Gabriel Johannes (Jan) GREEFF

Other Events:

• Reference Number: H475

Notes:

Date of his death provided by Francois Greeff, e-SAGI, Mei 2007, source to be confirmed.

According to anecdotal evidence from Andries Petrus (Boet) du Preez *9 Aug 1928, confirmed by G J (Sonny) Greeff, *3 Nov 1926, Jan Greeff who was adjutant to General Koos de la Rey during the Anglo-Boer war, was in charge of operations during the battle of Magersfontein, where Buller was defeated.

This is known as one of general de la Rey's finest victories but ironically he was not present. He was attending the funeral of his son Adaan who had been killed in action. The battle was fought under the leadership of Col Jan Greeff.

Emily Hobhouse, in her book "Boer War Letters," Human & Rosseau, ISBN 00 0 7981 1823 7, pp 2880 para 4:

I was taken about the district by Mrs de la Rey's brother, a young Mr. Greeff and we dined at his house, a dreadful ruin, with the floors all rooted up and the doors gone and the wall broken. It was a fine big house and remained intact until 12 May 1902, when ten days before Peace and during negotiations the troops took it into their hands to wreck it utterly. So they live in terrible discomfort in a couple of rooms and wonder if they will ever have enough money to rebuild it, seeing compensation is a fraud and they have no cash properly to restock the farm.

And on pp 289 para 3: I was driven by Mr Greeff and Mr Malan and found the entire population of the hamlet assembled in the marquee school to receive me...

Pieter du Preez (grandson) recalls that oupa Jan lived in the farm house at Manana before the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer war. He owns a copper chandelier which had been plastered into the wall together with a few other valuables when they had to leave the house during the war.

He vaguely remembers that great-grandpa H A built a small house on the farm which was later replaced by the large farm house by his son, Gabriël Johannes.

This evidence appears to be incorrect. Subsequent word-of-mouth evidence derived from direct descendants indicate that the large house was built by H A Greeff.

Gabriel married Carolina Petronella (Totie) DE WET on 6 May 1891 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa. Carolina was born on 8 Apr 1873 in Dordrecht, Cape, South Africa; died on 3 Jul 1947 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was buried in Manana Cemetery, Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Margaretha Wilhelmina (Grieta) GREEFF was born on 10 Nov 1892 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was christened on 25 Dec 1892 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 26 Sep 1969 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was buried in Manana, District Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa.
2. Susanna Maria GREEFF was born on 25 Nov 1894 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was christened on 23 Dec 1894 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 13 Aug 1897; was buried in Manana, District Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa.
3. Hendrik Adriaan (Hennie) GREEFF was born on 28 Nov 1896 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was christened on 31 Jan 1897 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died in 1962 in Syferfontein, Marico Dist.; was buried in Manana, District Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa.
4. Susanna Maria GREEFF was born on 4 Nov 1898 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was christened on 26 Dec 1898 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 19 Nov 1969; was buried in Manana, Lichtenburg.
5. Pieter Francois Steyn (Pieter) GREEFF was born on 2 Oct 1900 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was christened in in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 25 May 1983 in Roodepoort, Transvaal, South Africa; was buried on 30 May 1983 in Roodepoort, Transvaal, South Africa.
6. Carolina Petronella (Totie) GREEFF was born on 28 Apr 1903 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was christened on 28 Jun 1903 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 22 Jun 1908 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was buried in Manana, District Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa.
7. Jacoba Elizabeth (Kowie) GREEFF was born on 18 Jun 1905 in Manana, District Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was christened on 27 Aug 1905 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 6 Dec 1989 in Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa; was buried in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa.
8. Gabriel Jan Smuts GREEFF was born on 5 Feb 1907 in Lichtenburg; died on 18 Aug 1976 in Kimberley.
9. Wouter De Wet (Wollie) GREEFF was born on 20 Feb 1910 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was christened on 1 May 1910 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 8 Jun 1913 in Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa.

Other Events:

• Alt. Birth: 29 Jan 1828, Lichtenburg, Durbanville, Cape, South Africa
• Alt Death: 4 Mar 1884, 'sandspruit', Wakkerstroom, Transvaal, South Africa
• Alt. Death: 3 Apr 1884, The Farm Rooipoort, District Volksrust, Transvaal, South Africa

Notes:

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The particular bonding that exists between Hendrik's descendants was triggered by the occasion when, near to the place where he later founded the town of Lichtenburg, his prayer for water was answered by the Lord. Hendrik returned to the place to give thanks on his 50th birthday.

Many of his descendants have spontaneously followed suit, arranging family gatherings at the site and honouring the Lord in a special way on their 50th birthdays.

The farm where he was born in Durbanville, Cape was named Lichtenburg, after the area in Germany from where his ancestor, Matthias Greeff came to South Africa in the 17th Century.

Hendrik's date of birth has yet to be confirmed. The inscription on his gravestone reads 19 Jan 1928, the National Archives say it was 26 Jan 1828 and Gretha du Preez in her book "Stigter van Lichtenburg, Kommandant H A Greeff" states that the date was 29 Jan 1828. The latter date is shown provisionally, until further confirmation is found. In his book "Die wel en wee van Hendrik Adriaan Greeff", pp.34, A D Bosman quotes from the writing of ds de Vries, where he described how he joined Hendrik for his birthday celebration on 29 January 1878, thereby providing a further source to indicate that 29 January 1828 could be the correct date of birth.

The first four large concentration camps in Germany were already in existence in 1937, two years before the war. They were Dachau, Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen and Lichtenburg! (Source: Page 61. Veranov, Michael (Ed). 1998. The Third Reich at War. Siena Publishing.)

Pieter du Preez remembers (2016) that great-grandfather H A Greeff owned a large home in a Lichtenburg suburb known as Doornfontein, later Retief Park. The house was later demolished. He doubts whether H A Greeff would have built the farmhouse at Manana. He was focused on the founding of the town.

Later word-of-mouth evidence from close family members does, however, suggest that Hendrik did, in fact, build the stately farmhouse.

Hendrik married Suzanna Maria REDELINGHUYS on 16 Jul 1855 in Hopetown, Cape, South Africa. Suzanna (daughter of Johannes Hermanus REDELINGHUYS and Jacoba Elisabet GROBLER) was born on 6 Jan 1837 in Malmesbury, Cape, South Africa; died on 21 Jan 1888 in Manana, District Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa; was buried in Manana, District Lichtenburg, Transvaal, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

During 1858, while camping on the farm Elandsfontein where they wished to settle, Hendrik and Suzanne were guarding the cattle during the night. She saw something prowling around the camp, took aim and fired. Hendrik thought that she had imagined things but when morning came they found a lioness that had been shot by Suzanne.

Notes:

Married:
Getroud deur Ds J Murray.Alt Marriage: Hendrik Adriaan GREEFF, b2c1d4e1f6g1 Date: 16 Jul 1855 Location: Hoopstad, O.F.S., South Africa

Notes:

Died:
Y

Matthys married Rachel Anna Jacoba DE VILLIERS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Y

Notes:

Died:
Y

Johannes married Jacoba Elisabet GROBLER. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Y