Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg

Nicolaas was baptised at Drakenstein church, according to the church records, on the 23 November 1742 (12k). His father was Willem and his mother Anna Sophia Burger, his father's half sister Maria van Staden and her husband Francois Smit were the witnesses. Willem's father died when he was four years old. Nicolaas was the second child out of four. His mother remarried when he was eight years old, to Johannes Pienaar on 4 January 1750 and they had a further eight children. Nicolaas received from his mother and stepfather's estate 1077 Rijksdaalers(each of the children, four from her first marriage and eight from their marriage, or their descendants received the same amount)⁽¹⁾

The Marriage records of Tulbagh church, 23 October 1763 (7k), reveals that Nicolaas got married there. He was twenty one and his bride was his eighteen year old cousin, Hester Helena Burger.⁽²⁾ They had eleven children, all baptised at Tulbagh church:

Witnesses at baptism Schalk Willem Burger, Hester Smit, Schalk Willem van der Merwe, Isaac and Johanna Adriana Smit

Witnesses at baptism Willem Janse van Rensburg, Hester Burger, Barend Vorster, Dorothea Maria Smit

d4 Hester Helena ~1 July 1770, married 4 September 1791 Petrus van der Merwe and remarried 13 April 1806 Jacobus Jooste.

Witnesses at baptism Schalk Willem van der Merwe, Elsie Jansen, Barend Jacobus Burger, Jacoba Lubbe

Witnesses at baptism Schalk Willemsz Burger, Elsie Lubbe, Jacobus Johannes Pienaar, Anna Sophia Pienaar

Witnesses at baptism Johannes Hendrik Lubbe, Elsie Burger, Coert Grobbelaar and Louisa Pienaar

Witnesses at baptism Alewyn Jacobus Burger, Aletta Sophia Lubbe, Andries Petrus Burger, Maartje Pienaar

d8 Martha Louisa ~ 26 August 1781, married Wynand du Plessis and remarried Abraham Esterhuizen.

Witnesses at baptism Barend Pienaar, Maartje Dorothea Burger, Schalk Willems Vorster and Anna Sophia Burger

Witnesses at baptism Willem Janse van Rensburg, Helena Jacoba Janse van Rensburg, Johanna Adriana Burger, Frans Lubbe, Hendrik van der Merwe, Johanna Pienaar

d10 Maria Jacoba Barbara ~1 October 1785, married 17 February 1805 Izaak Wilhelmus van der Merwe

Witnesses at baptism Petrus Pienaar, Hester Sophia van Heerden, Jacobus Stephanus Burger, Hester Cecilia van der Merwe

d11 Barend Johannes ~3 October 1789, died 14 Apr 1854, married 5 Dec 1814 Anna Dorothea Smit.

Witnesses at baptism Schalk Willemse Pienaar, Anna Sophia Janse, Willem Burger and Hester Helena Janse

Nicolaas was living in the Cold Bokkeveld, which came under the district of Stellenbosch, see map (70k). In July 1804 the district of Tulbagh, see map (78k) was formed and they then came under this district. When searching for documents this should be kept in mind. Between 1 October 1770 and 20 December 1786, Nicolaas had a loan farm called Eensaamheid (99k) ⁽⁴⁾(Literally it means loneliness), close to Winterhoek on the Olifants River. From the name of the farm it sounds like it was very isolated and lonely. Situated between Witzenberg and Skurweberg mountains, and on the Oliphants river. The explorer C.P. Thunberg⁽⁵⁾ in 1773 gives a good description of this area. The sheep are counted mornings and evenings and they are marked in their ears to be easily identified. The farmer's wife would count the sheep and she also had a name for each sheep. If any were missing, she would be able to identify which ones. He mentions the farms of Izaak Visagie and on his way to Carl van der Merwe's farm he passed the farm of our Nicolaas Jansen. This area is considered to be the Cold Bokkeveld (present Ceres district) which has severe colds in winter including falls of snow. In the mountains are found a shrub called flybush (Roridula Dentata) the leaves of which are covered with fine hairs and a tough glutinous substance to which smaller insects sticks. Thunberg mentions that the people place in their homes this bush, for the purpose of catching flies.

Bushman raids were still a present reality and being encountered by the farmers here. See old bushman rock paintings of wagons still existing today, at farm Stompiesfontein (49k). A big commando was organized with three parties, under the leadership of G.R. Opperman, his two deputy leaders were, Nicolaas van der Merwe (a cousin of our Nicolaas) and Gerrit van Wyk, they went in three parties. On the 16 August 1774 van der Merwe took to the veld with 27 Dutch and 38 Hottentot men. Nicolaas van Rensburg was a member of this commando. They combed the area of the Sak river, Brak river and Renoster river. Between the three parties they had 15 encounters with bushmen, killing 142 and taking 89 captive during a four month campaign. Van Rensburg with eleven men went out to scout the country for bushman. A bushman kraal was found, in the encounter, eight bushmen were killed and one taken captive.⁽⁶⁾ Even, after this expedition, they still had problems with the bushmen. On the 6 October 1788, a petition was written complaining about the bushmen problem (Letter to Stellenbosch Heemraad) Nicolaas was one of the signatories.⁽⁷⁾ Nicolaas's grandson Willem eventually moved to the Sak river area, could this adventure which would have been part of the family story have encouraged the later trek to this area?

The Thunder and Lightning - this is how the Africans described the guns of the boers. Their weaponry consisted mainly of 'snaphaan' flintlocks. It took some time to load these guns. They were up against the Bushman who mainly used poisoned arrows. The hottentot used the spear as well, in contrast the flintlock was the weapon of the boers. With confrontation with other Africans they were up against spear/assegai, knobkerrie and shield, the shear numbers of these warriors were overwhelming. The Zulu and Matabele were masters at discipline and ambushing their enemy, by mere numbers they would overwhelm their enemy. The Zulu's and Matabele's attacked with their impi's using the strategic horn formation. Thus dividing the enemy and surrounding the enemy with the horns on both wings.

The boer burghers formed themselves into a commando system, where all able bodied farmers would either defend themselves or go out on punishing expeditions. Even the Anglo-Boer war saw burghers fighting for their cause as burghers in commandos.

The boers were raised as hunters and their gun and horse was part of their lifestyle. They had to rely on defending their family single handed, their survival depended on their own skills. When confronted by marauding bands they would form a commando. In many respects the boer was like the legendary knight of medieval times riding his horse and facing the enemy single handed.

The advantage of Hornless Cattle - The Africans did not have horses and this was a new rapid form of transport that looked like cattle without horns. The horse gave them an added advantage in being able to move swiftly for sudden commando attacks. Charging within shooting range and yet beyond the reach of the enemy's weapon, quickly shooting and then turning the horse and retreating to safety until they have loaded the gun for another charge. The procedure of loading a gun consisted of pouring gunpowder down the barrel, then pushing a wadding down with a ramrod and then drop the lead slug down the barrel (some times they cut little niches into the slugs which would become a deadly shot as it spread on impact), a second plug was pushed down to stop the bullet from dislodging. The hammer then had to be primed before they were able to shoot. The remarkable thing was, that they became so skilled, that they could do all this while they were riding their horse. They relied on the gun as their weapon and avoided hand to hand combat. The strategy they employed was to keep the enemy at arms length, gallop up to close range, shoot, retreat, reload and repeat.

The indegenous people did not have horses, but they very effectively used cattle. In a stampede, shielding behind the cattle they were thus able to get close enough to the boers in order to compensate for their lack of guns and horses. The natives on the other hand was only on foot. The boers became a force to be reckoned with as a cavalry since they were raised on horses. Their horses were accustomed to being dismounted without the horse walking away, this was an added advantage since they did not need many people watching the horses. They were a very mobile force. During the Anglo-Boer war it should be remembered that every Boer was virtually a qualified transport rider. Africa with the variety of animals was a hunters paradise and this made the boers marksmen of the highest order. They frequently had to kill dangerous beasts and considered their enemies in a similar light. Thus they had experience and courage. They were not as such, a military disciplined group, they were essential frontiersmen with frontiersmen's skills.

The terrain of veld suited their method, since they could see the enemy from a distance and keep them at a distance. Full advantage was taken of the lie of the land. At times waiting on top of a koppie catching the enemy unaware, and if need be retreat. Even where they formed their laagers they made full use of natural features, like rivers, dongas or gulleys for added protection.

(The boers were later dismayed at the defeat that the British suffered against the Zulus, at least they should have been able to retreat, they felt). The Africans considered the Boers to be cowards, since they avoided close encounters.

The defensive organizational structure was such that every burgher was his own general. You did have a commandant which was responsible over a district, under him there was fieldcornets in five or six wards (wyk). The fieldcornets functioned, as the justice of the peace, and he was the registration officer. He represented the government, he kept a register of burghers. The fieldcornet was also responsible for getting ammunition, arranging transport and supplies either from the government or commandeering it.

The Boers were able to survive off the land. They would take some rusks, biltong and coffee and were able to keep going for a long period of time. They were self-willed, unreliable, capricious and lacked discipline, but they had plenty of patriotism. It has been said that they could be alternatively brave and cowardly; active and sluggish; confident and panic-stricken. It has been said that every Boer was his own general, this was their strength and weakness. There was no distinction between civilian and soldier, and their clothing did not change since uniforms were not worn. They were always burghers. They elected leaders from amongst themselves - the leaders tended to lead in both the civil and 'military'. (Refer to p 48 -97 ed L.S Amery The Times History of the War in South Africa Vol II)

The natives made war in summer, since in winter there was little water and few edible roots. The natives would also count on the crops and fruit of their enemy to supply their needs. Whereas the Boer's prefered to attack in the winter, since their enemy was cold. The Boer's also carried their own supply of food with them so they were not limited the same way. (Refer to J McKensie Ten Years North of the Orange River)

The Movable - Hut and Kraal. The wagon was their means of transport and home, but it was also their fortress. They developed the defence system of drawing the wagons in a circle and forming a laager. The wagons were chained together and thorn bushes were cut and placed under the wagons to stop the enemy from gaining access. The laager seems to have been adapted from the African kraal as a means of safety, with an outer circle of protection being reinforced with thorn bushes and with an inner circle protecting the cattle. They coined the term kraal since the African village with its huts in a circle formation with connecting sticks and thorn bushes resembled a string of beads. The laager substituted this concept with a string of wagons in circular formation connected with stick and thorn bushes. The laager gave them and their animals protection against wild animals. The laager also became a protection against the enemy. From inside the laager they had a chance of repelling the enemy, as women and children loaded the guns for the men to discharge. In some of the battles the guns got red hot from the desperate resistance they gave to the onslaught of wave after wave of enemy warriors.

They had an unswerving faith in God and his protective hand and would petition God for protecting and sparing their families. (Later during the Anglo-Boer War, they resorted to guerrilla warfare, living off the land).

When it came to defence and hospitality they were very much group conscious and the normal characteristic of individualism was not dominant.

Their life had a sad note, on the 19 October 1775 Nicolaas wrote a letter page 1 (51k), page 2 (27k), from the Olifants river requesting to be exempt from drill duties since his wife gave birth to a boy on the 5 October, but the child died the same day. He mentions that his wife is full of sorrow and has a heavy heart and he needs to take care of her. The letter is signed by him, and by two witnesses.⁽⁸⁾

The loan farm Tweefontein was granted to Nicolaas on 11 November 1784 (64k). It was formerly the farm of the widow of the late Schalk Willemsz Burger, his mother-in-law. This farm was situated in the Cold Bokkeveld, and was called Tweefontein (literally meaning two fountains), just north-east of Table mountain, in the Cold Bokkeveld. See photo of Table mountain. The Worcester Quitrent⁽⁹⁾ grant gives a description and map of the farm (91k): There is a river that flows in the winter and in the summer it forms a big water hole. One of the fountains on the farm was for common use for stock from the neighbouring farms Leeuwkuil, Rietrivier, and Langerivier. The original occupier of Tweefontein was Jan Meintjies van den Berg, who received the loan farm on 10 August 1746.⁽¹⁰⁾ In an interview by P.F.S. Janse van Rensburg⁽¹¹⁾ with a senior citizen who were raised on the farm Tweefontein, she recall as a child seeing remains of kraals on the farm, and remembers being told that it once belonged to the van Renburg's who held ostriches in them. I visited Tweefontein in Jan 1989, the original farmhouse no longer exist. I was told that there are the ruins of a little house higher up on the mountain. There is an old farm cemetery, but none of the inscribed tombstones recorded van Rensburg's (when I visited this farm a few years later a number of rough squatter building were erected near it). According to P.F.S. Janse van Rensburg there use to be a six roomed house with a Cape Dutch gable, but the building was pulled down a few years ago due to it condition.⁽¹²⁾

His brother Willem⁽¹³⁾ (Beware it is easy to get confused since his wife was also called Hester Burger) had an adjacent farm just north-west of Table Mountain in the Cold Bokkeveld, called Leeuwkuil see picture (22k), which means lion's den. Here is a photo of Leeukuil (15k).⁽¹⁴⁾ On this farm is still the farmhouse dating from the early 1800's. This brother Willem also had the following loan farms:⁽¹⁵⁾ Welgemoed, Swartkopsrivier (In the Pontoon Book⁽¹⁶⁾ during 1770-1775, which has a record of those going across the Berg river, they also give a record of where the passengers lived. It mentions that he lived on these farms as well as the following farms, Rust en Vrede and Klipfontein at the foot of the Roggeveld Mountains). Willem's widow received the loan farm Wolvikop⁽¹⁷⁾ in the Klein Roggeveld on the 20 February 1799, and it was run by her until 10 October 1803.

According to Lichtenstein,⁽¹⁸⁾ two van Rensburg cousins with the same name were lion hunting in the Swartruggens (Their is a Swartruggens in the Cold Bokkeveld and another one in the Eastern Cape). The evidence suggest that it was the son b4c2d5 Nicolaas Jacobus (I can't match two other cousins who had the same name, at that time, in the Eastern Cape). A lion sprung on the side of the horse, and bit into the left arm of the rider. The cousin, most likely b4c1d5 Nicolaas Jacobus, fled to call two Hottentot assistants, they were waiting at the other end of the koppie.. Meanwhile the lion tore and mangled the victims left arm. The victim with his right hand he drew his knife out of his pocket with which he stabbed the lion in several places. When the rescuers returned they found the dead lion with the knife in its throat sprawled out on top of our Nicolaas Jacobus, who died within minutes. The surviving cousin had to live with his conscience and the reproaches made at him by relatives of the deceased. See picture of a lion who attacked David Livingstone (55k)

Nicolaas possession's included the following, which is gleaned from the 'opgraafrol',⁽¹⁹⁾ census rolls. The records for the year 1800 and 1806 reveals a large number of Khoi and Slaves.

Year	sons	daughter	Khoi	Slaves	Horses	Cattle	Sheep	Guns	Pistols	Daggers	goat	pig	wagon
1763					1			1	1	1
1773					2	10	100	1	1	1
1782					1	20	200	1	1	1
1792	1	4			1	20	350
1800	1	3	12		22	45	651
1806	1	2	5	15	12	29	500				50	3	1

His mother must have stayed on at the farm of her second husband Johannes Pienaar (he died before 10 July 1783), since after her death the Boedelrekening⁽²⁰⁾ was taken at Lakenvaleij, on March 1802 (she † 17 January 1798⁽²¹⁾). Nicolaas receives Ryksdaalers 1077.6 10/11. He purchased at the 'vendu', auction goods to the value of 755.5, and he owed as 'obligasie' 100 and had book debt of 37.4.

They were involved in an exchange economy, trading their cattle and sheep and products of these animals for money, guns, gunpowder, coffee, tea, tobacco and sugar.

On 7 February 1805 Nicolaas and his wife made a will (25k) which was submitted to the "weeskamer" on 3 October 1811.⁽²²⁾ This indicates that he must have died prior to this date. In his will the farm Tweefontein was left to youngest son, Barend Johannes, on the condition that he looked after his parents and would eventually pay 3 000 gulden into the estate account. However, if this child were to die before the parents, the farm would go to the eldest son Willem under the same conditions. It was indicated that each son and daughter could choose a young male or female slave as part of their inheritance. The longest living spouse also had to ensure that the minor children be brought up in honesty, as Christians, and supporting and educating them till they were of age and married. Hester Helena, his widow made another will on 2 October 1813.⁽²³⁾ This was submitted to the authorities on 4 November 1815. In this will her son Barend Johannes receives the young male slave, Kleynbooy, as well as a table and in return he need to pay 200 ryksdaalers to the estate. The daughter Johanna receive a pie dish. Maria Jacoba received the female slave, Lea, and her children. In turn she had to pay 500 ryksdaalers into the estate. Due to his ill health, Schalk Willem would receive 100 ryksdaalers. The rest of the estate was to be divided equally among the remaining children. Hester appointed Izaak Wilhelmus van der Merwe, husband of her daughter Maria Jacoba Barbara, who owned the neighbouring farm Moerasvleij, as executor of the estate, and gave him power of attorney.

In the Inventaris see page 1 (49k), page 2 (44k), drawn up 12 Oct 1815⁽²⁴⁾ (She must have died prior to this), was taken of Hester Helena's estate. Amongst her possessions were the books: "Twee predikasie Boeken, Twee Salm Boeken, een slijter en een gebede Boekje". They are all spiritual books. He would have been approximately 68 when he died and she 70 at the time of her death. The youngest son became property owner of Tweefontein on 4 July 1831, consisting of 2 286 morgen. Up and until then he made a yearly payment of 1 Pound 17 shillings and 6 pence. He sold it on 28 December 1843 to Gert Johannes van der Merwe. This younger brother moved in 1844 to Cradock and obtained the farm Driefontein.⁽²⁵⁾

1. (Children with Johannes Pienaar b2c4) d1 Anna Sophia ~ 22 Nov 1750, † Tulbagh Dec 1775 X 15 Jan 1775 Jan Louis du Plessis, d2 Louisa ~ 2 Jul 1752, X 25 May 1768 Coert Grobelaar, d3 Maartje Johanna ~ 7 July 1754, X Tulbagh 30-4-1769 to Dawid van Heerden, XX 7 Oct 1775 Andries Petrus Burger, d4 Jacobus Johannes ~ 4 Jul 1756, † c.1802. X Tulbagh 25 May 1777 to Hester van der Merwe. XX Cape Town 29 Apr 1792 to Margaretha Elisabeth du Toit d5 Johanna ~ 8 Jan 1758 was 'gebreklik' crippled or deformed and they made provision in their will (MOOC 7/1/29 no 97) which was written on 14 April 1772. Mention is made that she needed extra assistance and thus she ought to receive a slave as part of her share X Johannes Jacobus Moller. d6 Petrus ~ 29 March 1761, d7 Barend ~ 5 Sept 1762, d8 Schalk Willem ~ 27 Nov 1763, † 1842.

They made their will taking into account that Anna Sophia Burger had three surviving children (the fourth child Elsie died when she was twenty before she had any offspring) from her first marriage and she had another eight children with Pienaar. A rather wise way of dividing the estate was: Divide the estate into two equal parts, a mother's portion and a father's portion; 1. The mother's portion was to be divided equally amongst the eleven children since they all were her children. 2. The father's portion was divided equally amongst the eight children who Pienaar fathered. Thus 23,713 Rijksdaaler were divided amongst the children. In the Boedelrekening MOOC 7/1/91 NO 7 of Anna Sophia Burger and Johannes Pienaar, This account was made on their farm Lakenvallei on the 4 March 1802, this will was only finally registered by Orphan Chamber on 5 Sept 1823 we do not know the reason for the delay.

5. C.P. Thunberg Travels in Europe, Africa and Asia 1770 - 1779 p 27, London 1795 . Other travelers who left a record are H. Lichtenstein Travels in Southern Africa in the years 1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806 and W.J. Burchell Travels in the interior of Southern Africa

6. Donald Moodie The Evidence or the Motives and Objects of the Bushman Wars 1769 -1777 p 35-37,, Cape Town, 1841

8. RLR 32 p 85. This child has not been included in the descendants and the numbering system. So far we have only this signature of Nicolaas and the one on the petition.

11. P.F.S. Janse van Rensburg "Stamboom van Barend Johannes Janse van Rensburg" unpublished paper

13. Their children were: d1 Willem he was deaf and dumb, received slave Piet van de Caab, d2 Helena married P. Jooste, d3 Barend, d4 Anna Sophia she was deaf and dumb, received slave Sara van de Caab, d5 Nicolaas Jacobus received farms Leeuwkuil and Toverberg, d6 Johannes Petrus (Piet) received farm Wolvekop at Klein Roggeveld, d8 Elsie married Charl du Plessis, d9 Jacoba married Jacobus du Plessis ( Jan zoon), d10 Hendrik Petrus had a disability, received farm Welgemoed and Klipfontein at Roggeveld, d11 Hester received the slave Josina, d12 Maartjie received slaved Kaatjie. Information from their wills MOOC 7/1/45 no 7 & 8; MOOC 7/1/51 no71; MOOC 7/1/45 no 72 and CJ 2647 no18.

14. H. Fransen and M.A. Cook The Old Buildings of the Cape 1980. p298, 303 gives a descriptions and photo of farmhouse at Leeuwkuil. When I visited this farm it was owned by a van der Merwe and he kindly showed me through the old house, it is no longer being used as a living place. RLR 16/2 p 288; RLR 28/2 p 175; RLR 23/1 p92; RLR 33 p 84; RLR 36/1 p93 RLR 37/1 p 69. The dates starting 1762 and going through to 1791

16. 1/STB 19/150; vol 27 May 1772 for year 1770; vol 14 May 1773 for year 1771; vol 14 Jul 1774 for year 1773; vol 21 Oct 1775 for year 1774

19. J200 - 1763; University of the Western Cape A2250 - 1773 and 1782; J219 - 1792; J226 -1800; J371 - 1806

25. P.F.S. Janse van Rensburg "Stamboom van Barend Johannes Janse van Rensburg" unpublished paper. This author has dealt extensively into this branch, he has placed flesh and blood on the dry bones of genealogy and brought life to mere names and dates.

Year	Wheat sowed	Wheat harvested	Rye sowed	Rye Harvested	Barley sowed	Barley harvested
1800	6	55	1	12	7	51