Izaac Wilhelmus (Van Der Merwe) van der Merwe (1785 - 1833)

Born 15 Jun 1785 in Dutch Cape Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Maria Jacoba Barbara (Janssen) van der Merwe — married 17 Feb 1805 in Tulbach, Dutch Cape Colony

Descendants

Died 11 Apr 1833 at age 47 in Moddervlei, Koue Bokkeveld

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Izaak (Van Der Merwe) van der Merwe was part of the settlement of the Dutch Cape Colony. Join: Cape of Good Hope - Kaap de Goede Hoop (1652-1806) Project Discuss: dutch_cape_colony

Biography

Izaak Willem was born in 1785^[1], the son of Carel van der Merwe and Hester Cicilia Burger.

Baptism

Isaac Willem was baptised at the Dutch Reformed Church at Tulbagh^[2]:

Farm

On 27/28 April 1818 the farm of Moddervalley was surveyed for "Isack Wilhelmus van der Merwe". This huge farm, next to Houdenbek, was later subdivided in many smaller farms.

Houdenbek Slave Revolt of 1825

Izaak was the brother of Willem Nicolaas van der Merwe, who was murdered in the revolt^[3]. His farm was near to Dalree and in the area where the gang operated. Izaak was one of their targets that they never reached. He joined the commando to hunt them down.

Slave Owner

In 1816, under Governor Charles Somerset, Slave Registers were instituted, by district^[4], to regulate slavery, prevent 'free blacks' from being enslaved, and slowly working towards abolition.

We find that Izaak registered 14 slaves in the Tulbagh Slave Register, Ledger M, Folio 33^[5]. The register also gives the date of Izaak's death 11th April 1833, when the register was automatically went to his widow. The first enregisterment in 1816 lists Adam van de Kaap, Baron van de Kaap, Blom van Mozambique, Jonas van de Kaap, Kleinboy van de Kaap, Jan van de Kaap, and the women Spasie van de Mozambique, Lea van de Kaap, Rachel van Mozambique, Julenda van de Kaap. Later purchases were Jan (2) van de Kaap, Carolus van de Kaap, Fortuin van Mozambique, Geduld van Mozambique.

Research Notes

• His date of death is given in the slave register as 11th April 1833. This profile had another date, 25 December, from Familysearch, without any source for the date. The date has been corrected here and there. (NC Brummer-447).

Sources

1. ↑ Izaak Willem van der Merwe (1785-1833), ID LWR2-6DG at Familysearch.org
2. ↑ Baptism registers for the Dutch Reformed Church at Tulbagh, 23 Jul 1785 - 25 Sept 1785, including Isaac Wilhelmus van der Merwe on 31st July
3. ↑ Houdenbek Slave Revolt, with a list of relevant people at the category page Houdenbek Slave Revolt 1825 category
4. ↑ Slave Owners and Slaves in South Africa, and how to find relevant images at Familysearch
5. ↑ Tulbagh Slave Register, Ledger M, Folio 33, for Izaak Wilhelmus van der Merwe, Carel's son, image at Familysearch.org

Acknowledgements

• first start made by Jannie van der Merwe, Feb 11, 2013.