the history of the old zwart river farmhouse, located in the district of

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THE HISTORY OF THE OLD ZWART RIVER FARMHOUSE,
LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT OF KNYSNA.
The Zwart River farmhouse 2013
Compiled by Philip Caveney of the Knysna Historical Society.
Contributions to this document are gratefully acknowledged below:
David P. Metelerkamp, for leading us to this forgotten farm building.
Lynne Thompson, for her enthusiasm and for identifying the carved wooden crests
above the doors as possible representations of the early coat-of-arms of the new
Netherlands States.
Kathy Schultz for the research on Stephanus Janse Weijers’ career with the DEIC.
Melanie Groenewald of the Knysna Museums for the early Survey Maps.
Andre Vercueil for his heritage and architectural expertise and many photographs.
Roger Stewart, for his knowledge of the early travellers and map expertise
Hans Franzsen, author of The old buildings of the Cape, 1980
Trevor Robertson, Francie Stewart (m. Robertson) of Sedgefield and
Norman Robertson, for the Robertson family history,
Pauw Steyl, for much information from his book with The Postcart through
Houtteniqualandt, Kannaland and the Lange Kloof, 2009
and as always,
Margaret Parkes, Knysna historian.
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Overview.
The loan farm De Swarte Rivier gel: agter aan ‘t oudniqualand”.
DEIC records reveal that Stephanus Janse Weijers had occupied this loan farm by
1790. The farm is recorded on Josephus Jones’s map of 1789, whilst on Frederici’s
map of 1790 of the area the farm as shown as no. 110.
The Swarte Rivier farm lay on the old wagon-route to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay and
is mentioned by many of the early 19th Century travellers: e.g. In 1801 by Englishman
R. Semple and in 1803 by the Batavian W.B.E. Paravicini di Capelli , Cape burgher Dirk
van Reenen and the German H. Lichtenstein.
It became a popular resting station for the early travellers during this period of
exploration and travel to the eastern frontier of the Colony.
Many travellers mentioned being able to view the farmhouse across the Goukamma
(Doukama) River.
With the formation of a formal Postal Route by the British in 1810, the farmhouse
became a Postal Stage and SJ Weijers (Weyers) was the Post Holder and later his
widow and son acted as Post Contractors.
The early travellers who stopped here report, without exception, of the great hospitality
offered them by the farmer and his wife, Stephanus Janse Weijers and his wife Martha
(born Terblanche).
An examination of the External features of the present building reveals clues to the
original design of the farmhouse, which appears to have been a 3-roomed “Kaapse
Langhuis”.
Early extensions added an additional room to the west and extended the bedroom to
the east. At a later, but still early, stage in the life of the house, a south wing was added
and the roof raised.
The walls of the original building are in excess of 70 cm thick.
An examination of the Internal features reveals that the original wooden doors are still in
place and that a third door leads to the south wing. All are unique for this area.
Of particular interest are the Netherlands Republic wooden crests above two of the
internal doors leading to the original 2 bedrooms.
It is reported that the main entrance door into the house, from to the north, which is very
low, also had a similar DEIC crest above it, but this door and frame has been replaced
in more recent times.
This would indicate that the builder was a loyal supporter, possibly still an employee, of
the DEIC. (Netherlands Republic)
The floors and ceiling/ ceiling beams of the original building are of yellowwood.
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De Swarte Rivier gel: agter aan ‘t oudniqualand
This Dutch East India Company loan farm lay on the (Groot) Zwart Rivier, today known
as the Hoëkraal River and north of today’s Swartvlei.
It was bounded in the east by the Karatara River: the farms Ruigte-vallei and Roodekraal to the east shared the river as a boundary.
The farm Hooge-kraal lay to the west.
The farm extended far to the north, beyond the “Top Road” and encompassed today’s
village of Karatara.
Barrington, however, lay to the east on the farm Roode-kraal.
The Zwart Rivier farmhouse is recorded as being to the east of the (Groot) Zwart Rivier,
near a place in the river where it is 20 yards wide.1
The farmer Stephanus Janse Weijers
Census reports tell us that Stephanus Janse Weijers, born circa. 1745 2 in Groningen3,
was registered as a colonist before 17714 and that he occupied the Zwart River farm by
1790.
Described by Robert Semple as a retired Prussian soldier, he could be progenitor of the
Weyers family in South Africa.
However, he is unlikely to be the progenitor of the family in South Africa, as an Adriana
Weijers is recorded in the SA Archives circa. 1762.
He was a public-minded and responsible burger immigrant who had served the Dutch
East India Company (VOC) well.
His release from the service of the DEIC (Vryburger kontrak) is dated 1779.5
His achievements in the DEIC Colony were commendable.6 He is first mentioned in
Company records in 12 October 1773 when he is appointed as a wagtmeester in the
Compagniën Burger Dragonders.
In 12 September 1775 he is appointed a Deacon (Diaconen) in the Church of
Drakenstein. (Paarl).
Continuing with his DIEC duties; on 31 August 1779 he is mentioned when he, now
Adjudant Stephanus Jansz:Weijers, is promoted to Cornet in the Second Company of
Dragoons of the land militia of Stellenbosch, followed by his promotion on 14 August
1781 to Second Lieutenant in the in the Second Company of Dragoons of Stellenbosch.
Soon after this he relocated and is recorded as living in the Swellendam District by 25
February 1783, which is confirmed in DEIC correspondence dated 24 August 1784,
which records that his position as a Second Lieutenant in Stellenbosch has been filled.
On 31 August 1784 he is a signatory to a request for ammunition - in correspondence
regarding 900 lb’s of gunpowder & 1000 flints for the far lying districts of the Colony.
1
Robert Semple Walks & Sketches at the Cape of Good Hope, p155
www.myheritage.com 2013
3
KAB:RLR 42 p165, and WJ de Kock, footnote to VRS Journaal van Paravicini de Capelli, p36
4
George McCall Theal, History and Ethnography of Africa South of the Zambesi, pages 125-127, 1905
5
SA Archives CJ 2911 48 and CJ 2912 7
6
From research by Kathleen Schulz, April 2013
2
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Weijers took occupation of the loan farm De Leeuwbosch on the Knysna River in 1781.7
On 8 September 1771 he married Maria Louw, born 1735 at Drakenstein (Paarl).
Maria bore him the following children:
Anna Sophia (b. 1772, d. 1828)
Johannes Stephanus (b. 1773)
Johannes (Jacob?) Petrus (b. 1785) and
Petrus Stephanus (Bapt. 14 March 1784)
Maria died and on 5 January 1788 he married the widow Martha Kok (Kock) (born
Terblanche on 15 February 1756, the fourth child and second daughter of ex-Heemraad
Pieter and Petronella Terblanche of Rheeboksfontein, near Great Brak River.
Martha bore him 3 children:
Stephanus Salomon (b. 1789?)
Maria Martha (b. 1789?)
Hendrik (b. 1793).
By 1790 he was settled on the loan farm “De Swarte Rivier gel: agter aan ‘t
oudniqualand”. 8
This farm is recorded on Josephus Jones’s map of 1789, whilst on Frederici’s map of
1790 of the area the farm as shown as farm no. 110.
Interestingly, Frederici omits to mention the Leeuwbosch farm on his 1790 map.
7
8
Terblanche-land by Phyllis Terblanche, 2006, page 76
Terblanche-land by Phyllis Terblanche, 2006, page 76
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Early travellers to visit the farm Zwart River.
Stephanus John/ Janse/ Janssen/ Jansen Weijers/ Weyers/ Wyers/ Wijher/ is
mentioned by many of the early travellers in the Knysna area.
Robert Semple, an Englishman, was one of these early travelers and recorded visiting
the farm of “John Wyers” in 1801. 9
After leaving the house of Daniel Free, Semple reached the “second Black River”
around sunset, which they crossed with difficulty, where:
“having unsaddled our horses, we with great difficulty forced them into the water and
made them swim over. We crossed, with our saddles and baggage, in a small canoe,
hewn out of a large tree, the river, though very deep, not being above twenty yards
wide. On the opposite side stood the house of John Wyers, an old Prussian soldier,
who had served under Frederick the Great. 10 He gave us a hearty reception, and over
a glass of good wine, which was a real treat to us, “shouldered his crutch, and showed
how fields were won.””
The following morning Semple and his companion left, accompanied by a son of
Weijers, on their way to “Rugt Vly”
Semple comments on the Swartvlei estuary, how it was separated from the sea by a
ridge of high land, which, he was told, during periods of high spring tide, was flooded by
the sea. Semple refers to the Ruigtevlei as a deep but narrow river, which they crossed
in their usual manner, in a canoe, leading their horses by the bridle, and carried on to
the Goukamma (Semple calls it the Doucuma) River).
Two years later, in 1803, the Batavian party of General Janssens passed north of the
Langvlei, Rondevlei and Swartvlei and had arrived at the farm of Jansen Weyers on the
eastern side of the Zwart River. Paravicini di Capelli tells that, just as with the visit to
Martha Terblanche’s mother’s home, at Rheeboksfontein, they were given a most
generous welcome.11
Later in the same year Commissioner De Mist also followed this route and Lichtenstein
refers to the river that they crossed as the Zwart River (Black River), but which is known
today as the Hoëkraal (Hoogekraal) River, which exits into the eastern end of the
Swartvlei. It was late that night when the De Mist party arrived at the Zwart River, and
they could see across the river to where stood the homestead of Janssen Weyers,
where the rest of the De Mist party had arrived earlier that evening on horseback.
They had chosen to use the new crossing of the Kaaiman’s River further inland but their
journey had not been easy, having crossed three branches of the Kaaiman’s River
before reaching Barbier’s-Kraal. This place had been named Barbier’s-kraal “because
the colonist who undertook to cut this footpath through the woods, made a vow not to
be shaved till the work was accomplished.”
De Mist had, by this time, acquired a very solid horse to ride, and was rightly very
pleased with himself. He tells us that the horse clambered over the rocks like an ape:
“klauterde als een aap”
Henry Lichtenstein, a member of the De Mist party, crossed the river to Weyers farm by
means of a ”little boat” and by stripping and floating the wagon and the contents across.
9
Robert Semple, Walks & Sketches at the Cape of Good Hope, p155
1712 – 1786.
11
WJ de Kock: 1965:36, per Phyllis Terblanche.
10
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Rested, the next day Lichtenstein viewed the three large lakes of Sedgefield and
Wilderness.
Lichtenstein comments on the unsuitability of the grazing in this area:
“Weyers’s had, when he purchased this place 15 years before, five hundred head of
horned cattle, eight hundred sheep, and a hundred and forty horses, but the murrain,
and the inroads of the caffres, had so wasted his stock, that he had now no more
horned cattle that were absolutely necessary for the use of his household; all the sheep
were destroyed and he had only one horse remaining.” 12
Von Bouchenroeder makes mention in 1803:
“…first crossing the Deep River, and then by using a schuit the crossed the Zwart River
and arrived at the farm of Wijher’s, son-in-law of the Widow Terblans (of
Reeboksfontein), where we overnighted.
This farm, about 11 hours away from the Government’s post, has spacious buildings,
tidy gardens with fruit trees, wine and corn planted, and ‘eenen door kunst en vlijt
aangelegden vijver om den tuin te bevoghtigen; ook heft dezelve geode gelegenheid
voof paarden, rundvee an schapen.”
Weijers was clearly a wealthy farmer when he took over the Swart-rivier farm. The
quality of the structure of the farmhouse is an indication of this wealth.
The colonists had resorted to felling timber to earn a living, sending the timber along the
Long-kloof (Langkloof) to “the Cape Town”.
James Callander comments in letters he wrote in 1799:
“Several of them was in the woods with me – and will engage to take timber of all kinds
to the river – and I believe on very moderate terms – when I return I am to meet them all
at the house of a farmer on the banks of the Swart River to learn on what terms they will
transport timber to the island.”
James Callander on 24 February 1799
“I should therefore, of Government wishes to reserve any woods, recommend those
between the Swart river and Nyssna, those woods have never been cut for any purpose
but for building the farm houses in that neighbourhood, a little plank and wagon wood.
Therefore contain very valuable timber, abundance of mast and yards of the yellow
wood, fine stinkwood and all other large timber of this country and are very contiguous
to the Nyssna river and that the best situation in this country for shipping timber and all
other transportation with ships.”
James Callander on 3 June 1799
When, however, on 19th March 1815, CI Latrobe passed through the Swart River farm
on his way to Melkhoutkraal, Stephanus Janse Weijers had died and Latrobe refers
only to “a widow Wyers on the Zwart Rivier.”
He mentions that they passed over the hill where the farmhouse is situated.13
12
13
Weijers was clearly a wealthy farmer when he took over the Swart-rivier farm. The quality of the farmhouse is an indication of this
wealth.
Journal of a Visit to South Africa in 1815 and 1816, by the Rev. CI Latrobe, 1818. Reprint 1969, p. 155
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In 1832 the unknown artist (Frederick Knyvett) mentions reaching the farm of Field
Cornet S Weijers after 3 hours travel from the home of Hendrik Barnard at Uitzicht
(where Belvidere is today). 14
This could have been the eldest son, Johannes Stephanus, of the old farmer Stephanus
Janse Weijers. Here he was well treated and ate some delicious honey with bread and
butter which subsequently made him very sick later on the road! From here it took
Knyvett six hours to reach George, but he had a poor horse and reckoned that it really
was a five-hour journey. The roads had clearly improved a great deal since Lichtenstein
came through, although Knyvett would still have had to negotiate the Trakadakouw and
Kaaimans Gat river crossings. He found the countryside diverse with “some extremely
picturesque spots, deep valleys and streams with thick and lofty timbers on the banks the later part of the road to George flat.”
14
An Artist's Journey along the Old Cape Post Road (1832/3) by Alfred Gordon Brown
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Extracts from Frederici’s map of 1790.15
The location of the farmhouse of Weyers is shown as 110.
A copy of the 1789 Josephus Jones’ map showing the Stephanus Janse Weijers farm.
15
National Archives, Cape Town.
16
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Time Line
1779/1780
Stephanus Jansz Weijers is released for the service of the DEIC and moves to the
Swellendam District.
(But refer also to his military career details, which infer that he was still a soldier in
1781)
1788
Stephanus Janse Weijers occupies the loan farm Swart Rivier
1790
Frederici & Jones’s map dated 1790 clearly shows the position of the Weyers’ farmhouse between the two rivers, the Karatara and Hoogekraal, at the meeting of two main
travel paths between George and Knysna at the time. (Ref 110)
19 August 1801
Robert Semple visits the farm Zwart River. They overnight here.
20 April 1803
In 1803 Governor-General Janssens reached the farm.
22 December 1803
Commissioner De Mist and Henry Lichtenstein visit the farm Zwart River.
They overnight here.
NOTE:
There must therefore have been an early outspan here, which is confirmed by
Robertson family history.17 Fresh water was available form a small spring, which later
fed the “pond’.18
1803
In 1803 Commissioner JA De Mist of the Batavian Government introduced a postal
service between Cape Town and Algoa Bay.
It followed the route:
Cape Town,
via Hottentot’s Holland to Swellendam,
Mossel Bay,
Outeniqua,
Plettenberg Bay,
Avontuur,
and through the Lange Kloof to Algoa Bay.
The route would have passed by the Zwart River farmstead as this was on the old
wagon route to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. (See Frederici’s map of 1790)
16
Josephus Jones. A section map surveyed between 1789 to 1790, George Museum Accessions No
1995/0821. Delft Museum, Collectie v/d Graaf
17
Discussions with land owner Harald Escherich 14 June 2013
18
Discussions with the Robertson family 2013
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The continuation of the “Top (Passes) Road” from George to Knysna dropped down to
the Groenvlei through Ruigtevlei at this time, the Homtini route constructed by Thomas
Bain followed much later.
17 February 1810
In 1810, however, after the British retook the Cape, a certain Lt. Colonel Collins
investigated the postal service in detail and set up a 21-stage route between Cape
Town and Graaff-Reinet. This new system introduced Post Holders and listed the
“staging” towns and farms.
The Cape Town Gazette & African Advertiser No. 214 dated 17 February 181019
published a notice, describing the introduction of a new main postal route, effective 1
April 1810.
Referring specifically to postal stage 8, it states:
“8. From the said Post (Outeniqua) to the Zwart River, at SJ Weyers (5 hours)”
and continues
9. From the Zwart River to the Nynsa, at George Rex (4 hours)”
(As the “Nysna” stage was initially at the Melkhoutkraal family farmhouse (until 1846) 20
and due to the absence of other suitable buildings in the Zwart River area at the time,
we can reasonably conclude that the Zwart River stage was at the Weyers’ family
home).
Post Holders were now responsible for the conveyance of the post.
According to Paul Steyl’s records, the postal route was diverted from the Attaquaskloof
Pass to Outeniqualand in 1809. Stephanus Janse Weyers and George Rex were
appointed in 1809, and stayed in service until 1813. 21
Payment was 3 Rixdollars for every hour spent on horseback between stages.
The hour figures in brackets above represent the maximum which could be claimed.
1814
Post Holders.
Stephanus Janse Weyers died, most likely during 1814, and his widow Martha is next
listed as Post Holder, responsible for the conveyance of the post in the Knysna area,
listed as: Wid.(ow) S Weyers, 1814 -1825.
Deeds Office records would suggest that Martha Terblance was still alive in 1818, whilst
Terblanche family history assumes that that Martha Weijers died in 1816, Either way, it
is possible that her step-son J.P. Weyers (Jacob) would have taken over the
responsibility until he was formally appointed in 1821. It is very likely that he doing the
actual post conveyance in any case, prior to Martha’s death.
(Paul Steyl’s notes also state that J Weyers was poshouer in the Knysna area [not
specified where or which route] from 1821 - 1825.) 22 See later.
19
From book by Pauw Steyl “With the Postcart through Houtteniqualandt….2009” pp 118,
From book by Pauw Steyl “With the Postcart through Houtteniqualandt….2009” p 119.
21
Lynne Thompson, correspondence 15 July 2013
22
Ibid.
20
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1818
The Swart Rivier property was transferred to Martha Weyers on the 12th of January
1818.23
See SG Diagram No. 410/1818, is shown below: (Surveyor Petersen)
The text on the left refers:
“The Farm Zwartrivier No.183 George.
Owned by the widow of “Stephanus Janzeweyers”
In the field Cornetcy of before Plettenbergsbay district .George.
North contiguous to the place Hoogekraal
East contiguous to the place Ruygtvlei
S.s.w. contiguous to the place Black Lake.”
The farm house building under investigation is shown on Portion 2 of the Zwartrivier
farm.
1821
Post Holders, J. Weyers, 1821-1825. 24
This is most likely the Jacob Weyers, referred to by Thomas Duthie, see later under
1832.
1825
Field-Cornets in the Knysna area. (George District from 1811)
S.J. (J.S?.) Weyers, Before Plettenberg Bay, 1825-1840 25 (the son)
23
Title Deed contained in George Folio 77 - see Knysna Quitrents Volume 11, No. 10 (Eastbrook)
From book by Pauw Steyl “With the Postcart through Houtteniqualandt….2009” p 118.
25
From book by Pauw Steyl “With the Postcart through Houtteniqualandt….2009” p 118.
24
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1 January 1827
Post Contractors
In January 1828 the system of Post Holders was abolished and a system of Post
Contractors was established.26
6 November 1832
Lieut. Thomas Henry Duthie and the crossing of the rivers:
Accompanied by Jacob Rex, Mr. Rex's third son, a young man of his own age, he left
Melkhoutkraal at seven in the morning on November 6, 1832, en-route for cape Town.
The entry in his journal for that night states "Rain came on and continued in torrents;
swam the Richte Vley. The Little Zwart River very deep. Called on Jacob Weyers who
kindly offered his company to George, which was far from being unacceptable. Having
had something to eat we mounted, the storm still worse, the Tow (Touw) and the
Kayman's Gat very deep, and the (Great) Zwart River near George………”
1834
In this year, when slavery was officially abolished in the British Colonies and owners
were being offered compensation by the Cape Colonial Government for the loss of their
slaves, Field Cornet Stephanus W(e)yers was appointed with John Squier junior, to
value the slaves in the area.27
1842 - 1844
J.P. Weyers is listed as a post contractor for the George to Plettenberg Bay the period
1842-1844. 28
George Dutton, a business man in George, is mentioned as twice standing security for
the “mail” contractor, Mr. J.P. Weyers, in 1842.29
1866
The farmhouse is shown on Thomas Bain’s map dated 28 August 1866 as occupied by
P. Terblans. It should be noted that the existing road to Karatara is shown turning off
north of the home. In discussions with the present owner, Mr. Harald Escherich, he
mentioned that the road was on this course until quite recently and that aerial
photographs of the area will confirm this.
26
From book by Pauw Steyl “With the Postcart through Houtteniqualandt….2009” p 118.
Patricia Storrar, “Portrait of Plettenberg Bay”, page 64
28
From book by Pauw Steyl “With the Postcart through Houtteniqualandt”….2009 p 126,
29
Margaret Parkes, “Looking Back” Vol. 18/2, page 45.
27
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1 January 1867
After the completion of the Prince Albert’s Pass in 1866, resulting in a good road link
between Knysna and Avontuur, the postal authorities officially changed the postal route
to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, effective 1 January 1867.
The direct route from George to Plettenberg Bay through Swart Rivier was abolished
and the post for Knysna and Plettenberg Bay now travelled from Cape Town to
Avontuur (on the main postal route to the eastern frontier).
The Zwart River postal stop was no longer necessary.
From Avontuur the post was brought up and down between Knysna and Plettenberg
Bay by local contractors.
1 April 1878
Stephen du Toit Melvill resigns as the post office agent for Hollywood Park and his
suggestion to now route the post through Swart River and Ruigte Vley and to establish
a post office at the Swart River on the Knysna Side of the river, is endorsed by
Magistrate Fichat of George.
“…that a post office being established at the Swart River on the Knysna side of the
river, there being a most competent person residing there (Mr (John) Mills) who could
be appointed as a post office agent…”
1 August 1878
John Mills was appointed as deputy postmaster of Swart River from 1 August 1878 with
a salary of £6 per annum. 30
So the Swart River stop had now again been elevated to Post Office status.
This is confirmed by later correspondence.
1 September 1878
On 1 September 1878, James Fichat, Civil Commissioner & Resident Magistrate for
George, recommended that although the road has been improved, the contract time
must remain at 10 hours.
He further writes that:
“….The Post Offices to be “touched at” en route to Knysna are
1. Woodville
2. Hoogekraal
3. Swart River
4. Ashford
5. Belvidere” 31
20 January 1880
Knysna Civil Commissioner & Resident Magistrate Maximillian Jackson furnished the
following cost estimates to the Post Master General (PMG) in 1880:
Deputy Postmaster, Swart River - £6.
30
31
From book by Pauw Steyl “With the Postcart through Houtteniqualandt”….2009 p 149
From book by Pauw Steyl “With the Postcart through Houtteniqualandt”….2009 p 129.
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1 March 1880
This correspondence was followed by a letter from Postmistress Augusta Whitburn to
the PMG on 1 March 1880 stating that the following gentlemen performed the duties of
postmaster at the post offices listed below:
Zwarte River - J (John) Mills
Ashford - (J (Johannes) Franzsen
Belvidere - Walton Roberts32
The importance of the Zwart River postal stage was negatively affected when Thomas
Bain completed the “Top Road” through to Knysna via the Homtini and Phantom
Passes.
The challenge of crossing the Knysna River remained until the first bridge over the river
was completed in 1893.
It is unknown when the Post Office at Swart River was closed.
1900
Government Survey map showing the farm Zwarte Rivier, circa 1900. Farmhouses are
not shown.
32
From book by Pauw Steyl “With the Postcart through Houtteniqualandt”….2009 p129.
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1911 Extract from circa. 1900 map by Surveyor JK Ballot showing the Zwart Rivier
farmhouse. (Map held in the Millwood House Museum, Knysna)
The farmhouse is ringed in RED for clarity
Extract from SGN 2683 of 1911 showing position of buildings
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The Robertson family
Merchant and trader William Robertson came to the Cape circa. 1810 and settled at the
Cape.
He was later involved as a shareholder with George Rex in the building of the brig
Knysna on the Knysna River at Westford.
His half-brother Arthur George Robertson followed him to South Africa in 1814, returned
to Britain in 1820, then returned again in 1831 33 to stay.
He married Johanna Groenewald of the Hoogekraal farm.
Their second son Alfred George Robertson, born 1838, also married a Groenewald girl
and lived at “the Lakes”.
He was MLA for George 1879-1888) 34
Robertson family history tells that an outspan existed near the farmhouse, due to the
ample pasturage and source of fresh water.
1912
The Knysna Quitrents Volume 11 No. 10 dated 21 November 1912 refers:
Alfred George Robertson, William Robertson, Henry Gordon Robertson and John
Spencer Robertson applied to create the farm Eastbrook, consisting of 5298 morgen of
land, made up of portions of earlier farms Olyvenhoute kraal (Hollywood Park),
remaining portion of the farm Zwart Rivier, originally held by the widow of Stephanus
Janse Weyers, a portion of the Zwart Rivier farm transferred to William Barrington in
188435, and a portion of land held by William Robertson.
The Eastbrook Farm is held by the above-mention in equal shares, by amended title
deed.
Surveyors map SGN 2683/1911 has reference.
1913
A portion of the Eastbrook Farm, situated in the Division of Knysna and measuring 1135
morgen, is transferred to William Robertson, under Title deed 4400, dated 11 June
1913. This portion includes the portion 20 of the farm 183 (Eastbrook).
1922
Mr. William Robertson “of Eastbrook” provided sand for the Karatara building project.36
1937
T12642/ 1937 dated 29 November 1937 refers.
After the death of William (Eastbrook) Robertson in 1923, his widow, Marthina
Nicholisina Robertson, born Muller, transferred the Eastbrook Farm to her sons in equal
shares.
One third equal share of the remaining extent of Eastbrook (1135 Morgen) was granted
in favour of:
Glanville Robertson (b. 26 March 1906)
Aubrey Robertson (b. 19 June 1909), and
33
Tale of a Timber Mill, Margaret Parkes & Vicky Williams, 1992.
Millwood House Newsletters No. 43, 1993
35
See KA Carlson, Transplanted, page 31
36
ibid.
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Francis Ridley Robertson (b. 23 June 1913).
Two further portions of the original Zwart Rivier farm, in the Division of George and
known as Lots B and C of Lot 2 viz. across the Swart River (Hoëkraal) River, is also
transferred to the three brothers in equal share. William Robertson had acquired these
two portions in 1915 and 1919 respectively.
A funeral gathering at the Eastbrook Farmhouse on death of William Robertson in 1923.
The Pond circa.1923
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1950
The three brothers decide to formally sub-divide the farm and enter into a number of
partition agreements.
For example:
Refer T7314/ 1950 dated 26 May 1950.
This Deed of Partition declares Francis Ridley Robertson as the sole owner of Portion
20 of the Eastbrook farm, which is that portion on which the farmhouse is located.
Marthina Nicholisina died in 1953.
1974 – 1984
William Ronald (Ronnie), a son of Ridley Robertson, stayed in the farmhouse with his
wife Francie and their three children, Minette, Billy and Veronica, during this period.
In 1985 the farm was sold to:
1985
T2881/1985 refers - Raffaela Incendiario. Rented to the Lambarti family, who made
cheese here.
1987
T53305/1987 refers - Evemon Investment Company (Pty.) Ltd. (Harald Escherich)
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APPENDIX A Photographs of the
doors and the crests:
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APPENDIX B
The entrance to the Castle, Cape Town
The crest of the new Netherlands States.
In 1574 a new heraldic motive was chosen, which had to include the Netherlands Lion,
a widely recognized and respected heraldic motive in the Netherlands. This new symbol
would represent every region and not one in particular.
The chosen design was a gold lion on a red field. Its symbolism meant a blend of the
coat of arms of the provinces of Brabant, Gelderland (from these two the golden lion
was taken) and Holland (whose coat of arms was the opposite) and those of Burgundy
and Nassau.
The Netherlands Republic Lion had also a sheaf of arrows and a sword bar, taken from
the crest of Charles V in his seal as "Lord of the Netherlands" and the sheaf of arrows
as a symbol of unity. Their sovereignty emphasized the "Mightiness lords" of the States
General by a crown to place their arms.
The number of arrows changed, at first there were 17, despite the fact that the Union of
Utrecht counted 11 districts after the Fall of Antwerp in 1585, so it eventually changed
to 11, but with the Reduction of Groningen to 7, the number of arrows on the arms fixed
at 7 in 1606, but the seal still remained with 17 arrows until 1795.
The arrows symbolize the seven provinces that made up the Republic, the sword the
determination to defend their liberty, and the coronet their sovereignty.
Acknowledgements: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Republic_Lion