WILLEM JANSE VAN RENSBURG (b4 c2 d1 e6)

Author: A.M. van Rensburg (b4 c2 d1 e6 f5 g5 h3 i2)

Web master: M.A. van Rensburg (b4 c2 d1 e6 f5 g5 h3 i2 j1)

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

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FOOTNOTES

This was one of the most challenging researches that I had to undertake with my ancestors. Following the trial of a nomadic seasonal Trekboer with limited documentary evidence. Both history and geography further frustrate one, since little evidence were left behind by either. The harsh Karoo does not leave much behind. Historically Cape Town and the Eastern Cape Border with frontier wars and the great trek has diverted historians attention away from the North Western Cape. P.J van der Merwe's work is a monumental accomplishment. His works stands out amidst a karoo barren historical account of the area. Whatever else one can find is like a few drops of refreshing rain in a desert. This research was eventually one of the most rewarding, to try and reconstruct and relive their experiences. There are not many nations that become semi-nomadic. There is scope for, a far greater scientific research into this subject.

1. A.J. Boeseken Slaves of the Cape

2. J.P.G. Underhay, H.C. Hopkins Eufeesgedenkboek van Ceres 1855-1955 p111

3. Theal, Records of the Cape Colony Vol XX p 211

4. MOOC 6/3 Vol IV p 76-77

5. Cape Title Deeds Office

6. MOOC 7/1/108 no 34

7. J440

8. P.J. van der Merwe Trek p128 -136

9. P.J. van der Merwe Trek p136 -139

10. J428 - 1830; J432 - 1836; J433 - 1837; J434 - 1838; J436 - 1839; J438 - 1840; J439 - 1842,1843; J440 - 1845

11. J.A. Heese Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk Gedenkboek Worcester: 1821-1971, Worcester 1970

12. This letter is referred to in the manuscript of P.F.S Janse van Rensburg "Stamboom van Barend Johannes Janse van Rensburg"

13. 1 WOC 15/108

14. MOIB 1845 5055 and 2/627

15. J.A. Heese Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk Gedenkboek Worcester: 1821-1971 page 29

16. Trek p 55

17. T66 Worcester letters Despatched

18. P.J. van der Merwe Die Noordwaardse beweging van die Boere p 327

19. Trek p 50

20. John Noble Descriptive Handbook of the Cape Colony its Condition and Resource, p 140

21. Trek p 240

22. C.O. 2232, 17-12-1856 no 40

23. Paper by F.J. Steynberg, Carnarvon: Sy ontstaan en Groei 1839-1952 p 23, opgestel vir die van Riebeeckfees, April 1952

24. C Birkby Thirstland Trek p 74

25. Trek p 48, 49

26. PJ van der Merwe Die Noordwaardse beweging van die Boere p 333, 334

27. Trek p 52, 53

28. Trek p 244

29. Roper Cribb in Nomads and Archaeology refers to a vertical axiom from Fully Nomadic down to Fully Sedentary. Horizontal axis Mode of Subsistence from Agriculurist to Pastoralist. Nomadic and Pastoralist go hand in hand. Looking at other nomads and the type of animals they have. In the Near East the animals are sheep and goats, in the Middle East - Camels, in Central Asia - horses. Where one finds extreme seasons there they would tend to have both sheep and goats The sheep are selective grazers while goats are indiscriminate browsers. Furthermore goats are more mobile and will lead the sheep. When you have great droughts, the less animals you have, the easier it is to trek. The greater the drought the less work you have to perform. Nomads lifestyle is fluid thus they dwell also in tents - Central Asia and Anatolia Mongolia, Turkey Uzbekistan, Afghanistan Tent called "topak ev" like a round house. Black tent of Middle East Turkey, Kurdish, Western Iran, many poles. With nomads it is hard to determine: where does tent end and house begin. Nomadism is due to insecurity, be it political and or environmental. In the Nomads of the World 1971 National Geographic it speaks of nomads being able to "Pull up stakes and move on". They are also afflicted with "Wanderlust" or the siren call of the road , this has lead to a life pattern, which is integrated into their culture and life. Freedom of the individual ranks high amongst the Nomads p 15. The margin of survival is very thin. Nomads inhabit the harsh places of Earth. Wherever there is a decrease in vegetation it leads to increase in goats. Wherever there is an increase in vegetation it leads to increase in sheep farming.

30. Selected articles from the Cape Monthly Magazine (1870-76) with notes by A.M. Lewin Robinson. "through Bushmanland p 38

Resources:

P.J. van der Merwe Trek ***Excellent book dealing with this topic***

P.J. van der Merwe Die Trekboer in die Geskiedenis van Kaap Kolonie (The migrant Farmers in the History of the Cape Colony 1657-1841)

P.J. van der Merwe Die Noordwaartse beweging van die Boere voor die Groot Trek

Gre van der Waal-Braaksma and O.J.O. Ferreira Die Noordweste 1986. A good cultural research into the Trekboers

Eric Rosenthal One Hundred Years of Victoria West 1859-1959

Lawrence Green Karoo

D.A. Scholtz Fraserburg en sy Kerk 1851 - 1976

A.P. Smit Gedenkboek van die Nederduitse Gereformeerde Gemeente Beaufort Wes

Van Onselen, Lennox Trekboer 1960

John Noble The descriptive Handbook of the Cape Colony its conditions and Resources 1875

K. Willmans Zur Psychopatholgie des Landsreichers Leipzig 1906

J.P.G. Underhay, H.C. Hopkins Eufeesgedenkboek van Ceres 1855-1955

Beaufort Courier - Courant, copies from Oct 1869 in South African Library (Cape). copies from 1884 at Uni of Stellenbosch

Victoria West Messenger, from July 1876 in the South African Library, Cape Town

Other Namaqualand authors: E. de Roubaix A.A.J. van Niekerk and Huibrecht Mulder

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