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Author Topic: Looking for South African ancestors  (Read 722 times)
Simba.Bruce
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk


Looking for South African ancestors
« on: Friday 15 February 08 20:00 GMT (UK) »

Hi everyone,  I'm looking for help finding ancestors of a family member by marriage. He was born in Wynburg, suburb of Capetown in 1970. His mother was Magdalena van der Bank, born in Capetown in 1949. His fathers surname was Swart. He has an ID number on his BC but nothing else. While being successful in UK family history, I have no idea where to start with such little information. I have been onto some SA sites but cannot seem to find any info.
Huh
Could anyone please help?  Please!!!!

Thanks in advance,      Sheilah Smiley
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Bruce, Muir, Lyon, Robertson,Simpson,Scott, McIsaac, Hedderwick, Ewing, Wallace, Buchanan, Annan, Low, Taylor, Calder, and more, Scotland.  Brimble, Smith, Cox, Parry, Skuse, Sheering, Lee(Lea), Shepherd, and more, Gloucestershire
EmPea
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 16 February 08 10:27 GMT (UK) »

Hi Sheilagh

If one applied for an Unabridged Birth Certificate, it would detail his parents full names, dates and places of birth.  One could then work backwards from there.

I assume you are in the UK (your profile doesn't specify) and I believe that one can go to the S A Embassy and apply for an Unabridged Certificate there and they in turn forward it on to the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa (I may be completely wrong about this and I suggest you phone them and enquire frst).  Alternatively, there is a form that can be downloaded from the Deparment of Home Affairs website http://home-affairs.pwv.gov.za/documents.asp, completed and then handed in to the Department of Home Affairs directly (cost R50).  They say 6-8 weeks but it can take months!  You just have to keep phoning until they tell you that it is ready for collection.

Once you get as far back as his great grandparents (judging by his age) you will probably be able to find an Estate file in the National Archives which will give you loads more information than a birth certificate and is the main source of reseach in S.A.  Look at the various sticky topics at the top of this Board for the link to the Archives as well as an example of a Death Notice.  Depending on the Archive, you will be able to order digital copies of the contents from eGSSA - see sticky topic on ordering documents.

Good luck
Moira
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South Africa - Wessels/Vorster
South Africa - Behr/Toerien
South Africa - Pnematicatos/Chimato
Cornwall, England & South Africa - Hicks/Breach
Yorkshire & Durham, England & South Africa - Kenney/Hucks
Simba.Bruce
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 16 February 08 11:24 GMT (UK) »

Hi Moira,
Thank you so much for your reply!

I have updated my profile now. I am in the UK and researching mainly in Scotland and Gloucestershire. I have done really well for a beginner, getting my own tree back to the 1700s and 1600s!!

Wayne, having joined our family, is desperate to find his ancestors. He was born in SA to Magdalena van der Bank and Swart(no christian name). His father died when he was 2 yo., was in the Army, and he was never spoken of( a taboo subject apparently). His mother remarried a Merchant seaman name of John Derbyshire who adopted Wayne and they came to England when he was 8 in 1978.

Word has it that there was a President Swart that they were related to, but not allowed to speak about!

This has posed me a problem as you can see. I am grateful for all the help we can get to get started on what, I fear, is going to be a mammoth undertaking!!

At least I now have a pointer and will get cracking on that BC.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

All the best       Sheilah  (nee Bruce)
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Bruce, Muir, Lyon, Robertson,Simpson,Scott, McIsaac, Hedderwick, Ewing, Wallace, Buchanan, Annan, Low, Taylor, Calder, and more, Scotland.  Brimble, Smith, Cox, Parry, Skuse, Sheering, Lee(Lea), Shepherd, and more, Gloucestershire
EmPea
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 16 February 08 13:19 GMT (UK) »

Hi Sheilah

As Wayne's surname is Swart and most South Africans with very old settler surnames are related in some way, it is possible that he is related to C R Swart.   There is a Wiki article about President C R Swart here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_R_Swart.  I read on www.stamouers.com that the first Swart in S.A. was one Johannes Swart born in 1646 in The Netherlands.

Good luck with your search.
Moira
« Last Edit: Saturday 16 February 08 16:03 GMT (UK) by EmPea » Logged

South Africa - Wessels/Vorster
South Africa - Behr/Toerien
South Africa - Pnematicatos/Chimato
Cornwall, England & South Africa - Hicks/Breach
Yorkshire & Durham, England & South Africa - Kenney/Hucks
EmPea
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 16 February 08 15:58 GMT (UK) »

Sheilah

It just struck me - if his father died in 1972, his Estate file may be in the Archives.  Now I know you don't know his name but Wayne's mother's name might be listed as the surviving spouse in the description.  What are her full names?  Also, does he know where they were living when his father died?

Moira
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South Africa - Wessels/Vorster
South Africa - Behr/Toerien
South Africa - Pnematicatos/Chimato
Cornwall, England & South Africa - Hicks/Breach
Yorkshire & Durham, England & South Africa - Kenney/Hucks
Simba.Bruce
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 16 February 08 17:25 GMT (UK) »

Hi Moira,
    As far as Wayne knows, his father died in Capetown. He thinks his name was Steven. Wayne was born in Winburg which I think is a suburb of Capetown(?). He was in the Army and I think there was an army garrison there according to one website but can't find it listed anywhere.
    His mother's name was Magdalena Cornelia van der Bank. Again that sounds like an original settlers name.
   She died in Manchester UK, May 2005---I have just found her entry in the death registers. She was married 4 times.

   Thank you so much for the help. I now feel as if I will be of some help to him!!

   Sheilah
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Bruce, Muir, Lyon, Robertson,Simpson,Scott, McIsaac, Hedderwick, Ewing, Wallace, Buchanan, Annan, Low, Taylor, Calder, and more, Scotland.  Brimble, Smith, Cox, Parry, Skuse, Sheering, Lee(Lea), Shepherd, and more, Gloucestershire
Simba.Bruce
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 16 February 08 17:50 GMT (UK) »

I've just had a text from Wayne--he's found out from his brother that his dad was born Steven Arthur Swart 1st November 1946, Johannesburg.  Married Magdalena van der Bank 14th April 1967, Johannesburg.

I'm afraid that's all we have at the moment. If you could point me in the right direction of the right archives, i would be so grateful.

Thank you once again,   

All the best to you             Sheilah



 
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Bruce, Muir, Lyon, Robertson,Simpson,Scott, McIsaac, Hedderwick, Ewing, Wallace, Buchanan, Annan, Low, Taylor, Calder, and more, Scotland.  Brimble, Smith, Cox, Parry, Skuse, Sheering, Lee(Lea), Shepherd, and more, Gloucestershire
Selina
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 16 February 08 18:31 GMT (UK) »

South Africa is not easy but try these for a start:

http://www.ancestry24.co.za/Default2.aspx?page=content/home

http://www.genealogyworld.net/


http://www.national.archives.gov.za/

http://www.southafricahouse.com/Consulate/Cr_Bcr.htm

The last one you can access applications for all certs. and form

Sel.

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Simba.Bruce
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 16 February 08 22:21 GMT (UK) »

Hi Selina,
  Thank you so much for your reply. I'll give them all a try tomorrow--sure to turn something up.

   All the best             Sheilah x
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Bruce, Muir, Lyon, Robertson,Simpson,Scott, McIsaac, Hedderwick, Ewing, Wallace, Buchanan, Annan, Low, Taylor, Calder, and more, Scotland.  Brimble, Smith, Cox, Parry, Skuse, Sheering, Lee(Lea), Shepherd, and more, Gloucestershire
EmPea
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #9 on: Sunday 17 February 08 14:42 GMT (UK) »

I've just had a text from Wayne--he's found out from his brother that his dad was born Steven Arthur Swart 1st November 1946, Johannesburg.  Married Magdalena van der Bank 14th April 1967, Johannesburg.

I'm afraid that's all we have at the moment. If you could point me in the right direction of the right archives, i would be so grateful.

Thank you once again,   

All the best to you             Sheilah


Hi Sheilah

The Military base in Wynberg consists mainly of housing and a hospital.  I have included a map and you can see that it occupies quite a small area.

Unfortunately, the Cape Archive only have records available until 1957 - even though records should be available after 30 years.   His Estate file is probably still at the Masters Office and they do not have an on-line index.  The Archive website is http://www.national.archives.gov.za/index.htm.

If I were you, I would order his father's birth certificate so see who his parents were and then try and find their Estate files in the Archives to trace further back.

I checked all my resources for his name but came up empty handed.

Regards
Moira



* Wynberg_Military_Hospital.jpg (72.21 KB, 591x886 - viewed 128 times.)
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South Africa - Wessels/Vorster
South Africa - Behr/Toerien
South Africa - Pnematicatos/Chimato
Cornwall, England & South Africa - Hicks/Breach
Yorkshire & Durham, England & South Africa - Kenney/Hucks
Simba.Bruce
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #10 on: Sunday 17 February 08 16:34 GMT (UK) »

Hi Moira,
     Once again, I must thank you for your trouble.The map is great--I have maps of all the districts that my own family lived in!!

    I have been to ancestry24 and started a tree for Wayne. Not had any luck anywhere else as yet, but I'm really pleased that I have at least got the tree started!! Grin

     I think the next step is to order the BCs for himself and his mother and father and glean some information. The history of the names is interesting, but I'm struggling to read in Afrikaans on some sites!!!! Huh

     I feel a lot better for your information--not quite so much in the dark now!!

    Warmest regards        Sheilah x
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Bruce, Muir, Lyon, Robertson,Simpson,Scott, McIsaac, Hedderwick, Ewing, Wallace, Buchanan, Annan, Low, Taylor, Calder, and more, Scotland.  Brimble, Smith, Cox, Parry, Skuse, Sheering, Lee(Lea), Shepherd, and more, Gloucestershire
meles
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #11 on: Sunday 17 February 08 16:37 GMT (UK) »

I can help you with Afrikaans if you put the words here.

meles
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Brock: Alburgh, Norfolk, and after 1850, London; Tooley: Norfolk
Grimmer: Norfolk; Grimson: Norfolk
Harrison: London; Pollock
Dixon: Hampshire; Collins: Middx
Jeary: Norfolk; Davison: Norfolk
Rogers: London; Bartlett: London
Drew: Kent; Alden: Hants
Gamble: Yorkshire; Huntingford: East London

Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Simba.Bruce
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #12 on: Sunday 17 February 08 21:35 GMT (UK) »

Hi meles,

     Thank you for the offer! Iwent to the Stamouers(what are they?) site and looked up van der Bank and Swart.
     I could only find van den Bank ( which I presume could be a derivitive of van der Bank?) and could manage to make out some of the words :  Kom in 1713 by die Kaap----by the ship?Huh  Hy trou 6 Oktober?HuhHuh?  Hulle het vier kinders----here are their children??

   ' Gedoop'  and  'Hy sterwe voor..'---no idea!


   On the Swart page, I have no idea as it is all in Afrikaans!!

  Your help would be very welcome. I'm sure I am going to come across a lot of Afrikaans as I progress!!

      Thank you

      All the best       Sheilah x
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Bruce, Muir, Lyon, Robertson,Simpson,Scott, McIsaac, Hedderwick, Ewing, Wallace, Buchanan, Annan, Low, Taylor, Calder, and more, Scotland.  Brimble, Smith, Cox, Parry, Skuse, Sheering, Lee(Lea), Shepherd, and more, Gloucestershire
meles
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #13 on: Sunday 17 February 08 21:48 GMT (UK) »

Stamours = founding fathers = ancestors

Van den=van der

Kom... = They arrived in 1713 via the Cape (of Good Hope)

Hy trou... = He was married 6 October.

Hulle het..  = He had four children.

Gedoop = Baptised

Hy sterwe voor = he died.

meles  Smiley
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Brock: Alburgh, Norfolk, and after 1850, London; Tooley: Norfolk
Grimmer: Norfolk; Grimson: Norfolk
Harrison: London; Pollock
Dixon: Hampshire; Collins: Middx
Jeary: Norfolk; Davison: Norfolk
Rogers: London; Bartlett: London
Drew: Kent; Alden: Hants
Gamble: Yorkshire; Huntingford: East London

Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
meles
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Re: Looking for South African ancestors
« Reply #14 on: Sunday 17 February 08 21:55 GMT (UK) »

Don't be afraid to put the Swart page here.  I'll have a go. Smiley

meles
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Brock: Alburgh, Norfolk, and after 1850, London; Tooley: Norfolk
Grimmer: Norfolk; Grimson: Norfolk
Harrison: London; Pollock
Dixon: Hampshire; Collins: Middx
Jeary: Norfolk; Davison: Norfolk
Rogers: London; Bartlett: London
Drew: Kent; Alden: Hants
Gamble: Yorkshire; Huntingford: East London

Census information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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