Elias Albertus was die seun van Willem Adriaan Nel en Hester van Wyk.
Name Elias Albertus Nel
Birth Date 7 Nov 1895
Parent Name Willem Adriaan Nel
Second Parent's Name Hester Van Wyk
Event Type Baptism
Event Date 21 Feb 1896
Event Place Swartland, Cape Province, South Africa
Event Place (Original) Swartland, Cape Colony, South Africa
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:62M2-N16Y?lang=en
Elias Albertus
Baptised: 1796, 21 Februarij 1796
Father: Willem Adriaan NEL
Mother: Hester VAN WIJK
Witnesses: Albertus an Wijk , Cornelia Geertruida an
Wijk
Additional notes: Gebooren den 7 November 1795
Avontuur (now called Grasberg) in the Veldcornetcy of the North Onder-Bokkeveld in the District of Clanwilliam, Nigel Amschwand - 2013
In May of 1803 an inventory of the possessions of Hester van Wyk was made, the late wife of Willem Adriaan Nel. The inventory also listed the name of their six children, the youngest of whom, Elias Albertus Nel, was eight years old. It was Elias who had the farm (Avontuur) surveyed in 1819 for conversion into a perpetual quitrent place, a new form of land tenure introduced by the British Governor of the Cape, Sir John Francis Cradock.
Duly (1968: 52) states: “From 1813 to 1828 when the Cradock laws were modified, land policy suffered an almost total neglect by the Cape Government. The colony hired an inspector of government land to supervise the operation of the new code, but the individual (Charles D’Escury) who held that office was so ill-suited for the execution of his task that he contributed to the breaking down of the existing administration”. From this it is easy to understand why the actual title deeds were not issued until 1832. Apparently, it had become a custom for farmers in the Onder-Bokkeveld and Hantam to give gifts of game, tobacco and other articles to the “bosjesmans nation” to encourage them to conduct themselves peaceably. There was a Government Ordinance of the 24th December 1814 forbidding inhabitants of the colony from going outside its borders. Seven farmers of the Onder-Bokkeveld and Hantam, including Elias Albertus Nel (Willem’s son), signed a memorial15 to the Government stating the above and requesting that as game had become scarce in the area, that the “bosjesmans” were “becoming uneasy”, and could they have permission to go over the border to hunt game. Predictably the government said no. Three of the other signatories of the memorial were close neighbours of Nel. Heremias Cornelis Nieuwoudt was the local Veldcornet and lived at Groen Rivier, Theunis Kotze lived at Klippe Rivier and Jan Harmse Steenkamp lived at Bokkefontein.
Elias married Johanna (Jannetje) Sophia Steenkamp in the church in Tulbagh in 1818. Johanna was the daughter of Jan Harmse Steenkamp who lived at Bokkefontein, the farm immediately to the north of Avontuur. (https://www.vassa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/VASSA-Report-Amschwand-Avontuur-Grasberg-2013.pdf )
7 Mar 1818
1818, Den 7 Maart
Elias Albertus Nel
van Cabo de Goede Hoop, Jongman
Burger alhier
Met
Jannetje Sophia Steenkamp
van Cabo voorn., Jonge Dogter
Source: Nederduits Gereformeerde Gemeente (NGK),
Tulbagh, Western Cape. marriage register, 1744-1839, page 107, entry no 5.
Repository: NG Kerkargief, Noordwal-Wes, Stellenbosch, G4 9/1. Transcribed by
Trysie Joubert, Marelize Keyter, Marie Greyvenstein and Annatje Erasmus as part
of the eGGSA Project, from VC 664, Cape Archives Repository
Willem and Hester had
seven children, four daughters and three sons, and it was the last child, Elias
Albertus Nel, who took over the farms. Elias married a neighbour‟s daughter,
Johanna Sophia Steenkamp from Bokkefontein at Tulbagh, on the 7th March 1818. By
1819 when Rietfontein was surveyed it was in the name of Elias Albertus. (Rietfontein: A farm in the North Onder-Bokkeveld (Farm No. 631) by Nigel Amschwand -http://www.vassa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/VASSA-Journal-21-June-2009-Text-final-13-June-2009-compressed.pdf)
After Elias Albertus’ death, his widow married Johannes Albertus Basson who was a widower with a young son. The tax records for 182619 show that Basson was living at one of Nel’s farms (either Avontuur, Kleinkloof, Doorn Rivier or Rietfontein) with his parents and siblings. His listing, immediately after Nel, perhaps indicates his position as a top supervisor and therefore his attractiveness to Johanna Sophia as a marriage partner. His mother was Anna Jacomina Nel the widow of Nicolaas Jacobus (Coert) Ryk the earlier occupier of Avontuur. In 1846 the couple made a new will revoking all former wills. The beneficiaries were his son, another Johannes Albertus, and Jannetje’s three sons already mentioned, but only one daughter, Hester Cecilia. Maria Johanna must have died in the intervening four years. Unlike Jannetje’s earlier will with Elias Albertus, there was no mention of the farms staying within the family or that the estate was only to be distributed after the death of the longest lived. Other people living on these four farms were Bart Koopman, Georg Farmer, Arie Trion (Theron?), Willem Trion (Theron?), Samuel H.C. Russouw (perhaps a son of the Samuel Russau who had once registered Avontuur), Cornelis Pingel and Frederik Frederik. Together with their families, farm workers and slaves, a total of 58 people. (https://www.vassa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/VASSA-Report-Amschwand-Avontuur-Grasberg-2013.pdf)
In the tax records (Opgaafrolle) of 1827
Elias and Johanna had one son and one daughter (an earlier son had already
died), a household servant and 24 Khoisan workers of various ages. Also 5
living on their farms Avontuur, Rietfontein, Klienkloof and Doorn Rivier were
Baron Mouton with a Khoi man and woman and two children; Jacobus Stephanus
Smit; Arie Trion (Theron?) with two Khoi men, three women and five children and
Nicolaas Russouw with three Khoi men, three women and five children. One would
assume that Mouton, Smit and Russouw supervised the three outlying farms while
Nel resided at Avontuur. In 1832 Rietfontein was granted to Elias as a
perpetual quit-rent farm of 2345 morgen and 175 sq. Roods (2009 hectares). It
is not known when Elias died but his wife remarried in 1845. Rietfontein was
transferred to the ownership of Elias‟s three sons called Jan Harmse, Willem
Adriaan and Abraham Johannes Jacobus. It remained in the Nel family ownership
until the early 1900s, when it was transferred to Herman Henry Buhr (married to
Hester Christina Nel) and his son Elias and two van Zyls, Elias Albertus Nel
van Zyl and Izak Jacobus van Zyl who were also related to the Nels by marriage. (Rietfontein: A farm in the North Onder-Bokkeveld (Farm No. 631) by Nigel Amschwand -http://www.vassa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/VASSA-Journal-21-June-2009-Text-final-13-June-2009-compressed.pdf
CA: MOOC 7/1/163.26
The Joint Last Will and Testament of Elias Albertus Nel and Jannetje Sophia Steenkamp, married in community of property and both sound of mind and body - drawn up on the Eleventh day of June in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty, Firstly the testators revoked all previous Wills and Codicils, and especially the Will dated 1st February 1828 drawn up before the Notary Jacobus Petrus de Wet.
The testators now declared that, from the great love each bore for the other, the longest-lived would be the sole and universal heir to all the Estate, movable and immovable, which they presently owned and which with God’s goodness they would still acquire. The longest-lived would, however, be obliged to rear the children born and to be borne of the marriage in a Christian manner and care for them until they reached their majority, married, or attained some other responsible state.
The longest-lived was also required to cause the Estate to be inventoried and assessed by two upstanding citizens to be appointed by the Executor of the Estate and Guardian of the minor children, in order to administer the portions due to the children.
The Estate was then to be sold by Public Auction. Prior to the sale, however, the following were to be given to the longest-lived in full and free ownership
A wagon, complete, as well as one span of trek-oxen – for the sum of 600 Rds
400 sheep for the sum of 600 Rds
10 breeding horses for the sum of 250 Rds
10 head of breeding cattle for the sum of 100 Rds
2 riding horses for the sum of 100 Rds
1 stretcher bed and 1 bed with its bedding for the sum of 25 Rds - all to be chosen prior to the assessment of the Estate and the sale.
After the death of both the Testators the Perpetual Quitrent farms named Avontuur, ‘Riet Fontein’, ‘Klein Kloof’, Doorn Rivier, ‘Brand Kop’ and ‘Ronde Kop’, all in the Onder Bokkeveld District of ‘Clan William’, were to devolve upon the three sons borne of the marriage, named Jan Harmse, Willem Adriaan, and Abraham Jacobus Johannes Nel, for the sum of 30 000 Gulders (or 10 000 Cape Rds) – subject to the following conditions:
That should one of the heirs not wish to accept his share of the above-mentioned farms, his share was to be given to his fellow-heirs for the sum of 15 000 Guilders (or 5 000 Cape Rds) and the transaction to be overseen by two independent persons - one to be chosen by the heir parting with his share and the other by his fellow-heirs.
Should one of the afore-mentioned sons die before his acceptance of the aforesaid farms, or were not otherwise able to take up acceptance of the farms, the amount of 15 000 Guilders (or 10 000 Cape Rds) was to be deposited for the benefit of the combined Estate.
The farms were on no account to be sold outside the family, and, should none of the sons be able to take up ownership of the shares, the afore-mentioned farms would be given, on the same basis as to the sons, in full possession to the female children, by name Maria Johanna Nel and Hester Christina Nel or their lawful descendants – for the sum of 15 000 Guilders (or 5 000 Cape Rds)
To each of the above daughters, after the death of both the Testators, would be given a cupboard – to Maria Johanna the one with the stars engraved on the doors and to Hester Christina the rectangular cupboard.
The longest-lived of the Testators was appointed Executor of the Estate and Guardian of the minor children, together with the Burgher Jacob Willem Stephanus Nel (Jacobus son). Lastly the Testators reserved the right to add to or amend their Will from Time to time and, after having had it read over to them carefully, it was signed on the date aforesaid at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa on the farm Avontuur in the Onder Bokkeveld, District of Clanwilliam. (https://www.vassa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/VASSA-Report-Amschwand-Avontuur-Grasberg-2013.pdf )
EA SK: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQX-MQGP-9?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQP4Y-73B7&action=view&cc=2517051&lang=en&groupId=
The Joint Last Will and Testament of Elias Albertus Nel and Jannetje Sophia Steenkamp, married in community of property and both sound of mind and body - drawn up on the Eleventh day of June in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty, Firstly the testators revoked all previous Wills and Codicils, and especially the Will dated 1st February 1828 drawn up before the Notary Jacobus Petrus de Wet.
The testators now declared that, from the great love each bore for the other, the longest-lived would be the sole and universal heir to all the Estate, movable and immovable, which they presently owned and which with God’s goodness they would still acquire. The longest-lived would, however, be obliged to rear the children born and to be borne of the marriage in a Christian manner and care for them until they reached their majority, married, or attained some other responsible state.
The longest-lived was also required to cause the Estate to be inventoried and assessed by two upstanding citizens to be appointed by the Executor of the Estate and Guardian of the minor children, in order to administer the portions due to the children.
The Estate was then to be sold by Public Auction. Prior to the sale, however, the following were to be given to the longest-lived in full and free ownership
A wagon, complete, as well as one span of trek-oxen – for the sum of 600 Rds
400 sheep for the sum of 600 Rds
10 breeding horses for the sum of 250 Rds
10 head of breeding cattle for the sum of 100 Rds
2 riding horses for the sum of 100 Rds
1 stretcher bed and 1 bed with its bedding for the sum of 25 Rds - all to be chosen prior to the assessment of the Estate and the sale.
After the death of both the Testators the Perpetual Quitrent farms named Avontuur, ‘Riet Fontein’, ‘Klein Kloof’, Doorn Rivier, ‘Brand Kop’ and ‘Ronde Kop’, all in the Onder Bokkeveld District of ‘Clan William’, were to devolve upon the three sons borne of the marriage, named Jan Harmse, Willem Adriaan, and Abraham Jacobus Johannes Nel, for the sum of 30 000 Gulders (or 10 000 Cape Rds) – subject to the following conditions:
That should one of the heirs not wish to accept his share of the above-mentioned farms, his share was to be given to his fellow-heirs for the sum of 15 000 Guilders (or 5 000 Cape Rds) and the transaction to be overseen by two independent persons - one to be chosen by the heir parting with his share and the other by his fellow-heirs.
Should one of the afore-mentioned sons die before his acceptance of the aforesaid farms, or were not otherwise able to take up acceptance of the farms, the amount of 15 000 Guilders (or 10 000 Cape Rds) was to be deposited for the benefit of the combined Estate.
The farms were on no account to be sold outside the family, and, should none of the sons be able to take up ownership of the shares, the afore-mentioned farms would be given, on the same basis as to the sons, in full possession to the female children, by name Maria Johanna Nel and Hester Christina Nel or their lawful descendants – for the sum of 15 000 Guilders (or 5 000 Cape Rds)
To each of the above daughters, after the death of both the Testators, would be given a cupboard – to Maria Johanna the one with the stars engraved on the doors and to Hester Christina the rectangular cupboard.
The longest-lived of the Testators was appointed Executor of the Estate and Guardian of the minor children, together with the Burgher Jacob Willem Stephanus Nel (Jacobus son). Lastly the Testators reserved the right to add to or amend their Will from Time to time and, after having had it read over to them carefully, it was signed on the date aforesaid at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa on the farm Avontuur in the Onder Bokkeveld, District of Clanwilliam. (https://www.vassa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/VASSA-Report-Amschwand-Avontuur-Grasberg-2013.pdf )
EA SK: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQX-MQGP-9?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQP4Y-73B7&action=view&cc=2517051&lang=en&groupId=
After Elias Albertus’ death, his widow married Johannes Albertus Basson who was a widower with a young son. The tax records for 182619 show that Basson was living at one of Nel’s farms (either Avontuur, Kleinkloof, Doorn Rivier or Rietfontein) with his parents and siblings. His listing, immediately after Nel, perhaps indicates his position as a top supervisor and therefore his attractiveness to Johanna Sophia as a marriage partner. His mother was Anna Jacomina Nel the widow of Nicolaas Jacobus (Coert) Ryk the earlier occupier of Avontuur. In 1846 the couple made a new will revoking all former wills. The beneficiaries were his son, another Johannes Albertus, and Jannetje’s three sons already mentioned, but only one daughter, Hester Cecilia. Maria Johanna must have died in the intervening four years. Unlike Jannetje’s earlier will with Elias Albertus, there was no mention of the farms staying within the family or that the estate was only to be distributed after the death of the longest lived. Other people living on these four farms were Bart Koopman, Georg Farmer, Arie Trion (Theron?), Willem Trion (Theron?), Samuel H.C. Russouw (perhaps a son of the Samuel Russau who had once registered Avontuur), Cornelis Pingel and Frederik Frederik. Together with their families, farm workers and slaves, a total of 58 people. (https://www.vassa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/VASSA-Report-Amschwand-Avontuur-Grasberg-2013.pdf)
