Family History
I could trace my family history back as far as 1686 when my great, great..... Grandfather was born in Zeeland in Europe. Zeeland is a Province of the Netherlands in todays terms and consists of a number of islands hence the name (meaning sea-land). Zeeland is a strip of land and see that borders Belgium. Middelburg is the Capital of Zeeland and lies in the centre of a former island of Zeeland called Walcheren.
(see map below)
Servaas De Kock (my great, great.... Grandfather) was born in 1686 and moved form Middelburg in Zeeland to Cape Town in 1707.
Originally Walcheren was an island but polders and a dam across the Oosterschelde have connected it to the former island of Zuid Beveland, which in turn was connected to the North Brabant mainland.
Middelburg was founded in the 9th century as one of three fortresses hence the name: "Middel" (middle) and"burg" (fortress). Very soon the small fortress and settlement turned into a trade centre. Around 1123 monks established an abbey in Middelburg which became a religious centre of major importance. For centuries the islands of Zeeland were claimed by both county of Flanders and the county of Holland. Although politically in 1323 Holland won the conflict, the Flemish influence remained and played the most prominent role in the community. It will be fair to say that Servaas De Kock was mostly Flemish.
Flanders is the community of the Flemings. Flanders has figured prominently in European history. The Flemish were important allies of the Normans (Vikings) in their conquest for England (1066) and the invasion of Ireland (1169-1171).
The trade with Flanders, England and France lead to an enormous growth of the city. In 1559 abbot Nicolaas de Castro becomes the first and last Bishop of the newly founded diocese of Middelburg. The 80 years War started an new area. In 1574 after a siege of two years, the city was forced to surrender to the Protestant army of the Prince of Orange. The Catholics where forced to leave the city, which was turn into a centre for Protestantism.
Belgium has been under pressure to consider Flanders as the county of the Flemings rather than just a region of Belgium.
Although South Africa was entered by Europeans for the first time in 1503 at the time when Servaas De Kock entered (1707) South Africa, Cape Town was under control by the Dutch. The Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station at Table bay on the 6 April 1652.
Set against the background of all the turmoil that happened in the Cape between the Dutch, English, French and indigenous Khoikoi people a new language developed. By the end of the eighteenth century Cape Dutch had largely become what we know as Afrikaans today.
It was not however the only development. Boer is the dutch word for farmer. A new ethical group developed orignally known as the Trekboere. They were mainly an ethnic mix of Dutch, French Calvinist, Flemish, Frisian Calvinist, French Huguenot and German protestants
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The 'trek- Boer' was a semi- nomadic farmer that spoke Afrikaans and an adventurist by nature. A rustic characteristic and tradition was developed early on as the Boer society was born on the frontiers of white settlement and on the outskirts of civilization. The Boers of the frontier were known for their independent spirit, resourcefulness, hardiness and self sufficiency.
The Boer nation is well known for their strong nationalistic character and distinct Calvinistic culture. Their Nationalism was born of hundreds of years of fighting against imperialism, a continuing struggle for independence battling mainly British expansion into central South Africa.
My family are and have always been protestants.
In my heart and in my soul I am a 'Boer' It is part of my inheritance. (Nationalistic and Conservative in character and a distinct Calvinistic Protestant in culture.
The official date for the 'Groottrek' is 1838, however the Voortrekkers of the Groot Trek should not be confused with the 'Trekboere'. Although they were similar in character and spirit the Trekboere explored central and north South Africa beyond the Cape's official borders long before the Groot Trek.
Potgietersrus, my birthtown, dates back to 1852 when Voortrekker Hendrik Potgieter established a settlement in this pass between the Waterberg mountains and the Strydpoort mountains.
I do not know if my ancestors moved into the north of South Africa as Trekboers or if they ended up there with the official 'Groottrek' of 1838 but the earliest record of my Great Grandfather Johannes Jacobus De Kock (date of birth - 1842) living at my birth town Potgietersrus at erf number 459, is somewhere between 1842 - 1871.
I was born on th 16/12/1955 in Potgietersrus and grown up on a farm close to this town in rural Africa. I was born on my Grandfather's birthday and although I was not his first Grandson I was honoured to continue with the family name. This always makes me feel special. My son was born on the 13/10/1980 and he was also named after his Great Great Grandfather.
Nothing in this world is permanent. The referendum of 17 March 1992 in South Africa changed my journey in life and my children and there children forever.
The history of South Africa is remarkable and a worthwhile to read and research for those interested. The historic ideology of a country under control of the Afrikaner or let me say it "Boer" was forever lost and Africa with all its beauty, poverty, corruption and political turmoil claimed this piece of land back forever.
Home for me is now Australia. It is here were I will spend the last days of my life. Its is here where I found piece and happiness, but deep down in my heart I will always remember the drums of the African bush beating, the antelopes in the bushveld, the farm where I grown up and the joys and sorrows of a young boy attempting to live a life of faith and hope in the fulfillment of the gracious promises of God and the death and resurrection of His Son, by which alone he hoped to ascend to the heavenly mansions of eternal bliss, to the presence of Him, Who is the Great I am, the Alfa and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
I encouraged my son to leave Africa after he completed primary and secondary school. He moved to England for a few years before he married Ida Bostrom a Swedish woman and moved permanently to Sweden close to the original land of his forefathers (Zeeland). He lives in Gothenburg in Sweden. The history of my family will continue in Europe and Australia and South Africa. My Grandson Oliver Bostrom De Kock who was born in Gothenburg in Sweden. My Grand daughter Livia Bostrom De Kock is his eldest child.
My youngest daughter Sanel De Kock is in Australia and her children my Grandson Michael Godfrey excels in sport. His sister Abigail Godfrey is very talented and has an amazing personality.
My other two Grandsons are still in South Africa but I am not convinced that they will continue to live there. Perhaps at least one of them (or both) will continue with there life's in Africa.
I hope one of my children or grandchildren will have the vision to continue with this website as a heritage for our family and their children's children.
