een modderachtige grond met dikke ruigtens begroeid zeer vuil van onderen en met zeeruigte begroeid te zijn. 3

Transcription

1 THE RUIJGTE VALLY FARM 1 AND LOT G, THE PORTION KNOWN AS RUSHMERE 2 The Ruigtevlei area was described in the early days as: een modderachtige grond met dikke ruigtens begroeid zeer vuil van onderen en met zeeruigte begroeid te zijn. 3 Loosely translated, Ruigtevlei means marsh of brushwood. 1.0 Early history of the Ruigtevlei farm Andries Gous (III) The Ruigtevlei farm was granted to Andries Gous in 1775, who was married to Anna Magdalena Vosloo, the eldest sister of Wessel Vosloo of the neighbouring farm, Ganzvlei. 5 Wessel Vosloo s was therefore his brother-in-law and as they both took ownership of their respective and neighbouring farms in the same year they must have made a much-considered decision to farm in the same area. Celigny Coat-of-Arms (Wiki) The families must have known each other quite well, as Wessel s older brother Johannes Vosloo was married to Johanna Gausch, the younger sister of Andries Gous, during the period Andries Gous s grandparents were both French Huguenot refugees to the Cape. André Gauch, a blacksmith and farmer, who settled in Drakenstein (Paarl), was born circa 1660 at Le Pont-de-Montvert, Languedoc, France. His first marriage was to Jacqueline Decré on 13 January 1683 in Celigny, Geneva. 6 Records show that they had a son Estienne, born 1684, and a daughter Marie, born in The family decided to emigrate to the Cape as French Huguenots. Sadly, his wife Jacqueline and daughter Marie are believed to have died on the ship as when they arrived in the Cape in 1691, only André and his son Steven (Estienne) stepped off the ship. He signed his name with the original French spelling, see insert. Survival dictated that he re-married and he soon took a second wife, Johanna (Jannetje) de Clercq, on 19 August 1691 in Stellenbosch. She was born in Zeeland and had arrived at the Cape four years earlier. Their marriage lasted but seven years - André Gauch died on 26 February 1698; his widow Jannetje survived him for another 50 years! 7 1 Early history taken from unpublished copy of Travel in the Houteniqualand by Philip Caveney, Acknowledgements to Carol Elphick for information on the Rushmere farm house and its history 3 TANAP Records, Landdrost and Heemrade of Swellendam 4 The Ruigtevlei farm appears on the Frederici map of 1790, as farm number The Gansvei Story by David Peter Metelerkamp, June Barnes Richard Ball -

2 The children of André Gauch and Johanna de Clercq included a son, Andries Gous (II), (b6), born circa May 1698 in the Stellenbosch District (Breede River) and who farmed at De Melkhouteboom, on the Duijvenhoks River. He married Johanna Conterman on the 14 May 1719 in Drakenstein. Unfortunately, Andries (II) died at the young age of 37, May/ June The second son of Andries (II) and Johanna Conterman was: Andries Gous (III) (b6.c2), who was born during 1720 and baptised on 5 January 1721 in Drakenstein (Paarl). Andries (III) married Anna Magdalena Vosloo on 9 September 1742 in Drakenstein, She had been born in and died circa As mentioned earlier, Anna Magdalena was a sister of Wessel Vosloo of the neighbouring farm, Gansvlei, 21 years older than he. They had two sons, but no issue. Andries Gous (III) was awarded Free Citizenship (Vryburger) in 1764, but little has been found of his early career with the DEIC. As most of the colonists did at the time, Andries (III) prepared a will. The first will on record in his name was prepared in 1768, subsequently revised in 1773, then, finally, in His wife had predeceased him in 1792 and his first son Andries was dead by this time. It is not known if the second son, Johannes Stephanus, born in 1748, was living with him on the Ruigtevlei farm to the end. However, we can deduce what happened to Andries Gouws after his wife died as his final will, dated 3 Feb 1804, which was drawn up by Andries Stockenstrom, secretary of the Swellendam Colony, indicates that he had re-located after he sold the Ruigtevlei farm to JF Meeding (see later). This record it tells us that this, his final will, was prepared at the residence of the testator, situated on the Duyvenhoks Rivier. in the presence of Johs. (Johannes) Pets. (Petrus) Strydom and Fredrik Johs. de Jager. It was filed in The Records of the Orphan Chamber also tell us that Andries Gousch (Gouis) sold the opstal of the farm Kruijs Rivier geleegen aan de Duijvenhoks Rivier to the same Johannes Petrus Strydom (who had assisted in the preparation of his will), before Strydom died circa. June The Gous family had owned a number of farms in this area at one time or another; de Hollebak over t Duijvehocks river as well as de Melkhoute Boom aan de Duijvenhoks river. To further reenforce the Duijvenhoks River connection, Wessel Vosloo s wife was the daughter of Willem Meijer, who farmed over de Duyvenhoxrivier aan de Diepe Cloof. Andries (III) had, as is often the practice today, returned to the place of his childhood in his final years. On the 19th June 1810, soon after his death, the 1804 Will was presented to the Orphan Chamber at the Cape (Weeskamer). As Wills were usually presented shortly after the death of the testator we can safely assume that Andries had died by June SA Archives, Orphan Chamber, MOOC8/11.33a 9 Richard Ball - National Archives Cape Archives MOOC 7/1/59, SA Archives, Orphan Chamber, MOOC8/55.43a, b

3 1.2 Early travellers The first traveller to mention the cattle farm of Ruigtevlei, which lies north of the Groenvlei, was Robert Gordon in 17 February He mentions that the farm was occupied by a certain Gouw. However, this farm is recorded on the Frederici & Jones map of 1790 as belonging to a Hertenberg, which is a mystery. Possibly Hertz was visiting from Wilderness? 11 General Janssens also passed through Ruigte Valley before moving on to Groenvlei, where Paravicini di Capelli did a sketch of the Groenvlei lake from the eastern end. Dirk G Van Reenen remembers to mentions Jansse Weyers of Zwart-Rivier in his journal. The party moved then moved on to Ganse Vallei, then Buffels Vermaak, before reaching the Knysna River. Six months later, after leaving Stephanus Weyers Swart River farm, the Governor De Mist party quickly found that it had to cross a stream passing through the Ruigte Vallei, which due to the sharp stones which cover the bed of the river over which the horses often stumble, or else their feet stick between them caused them much concern. However, the journey after this challenge was very varied and pleasant with views of the sea and at one time they had a good view of Green-lake (Groenvlei). Lichtenstein considered the green colour of the water as well as the tidal effect apparently exhibited by this lake. Although the Groenvlei is higher than the sea, separated from the sea by a formidable land mass, he concludes that if it be not deception proceeds probably from some secret cause which may be discovered by future naturalists who have the leisure to remain longer in the country than I could do! 1.3 Johann Friedrich Meeding Johann Friedrich Meeding bought the opstal on Ruigtevlei from Andries Gous in Meeding was a well-educated man and had studied at the University of Königsberg. He was placed as a woodcutter at the Outeniqua Government Post, later taking control of the Post; presumably because of being stationed here he would have met his future wife Maria Martha Terblanche, daughter of the old Heemraad Pieter Terblanche of Rheeboksfontein farm, whom he married in October He was appointed the Government Post Holder at Plettenberg Bay since its inception in 1787 until his death in He also, in his time, held the rank of Deputy Magistrate, Swellendam. He was a man of high integrity and was well respected and because of this he survived three traumatic changes in control at the Cape Colony. (from Dutch to British to Dutch!) In the course of his early duties as a woodcutter for the DEIC, he would have become aware of the possibilities of farming (and timber harvesting) in the Houteniquasland and offered to buy the Ruigtevlei farm. His intention was have something to offer his sons, somewhere to retire and spend his last days and hopefully as soon as possible, he could place his eldest son Johannes Jacobus Meeding, (born 1783) on the farm. Unfortunately, the British authorities were unsympathetic to his appeals for retirement and refused him permission, so 62 year old Johan Frederik Meeding died, at his post, in A prominent street in Plettenberg Bay commemorates his memory. 11 See

4 1.4 Johannes Jacobus Meeding. His son Johannes Jacobus Meeding later inherited the farm. Later, in 1815, Christian Latrobe comments on the crossing of a broad river at a deep crossing in the Ruygte Valley. Here the wagons were emptied, and they re contents, as well as themselves, transported across the river by means of type of canoe. He found the delay caused by the unpacking and repacking of the wagons a most annoying issue. It is thought that Latrobe was actually referring to the Zwart Rivier crossing. Latrobe s party reached the farm of Mr. Meeding at noon, and were welcomed with thick milk, bread and butter. This would have been the eldest son, Johannes Jacobus Meeding, then a young man in his 30 s, as his father had died. The farm was still registered in the name of the JF Meeding until it was transferred under quitrent tenure in 1818 to his widow. Johannes Jacobus Meeding was still farming at the farm in 1850 when he offered shelter to the survivors of the shipwrecked Nepaul. It is useful to provide a contemporary description of the Ruigtevlei Farm and the Meeding farmhouse at this juncture. The late David Peter Metelerkamp 12 of the Gansvlei Farm records that in 1845 the 62 year-old Johannes Jacobus Meeding contemplated selling Ruigtevlei to William Henry Newdigate, a young prospective farmer newly arrived from England. Newdigate described Ruigtevlei, with its fine stone house, to his father in this manner: Now I wish you to picture to yourself a house with six rooms in it, situated in a very pretty valley and water running down the middle of it, with high mountains to the north of it and bounded on three sides by the sea, the Swart Lake and the Karatara River, with lots of good grass upon it, in extent some acres such a place is Ruigtevlei. He further stated that the fishing was very good in both sea and lake, and expected to be able to purchase the farm for about However Johannes Jacobus Meeding changed his mind about the sale, and the Meedings stayed on. The sturdy Meeding stone farmhouse could well have been built along the lines of the Reeboksfontein Terblanche s The Meeding grand-children inherit 14 Johannes Jacobus Meeding died in 1860 and his wife Johanna Sophia died in April At the time of Johan s death the estate also included the farm Ganzen Vally aan Doukama [the Gansvlei farm on the Goukamma River] and JJ Meeding and his wife Johanna Sophia Jacoba Meeding (born Campher) had decreed in their will that each child would inherit 1/9 th of the 12 Taken from the Gansvlei Story by David Peter Metelerkamp Both Stephanus Janse Weijers, the builder of the Zwart Rivier homestead shown above, and Johann Friedrich Meeding, the owner and likely builder of the Ruigtevlei homestead, were married to daughters of Heemraad Pieter Terblanche of Rheeboksfontein. 14 ibid.

5 Estate which included the Ganzvlei Farm (2868 morgen) and the Ruigtevlei Farm (2925 morgen) as shown hereafter. With the exception of c6 each heir was to erect a home on portions of the two farms as listed below 15 On Ruigtevlei Farm: c1 Susanna Roeloffina Meeding (b. 1810) widow of the late Frederik Wilhelmus Modeman, remarried in 1859 to Jacobus Raubenheimer aan de Groene Vally. [Assumed in proximity of Ruigtevlei Lot H] c3 Johan Frederik Meeding (b. 1813) who married Rachel Catharina van der Wat voor Ruigte Vally s drift [Assumed in proximity of Ruigtevlei Lot F] c4 Roelof Pieter Meeding (b. 1815) married Isabella Boswell [re-married in 1876 to Susanna Frederika Terblanche] op de dors vloer van de eerste postal van Ruigte Vally s plaats. [Proximity unknown.] (David Metelerkamp suggests that this means the first Ruigtevlei opstal s threshing floor) c6 Petronella Albertina Meeding (b. 1819) married to Stephanus Abraham van Niekerk - on the plain below the streepbosch. [in proximity of Ruigtevlei Lot E?] Further information is provided by AM Toerien: The husband Stephanus Abraham van Niekerk was a wastrel, so they decreed that the proceeds from her share of the estate be paid into one of the Cape banks and that she be allowed the interest only. Her portion of the farm was not to be sold, but after but after her death was to pass in equal shares to her remaining brothers and sisters, with whatever money was remaining in the bank. c8 Anna Rachel Elizabeth (b. 1824) married to Herman Arnold Dreyer ons tegenswoordig woonhuis [Ruigtevlei Lot G] c9 Catharina Dorothea (b. 1826) married to Henry Hooper aan de Groene Vally [Ruigtevlei Lot C] On the Gansvlei Farm: c2 Maria Johanna Albertina Meeding (b.1811) widow of Anthonie Michiel Ferreira, re-married in 1859 to Johannes Lodewyk Marais Steenboks Eiland c5 Sophia Catharina Meeding (b. 1817) widow of John Hamilton, re-married in 1855 to P.W Schnetler - Ganzen Vally, aan Doukama. [Gansvlei] c7 Johanna Jacoba Meeding (b. 1822) married to Johannes Gerhardus Schonken - Ganzen Vally aan Doukama. [Gansvlei] Independent research reveals that when Johanna Sophia Jacoba (born Campher), the widow of Johannes Jacobus Meeding, died in 1865 she bequeathed what became portion G of the Ruigtevlei Farm where the Rushmere farmhouse stands today, to her youngest daughter Anna Rachel Elizabeth, who had married a certain Herman Dreyer, and who took possession of the Testator s home by virtue of her loyalty and care of them [her parents] in their old age. 16 The survey and sub-division of the Ruigtevlei Farm was completed by August 1878 and transfer of the resulting eight portions was granted as shown on the schedule overleaf. The Meeding farmhouse apparently stood on Lot G where the Rushmere swimming pool is today. 15 Deeds Office T123, ibid. 16 AM Torien, Meeding family researcer.

6 Of relevance to this story is that the Anna Elizabeth Dreyer (b. Meeding) was awarded Lot G and the Catharina Dorothea Hooper (b. Meeding) was awarded Lot C.

7 1.6 Jacobus Johannes Hooper But the Dreyers had no issue so possession of the farm was passed to a great-grandson of Johan Frederick Meeding, a son of Anna s younger sister Catharina Dorothea s marriage to Henry Hooper. This was Jacobus Johannes (Jack) Hooper, born in On 23 November 1908 the Meeding family home, now occupied by JJ Hooper and his family, burnt down. The press reported: On Monday evening 18 Mr. J. J. Hooper s residence at Ruigtevley, was burnt to the ground and only owing to the helpful assistance of his neighbours, the Messrs. Varkevisser, he managed to save a few articles of furniture and some books. A very large quantity of tobacco was also burnt. From what we can learn Mr. Hooper and family were asleep and Mr. Hooper woke upland felt choked. He jumped out of bed and rushed out to find what was amis and to his horror found the roof well alight. It was a thatch roof and the smoke was enough to choke anyone. He immediately helped his wife and family to get out in safety and then did all he could to save his property. He will be a great loser as the furniture was only insured for 300 and the house for the same amount. The house was a very commodious one of eight rooms and [was] a very old, well built dwelling. Luckily there were no lives lost. Mr. Hooper has been exceedingly unfortunately as only lately he lost over 50 chick ostriches, but he has had a splendid /season for his crops The greatest need now is for store room for his grain of which he will have a very large quantity. At present he and his family are living in tents next to the ruins of the homestead. JJ Hooper rebuilt his home of brick and stone on Lot G. On 20 April 1910 JJ Hooper offered the farm and home on Ruigtevlei Lot G and for Public Sale or Lease. 19 He had decided to join a son in Rhodesia. His sons Charteris and Humphrey Cecil apparently sold Ruigtevlei Lot G to the Thesens. Jack Hooper died a widower c and was buried at a family farm in the Southern Free State. 20 JJ Hooper in his old age 17 Jack Hooper Lineage by Allen Duff, family research. 18 GKH 23 November GKH Hooper family history from discussions with historian Allen Duff.

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9 1.7 Charles Eric Thesen Charles Eric Thesen was born in Knysna on 4 October He did his initial schooling in Knysna and was then sent to St Andrews in Grahamstown where, as a border in Espin House. Here he completed Forms IV & V. With the exception of Leonard, the sons of Charles W Thesen were all educated at St. Andrew s College and travelled to school in a horse drawn carriage over the Prince Alfred s pass to Avontuur, where they caught the narrow-gauge train to Grahamstown. The Thesen s driver then returned with the carriage to Knysna. He matriculated in 1909 and studied further at the Grootfontein Agricultural College near Middelburg (Cape). Eric served in the South African Army during the First World War. House Karoo at Grootfontein Charles Eric married Helen Katherine (Kitsy) Mallett and they had four children: Stanley Brian (born 28 November 1918) Kathleen Eleanor (born 6 November 1921) Charles Leonard (born 22 April 1924) Nicolette Blanca (born 26 November 1930) In 1916 Kitsy had served as a teacher at the Knysna Secondary School for the Standards 2 & 3. [Grades 4 & 5 today] Later she was the Commandant of the Knysna South African Women s Auxiliary Service (SAWAS), during World War II. She was known for having capably organised many a regatta at the Knysna Yacht Club in her time. 21 Charles Eric Thesen circa 1915 Leading up to and during Second World War Charles Eric rented the Rushmere Farm to Erich Behrend who also operated a motor garage, with fuel pump, on the upper vleie road to Sedgefield. This road, which led past the Rushmere farmhouse and followed a route along the edge of the Ruigtevlei and the Swartvlei, was a popular alternative for residents of the Ruigtevlei area to reach Sedgefield (west) Erich Behrend s Garage 21 Margaret Parkes, The history of the Knysna Yacht Club and Aschies s Cabin

10 In 1922, at much the same time that Rolf Frederik Thesen was building his house Uxmere on the farm next to Rushmere (later to be renamed Broughton House by Sidney Ballenden), his brother Charles Eric Thesen (b. Oct 1891) built his house on this portion of Ruigtevlei known as Lot G and named the farm Rushmere. Family records and evidence discovered (a newspaper fragment found when the serving hatch was removed by the present owners Carol and Kevin Elphick) would confirm that the building was built during A young Stanley & Kathleen Thesen at play on the 1922 construction site. The four Thesen children on the roof Charles Eric Thesen, with his the Governess and children, at Rushmere. Stanley and Kathleen at Rushmere.

11 View of the present Rushmere farmhouse from the north The second gable facing east Charles Eric Thesen died on 31 January 1953.

12 1.8 Subsequent ownership Herholdt The property was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Herholdt during the period They farmed with sheep and cattle. They delivered 5 cans of milk daily to the Ruigtevlei siding. Louis du Pisani Herholdt was succeeded by Louis du Pisani who owned the property during the period 1958 to He had formerly farmed in the Klein Karoo at Klaarstroom. He ran a dairy and farmed with pigs, Angora Goats and vegetables. The Angora goats did not thrive. DJP Keyser DJP Keyser lived here during the period 1958 to 1960 and renamed the farm Keysersrus. The Glanville Robertson s Glanville Robertson bought the Rushmere property in 1960 and lived here with his family for three years. This may well have been in partnership with his brother-in-law. These photographs shows Glanville (Glan) and his wife Bessie in 1958 and their four daughters and Marion 22 Robertson sitting on the front lawn at Rushmere in Norman Goodier Siddeley Rushmere was later purchased by Norman Goodier Siddeley (born 1898) of the British Armstrong Siddeley engineering family. Norman Siddeley was the third son of John Davenport Siddeley, 1 st Baron Kenilworth, Chairman and Managing Director of Hawker Siddeley, AV Roe, UK. Before coming to South Africa he worked in the family business. He probably started the chicken farming and built what became the present dairy. 22 Marion (married van Vreden) wrote the excellent letter about the Karatara people. A translation is provided on pages 142 & 143 of the Karatara Story 23 From Trevor Robertson of Hout Bay. The girls are Marion, Martie, Nicolette, Annalise & Catherine

13 An interesting co-incidence: Pauline Ballenden, a daughter Sidney Ballenden of Uxmere/ Broughton House, married Noel Parrott who was based at the Air Force Training School in George, and who had been trained by Armstrong Siddeley in the UK prior to this. Noel and Norman, who knew each other from their time in England, were both most surprised to bump into each other years later in Knysna as neighbours! 24 Norman Siddeley died in 1971 and the Rogers bought the farm. Rogers The Rogers couple were the next owners where they ran a poutry and piggery. Mr Rogers subsequently died but his widow (later Mrs Evans) continued the live on the farm until 1982, where after it was purchased by the Stanfords. Stanford The Stanfords, who were farming in Kokstad at that time, sold Rushmere two years later, when they bought and moved to Portland, a portion of the Portland Manor estate. They focussed on chickens and pigs. Kevin & Carol Elphick The property was then sold to the present owners Kevin and Carol Elphick who have owned the farm since 1984 i.e. for 34 years. 24 Discussions with Sue McIvor, 2013.

14 A fundamental difference between Rushmere and Uxmere farms is that Rushmere has been used as a general-purpose farm for most of its entire life, whereas Uxmere (and other neighbouring farms) was converted for plantation use by Forester Sidney Ballenden in 1947 and has remained so. Google Earth map showing location of houses at Ruigtevlei 8. Uxmere, later Broughton House 9. Rushmere The old Nestle Cheese factory and staff housing is visible in the centre of this Google Earth view. View north to the Outeniqua Mountains. Researched and compiled by Philip Caveney, September 2017 With sincere acknowledgement of contributions by Carol Elphick, September 2017