Claas Jansz VAN RENSBURG

Notes:

Claas Jansz was the progenitor (stamvader) of the Van Rensburg family in South Africa.
Though he apparently came from the Netherlands, the exact date of his arrival is not clear. It is presumed that Claas must have arrived in the Cape in 1708, one year earlier Governor W A van der Stel was removed due to corruption. The earliest record of his presence at the Cape is his marriage, in the year 1708.
Claas and his wife Aletta first lived on the freehold farm "Vrymansfontein" (Agter-Paarl), which was purchased by Aletta's first husband, Marthinus van Staden.
They then became stock farmers and had a number of loan farms:
On 17 Oct 1708 he obtained a loan farm "Hottentotsfontein" at Riebeecks Casteel, which was their first loan farm.
On 15 Nov 1710 Claas signed a contract with Johannes Hermann Carstens, whereby he would supply 400 sheep for breeding purposes. Once the sheep were sold Carstens would pay Claas the sum of 600 gulden. This arrangement was to last for four years and the profits from this venture was to be shared equally between both parties, but was nullified on 12 Feb 1711.
Claas obtained another loan farm in the Land van Waveren (next to the Breede river) on 17 Dec 1711. He named this farm "Rensburg", and it was their main place of residence. The farm was situated between the farms "Artois" of Philip du Preez and "Veerkeyker" of Steven Bruere. The farm was later called "Knollevallei" and was sold to Andries Gouws for 304 Rix dollars after his death. Today that area belongs to the Knolle Vlei Forest Reserve, which is not far from Wolseley. He applied that this land be granted to him, but his request was denied.
Claas was engaged in conflict on various occasions:
The annullment of his partnership with Carstens; the protest regarding monopoly of slaughter by the Company, and the conflict regarding his farm "Rensburg".
Claas obtained the loan farm "Groote Craal" at the Breede river in Waveren on 20 Feb 1717. Part of the agreement was that one tenth of the wheat crop should be presented to the Castle. This farm was sold to Hendrik Willemsz van der Merwe for 166:5 Rix dollars after his death.
On 7 May 1723 Claas obtained the loan farm "Zeekoeigat" on the Berg River (north of Wellington), which used to belong to Jan Louwis du Plessis. The contract was renewed on a 6-monthly basis until 3 June 1728. After his death, Aletta applied for a permit for the farm on 6 Oct 1728. The grant was permitted for two years, on the condition that four trek oxen were to be delivered to the company post at Schuur. The payments for this loan farm were made faithfully till after the death of Aletta and then it was sold in the estate auction.
The farm "Claas Voogts" (which got its name from a man who was killed by an elephant in this area) was obtained by Claas as a loan farm on 5 July 1724. With obtaining this loan farm he prepared the way for three of his sons to follow the route down the Breede River to the Eastern Cape. This farm remained in their possession and was part of the estate that was auctioned after Aletta's death.
On 27 May 1709 he was appointed to the position of corporal in the Drakenstein infantry commando. In 1708 he possessed 3 matchlocks or carbines and one sword. From 1709 his arms decreased to one matchlock and one sword. On 10 Feb 1710 he was promoted to sergeant of the Drakenstein infantry (he served in this position until 1723). He was replaced as a burgher sergeant on 5 Oct 1723 by the Council of Policy.
Claas made provision for his children to be educated by the "adelborst" Pieter Paulus Tame from Den Hague from 29 Dec 1722 to 28 Dec 1725.
Not only did the household included 2 children from Alleta’s first marriage and 6 from this marriage union, but also up to 6 slaves. The slaves' names and their sale at the estate auction and settlement of Claas and Aletta’s estate were recorded plus how much they were sold, and to whom:
(a) Joseph van Mallabaar sold for 208:1 Rix dollars to Jan Bastiaansz.
(b) Coridon van Mallabaar sold for 198 Rix dollars to Johannes Janse van Rensburg,
(c) Antonij van Mallabaar sold for 71:4 Rix dollars to Hans Jurgen Potgieter,
(d) Arij van Bengalen sold for 101 Rix dollars to Pieter Barendsz Blom,
(e) Hans van de Kust Coromandel sold for 52 Rix dollars to Gerrit van Aart.
The only slave not from Asia, (f) Abraham from Madagascar (who was 16 or 17), went to their son Nicolaas due to his sickly condition, as recorded in their will.
Claas and Aletta made their will in 1727, March 21, at midday. With the longest living to retain the whole estate. Upon death of both parents the will was to be divided in a "vader portie" and a "moeder portie". The father's portion had to be divided amongst the children he procreated (7 living children), and the mother's protion would be divided amongst the children she procreated (9 living children).

(Research):Volgens Pama II was hy waarskynlik van Rynsburg by Leiden in Nederland afkomstig.

Claas married Aletta VAN DER MERWE, b7 on 14 Aug 1708 in Drakenstein, Cape, South Africa(Paarl). Aletta (daughter of Willem Schalkzoon VAN DER MERWE, progenitor and Elsie CLOETE, b1) was born on 30 Mar 1684 in Cape Town, Cape, South Africa; was christened on 30 Apr 1684 in Cape Town, Cape, South Africa; died on 30 Sep 1729 in Drakenstein, Cape, South Africa(Paarl). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elsie VAN RENSBURG was born in 1712 in Cape, South Africa; was christened on 31 Jul 1712; died on 15 Oct 1776 in Tulbagh, Cape, South Africa.
2. Elsie JANSE(N) VAN RENSBURG, b2 was born on 4 Jul 1712 in Cape, South Africa; was christened on 31 Jul 1712 in Stellenbosch, Cape, South Africa; died on 24 Sep 1762 in Tulbagh, Cape, South Africa.
3. Cecilia (Sicilia) Janse VAN RENSBURG was born on 1 Mar 1715; was christened on 21 Apr 1715; died on 25 Jul 1774 in Cape, South Africa.
4. Cecilia JANSE(N) VAN RENSBURG, b3 was born on 1 Mar 1715; was christened on 21 Apr 1715 in Paarl, Cape, South Africa; died on 1 Dec 1744 in Cape, South Africa.
5. Sophia JANSE(N) VAN RENSBURG, b7 was born on 21 Nov 1725; was christened on 23 Dec 1725 in Drakenstein, Cape, South Africa(Paarl); died on 30 Dec 1800 in Land van Waveren, Cape, South Africa (Tulbagh).
6. Sophia Janse VAN RENSBURG was born on 25 Nov 1725; was christened on 23 Dec 1725 in Drakenstein, Cape, South Africa(Paarl); died on 30 Dec 1800 in Land van Waveren, Cape, South Africa (Tulbagh).