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FOOTNOTES
This article consists of extensive research, including the material in my article in Familia XXV/1988 p 89 ff, A.M. van Rensburg "Claas Jansz van Rensburg". Unless otherwise indicated the references refer to holdings in the Cape Archives.
1. J.R. Bruijn and F.S. Gaastra, Dutch Asiatic Shipping in the 17 th Century. Here is a list of The VOC ships (extracted from this book) that arrived at the Cape for 1708, and prior to 14 Aug when Claas got married. These ships should be the target group, Claas does not appear under a list of the Krygsraad commando dated February 1708, thus he most likely arrived at the Cape after that date. With the available data Claas seem to have arrived on a ship at the Cape between February and August 1708. The shipping data contains four categories: 1. Name of ship. 2. Date of arrival at Cape. 3. Seafarers leaving the ship at the Cape. 4 Soldiers leaving the ship at the Cape.
FROM EUROPE:
Beverwijk ---------------------- 23 Jan 1708 - 6 seafarers - 15 soldiers
Diemen------------------------- 23 Jan 1708 - 2 seafarers - 1 soldier
Gansenhof ------------------- 23 Jan 1708 - 0 --------------- 9 soldiers
Haak---------------------------- 23 Jan 1708 - 3 seafarers - 5 soldiers
Unie ---------------------------- 23 Jan 1708 - 3 seafarers - 13 soldiers
Generale Vrede ------------ 24 Jan 1708 - 12 seafarers - 33 soldiers - 3 passengers
Vrijburg ----------------------- 24 Jul 1708 - 5 seafarers - 4 soldiers
Kromstrijen ----------------- 2 Jun 1708 -- 14 seafarers - 11 soldiers
Schellenberg -------------- 11 May 1708 - 2 seafarers - 4 soldiers
Karthago -------------------- 17 Jul 1708 -- 4 seafarers - 48 soldiers
Ouwerkerk ----------------- 12 May 1708 - 1 seafarer - 7 soldiers
Koning Karel de Derde - 7 May 1708 - 5 seafarers - 28 soldiers
Mossel ---------------------- 29 May 1708 - 5 seafarers - 9 soldiers
Huis te Nieuwburg ------ 11 Jun 1708 - 5 seafarers - 10 soldiers
the following ships did not have anyone disembarking:
Meervliet ---------------------- 13 Jun 1708 - 0 -------------- 0 --------
Schagerhaan ---------------- 13 Jun 1708 - 0 -------------- 0 --------
Nagel -------------------------- 10 May 1708 - 0 -------------- 0 --------
Ham ----------------------------- 11 Jun 1708 - 0 -------------- 0 ---------
FROM ASIA:
Donkervliet ---------------- 15 Feb 1708 - 7 seafarers - 0 -----------
'T Ghijn --------------------- 13 Feb 1708 - 6 seafarers - 0 -----------
Abbekerk ------------------ 24 Jan 1708 - 8 seafarers - 0 -----------
Barneveld ------------------ 30 Jan 1708 - 8 seafarers - 0 -----------
Hoedenskerk ------------- 12 Feb 1708 - 7 seafarers - 0 ----------
Neptunus ------------------ 30 Jan 1708 - 11 seafarers - 0 ---------
Oosterstein ----------------- 31 Jan 1708 - 8 seafarers - 0 ----------
Ijsselmonde ---------------- 30 Jan 1708 - 3 seafarers - 0 ----------
Lokhorst -------------------- 13 Feb 1708 - 3 seafarers - 0 ----------
Theeboom ------------------ 27 Feb 1708 - 5 seafarers - 0 ----------
Huis ter Boede ----------- 26 Feb 1708 - 10 seafarers - 0 ---------
Huis te Loo ----------------- 23 Feb 1708 - 6 ---------------- 0 ----------
Oegstgeest ----------------- 23 Feb 1708 - 12 seafarers - 0 ----------
Huis te Rozenburg ------- 26 Feb 1708 - 4 seafarers - 0 -----------
Duivenvoorde ----------------- 7 Jul 1708 - 6 seafarers --- 0 -----------
the following ship did not have anyone disembarking
Kiefhoek --------------------- 26 Feb 1708 - 0 ----------------- 0 ---------
Claas most likely came on one of these ship, unless he came on another countries ship. He did not work at the Cape prior to this date, look at next footnote. If he came on one of these VOC ships, the chances of him coming direct from Europe is greater, since more disembarked. He was either a soldier or a seafarer. He was most unlikely a passenger. Their were only 3 passengers that came on the Generale Vrede and one of them was Louis van Assenburg the governor, and a stowaway.
Resources: Numbers on Board ship Daghregister &Generale Missiven KA 4390 A
Uitloopboeken KA 4389, 4390, 4390 A, 3953/8309, 4272/8357
Arsip Naional Daghregister 1641, 1642. They have this material on microfilms at Den Haag
Apparently there are no monsterolle for the the amptenare for 1706 and 1707. (the Cape series VC40)
Opgaafrol for vryliede there is one for 1707 (the Cape Series VC 49)
Vrijburgerrol (1708):Algemeen Rijksargief Den Haag VOC 4060. Check other years.
C426 (for 1703, check later years) Inkomende brieven: Kamer van Amsterdam
C508 (for 1705, check later years) Uitgaande Briewen Goew & Raad, Here XVII
C728 Diverse Vrijbrieven & Billiette
Den Haag: VOC Material in Inventory by M.A.P Meilink-Roelofsz
VOC 3988 => 4360 (Old numbers KA 3966 => 4338 , kA 4036 Brieven en Papieren van Cabo de Bonne Esperance overgecomen, for those who disembarked at Cape
Overgekomende Brieven & Papiere OBP returning ship those who disembarked the ship. The ARA has an index to the OBP of Asia in the Amsterdam chambers. The Zeeland chambers of same is arranged under the relevant office. Maybe the latter has one for the Cape There is a content list for these by J.P. Houterman. The sets has at the beginning a content. There is also Typed copies of these contents available from the Reading Room See also F. Lequin "A new Approach … het personeel 9- 12" - contains list of principal officer and those "verloste", military, artisans, passengers and impotents
It has been suggested that he came over on the ship pinas Generale Vrede, belonging to Amsterdam. It left Texel 19 May 1707 and arrived at the Cape on 24 Jan 1708. The ship captain was Gerrit Gerritsz Boom. It had 147 seafares and 113 soldiers, 4 passengers on board. It left the Cape on 14 March 1708. http://www.inghist.nl/Onderzoek/Projecten/DAS/detailVoyage/93090
2. Research into the ‘musterrolls 1703-1708’ which list all the VOC servants does not include him. Rijksargief: VOC No 4045 p 906-914; No 4047 p 629-639; No 4049 p 558-568; No 11.550; No 12.526; No 4053 p 851-885; No 4057 p 918-942; No 4059 p 962-987; No 4061 p 710-745. The best account of life with the VOC service and travel to the Cape is: O.F. Mentzel Life at the Cape in Mid-Eighteen Century (Being the Biography of Rudolf Siefried Alleman, Captain of the Military Forces and Commander of the Castle in the Service of the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope) Cape Town 1910. Those who found a refuge in the VOC consisted of: all kind of foreigners, ... Moffen, Poepen, Knoete, Hannekemmmaijers en andere groene kassoepers die't gras nog tussen de tanden steekt" Glamann Dutch Asiatic Trade 1620 - 1740, p 88, quoting Nicolaus de Graaff in Oost-Indise Spiegel. He is not listed in G.C. de Wet Die Vryliede en Vryswartes in die Kaapse Nederseting 1657 - 1707 Cape Town 1981. De Wet in his research into the ‘vryliede’, which he classifies as free burghers, who came under the auspices of the VOC and later discharged. Included in his definition of ‘vryliede’, were immigrants who financed themselves to the Cape or were assisted by the VOC. Claas does not appear either in the yearly burgher 'opgaaf' census record for Dec 31 1707 or the years prior to that.
We will need to research the Generale Land and Zeemonsterrollen of 1707 and 1708, to see whether he was working for the VOC. In 1700 there were 18,117 being employed according to F.S. Gaastra De Geschiedenis van de VOC p 86, 87.
Another source would be the Scheepssoldiijboeken, one copy was kept in Batavia and the other in Holland. It consisted of the Journaal - a chronological list of income and expenses. It also included the Grootboek - in which the worker's name his place of origin and rank is recorded, with all personal income and expenses recorded.
3. The Diary of Adam Tas 1705-1706, van Riebeeck society, Cape Town. This diary gives us a personal insight into the life at the Cape at that time, and the struggle against corrupt authorities. Gideon le Grand who lived at Paarl and passed away in 1710 also had a journal in French, the Curator, Mrs J.E. Malherbe, of the Hugenote Memorial museum at Franschoek could not find any mention for Claas Jansz: van Rensburg or Alletta van der Merwe in it.
4. She was 24 years old and the seventh child of Willem Schalk van der Merwe and Elsie Cloete. Aletta was the widow of Marthinus van Staden, we do not know the reason for his death, but it must have been 1707/1708, taking into account there was a child born in 1708. Thus the household would also have included children from Aletta’s first marriage to Marthinus van Staden: Martha baptized 27 Jun 1706, Maria 1707, Marthinus 1708. Martha must have died young according to opgaafrol.
5. On DEC 17, 1710 disaster struck the town of Stellenbosch, in the journal at the Castle it is recorded "...yesterday morning, about 10 o'clock, a huge fire had started, which consumed the drostdy together with the church, the colony's stables and 12 individual houses, leaving everything lying in ashes." as quoted in p 168 Stellenbosch Three Centuries. Thus the little village depicted in van Stade drawing was destroyed. According to J.H. van Rensburg Rietvleiers p 6 a small part of the exposed foundations of this church can be seen under the tea room at d'Ouwe Werf. I went and had a look at it in October 1999, this is a remarkable archaeological digging.
6. CJ 2604 No 9. However his year of birth, which is determined from his will states that he was 66 at the time of making the will on the 21st March 1727. When the will was made it states that his wife Aletta was 40 and this age for her is incorrect, it does not fit in with her baptism on 30th April 1684. Her age when the will was made was really 43. J.L. Hattingh states that many of the ages were estimates, when the ages are given as thirty or forty, these may not be correct, see "Slawevrystellings aan die Kaap tussen 1700 en 1720" Kronos 1981 Vol IV p 26.
7. The naming custom was as follow: The 1st son was named after the father's father; the 1st daughter was named after the mother's mother. The 2nd son was named after the mother's father; The 2nd daughter was named after father's mother. The 3rd son was named after the father. The 3rd daughter was named after the mother. The 4th son was named after the father’s oldest brother. The 4th daughter was named after the mother's oldest sister. The 5th son was named after the father’s 2nd oldest brother. The 5th daughter was named after the mother's 2nd oldest sister.
8. Familia XVII, J.A. Heese "Ons Skakel met ons Stamland" p 5
9. CJ 2620 No 25
10. E. Rosenthal South African Surnames, p 157, 1965. Pama quotes in a number of his works the Rijnsburg origin. When I question Dr C. Pama regarding the Rijnsburg, near Leiden evidence, he stated that got his opinion from DR W.H.J. Punt, who did extensive research into our progenitor and with great fervor argued for the Rijnsburg theory. The research material by Punt is housed in the Nederduitsch Hervormde Church archives (The archivist F.S. Van Rensburg was very helpful and assisted me) in Pretoria, refer to Ex Libris no 766. In this file is a paper by J.J. Schouten, Geskiedenis van het Geslag van Rensburg West-Transvaal: Beschrijving van die plaats Rejnsburg in Holland, Leiden, Oct 1964 which claims that the forefather of our family was a Johannes Hendrikus van Rensburg who was a magistrate or Burgermaster of Rijnsburg, he also claims that there is a burial vault at Rijnsburg church. He writes in Dutch quoting from the relevant section: "De voorvader van een dezer Families was Johannes Hendrikus van Rejnsburg, hij was Schout, dit is magistraat of burgermeester van Rejnsburg en was een zeer geacht man. Zijn grafzerk is nog bewaard gebleven en ligt in die oude Hervormde Kerk in Rejnsburg. ... in de Kaapkolonie ... welke naam later verbasterde to RENSBURG". Following these leads: a) In correspondence, I received a letter, 6 Feb 1990 from the Burgermaster of Rijnsburg (37k) in which he list the names of some of the previous officials, he could find no evidence for the magistrate or Burgermaster claim that could be associated with our ancestor. b) With reference to the burial vault I received a letter, dated 29 January 1990 from the secretary M.W. Van der Heul of the Hervormde Church at Rijnsburg (26k) . This letter states that they have no information with regards to a family vault at the church. c) I also had correspondence with J.B. Glasbergen who wrote the book "Duizend jaar Rijnsburg" he is considered one of the best amateur historians with reference to Rijnsburg and he wrote a letter to me, 10 December 1989, stating that his research has produced no evidence for a connection of our Claas Jansz with Rijnsburg. I thus wrote to Pama and supplied him with all this information. The responding letter, 18 October 1990 from DR C. Pama (37k) to me was: "Thank you for your letter of 3 October in connection with DR W. Punt's researches. He often spoke to me about it (we were both members of the Heraldry Council) but I could never find out what exactly he had found. The letters you sent me make it quite clear that the question of the origin of the Van Rensburg family is still an open one." (For two total different suggestions regarding origins: J.D.A Krige Oorsprong en Betekenis van Nederlandse en Duitse Familiename, p 70, Pretoria, 1934, gives the two popular theories as well as the possibility of a Rijnsburg in Oostkapelle, Zeeland. Johan Winkler in De Nederlandsche Geslachtsname in Oorspong, Geschiedenis en Betekenis, Haarlem 1885, he suggests the origin to be Regensburg a city on the Donau.). G.S Nienaber in the book Afrikaanse familiename on page 27 suggest the origin of van Rensburg to be either from the town in Schleiswig-Holstein or a town in Zeeland.
11. In the Rensburger Year Book no 34, 1984 p 28 there is an article by Von Knut Mahrt "Herr Jansen van Rensburg (43k)" it claims that our ancestor came from Rendsburg. The article also makes mention that he moved to Holland in 1675. A letter written by Mahrt to me, then in his capacity as the head of the Rendsburg Museum, dated 21 DEC 1988 (22k), he writes: "in our yearbook, you have read the sentences about the family of van Rensburg. All I know about them, I have heard from your namesakes". The article in the book mentions the visit by DR Hans Jansen van Rensburg who visited Rendsburg during the time of the Berlin Olympics in 1936. He was the leader of the Ossewa-Brandwag, The article also mentions the visit in 1980 by the son of this family member, with the same name. The evidence in this book is not based on facts but on information supplied by some members of our family who had National Socialistic ideological leanings, dating back to the events of the Second World War. The German connection was a case of a priori, it being far more appealing. The visit in 1936 is mentioned in Hans van Rensburg Their Paths Crossed Mine: Memoirs of the Commandant-General of the Ossewa-Brandwag p 101, Central News Agency, 1956.
12. C 1088 No 31
13. NG Church Archives Cape. Membership Register of Paarl, for 1715, compiled by Minister van Aken G3 –4/1
14. CJ 2671 No 40A. Gustaf Preller in Voortrekkermense Vol IV p 156,157, interviewed the president's son L.W.C Janse van Rensburg born 17 Julie 1858 at Rustenburg. This son mentions that his grandfather, Hendrik Nikolaas Janse van Rensburg spelled his name Janzen van Renzenburg and states that this family came from a well to do Dutch family. It is also mentioned that the family for many years possessed their coat of arms, as well as a signet ring, referring also to other items. The anticlimax, he concludes that it all got lost with their trek lifestyle and during the 2nd Boer War
15. J. Hoge Personalia of the Germans at the Cape 1652-1806: Archives Year Book for S.A. History 1946 p 333, H.T. Colenbrander De Afkomst der Boeren, he mentions Claas place of origin as being Danish
16. (a) Signatures found in Will CJ 2604 No 9, (b) Loan from Bouman in Estate Account Papers: MOOC 14/5 No 56, (c) Petition presented to Council of Policy 24 July 1725; C 1090 p 79-82, (d) Contract with Tame: CJ 2880 No 51 (e) 1STB 18/41 15 Nov 1710, contains two signatures, one in margin the other at then end of contract.
17. R.T.J. Lombard Handbook for Genealogical Research in South Africa p 31, 36 Pretoria 1977
18. At Stellenbosch church, witnesses were Gerrit and Johanna Basson. Why did they not ask one of the many van der Merwe family members of Aletta? The witnesses of all the other children were relatives of Aletta van der Merwe. The South African Genealogy Vol 1 A-C by Heese under Gerrit Basson is married to Johanna Rynick, it also indicates that Johanna Rynick was from Leiden. What further caught my attention was that Gerrit Basson and Johanna is listed as having a son and they called him Gerrit Janse. Now I am wondering whether Johanna Rynick and Claas Jansz could be related, and my basis for this conclusion is: 1. One would tend to ask a relative to be witness to a child's baptism and more so if it is the first child. 2. There would have been some ill feelings by the van der Merwe family if the witnesses were not family members. 3. Johanna's surname is Rynick, comes from the same root as Rynsburg 4. Johanna came from Leiden, which is not very far from the village Rynsburg 5. Gerrit and Johanna called their son Gerrit Janse. This is the same as Claas Jansz, could Johanna have been the daughter of a Jan? If Claas was from Rynsburg in Holland, could Claas's family and Johanna have known one another, or was Johanna from the same family as Claas? Maybe Claas's sister or a niece? Some confusing information by G.C. De Wet in Die Vryliede en Vryswartes in die Kaapse Nedersetting p 201, he states that Gerrit Basson and his family left the Cape in 1705, and he gives primary references to substantiate it , he refers to C805 Uitgaande Brieven: Goew. en Raad-Here XVII, 28.3.1705. Leibrandt se Precis van `Letters Despatched' p.258 gedateer 28.3.1705: "Freemen returning to Holland: - Jochem Saxe, wife and four children; Paul Lefebre, wife and two children; Gerrit Basson and wife; J.H. Claasz; and Louis Barré...... (sic) H. Reyninck, J.P.Saxe, and B. Jansz will work their passage home." This is rather puzzling since they were witnesses in 1709. In 1707 Gerrit Basson purchased the farm (which later came to be known as) "Kun(n)enburg" in Drakenstein which farm had been granted to Helena & Aletta's father, Willem Schalksz van der Merwe in 1692. Basson sold the farm in 1712. Mansell Upham sorted out some connection between the witnesses and Claas and Aletta; Gerrit Basson was initially half-brother-in-law to Mooij Ansela's 'voorzoon' (and Arnoldus Willemsz Basson's step-son): Jacobus van As - who married secondly Helena Schalks van der Merwe. Helena subsequently remarried Arnoldus Maasdorp - the widower of Gerrit Basson's late sister, Maria Basson. Helena was sister to Aletta van der Merwe. (Kobus van Rensburg shared with me that Gerrit Basson's mother was Angela van Bengale, her daughter Anna de Koningh was married to Olof Bergh. Bergh had a business partner who purchased a house with him in 1672 , this friends name was Gerrit Jansz van Brabant. Thus maybe Gerrit Basson named his son Gerrit Janse after this man)
19. Reference VC 632 which is the Verbatum Copy of the Stellenbosch baptismal register G2 4/1 It reads:Elsje, father Klaus Janse (sic), mother Aultie Schalk, witnesses Jacobus van As met Helena Schalk. Helena, who was married to Jacobus van As, was the sister of Aletta.
20. At Drakenstein Church, surname spelling Rynsburgh witnesses Schalk van der Merwe and Anna Prevot, Aletta’s brother and his wife
21. NG Church Cape archives G4 11/1
22. At Drakenstein Church, surname spelling Rensburgh, witness Catherina Cloete, she was married to Aletta's brother Hendrik van der Merwe. He was named Willem after Aletta's father Willem Schalk van der Merwe who died less than a year earlier on 12 July 1716
23. At Drakenstein Church, surname spelling Rynsburgh, witnesses parents. This child was named after Claas, maybe that is why they acted as the witnesses as well.
24. At Drakenstein Church, surname spelling Rynsburgh, witnesses Jacobus and Sophia van der Merwe
25. At Drakenstein Church, surname spelling Rijnsburg, witnesses Pieter Willem van Heerden and Machteld van der Merwe, Aletta’s sister and brother-in-law
26. Quoted in J.H. Van Rensburg Die Rietvleiers: Die Familiegeskiedenis van 'n Tak van die Familie van Rensburg. p 16
27. 1STB 13/1
28. 1STB 13/1
29. 1STB 19/130 includes the list of workers. A description of the sections of road that they had to maintain is given for each year.
In 1708 (43k) - from Lammert Smit pass the mill to Dirk Skalkwyk and from there to Pierre du Mond to maintain the roads and the fords. (Lammert Smit lived on the farm Nantes on which the Drakenstein mill was located, Pierre du Mond owned the farm Soete Inval in Suider-Paarl. This is thus the present Meelstraat in Paarl to its joing Hoofstraat en then Hoofstraat up to the present National Highway.)
In 1709 (29k) - On the West side of Paarl from Dirk Skalkwyk down to Lammer Smit maintian the roads: (Dirk Skalwyk owned the farm Paarl Diamant Agter Paarl and Lammert Smit became the owner of the farm Nantes in 1708 when he married the widow of Barend Burger, Maria van der Merwe on this farm was the mill of Drakenstein).
In 1710 (30k) - On the west side of Paarl from Jaques Mallan down to Theunnis van Schalkwyk, from Nicolaas Gocholius down to and over the 'Lange Hoogte' the long/high height: (Jaques Malan was also the owner of Honswyk in Noorder Paarl, and Schalkwyk and Gockelius were two neighbouring both farms known as Paarl Diamant in the Agter Paarl. Lange Hoogte is a well known section between Fisantekraal and Agter Paarl. This is thus the old road from Pampoenkraal now known as Durbanville going in a northerly arch north of Paarlberg up to Burgersdrif and more specific the section between Paarlberg en Paardeberg. (In this document Claas's name is during that year deleted, thus obviously indicating that he moved. The road maintenance rolls are thus able to help one determine change of residence even within a district).
Claas appears in a different list In 1711 (30k) thus indicating his presence and shift to Land van Waveren - Through the 'Cloof' ravine of roodesand and in the Land van Waveren, maintain the road and ways on both sides of the mountain right up to the small Berg river. Under Claas's name for this year is written 'afgegeven'. The reason why he was given off we do not know. From these documents one can get the names of other workers. If one can determine where they lived, one can get a fair idea of the vicinity where Claas was living. A worthwhile project would be to research these records and plot the roads as well as the farms. In a latter Paden and Wegenrol, 1STB 19/132 Claas is on list in 1722 to work "over't Rodesand", and in the same book his name is later scratched out in a list for 1730 list, for Rodesand and replaced with Andries Gous.
30. Quoted in J.H. Van Rensburg Die Rietvleiers: Die Familiegeskiedenis van 'n Tak van die Familie van Rensburg. This book also has a very good section on the son Johannes and some of his descendants. The author of this booklet gave me the reference for this farm: RLR 1, p 183
31. RLR 1, p 171.
32. The partnership is found:(1STB 18/41)
33. Documentation to be found in the Title Deeds Office, Cape Town, according to DR Jean le Roux. Note: (On 9 October 1711, according to Microfilm ZS 1/1/7 Transport No 876 of 1711 Drakenstein. Property No 234. (this number indicates that it is a farm rather than a house etc.) Name of property : Paarl diamant. Seller Jan Lourensz, burger. It was a "normal" transaction. (not an auction, bought out, estate, forced sale, legal sale, invalid sale, power of attorney, MOOC, or repatriated.) purchase price 1320 guilders. Buyer Claas Prinsloo. Financed through a mortgage. First payment 51 guilders. No new plans or diagrams for this transport. On 1701 July 28 the farm had one of three things happen to it : Either a) First and subsequent grant, or b) subdivision, or c) survey date.)
34. Why did they move there? The older established areas already had the best farming areas occupied. The land van Waveren was a new area with not many established farms. Aletta and her sister Magteld got married within a month of one another, Magteld van der Merwe and her husband Pieter Willemsz van Heerden obtained the loan farm Weltevreden in this area on 28 December 1708 RLR 1, p 189. The farm Weltevreden was one farm away from the farm Rensburg where Claas settled. Thus they had familial contact there. Claas obtained his loan on 17 December 1711 RLR 1 p 324 with subsequent renewals: 10 September 1712 - RLR 2, p 12; 14 April 1713 - RLR 2, p 43; 3 May 1713 - RLR 2, p 52; 10 November 1713 - RLR 2, p 87.
35. This area was also known as Roodesand
36. Anna Boeseken and Margaret Cairns The Secluded Valley Tulbagh: ’t Land van Waveren 1700 – 1804 p 45, Cape Town 1989. This book gives a very comprehensive account of the people their way of life and activities. Unfortunately there is only a limited section on Claas Jansz. Margaret Cairns has been of great assistance to me. She assisted me while I was a novice in my research and it was good to be able to ask someone who had an intimate wealth of knowledge. She was also willing to share with me the manuscript of their book prior to publication, but she first consulted Boeseken, however Boeseken was not in favour of it. It is a pity since I would have been able to supply more detail with regard to Claas Jansz and his role in the Tulbagh Valley.
37. P. Kolbe p 126 Naaukeurige en uitvoerige Beschrijving van de Kaap de Goede Hoop 2 Vol, 1727, Amsterdam
38. Resolusies van die Politieke Raad Vol IV, p 478
39. Resolusies van die Politieke Raad Vol V, p 1, 2
40. Thom p 48,49 Skaapboedery.
41. C 1088 No 31
42. G and G Fagan Church Street in the Land van Waveren p 20, 21 Cape Town 1974
43. M3/ 311
44. RLR 8 /2 no 324
45. Map 3/1824
46. Cape Town Deeds Office S.G. No 4413/1939
47. C 1088 No 31
48. The Archives year Book for South Africa Eighteenth Year Vol II "Landgeften uit die eerste helft van die XVIIe Eeuw op en manuscriptkaart uit her Archief der VOC"
49. a) E.A. Walker Historical Atlas of South Africa 1922, shows the land grants made between 1685-1712, b) Map of Kolbe, this map is not all that accurate, c) Map (62k) found in The Diary of Adam Tas 1706-1706, van Riebeeck society, Cape Town, d) Map by Botha of land grants to Huguenot's up to 1700 (125k) in C.G. Botha French Refugees at the Cape, Cape Town 1919. e) Refer also to the map in footnote 38, which is very comprehensive. The great challenge is to try and locate the loan farms
50. RLR 3 p 299
51. A 2250 (1709,1719,1723)
52. Molsbergen, Reizen in Z.A. Vol II p 10
53. MOOC 8/5 No 24
54. Produced in Robert C. Shell Children of Bondage p6
55. C 1088 No 31
56. G.M. Theal History of South Africa before 1795 p 480, 481
57. Algemeen Rijksargief Den Haag VOC 4060 p 412, on p 10 under Drakenstein
58. A 2250 (1709, 1719, 1723), Inventaris: MOOC 8/5 No 2
59. Resolusies van die Politieke Raad Vol VI, p 359. There must be documented information with regards to Claas's appointment to this position in the first place.
60. 1 STB 13/2
61. Resolusies van die Politieke Raad Vol VI, p 359
62. C 411 p 703 – 705
63. 1 STB 13/2
64. Unpublished paper P.F.S. Janse Van Rensburg "Stamboom van Barend Johannes Janse van Rensburg". It is a pity that his work on Claas Jansz, even though drawing on original sources, does not supply the references to the sources
65. Resolusies van die Politieke Raad Vol VII p 168, 169; C 1090, p 79-82
66. CJ 2604 No 9
67. Anna J. Boeseken describes the situation on p 28 "Die Nederlandse Kommisarisse en samelewing aan die Kaap" Argief Jaarboek vir Suid-Afrika 1944, the primary source being C 10 Res 1715- 1716, p 309 - 316, 26 Feb 1716.
The resolutions of the Policy Council for the years 1716-1719 (Part V) were edited by G C de Wet and published by the State Printer. A petition was addressed by `d' ondergeteekende regeerende en oude burgerraden mitsgrs. officieren deser Caabse burgerij' to `Heer Abraham Douglas' and appears on pages 26-28 (C.10,pp.289-324; It was dealt with on Tuesday morning 3 March 1716 at an ordinary meeting). The petition was signed by Hk. Moller, Hendrik Bouman, Johannes Heufke, Hk. Donker, J. Blankenbergh, G. Solliers, Jacob Vogel, M. Bergstadt, Fk. Russouw. In the margin it said `Cabo de Goede Hoop, den 17en Februarij 1716'. In brief:- the petition which was penned by the `burgerraad', dealt with land ownership and trading by Company servants. It made reference to decisions taken in 1707 in this regard. The matter was referred to the fiscal.
68. Dictionary of South African Biography Vol II p 201, Cape Town, 1972.
69. NG Church Archives Cape G3 11/1
70. Schalk Willemsz van der Merwe (Aletta's brother) and Pieter Willemsz van Heerden (married to a sister of Aletta) were guarantors for this loan
71 CJ 2880 No 51. I first noticed in opgaafrol for 1724 J188 that Claas had a "knegt" same root as the English knight, meaning servant. Then I went looking for a contract in that year. Tame originally came from Den Hague to the Cape in 1722 on the ship Onrust. Tame subsequently became a Schoolmeester for Jan Grobbelaar from 28 December 1725 to 29 November 1728. Tame also assisted Aletta after the death of Claas with delivering the required three trek cattle to the company farm Groene cloof on 31 Jan 1729, see RLR 8/1 no 162 p 55. The Drakenstein church records states on 23 December 1728 that he left with his membership referral letter for Cape Town. On a number of occasions these 'knegts' would get married to the widow. Was Tame just being helpful or was he hoping to take the place of Claas? He became a burgher in 1733.
72. J 186
73. J 186
74. J.H. Van Rensburg refers to this in Die Rietvleiers p 9. Personal correspondence with this author clarified the source as RLR 5, p151. In 1713, RLR 2 p 52, there is a reference to the loan farm Zeekoeigat, in relation to Dirk Brunske, (other records give his surname as Bronsche/Bronscher)
75. RLR 8/1 No 162, p 55
76. Folio 323. The record for Jonas van der Poel obtaining this property RLR 8/2 No 323, on 19 Nov 1729
77. A. Sparrman Travel in the Cape 1772-1776 p 295
78. A.H. Tromp Robertson 1853-1953 p 6, Claas became ‘ordonnansie- houer, aan die Claas Voogts rivier’. The original reference is RLR 5 on 5 July 1724. This reference also includes a number of renewals for 6 months periods, the last renewal being 6 March 1728
79. G.C Botha, Place names of the Cape Province p 93
80. Margaret Cairns The Secluded Valley p 71
81. Vendu Rol: MOOC 10/3
82. Vendu Rol: MOOC 10/3 No 83. To get an idea regarding the value of these slaves. A sheep was valued one Rix dollars. A cow 15 Rix dollars. A horse about 40 Rix dollars. These figures taken from the Vendu roll
83. Testament: MOOC 7/4 No 52
84. (RLR 8/1 no 162 p 55).
85. Inventaris: MOOC 8/5 No 24
86. Vendu Rol: MOOC10/3 No 83
87. P. Coertzen Die Hugenote van Suid Afrika 1688-1988 p 101 Cape Town 1988
88. P. Coertzen Die Hugenote van Suid Afrika 1688-1988 p 127 Cape Town 1988
89. NG Church Archives Cape. Membership Register for Paarl G3 4/1
90. Estate Account Papers MOOC 14/5 No 56
91. Inventaris: MOOC 8/5 No 24
92. Vendu Rol: MOOC 10/3 No 83
93. This farm is situated 7 km north of Wellington on the western side of the Berg river. The writer visited this spot, there is a beautiful pool of water which one can imagine were the habitat of hippopotami
94. Rensburg (Knollevallei) to Andries Gouws on 21 Nov 1729 RLR 8/2 No 324, p260. Zeekoeigat to Jonas van der Poel on 19 Nov 1729 RLR 8/2 No 323, p 269. Claas Voogsts Rivier to Hendrik van der Merwe on 22 Nov 1729 RLR 8/2 No 325, p 261
95. Vrijburgerrol (1708):Algemeen Rijksargief Den Haag VOC 4060 p 412, on p 10 under Drakenstein; University of Western Cape, Dr Hans Heese supplied me with these computer print outs: Opgaafrol A 2250 (1709, 1719, 1723); Monsterolle (1712) held at the University of Western Cape; Opgaafrol: J186 and J187 for years - 1714, 1722, 1724, 1725, 1726, 1728, 1729
96. According to P.J. Van der Merwe Die Trekboer in die Geskiedenis van die Kaapkolonie p 38 in order to avoid tax it was customary, for farmers to submit low figures during the taking of 'opgaaf' census. The Reader's Digest Illustrated History of South Africa p 57 "Where the trekboer was within the reach of the Company's law, misleading figures would be filled in on the annual returns on which taxes were calculated. In 1732 a 'placaat' (proclamation) was published to express the Company's concern at this deceit". It seems that Claas was one of these culprits.
97. Inventaris: MOOC 8/5 No 24
98. Vendu Rol: MOOC 10/3 No 83 page 1 (100k), page 2 (91k), page 3 (92k), page 4 (94k), page 5 (85k), page 6 (82k), page 7 (48k), held on the 16 and 17 November 1929. The total estate was valued at 11,725 Guilders, which was a substantial sum. The authorities pocketed 627 Guilders in salaries (Jacob Lever was the main beneficiary) and expenses, for executing the estate. Each of Claas's children received 633 Guilders from the estate. Refer to the Estate Account MOOC 13/1/2 p 56 page1, page 2,which was finalized on 22 December 1730. Refer also to the Estate Account Papers: MOOC 14/5 No 56 submitted by debtors and creditors. There were two currencies in use at the Cape: Cape Guilder and Cape Rix dollar. One Cape Rix dollar = 3 Guilders or 48 stuiwers. One Cape Guilder = 16 stuiwers. The small coins were penninge. (The authorities also gained with the exchange rate at the Cape, One Dutch Guilder = 20 stuiwers).
