SETTLEMENT HISTORY OF THE DE BEERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The following are glimpses on the settlement history of my family. These are taken with recognition to the Fransie Pienaar Museum in Prince Albert. (cf. Afrikaans Title and information in the first paragraph)

MATYS ANDRIES DE BEER
(Stamvader van meeste van die De Beers in Suid Afrika)

EN SY KINDERS

Saamgestel uit navorsing gedoen deur
Herta Bockelman

En uit die boek deur
DW de Beer
De Beer, Dawid Willem 1826 – 1942, Sy Voorsate en Nasate


Kopiereg 1998 Fransie Pienaar Museum
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FRANSIE PIENAAR MUSEUM
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PRINCE ALBERT
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MATYS ANDRIES DE BEER arrived at the Cape as a soldier in the service of the Dutch East India Company. He was known as a carpenter, wagon-builder, Corporal and farmer.

He came from LÜbeck which is situated at the “Lower Saxon Circle”, where Low German is spoken.

His name appears for the first time in the list of “Militairen” of 1699. (Muster Roll VC 39) He most probably had arrived in 1698. This, however, could not be ascertained, as the list of that year is missing. We also find mention in 1698 of “Andries the Wagonbuilder” – it may be it was him.

During 1701 and 1702 he is enlisted as “adelborst” (Cadet). The adelborst in the Company’s service did not designate a young man in training to become an officer. It was the description to indicate that he or his family had provided his equipment and he was not in debt for it to the Company.

For the duration of his 5 years engagement as a soldier, his name is recorded as “Mathys Andriesz” and later from 1703 we find him by the name of “Matys Andries de Beer” . Comparing the signatures of 1702 and of 1705, we may well agree that they are from the same person. What made him change his name we do not know.


There is also some confusion about his homeland. In the Company’s books “Mathys Andriesz” came from Lubeck, but according to the “Personalia of the Germans at the Cape” by Dr J Hoge, Matys Andries de Beer’s home was in “Waase”.
This is a small place on the island “Ummanz” which belongs to the island “Rugen” on the Baltic Sea. At the time when Matys left, Rugen belongs to Sweden. Only in 1825 it came to Prussia.

In 1702 he was loaned by the Company to Isaak de Cock from 13 March to 29 April; and later from 10 August to 31 May 1703 as a carpenter to Andreas Finger. According to the contracts Matys’ monthly salary was ten and thirteen Gulden.
The employer had to provide “Spys and drank” and accommodation. He was still under obligations to the Company, and had to report at the Castle; in time of need or war he would have been called up to do his duties in the second company. (CJ 1124:250, 247)

At the time when he arrived at the Table Bay, “Cape” (as Cape Town was then known) was a small place, with Heerengracht (now Adderley Street) and Keysergracht (Darling Street) as the principal streets. The whole population of the Colony (excluding servants of the Company) consisted of 414 burghers, 207 women, 255 sons and 289 daughters. There were (as a matter of interest) 1 654 100 vines planted in the colony.
A large quantity of wine was delivered to the passing ships, and the rest was consumed on land.

Life is said to have been generally quiet at the Cape.
From time to time however, the Journal tells us of happenings which were rather colourful. So we read that a lion lurked around the watering place and later seized some cattle near Roodebloem, the house of a burgher, not more than 15 minutes away from the Castle, but the lion escaped.