Cornelis CLAASZ, a3

Notes:

Known as Kees de Boer. See Mansell Upham's article The Soetkoek Syndrome (Capensis 2/2001: 27-30) for his research on this family.

I have assumed that he died around 1688, before his wife remarried, but there is an entry On 26th October 1708, in a letter to the person in charge at Robben Island, 'the convict Kees de Boer', is mentioned.
(Leibbrandt, Letters Dispatched, 1695-1708, page 394).


Arrived at the Cape from Utrecht before 1657 in the service of the VOC, became free burger in 1657.

From: Andre van Rensburg
To:
Subject: [GenForum] Re: Claasen en Catharina van Malabar
Date: 13 June 2002 06:16

Hallo Gert,Baie dankie vir jou epos. Wel wat jy sê is nogal interesant, want die volgende bronne maak die volgende beweering:
1. SAG Vol 1 p 583 "Cornelis Claasen van Utrecht a. voor 1657 aan Kaapin diens van die VOC, word in 1657 vryburgher X Kaapstad 15.3.1676
Catharina van Malabar
2. Heese, Groep Sonder Grense p7 "(Cornelis) Claasen en Catharina vanMalabar was wel wetlik getroud". Op p 27 "Waar die losse verbintenissewel oorgegaan het in vaste verhoudings - soos die van Cornelis Claasen en Catharina van Malabar (1673 - 1681)"
3. In die oorspronklike Kaapse trouboek p 81 verskyn die inskrywing op 15 Maart 1676 vir Cornelis Claasz en Catharina van Malbaar

Nou wonder ek wat gedoen word met die bogenoemde?
Ek stel belang in hierdie ekstra inligting, want dit klink asof daargoeie ander bronne moet wees wat vir my duidelik sal maak dat "Catharina van Malabar NIE Cornelis Claasen se vrou is NIE ! ! ! !"

Dit klink baie interesant.

Vriendelike groete
André van Rensburg

From: "Gert Claassen" Gert@Inala.co.za
Subject: RE: Claasen en Catharina van Malabar
Daar is 'n hele inleidende hoofstuk oor die onderwerp in ons boek. Die belangrike punt is egter dat Catharina van Malabar NIE Cornelis Claasen se vrou is NIE!!!!!!

Gert Claassen
gert@inala.co.za


Arriveer van Utrecht, Nederland as matroos in diens van die VOC in die Ka ap aan die einde van 1657. Werk saam met tuinier, Hendrik Boom. Verkry vry burgerskap in 1657. Hy was "in die wandel" bekend as Kees de Boer, 'n verk leiningsvorm van die naam Cornelis. Sy afstammelinge was egter bekend ond er die familienaam Cornelis/z. (Sien die agtergrond geskiedenis en die ver loop van sy lewe soos beskryf in teks).

Charlie Els.ged
Kees had been in the service of the VOC as a sailor and then arquebusier for 6 years before he arrived in the Cape in 1657. Soon after landing he was put to work with the company's master gardener Hendrick Hendrickssen Boom of Amsterdam. When Boom opted for free burgher status in 1657, Claesz did likewise. He was granted permission to cultivate land and keep milk cows. In 1658 he was recorded as labourer again of Hendrick Hendricksz Boom, who was then part of a free burgher co-operative known as Visagie's Company together with Herman Ernz Gresnich from Utrecht and Dirck Meyer from Lüneburg.

During the first VOC-Khoe/San war, Cornelis Claessen signed (with a mark) together with other free burghers a petition, dated 7 May 1659 to Jan van Riebeeck stipulating grievences about Hottentot harassment and suggestions for improving the situation. Before May 1659 Cornelis had obtained from Wouter Cornelisz Mostert the latter's portion of a farm Uijtwijk belonging to both Mostert and Jan Reyniersz of Amsterdam. His ownersahip was short lived for on 16 October 1659 Jan van Riebeeck bought the same half portion from Cornelis. In 1660 he obtained the farm "Velthuizen" with fellow farmer Dirck Meyer.

In 1660 Cornelis was an ex-farmer and working in the kitchen of the office, but by 10/11 September 1660 the Company was helping to set him up again as an agriculturist. Cornelis and Dircq Maijer of Lunemburgh joined in partnership as farmers and was granted 30 morgen of freehold land at Bosheuvel. They remained there as free burghers for 12 years. On 20 September 1660 Cornelis was granted land, the Velthuizen, by the Company.

Cornelis had a reputation for hob-nobbing with slave women and was often in trouble and in court especially because of dept and was one of least industrious or successful farmers in the Cape. In 1664 he was made responsible for the upkeep of roads together with other free burghers. By 1666/67 he has rejoined the Company for a second time. On19 April 1669 the superintendentship of the Company,s "schuur" or barn (were Groote Schuur Hospital in Mowbray currently is) was transferred from the late Jan Theunissen to Kees de Boer. By 1673 Kees was with his concubine, the "Zwartin" and "de meijt Catrijn" and three children.

Cornelis married Catharina VAN BENGALEN on 15 Mar 1676 in Cape Town, Cape, South Africa. Catharina was born about 1649 in Malabar, West coast (Kerala) of India; was christened on 29 Oct 1673; died in 1706-1709 in Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Alt Marriage: Catharina van MALABAR Date: 15 Mar 1676 Location: Stellenbosch, Cape, South Africa

1. Adriaentje GABRIELSZ was born in in Cape Town, Cape, South Africa; was christened on 13 Nov 1662 in Cape Town, Cape, South Africa; died in in Cape, South Africa.