SOUTH AFRICAN HISTORY: The first Vryburgers - The decision which changed the direction of history in the Cape

“Vryburger” (free citizen) is a term which referred to employees of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) at the Cape of Good Hope who were allowed to farm for their own account.

Later other settlers from Europe who joined the program without being employed by the VOC also became part of the collective called Vryburgers. Due to the dominant role, these new farmers played in the late 17th century in the Cape the decision to establish the Vryburger was an action which changed the direction of history in the region.

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The fort built by Jan van Riebeeck (Source)

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During the mid-17th Century, the Dutch were a dominant force in the trading with the east. Their colonies in the East were known as Batavia with headquarters at the present-day Jakarta. A practice they regarded as unacceptable was to trade for your own account while in the service of the company. Jan van Riebeeck fell into disgrace for doing just that and was called back from the East to the Netherland.

To repair his reputation within the VOC, Van Riebeeck made himself available to establish a refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope.

The HERE XVII (board of the VOC) accepted Van Riebeeck’s application knowing that a leader with his competence would otherwise not have been available. Twelve days after his arrival at the Cape of Good Hope on 18 April 1652, Van Riebeeck wrote a letter of regret to the HERE XVII, begging them to release him from the task. History taught us that he was not relieved from the position and we can assume that Van Riebeeck was more motivated to succeed at his task to earn a promotion to a better position in Batavia.

When exactly Van Riebeeck came up with the possibility to allow farmers to farm for their own account, is not sure. The earliest evidence of his initiative is found in a letter to the HERE XVII written by a sailor, David Claes Swaegh, in late 1653 or early 1654. Swaegh was a friend of Van Riebeeck with whom he discussed the possibility of a settlement of farmers in the Hout Bay valley.

Van Riebeeck learned about Swaegh’s letter when he received a communication from the HERE XVII in early 1655, dated 6 October 1654, in which they asked for his views on freeing up employees of the company and allow them to farm for their own account.

In Van Riebeeck’s reply to the HERE XVII on 28 April 1655 he pointed out that he did not expect the HERE XVII to be in favour of such a suggestion as his instruction were strictly to create a Refreshment station and not a colony.

The freeing up of employees to farm for their own account will lay the foundation of a colony.

He gave his support to Swaegh suggestion and said that it would have a positive contribution to the Refreshment Station’s ability to provide the visiting ships as the provision of the meat supply from the Khoikhoi was unreliable, and wheat production from the gardens was insufficient. Regarding the Hout Bay area, he pointed out that there was enough land nearer to the fort where about 1000 families can support themselves.

Van Riebeeck also raised his concern about the long-term prospects of such an experiment.

His experience from other colonies taught him that persons usually grabbed the opportunity only to fill their pockets and then leave. He needed people to stay and make their life to farm at the Cape.

He pointed out to the HERE XVII that they should be prepared to the support these farmers in the beginning stages to ensure that they got established.

The employees who choose to enter the program had to stay for ten years and their children 20 years before they may go back to their country of origin.

Through this Van Riebeeck attempted to ensure that the new farmers will make the Cape their new home. Also in this manner, the HERE XVII will be able to receive back the money they initially invested in the farmers through taxes. Further, the new farmers would be restricted only to trade with the Company and no one else. For the farmers to be able to supply the company with the needed products, they would need slaves. The VOC, who until this stage were reluctant to bring slaves to the Cape, had to be prepared to provide them with the needed slaves.

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The farms of the first Vryburgers (Source)

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30 October 1655 Van Riebeeck received a reply from the HERE XVII that they accepted his proposal and that he could continue with setting up the farms.

For Van Riebeeck, this new project was critical. It had to be a success because it will determine his future with the VOC and if he can receive a transfer to the East in the next few years. The following year Van Riebeeck personally experimented in different areas to determine the suitability of the soil for wheat farming. By December 1656, he was satisfied with the results of his tests and started to open the offer of private farming to the employees of the VOC at the Cape.

The families entered the program on 21 February 1657, and they could do so until 13 February 1658.

The region in which they settle next to the Liesbeeck river became know as the Amstel. By 1658 three groups of Vryburgers were recognisable namely the "Coornhoop Colonie ", the "Hollantse Thuijn Colonie" and the "Groenevelt Colonie".

Coornhoop Colonie:

• Hendrick Boom
• Wouter Cornelisz Mostert (forefather of the MOSTERT family)
• Jan Reijniersz

Hollantse Thuijn Colonie:

• Steven Jansz Botma, a deck hand from Wageningen (forefather of the BOTMA family)
• Hendrick Elberchtsz, a young gentleman from Ossenbrugge (forefather of the ELBERTS family)
• Frans Gerritsz
• Otto Jansz, a soldier from Vreede
• Jacob Cornelisz Rosendael, a soldier from Rosendael (forefather of the CORNELISSEN family)

Groenevelt Colonie:

• Jacob Cloeten
• Warnar Cornelisz, a deck hand from Nunspeet
• Roelof Jansz, a soldier from Dalen
• Jan Martensz, a Gunner from Vreelandt
• Jan van Passel, a soldier, builder and brandy maker from Geel in Brabant
• Harman Remajenner, a Gunner from Ceulen

The origin of these Vryburgers were mostly from the Netherlands, but there were a few from Germany, Norway and England. Each family received about 11,5 ha.

Sources:
Du Plessis, J.S., "Die Vryburgers van 1657. Hulle was die eindlike volkplanters", http://www.tanap.net/content/activities/documents/resolutions_Cape_of_Good_Hope/introduction_afrikaans/32.htm
http://www.afrikanergeskiedenis.co.za/die-eerste-vryburgers/
http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/SOUTH-AFRICA/2004-02/1078055772
http://familielegkaart.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/geskiedkundige-agtergrond.html