George
Thom
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland
Son of William Thom
and Barbara Sheriff
Husband of
Christina Louisa (Meyer) Thom
— married
31 Oct 1814 in Cape Town, Cape Colony
Husband of
Neeltje Maria (Vos) Thom
— married
11 Aug 1817 in Cape Town, Cape Colony
Descendants 
Father of
George Whitefield Thom, William Thom, James Nesbit Thom, Hester Margaretha (Thom) Voigt, Michiel Christiaan Vos Thom and Georgina Williamina (Thom) van der Spuy
Died
at age 52
in Somerset Hospital, Cape Town, Cape Colony
Profile last modified
| Created 16 Jun 2015
This page has been accessed 1,451 times.
Biography
George was born on 6 May 1789[1] in Aberdeen, Scotland.[2] He is the son of William Thom and Barbara Sheriffs.[1]
He was baptised on 18 Jun 1789 at Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland.[1]
On 31 October 1814 he married his first wife, Christina Louisa Meyer, in the Dutch Reformed Church of Cape Town in Cape Town.[3]
In 1816 he was the first person who did a systematic survey of the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn and drew a sectional plan of the Caves.[4]
On 11 Aug 1817 he married his second wife, Neeltje Maria Vos, in the Dutch Reformed Church of Cape Town in Cape Town. [5]
He was the first minister of the Dutch Reformed Church of Caledon from 1818 to 1825.[6][7]
He was the minister of the Dutch Reformed Church of Tulbagh from 1825 to 1833.[8][7]
He died of tuberculosis on 11 May 1842 at the age of 52 in the Somerset Hospital in Cape Town.[2]
Research notes
- The FamilySearch record of his baptism indicates a "6" at his date of birth.[1] So it seems that he might have been born on 6 Jun 1789. The image is not available on FamilySearch so it is not possible to verify it. For now though his date of birth is taken as 6 Jun 1789. Danie Malan, 29 Feb 2024.
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3
- Baptism:
- "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XBQW-N2B : 16 September 2021), George Thom, 1789.
- Danie Malan, 13 Mar 2024.
- FamilySearch transcription:
- Name: George Thom
- Birth Date: 6
- Father's Name: William Thom
- Mother's Name: Barbara Sheriffs
- Event Type: Christening
- Event Date: 18 Jun 1789
- St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Transcription of original: Image not currently available on FamilySearch.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
- Death notice:
- South Africa, Cape Province, Cape Town, Cape Archives Depot, Estate Files, MOOC, vol. 6/9/26, no. 5504½; "South Africa, Cape Province, Probate Records of the Master of the High Court, 1834-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQX-MQR2-F?cc=2517051&wc=WV44-SZV%3A1598082367 : 28 September 2018), 007844936 > image 1549 of 2223; Pietermaritzburg Archives (Formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa.
- Danie Malan, 13 Mar 2024.
- ↑
- 1st Marriage:
- "South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSFQ-S9MX-D?cc=1478678 : 8 November 2021), > image 1 of 1; State Archives, Cape Province.
- Danie Malan, 13 Mar 2024.
- Transcription:
- "p63, 1814, Naamen der Perzoonen die in den Egtenstaat zym ingezeegend, Octr 31. George Thom, van Aberdeen in Schotland, Predikant alhier jongman met Christina Louisa Meyer van Cabo de Goede Hoop, Jonge Dogter"
- ↑
- Cango Caves:
- Kwartaalblad van die Suid-Afrikaanse Biblioteek. Vol. 38 no. 3 Maart 1984. Pages 116 - 121. See https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Thom-423-1, https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Thom-423-2 and https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Thom-423-3.
- Danie Malan, 13 Mar 2024.
- ↑
- 2nd Marriage:
- Danie Malan, 13 Mar 2024.
- Transcription:
- "1817 Getrouwde Persoonen, 11 Augs, De Eerwaarde Heer George Thom, van Aberdeen in Schotland Predikant; Weduwr met Neeltje Maria Vos van Cabo de Goede Hoop, Jonge dogter"
- ↑
- Minister at Caledon:
- Gemeentegeskiedenisargief, Gemeentes, NG Gemeente Caledon. [online]. available at https://www.gemeentegeskiedenis.co.za/ng-gemeente-caledon/.
- Danie Malan, 13 Mar 2024.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1
- Minister George Thom:
- Gemeentegeskiedenisargief, Predikante, Thom, George. [online]. available at https://www.gemeentegeskiedenis.co.za/thom-george-3/.
- Danie Malan, 13 Mar 2024.
- ↑
- Minister at Tulbagh:
- Gemeentegeskiedenisargief, Gemeentes, NG Gemeente Tulbagh. [online]. available at https://www.gemeentegeskiedenis.co.za/ng-gemeente-tulbagh/.
- Danie Malan, 13 Mar 2024.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with George by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with George:
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with George by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with George:
-
~3.12%
Daniël Gerhardus Malan
:
Family Tree DNA Family Finder, FTDNA kit #N84624
-
~1.56%
Anja (Groenewald) Jordaan :
Family Tree DNA Family Finder
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Images: 6
George is 21 degrees from Maria Mitchell, 28 degrees from Carl Sagan, 21 degrees from Tycho Brahe, 29 degrees from Nicholaus Copernicus, 17 degrees from Eise Eisinga, 18 degrees from Caroline Lucretia Herschel, 14 degrees from Thomas Maclear, 18 degrees from Simon Newcomb, 21 degrees from Isaac Newton, 24 degrees from Pierre Henri Puiseux, 18 degrees from Beatrice Tinsley and 20 degrees from Edith Woodward on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
Categories: Gosport Academy | Dutch Reformed Ministers
Progenitor of The Thom Family In South Africa
George, the son of William Thom and Barbara Sherrif, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland on the eighteenth of June 1789. He joined the Congregational Church under Dr John Phillip, and later studied for service with the London Missionary Society at Gosport, under Dr. Brogue. Ordained in 1812, he set off for India aboard the 'Isabella' traveling with Rev John Campbell.
They arrived in Cape Town in October of that year and were met by John Moffat. He liked Cape Town, and saw the need for some Calvinistic leadership, so he wrote to the London Missionary Society asking for permission to stay in the Cape. In 1814 he married Christina Louisa Meyer, who died giving birth to their only child, George Whitefield Thom. Three years later he married Cornelia Maria Vos. They had eleven children.
Amongst his more notable achievements were: 1) The publishing in 1818 of 'The Caves of Southern Africa' , with the proceeds going to missionary work. The book was subscribed by, amongst others, Burchell. 2) Proposals submitted to Lord Somerset and Col. Bird to educate the Slaves. 3) His appointment as Minister at Caledon in 1819 and then later in Tulbagh. 4) In 1820 (the year the British Settlers arrived at the Cape) he and his family set off for London aboard the 'Duke of Marlborough' (His third son, James Nisbet Thom, was born in London). While in the British Isles, he recruited Ministers and Teachers on behalf of the London Missionary Society for work in South Africa.
George died in Cape Town on the eleventh of May 1842, and he was buried under the floor of 'die Groote Kerk' (the big church). Many of his descendants had profound effects on the history of S.A and many became Ministers too.
A Simple Family Tree
William Thom m. Barbara Sherriff
George Thom (1789) --- Marriage 1 --- Christina L. Meyer
Son, George W. Thom
George Thom (1789) --- Marriage 2 --- Cornelia M. Vos
Son, William Thom
Son, James N. Thom
Son, John B. Thom
Son, Henry V. Thom
Daughter, Maria J. Thom
Daughter, Hester M. Thom
Son, David J. Thom
Son, Michiel C. V. Thom (my G.G.Grandfather)
Daughter, Anna Thom
Daughter, Georgina W. Thom
Son, Cornelius W. J. Thom https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/macthomas/41/