "Koppieshoogte" meaning head heights.(The German traveler Von Meyer saw one of the skulls still hanging on the pole 15 years later.)⁽²⁾

Relations and Attitude to the Big Spider

It is interesting to note the relationship between some of those who were killed in this uprising. Willem Nicolaas van der Merwe and Izaak Willem van der Merwe (owner of Moerasvleij) were brothers. Izaak's wife Barbara Jacoba Maria van Rensburg's had a brother Nicolaas, who was the father of Johannes Hendrik van Rensburg, in other words she was the aunt of the murdered van Rensburg. One also get a glimpse into their attitude towards the British occupation, it was stated that the appearance of the Union Jack, resembled coming under the rule of "the big spider covered flag". Galant also heard van der Merwe say to van Rensburg "you must promise me ... to shoot the magistrate when he comes. Jansen answered that he would do so for that he would stand up for his mother country"⁽³⁾

Four years later the family was in mourning again since their father passed away on the 15 April 1829.⁽⁴⁾ Willem was then twenty four. In 1833 Willem became a member of Tulbagh church (29k).

Farming in Geographical area of Cold Bokkeveld

They lived in the Worcester district see map (93k), Cold Bokkeveld, and in the sub district Friesland (known also as Voorste Bokkeveld). There was also a sub district called Scotland (known as Agterste Bokkeveld). The geographical line separating these two sub districts was south and north of Table Mountain respectively (don't confuse it with the mountain at Cape Town). See map of farms in Cold Bokkeveld (63k). Vaalkloof was the family farm and Willem lived there until his mother sold it to a family member W.J.J van Rensburg on Jan 29, 1836 (the farm continued in the name of these van Rensburg's until 1860)⁽⁵⁾. The family lived at Vaalkloof at least from 1818 -1836. I visited this farm in Jan 1989. The oldest building was an old barn, which was recently converted into offices. A circular 'trap vloer' thrashing floor was also preserved. Wheat use to be placed on the floor and horses were used to walk over it. This was their method of separating the kernels from the stalks. A quaint little old shepherds hut is part of the farm buildings, this shepherds hut featured in one of the earliest Afrikaans movies. The original road to Vaalkloof came from the direction of Houdenbek farm, it did not continue any further. Today the road comes from the other direction, since the old road was cut off by the construction of a dam. In more recent years a new shed was added and the owners then removed a cemetery.. The inscribed tombstones, that I saw, which was placed aside did not go back to the earlier occupants.

The reason why Willem and his brother Barend Frederick did not obtain the family farm is a mystery. The desire of both parents according to their will as signed on 1 Oct 1816⁽⁶⁾ was that these two children should receive the farm, see extract from will (81k). The will also indicated that they would have to pay 11,000 Cape Gulden into the estate. The testament further specified that they needed to look after the longest living parent. This will was submitted to the Orphan Chamber 9 June 1829, shortly after his father passed away.

Willem had no loan farm, recorded in the opgaafrol. The same documents indicates that his mother lived with him (there is record of her still being alive in 1843.⁽⁷⁾ They lived in the Cold Bokkeveld with family and friends, most of the time they were residing with his father's sister Barbara and her husband Izaak van der Merwe at Moerasvleij, today know as Boplaas.

Climatic conditions and Winter trek to the Karoo

During the cold winter months it was customary for inhabitants of this part, to take their sheep and trek into the Ceres Karoo. Charles Bell painted this Karoo trekboer outspan in circa 1830 (42k). During those times there were not many towns and various areas were know in terms of "veld", look at this map which includes these descriptions, Map Part A (195k) , Map Part B (219k). Factors for winter trek was: 1. with a winter rainfall in the Cold Bokkeveld the sheep would get wet and die from the exposure. 2. The frost remained till late in the day. In winter (May -June) the Bokkeveld is so cold that the vegetation stops growing. Trekking avoided the snow and lack of grazing for the sheep. 3. The Karoo had still good grazing, and it had no winter rains. The Karoo thus became their place of refuge.⁽⁸⁾

There were a lot of preparation prior to leaving for the Karoo. The woman would make rusks, biltong and dried fruit. The men would prepare the wagons and make leather thongs.

Two roads led to the Karoo, the one Willem would have used went across Swartrug, then across the mountain at Katbakkies, see picture from Katbakkies looking back to Table Mountain (23k) and then across Skitterykloof. This route was difficult since there were a lot of loose stones going across Katbakkies. From Skitterykloof the route was very windy and when it rained it was very slippery, see picture of Blinkberg Pass (32k). On occasions a wagon would break, going up these mountains on other occasions they would get stuck in rivers. At times it was a daunting task, to see the men with pants in their hand, crossing the river and trying to ensure that all the animals would cross over as well. When it rained the canvas over the wagon would start to leak, then the children would be miserable and crying as they got wet. Eland-fat was used to waterproof the tents and wagon-covers. (See picture of an eland hunt (47k), they use to drive the animal close to where they would want to slaughter it, so they would not need to carry it far). The other route went via "Uitvlugt" which means "to flee", it shows that they saw the Karoo as a means of getting away. This route was in better condition, thus often the wagons would go via it.

Social life during stay in the Karoo

Since the whole family went with the trek, it became a big social event, like an annual camping holiday.⁽⁹⁾ Often a number of families and friends would trek together. Camping up to fifteen or twenty wagons together. The activities included; hunting kudu, gemsbok, quagga, springbok or ostriches, making coffee and 'braai' barbecuing meat together. See painting of a hunt by Thomas Bain (46k). They enjoyed one another's company in conversation and catching up with all the news. At nights someone would get a concertina or violin and they would dance. Early in the morning one would lead out in family worship. This was followed with everyone going to their special grazing spot.

A lot of activity was evident, the children and servants would collect sticks from the gannabush, and the womenfolk would make a fire in order to make soap from all the fat that they had accumulated from the Afrikander sheep with its peculiar fat tail. Later on they could sell it at the Cape. The woman also tanned leather and made clothing out of it. Whereas the men made leather thongs, which they used for ropes etc., and shoes. The Bokkeveld farmers exchanged peas, beans, and dried fruit with the farmers from the Roggeveld who would barter with horses and sheep in turn.

Living in their wagons and tents and constructing little huts out of rushes and straw, similar to Hottentot's huts, were their temporary dwelling. Others constructed little stone shelters. See photo of remains of shepherd hut in Ceres Karoo (32k). This annual trek prepared Willem for the day when he would leave the Cold Bokkeveld permanently and start a new life further up in the Karoo.

Willem's Farming Record

The opgaafrol for Worcester⁽¹⁰⁾ gives a record of which farms Willem lived at and the year involved:
 

Year	horses	cattle	sheep	rye	wheat	wagon
1830 Willem's signature- no other records
1836 Willem's signature	1	6	20
1837 on farm Houdenbek, 2 lyfknegt (servants), 3 Huisknegt (domestic servants)	3	5	30	3		1
1838 -1839 on farm Moerasvleij farm of his sistter and her husband Izaak van der Merwe. Data from 1839	2	12			17	1
1840 on farm Rietvaleij (Winkelhaak) farm of D.P. van der Merwe	5	10	280 including goats		23	1
1842 Moddersvleij	2	20	2		41 and gars
1843 Moerasvleij	3	10			70
1845 Modderfontein	2	14

They came under the District of Worcester thus the family appears under the records of opgaafrolls for Worcester. We have a painting of Worcester in 1832 by D'Oyley (26k)⁽¹¹⁾, with the church in the foreground and the civil Drostdy at the right rear.

Sad News

In 1845 mention is made that they had one son and three daughters and that someone got married and someone died this year. The same census under Izaak van der Merwe indicates that someone died. Could it be that Willem's mother then passed away? In a letter dated August 3, 1844 written by sister Barbara she mentions how sad she is.⁽¹²⁾

1853-54⁽¹³⁾ in Veldkornet register Willem is at Modderfontein (same as Moerasvleij, today it is Boplaas) Thus he lived with his aunt for some time.

Marriage to Maria Sophia Spammer 1844

At the age of thirty nine he married the twenty five year old Maria Sophia Spammer, daughter of Coenraad Spammer (he was one of a twin) and Martha Elizabeth Swanepoel, recorded in Tulbagh Marriage register on 26 November 1844 (36k) (she was the widow of Frans Jacobus Jooste this marriage was solemnized at Swellendam 6 April 1840. Frans Jacobus Joosten born about 1785 died 8 Aug 1843. In the insolvent estate of Frans Jacobus Joosten and surviving spouse Maria Susanna Sophia Spammer dated August 20th 1843...everything sold off on an auction on 14 March 1845 in the Koue Bokkeveld at Worcester).⁽¹⁴⁾ In the marriage register Willem is recorded as "Willem Jansen, Willem zoon" (van Rensburg is left out). Both their signatures are recorded and mention is made that he comes from Cold Bokkeveld. She had three children from her first marriage.

Ceres Church

Before a wedding was performed there needed to be three banns read in the church for three weeks prior to the wedding. The couple then had to appear before the Matrimonial Court where they were quizzed, some questions included: whether they were related, whether they were married and had other children, they had to be of marriageable age or else they needed a permission note of their parents. If everything were fine they were allowed to get married on the following Sunday. After 2 April 1838 they were also allowed to get married on a Tuesday⁽¹⁵⁾

Trekked to Victoria West area late 1850's

The births of some of their children give us an indication where they lived and worshipped. One of Willem and Maria's children were born in the Bokkeveld in 1853 and baptised at Tulbagh. Another child was baptised on 14 th October 1855 at Ceres, see drawing of Ceres Church (26k) and another child was baptised on 11 th September 1859 at Victoria West. This later birth is the fist indicator that they have left permanently for the Karoo. The Cold Bokkeveld rises 4,000 -5,000 feet above sea level, and it is the watershed of the Western Cape. The source of two river are found here, the Breede river flows west and the Oliphants river flows north-east. This branch of the van Rensburg family also started to flow away from this area, and Willem was about to leave.

The role of oxen in the advancement of the whites in South Africa should never be underestimated. Not only did they pull the wagons, but also ploughed the new lands. The oxen were under the menacing whip. They made tracks before there were any roads. Oxen was man's way to subdue a bull by making it an animal eunuch.

Reasons for Trekking

These old established areas such as the Cold Bokkeveld were reaching saturation point as far as land occupancy was concerned. Every fountain, valley and water place already had its own boss.⁽¹⁶⁾ P.J. Truter the commissioner of the Board of lands reported on 13 June 1831⁽¹⁷⁾ "Every spot, where a spring, and even a mere oozing of water has been discovered has been petitioned for".⁽¹⁸⁾ The only alternative for those who did not have land was to shift to semi barren areas, which were being opened up. Willem and his wife Maria with their children were one of those families who decided to move on. There would not have been enough room on Moerasvleij to have sustained an enlarged family. In essence they were land less, farming and living with one of their extended family.

All one needed to be a farmer in the new areas was a wagon, a gun and some stock. Shooting game helped them save their own herd, for the market. See drawing of some trekboer (27k). The wagon and sometimes also a canvas tent served as a home. As far as furniture was concerned, all you needed was a bed with no legs which sat in the wagon, few collapsible stools, the 'wakist' chest served as a table, a pot to make soap, plus a few smaller pots and a number of tools e.g.. an axe, hammer and a pair of pliers.⁽¹⁹⁾ He was entering a life where most of their earthly possessions could be loaded on a wagon. See picture of Trekboer by Samuel Daniell (27k).

Contrast between Cold Bokkeveld and arid Karoo
The Western Cape was so much like Europe, beyond lay the Karoo with its arid harsh Africa. Look at Angas painting of Somerset West (51k) and also his painting of Paarl (56k) which gives a picture of the beautiful Cape. Whereas the karoo bushes were sapless as a worn-out broom. These pioneers left family and friends going beyond the familiar route to the Ceres Karoo, across the high mountains of Sutherland Karoo and on to the Sak river. Willem's grandfather was part of a commando who went here in the previous century, one wonders whether the story of his adventure could have played a part in their decision to trek here. This commando's expedition was between the sak river and the brak river (Fraserburg p 12), the same area where Willem went to now. The environment was much harsher here. Thus commenced the third stage of our family. Taking on the life of a trekboer in the Karoo, here they lived a semi-nomadic life and as "bywoners". This was an environment where the vegetation looked liked the tuff's of wool upon a Hottentot's head, where there were many dry river, 'leegtes and 'kuile'. The sheep flourished on schaap bosch, aarbosch, ghanna, gwarrie the later had roots 15 feet deep to tap the little bit of moisture deep down. This was a land of the survival of the fittest. Nomadic squatters roaming amidst the distinctive Karoo 'koppies' with their stony ridges. The plains were waterless and graceless. The weather consisted of great frosts, great heat, great floods, and great droughts. If they were not baking in the day, they were freezing in the night. This was a land of extremes, with dull colours during the day and with sunsets of kaleidoscopic colours, every day finished with such a divine benediction.

They moved (some time between the end of 1855 and before the end of 1859) to what is known as Agter Nieuweveld. The Karoo roads were desolate, the evidence of the misfortune of previous travelers were evident, since the tracks were littered with the bleaching bones of cattle, horses, donkeys and mules that did not make it. Their new place of residence laid in the newly formed District of Victoria West, which was only established in 1857, there was a positive spirit with new opportunities available. Victoria West was a very expensive place and flour was not always available, since they did not grow wheat in the district, goods were often sold at 'drought prices' according to Emily Moffat's Journal of 1859. In 1859⁽²⁰⁾ the authorities commenced the sale of crown land. P.J. van der Merwe⁽²¹⁾ makes mention of the nomadic farming in the Karree Mountains. Surveyor J.B. Auret in 1856 mentions these migrating Boers,⁽²²⁾ he also refers to veldkornet W.A. van der Berg's report: "most of the migrating farmers in my ward have no places, and live in the Karreebergen with their stock". The Karree hills offered better rainfall and also a better catchment area for the rainfall.

For many this was a life of "rondswerwe" roaming. It is interesting that one of the farms they lived on was called "Vlokswerwe" which means roaming with herd. Trek was part of their life, they use to "trek, rondtrek, wegtrek, terugtrek and aanhoudendtrek". Many were farmers without land and without boundaries. They did not want to go into bond or debt. They became as nomadic as; the Hottentot's, or even the antelopes they hunted.

Willem became a member of Victoria West church on 7 th May 1863 with a referral letter (72k) Note his entry is rather faint. Photo of Victoria West from the 1860's (63k). Here is one of the oldest photos of a building in Victoria West (33k). The Cape experienced economic crises in 1865. With the discovery of diamonds at Kimberley, Victoria West became a main stopping point for the staging coaches traveling to Kimberley.

andre@rensburg.com