The will of Abraham and Elizabeth September: The struggle for land in Gordonia, 1898-1995

Journal of African History

Volumn 37, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 371-418

  Legassick, Martin ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE   (South Africa)

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EID: 0038605218     PISSN: 00218537     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/s0021853700035520     Document Type: Review

References (201)

1. Cape Parliamentary Papers [henceforth CPP], G60-1888 Reports and Correspondence relating to affairs on the Northern Border of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, 7. I should like to express warm thanks to the Beukes and Strauss families for their hospitality and for indispensable assistance with interviews; and to Mike and Revinia Abrahams and Cecil Prinsloo for transcription of interviews; and Mr Elsworth Macpherson for drawing the maps.
2. Cape Times, 18 Feb. 1956.
3. In 1913 a Canadian traveller wrote, after visiting the town: 'The agricultural history of Gordonia may be said to date from the building of the Upington Irrigation Furrow by a Dutch missionary, the Reverend Mr Schroeder, with the aid of Bastards'. (W, Macdonald, The Conquest of the Desert [London, 1913], 59). Theal describes the 'wonderful change' that took place in the area in the years following the defeat of the 'untameable robber clans' in 1879-80: 'A missionary, the reverend Mr Schroeder, designed a plan of a canal to lead the water of the Orange out to irrigate a large tract of rich land on the northern side of the stream, and induced a number of the mixed-breeds from the nearest colonial districts to carry out the scheme under his supervision. The government supplied the necessary tools and powder for blasting, and the largest work of its kind in South Africa at that time was successfully completed....A marvellous transformation then took place. The rich soil was cleared and planted, and very shortly Upington, as the place was named, was producing all that was needed for the comfortable maintenance of men and domestic animals...where neither shelter nor food other than flesh was to be had, within a quarter of a century became a busy hive of industry, where grain, and fruit, and vegetables were grown in abundance for the supply of the graziers and others to a great distance around'. History of South Africa, from 1872 to 1884, Vol. 2 (1919 ed.), 38. Later 'frontier', local, and church histories have repeated and elaborated the theme. A version presently on sale in the Upington museum states: On 15 Augustus 1883 Eerw. Christiaan Heinrich Willem Schroeder dug the first sod in the building of the Upington canal. This undertaking...was the start of a project which would become known as the Orange River project many years later. On 18 November 1966 Mr B. J. Vorster pushed the button which set the R500 million project in motion'. A. K. Cornelissen, Langs Groot Rivier (n.d., ?1980s), 19. See also [S. Malan], Geskiedenis van Upington en Distrik Gordonia, (CA, Ts, Oorhandig aan Poskoets te Upington op Donderdag 28 Februaraie 1952), 3-4. The same is echoed in more general accounts. The Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa (Pretoria, 1975) records that: 'Upington owes its prosperity mainly to agriculture and the development of irrigation along the Orange River. Here, at Upington, Schroeder as missionary among families of mixed European and other blood designed the first irrigation canal of the lower Orange River, a scheme so successfully applied at Kakamas in later years'. The story is also firmly entrenched in the iconography of the town. The Upington museum consists of three buildings, two of them Schroeder's original mission church and residence. Within the latter is a prominently displayed composite photograph of some 36 leading men in the town in 1910. At the centre-top of this is a (larger) photograph of Schroeder, inscribed 'The Founder of Upington'.
4. In 1913 a Canadian traveller wrote, after visiting the town: 'The agricultural history of Gordonia may be said to date from the building of the Upington Irrigation Furrow by a Dutch missionary, the Reverend Mr Schroeder, with the aid of Bastards'. (W, Macdonald, The Conquest of the Desert [London, 1913], 59). Theal describes the 'wonderful change' that took place in the area in the years following the defeat of the 'untameable robber clans' in 1879-80: 'A missionary, the reverend Mr Schroeder, designed a plan of a canal to lead the water of the Orange out to irrigate a large tract of rich land on the northern side of the stream, and induced a number of the mixed-breeds from the nearest colonial districts to carry out the scheme under his supervision. The government supplied the necessary tools and powder for blasting, and the largest work of its kind in South Africa at that time was successfully completed....A marvellous transformation then took place. The rich soil was cleared and planted, and very shortly Upington, as the place was named, was producing all that was needed for the comfortable maintenance of men and domestic animals...where neither shelter nor food other than flesh was to be had, within a quarter of a century became a busy hive of industry, where grain, and fruit, and vegetables were grown in abundance for the supply of the graziers and others to a great distance around'. History of South Africa, from 1872 to 1884, Vol. 2 (1919 ed.), 38. Later 'frontier', local, and church histories have repeated and elaborated the theme. A version presently on sale in the Upington museum states: On 15 Augustus 1883 Eerw. Christiaan Heinrich Willem Schroeder dug the first sod in the building of the Upington canal. This undertaking...was the start of a project which would become known as the Orange River project many years later. On 18 November 1966 Mr B. J. Vorster pushed the button which set the R500 million project in motion'. A. K. Cornelissen, Langs Groot Rivier (n.d., ?1980s), 19. See also [S. Malan], Geskiedenis van Upington en Distrik Gordonia, (CA, Ts, Oorhandig aan Poskoets te Upington op Donderdag 28 Februaraie 1952), 3-4. The same is echoed in more general accounts. The Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa (Pretoria, 1975) records that: 'Upington owes its prosperity mainly to agriculture and the development of irrigation along the Orange River. Here, at Upington, Schroeder as missionary among families of mixed European and other blood designed the first irrigation canal of the lower Orange River, a scheme so successfully applied at Kakamas in later years'. The story is also firmly entrenched in the iconography of the town. The Upington museum consists of three buildings, two of them Schroeder's original mission church and residence. Within the latter is a prominently displayed composite photograph of some 36 leading men in the town in 1910. At the centre-top of this is a (larger) photograph of Schroeder, inscribed 'The Founder of Upington'.
5. In 1913 a Canadian traveller wrote, after visiting the town: 'The agricultural history of Gordonia may be said to date from the building of the Upington Irrigation Furrow by a Dutch missionary, the Reverend Mr Schroeder, with the aid of Bastards'. (W, Macdonald, The Conquest of the Desert [London, 1913], 59). Theal describes the 'wonderful change' that took place in the area in the years following the defeat of the 'untameable robber clans' in 1879-80: 'A missionary, the reverend Mr Schroeder, designed a plan of a canal to lead the water of the Orange out to irrigate a large tract of rich land on the northern side of the stream, and induced a number of the mixed-breeds from the nearest colonial districts to carry out the scheme under his supervision. The government supplied the necessary tools and powder for blasting, and the largest work of its kind in South Africa at that time was successfully completed....A marvellous transformation then took place. The rich soil was cleared and planted, and very shortly Upington, as the place was named, was producing all that was needed for the comfortable maintenance of men and domestic animals...where neither shelter nor food other than flesh was to be had, within a quarter of a century became a busy hive of industry, where grain, and fruit, and vegetables were grown in abundance for the supply of the graziers and others to a great distance around'. History of South Africa, from 1872 to 1884, Vol. 2 (1919 ed.), 38. Later 'frontier', local, and church histories have repeated and elaborated the theme. A version presently on sale in the Upington museum states: On 15 Augustus 1883 Eerw. Christiaan Heinrich Willem Schroeder dug the first sod in the building of the Upington canal. This undertaking...was the start of a project which would become known as the Orange River project many years later. On 18 November 1966 Mr B. J. Vorster pushed the button which set the R500 million project in motion'. A. K. Cornelissen, Langs Groot Rivier (n.d., ?1980s), 19. See also [S. Malan], Geskiedenis van Upington en Distrik Gordonia, (CA, Ts, Oorhandig aan Poskoets te Upington op Donderdag 28 Februaraie 1952), 3-4. The same is echoed in more general accounts. The Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa (Pretoria, 1975) records that: 'Upington owes its prosperity mainly to agriculture and the development of irrigation along the Orange River. Here, at Upington, Schroeder as missionary among families of mixed European and other blood designed the first irrigation canal of the lower Orange River, a scheme so successfully applied at Kakamas in later years'. The story is also firmly entrenched in the iconography of the town. The Upington museum consists of three buildings, two of them Schroeder's original mission church and residence. Within the latter is a prominently displayed composite photograph of some 36 leading men in the town in 1910. At the centre-top of this is a (larger) photograph of Schroeder, inscribed 'The Founder of Upington'.
6. In 1913 a Canadian traveller wrote, after visiting the town: 'The agricultural history of Gordonia may be said to date from the building of the Upington Irrigation Furrow by a Dutch missionary, the Reverend Mr Schroeder, with the aid of Bastards'. (W, Macdonald, The Conquest of the Desert [London, 1913], 59). Theal describes the 'wonderful change' that took place in the area in the years following the defeat of the 'untameable robber clans' in 1879-80: 'A missionary, the reverend Mr Schroeder, designed a plan of a canal to lead the water of the Orange out to irrigate a large tract of rich land on the northern side of the stream, and induced a number of the mixed-breeds from the nearest colonial districts to carry out the scheme under his supervision. The government supplied the necessary tools and powder for blasting, and the largest work of its kind in South Africa at that time was successfully completed....A marvellous transformation then took place. The rich soil was cleared and planted, and very shortly Upington, as the place was named, was producing all that was needed for the comfortable maintenance of men and domestic animals...where neither shelter nor food other than flesh was to be had, within a quarter of a century became a busy hive of industry, where grain, and fruit, and vegetables were grown in abundance for the supply of the graziers and others to a great distance around'. History of South Africa, from 1872 to 1884, Vol. 2 (1919 ed.), 38. Later 'frontier', local, and church histories have repeated and elaborated the theme. A version presently on sale in the Upington museum states: On 15 Augustus 1883 Eerw. Christiaan Heinrich Willem Schroeder dug the first sod in the building of the Upington canal. This undertaking...was the start of a project which would become known as the Orange River project many years later. On 18 November 1966 Mr B. J. Vorster pushed the button which set the R500 million project in motion'. A. K. Cornelissen, Langs Groot Rivier (n.d., ?1980s), 19. See also [S. Malan], Geskiedenis van Upington en Distrik Gordonia, (CA, Ts, Oorhandig aan Poskoets te Upington op Donderdag 28 Februaraie 1952), 3-4. The same is echoed in more general accounts. The Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa (Pretoria, 1975) records that: 'Upington owes its prosperity mainly to agriculture and the development of irrigation along the Orange River. Here, at Upington, Schroeder as missionary among families of mixed European and other blood designed the first irrigation canal of the lower Orange River, a scheme so successfully applied at Kakamas in later years'. The story is also firmly entrenched in the iconography of the town. The Upington museum consists of three buildings, two of them Schroeder's original mission church and residence. Within the latter is a prominently displayed composite photograph of some 36 leading men in the town in 1910. At the centre-top of this is a (larger) photograph of Schroeder, inscribed 'The Founder of Upington'.
7. In 1913 a Canadian traveller wrote, after visiting the town: 'The agricultural history of Gordonia may be said to date from the building of the Upington Irrigation Furrow by a Dutch missionary, the Reverend Mr Schroeder, with the aid of Bastards'. (W, Macdonald, The Conquest of the Desert [London, 1913], 59). Theal describes the 'wonderful change' that took place in the area in the years following the defeat of the 'untameable robber clans' in 1879-80: 'A missionary, the reverend Mr Schroeder, designed a plan of a canal to lead the water of the Orange out to irrigate a large tract of rich land on the northern side of the stream, and induced a number of the mixed-breeds from the nearest colonial districts to carry out the scheme under his supervision. The government supplied the necessary tools and powder for blasting, and the largest work of its kind in South Africa at that time was successfully completed....A marvellous transformation then took place. The rich soil was cleared and planted, and very shortly Upington, as the place was named, was producing all that was needed for the comfortable maintenance of men and domestic animals...where neither shelter nor food other than flesh was to be had, within a quarter of a century became a busy hive of industry, where grain, and fruit, and vegetables were grown in abundance for the supply of the graziers and others to a great distance around'. History of South Africa, from 1872 to 1884, Vol. 2 (1919 ed.), 38. Later 'frontier', local, and church histories have repeated and elaborated the theme. A version presently on sale in the Upington museum states: On 15 Augustus 1883 Eerw. Christiaan Heinrich Willem Schroeder dug the first sod in the building of the Upington canal. This undertaking...was the start of a project which would become known as the Orange River project many years later. On 18 November 1966 Mr B. J. Vorster pushed the button which set the R500 million project in motion'. A. K. Cornelissen, Langs Groot Rivier (n.d., ?1980s), 19. See also [S. Malan], Geskiedenis van Upington en Distrik Gordonia, (CA, Ts, Oorhandig aan Poskoets te Upington op Donderdag 28 Februaraie 1952), 3-4. The same is echoed in more general accounts. The Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa (Pretoria, 1975) records that: 'Upington owes its prosperity mainly to agriculture and the development of irrigation along the Orange River. Here, at Upington, Schroeder as missionary among families of mixed European and other blood designed the first irrigation canal of the lower Orange River, a scheme so successfully applied at Kakamas in later years'. The story is also firmly entrenched in the iconography of the town. The Upington museum consists of three buildings, two of them Schroeder's original mission church and residence. Within the latter is a prominently displayed composite photograph of some 36 leading men in the town in 1910. At the centre-top of this is a (larger) photograph of Schroeder, inscribed 'The Founder of Upington'.
8. CPP, G60 - 1888, 7.
9. Theal, History, ii, 38.
10. Cape Archives [Henceforth CA] MOK, 1/1/27 DR 8950, Estate of Abraham September, he died on 5 July 1898, his age 'unknown but supposed to be over 80'. On the nickname, see interviews with Gert September, 20 July 1993, 4 Apr. 1994, Upington. (All tapes and transcripts of interviews in possession of author.)
11. CA MOK 1/1/27 DR 8950. She died on 1 Apr. 1918 aged about 100 years.
12. The area in which they were living (if within the Cape Colony) formed part of the Beaufort (from 1818) or Worcester district (from 1824 to 1837, when the Clanwilliam magistracy was formed from part of the Worcester district). In 1847 the Cape boundary was extended to the Orange river, and in 1855 the magistracies of Calvinia, Fraserburg and Victoria West were founded. Carnarvon became a magistracy in 1874. The records of the Rhenish Missions at Schietfontein and Amandelboom - birth, marriage registers and so on - do not appear to have survived, though there are letters and reports from the missionaries at the society's headquarters in Germany and in the society's Berichte of which copies may be found in the Faculty of Theology Library, Stellenbosch. The name September does not appear in the Minutes of the Schietfontein Management Committee, 1862-1877 (NG Sending Kerk Archive, Cape Town, G8 1/1).
13. CA, NBC 3, Signed by Abraham September, 'his mark', with two witnesses, Olyvenhout's Drift, 10 Mar. 1880 to J. H. Scott, Special Commissioner, Kenhardt.
14. For these wars, waged by ' Oorlamized ' Kora, Xhosa, Griqua, San etc. against the Colony, see Teresa Strauss, War along the Orange (Centre for African Studies, UCT, Communications No 1, 1979); R. Ross, 'The !Kora wars on the Orange river, 1830-1880', J. Afr. His. XVI (1975).
15. For these wars, waged by ' Oorlamized ' Kora, Xhosa, Griqua, San etc. against the Colony, see Teresa Strauss, War along the Orange (Centre for African Studies, UCT, Communications No 1, 1979); R. Ross, 'The !Kora wars on the Orange river, 1830-1880', J. Afr. His. XVI (1975).
16. The most comprehensive account of this mission is J. A. J. Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike Sending langs die Benede-Orange, met besondere verwysing na die werk van die N. G. Kerk in Korannaland' (M. Theol, University of Stellenbosch, 1953). Representatives of the Baster community petitioned Scott at Kenhardt in July 1879, and 150 Baster men met at Olyvenhout's Drift in September to choose a delegation (consisting of David Van Rooi, Albert Louw, Marthinus Jansen and Jakobus Kotzee) to speak to representatives of the N. G. Mission Church in Amandelboom in October. If the petition were signed by all the Basters north of the Orange river with Schroeder before 1878, it would indicate whether Abraham and Elizabeth September were there or not. The petition has not however been traced. See CA NGK collection, S5/2/164, Schroeder to Scott, 31 July 1879; Schroeder to Neethling, 31 July 1879; Zamenspreking... Amandelboom, 11 Oct. 1879.
17. Gordonia was formally a part of British Bechuanaland from its establishment on 30 Sept. 1885, but not administered as such until Apr. 1889. For further detail on the history of the settlement see M. Legassick, 'The founding of Gordonia: the rise and fall of the Baster settlement' (unpublished).
18. CPP A30 - 1880, Bright to Scott, 7 Jan. 1880, 19-20.
19. 'van geheel wit tot geheel zwart': CA, NGK, S5/2/164, C. H. W. Schroder, Godsdiensverslag, 31 Aug. 1886. Later he wrote of 'different nationalities':'Whites have Baster wives, White Basters, other coloured and kaffers' ('Welke nationaliteiten'-'zeer verskillend, Blanken die Basterd vrouwen hebben, Blanke basterds, andere gekleurden en kaffers'): Godsdiensverslag, 25 Sept. 1894.
20. Proclamation 60 of 1889; Proclamation 106 of 1891; Proclamation 120 of 1891; Proclamation 123 of 1891, D. Ward (ed.), British Bechuanaland Proclamations (Cape Town, 1893).
21. NG Sending Kerk, Upington, Notule boek, 5 Oct. 1883-25 Mar. 1921. This, and other records of the church quoted here, are now lodged with the NG Sending Kerk archives, Cape Town.
22. NG Sending Kerk Lidregister, Upington. This was consulted only up to 1890.
23. This Abraham September, son of Niklaas, is the father of Gert September, born in 1916, and interviewed by myself in Upington. The record next to his name in the baptismal register states 'afgegee 5 July 1935. D. H. de Villiers', indicating a transfer to another congregation.
24. NG Sending Kerk, Doopregister, (consulted only up to December 1889).
25. NG Sending Kerk, Notule boek, 5 Oct. 1883-25 Mar. 1921. For a partial genealogy of the September family, see Figure 1.
26. 'Hy was 'n growwe, vreeslik growwe geslag...Hy was 'n vreeslik kwaai man gewees...daar het hy met sy os sweep gesit, dan as my pa-hulle in die erwe werk...hulle moet inspan, gee hy so 'n klap hieruit dan sit hy daarvandaan heeldag op daai klip....Die vier osse moet sleep, hulle moet werk....My klein kêrel moet werk...en daar sal hy nou sit en as hy voel dis nou uitspan tyd dan waai hy nou vir ouma Betjie. Hy wil weet of die kos klaar is dat die volk kan kom. Dan sê ouma 'ja', nou dan sal hy opstaan en dan vat hy sy sweep, nou klap hy, dis nou vir twaalfuur. En as hulle weer inspan, dan loop die ou daar na die klip toe (die sweep lê daar) dan klap hy die sweep, 'span in'. So was dit, daar,...net voor die kanaal... Hy was 'n kwaai ou gewees, maar hy was nooit onregverdig en onbillik gewees nie. Nee, hy net altyd iets eerlik gehad. Huisdiens het my oupa gereeldelik smôrens, in die oggende, voor jy loop vuur brandmaak het en die kos maak. Daardie tyd is hierdie elektriese goed nie daar nie, dis mos hout...en as jy klaar kerk gehou het, dan kan jy loop en vuur maak, dan kan jy die melk kry' (Interview with Gert September, 4 Apr. 1994, Upington.) Some of this may be mingled with his experiences of his father and grandfather.
27. CPPG60-1888, 7-8.
28. British Parliamentary Papers [Henceforth BPP], C5897, 52-3.
29. The census was taken on 5 Apr. 1891. The figures are from Public Record Office [PRO] CO417/61/16480, F. J. Newton to Secretary Vryburg, 18 July 1891, enclosure 1 in Despatch 255E, 20 July 1891. My thanks to Sean Milton for this reference. See the reference to it in BPP, C6829, 1892, 17; C6857, 1894, 8, 24-34). The figure is taken from Steenkamp, ' Die Christelike Sending', 91-2 and [S. Malan], Geskiedenis van Upington, 5. See also CPP. G19-1905 (Cape census), xxiv which refers to the partial census in 1891 in British Bechuanaland, excluding the 'native reserves', which counted 5,211 'Whites' and 67,525 'Coloured'.
30. CPP, G19-1905. In 1896 the population of Keimoes, second largest urban concentration, was estimated at 400, of whom 400 were white: CA 1/UPT 5/1/5 Scholtz to Secretary, Law Department, 29 Jan. 1896; Scholtz to Colonial Secretary, 10 Mar. 1896.
31. BPP, C5897, 26.
32. See CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, C. Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 21 Apr. 1891, recommending 3 white and 1 Baster field cornet; 1/UPT 5/14, Ashburnham to Secretary, Vryburg, 4 Feb. 1895; 1/UPT 5/1/5, Scholtz to DC(?) Vryburg, 19 Sept. 1895; Scholtz to Secretary, Law department, Cape Town, 28 Nov. 1895; Scholtz to Colonial Secretary, 15 Jan. 1896; 1/UPT 5/2/2, Scholtz to Colonial Secretary, 9 Apr. 1897 (wholly white fieldcornets).
33. CA 1/UPT 5/1/1, C. Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 19 Sept. 1889; 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham, 'Return of Local Boards...', 22 Aug. 1894; 'Report for 1894-5', 17 Apr. 1895; 1/UPT 5/3/1, Scholtz, Notice, 7 July 1897.
34. CA 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham, 'Return of Local Boards...', 22 Aug. 1894; 'Report for 1894-5', 17 Apr. 1895; 1/UPT 5/2/2, Scholtz, Notice, 28 July 1897; Maria de Beer, Keimoes en Omgering: 'n kultuurhistorisse verkenning (Cape Town, 1992), 25-7, 92-3.
35. CA 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham, 'Return of Local Boards...', 22 Aug. 1894; 'Report for 1894-5', 17 Apr. 1895; 1/UPT 5/2/2, Scholtz, Notice, 28 July 1897; Maria de Beer, Keimoes en Omgering: 'n kultuurhistorisse verkenning (Cape Town, 1992), 25-7, 92-3.
36. CA 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham, 'Return of Local Boards...', 22 Aug. 1894; 'Report for 1894-5', 17 Apr. 1895; 1/UPT 5/2/2, Scholtz, Notice, 28 July 1897; Maria de Beer, Keimoes en Omgering: 'n kultuurhistorisse verkenning (Cape Town, 1992), 25-7, 92-3.
37. CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 24 Mar. 1894. See also Bam, 'Report on Gordonia', 10 Oct. 1891; BPP, C6829, 1892, 40-1; C6857, 1894, 52-3; C7629, 1895, 42; CA 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham to Surveyor General, 16 Aug. 1894; 1/UPT 5/1/5, Scholtz to Superintendent General of Education, 10 Jan. 1896, 24 Jan. 1896; 1/UPT 5/2/1, Scholtz to Secretary of Agriculture, 23 Sept. 1896; 1/UPT 5/3/1, Scholtz to J. Strauss, 23 Feb. 1897; to Undersecretary for Agriculture, 12 Mar. 1897; to Strauss, 26 Apr. 1897; Schierhout to Secretary, Public School Committee, 27 Aug. 1897; [S. Malan], Geskiedenis van Upington, 8. The school appears to have begun in 1897.
38. CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 24 Mar. 1894. See also Bam, 'Report on Gordonia', 10 Oct. 1891; BPP, C6829, 1892, 40-1; C6857, 1894, 52-3; C7629, 1895, 42; CA 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham to Surveyor General, 16 Aug. 1894; 1/UPT 5/1/5, Scholtz to Superintendent General of Education, 10 Jan. 1896, 24 Jan. 1896; 1/UPT 5/2/1, Scholtz to Secretary of Agriculture, 23 Sept. 1896; 1/UPT 5/3/1, Scholtz to J. Strauss, 23 Feb. 1897; to Undersecretary for Agriculture, 12 Mar. 1897; to Strauss, 26 Apr. 1897; Schierhout to Secretary, Public School Committee, 27 Aug. 1897; [S. Malan], Geskiedenis van Upington, 8. The school appears to have begun in 1897.
39. CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to BZC, 24 Mar. 1893.
40. The Upington canal had been extended further westward in 1894.
41. An earlier canal (known as the A-canal) had been built by Basters at Keimoes in 1882-3; see CA 1/UPT 5/1/3. Bam to Surveyor-General, Vryburg, 18 Jan. 1893; 22 Mar. 1893. The one mentioned in this quotation is known as the B-canal.
42. CA 1/UPT 5/3/2, O'Connell, 'Report', 7 Oct. 1898.
43. For population figures see P. J. Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', in Archives Yearbook for South African History, 11 (1951), pp. 370, 441. For Baster opposition to Schroeder's appointment, see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike Sending', 100-1, 111-12.
44. For population figures see P. J. Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', in Archives Yearbook for South African History, 11 (1951), pp. 370, 441. For Baster opposition to Schroeder's appointment, see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike Sending', 100-1, 111-12.
45. The first list of these farms is in CA 1/UPT 5/1/1, 'List of payments made by owners of farms in the district of Gordonia on account of survey' [n.d. c. July 1889]. For
46. State Archives, Pretoria [Henceforth SA], JUS 49, 25199/10, Magistrate's Report, Upington, 1910. See also Macdonald, Conquest of the Desert, 13-14. evidence on the date of their allocation see Legassick, 'Gordonia'.
47. State Archives, Pretoria [Henceforth SA], JUS 49, 25199/10, Magistrate's Report, Upington, 1910. See also Macdonald, Conquest of the Desert, 13-14. evidence on the date of their allocation see Legassick, 'Gordonia'.
48. The automatic grant of a 'dry erf to owners of water-erven seems to have fallen away after annexation of Gordonia by British Bechuanaland: see, for example, SGBB, Goodyer to Surveyor General, Vryburg, 17 Feb. 1892; Bam to Surveyor General, Vryburg, 9 Mar. 1892; Bam to Surveyor General, 6 Apr. 1892; Bam to Surveyor General, 12 Apr. 1892; A. J. van Wyk to Surveyor General, 4 May 1892.
49. See, as an example, Figure 2.
50. A. H. F. Duncan, Surveyor-General's Report, 14 Sept. 1889, BPP. C5897, 1890, 31. See also 1/UPT 5/1/1, Bam to Crewes, 28 June 1889; SGBB 31, F. S. Watermeyer, Minute No 3428, 19 Sept. 1894. J. S. Marias, Cape Coloured People (Cape Town, 1937), 95 writes of the Gordonia settlement, 'The Government made no attempt to prevent Bastards selling their agricultural land, which they held on individual tenure, to Europeans'. He here conflates the pre-1889 and post-1889 situations.
51. On this survey see, for example, G60-1888, 5; G6- 1888, 21; 1/UPT 5/1/1, Bam to Surveyor General, Vryburg, 28 June 1889; Bam to Crewes, 28 June 1889; 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Surveyor General, Vryburg, 13 Nov. 1889; 31 Jan. 1890; 12 mar. 1890; 2 Sept. 1890.
52. See CA SGBB 20, Goodyer to Surveyor General, 22 Feb. 1892; BPP C6829, 1892, 21-4; C6857, 1894, 21-34; C7629, 1895, 14-19; Cy944, 1896, 13-16.
53. CA/SGBB 20, Bam to Surveyor General, 7 Mar. 1892. It was then numbered C43; it was renumbered as erf 38. The date of its formal granting was 15 July 1893. See also 1/UPT 7/3/4, Village erven 1890-91; 1/UPT 7/1/4/1, Farms and erven 1890-1898; 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Surveyor General, 24 Apr. 1890; 1/UPT 5/1/3, 527.
54. CA SGBB 20, A Goodyer to Surveyor General, 3 Apr. 1892.
55. CA 1/UPT 7/1/3/1, Land Register, 1894-1932 (from internal evidence, first compiled around 1917).
56. Marais, Cape Coloured People, 95-6.
57. For example E. Fischer (author of De Rehobother Bastards und das Bastardierungs-problem beim Menschen (Cape Town, 1913), quoted in UT 41 - 1926, Report of the Rehoboth Commission, 65; C. J. S. Strydom, 'Die verdediging van die Noordwestelike Gens van die Kolonie' (MA and thesis, UNISA, 1929), 46ff. 'Die Kaap Kolonie, 1899-1902: skadevergoeding en die rebelle in ere herstel' (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Cape Town, 1932), 226. Both Marais and Strydom quote the following (from CPP, G31 - 1899, 59): 'The Bastards who originally owned all the landed property in the district are going backward year by year, and ere long they will have disposed of all the landed property they now possess and again have become the servant of the white man. This result has been brought about by their own indolent and improvident habits. There are a few exceptions and a few Bastards still own unencumbered farms and large stocks of cattle and sheep'.
58. For example E. Fischer (author of De Rehobother Bastards und das Bastardierungs-problem beim Menschen (Cape Town, 1913), quoted in UT 41 - 1926, Report of the Rehoboth Commission, 65; C. J. S. Strydom, 'Die verdediging van die Noordwestelike Gens van die Kolonie' (MA and thesis, UNISA, 1929), 46ff. 'Die Kaap Kolonie, 1899-1902: skadevergoeding en die rebelle in ere herstel' (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Cape Town, 1932), 226. Both Marais and Strydom quote the following (from CPP, G31 - 1899, 59): 'The Bastards who originally owned all the landed property in the district are going backward year by year, and ere long they will have disposed of all the landed property they now possess and again have become the servant of the white man. This result has been brought about by their own indolent and improvident habits. There are a few exceptions and a few Bastards still own unencumbered farms and large stocks of cattle and sheep'.
59. For example E. Fischer (author of De Rehobother Bastards und das Bastardierungs-problem beim Menschen (Cape Town, 1913), quoted in UT 41 - 1926, Report of the Rehoboth Commission, 65; C. J. S. Strydom, 'Die verdediging van die Noordwestelike Gens van die Kolonie' (MA and thesis, UNISA, 1929), 46ff. 'Die Kaap Kolonie, 1899-1902: skadevergoeding en die rebelle in ere herstel' (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Cape Town, 1932), 226. Both Marais and Strydom quote the following (from CPP, G31 - 1899, 59): 'The Bastards who originally owned all the landed property in the district are going backward year by year, and ere long they will have disposed of all the landed property they now possess and again have become the servant of the white man. This result has been brought about by their own indolent and improvident habits. There are a few exceptions and a few Bastards still own unencumbered farms and large stocks of cattle and sheep'.
60. For example E. Fischer (author of De Rehobother Bastards und das Bastardierungs-problem beim Menschen (Cape Town, 1913), quoted in UT 41 - 1926, Report of the Rehoboth Commission, 65; C. J. S. Strydom, 'Die verdediging van die Noordwestelike Gens van die Kolonie' (MA and thesis, UNISA, 1929), 46ff. 'Die Kaap Kolonie, 1899-1902: skadevergoeding en die rebelle in ere herstel' (Ph.D. dissertation, University of Cape Town, 1932), 226. Both Marais and Strydom quote the following (from CPP, G31 - 1899, 59): 'The Bastards who originally owned all the landed property in the district are going backward year by year, and ere long they will have disposed of all the landed property they now possess and again have become the servant of the white man. This result has been brought about by their own indolent and improvident habits. There are a few exceptions and a few Bastards still own unencumbered farms and large stocks of cattle and sheep'.
61. Personal observation. See also ' Verklaring Eeufees 1892-1992 - Uitkomst' (Ts, my possession), a history of the farm owned by the Jansen family.
62. See the revisionist historiography on South African agriculture, especially T. Keegan, Rural Transformations in Industrializing South Africa (Johannesburg, 1986) and 'The making of the rural economy: from 1850 to the present', in Z. A. Konczacki et al., (eds.), Studies in the Economic History of South Africa, Vol. 2 (London, 1991); W. Beinart, P. Delius and S. Trapido, Putting a Plough to the Ground : Accumulation and Dispossession in Rural South Africa, 1850-1930 (Johannesburg, 1986); Colin Murray, Black Mountain : Land, Class and Power in the Eastern Orange Free State, 1889s-1980s (Edinburgh, 1992).
63. See the revisionist historiography on South African agriculture, especially T. Keegan, Rural Transformations in Industrializing South Africa (Johannesburg, 1986) and 'The making of the rural economy: from 1850 to the present', in Z. A. Konczacki et al., (eds.), Studies in the Economic History of South Africa, Vol. 2 (London, 1991); W. Beinart, P. Delius and S. Trapido, Putting a Plough to the Ground : Accumulation and Dispossession in Rural South Africa, 1850-1930 (Johannesburg, 1986); Colin Murray, Black Mountain : Land, Class and Power in the Eastern Orange Free State, 1889s-1980s (Edinburgh, 1992).
64. See the revisionist historiography on South African agriculture, especially T. Keegan, Rural Transformations in Industrializing South Africa (Johannesburg, 1986) and 'The making of the rural economy: from 1850 to the present', in Z. A. Konczacki et al., (eds.), Studies in the Economic History of South Africa, Vol. 2 (London, 1991); W. Beinart, P. Delius and S. Trapido, Putting a Plough to the Ground : Accumulation and Dispossession in Rural South Africa, 1850-1930 (Johannesburg, 1986); Colin Murray, Black Mountain : Land, Class and Power in the Eastern Orange Free State, 1889s-1980s (Edinburgh, 1992).
65. See the revisionist historiography on South African agriculture, especially T. Keegan, Rural Transformations in Industrializing South Africa (Johannesburg, 1986) and 'The making of the rural economy: from 1850 to the present', in Z. A. Konczacki et al., (eds.), Studies in the Economic History of South Africa, Vol. 2 (London, 1991); W. Beinart, P. Delius and S. Trapido, Putting a Plough to the Ground : Accumulation and Dispossession in Rural South Africa, 1850-1930 (Johannesburg, 1986); Colin Murray, Black Mountain : Land, Class and Power in the Eastern Orange Free State, 1889s-1980s (Edinburgh, 1992).
66. Marais, Cape Coloured People, 96, n. On Kakamas see F. J. Loots, 'Die Arbeids-Kolonie, Kakamas' (MA thesis, 1949); Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', University of Cape Town. There were protests from the inhabitants at not owning their land from after the First World War, and they eventually acquired it after the Second World War: see Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (Pretoria, 1972), 'Kakamas'. There is evidence that Schroeder intended to establish a similar settlement for Basters on the farms Rooiberg and Keikaries, on the north bank of the river opposite Kakamas, but this was never achieved: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike, Sending', 131-3. In the 1920S Eksteenskuil became a settlement for Coloureds in the islands near Keimoes, and a state settlement for Coloureds after the Second World War. In the 1930s, through the efforts of its minister Saul Damon, the Congregational Church established settlements for Coloureds on farms along the river upstream from Keimoes: see Steenkamp, ibid. 162-4; de Beer, Keimoes en Omgewing, 206-10; 100ste verjaardag van Saul Damon (n.d., 1990); Saul Damon papers (held by Jessie Strauss, Keimoes), S. Damon, 'Memoranda oor aankoop van grond vir lede van die Congregational Kerk' (n.d.). None of these received the financial support that Kakamas had enjoyed.
67. Marais, Cape Coloured People, 96, n. On Kakamas see F. J. Loots, 'Die Arbeids-Kolonie, Kakamas' (MA thesis, 1949); Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', University of Cape Town. There were protests from the inhabitants at not owning their land from after the First World War, and they eventually acquired it after the Second World War: see Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (Pretoria, 1972), 'Kakamas'. There is evidence that Schroeder intended to establish a similar settlement for Basters on the farms Rooiberg and Keikaries, on the north bank of the river opposite Kakamas, but this was never achieved: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike, Sending', 131-3. In the 1920S Eksteenskuil became a settlement for Coloureds in the islands near Keimoes, and a state settlement for Coloureds after the Second World War. In the 1930s, through the efforts of its minister Saul Damon, the Congregational Church established settlements for Coloureds on farms along the river upstream from Keimoes: see Steenkamp, ibid. 162-4; de Beer, Keimoes en Omgewing, 206-10; 100ste verjaardag van Saul Damon (n.d., 1990); Saul Damon papers (held by Jessie Strauss, Keimoes), S. Damon, 'Memoranda oor aankoop van grond vir lede van die Congregational Kerk' (n.d.). None of these received the financial support that Kakamas had enjoyed.
68. Marais, Cape Coloured People, 96, n. On Kakamas see F. J. Loots, 'Die Arbeids-Kolonie, Kakamas' (MA thesis, 1949); Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', University of Cape Town. There were protests from the inhabitants at not owning their land from after the First World War, and they eventually acquired it after the Second World War: see Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (Pretoria, 1972), 'Kakamas'. There is evidence that Schroeder intended to establish a similar settlement for Basters on the farms Rooiberg and Keikaries, on the north bank of the river opposite Kakamas, but this was never achieved: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike, Sending', 131-3. In the 1920S Eksteenskuil became a settlement for Coloureds in the islands near Keimoes, and a state settlement for Coloureds after the Second World War. In the 1930s, through the efforts of its minister Saul Damon, the Congregational Church established settlements for Coloureds on farms along the river upstream from Keimoes: see Steenkamp, ibid. 162-4; de Beer, Keimoes en Omgewing, 206-10; 100ste verjaardag van Saul Damon (n.d., 1990); Saul Damon papers (held by Jessie Strauss, Keimoes), S. Damon, 'Memoranda oor aankoop van grond vir lede van die Congregational Kerk' (n.d.). None of these received the financial support that Kakamas had enjoyed.
69. Marais, Cape Coloured People, 96, n. On Kakamas see F. J. Loots, 'Die Arbeids-Kolonie, Kakamas' (MA thesis, 1949); Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', University of Cape Town. There were protests from the inhabitants at not owning their land from after the First World War, and they eventually acquired it after the Second World War: see Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (Pretoria, 1972), 'Kakamas'. There is evidence that Schroeder intended to establish a similar settlement for Basters on the farms Rooiberg and Keikaries, on the north bank of the river opposite Kakamas, but this was never achieved: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike, Sending', 131-3. In the 1920S Eksteenskuil became a settlement for Coloureds in the islands near Keimoes, and a state settlement for Coloureds after the Second World War. In the 1930s, through the efforts of its minister Saul Damon, the Congregational Church established settlements for Coloureds on farms along the river upstream from Keimoes: see Steenkamp, ibid. 162-4; de Beer, Keimoes en Omgewing, 206-10; 100ste verjaardag van Saul Damon (n.d., 1990); Saul Damon papers (held by Jessie Strauss, Keimoes), S. Damon, 'Memoranda oor aankoop van grond vir lede van die Congregational Kerk' (n.d.). None of these received the financial support that Kakamas had enjoyed.
70. Marais, Cape Coloured People, 96, n. On Kakamas see F. J. Loots, 'Die Arbeids-Kolonie, Kakamas' (MA thesis, 1949); Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', University of Cape Town. There were protests from the inhabitants at not owning their land from after the First World War, and they eventually acquired it after the Second World War: see Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (Pretoria, 1972), 'Kakamas'. There is evidence that Schroeder intended to establish a similar settlement for Basters on the farms Rooiberg and Keikaries, on the north bank of the river opposite Kakamas, but this was never achieved: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike, Sending', 131-3. In the 1920S Eksteenskuil became a settlement for Coloureds in the islands near Keimoes, and a state settlement for Coloureds after the Second World War. In the 1930s, through the efforts of its minister Saul Damon, the Congregational Church established settlements for Coloureds on farms along the river upstream from Keimoes: see Steenkamp, ibid. 162-4; de Beer, Keimoes en Omgewing, 206-10; 100ste verjaardag van Saul Damon (n.d., 1990); Saul Damon papers (held by Jessie Strauss, Keimoes), S. Damon, 'Memoranda oor aankoop van grond vir lede van die Congregational Kerk' (n.d.). None of these received the financial support that Kakamas had enjoyed.
71. Marais, Cape Coloured People, 96, n. On Kakamas see F. J. Loots, 'Die Arbeids-Kolonie, Kakamas' (MA thesis, 1949); Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', University of Cape Town. There were protests from the inhabitants at not owning their land from after the First World War, and they eventually acquired it after the Second World War: see Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (Pretoria, 1972), 'Kakamas'. There is evidence that Schroeder intended to establish a similar settlement for Basters on the farms Rooiberg and Keikaries, on the north bank of the river opposite Kakamas, but this was never achieved: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike, Sending', 131-3. In the 1920S Eksteenskuil became a settlement for Coloureds in the islands near Keimoes, and a state settlement for Coloureds after the Second World War. In the 1930s, through the efforts of its minister Saul Damon, the Congregational Church established settlements for Coloureds on farms along the river upstream from Keimoes: see Steenkamp, ibid. 162-4; de Beer, Keimoes en Omgewing, 206-10; 100ste verjaardag van Saul Damon (n.d., 1990); Saul Damon papers (held by Jessie Strauss, Keimoes), S. Damon, 'Memoranda oor aankoop van grond vir lede van die Congregational Kerk' (n.d.). None of these received the financial support that Kakamas had enjoyed.
72. Marais, Cape Coloured People, 96, n. On Kakamas see F. J. Loots, 'Die Arbeids-Kolonie, Kakamas' (MA thesis, 1949); Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', University of Cape Town. There were protests from the inhabitants at not owning their land from after the First World War, and they eventually acquired it after the Second World War: see Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (Pretoria, 1972), 'Kakamas'. There is evidence that Schroeder intended to establish a similar settlement for Basters on the farms Rooiberg and Keikaries, on the north bank of the river opposite Kakamas, but this was never achieved: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike, Sending', 131-3. In the 1920S Eksteenskuil became a settlement for Coloureds in the islands near Keimoes, and a state settlement for Coloureds after the Second World War. In the 1930s, through the efforts of its minister Saul Damon, the Congregational Church established settlements for Coloureds on farms along the river upstream from Keimoes: see Steenkamp, ibid. 162-4; de Beer, Keimoes en Omgewing, 206-10; 100ste verjaardag van Saul Damon (n.d., 1990); Saul Damon papers (held by Jessie Strauss, Keimoes), S. Damon, 'Memoranda oor aankoop van grond vir lede van die Congregational Kerk' (n.d.). None of these received the financial support that Kakamas had enjoyed.
73. Marais, Cape Coloured People, 96, n. On Kakamas see F. J. Loots, 'Die Arbeids-Kolonie, Kakamas' (MA thesis, 1949); Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie Kakamas', University of Cape Town. There were protests from the inhabitants at not owning their land from after the First World War, and they eventually acquired it after the Second World War: see Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (Pretoria, 1972), 'Kakamas'. There is evidence that Schroeder intended to establish a similar settlement for Basters on the farms Rooiberg and Keikaries, on the north bank of the river opposite Kakamas, but this was never achieved: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike, Sending', 131-3. In the 1920S Eksteenskuil became a settlement for Coloureds in the islands near Keimoes, and a state settlement for Coloureds after the Second World War. In the 1930s, through the efforts of its minister Saul Damon, the Congregational Church established settlements for Coloureds on farms along the river upstream from Keimoes: see Steenkamp, ibid. 162-4; de Beer, Keimoes en Omgewing, 206-10; 100ste verjaardag van Saul Damon (n.d., 1990); Saul Damon papers (held by Jessie Strauss, Keimoes), S. Damon, 'Memoranda oor aankoop van grond vir lede van die Congregational Kerk' (n.d.). None of these received the financial support that Kakamas had enjoyed.
74. CPP G6 - 1888, 21,. See also CA 1/UPT 5/1/1, Bam to Lewis Kotze, 9 Jan. 1888, writing 'That the Commission [of management] is doing its best to protect the Basters against the white people; but that some among the Burghers are making difficulties for the Commission, by continually making applications to be able to sell land to whites' ('Dat de Commissie [of management] haan best doen en gedaan heeft om de Bastaards teen de blanke menschen te beschemmer; maar dat van de Burgers het moeijelyk voor de Commissie maken, door altoos [verniemende ?] applicaties om hun grond aan blanken to mogen verkopen').
75. 'Wat de toekomst donker maak, is de vrees voor trekken naar noordwestelyke rigting...Myn vrees is dat zy [de Basterds] kun tydelyk eigendom aan blanken zullen verkopen, gelyk eenigen gedaan hebben, en verder noordwestwaards trekken naar een vryerleven. Ik doen myn best de Basterd gemeente aan te sporen, met dankbaarheid het voorregt te behouden het, welk zy thans nog hebben in Gordonia. Wie naar Groot Namaqualand wil trekken, moet Namaqua worden, of zich voor vechten gereed maken'. CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to BZC, 17 Nov. 1887. See also Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike Sending', 87, 91, 98. In 'Great Namaqualand' of course, was the Rehoboth Baster settlement, established in 1872 by kin of the Gordonia Basters, with a common origin in ' Bushmanland '.
76. J. H. Scott, 'Historical account of the Northern Border ', CPP, Gzo - 1881, 86. This is cited by Marais, Cape Coloured People, 95, n., from its reproduction in UG 41 - 1926, 29.
77. J. H. Scott, 'Historical account of the Northern Border ', CPP, Gzo - 1881, 86. This is cited by Marais, Cape Coloured People, 95, n., from its reproduction in UG 41 - 1926, 29.
78. This was one of the conditions agreed between the Basters and the NGK for the reestablishment of the mission in Gordonia: see CA NG, S5/2/164, 'Zamenspreking... Amandelboom, 11 Oct. 1879'.
79. CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Secretary, 28 Mar. 1890.
80. BPP C6829, 1892, 10 - extending the provisions of proclamation 64 of 1889. See CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 15 Apr. 1891, not wanting to grant a hotel licence until the Basters were prohibited from buying drink; Bam to W. Frank, Keimoes, 1 Sept. 1891.
81. CA NBC 16, Scott to Colonial Secretary, 23 Feb. 1884 (describing the situation regarding liquor licences); NBC 17, Scott to Distributor of Stamps, Carnarvon, 2 July 1885; Scott to Chairman, Licensing Board, Carnarvon, 30 July 1885; 1/UPT 5/1/1, Bam to Merrington, 18 Nov. 1890; 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 28 Mar. 1890; Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 1 Apr. 1891.
82. CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, Chalmers to RM, Kenhardt, 9 Oct. 1890. The licence was not renewed by the Kenhardt magistracy in April 1891, but regranted, with Barn's approval, in December because the Basters had been ' protected as far as possible ' by proclamation 113: see Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 1 Apr. 1891; Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 2 Dec. 1891.
83. Cf. CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Coghlan and Coghlan, Kimberley, 31 Oct. 1889; Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 22 May 1890.
84. CA 1/UPT 5/1/3, C. Jay to Registrar, Chief Magistrate's Court, Vryburg, 6 June 1894.
85. CA 1/UPT 5/1/1. Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 1 Mar. 1892; 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam re Gordonia Licensing Court, 4 Nov. 1891 ; Bam, Report on Licensing Board, 2 Dec. 1891 ; 1/UPT 5/1/3, Bam to Preuss, 24 Aug. 1893.
86. CA 1/UPT 5/1/3, Bam to Secretary, Vryburg, 24 Aug. 1893; Bam to RM, Kenhardt, 24 Aug. 1893; Bam to Registrat, Chief Magistrate's Court, Vryburg, 7 Dec. 1893. In 1889 W. Frank was granted a lease on the outspan at Olyvenhout's drift on condition that he did not sell liquor : 1/UPT 5/1/1, Bam to RM, Kenhardt, 16 Aug. 1889.
87. BPP, C7944, 1896, 45-6; CPP, G5-1896, 69-70.
88. SA JUS 49, 25199/10 Magistrate's Report, Upington, 1910.
89. 'Upington is echter geen Zendingstatie meer, maar een dorp met ses winkels, een hotel en twee kantienen... Waar de blanken in het land, eertyds bewoond deur gekleurden, intrekken, daar gaan de gekleurden zeer snel achter uit. De meesten behouden hun vast eigendom niet, zy nemen geld op, maken schulden, worden aanzienlyke sommen aangebooten alzoo verliezen zy hun vast eigendom. Sommigen vertrekken noordwaarts, ander zwerven rond, of moeten dienen'. CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to BZC, 24 Mar. 1893. See also his anticipation of this, to Neethling, 11 Feb. 1884.
90. 'Allerlei verdefelyk en schadeylk invloed werken mede, als ook voorbeelden. Schulden maken, plaatsen en erven in pand geven, en later geheel verliezen... Waar blanken en gekleurden terzamen grondeigenaars zyn, daar gaat het met de gekleurden steeds achteruit. Ik onderwys, vermaan en waarschuw byna by elke ouderling zamenkomst met Avondsmaal dagen', CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder, Godsdiensverlag, 25 Sept. 1894. See also Schroeder to Neethling, 24 Aug. 1897.
91. See, for example, CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroder, Godsdiensverlag, 26 Mar. 1892; 24 Mar. 1893; 15 Mar. 1894; 25 Sept. 1894; 27 Mar. 1895; 5 Aug. 1897.
92. On the redefinition, see C. Bundy, 'Vagabond Hollanders and runaway Englishmen : white poverty in the Cape before Poor Whiteism', in Beinart, Delius and Trapido (eds.) Putting a Plough to the Ground, 119-23. On Schroeder and Kakamas see Loots, 'Die Arbeidskolonie'; Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie kakamas'; CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to Murray and Marchand, 4 Apr. 1895. Schroeder was already under criticism from 'enemies of the Mission' in Gordonia for placing land under church ownership and other matters: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike Sending', 100-1; CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to Neethling, 22 July 1892; 15 Mar. 1894.
93. On the redefinition, see C. Bundy, 'Vagabond Hollanders and runaway Englishmen : white poverty in the Cape before Poor Whiteism', in Beinart, Delius and Trapido (eds.) Putting a Plough to the Ground, 119-23. On Schroeder and Kakamas see Loots, 'Die Arbeidskolonie'; Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie kakamas'; CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to Murray and Marchand, 4 Apr. 1895. Schroeder was already under criticism from 'enemies of the Mission' in Gordonia for placing land under church ownership and other matters: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike Sending', 100-1; CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to Neethling, 22 July 1892; 15 Mar. 1894.
94. On the redefinition, see C. Bundy, 'Vagabond Hollanders and runaway Englishmen : white poverty in the Cape before Poor Whiteism', in Beinart, Delius and Trapido (eds.) Putting a Plough to the Ground, 119-23. On Schroeder and Kakamas see Loots, 'Die Arbeidskolonie'; Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie kakamas'; CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to Murray and Marchand, 4 Apr. 1895. Schroeder was already under criticism from 'enemies of the Mission' in Gordonia for placing land under church ownership and other matters: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike Sending', 100-1; CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to Neethling, 22 July 1892; 15 Mar. 1894.
95. On the redefinition, see C. Bundy, 'Vagabond Hollanders and runaway Englishmen : white poverty in the Cape before Poor Whiteism', in Beinart, Delius and Trapido (eds.) Putting a Plough to the Ground, 119-23. On Schroeder and Kakamas see Loots, 'Die Arbeidskolonie'; Roussouw, 'Die Arbeidskolonie kakamas'; CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to Murray and Marchand, 4 Apr. 1895. Schroeder was already under criticism from 'enemies of the Mission' in Gordonia for placing land under church ownership and other matters: see Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike Sending', 100-1; CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to Neethling, 22 July 1892; 15 Mar. 1894.
96. 'Te Keimoes zyn de meeste tuinerven reeds in het bezit van den blanken man. Te Upington zyn 30 blanken en 40 gekleurden tuinerf eigenaars'. CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder to BZC, 24 Mar. 1893.
97. 'Van 77 tuinerven eigenaars zyn nog maar 33 gekleurden en 44 blanken te Upington. Te Keimoes is het erger'. CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder, Godsdiensverslag, 25 Sept. 1894.
98. On the Waterworks Company, founded in Aug. 1883, see British Bechuanaland Proclamation 69, 14 Aug. 1889, Ward, British Bechuanaland Proclamations, 157-63; CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, Chalmers to Schroeder, 8 Dec. 1890; 1/UPT 5/1/1. Bam to Surveyor General, Vryburg, 7 Jan. 1891. See also CA NGK, S5/2/164, Schroeder, Godsdiensverlag, 24 Mar. 1893 : 'I must, to prevent conflict or friction between white and coloured, remain as superintendent of our canal'. ('Ik moet, om botsing of wryving tusschen blank en gekleurd voor te komen, het hoofdbestuur van ons watervoor blyven behouden'.) There are indications that the water-erven had initially been distributed to poorer Basters; Schroeder, Godsdiensverslag, 31 Aug. 1886.
99. 1/UPT 5/1/2, 'List of watererven at Upington', 12 June 1890; 'List of owners of watererven at Keimoes in Block A and Block B', 22 May 1890. See CA 1/UPT 5/1/1, Bam to Surveyor General, Vryburg, 7 Jan. 1891 : 'as, however, it was simply impossible for me to show on that list [of Upington water-erven sent last June] all the different transfers that had taken place from the original grantees, I made up a list of the present legal owners, the validity of whose claims I am positive will not be disputed... the custom in vogue here was for purchaser and seller to appear personally before the Chairman of the Water Committee [Schroeder] and declare to the transaction...Between the 1st July 1888 and the 31st December 1889 several such transfers were so improperly made'; Bam to Surveyor General, Vryburg, 12 Jan. 1891, 'I proceeded to Keimoes and calling all owners of erven together made a complete list of all the then owners of the erven. At Upington I made up the list with the aid of the books of the Waterworks Company, which were very primitively kept, so that the transfers prior to my making the list do not appear in the register'. For an example of the complex transfers pre-annexation of a water-erf, see 1/UPT 5/1/3, Bam to Surveyor-General, 16 Oct. 1893.
100. Names have been compared with NG Sending Kerk material. The undoubtedly 'white' owners at Keimoes at this time are F. Bowers, G. de Juy, 2 van Rensburgs, Rose, Moller, and W. Frank, owning 14 erven out of 83 among them. Among the white owners at Upington are van Niekerk, Strauss, Pearson, Burger, Murphy, Bam, Lutz, Dyason, Schroeder, Brussel and Voskule, and de Villiers.
101. Regarding the record-keeping in Gordonia, an incoming magistrate wrote to the Surveyor-General ' I find some difficulty in gathering from available records proper information as to land questions connected with this district'. The land register 'consists of a list of farms and erven written in a cash book in the midst of statements of Revenue and Expenditure, Burger lists, Licenses, Fines, etc. The register does not appear complete (e.g. I can nowhere find a list of more than 65 water erven whereas you have forwarded titles in favour of the Upington Water Works Company to over 70 erven), important information has been jotted down in pencil and is almost obliterated and - even with the assistance of various scraps of paper and a book purporting to contain lists of Upington and Keimoes erven...with voters lists and various VMB matters - I find it difficult to get a correct idea of the somewhat complicated land questions connected with this district', CA 1/UPT 5/1/3, Ashburnham to Surveyor General, 17 July 1894. See also 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham to Receiver General, 24 Jan. 1895 (there was no complete list of ownership of dry erven until he compiled one); to Surveyor General, 29 Jan 1895 (lack of records on dry erven]. More concentrated research on the land registers and records in the archives of the Vryburg Deeds Office might give a fuller picture of the Baster-white alienation of water-erven, the dry erven associated with them, and the Upington (and later Keimoes) township erven. The water-erven were held in freehold and do not therefore appear in quit-rent land registers.
102. Standard Bank Inspection Report, 17 Aug. 1908. (Thanks to Norma Craven for her assistance with research on these reports.) These water-erven of 4-5 morgen were originally (in 1883-5) valued at £100 each. At Upington one was valued at about £150 in 1894; see 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham to Secretary, Vryburg, 24 Aug. 1894; 1/UPT 5/2/1, Scholtz to Under Secretary for Agriculture, 23 Sept 1896. In 1894 Keimoes water-erven were valued at from £3 10s to £15, 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham to Surveyor General, 18 Dec. 1894; 17 June 1895.
103. SA JUS 49 25199/10, Magistrate's Report, Upington, 1910.
104. See CA 1/UPT 5/1/3, Bam to Surveyor General, 11 Jan. 1894; Jay to Surveyor General, 4 May 1894; Jay to Receiver-General, 15 June 1894; Jay to Surveyor-General, 5 July 1894; 1/UPT 5/1/4, Ashburnham to Raasenhagen, 1 Nov. 1894; Ashburnham to Surveyor General, 24 Jan. 1895; Ashburnham to Surveyor General, 15 Mar. 1895; Ashburnham to Kotze, 23 Mar. 1895. Compare, for optimistic prognoses, 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Surveyor General, Vryburg 6 Mar. 1890; Bam to Registrar General, 1 June 1891.
105. CA 1/UPT 5/1/1, 'List of payments made by owners of farms in the district of Gordonia on account of survey', n.d. c. July 1889; 1/UPT 7/3/1, Land Register 1894-5; 1/UPT Land Register, 1894-1932 (from internal evidence, first compiled around 1913/1917). See also 1/UPT 7/4/1, Land Register (c. 1894-8); Quit-Rent register, 91. Between 1889 and 1912 there were a further 104 farms defined and allocated, almost exclusively to whites, in many cases land companies (Standard Bank Inspection Report, 9 Dec. 1912). See also the map in W. Macdonald, Conquest of the Desert, 197. See Figs. 3, 4 and 5.
106. Among the white owners are F. Loxton, R. Frier, G. Panizza, G. de Juy, G. Pearson, F. ter Blanc (all married to Baster women), H. M. Steyn (née Frier), D. Turner, J. H. Lutz, L. Stock (traders), C. Schroeder (missionary), and F. Harper, J. Foster, J. D. Moller, Andries Burger and W. le Roux (later arrivals).
107. As early as 1890 L. Abt had a right of 'refusal' on a number of these farms: CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Surveyor General, Vryburg, 12 Mar. 1890. See also SGBB 31, Leopold Abt Co., Carnarvon, to Surveyor General, 2 July 1894; 1/UPT 5/1/2, Chalmers to L. Abt, 20 Jan. 1891; 1/UPT 5/1/3, Jay to Surveyor General, 13 July 1894.
108. For example the Jewish A. Nurick became an important landowner, and trader, in the area: see also de Beer, Keimoes, 76, 150.
109. Standard Bank Inspection Report, 17 Oct. 1907.
110. UG 41 - 1926, 46. He added, 'Things went on in this manner till all the old people who had done this had died, then the young children discovered that the old people had no right to sell the ground. Then they complained to the Government'. The first collective reaction I have traced to land alienation is a petition, signed by 259 Basters, presented to parliament in May 1921 : SA LDE 3953 File 11106.
111. Cape Argus, 9 Mar. 1923.
112. See also Steenkamp, 'Die Christelike Sending', 91, 204-6 for details of the purchase by J. H. Lutz from the Baster John Ross of Cnydas East, nearly 30,000 morgen, for £135 payable in stock.
113. 'Maar toe die witman kom, het hy beginne nou sy stelsel van belasting...op eiendom, het baie van die mense beginne agter raak op hulle gronde. En hulle't baie van hulle sy gronde gepan... Kyk as ek nou 'n plaas het dan is die plaas aan die 10 seuns verdeel. En ek verkoop aan 'n witman. En nou kom die witman en hy kamp die eerste gedeelte af en hy gee nie vir my 'n betredingsreg op sy grond nie. En die gevolg is dat ek nie uitkom kans het na 'n dorp toe nie. En ek ontvang alle onsmaaklikhede, ek moet later my gronde uitruil... De witman het dan die grond vir hom geneem... ...op Kurrees, die manne het vir hom 'n huurkontrak gevra en hy het werklik geteken op 'n koopkontrak... En die Basters kon gesuip het. En dan was hulle nie geleer om hulle name...te skryf nie'. (Interview with Andrew Orange, aged 45, 22 July 1993, Upington.)
114. Interview with Piet Beukes, aged 86, 22 July 1993, Upington.
115. 'Hier's baie gronde veral hier in Gordonia wat nie verkoop is nie. Dit is wettig nie verkoop nie. Is op 'n oneerlike manier wat die grond gevat is. Party sê die mense het dit gekoop. Ek het daar [gesien] in sekere skrift wat baie blankes geskrywe het "die grond is vir 'n appel en 'n ei weggegee". Is nie verkoop nie. Nou kom sê die man hy huur die grond, dan's dit al die tyd koopbrief. En al daai goed so ver as wat ek moet dit deurgegaan het, onstaan in tyd van Koppenhagen. Dit was die groot dood van ons mense hierso'. (Interview with Jonas Daries, 22 July 1995, Upington.)
116. 'Waar die blankes ingekom het...hier word gekoop, ek meen gehuur vir 5 jaar. Vorms word omgekeer. Hier as jy nou geteken, die ou man moet nou kom teken, dis 'n 5 jaar kontrak vir huur. Dan word dit net omgekeer dan is dit 'n koopkontrak wat klaargemaak is. Maar dis nie kaart en transport nie, dis net 'n koopkontrak. En ek glo so wat hier in die Noord-kaap het geen blanke kaart en transport nie. As huile hom het, is dit vals'. (Interview with Andrew Brand, aged 68, 22 July 1995, Upington.)
117. 'hulle het bietjie skuld gehad, by die winkel in Keimoes...Toe kom die prokureurs... Wat huile toe gebelowe het vir die prokureurs weet ek ook nie. Maar in elk geval...die prokereurs het vir huile papiertjies gelaat teken huile sal die geld betaal... Vir die oordrag van die grond naturrlike, nou ja... Maar hulle weet nie diet is eintlik oordrag van die grond nie...toe huile dit ontdek, toe't huile die plase geverkoop. Toe moet huile ontrium die plase'. (Interview with Sara Kotzee, aged 73, 22 July 1995, Upington.)
118. ' Ek het navrae gedoen en toe gee huile my die ou kêrel se testamentnommer en toe doen ek navraag by afdeling daar. Daar het iets verkeerd gewees. Die ou kêrel se testament het gelei dat as hy of die vrou een van huile twee wat eerste sterf, die lewende van huile twee mag nie verkoop nie...maar dit was verkoop'. (Interview with Piet Daries, aged 64, 24 July 1993, Upington.)
119. See [S. Malan], Geskiedenis van Upington, 17; CA 1/UPT 5/1/3, Bam to E. Schroeder, 17 Jan. 1894.
120. J. Peires, 'The legend of Fenner-Solomon', in B. Bozzoli (ed.), Class, Community and Conflict: South African Perspectives (Johannesburg, 1987), 65-92.
121. Ibid, 67.
122. He was replying to the Surveyor General of British Bechuanaland, who had advised him to 'keep quiet' on the fact that farms issued by the Gordonia committee of management were outside the (then) declared territory of British Bechuanaland : 'I may state, that there are so many "sea-lawyers" in these parts, that it is very difficult if not impossible to keep quiet on any matter. People formerly enjoying the "protection (such as it was)" of the committee of management were now "left to the mercy of designing persons"': CA 1/UPT 5/1/2, Bam to Duncan, 12 Mar. 1890.
123. J. Ashburnham in BPP, C7944, 1896, 45-6. Also in CPP, G5 - 1896, 69-70.
124. One interviewee asked me 'I am talking about the Cape...I am asking...about Bushman drawings which are found there on Table Mountain...did Bushmen live there?...where is the white man's land' (William Alexander, 10 Sept. 1993, Upington).
125. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Death notice of Abraham September.
126. Interviews with Gert September, 4 Apr. 1994, Upington; Thomas van Wyk, born 1900, 21 July 1993, 6 Apr. 1994, Keimoes; Video interview with Thomas Van Wyk (by Jane Davids, Jannie Van Sitters, Barbara Brown, UWC Taalgeskiedenis course, 1993).
127. CA MOK 1/1/45, No. 43, Document enclosed in J. S. Allison, Resident Magistrate, Upington to Master of High Court, Kimberley, 10 June 1909. This document, inter alia, summarizes the will. A photocopy of the original will (obtained from the September family) also stipulates that the land shall not be hired out because of debt by the sons. Similar wills were made, apparently at the instigation of C. Schroeder, by other Basters: see, for example, CA MOK 1/1/92, D6896, Will of Nicholas and Rachel Bok, 30 Mar. 1891.
128. 'Daar was nie baklei nie, daar was ook nie stry nie, daar was niks. Is net gesê pak op en gaan weg'. Q: 'Wie dit toe kon sê?' A: ''n Ou van Koppenhagen, Willie Koppenhagen, en Holmes...En huile het van onse mense net huile gevat en in die tronk gesit, en toe huile daar uitkom toe moet hulle meer oppak want huile ken nie tronk nie... ' Q: 'Toe waarvoor is huile tronk toe?' A: Oor die plaas, want huile wil nie loop nie. Toe moet huile loop, oppak, en onse osse inspan en trek...[tot] bo in die Langeberge...duskant Olifantshoek...maar van die een bos tot die ander bos...Klein Abraham was in die tronk, [oompie] Jurie Steeneveld was in die tronk, dis my pa se suster se kind, en Hendrik Beukes...net 'n week in die tronk'. (Interview with Gert September, 20 July 1993, Upington.) Thomas Van Wyk, also living on the farm, remembers that one of his aunts had 500 Afrikaner sheep which were taken and put in a kraal in Upington, but when they were released there were only 200. The rest had died of hunger. (Video interview, Thomas Van Wyk, UWC Taalgeskiedenis course, 1993.)
129. CA 1/UPT 7/1/3/1, Land register 1894-1932 (from handwriting evidence, first compiled around 1913/1917).-
130. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, RM, Upington to Master, High Court, Kimberley 8 Aug. 1898 and 31 Aug. 1898; Master of High Court Kimberley to Elizabeth September, Ouap, Gordonia, 1 June 1900.
131. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, E. Schroeder to Master, High Court, Kimberley, 27 July 1900 (two letters). On the same day he wrote to the Master suggesting that he should in future write to the lawyer employed by the executor of estates rather than direct to the executor. 'People are rather ignorant in this part of the world and they think after the death notice has been signed the Attorney has entirely to see the rest of the work'. Perhaps an innocent request; perhaps a desire by him to exercise 'control' over the executor.
132. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, Arthur Solomon to Master, High Court, Kimberley, 23 Aug. 1900.
133. Interview with Gert September, 20 July 1993, Upington.
134. The valuation of the farm and the lot in Upington was undertaken by J. W. van Coppenhagen.
135. CA MOK 1/1/45, No. 43, 'Succession duty statement of the late Abraham September', dated 25 Jan. 1907 and filed 15 June 1907.
136. CA MOK 1/1/45, No. 43, Document enclosed in J. S. Allison, Resident Magistrate, Upington to Master of High Court, Kimberley, 10 June 1909.
137. CA MOK 1/4/45, No. 43, Schroeder and Coppenhagen to Coghlan and Coghlan, Kimberley, 3 Apr. 1907, presumably enclosing statements by Bet September 26 Jan. 1907, Katarina Beukes 25 Jan. 1907, Johanna Maria van Wyk 25 Jan. 1907, which are in the same file.
138. MOK 1/1/45, Affidavit by J. W. Van Coppenhagen, 17 Apr. 1907 (in respect to Uap). Though dated subsequent to Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen's letter of 3 Apr. 1907, it is referred to as enclosed within that letter. There is a similar affidavit from Van Copenhagen, dated 8 June 1907, in respect of the township erf.
139. This was thus sworn subsequent to the drawing up of the succession duty statement (25 Jan.), subsequent to Schroeder and van Coppenhagen forwarding it to Kimberley (3 Apr.), but before it was filed (15 June).
140. CA MOK 1/1/45, Affidavit signed by A. P. S. September on 4 June 1907.
141. Elizabeth September's declaration would presumably have been sent to the Deeds Registry office in Vryburg, but correspondence connected with property transfers is not contained in the deposited records of this office in the Cape Archives.
142. CA DOV 6/1/4, Registry of property transfers, 1904-1913, Nos. 4518-4520, 15 July 1907.
143. CA MOK 1/1/45, No. 43, Document enclosed in J, S. Allison, Resident Magistrate, Upington to Master of High Court, Kimberley. 10 June 1909.
144. CA MOK 1/1/45, No. 43, Document enclosed in J. S. Allison, Resident Magistrate, Upington to Master of High Court, Kimberley, 10 June 1909. See also DOV 6/1/4, Register of property transfers 1904-1913, No. 4543, 10 Sept. 1907. W. R. B. Thorne served in the police in Upington from May 1888 to June 1907, when he was pensioned off at the age of 47 as unfit for duty : a medical certificate of 23 April 1907 notes 'stock or grain farming...would be almost an impossibility for him!' CA CO 8346 and 8443.
145. MOK 1/1/45, No. 43, Succession duty statement of the late Abraham September, filed 15 June 1907.
146. In 1908 the average price of a river farm was reported by the Standard Bank to be 5/- a morgen. £5000 for a farm of 9134 morgen was thus a relatively high price (Standard Bank Inspection Report, 17 Aug. 1908). By 1911 the average price of river farms was reported as 5/- to 10/- a morgen (Standard Bank Inspection Report, 5 Dec. 1911).
147. M. Corbett, et al., The Law of Succession in South Africa, (Johannesburg, 1980 ed.), 335-6, 351ff. Thanks to Robert Petersen for this reference. I should also like to thank Mrs T. Brits, Law Faculty, University of the Western Cape and Henk Smith, Legal Resources, Cape Town, for their advice on these questions. I am responsible for the interpretation, however.
148. Sande, 'Commentarius de prohibita rerum alienatione', Opera Omnia Juridica (Groningen, 1683), 3, 4, 2 quoted in Corbett et al., Law, 352-3.
149. Sande, 'Commentarius de prohibita rerum alienatione', Opera Omnia Juridica (Groningen, 1683), 3, 4, 2 quoted in Corbett et al., Law, 352-3.
150. Corbett, et al., Law, 352, 354-5, 357-63.
151. Quoted from Sande, in Corbett et al., Law, 272.
152. Corbett et al., Law, 352.
153. Ibid. 378ff.
154. See, for similar cases taken to and tested in court at the time, the applications of Rachel Bok, applying for mortgages on Kousas and Boksputs, which, because of the will, required the consent of her heirs: CA KSC 2/5/1/143, Application of Rachel Bok, 7 Oct. 1909; KSC 2.5.144, No. 5510, Petition of Rachel Bok 18 Mar. 1910; or the petitions of the heirs of Robert Frier to mortgage Friersdale and Brakboschkolk, and to transfer a share of the two farms, when the will said the properties were not to be alienated until the youngest heir reached the age of 30: KSC 2/5/1/140, No. 5273, Petition of E. C. Bothma etc., 15 Aug. 1908; KSC 2/5/1/144, No. 5511, Petition of Catharina Sophia Fraser, 21 Mar. 1910.
155. Du Plessis v. Strauss, 1988 2 3A 105 (A). Equally, 1965 regulation prohibits maintaining land in the family by such means for more than two generations.
156. Elizabeth's usufructuary possession is confirmed by the Deeds of Transfer from the estate to Gert, Abraham and Niklaas (in possession of family). As usufructuary heir, her consent would have been necessary to any sale by the sons: the Deed of Transfer to Thorne has not been examined to see if this was the case.
157. MOK 1/1/45, Undated note in pencil re estate late Abraham September, with, appended to it 'Letter sent original receipts and affidavit by ASP September 21 Apr. 1909'. Cf. MOK 1/1/27, Telegram: Deeds Vryburg to Master of High Court, Kimberley, 21 Apr. 1909 'Your telegram...farm Ouhap' transferred to heirs in estate during July [1907?]. Erf 38 Upington not transferred' with appended note 'letter to RM Upington informing him of above and asking him to ascertain in whose possession deeds are at present 22 Apr. 1909'. The Upington magistracy records in the Cape archives do not contain incoming correspondence for this period.
158. MOK 1/1/45, No. 43, J. S. Allison, RM, Upington, to Master, High Court, Kimberley 10 June 1909. This refers (see note 50) to the Master's letters of 21 and 22 Apr. 1909. This letter is not contained in any outgoing correspondence from the Upington magistracy preserved at the Cape archives. The declaration of sellers in connection with the transfer of Uap to Thorne is also not available in the records of the Vryburg Deeds Office in the Cape Archives.
159. MOK 1/1/45, No. 43, J. S. Allison, RM, Upington, to Master, High Court, Kimberley 10 June 1909.
160. See however DOV 1/1/1/8, F. J. Croxford, Attorney, Vryburg to Registrar of Deeds, Vryburg 12 June 1908 requesting, on behalf of an attorney of the Supreme Court, the issue ' for judicial purposes only ' of a certified copy of the deed of transfer of Uap to W. R. B. Thorne on 10 Sept. 1907. Thomas van Wyk recalled that 'his grandmother' [i.e. Elizabeth September] and ' Hottie ' [Klein Abraham] went several times to Kimberley by ox-wagon. 'Then my grandmother went...to the Master, to Kimberley...and they came before the High Court...Granny won that case and gave them [the sons ?] three water erfs'. (Video Interview with Thomas Van Wyk, UWC Taalgeskiedenis course, 1993; Interview with Thomas van Wyk, 21 July 1993, Upington.) I was also informed by Upington lawyer Jan Moller, in possession of Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen's remaining papers, that there is a note on the title deed of Ouap that grazing rights on Elizabeth's usufruct were determined in a court case (18 July 1995).
161. CA KSC, 2/5/1/145, No. 5562, 5/9/1910, 'Petition of Roelof Mouton'. The petition was granted, and M. J. Jansen, his son-in-law, appointed as Curator Bonis, though on 7 Aug. 1912 Daniel Mouton was reinstated in control of his affairs. The petition may well have been used merely as a means of repudiating the document signed by Daniel Mouton. In another case, Schroeder and van Coppenhagen persuaded the creditor on a mortgage to refuse to release it, despite its repayment, until the mortgagee had paid debts to other creditors. This was contested in court, with the lawyer for the mortgagee saying 'I verily believe that this is merely a device on the part of Plaintiff's attorney to secure collection of the claims of some of their other clients' : KSC, 2/2/1/38, No. 1598, Matter between J. H. Bean and C. S. Fraser, 10 Mar. 1910.
162. 'die 15 Julie is 'n derde deel van die plaas aan 'n sekere W. R. B. Thorne verhuur deur die drie seuns vir 'n bedrag geld aan hom verskulding (vir 5 jaar rente vry)...volgens my mening en volgens testament ontwettig was mils testament heroep is...Erfgename will weet wat die 5 jaar gebeur het. Volgens erfgename het Thorne in besit gekom van die hele plaas wat huile self nie weet hoe dit gebeur't nie'. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, D. D. Jacobs to Assistant Master, Supreme Court, Kimberley, 4 Apr. 1965.
163. 'Ses morges is...wat hulle gehuur het. Dis Doring [Thorne] se erwe. ' Q: 'Aan wie't hulle diet toe gehuur?' A: 'Hulle het hulle gehuur aan my oupa...Abraham Holbors se seun, Klein Abraham...Toe is ou Groot Abraham toe gesterwe...' Q: 'Wie't toe by hom gehuur ? ' A: 'Die Doring, dit was 'n Engelsman...Huur het vir vyf jaar...In die vyf jaar se tyd is toe wat die ding vir...ons moet maar net trap...' (Interview with Gert September, 20 July 1993, Upington.)
164. 'die een oom, die jongste oom Abraham...hulle het geld geleen by meneer Holmes ene, £500...oom Hottie het vir hom 'n wa gekoop met die £500...my oom is daai tyd wewenaar...ouma 't so 'n trommel gehad, toe haal hy die kaart en transport daaruit en toe loop gee hy dit vir Holmes hier op Upington...daardeur het ons nou die plaas geverlor...in 1910/11 toe sien ons mar hier die mense vlae opstoot en meet...die drie ooms is nou so kwaad maar hulle't vir hulle ingeloop...Toe't hulle drank was mos toe, toe kry hulle drank en daardeur het hulle geteken na die blanke. So het drank gemaak dat hulle daai uit die plase uit is...So het hulle die bruinmense se plase almal onder hulle uitgekoop'. (Video interview with Thomas Van Wyk, UWC Taalgeskiedenis course, 1993.) The remainder of the quotation from interview with Thomas van Wyk, 21 July 1993, Keimoes. If this explains the original sale, it should be Thorne and not Holmes from whom the money was borrowed.
165. MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, Telegram, Deeds Vryburg to Master of High Court, 21 Apr. 1909.
166. CA MOK 1/1/45, RM, Upington to Assistant Master, Supreme Court, Kimberley, 19 Apr. 1921. Cf MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, Asst Master to RM, Upington, 15 Apr. 1921.
167. CA DOV 8/2/5, Land registry: Upington, erven. Township erf No. 38 granted to Abraham September 15 July 1893. H 252/25 is most likely filed in the records of the Lands Department.
168. 'Oor die jare heen was daar gedurig narvrae en moes hierdie kantoor steeds daarop wys dat die betrokke plaas [Ouap] gedurende Julie 1907 aan die erfegename oordra was en dat hulle dit na bewering aan ene Thorne verkoop het'. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, Asst. Master to T. R. Jacobs, PO Box 356, Upington, 5 Dec. 1968.
169. Interviews with Gert September, 4 Apr. 1994, Upington; Thomas van Wyk, 21 July 1993, 6 Apr. 1994, Keimoes; Video interview with Thomas Van Wyk, UWC Taalgeskiedenis course, 1993. Gert September remembers Thomas's mother having ' vyf erwen grond' on Ouap.
170. DOV 6/1/4, Register of property transfer, 1904-1913, Nos. 5727, 5728, 25 Oct. 1911.
171. See Standard Bank Inspection Report, 30 Nov. 1909; Macdonald, Conquest of the Desert, 61. The Holmes had been in the area, as general dealers, and running the ferry, since the early 1890s, were involved in the establishment of the 'European school', and served on the Village Management Board. Both purchased township erven in Upington in January 1894. See CA 1/UPT 5/1/3, Bam to Secretary, Vryburg 24 Jan. 1893; 4 Apr. 1893; Bam to Surveyor, 8 June 1983; 'Sale held 2 Jan. 1894, Upington Township'; 1/UPT 5/1/4. Ashburnham to Master, Vryburg, 7 Aug. 1894; Ashburnham to Surveyor-General, 16 Aug. 1894; Ashburnham to W. J. Holmes, 21 Sept. 1894; 1/UPT 5/1/5, Scholtz to Controller of Licenses and Stamps, 17 Dec. 1895; 1/UPT 5/3/2, Herbst to Secretary, VMB, 25 Nov. 1898. It appears that they dissolved their partnership in May 1910: CA, KSC 2/1/1/199, No. 6406 (withdrawn 14 Dec. 1910).
172. MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Death notice of Elizabeth September.
173. J. J. Steeneveld, mentioned above by Gert September as the child of an aunt of his, was a cripple: 'hy kon nie regop geloop ne, het inmekaar getrek bene': Interview with Gert September, 20 July 1993. See also interview with Thomas van Wyk, 6 Apr. 1994 ('the one that used to walk on his knees...his legs were pulled up...his hand was also pulled up'); CA MOK 1/1/27, Abraham September, J. J. Steeneveld to Master, 1 July 1920, 'ik kan ook nie recht op loop nie'.
174. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, J. J. Steeneveld, Ouap, to 'Master of die Supreme Cord, Kimberley'. 22 Jan. 1920.
175. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, J. J. Steeneveld, Ouap, to Master of the Supreme Court, Kimberley. 1 July 1920. See also ibid., J. J. Steeneveld to Master, 5 July 1920; DR 8950, Elizabeth September, A. P. S. September to Master, 9 Sept. 1920; A. P. S. September to Master, 21 Oct. 1920; A. P. S. September and J. J. Steeneveld to Master, 11 Nov. 1920; J. J. Steeneveld to Master, 20 Dec. 1920.
176. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, A. P. S. September, Ouap to Master, 9 Sept. 1920. See also A. P. S. September to Master, 26 Aug. 1920.
177. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, A. P. S. September to Master, 21 Oct. 1920. There is a lack of clarity here. There were only four sisters: Maria Magdalena Helena; Elizabeth; Katarina Jacoba; Johanna Maria. See also A. P. S. September and J. J. Steeneveld to 'Master of Suprimi Coort', 11 Nov. 1920; J. J. Steeneveld to Master, 20 Dec. 1920.
178. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, Master to J. J. Steeneveld, 1 Feb. 1921. There was earlier correspondence from the Master regarding the copy of the will: see DR 8950, Abraham September, Assistant Master to J. J. Steeneveld, 9 July 1920; Telegram, Steeneveld to Master, 3 Aug. 1920. For the letter from the Upington magistrate see DR 8950, Elizabeth September, RM. Upington to Assistant Master, 29 Dec. 1920: 'from information received from Messrs Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen...the deceased Elizabeth September left no estate and died a pauper'. See also RM Upington to Assistant Master, 11 Oct. 1920 enclosing Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen 6 Oct. 1920, concerning the filing of the estate of Abraham September; RM, Upington to Assistant Master, 4 Feb. 1921 requesting a copy of the inventory of Abraham September's estate.
179. MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, Matt. J. Fredericks, Gen. Secretary, APO, 14 Dundonald Street, Woodstock to Master, 17 Feb. 1921.
180. MOK 1/1/21, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, Document appointing J. J. Steeneveld of Uitkomst as executor, signed with the mark of Gert, Niklaas, Helena and Elizabeth September, and signed by A. P. S. September, 24 Mar. 1921; C. Jansen to Asst. Master, 28 Mar. 1921; Telegram J. J. Steeneveld to Master, 12 Apr. 1921. Cf. Matt. J. Fredericks to Master, 11 Apr. 1921.
181. CA MOK 1/1/27, Elizabeth September, Asst. Master to M. J. Fredericks, 15 Apr. 1921. On the same date the Assistant Master wrote to the Upington magistrate enquiring what had happened to township erf no. 38 (see footnote 138).
182. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, M. J. Fredericks to Asst. Master, 21 Apr. 1921.
183. CA DOV 9/1/2, Index of Purchasers and Sellers, Land Registry, Gordonia, 1905-1926, Nos. 10270-2, 27 May 1921; DOV 6/1/5, Property Transfers, 1913-1921, Nos. 10270-2, 27 May 1921. Here the three buyers are recorded, with £5000 as the price for the top one, and two dittos after it. Does this indicate a total price of £5000, or a payment of £5000 each ? If the latter, it represents a tripling of the price since the previous two sales in 1907 and 1911.
184. 'So vir wie het Koppenhagen toe die grond gegee?' A: 'Vir...Jan Bekker, ou Daantjie van der Walt, Johannes van der Walt'. (Interview with Gert September, 20 July 1993, Upington.)
185. Interview with Gert September, 20 July 1993, Upington.
186. 'die testament was met listigheid van een van die erfegename gevra deur een zekeren agent (lawyer) en deur Mnr Holmes en ik glo Mnr Kopenhagen Major en ook wettelyke agent van Upington Gordonia District. Wel al die autoriteite personen en nog ander mense hulle was prospectors en hulle was uit om op die plaas [Ouap] Diamantipijpen te vinden soos Kimberley Mines en andere edele en onedele mineralien daar te vinden. Met Diamonden glo ik was ergeen hoop, zoo hebben hulle maar Copper gevinden en Copper Piritos. Dit heeft een goed gaan, later verstaan ik was dit nie betaalbaar, en ik kenner nog dat in die eerste goeie tyd van die koppermine was hulle zoo onverschaam - tegen die familieleden op die plaas en heben hulle grootvee en kleinvee, wagens en alles wat op die plaas was eenvoudig gevat en goederen vernield en die stoves uitberoven en in die einde die geheele volk uit hulle plaas met die Police uit Upington verdreven en huile onder die Police bewaar. U moet die dingen van die erfgename self verneem. Daar was groot besproeingsvelde, vir Lucern, Koren, Mais, etc. Mnr Holmes was vroër voor die self in die Police...en zoo lieft hulle met die myne wette voorgee, na dat hulle die testament in hande meet zoo listiger manier uit hulle die een erfgenaam zyn hande gekrij het, meen huile testament en volk zoo te se alles tot niets te maak en huile is dan Baas oor alles, een hemelschrewende onregd!' CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, R. Faber, Windhoek, to Master, 1 Sept. 1945.
187. 'in die slaghuis...ek was waiter in die hotel...'n skaapwagter, ek het al wat 'n werk was het ek gedoen. Koeie melk ook, perde ry. Dis my werk gewees vir my leeftyd tot laat ek nou te swak word. Kan nie meer ry nie'. (Interviews, Gert September, 20 July 1993; 4 Apr. 1994, Upington.) See also note 180.
188. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen to Asst. Master, 21 Aug. 1926; Asst. Master to Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen, 24 Aug. 1926; Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen to Asst. Master, 21 Oct. 1926.
189. Cf. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen to Asst. Master, 17 Dec. 1926. They reported that they had 'done everything in their power' to try to get Klein Abraham to sign, 'without any success'. So they sent a statement by one Stuart Smith, Commissioner of Oaths in Louisvale (dated 3 Dec. 1926): 'In my presence Abraham September stated he is the brother of Maria Magdalena Visagie, born September, and that he knows her to be entitled to a certain inheritance in the estate of the late Abraham September. '!! By now the lawyers were reporting that 'all brothers and sisters' save Maria and Klein Abraham were dead. According to Gert September, Klein Abraham later went to Knysna 'with the Griquas' and died there: interview, 20 July 1993, Upington. Almost certainly this was as a participant in the land settlement scheme of the well-known Griqua nationalist A. Le Fleur: see Gavin Lewis, Between the Wire and the Wall: A History of South African 'Coloured' Politics (Johannesburg, 1987), 153.
190. CAMOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, J. J. Steeneveld, c/o M. J. J. de Bruin, Louisvale to Asst. Master, 24 May 1927; J. J. Steeneveld to Asst. Master, June 1927; J. J. Steeneveld to Asst. Master, 5 Aug. 1927. The Assistant Master replied (8 Aug. 1927) 'die Transport Akte van die plaas Oab nie in die Kantoor is nie. U moet skrywe aan die Registrateur van Akte, Vryburg'.
191. Thomas Van Wyk recalls J. J. Steeneveld bringing Abraham September's will to him and his family when he (Thomas) was living in Louisvale: interview, 21 July 1993. According to Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen, Thomas's father and mother (Adriaan van Wyk and Johanna Maria September) had died by 1926: see CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Elizabeth September, Schroeder and Van Coppenhagen, 29 Oct. 1926.
192. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950. Abraham September, Rulf September (mark), to Asst. Master, 8 Apr. 1931; R. September to Asst. Master, 15 Apr. 1931. Also R. September to Asst. Master, 13 May 1931 where he speaks of Abraham Holbors's father as living (or dying?) 'somewhere about Langvlei or in Worcester district'.
193. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, R. September to Asst. Master, 8 June 1931. The Assistant Master replied, referring him to the Vryburg Deeds office, mentioning the telegram from the Deeds Office of 21 Apr. 1909 reporting the transfer to the heirs, and continuing 'It would however appear that these heirs sold the farm in town to one Thorne of Upington' - information available to the Master's office only from the 'statement' sent by the Upington magistrate in 1909.
194. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, Private Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture to R. Faber, Keetmanshoop, 15 May 1935. Faber also apparently received a letter from the Master of the Supreme Court in Kimberley at the same time.
195. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, R. Faber, Windhoek to Master, 1 Sept. 1945. He also reported that Mrs Pietersen and Mrs de Bruin had taken the matter up with one 'Mr Damans...maar die man is gestorven'. It is possible that this refers to the Revd. Saul Damon, Congregational Church Minister in Upington, much concerned with land rights for 'coloureds'. In which case Faber was misinformed that he had died: Damon died only in the 1990s.
196. CAMOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, J. J. de Bruin to Master, 12 Sept. 1944; Asst. Master to J. J. de Bruin, 16 June 1945; de Bruin to Asst. Master, 16 June 1945; Asst. Master to de Bruin, 22 June 1945. See also Faber to Master, 1 Sept. 1945.
197. 'huile is aimai verarm en in hulpelozen toestand en hulle doen aanvraag aan u om tog met die regeering die geheele zaak deur te drijve zoo dat hulle naam te red en hulle goed en plaas weer in huile bezit kan terug kom. Daar moet nog gelden in die bank weez, wat die geheele jaare since die testament bestaan en voordiet in die bank lê! ' CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, Faber to Master, 1 Sept. 1945.
198. CA MOK 1.1.27, DR 8950, Abraham September, D. R. Jacobs, Upington to Asst. Master, 14 Dec. 1953.
199. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, Asst. Master to D. R. Jacobs, 18 Dec. 1953.
200. 173 'Ek is nie bereid om enige opinie uit te spreek omtrent hierdie verkoping, maar stel aan die hand dat u 'n prokereur te Vryburg aanstel om navraag te doen omtrent hierdie verkoping, en die oordrag aan die koper. Ek kan u nie verder behulpsaam wees nie omdat my kantoor nie meer toesig hou oor eiendom wat alreeds aan erfgename oorgedra is'. CA MOK 1/1/27, DR 8950, Abraham September, Asst. Master to D. D. Jacobs, 14 Apr. 1965. See also Asst. Master to T. R. Jacobs, 5 Dec. 1968, similarly cautious, and enclosing a copy of the Asst. Master's letter of 14 Apr. 1965.
201. I first learnt that a lawyer was still investigating the case from Gert September: interview 27 July 1993.