WILLEM JANSE VAN RENSBURG (b4 c2 d1)

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

CHRISTMAS 1764 BAPTISM

Willem was the eldest child of Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg and Hester Helena Burger. He was baptised on Christmas day, according to the records at Tulbagh church on 25 December 1764 (9k)⁽¹⁾

When Willem was five years old his father took part in the bushman war, going as far as the region of Zak river⁽²⁾. It was customary for the family who were farming in the Cold Bokkeveld to trek in the winter to the Karoo, in order to avoid the cold wet winter. Their custom was to be seasonal trekkers, taking their canvas tents and canvas wagons. These farmers were not very much part of the financial system. For a living they relied upon building up their stock and trading them, otherwise they were self sufficient. Master to none, they considered authorities a menace who imposed taxes. Mainly buying sugar, ammunition, coffee, and linen. When the British came to the Cape they were greatly frustrated with the local life-style since the British wanted an integrated commercial system. Independent people were satisfied with making a living without the sophistication of town people.

MARRIAGE 1793 AT CAPE TOWN

Willem got married at the age of 29, according to the records of the church at Cape Town (35k), on 5 May 1793 to his cousin who was about 17 years old, Elizabeth Johanna Lubbe.⁽³⁾ The baptismal records at Tulbagh indicate that they had seven children:

SEVEN CHILDREN

e1 Hester Helena = 17 August 1794 (born on Olifants river), married 7 March 1812 to Frans Nicolaas Jooste

e2 Johannes Hendrik = 7 March 1796, murdered in slave uprising 2 Feb 1825

e3 Nicolaas Jacobus = 25 Dec 1797 died 10 Jul 1873, X 23 Oct 1825 Aletta Margaretha Campher

e4 Elsie Johanna born 18 Sept 1799, = 10 Nov 1799, X 15 Apr 1833 Willem Francois du Toit

e5 Willemina Sophia born 13 Dec 1802, =6 Feb 1803

e6 Willem born 23 Feb 1805, =13 April 1805, X 26 Nov 1844 Maria Sophia Susanna Spamer wid of Frans Jacobus Jooste

e7 Barend Frederick born 14 Aug 1807, = 27 December 1807

TURMOIL AT THE CAPE

With the turmoil that Napoleon caused in Europe the burghers were to experience four different governments in a matter of years. Up and until 1795 the VOC was in control of the Cape. The British then came and annexed the Cape and ruled until 1802, since they feared the French would capture the Cape. In 1802 the Cape reverted to Dutch rule when the short lived Batavian Republic received authority of the Cape after the peace of Amiens. When war broke out again the British sent a fleet of ships to the Cape and occupied it in 1806.

LICHTENSTEIN VISIT THE AREA AND CONTACT WITH VAN RENSBURG'S

The loan farm, Kwaggafontein (8k)⁽⁴⁾, situated on the Sak River Poort was granted to Willem on 3 January 1802 to 13 February 1804, see drawing by Lichtenstein of Karree Mountains (81k). This farm seems to have been a winter refuge farm. Kwaggafontein was on the main road "to the interior" - such as that road was in 1802! - and is now about 10 km north east of Fraserburg on the road to Williston, close by the Sak River. The Truter-Somerville expedition passed this way inland in 1801 and back in Apr 1802 - "This day we advanced... to this Quachafonteyn so named from the numerous herds of those animals which drink at it. The water is here also very bad. The fountain is frequented by Gem's bucks - Elands - Harte beest and Quachas, the traces of their feet have paved many paths to it - there are also flocks of the Namaqua partridges." (Somerville). It was also known as Commando Fonteyn. Cape Records refer to "Commando or Kwaggafontein". Burchell also went that way in 1811 and said of it "plenty of excellent water". Approx position = 31 degrees 50 mins south, 21 deg 27 mins east. During 1803, the traveller, explorer H. Lichtenstein⁽⁵⁾ accompanied the commissioner, General De Mist on a tour of the Cape. See map by Lichtenstein of the Cape page1 (218k), page 2 (165k). Also passing through the Cold Bokkeveld. The "veldkornet" Pienaar, who accompanied them was a half-brother of Willem's father Nicolaas. On the way out of the Karoo, they passed the childless couple, Erasmus. In the afternoon Lichtenstein's party had lunch with the widow Janssen on the farm Leeuwkuil. The hostess had a son and daughter, both nearly thirty years old who were deaf and dumb.⁽⁶⁾ The family communicated very readily with them by signs. They were cousins of Willem. The farm Leeuwkuil, which belonged to his late uncle Willem (b4 c1), was on the northwestern side of Table mountain, next to Tweefontein, the farm on which Willem grew up. This uncle also possessed the loan farm Welgemoed in Bokkeveld. The next farm visited by Lichtenstein's party was Driefontein, owned by another Erasmus, but he was not home, only a most rude person by the name of Snyman.⁽⁷⁾ Veldkornet Pienaar remarked that the fellow had such a sour face that it was enough to frighten the flies from settling upon his nose.

TULBAGH BECOMES BOTH SPIRITUAL AND CIVIL CENTRE

The family were living in the district called Stellenbosch, see map (70k), when Lichtenstein accompanied De Mist on his trip. One of the consequences of this trip was that the district of Stellenbosch had two other districts established from it, Uitenhage and Tulbagh. Our family then, in 1804, came under the newly formed district of Tulbagh, see map (78k). Tulbagh was where their church was located, Tulbagh now also became the civil centre for the area. In Nov 1822 the boundaries were changed again and then they were part of the Worcester district, see map (96k). When doing research one needs to keep this in mind. All this time they were under the sub-division of Cold Bokkeveld (sub-sub division Voorste Bokkeveld).

SERVICE ON EASTERN BORDER - 4th FRONTIER WAR

Willem appears in a list under veldkornets rapport⁽⁸⁾ for Tulbagh of 1811. Serving under Barend Pienaar (no. 6), his brother Barend Johannes served under Charl Hogo (no 102). Later they also 'Commandeered goederen of Willem '1 boor, 1 potter on 15 December 1812 by veldkornet Hugo. Willem had to perform military service on the Eastern Cape border. The Xhosas were driven out of Zuurveld under Colonel Graham during 1812. The Fourth Frontier War ended Feb 1812. To keep the Xhosa's across the Fish river a line of forts and outposts was established and manned. On April 24 a commando of 150 unmarried men left Stellenbosch. They had to supply wagons and oxen, camp equipment, guns, provisions etc. Daniel Malan was commandant in chief, assisted by commandants Pieter Krige and Pieter Retief. The commando with a long train of wagons went via Swellendam, Attaquas Kloof and Langkloof. They arrived 3 June at Uitenhage. The three month patrol and guard duty along the Fish river was prolonged and they only went back on the 19 Dec towards Stellenbosch.⁽⁹⁾

FARM VAALKLOOF

Willem lived in the Cold Bokkeveld, which was in the district of Tulbagh, see map (78k). November 1822 the district of Worcester, see map (96k), was formed, replacing the former Tulbagh district. Willem lived for quite some time with his parents on the farm Tweefontein.⁽¹⁰⁾ . Well before 1816 he obtained the loan farm Vaalkloof. Willem and his wife wrote their will⁽¹¹⁾ on this farm on 1 October 1816. On the 29 April 1818 Vaalkloof was surveyed on request of Willem. And his wife received it as "Erfpag" on 14 July 1831⁽¹²⁾. A description of the boundaries of Vaalkloof in Quitrent register (48k): area size 1209 morgen, annual rent 1 pound and 1 shillings.⁽¹³⁾ Vaalkloof⁽¹⁴⁾ is called today Westland and owned by a Mr Fernhout. I visited it in 1989 see photo of an old shepherd's hut (37k) and photo of stairs at rear of buildings (46k). On the farm was also a thrashing floor which was the typical Cape farming method, similar to the following picture.

FARMING RECORDS

While living in the Cold Bokkeveld⁽¹⁵⁾ being in the district of Worcester, the Opgaafrol⁽¹⁶⁾ for this area gives us some indication to his farming:

He tried vines as well as crops. In 1827⁽¹⁷⁾ mention is made of 3,000 vine plants.

We have some census records⁽¹⁸⁾ in relation to cereals sown and harvested crops:

Living at the Cape was very pleasant, see picture of a Cape farm setting (63k) .

MAKING OF WILL, DEATH 15 APRIL 1829

Willem died according to Worcester Sterfregister 15 April 1829 (60k) ⁽¹⁹⁾ but no mention is made in this document of his age or whom he was related to. However we do know it was his death, since the opgaafrolls⁽²⁰⁾ confirms it. Willem is mentioned in the opgaafrol for 1828, then in 1829 his death is mentioned, and in 1830 Elsie is referred to us widow of Willem. His will is also submitted to the Orphan Chamber 9 June 1829⁽²¹⁾. Their will indicates their religious beliefs and values since instruction is given that the children need to be raised honestly, and as Christians. The combined executors was to be Isaac Wilhelmus van der Merwe and Nicolaas Jacobus Jansen van Rensburg. The will was made at their home on Vaalkloof, and there were the required seven witnesses since no official dignitary was present. Willem died when he was 64 years old. Here is a copy of the family record of his sister Maria Jacoba Barbara (69k)⁽²²⁾ who married Izaak van der Merwe of Moerasvleij. Elsie was still alive in 1843 since their is an entry for her in the opgaafrol⁽²³⁾ and she was living on the farm Moerasvleij, later known as Boplaas.

The custom with burials were to bury the dead deep and then cover the grave with stones, to stop hyena's digging out the corpse.

FOOTNOTES

1. Witnesses were grandmother Anna Sophia Burger and her husband Johannes Pienaar.

2. Also referred to as Sak river, this area became later known as Carnarvon, previously there was a mission station there, called Schietfontein. Later generation shifted to this area.

3. She was (b12 c8 d4) the daughter of Johannes Hendrik Lubbe and Elsie Burger. It was customary for some to go to Cape Town and get married in the Mother church. This was often done in association with paying for their loan farms or obtaining a new loan farm, and they would also do some trading.

4. RLR 72 p 67

5. H Lichtenstein Travels in South Africa 1803 - 1806 p131, Cape Town 1928; Belangrijke Historische Dokumenten over Zuid-Afrika verzameld in Den Haag en Berlijn, Deel II p 142; H Lichtenstein Reizen in het Zuidelijk Gedeelte van Africa jaren 1803 -1806

6. Probably Willem b4 c1 d1 and Anna Sophia b4 c1 d4. In their will MOOC 7/1/45 no 72 mention is made of the following "gebreklikke kinders", disabled children: Willem, Anna Sophia and Hendrik Petrus. Another will by them MOOC 7/1/45 no 72, 2. ; CJ 2647, No 18; MOOC 7/1/51 no 71. Nicolaas Jacobus b4c1d5 according to the will was to look after the minors and the cripple. When looking at the interbreeding in previous generations, no wonder there were cripples.

7. Belangrijke Historische Dokumenten over Zuid-Afrika verzameld in Den Haag en Berlijn Deel III

8. LDS microfilm no 1295275. This film also indicates under Hottentot list that this brother had three Hottentots Davidt, Piet and Bastaard; and widow of Nicolaas Jacobus N zoon also had four Hottentots Oupa, Hans, Piet and Simond, listed on same film under veldkornet Hugo

9. Stellenbosch Three Centuries p 434

10. At least from 1800 - 1806, J226, J371

11. MOOC 7/1/108 no 34, 1 Oct 1816

12. Registrar of Deeds, Cape Town: Worcester Erfpagte Book Vol 4B Fol 57 14 Jul 1831

13. QRR 260 p 172, 173

14. Registrar of Deeds, Cape Town: Ceres No 219

15. It is in the district of Ceres today. A good book dealing with the history is D. Smuts and P. Alberts The Forgotten Highway through Ceres and the Bokkeveld 1988

16. Note that not all the opgaafrolls had the same categories, eg some did not have an indication for children. J226 - 1800; J371 - 1806; J431 - 1813; J419 -1823; J424 -1826; J? - 1827; J426 - 1828; J427 -1829

17. J425

18. J424 - 1826; J? - 1827 ; J426 - 1828; J427 - 1829

19. Sterfregister: MOOC 6/3 Vol 4 p 76, 77, 15 April 1829; RLR 9/3 p 489 - 499

20. J426 - 1928; J427 - 1929; J428 - 1930. Researching the opgaafrolls was the way I first discovered his year of death. Then with year of death I was able to get the other record

21. MOOC 7/1/108, No 34

22. D. Smuts and P. Alberts The Forgotten Highway through Ceres and the Bokkeveld p 158, 1988

23. J440

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