DE BEER FAMILY HISTORY IN THE WESTERN CAPE

A lot of complaints against their Governor, William Adriaan van der Stel and they took strong action aginst him, with Adam Tas as their leader. This conflict reached its climax between 1705 and 1706. van der Stel then took drastic decisions and one of them had been dismissal of officers of the Stellenbosch and Drankenstein burgher force, and the replacement by others. So it happened that Matys was appointed Corporal of the Stellenbosch Infantry on 6 October 1706. That post was held by him till 1708 (Cf. Fransie Pienaar Museum, Prince Albert).

The position of a Corporal (Fieldcornet or Wagtmeester) was honourable and unpaid. He was chosen by the Landdrost and Heeraaden on account of his conduct and integrity from amongst his fellow burghers. He was responsible for law and order in the area and in time of necessity it was his duty to assemble the “Manschaft”. To sum up, he had functions of many types for which his only advantage was however the exemption of paying tax (ibid).

Matys appear in the Muster Roll as follows:

1705 “Manschaft” (101 men) Stellenbosch Infantry

1706 - 1708 Corporal of the same Compagnie
1708 - 1709 “Manschaft” (14 men) Drankenstein Infantry

1710 - 1724 “Manschaft” Stellenbosch Infantry
1724 Released from military service

During 1708 and 1709 census records show that de Beers lived in Drakenstein. We find Matys’ name on the list of the road roll of 1708 on the “Kruespad” from “Bange Hoek Jacobus van As Willem van Zyl”, and in 1709 “Aan de West side van de parel van Dirk Schalkwyk as tot Lambert Smit.”

All burghers whose names are mentioned obviously lived along these roads and had to assist in the upkeep of the same, which seems to have been an everlasting problem.

They returned to Stellenbosch in 1710, where they had to witness the disastrous fire on 17 December, which swept through the village and destroyed most of the settlement. It was a terrible blow for the whole community.

In 1711 we read that the burghers were busy rebuilding their houses. However, the church of which only the walls and titled floor remained, was untouched for along time.

Matys is mentioned in the “Paden en Wagen Rollen” of 1711 – 1714, when he occupied a dwelling in the section of Stellenbosch between the ruins of the church and the “Steenebrug” and between Fredrick Wallinga and Pieter Saaiman.

And soon after, there was another shock for them. It was I 1713 during the severe outbreak of smallpox that they lost their two children, Samuel, two years old, and Helena, three years old. Nearly 25% of the “Caapse-Vlek’s” population was wiped out.

However, in 1714 another son was born, whom they also named Samuel.

There is now a relatively long period, during which not much could be found about the doings of the de Beers.

On 21 November 1718 Matys received payment from the council of Landdrost and Heemraden for making a “Vootbrug” (wooden bridge) across “Botmasdrift” (farm Welgevallen) (I/STB I/6).
On 15 December 1719 he had acted as a witness in a court case, and Hilletjie, on behalf of her husband, brought Hans Jurgen Beyer to court. He owed the rent for a whole year.
This was on 10 April 1723. the document shows Hilletjie’s signature. (I/STB 18/42-43).

A very popular bit of Stellenbosch’s village life was the yearly and traditional October festivities. Everybody took part. It was the season for the annual military exercises of the burgher force and for the “fair”, which gave the burghers the opportunity to sell their produce and wares.

From near and wide the families and friends arrived for a yearly reunion. Even burghers from “Cape Town”, sailors and officers of ships in the Bay, made the wagon trip across the sandy flats to take part in this unique and colourful event. The famous “parrot shooting” (Schutzen-fest for the Germans) at the west of the Papegaaisberg came to an end in 1706. (This, at the time let the feelings of the burghers run very high). The big parade with bugles and drums, the infantry and the Dragoons in their blue jackets and white breeches brought the days of training, leisure and relaxation to an impressive end.

Records show Matys in Drakenstein during 1723 and 1724, at a place with a vineyard of 9 000 vines. As farm names are not mentioned I the early tax return records, we do not know if he had been on his own place at the “Diamant Rock”.

He sold his plot “Oranje” to J Roux. It was transferred on 28 September 1724 (ibid).