NUUSBRIEF, NOVEMBER 2009

DEUR BOB SAUNDERS, ONDER-VOORSITTER

Die jaar se einde kom nou vinnig en die November-vergadering is volgens taktradisie, die tyd wanneer ons ons jaarverrigtinge to ‘n slotsom bring. Hierdie jaar gaan glad nie van die tendens afwyk nie, maar ons gaan wel ons vergadering later hou as gewoonlik weens die feit dat die NUK van GSSA/GGSA op Saterdag 21 November plaasvind . Dus is ‘n besluit geneem om die takvergadering met ‘n week uit te stel tot 28 November. Ons vertrou dat die lede hierby sal inpas.

IDEES 

Verder, wil die komitee graag weer ‘n versoek aan lede rig om asseblief idees vir die jaarprogram aan te stuur, of versoeke vir spesefieke bespreekingspunte voor te stel, om ‘n bietjie meer pertinente inhoud vir ons lede aan te bied.

POOR RESPONSE

The response to my request for snippets of news or recollections of breakthroughs made in your research or even those chance meetings with total strangers, or any other incident that made the world of difference to your research, has not been particularly fruitful, and this is rather disappointing. I know each one of you have had experiences which would have affected your approach to your research or in some cases caused you to make real progress after the event. Do take the time to share this with us. It could make the difference to someone else’s research or send them on a course not yet considered. That’s what it is all about, sharing experience and knowledge. If you are unsure of how to write/present your snippet, talk to Bob or Penny and we will either help you write or write for you based on the facts presented. The point is to get the message out there.

KOMITEEVERGADERING, OKTOBER 2009

Die komitee het nie in Oktober vergader nie omdat ons tak nie, soos gewoonlik, in Roodepoort vergader het nie, maar wel ‘n uitstappie na die “SUIDE” (van Johannesburg) gewaag het. Ons kommittee sal weer op 28 November te Phillipslaan om 12h00 saamtrek.

OCTOBER 2009 BRANCH MEETING

What an impromptu meeting we had at the home of John (left) and Iris Stephens last month when the inclement weather put an end to the planned cemetery recording exercise in the Eikenhof vicinity. Not that anyone is complaining about the rain, which was sorely needed at the time. It poured down with rain at the scheduled starting point of the “tour” at the appointed hour, and with the clouds hanging very low and unleashing their load on us, John braved the elements to visit each car and bid us to follow him to their home where we would ultimately have ended for the traditional refreshments.

Although we did not see the cemeteries we wanted to record, we were addressed by John on the topics of the Turffontein Concentration Camp Cemetery, Danie Theron – the greatest Boer spy, and about Hendrik Kamffer (who has a Stephens family connection).

These presentations were all about the local community and of course their part in the Anglo Boer War, which was traditionally marked by remembrance ceremonies and gatherings around 10 October every year, but which sadly no longer take place.

John Stephens of course, is our branch secretary. Thank you John for the effort you put in, in preparing the presentations and to both you and Iris for welcoming us to your home and giving us food, drink and shelter. Lucas has a penchant for “the classics” when it comes to music, and we were entertained with a special performance of the Grand March from Aida played for Lucas on an old wind-up gramophone. It was quite a nostalgic moment as we were sitting in a “voorhuis” and listening to a very old recording in much the way the folk of the early 1900’s would have. Those who were there, I think, thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon despite the weather, but I think we will have to revisit this particular event at another time so that we might do those cemetery recordings as one of our branch projects!

MAANDVERGADERING, NOVEMBER 2009

Ons volgende takvergadering sal Satedag, 28 November 2009 by die NG Kerk, Ontdekkerskruin, Phillipslaan, Discovery, Roodepoort, plaasvind om 14h00 (2nm). Ons sal nie ‘n gasspreker hê nie aangesien ons ‘n mini-uitstalling gaan hê (soos verlede jaar), van ons lede se werk en ander eksemplaare van stambome, ens. U word dus vriendelik gevra om iets saam te bring vir uitstalling en bereid te wees om daaroor te praat of vrae daaroor te beantwoord. Onthou dit is nie ‘n kompetisie nie, maar ‘n uitstalling van voltooide asook onvoltoide (work in progress) werke, met die doel om van mekaar te leer en met mekaar te deel. Wees asseblief nie skaam nie, en bring jou werkstukke – dalk kry jy goeie idees of raad wat ‘n positieve verskil aan jou projek sal maak.

REQUESTS

You are reminded of the project which was launched in September by the Northwest branch of GSSA in conjunction with LAPA Publishers. The book which will be called “Wie is ons regtig” is in part a reference to the current TV series ‘Who do you think you are’, and we are requested to provide short personal stories for publication into an omnibus format. The request (paraphrased), reads as follows:
“Ons sal dit waardeer indien jy alle lede aanmoedig om hul bydraes vir die beoogde bundel aan ons te stuur. Die bydraes moet fokus op interessante/snaakse/dramatiese gebeure of karakters, heldedade ens. wat die oningewyde sal interesseer of vermaak”.

Refer back to the September newsletter if you will, for my deatils should you wish to participate, or drop me a line at westgssa@iafrica.com for more information.

Lucas can still use some assistance with the eSAGI project. Please drop him a line at: lgrinken@iburst.co.za if you would like to assist, as there are many ways which as individuals we can assist him in this tremendous (branch benefitting) project.

MEEGEVOEL

Die komitee en lede van die Wesgautentak spreek ons meegevoel uit aan Valda Napier wie se man op 18 September na ‘n lang siekebed oorlede is. Valda het soos volg geskryf:

“NAPIER, John William Edward, passed away after a long illness, on 18 October 2009 at the age of 73 years and 8 days. He is survived by Valda his devoted wife of 44 years. He is now at peace and no more suffering. God Bless him."

Our deepest sympathy is extended to you Valda, at this very sad time.

I have also chatted very briefly to Ruth Jobson, and can confirm that Alister is still in ICU. He is recovering very slowly from the pneumonia and they are trying to wean him off of the respirator. That he is recovering is good news. Our thoughts are with you both Ruth, and we wish Alister a more speedy recovery than has been too date.

VERJAARSDAE

Hartlik geluk aan die volgende lede wat verjaar:
21 November – Frans Viljoen en Erik Kriel;
22 November – Louw du Plessis;
25 November – Danie Jacobs;
1 Desember – Penny Evans;
4 Desember – ons voorsitter, Lucas Rinken;
6 Desember – Dennis Pretorius;
19 Desember – M. Deacon;
7 Januarie – Minnie Pretorius;
12 Januarie – Lorraine Dick;
25 Januarie – Graham Southey;
26 Januarie – Louise Dick.

PERSONAL ANECDOTE

Harking back to my own personal research of the SAUNDERS family – specifically of one William Frederick SAUNDERS who is our family progenitor and the Anglo-Boer War, I posed a question to one of our branch members Neels Coertse in a discussion we were having with regards cemetery recordings and the ABW, how it was that arch enemies could find themselves in a marriage – which of course was the case with my paternal great grand parents, the same William Frederick SAUNDERS and Susanna Margaretha LANDMAN. Neels had been reading a book by PG du Plessis called ‘Fees van die Ongenooides’ and sent me the following revue:


FEES VAN DIE ONGENOOIDES deur P.G. DU PLESSIS

Bob Saunders het nou die ander dag vir my geskryf en vertel dat sy oupagrootjie ‘n Rooinek soldaat was en sy oumagrootjie ‘n Boeremeisie. Hulle het in die Engelse Kerk op Volksrust met mekaar getrou.

Die agtergrond waarna Bob verwys is natuurlik die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog tussen Brittanje en die twee Boere Republieke. Die huwelik van Bob se oupagrootjie en oumagrootjie onderstreep ons universele mensheid. Oorlogskanonne, bajonette en afgebrande plaashuise keer nie die liefde tussen ‘n man en ‘n vrou nie. Die liefde tussen ‘n Rooinek soldaat en ‘n Boeremeisie. Dis een van die goed wat in P.G. Du Plessis, een van ons beste Afrikaanse skrywers, se Fees van die Ongenooides gebeur. Dis ‘n omvattende boek.

Soldaat se sterfbedverklaring aan Magrieta dryf haar na skoonpa se graf toe. En sy sê: “Pa, ek het ...”

Wag – miskien het ek sommer by die einde begin en te veel vertel. Kom ons begin redelik voor in die boek waar Majoor Philip Brooks, afgetree, ‘n bundel foto’s in ‘n argiefbewaarplek oopmaak. Die ingekleurde foto van die mooie Magrieta van Wyk lê voor hom op die tafel en die onthou is vlak in hom. En hy onthou die klavier; en hoe hy met haar gesels het en klavier moes speel; en hoe sy hom vertel het van die kind.

Joey Drew, oorlogsfotograaf, het die familiefoto van die Van Wyks op hulle plaas afgeneem. Hy het die foto van Magrieta besonder mooi ingekleur. Toe hy haar die eerste keer gesien het, het hy hom doodgeskaam vir sy boemelaarsverslonsheid. En hy onthou dat hy eens op ‘n tyd, daar in Kimberley, belangrik genoeg in sy eie oë was om bekend te staan as Joey Drew Esq.

Joey Drew was nie heeltemal die vriend van die waarheid nie. Ek dink hy het ligweg gebloos as hy die waarheid per geleentheid kwytgeraak het – veral oor hoe hy die kamera in die hande gekry het.

Vergelyk Joey Drew met Daantjie Van Wyk [Daniël Egbert Van Wyk] dan sien jy Daantjie is ‘n liegbek wat ‘n goue medalje vir lieg op enige Olimpiese Spele kan losslaan, lospraat of loslieg.

Daantjie praat jou ore van jou kop af oor patriotisme en verraaiers – jy kom diep onder die indruk van hierdie man se vaderlandsliefde en sy bereidwilligheid om te sterf as dit dan moet – wel, so praat Daantjie.

Dorothea Van Wyk is die moeder van Snobisme. Sy kan nie glo dat daar mense soos die Minters moet leef nie en dat hulle boonop bywoners op hulle familieplaas moet wees nie. Sy sou lekker saam met die Fariseër in die tempel kon bid en dankie sê dat sy nie soos die Minters is nie.

Sy’t nie daarvan gehou dat Petrus Minter, die bywonersklong, dit durf waag om na haar dogter, Nellie, te kyk nie. Dan sien sy haar dogter staar vir Petrus terwyl “... haar jong tepels styf teen haar rok druk.” Daantjie het ook probeer om Petrus van sy suster weg te hou. Toe trou Petrus met Nellie.

Petrus se sussie, Fienatjie Minter het nooit verkeerd gedroom nie, omdat sy met die helmet gebore was. Wat Fienatjie gedroom het, het gebeur; hierdie engel – die “... druppel God.”

Een Sondagmiddag, tydens ‘n familie ete het Daantjie se woord-diaree oor die edelheid om oorlog vir jou land te maak en die hoogste tol wat ‘n trotse burger moet betaal, ‘n familietwis met sy oom veroorsaak.

Toe breek die oorlog uit.

En Daantjie sien sy eerste oorlogsslagoffer langs hom neersyg in die stof met ‘n Britse koeël deur sy kop – toe “... bepis en bekak ...” Daniël Egbert Van Wyk homself.

Sy getroue plaaswerker, Soldaat, wat in die geheim by Daantjie geleer skiet het, moes hom van die slagveld afdra met daardie vuilbroek. En die Boerekrygers het dit gesien. En hulle het onthou, maar nie gepraat nie.

Daar is geen keer aan Daantjie nie – hy sterf vir sy volk en sy vaderland.

Die mooie Magrieta word een nag verkrag. Later word hulle plaashuis afgebrand.

Tant Gertruida, die oujongnooi suster van Danie Van Wyk, het ‘n klavier by haar geheime liefde as geskenk gekry. Dit word nie gebrand nie.

Brooks se tent in die konsentrasiekamp is neffens ‘n hekkie waardeur die mooie Magrieta kan stap om by hom en die klavier uit te kom. Sy het vir Brooks met haar heel eerste besoek beveel om aan te hou speel want dan kan daar geen geskinder wees nie. Skindertonge voel ‘n snars vir die waarheid. Skinder is mos maar lieg ook, nie waar nie?

Oorlogskanonne en liefdesmusiek en skinder in die Anglo-Boere Oorlog – teelaarde vir baie stories. Sien jy wat ek bedoel het toe ek na Bob Saunders se oupagrootjie en oumagrootjie verwys het?

Toe die oorlogskanonne stil raak en die Boerekrygers gewere neergooi en “joiners” word, toe gebeur die wonder: Daantjie staan op uit die oorlogsdode.

Daantjie, met ‘n nuwe lewe, gaan lustig voort met sy grootpraat en ompraat en nonsenspraat, selfs op kerkraadsvergaderings. Hy kan voortpraat solank Soldaat nie praat nie. En sy vrou Magrieta sit oënskynlik lieftallig maar heimlik minagtend langsaan haar gryswordende “eerbare” man.

Hoe verstaan jy die liefde tussen ‘n Britse soldaat en ‘n Boeremeisie? – so het Bob vir my gevra.

Ek weet nie, Bob.

Ek dink dis verby verstaan. Die liefde loop waar hy wil en hoe hy wil. Oor en verby oorlogsgrense. En die liefde is doof vir die bulder van kanonne en die knetter van plaasopstalle wat brand. Die liefde hoor nie die diere wat bulkend vrek nie.

Lees Fees van die Ongenooides.

Neels COERTSE, Sandton, 23 Oktober 2009.

Dankie velemale,  Neels, vir hierdie skitterende bydra en die geleentheid om dit aan ons lede en die groter publiek eerste bekend te stel.

And there you have it folks, join me in reading this book to get a deeper understanding of the events and times around the 1900’s that brought the likes of my great grandfather to this beautiful country during those dreadful years and which then brought him together with my great grandmother whom I never met and of whom there is very little recollection (historically).

TAKBIBLIOTEEK

Ons takbiblioteek is onder die toesig van ons eie Graham Southey. Maak asseblief gebruik van hierdie gerief wat gratis beskikbaar aan ons taklede is, voor gedurende en vir n kort rukkie na ons takvergadering . Dit bestaan uit allerei boeke, tydskrifte en joernale van verskeie genealogiese vereenigings asook famielie geskiednis genootskappe, en van die SAG bundels.

OTHER BRANCH NEWS

The Northern Branch (Pretoria) is arranging and archive tour to the Western Cape between 2 and 7 May 2010 which includes three days of access to archives in Cape Town. The cost of R4 300 p/p sharing includes return flights, transport, accommodation on a B&B basis, day visits to Franschoek and Stellenbosch and all entrance fees. More information available at: eharmse@mweb.co.za

They are also planning an excursion to France and possibly also the Netherlands in 2011. I believe Dr. Rentia Landman can provide more information on this particular event.

We have also been advised that the next edition of the Familia Omnibus Volume Four has been released for printing. The following family names are included in this volume:

BAUMANN, BENCE, BURGER/BURGERS, CHURCH, CLACK, COOMBS/COOMBE/COOMBES, CRAFFERT, CRAFFORD, EAGLETON, FITZGERALD, FONTERNEL, GAARKEUKEN, GRUNDLING(H), JANKOWITZ, LABISTOUR, LERM, LOCKHART, MANS, MOOLMAN , PANSEGRAUW/PANSEGROUW, RHEEDER(S), STULTING, VAN WYK, WOCKE, ZERVAS.

The Omnibus will cost you R170 and should be available at our final meeting on 28 November. If not or should stock run out, you can order from the following addresses:

secretary@ggsa.info
tesourier@ggsa.info

where you will also find the banking details for GSSA.

Daarmee die einde van ons nuusbrief. Ons hoor graag van u oor die inhoud hiervan, kommentaar of verdere bydraes en enige versoeke. Skryf gerus aan enige van die komitteelede of direk na my per e-pos.

Ons sien uit na ons vergadering/uitstalling einde November en wil graag sien wat jy mee besig is asook wys wat ons almal besig hou! Onthou die datum 28 November 2009 en u afspraak te NG Kerk Ontdekkerskruin, Phillipslaan, Discovery, Roodepoort, om 14h00 (2nm).

BESOEKE AAN BEGRAAFPLASE IN JOHANNESBURG-SUID

Deur John Stephens, taksekretaris

Addition by Penny Evans

Die afgelope Saterdag, 17 Oktober 2009, was dit die plan van die tak om sekere begraafplase in die suide van Johannesburg te besoek en data op te skryf. Die weer het egter ‘n stokkie daarvoor gesteek. Ek het 34 mm gemeet. Dit het emmersvol geval.

Lucas, Barbara en Penny was egter net ‘n kortkop voor die reën by die Turffonteinse Konsentrasiekampkerkhof in Mondeor. Terwyl hulle nog die name op die monument beskou het, het die reën hul daar oorval. Lucas kon darem foto’s neem van die steentjies wat in die muur ingebou is.

Hierdie name is nooit op die monument aangebring nie en verskyn dus ook nie op die Genootskap se begraafplaas-CD nie. Daar is onder andere ses Bekker-kinders wat almal in die konsentrasiekamp gesterf het. Vier het in een maand gesterf, naamlik, Mei, een in Julie en nog een in Desember.

Hierdie begraafplaas ag ek as die grootste tragedie wat Johannesburg beleef het. Meer as 700 kinders en vrouens is daar begrawe. Die jongste baba wat daar begrawe is, was net een dag oud.

As gevolg van die reën het tien van ons toe by ons huis byeengekom waar ons oor die verskillende begraafplase gesels het.

Op Eikenhof is ook die familiekerkhof waar Danie Theron, die grootste boerespioen, begrawe is. Hier is egter ‘n sootgelyke probleem. Die begraafplaas word op die CD aangedui, maar sedert dit opgeneem is, het baie nuwe begrafnisse daar plaasgevind. Dieselfde geld ook vir die familiebegraafplaas op Misgund.

Op Elandsfontein is ‘n familiebegraafplaas wat nog pgeneem moet word, asook op Muldersrus en Hartzenbergfontein. Volgende jaar sal ons weer so ‘n poging aanwend.

Op Hartzenbergfontein staan ‘n klein monumentjie ter ere van Willem Jacob Kamffer.

That's dedication

Penny Evans writes: The photos I took were not great as one photo was taken while I stood in the rain (I did not waste time getting back to the car as there was lightening striking in the nearby hills), the other one was of the granite slab and unfortunately the flash reflected off the shiny granite. Lucas tried with his camera as well and had the same problem. Bob kindly offered to see if he could get rid of the shiny flash reflection. This was fairly successful. I am sending the photos to you for your interest.

TURFFONTEIN

150 YEARS

Click on a photo to enlarge.

Despite being rained out, John gave the talk in his lounge. We had refreshments (first time I have had green tomato jam made by Iris, John's wife) and were able to socialize at leisure. John put in a lot of effort by preparing notes about the concentration camp.  This included the surnames of the women and children buried there. Iris made sure we did not go hungry.

THERON-GESLAGREGISTER BEKENDGESTEL

Professor Christo Viljoen,voorsitter van die Hugenote-Vereniging van Suid-Afrika, skryf op SAGenealogie:

Die Theron-geslagregister, opgestel deur (wyle) dr Chris Theron (van Upington) word Saterdag, 24 Oktober 2009, bekend gestel by die Algemene Jaarvergadering (AJV) van die Hugenote-Vereniging van Suid-Afrika. Dit begin 10:30 in die NG Kerksaal, Franschhoek.

Die boeke is persklaar gemaak deur mev Jeanette Theron (eggenote van dr Chris Theron), dr Hannes Theron, 'n afgetrede geoloog van Stellenboschen Andries Nieuwoudt, skoonseun van Jeanette Theron.

Die stel bestaan uit twee boeke en 'n kompakskyf.

• Volume 1 (371 bladsye) bevat die verhaal van die Therons in Suid-Afrika, is ryklik geïllustreer met foto's (sommige in kleur) en bevat 'n volledige naamindeks van Therons en aangetroudes. 

• Volume 2 (505 bladsye) bevat die genealogie van die Therons in Suid-Afrika. 

• 'n Kompakskyf wat die naamindeks van Therons en aangetroudes, die foto' 'n grafiese voorstelling van die eerste 5 geslagte van die Therons bevat, gaan saam met die twee boeke

Die twee boeke en kompakskyf word as 'n stel teen R350 verkoop. Saterdag word die stel teen 'n spesiale bekendstellingsaanbod eenmalig op Franschhoek met 'n afslag van 20% aangebied, daarna teen 'n afslag van 20% aan lewenslede, en 'n afslag van 10% aan gewone lede van die Hugenote-Vereniging van Suid-Afrika.

Navrae insake die AJV van die Hugenote-Vereniging kan gerig word aan me Amelia Schwenke, by tel (021) 876-2598 (smiddae).

NEWSLETTER: OCTOBER 2009

BY BOB SAUNDERS, VICE-CHAIRMAN

Bob Saunders spends some time every month writing a newsletter. E-mail you comments to Bob by clicking here. Even if it is one sentence. He (and the branch committee) will appreciate it.

COMMITTEE MEETING, SEPTEMBER 2009

During September’s meeting, the committee decided to go ahead and hire a post box for the branch, as it was felt that the imposition on former committee members sharing their private mail boxes should have been a temporary arrangement and not a permanent one.

Our thanks to Richard Ford for having carried this burden for as long as he did. We also spent some of our funds purchasing our own projector, which you will see in use in the near future.

A decision was made to once again have a mini expo for our final meeting in November. All members please take note of this advance notice and bring some contribution of your own work to swell the exposition. It need not be a “great” work, but certainly any example of what you are currently working on (or have completed) will be most welcome. Please do not be shy especially to show work that is as yet incomplete.

The committee also took time to thank Penny Evans for her regular contributions to the blog – watch out for her reports of the past meetings if you were unable to attend one. Thanks were also extended to Bob Saunders for the newsletter. Last but by no means least, appreciation was again expressed for the sterling job our blogmaster Japie Bosch continues to perform on our behalf.


TAKVERGADERING, SEPTEMBER 2009

Ons was verlede maand deur Simon du Plooy, voorsitter van die Noordwestak, besoek waartydens hy ons vertel het van Robert Jacob GORDON, wie hy as Suid Afrika se eie Davy Crockett beskryf het . Lees gerus die artikel op die blog wat Simon aan ons vir die doeleinde gestuur het. Ons dank aan Simon vir sy tyd en dat hy so ver gery het om ons oor hierdie interesante man te inlig.


BRANCH MEETING, OCTOBER 2009

As previously announced, we will NOT be having our normal monthly meeting at the normal venue, but will be assisting the Cemetery Project, by undertaking our own survey of a number of burial sites in the Eikenhof area just south of Johannesburg.

For those of you interested in this “outing”, we will meet each other at the corner of Columbine avenue and Maluti streets in Mondeor. From there we proceed to the Turfontein Concentration Camp cemetery. If you feel so inclined, do bring a flower/flowers to be left at the memorial. Do not forget to bring a camping chair/stool, water or other thirst quenchers, a hat, sunblock and also a pen.

John Stephens, who is co-ordinating this outing says that the intention is to listen to a short address about the Greatest Tragedy that occurred South of Johannesburg during the Second Boer War. From there we will proceed to Eikenhof where we will also hear about The Greatest Spy Hero (Danie Theron), and then at Hartzenberfontein hear about the Greatest Sacrifice of the Second Boer War. We will then proceed to record the graves.

At the conclusion of the day’s events, we are all invited to the home of John and Iris Stephens (who live in the vicinity) for some tea and refreshments and the usual socializing. This is going to be a bumper day, folks, so do try to attend. It is not often at these recording events we are treated to some history at the same time.


VERSOEKE

Soos voorheen aangekondig, het e-SAGI die 500 000-naam-mylpaal behaal. Danksy Lucas Rinken en ‘n baie klein span van helpers, word hierdie projek verfyn. Daar verskyn egter nog baie duplikate onder die databasis. ‘n Versoek word gerig om te help met die takprojek. Lucas is tans besig om 35 000 naame te sorter. Vrywilligers word benodig om ‘n familievan aan te neem (dalk jou eie) en deur die name te soek vir moontlike duplikate. Verwittig Lucas, asseblief. Dit sal die proses grootliks aanhelp indien hy hulp kry van ons taklede. Maar dit is nie al manier wat jy ‘n bydrae kan maak tot e-SAGI nie. Die byvoeging van jou familie is noodsaaklik asook die normale onderhoud daarvan elke keer as daar ‘n sterfte of geboorte is. Stel Lucas asseblief in kennis.


BIRTHDAYS

September birthdays were as follows:

20th Myra Bosch, 21st Derek Rubidge, 23rd Johan Lourens and the 30th Celia Baylis.

Our very best wishes to you all.


PERSOONLIKE ERVARING

Ons persoonlike ervaring die maand is een van ons “ouer” lede en ‘ n kenner van 1820 Settlaar geskiedenis – Graham Southey. Hy skryf soos volg:

REMINISCENCES ON “HIGHS” IN RESEARCHING

By Graham Southey

My research began seriously in 1954/55 when computers were in their infancy and PC’s non-existent.

My method was to correspond with members of the family who referred me to possible sources within the family if they had no answers themselves. Having had to earn a living as a priority cut down time radically, and such sources who relied on memory were also sometimes inaccurate.

My first good fortune, came in the form of a distant relative living in England and whom I met during a visit he paid to South Africa in 1969 shortly after his 80th birthday. Edward Humphrey’s mother was Elizabeth Southey (1846-1933), the granddaughter of one Samuel Southey (1784-?), brother of the 1820 settler, George Southey (1777-1831). Edward and I kept up a lively correspondence in our common interest – the Southey family.
In the 1970’s he and an elder brother (a priest) went to Culmstock in Devon, where George and his wife lived before leaving for South Africa and researched the church records. He produced the names, dates of birth and baptism of the entire family.

From this I discovered that the eldest son of George and Joan Southey died at Culmstock in 1818 before their emigration, and thus did not feature in the South African records. Their youngest son, Cannon, born Feb 1818, died on the voyage out to SA., so George and Joan arrived in South Africa with four sons and two daughters. At least I know that the dates I have of the original settler family are accurate!


BRANCH LIBRARY

Now for the usual punt for the library.

Your committee has decided that we wish to build on the foundation of books already held in our library. We suggest you take a look at what we have and make use of this facility.

We would further ask that if you see any books that you believe we should have on our shelves, kindly advise any committee member via e-mail or personally advise your librarian Graham Southey of your wish list and we will see what it is we can source.

There is a movement afoot to purchase some of the more recent publications which are available digitally and far cheaper than the hard copy. Once we have our computer up and running (hopefully by our November meeting), even our technically challenged will be able to access these on the premises with the help of anyone willing to assist.

VERDERE BYDRAE

Een van ons lede wat onlangs sy ondervinding met n wonderlike ou dame (weeke voor sy beswyk het) gedeel het skryf soos volg:

MY GEDAGTES OOR DIE WYSHEID DAT JY NIE WEER MOET NAVORSING DOEN WAAR ‘N ANDER GEDOEN HET NIE.

Deur Neels COERTSE

Sowat 18 maande gelede het ek ernstig begin lees oor genealogie en familiegeskiedskrywing.

Toe ek nou so op die internet rondkrap en lees en met mense praat en ander literatuur deurgaan, kry ek elke dan en wan die stuk wysheid wat internasionaal, nasionaal en plaaslik verkondig word: Kyk eers en vind uit of daar nie al iemand anders is wat reeds jou navorsing gedoen het nie, anders vind jy later uit jy het weer eens die wiel ontwerp.

Ek weet uit my verlede dat my pa se mense uit Hopetown kontrei kom.

Met my soeke na die Hopetown-COERTSE’s kom ek toe af op ‘n boekie wat ene Prof P.J. COERTZE geskryf het: Geslagsregister COERTSE COERTSEN COERTZE en COERTZEN; HAUM, 1984.

Met voorgaande wysheid in gedagte moes ek mos aanvaar het dat dit op datum is tot en met publikasiedatum. Moenie die wiel weer ontwerp nie – so draai dit deur my kop.

Toe ’n verlangse familielid ‘n afskrif van die boek aan my gegee het, het hy ewe trots en selfvoldaan teruggesit en vertel hy en sy familie verskyn op bladsy 36. Voordat ek hom ontmoet het, het ek inligting gehad dat hy die oudste van vier seuns is. Toe maak ek daar oop en vra hom waar sy jonger twee broers genoteer is? Hy skrik groot en gryp sy boek en kyk en kyk en kyk ... Wraggies. Sy twee jonger broers is nie genoteer nie. En sy vrou se name is foutief.

Ek ry daar weg en gaan koop ‘n ontbyt by ‘n restaurant. En soek my familie in die boekie. En ek soek en soek en soek. Het my voorgeslag geleef of nie?

Moenie verder “stress” nie; ek het my voorgeslag gekry.

Die takkie van die stamboom in daardie boek waaruit ek kom, noteer net 27 nasate tot en met 1984. Ek het op die stadium meer 70 ander mense gevind.

My ervaring is dat daardie stuk “wysheid” heeltemal te hoog aangeslaan word. Dit inhibeer die navorser met sy navorsings-ideale.

Dit plaas ons in die kern van akademiese vraagstukke en die problematiek waarmee die histograwe hulle elke dag besig hou: wat is die filosofie rondom die histografie? Wat dryf jou? Wat is jou bronne?

Moenie hierdie geskrif van my lees as sou ek Prof Coertze wil aantas nie. Geensins.

Ek dink hy het ook met hierdie vraagstukke geworstel. Die rede waarom ek dit sê is dat sy seun, my verwys het na ‘n baie spesifieke persoon en vertel dat sy pa probleme ervaar het met die noteringsproses: hoeveel moet genoteer word? Wat word genoteer? Hoe word dit genoteer? En dis presies dieselfde probleme waarmee ek worstel.
Een van my tannies het nou die dag vir my gesê: “Neels, dis te pynlik. Moet ek die gegewens vir jou gee?”

My benadering is dat jy maar jou eie navorsing moet doen.

• Baie dankie Neels dat jy die moeite gedoen het om aan ons te skryf en jou mening te gee. Ek persoonlik hoop dat daar ’n debat sal plaasvind onder ons lede as gevolg hiervan, nie noodwendig om ‘n finale besluit oor die kwessie te neem nie, maar wel om menings te hoor.

• Ons hoor graag van u oor die inhoud hiervan, kommentaar of verdere bydraes en enige versoeke. Skryf gerus aan enige van die komitteelede of direk na my per e-pos.

Bob Saunders bestee elke maand heelwat tyd aan die skryf van 'n nuusbrief. E-pos jou kommentaar aan Bob deur hier te klik. Selfs al is dit een sin. Hy (en die takkomitee sal dit waardeer.)

• We look forward to meeting with a difference this month, so do try to make a special effort to attend and assist with the cemetery recording and here some history. See you there on Saturday, 17 October 2009 at the corner of Columbine avenue and Maluti streets in Mondeor at 14h00. And don’t forget your chair, water bottle, sunblock and pen.

20 Tips for More Efficient Google Searches

For millions of people (including genealogists) Google is an indispensable search tool that they use every day, in all facets of their lives. From work or school and research Google is the go-to search engine.

But instead of just typing in a phrase and wading through page after page of results, there are a number of ways to make your searches more efficient.

Some of these are obvious ones, that you probably know about. But others are lesser-known, and others are known but not often used. Use this guide to learn more about, or be reminded of, some of the best ways to get exactly what you're looking for, and quickly.

CLICK HERE to view the guide.

Source: Dumb Little Man.

GARIEP - GREATRIVER - ORANJE

Op 19 September 2009 het Simon du Plooy, voorsitter van die Noordwes-tak van die GGSA, die Wes-Gautengtak toegespreek oor Robert Jacob GORDON – die Davey Crockett van Suid-Afrika -- die amptelike ontdekker van die Gariep-/Grootrivier/Oranje. 

Hieronder is Gordon se eerste indrukke van die Oranjerivier nadat sy geselskap die rivier op 23 Desember 1777 bereik het, ongeveer 10 km suidwes van die huidige Bethulie waar die rivierloop ‘n skerp draai gemaak het. Die plek is vandag merendeels onder die waters van die Gariepdam en nie meer herkenbaar nie. Die oorspronklike beskrywing was uiteraard in Oud-Nederlands.

Above:  Colonel RJ Gordon intravelling costume. From drawing by himself or his draftsman Schumacher.

The countryside, falling steeply away, promised nothing.

Then in the flat stretch which was about five hours further on we saw some green shrubs half an hour away, past the edge of the mountain. These we found to be thorn trees and all of a sudden we came upon the steep bank of a great river. It flowed from the east, a good hour to the west,through a gateway in the mountains.

At its narrowest here it is about 225 paces wide as we saw it from the flight of a bullet. In addition it flowed as strongly as the meuse at Maastricht.

The southern bank was about 40 feet high and steep, though it was possible to get to the water, there was reed growing in the direction of the gateway in places and there were high thorn trees.

Picture 1.

Picture 2.

Picture 3.

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE.


Picture 1:  Painting made on 25 December 1777 of where the Orange and the Caldeon rivers flow together. Gordon named the river on the left the Queen Wilhelmina river (later the Caldedon) and the river on the right the King Willem river (later the Orange river). Where the two rivers meet he named them after the Dutch Royal House, Oranje. Source:   Patrick Cullinan: Robert Jacob Gordon, 1743 --1795: The man and his travels at the Cape. p. 43.  Original in the Ryksmuseum In the Netherlands.

Picture 2:  Gordonskoppie, named after Robert Gordon.  It is approximately 10 km from Aberdeen en route to Graaff-Reinet.

Picture 3: Gordon's Kop.

The northern bank was lower, with reed and many willow and some thorn-trees. This bank had stoney ridges and coarse shining sand but the soil in the river itself was clayey and vegetal.

There were reefs here and there stretching from one bank to the other over which the stream rustled loudly.

At its narrowest here it is about 225 paces wide as we saw it from the flight of a bullet. In addition it flowed as strongly as the meuse at maastricht.

The southern bank was about 40 feet high and steep, though it was possible to get to the water, there was reed growing in the direction of the gateway in places and there were high thorn trees.

The northern bank was lower, with reed and many willow and some thorn-trees. This bank had stoney ridges and coarse shining sand but the soil in the river itself was clayey and vegetal.

There were reefs here and there stretching from one bank to the other over which the stream rustled loudly.

Source:  Cullinan - Patrick: Robert Jacob Gordon (1743-1795) The man and his travels at the Cape. p. 44 and 45.

The Best Way To Effectively Clean LCD Monitor Screens

For the genealogist his/her computer is a most important tool.  Caring for your screen is vital.

Cleaning laptop and LCD monitor screens is different from cleaning the usual CRT screens and requires some additional care and safeguards. A large part of this is because the traditional CRT screen is made up of glass, so it is a lot less prone to scratches from dust particles then your LCD screen.

Makeuseof.com gives sound advice.

MAANDVERGADERING: 19 SEPTEMBER 2009

Datum: Saterdag, 19 SEPTEMBER 2009;

Tyd: 14:00 tot 16:00;

Plek: Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk (NG Kerk), Ontdekkerskruin, Phillipslaan, Ontdekkers, Roodepoort (Kaart onder);

Onderwerp: Robert Jacob GORDON – die Davey Crockett van Suid-Afrika -- die amptelike ontdekker van die Gariep-/Grootrivier/Oranje.

Aanbieder: Simon du Plooy, voorsitter Noordwes-tak van die GGSA

Kort CV: Gebore in Bethulie, Suid-Vrystaat, en grootgeword op die familieplaas Truitjesfontein in die distrik. (Die plaas is later onder die destydse Verwoerdamskema onteiën en vorm vandag deel van die Tussen die Riviere Wildtuin in die Bethulie-distrik).

Matrikuleer in Bethulie. Daarna eers gedeelte van weermagopleiding in Ladismith en Saldanha en ook Pretoria. Voltooi Bourekenkunde aan die UOVS (1971-1975). Vanaf 1977 woonagtig in Potchefstroom. Werk eers as bourekenaar by ‘n boukontrakteur, maar stig in 1988 sy eie boumaatskappy wat tussen die familienavorsing deur die res van vrye tyd opneem.

Sy belangstelling in die Genealogie is vroeg aangewakker deurdat die familieplaas gedurig deur ooms, tantes, neefs, niggies en andere besoek is en sy pa die du Plooy’s vroeg begin aanteken het. Dit het uitgeloop op ‘n familiepublikasie oor die du Du Plooy van die gebied wat vandag die kern is van Andre du Plooy en sy eie navorsing.

Voltooi ‘n register oor sy Duitse oupagrootjie, WIEGAND, se nageslag in 1987 en begin in 2000 die Du Plooy’s ernstig aanvul, maar soek eers sy eggenoot Chrisda BARNARD se Barnard/Stander/De Swart/ De Necker voorgeslagte in die George-omgewing.

Getroud met Chrisda Barnard en het twee kinders, Simon en Daniella. Albei werk in in Johannesburg.

Dit in kort is dan Simon du Plooy, s/v Simon en Maria Cornelia Wiegand, s/v Koos en Lenie Coetzee, s/v Koos en Alida van Heerden, s/v Simon en Catharina Coetzee, s/v Roelof en Susanna van den Berg, s/v Michiel en Aletta van Wyk, s/v Simon Plooier en Catharina Koopman -- immigrant uit Nederland.

Toegansfooi: R5,00 vir verversings.

KLIK OP DIE KAART OM DIT VERGROOT

(BRON: Mail and Guardian Online)

NEWSLETTER: SEPTEMBER 2009

BOB SAUNDERS, VICE-CHAIRMAN

STUUR U VOORSTELLE/VERSOEKE

Die takkomitee besin nog oor volgende jaar se program sodat lede daarby sal baat vind.

Ons versoek opnuut terugvoering en vrae wat die naaste aan u hart lê asook versoeke vir spesifieke onderwerpe. Help ons om aan u verwagtinge te voldoen.

Stuur nou 'n epos aan my in dié verband deur HIER TE KLIK.

The committee has a request to all members: forward snippets of news and reports of those very special and personal moments of revelation during your research. Most of us will experience a special moment and sharing these can often encourage those seemingly hitting the proverbial “brick wall” to persevere.

KOMITEEVERGADERING: AUGUSTUS 2009

Die komitee het nie in Augustus vergader nie, omdat die tak gasheer was vir ‘n vergadering van die Nasionale Uitvoerende Komitee. Dankie aan Margaret Humphries (links) en haar span (Penny, Mienie en Heidi) wat die verversings verskaf het.

Die volgende vergadering sal voor ons takvergadering op 19 September plaasvind om 12:00. Komiteelede, neem asseblief kennis hiervan.

BRANCH MEETING: AUGUST 2009

We had a bumper turnout for the August meeting which was addressed by the President of our Society, Hendrik Louw. Sadly though, the numbers were bolstered by visitors rather than branch members. However, an interesting debate took place.

Hendrik is a highly enthusiastic leader and passionate about genealogy and the importance of preserving all records for future generations. Like your committee, Hendrik is also keen to find the elusive formula that will galvanise our members and make us all equally enthusiastic about ongoing research and preservation of family history.

His talk was directed at us in much the same way we (the committee) have invited you (the members) to come forward with ideas and wishlists so that we might be guided regionally and nationally.

MAANDVERGADERING: 19 SEPTEMBER 2009

Ons volgende takvergadering is op Saterdag, 19 September 2009, by die NG Kerk-gebou, Ontdekkerskruin, Phillipslaan, Discovery, Roodepoort. Dit begin 14h00. Ons gasspreker dié maand is Simon du Plooy, voorsitter van die Noordwes-tak. Hy gaan ons vertel van Robert Jacob Gordon (links).

Simon beskryf dié man as Suid Afrika se “Davy Crockett”.

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN A UNIQUE PROJECT

During the NEC meeting last month, the Northwest Branch announced a new branch project in conjunction with LAPA Publishers. It has great potential in our circles and the wider public who are hovering on the brink of possibly recording their own life and times.

The book will be called “Wie is ons regtig?”. What is required/requested are short personal stories for publication into an omnibus format. The request from NorthWest (paraphrased), reads as follows:

"Ons sal dit waardeer indien u alle lede aanmoedig om hul bydraes vir die beoogde bundel aan ons te stuur. Die bydraes moet fokus op interessante/snaakse/dramatiese gebeure of karakters, heldedade en dies meer wat die oningewyde sal interesseer of vermaak".

Links:  Oom Kallie.

The story does not have to be professionally written as those selected will be worked/edited in conjunction with the publishers journalists to an acceptable annecdote/story.

Please consider supporting this venture as it really is intended to record stories countrywide and not only regionally.

Check the blog for further postings on this topic and a forwarding address.

Alternatively, pass these on to me (hand-written at a meeting) or digitally, and I will forward them as is to the correct source who will then take it further with the publishers. Please include a contact address (snaill mail or e-mail) to facilitate the host branch and or publishers to establish contact and dialogue with you on the matter.

TAKBIBLIOTEEK

Ons het ‘n groeiende takbiblioteek onder die toesig van Graham Southey (links). Maak asseblief gebruik van hierdie gratis gerief wat vir ons taklede. Dit bestaan uit allerei boeke, tydskrifte en joernale van verskeie genealogiese verenigings asook familiegeskiednis, genootskappe, en die SAG-bundels.

VENTER NEWS

Genealogically newsworthy to interest groups, and researchers in general: Barend Venter (a researcher of the Venter family in South Africa), has just released to us the inaugural Family Newsletter of the Venter. Barend will gladly add you to the mailing list if you would take the time to drop him a line at: famventersa@gmail.com.

PERSONAL ANECDOTE

Even the big boys have the odd story to tell! I managed to coerce a pale and wan Lucas Rinken (left) to give me a story to illustrate that even after all these years, he still gets pleasure amidst the dreary everyday tasks, from what he does for the branch, the society and genealogy on a broader scale, and it goes something like this:

e-SAGI can be a JOY to work on

Much of the focus in compiling e-SAGI is to receive files/gedcoms from other researchers, to prepare same for inclusion in our database and then to perform the tedious task of weeding out possible duplicates. And then there is always the endeavour to increase numbers contained, hence the all out effort to reach 500,000 names. BUT, at times this is enough to drive me crazy!

Happily, I am member of SAGen and along comes an email from a VERY respected genealogist, Mansell UPHAM: "Beste Lyslede. Enige inligting oor die komponis Stephanus le Roux Marais se Marais voorsate sal waardeur word.-- Mansell Upham"

Now:

1. Another focus area of e-SAGI is to include as many well known South Africans in the database as possible. And who in Afrikaans circles does not know of this composer and his well known songs.

2. I know I have a many by the surname MARAIS in the database, 1 842 to be exact.

3. Coming from Mansell, this is a challenge I cannot ignore.

So I checked the database and found someone by that name, but with no ancestors. BUT is he the right one?

So I do a Google search and find:

Stephanus Le Roux Marais (born 1896, Bloemfontein district, Orange Free State, South Africa, died 25 May 1979, Graaff-Reinet) was a South African composer.

He studied at the South African College of Music in Cape Town and at the Royal College of Music in London. In the subsequent 32 years he held various positions as church organist and teacher. He was a pioneer of the Afrikaans art song. In 1928 his "Vier Afrikaanse Sangstukke" (Four Afrikaans Song Pieces) was published. In the five years following, he was awarded 23 diplomas at the Cape Town Eisteddfod.

The dates matched, so I dug into SAG 5 and there he is:

h2 Stephanus le Roux * 1.2.1896 x 18.12.1945 Edith Johanna REX

I quickly captured the MARAIS line and soon connected into the MARAIS’ already in e-SAGI. But his mother's line was more difficult until I connected to his maternal grandmother's Van der MERWE line as I have Janet Melville's (left) wonderful book available.

And now, all this is available in e-SAGI and I could send off a reply to Mansell.

Better than working through 1 000 possible duplicates.

And that is how a plan comes together – by some astute research in the available literature and the electronic media, and using our fantastic database, to piece together the missing pieces.

DU TOIT-BOEK EN -CD EERSDAAGS BESKIKBAAR

'n Omvattende DU TOIT-stamregister, saamgestel deur Alex Fuchs, is aan die GGSA vir bemarking en verspreiding gegee. Dit sal in boekvorm en op CD beskikbaar wees.

Dié inligting is deur Hendrik Louw, president van die GGSA, bekendgemaak.

Statistiek van die register se inhoud is soos volg:

• 29 508 gekoppelde DU TOIT's;

• 18 954 aangetroudene DU TOIT’s

• 5 315 ongekoppelde DU TOIT's

• 53 477 totale aantal individue opgeneem in die indeks.

Dit sluit uit die ouers van aangetroudenes, asook die vroulike nasate wat ook soms in die register bygevoeg is.

Volgens Hendrik is dit is 'n massiewe stuk werk.

“Die genealogiese inligting daarin is van uitstekende gehalte. Dit is goed nagevors in samewerking met verskeie ander DU TOIT-navorsers/helpers asook Juna Malherbe van die Hugenote-museum. Danksy Juna Malherbe is die volgorde van die kinders reggestel.”

DIE BOEK

Die register bestaan uit ongeveer 2 458 bladsye of 1 566 bladsye met genealogiese inligting sonder foto's. Volledige indekse is bygewerk. Die register sal in twee boeke gebind word. Die prys van die boeke sal eersdaags bekend wees nadat kwotasies verkry is vir die druk en bind daarvan.

Diegene wat in die boek belangstel, kan die GGSA laat weet (om sodoende ‘n finale prys te beding) deur 'n e-pos te stuur aan secretary@ggsa.info of ‘n faks aan 086/600-1729.

Verdere reëlings vir bestellings sal dan afsonderlik aan u gestuur word.

Dit sal teen kosprys aan voorafbetalende persone verkoop word.

Bestellings vir die eerste oplaag sluit op 26 September 2009.  Dit behoort vir weke later in die pos te wees.

Die mark vir die boek sal hoofsaaklik familie wees wat 'n aandenking vir homself/haarself wil bekom of vir hul nageslag wil behou.

DIE CD

‘n CD is'n baie goedkoper medium om dieselfde inligting binne die bereik van navorsers te plaas.

Dit sal teen R240-00 verkoop word plus posgeld vir verspreiding in Suid-Afrika – voorwaar ‘n winskoop vir die ernstige genealoog.

TODAY IS TOMORROW'S HISTORY

On 22 August 2009 Hendrik Louw, president of the GSSA (right), addressed members of the West Rand Branch of the GSSA. Some NEC members from Potchefstroom, Pretoria and Vanderbijlpark also attended, reports Penny Evans, branch committee member.

Hendrik stressed that genealogy was not only about what had happened in the past, but that today would also become history. Our children probably know very little about the first thirty years of our lives. It was up to each one of us to write his own story for the benefit of his children and their descendents. Who else could write the story better than yourself?

He said that he planned to talk to members from all eleven branches so that he could get a clear idea of what members expected from the GSSA. He felt that each branch should look after its new members as well as the present members, who have a great deal of knowledge that would be lost to the branch, should they leave.

A discussion was held. Members were encouraged to answer the following questions. Why am I a member of GSSA and what do I expect from GSSA?

The plan of GSSA was to create products and to develop resources and to make this more accessible for those doing research.

Members were encouraged to give their ideas to Lucas Rinken and Dennis Pretorious, who would give the feedback to GSSA so that management could see what could be done to make the ideas a reality.

Hendrik Louw is a man with strong leadership qualities and a passion for genealogy.

SUCCESSFUL TRAINING COURSE

Penny Evans, Branch Committee Member

The West Gauteng Branch of the Genealogical Society of South Africa held an Introductory Genealogical Training Course on 15 August 2009 at the Dutch Reformed Church Ontdekkerskruin, Philips Avenue, Discovery.

The course was well attended by participants from the Greater Johannesburg area. Two enthusiastic participants came from Carletonville.

The course was well organised. Our usual venue was transformed into a lecture room. Each participant received a manual and a certificate.

Lucas Rinken, Richard Ford and Dennis Pretorius were the presenters.

The following aspects were covered in the course of the afternoon:

• Background information;

• The working documents;

• Unpublished sources;

• Internet sources;

• Formal sources;

• Interesting facts and finally

• Presentation of one's research.

The sessions were informative and often humorous. The presenters used many examples from their own experiences to which participants could relate.

Many thanks to Margaret Humphries and Louise Dick for standing by with refreshments. The tea break gave all a chance to meet and socialize.

The course was well received, good value for money, and good attendance was an indication of the need for genealogical training courses. Participants had different levels of expertise.  I believe that each person went away having learnt something new.

Hopefully all of us will now remember to record our sources.

Several people were unaware of the existence of genealogical groups that meet monthly. One hopes that this introduction to genealogy will inspire them to join a local genealogy group.

NEXT BRANCH MEETING: 22 AUGUST 2009

As previously advertised, please note that our August meeting will not take place on the customary third Saturday of the month due to our branch hosting the National Executive Committee meeting. We have thus opted to hold both events on the same day, and so the branch meeting has been moved out to 22 August 2009.

At the conclusion of the NEC meeting, the branch meeting will be addressed by the recently elected President of the GSSA, Hendrik Louw (left), who is no stranger to us.

Note that Lucas Rinken, branch chairman, has extended an invitation to NEC members present to join us for the branch meeting should they have the time and inclination. So we look forward to a larger than normal gathering.

Hendrik’s topics will be:

1. GSSA the Society

• What is the GSSA;
• Member needs;
• How does the GSSA fit into the global genealogy picture;
• Thoughts on strengths and threats for GSSA;
• Products and
• Support with regard to the advancement of GSSA (External websites etc.)

2. Genealogical overview

• SAG (GISA) versus e-SAGI (GSSA Gauteng-West)
• Public domain
• Researchers thoughts on "review and summary".

Time: 14:00 to 16:00;

Place: Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk), Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort (Map below);

Entrance Fee: R5,00 for refreshments.

CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE
(SOURCE: Mail and Guardian Online)

BAIE URE SE KYK HIER

sagenealogie.com of sagenealogy.com.
(Klik op een van bostaande.)

Neem kennis van voorgaande. Dis ‘n hulpmiddel soos min vir Suid-Afrikaanse genealoë.

Dennis Pretorius (regs), die skepper hiervan skryf op die tuisblad:

“SAGenealogie is 'n wêreldwye genealogiese gespreksgroep op die Internet met Afrikaans as voertaal. Dit bestaan tans uit amper 800 vriendelike en hulpvaardige genealoë van rondom die aardbol wat wissel van beginners tot gesoute en selfs professionele navorsers in sy geledere”.

Dié webtuiste bevat ‘n magdom inligting. Kyk net:

• ‘n Foto-databank met honderde interessante en insiggewende foto’s – van ABO-foto’s en kerke in ‘n rits dorpe tot begrafnisbriewe en ou vervoermiddels.

• Dit is ook die vertrekpunt vir nuwe lede van SA Genealogie-gespreksgroep waar lede (let wel daar is amper 800) mekaar onder meer help om hul voorsate op te spoor.
  

• Dit bevat ‘n reeks beproefde genealogiese skakels.
  

• Verskeie lede se webwerwe is te sien.
  

Diegene wat nog nie met dié webwerf kennis gemaak het nie, het ‘n hele paar ure se ontginningswerk wat wag.

Onder: Een van die ongewone foto's op SAGenealogie se foto-databasis. Zeederberg se Sebra-span op Pitersburg gereed om die pad na Leysdorp (1881). Foto: H Exton-versameling.

Piet Roets het vir Doel Zeederberg die idee gegee om Zebras mak te maak en te gebruik weens skaarste van perde en muile. In 1881 het Jacob Erasmus zebras gevang en hulle op sy plaas in Leydsdorp geteel. Roets, wat naby Haenertsburg geboer het, en Izak van der Merwe van Pietersburgdistrik het sy voorbeeld gevolg. Hulle het daarin geslaag om kwaggas mak te maak, te teel en selfs 'n ploeg te laat trek. Roets het van sy mak kwaggas aan Doel Zeederberg aangebied en tot sy verbasing het Doel sy aanbod aanvaar en 20 diere van Roets gekoop vir £200. Hulle spoed oor kort afstande was vinniger as die van 'n perd of muil, maar hulle het stamina kortgekom en 'n goeie perd kon hulle binne tien minute flou hardloop.

Bron: Neem uit die Verlede (Nasionale Parkeraad van Suid-Afrik). Dr U de V Pienaar, "Transportpaaie", p. 273

LEES OOK 'N VORIGE BERIG DEUR HIER TE KLIK.

NEWSLETTER, AUGUST 2009

BY BOB SAUNDERS, VICE-CHAIRMAN

Last month saw a different format newsletter,. This month we have expanded on, and hopefully even improved on the last one. To those of you who gave feedback (fortunately none negative) a big thank you for that.

What is, however, a bit disappointing, is the lack of response to the call for dialogue from branch members as to your needs or any wish-lists. As your committee we plot and plan as best we can, but, bottom line is that if you do not participate either by attending meetings or corresponding with us on issues/topics needing attention, we are oftentimes floundering in the dark. So on behalf of your committee I reiterate the invitation and encourage you to keep the debate lively – even by merely playing devils advocate.

JULY 2009 COMMITTEE MEETING

July saw your committee focusing at length on the points raised at the workshop held at the March branch meeting. The items raised were analyzed and summarized by Bob. It resulted in a total of 20 points for discussion. These were tackled in the order in which they were raised at the March meeting. There was not enough time to discuss even half of the points raised. Thus, we will resume the marathon at the next committee meeting and report fully after we have dealt with all the issues raised. There will be a whole host of proposals (I believe) for each member to consider and comment on prior to any implementation. We will keep you posted.

JULIE 2009 SE TAKVERGADERING

Vir diegene wat nie die vergadering bygewoon het nie: ons het vir die eerste keer van Kriek Fourie as spreker gehoor -- op ‘n heel nuwe en unieke. Die onderwerp was sy ondervinding met die opteken van ou Familiebegraafplase in die Langkloof, Oos-Kaap.

Met die gebruik van beskikbare tegnologie is ons (amper fisies) deur ‘n gedeelte van die Langkloof geneem deur middel van Google Earth en Lucas Rinken se vaardigheid daarmee. Met Kriek as toergids is ons van Joubertina deur Krakeel en Louterwater na die plaas Kransfontein (onder andere) geneem om die begrafplasies te vind. Later is die fotos, wat deel was van sy opname aan ons getoon. Terwyl Lucas die “muis” bestuur het, het Kriek ons met allerhande stories en ervaringe vergas. Dit was 'n belewenis soos min. Dankie aan beide here vir die ongewone, maar interesante vertoning. Foto: Die Langkloof, soos gesien van Joubertina.

AUGUST 2009 BRANCH MEETING

As previously advertised, please note that our August meeting will not take place on the customary third Saturday of the month due to our branch hosting the National Executive Committee meeting. We have thus opted to hold both events on the same day, and so the branch meeting has been moved out to 22 August 2009.

At the conclusion of the NEC meeting, the branch meeting will be addressed by the recently elected President of the GSSA, Hendrik Louw (left), who is no stranger to us. Note that Lucas has extended an invitation to NEC members present to join us for the branch meeting should they have the time and inclination. So we look forward to a larger than normal gathering.

Hendrik’s topics will be:

1. GSSA the Society

• Who is the GSSA;
• Member needs;
• How does the GSSA fit into the global genealogy picture;
• Thoughts on strengths and threats for GSSA;
• Products and
• Support with regard to the advancement of GSSA (External websites etc.)

2. Genealogical overview

• SAG (GISA) versus e-SAGI (GSSA Gauteng-West)
• Public domain
• Researchers thoughts on "review and summary"

VERSOEKE

Soos verlede maand aangekondig, het e-SAGI die 500000 -naam mylpaal behaal. Danksy Lucas en 'n baie klein span van helpers, word hierdie projek verfyn. Daar verskyn egter nog baie duplikate op die databasis en ‘n versoek word gedoen om te help met dié takprojek. Vrywilligers word benodig om ‘n familievan aan te neem (dalk jou eie) en deur die name te soek vir moontlike duplikate en Lucas dan daarvan te verwittig. Dit sal die proses grootliks help indien hy hulp kry van ons taklede. Maar dit is nie al manier wat jy ‘n bydrae kan maak tot e-SAGI nie. Die byvoeging van jou familie is noodsaaklik asook die normale onderhoud daarvan elke keer as ‘n sterfte of geboorte plaasvind. Stel Lucas asseblief in kennis soos en wanneer nodig.

PERSOONLIKE ERVARINGS

Neels Coertse het ná ontvangs van verlede maand se nuusbrief, aan ons geskryf en vertel van ene tannie Bessie du Toit:

Ek was sowat twee weke gelede Hopetown toe met die hoop om om daar of in doe omgewing iets van my Hopetown-COERTSE's te spoor - amper soos daardie diamant wat jare gelede daar ontdek was.

Ek het besonder baie inligting gekry. En ook op die koop toe met 'n familielid gesels: tannie Bessie DU TOIT (links) wat op 23 Februarie 1907 gebore is en gedoop op 19 Mei 1907. Sy was in Strydenburg in die ouetehuis - 102 jaar oud. Toe ek haar skakel toe antwoord sy self haar telefoon en ek stel my voor.

Sy vra dadelik: "Hoe spel jy jou COERTSE?"
Ek: "Tannie, met 'n S."
Sy: "O, nes my oorlede mammie. Kom jy vir my kuier?"

Toe ek haar vra of sy weet wanneer sy gedoop is, het sy nee gesê en ek gee die datum vir haar. Sy gryp haar pen en skryf dit op haar kalender neer. Sy het nog elke dag haar dagboek opgeskryf daar waar sy in die son sit. Haar skoondogter het my vertel dat tannie Bessie elke dag die dagboek begin met: "Dankie, Heer, ek het lekker geslaap."

En ek het die wonderlikste klankopname van haar gesprek gemaak.

Ek het ook met haar seun en skoondogter op Hopetown gesels. Ek het laas week vir haar twee foto's gestuur wat ek van haar geneem het.

Ek het net nou net gehoor sy is vandag oorlede.

Dankie vir hierdie storie, Neels. Dit demonstreer hoe belangrik dit is om met die ouer geslag te praat. Jy het ook die tegnolgie ingespan en ‘n opname van jul gesprek gemaak asook digitale foto's geneem. Ek dink die ervaring het jou ook diep geraak en jy is ryker as gevolg daarvan.

Penny Evans (left) also sent me a little report of her experience in Barberton whilst looking for some ancestral history.

I went to Barberton in July last year to search for information about the Gass family. I was advised to go to the museum. The staff at the museum have recorded information that has been on the historical voters rolls, marriage registers, and church records. I had not expected to find any family history there, so I was really thrilled to come across baptism dates, addresses, occupations, firearm licenses and even still births relating to the Gass family. They were unable to find any photos of my great grandfather, but they had a copy of an interview, done by a local historian, with one of the Gass descendents. The staff were very patient and helpful. A day to remember!

Thank you Penny. It is always a thrill to find something unexpected whilst doing research, and your story should serve as a reminder to us not to overlook the museums in the areas where our forebears lived as a source of information about the history of their times. One never knows what valuable information may be gleaned in this way

BRANCH LIBRARY

A reminder to our members that we have this modest resource which is growing slowly, but surely. It is at your disposal at every meeting. Please make use of it, and consider donating books, journals or magazines of historical and genealogical significance once you have tired of them so that others may benefit. Remember that Graham Southey is currently the curator of our collection. All matters relating to the library can and should be taken up with him or any of the office bearers.

ANDER TAKNUUS

Die Noord-Transvaaltak adverteer tans 'n simposium in September 2009 wat belowe om interessant te wees. Hieronder ‘n uitreksel uit hul nuusbrief hieroor:

SIMPOSIUM 12 SEPTEMBER 2009 - CENTURION RAADSAAL, BASDENLAAN 242 LYTTELTON

Ons maak goeie vordering met die reëlings vir ons simposium. Dit is ons hoogtepunt van die jaar en die simposium wek belangstelling ver buite ons kringe. Kaartjies kos R110 vir GGSA lede en R130 vir nie-lede.

Ons het reeds 21 kaartjies verkoop, maar ons moet nog sowat 70 verkoop om die koste te dek.

Ons doen ‘n beroep op ons lede om so gou as moontlik hul kaartjies te koop en vra dat u ook in u familie en vriendekring hierdie simposium sal adverteer.

Die program is hieronder.

SINERGIE TUSSEN GENEALOGIE, GESKIEDENIS EN KULTUURGESKIEDENIS

08:45 -09:30 Registrasie en Verwelkoming

EERSTE SESSIE ARGIEWE

09:30-10:15 South African National Archives: Dr Graham Dominy, national archivist (45 min)
10:15-10:45 Korporatiewe argiewe: stand en toeganklikheid vir die navorser: Anri van der Westhuizen, argivaris van Unisa (30 min)
10:45-11:00 Vrae aan die paneel (15 min)
11:15-11:45 Tee

TWEEDE SESSIE MUSEUMS

11:45-12:15 Museums as bronne van inligting vir die navorser: Cecilia Kruger, museum deskundige van die Voortrekkermonument (VTM) (30 min)
12:15-12:35 Waarheen met familie erfstukke? Riëtte Zaaiman van die Erfenisstigting (20 min)
12:35- 12:50 Vrae aan die paneel (15 min)
13:00-13:30 Ete

DERDE SESSIE RESULTAAT VAN NAVORSING

13:30-14:00 Genealogie, geskiedenis en kultuurgeskiedenis verryk mekaar: Dr Celestine Pretorius (40 insluitend 10 minute vraetyd)
14:00-14:30 Geskiedenis wat spreek tot die hededaagse jeug: Daan Potgieter, 'n geskiedenisonderwyser (30 min insluitend 10 minute vraetyd)
14:40-15:00 Algemene bespreking en samevatting

Stuur 'n epos aan Ellen Harmse by eharmse@mweb.co.za as u belangstel.

E-MAILS FROM THE GRAVE

The report below may not be exactly genealogy,

but maybe future genealogists should take note.

London - Britons who feel the need to communicate with loved ones from beyond the grave will be able to use a new e-mail service that allows up to 100 messages to be released after their death, it was reported Tuesday.

The Last Messages Club e-mail service, launched on Tuesday, allows personal notes written prior to people's death to be sent to loved ones in the future.

The messages can range from a final love letter, guidance for someone left behind, a list of instructions, details on life insurance and other financial information.

Important documents such as wills and insurance details can also be accessed through the service, and photos, videos and documents may be attached.

Organisers of The Last Messages Club insist their idea is in no way ghoulish but, on the contrary, eases the stress and trauma associated with the death.

A member can write up to 100 e-mails that can be released once they die at times of their choosing, such as when a relative or loved one marries or has a child.

The Last Messages Club works by giving each paying member a secure and private vault. They are then able to create messages to be sent specifically to their chosen recipient.

Geoff Reiss, founder of The Last Messages Club, said: "No one likes to think about their impending 'demise', but it is much better to be fully-prepared, so that there is less stress on your loved ones after you pass away."

Simon Gilligan, 63, from Cambridgeshire, is among the first people to have signed up to the scheme and has written messages to be sent to his wife, children and friends after his death, the Press Association reported.

"It's strange really as it makes you confront your own mortality in a sense," he said. But it also makes you think about smaller details like making sure you remind someone to cancel your bus pass," he said. -- NEWS24.

IN SEARCH OF FAMILY GRAVES

Branch treasurer Kriek Fourie (left) made a presentation to our monthly meeting in July 2009 about his search for family graves in the Eastern Cape.

Kriek’s wife’s family live in Joubertina which is 43 km from Kareedouw and 57 km from Uniondale. Each year they visit this family and Kriek decided that he would like to photograph graves in the vicinity of the nearby Kouga Mountains.

This he did and the valuable photographic records of the graves in this mountainous terrain, were presented to our branch.

To give the members an idea of the steep mountain slopes, Kriek used Google Earth which clearly showed the mountains and winding dirt roads he travelled. He first went to Kransfontein, a farm which had been owned by the Kritzingers. Here he took photos of their graves.

From there he travelled to Morea, a mere 15 km away. It took an hour and a half to travel as the road was in a very poor condition. They drove over areas of the road which had been washed away, rock falls blocked the road, and through sandy river beds where the bakkie became stuck in the sand. The last farmer living there had died eight years ago, so the area was unoccupied. The graves of the Vosloos were here. Of the thirty graves, only two had headstones.

From there they descended via a very steep dirt road, this time driving through water, as it was the only way to cross the river. In the winter the farms in this area only receive three hours of sunlight daily and summers are hot and humid. The settlement of Krakiel , comprising thirty houses only has two lamp posts. Matthys Strydom and decedents lie buried there.

Louterwater was where the Meyers and Nortiers lived. -- Penny Evans, branch member.

OUR MEMBERS: MARGARET HUMPHRIES AND JOHAN LOURENS

Margaret Humphries (left), who has been a member of the West Gauteng branch of the GSSA for many years, started her family history research in 1996. She is busy researching the following surnames:

On her father's side: Freshwater, Haddrel and Harcombe;
On her mother's side: Bennett, Currin, Quirk, Freemantle and Pacston and
On her husband's side: Humphries, van der Nest, Marais and Maré.

Johan Lourens (right) , also a member of our West Gauteng group has been involved with family history research since 1998. Most of his work has been on his Lourens and Scholtz family, and to a lesser extent the Engelbrecht and Turner family. -- Penny Evans, branch member.

NEWSLETTER JULY 2009

BY BOB SAUNDERS, VICE-CHAIRMAN

A bit of a tongue in cheek greeting based on what I have distilled from talking to those who attend the meetings and other functions.

There are those of us who ardently seek our roots (the searchers) and then there are those of us who do it all over again - for others (the researchers) - because they enjoy it so much!

Whichever category you fall into, take the time to drop me (or any committee member) a line to let us know what it is you want to learn/hear about, in the pursuit of your search. Ask the questions -- anonomously if you must and we will try our best to assist. This will assist us greatly in preparing next year's programme. Our telephone numebers appear on the left or just click below any coommittee member's name and send an e-mail.

Taking the time to drop a line to offer any constructive criticism would be equally appreciated.

VERLEDE MAAND SE KOMITEEVERGADERING

• Die komitee goedgekeur dat John Stephens ons begraafplaaskoördineerder sal wees. Sy eerste taak sal wees om te reël dat ons tak op 17 Oktober 2009 die familiebegrafplasies in sy omgewing sal opneem.
  

• Voorsitter Lucas Rinken het sy antwoord aan Isabel Groesbeek gestuur ná 'n versoek om kommentaar oor die jaar se Erfinisfees by die Voortrekkermonumentfeesterrein. Die geleentheid was 'n groot sukses en lede word gevra om volgende jaar se fees (in hul eie belang) te ondersteun. Daar is gemeld dat boeke ten bedrae van R 885 by die fees gekoop is vir ons takbiblioteek uit winste met die verkoop van e-SAGI.

• Dankie aan Lucas en sy span wat getrou e-SAGI uitbrei tot voordeel van ons tak se finansies.

• Dit was aangekondig dat 'n opleidingskursus op 15 Augustus sal plaasvind mits die Kerkperseel. Die kursusfooi beloop R100. Dit sal deur Lucas Rinken, Dennis Pretorius en Richard Ford aangebied word.

• 'n Versoek van blogredakteur Japie Bosch vir kort belangwekkende stories vir die blog is genoteer en lede word weer eens gevra om ook hul bydraes te oorweegvir plasing. Al dink jy dalk dat jou berig nie geskik is nie, stuur dit nietemin asseblief.
  

LAST MONTH'S BRANCH MEETING

The June meeting was addressed primarily by Bob Saunders on his recent trip to the UK which was a combined family duty/personal research trip.

The gist of the address was that it really is not necessary to go to London to the National Archives to do your research. Their systems are very sophisticated and accessible via the net at www.freebmd.org.uk (for instance) for births, marriages and deaths between the years 1837 to 1929.

You will also find other links there to pursue including www.gro.gov.uk which is the link to be able to place orders for documents as these are NOT available from the National Archives.

The other point he wanted to stress was that should you spoil yourself by taking such an excursion (and Bob still recommends it), be very certain about what it is you want to research, and focus on only that. There is so much one can access at the archives that you end up like a kid at a sweet factory trying absolutely everything in an absolute frenzy of time-robbing exploration, running around in circles instead of plodding steadfastly towards your goal.

DON'T WASTE YOUR PRECIOUS TIME whilst you are there. Oh, and don't forget to visit the 1911 Census. Bob found his maternal grandmothers family there. One of those liberating moments in his search.

Bob has prepared a whole series of powerpoint modules should anyone be remotely interested in his trip which he will gladly forward for your perusal. Just be warned that the files are rather large in some cases. But he will gladly share these if you drop him a line.

The meeting was augmented by a short presentation by Gerard Marloth on work he has been doing to assist Lucas with the filtering of data received for inclusion in e-SAGI. Lucas is over the moon as what Gerard has done, has dramatically reduced Lucas' workload. The programme is still under development and debugging and refinemet.

By way of an example, a file containing 20 000 names was scanned (live) before our eyes in no more tha 3 seconds flat, with very impressive results. No wonder Lucas is so impressed.

Congratulations and thank you Gerard.

JULIE-TAKVERGADERING

Ons volgende takvergadering sal op Saterdag 18 Julie 2009 by die NG Kerk Ontdekkerskruin, Phillipslaan, Discovery, Roodepoort, plaasvind om 14h00. Ons gasspreker is Kriek FourieHy sal praat oor van sy ondervindige in die Lankloof toe hy na grafte gaan soek het.
Kommiteelede word herriner dat die maandelikse komiteevergadering om 12uur dieselfde dag plaasvind.

Onthou asseblief ook om jou R5 vir verversingssaam te bring. Nêrens sal u 'n groter verskeidenheid verversings vir diémgeld in hierdie land kry nie. Margaret en haar span word hartelik bedank vir hul bydrae tot die smuletes, koek, tee, koffie en vrugtesap wat gereeld aangebied word. Die kuier na die vergadering om hulp te vra en te gesels met ander lede is baie aangenaam en bevredigend.

AUGUSTUS-TAKVERGADERING

Neem asseblief nou reeds kennis dat die Augustus-vergadering verskuif is na Saterdag 22 Augustus 2009 weens 'n NUK-vergadering waartydens ons tak as gasheer optree. die spreker sal die GGSA se President, Hendrik Louw, wees. Hy sal ons nlig oor sy siening van die toekoms van die Genootskap.

REQUESTS

e-SAGI has broken the half million barrier -- yes, in excess of 500 000 names! Lucas has done a sterling job with his handful of trusty helpers, to filter through all the data that has been collected prior to merging this into the database. However, there are still many duplicates that need to be weeded out.

The request therefore is for members to come forward and offer some time to assist Lucas to make this database the most comprehensive and reliable source of electronic data for all researchers. Since there is NEVER a free lunch ... the pay-off for your valuable time would be a free copy of e-SAGI. Yes, your own personal copy, free and for gratis, if you will undertake to, say, go through your entire family name extracting any names you identify as duplicates and forward these to Lucas for processing. It really is that simple.

The catch of course is that you filter through the entire family name (not just your little family). Whilst this may be quite a task for a surname like Smith or Jones (in the UK), it is not nearly that onerous in the local context so PLEASE do consider taking part in this exercise.

Just remember that none of the data you are able to access on the net (or elsewhere) just appeared there one day, someone had to do the work so that your task was made easier, and this database is no different. Be part of the action and give back a little time (as an investment in the future).

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

This is a new slot where you get the opportunity to tell us of a special find or coincidence in your search for a missing link. This month I (Bob Saunders) relate (yes, pun intended) to you an anecdote from my talk last month.

I had gone to the National Archives, to search for my maternal line as I knew nothing more than my grandmother's name and approximate death as well as my paternal line as all I had was my great grandfathers name and supposed birthdate.

In searching for my mom's line I was getting nowhere fast, but there was one clue out of a bunch of similar names, but the birth was registered in an unfamiliar (and supposedly) unlikely place called Wantage. So I threw in the towel and pursued the paternal line with equally spectacular results after a very circuituous search.

On returning to South Africa, I was surfing the net and came across the 1911 census and decided to take a gander. It wasn't long before I found my grandmother in the right part of London - aged one and a half years complete with parents and grandparents, uncle and aunts, and yes birth registered in Wantage. So I had had the right Queenie all along.

My great grandfather turns out to be an American of British parentage (according to the enumerators notes), so I now have another investigation to follow ... my American connection.

I wish I could say that excites me half as much as my British connections - but who knows?

TAKBIBLIOTEEK

Ons het 'n groeiende takbiblioteek onder die toesig van Graham Southey. Maak asseblief gebruik van hierdie fasiliteit wat gratis is aan ons lede. Dit bestaan uit allerei boeke, tydskrifte en joernale van verskeie genealogiese vereenigings, familiegeskiednisgenootskappe, asook die SAG-bundels.

Soos vroeër genoem, het die biblioteek 'n paar boeke ryker geword tydens die tak se besoek by die Erfenisfees op 30 Mei 2009 by die feesterrein by die Voortrekkermonument. Die boeke wat aangeskaf is, handel grootliks oor die famieliegeskiedenis van die familiesAucamp, Van der Walt, Neethling, Raubenheimer, Orlandini, Kotzee en Louw.

Ons spreek ons dank uit aan Graham wat ook 'n boek oor die Retif-familie aan die biblioteek geskenk het.

OTHER BRANCH & SOCIETY NEWS

• The Northern Transvaal branch has a Symposium in September titled "The Synergy Between Genealogy, History and Cultural History" which may interest some members. I will make contact with either Ferdi or Rentia to establish whether we could also attend and what the cost might be. Should anyone be interested, please let a committee member know.
  

• Please also take note that the Archive Tour 2009 that was being undertaken by the Northern Transvaal Branch has had to be cancelled due to to few subscriptions. Should they reconsider such a tour in 2010, perhaps a few of our members would be interested in joing them. We will keep you informed.

That about takes care of all the business for this month (prior to the committee and branch meetings). Your committee looks forward to welcoming you and any visitors to our meetings.

Your participation in these monthly meets is key to the sustainability of the branch and hopefully also your continued interest in your own research. Please remember to ask the questions to expand your own and your fellow investigators knowledge. If the person you have asked is unsure of the answer you seek it will be referred to our more experienced branch members and further if needs be.

Please also remember to share your successes with us and contribute to the newsletter as well as our blog.

NOT JUST BURIAL OR CREMATION

How will genealogist record "burials" in a few decades?

How about:
Freezed in Roodepoort or
Exposed to the Elements in the Kruger Game Reserve or
Orbiting Earth or
Converted into a Diamond.

These are just a few possibilities mentioned in an article published on 8 July 2009 on Health24

A shortened version of the article follows below.

"When pondering the fate of our mortal remains, most of us weigh up the pros and cons of the two standard methods: burial or cremation. But if either of these strike you as too dull and uncreative a way to bow out, maybe you’d like to mull over some of the more exotic choices available to the modern human corpse.

Should any of the following strike your fancy, you might need to also make arrangements to have your remains exported, because most of these procedures aren’t yet available in South Africa.

• The deep freeze

Promessa explains that the process involves freezing the corpse and then submerging it in liquid nitrogen, making it very brittle. Ultrasound converts the body into an organic powder which is dried in a vacuum chamber. The “hygienic and odourless” final product, when placed in a coffin made of corn starch and buried in a shallow grave to speed the process, converts to compost after about 6-12 months. A favourite tree can be planted over the site, literally and symbolically continuing the ecological cycle.

• The big chill

Cryonics is the preservation of human bodies at low temperatures for possible eventual resuscitation (perhaps 100 years from now), when a cure has been found for the original cause of death.

Once your deceased body reaches the cryonics facility, circulation and breathing are artificially restored, the body is cooled, and then the blood is replaced with preserving solutions. Oxygen is continuously circulated to (ostensibly) prevent brain damage. In an attempt to retain memory, the brain is infused with chemicals that prevent ice crystal formation during the cooling process (at -196 °C)

• Plastination: strike a pose

Plastination is the use of plastic polymers to infiltrate and preserve tissue for educational, research or diagnostic purposes. Recently, it has also been used – with great success and not a little controversy – as a form of ‘educational entertainment’ in exhibitions.

The process involves draining all liquids from dissected parts of the body, and replacing the fluid with polymer. Unique gases and heat are then applied to the parts, hardening and ‘fixing’ the tissue.

Plastination’s proponents point out that the final product is clean, odourless and permanent. It's an excellent way to educate students, because the tissues possess interactive visibility. Many universities are opting for plastination over formaldehyde-preserved cadavers.

• Feed the birds
  

Followers of the Zoroastrian faith in India and Buddhists in Tibet choose to have their remains dispatched by birds of prey. Zoroastrians' bodies are exposed to the elements – and the vultures – by being placed in a circular stone tower open to the sky. Similarly, Tibetan Buddhists observe ‘sky burials’, in which the body is first chopped up, and then left to the birds – and sometimes also wild dogs.

Environmentally, this is a clean, efficient method – or was until the vulture population in India started to decline in recent years, forcing authorities to seek additional ways to dispose of remains.

• Go boldly
  

Space Services, a Houston-based aerospace company, offers ‘memorial spaceflights’, in which a portion of your cremated remains is loaded into a sealed container, attached to a satellite, and then shot into space.

On launch day “families gather at the liftoff site to share the experience of seeing the loved one's dream of space flight realized. With a roar and a fiery streak across the sky, the rocket lifts its precious load higher and higher into the peaceful solitude of space.”

This will cost you anything from a paltry $995 to have one gram of your remains sent into the earth’s orbit, to $12 500 to get as far as the moon or deep space.

• Sleep with the fishes
  

Eternal Reefs, a US-based company, will mix your cremated remains into the concrete of a ‘reef unit’, or ‘reef ball’, an artificial structure designed to mimic part of a real coral reef, to which it is then added.

The idea is that marine creatures, under pressure from the destruction of coral reefs, can then use you as a new home. This concept does in fact have scientific legitimacy: similar structures are being used in an attempt to rehabilitate reefs in different parts of the world.

• Shine on
  

LifeGem, yet another US-based company, converts the carbon in cremated ashes to create a “certified, high-quality diamond created … as a memorial to their unique life”, which then can be worn by a friend or family member, or kept safe in a jewellery box.

This will set you back anything from US$2 699 to US$19 999 for a loose stone. Setting is extra. The service is also available for dearly departed pets.

• Get plastered

A few countries have built memorial parks that contain a "niche wall". This is a solid granite structure with numerous small holes or spaces, where your cremation ashes can be deposited and then sealed into the wall. A plaque marks the spot where the ashes are poured, providing identification for the deceased. Neat, space-saving and cosily communal."

(Olivia Rose-Innes, EnviroHealth Expert, and Matthew Louw, Health24, updated June 2009) Source material: Eternal Reefs: official website Gunther von Hagens Bodyworlds: official website LifeGem: official website Lonely Planet Tibet (2005); Lonely Planet Publications; 6th edition Promessa Organic AB: official website Space Services: official website

SOURCES, SOURCES, SOURCES

You've been researching your family for a while and have managed to correctly assemble many pieces of the puzzle. You've entered the names and dates found in census records, land records, military records, etc. But can you tell me exactly where you found great, great-grandma's birth date? Was it on her tombstone? In a book at the library? In the 1860 census on Ancestry.com?

When researching your family it is very important that you keep track of every piece of information. This is important both as a means of verifying or "proving" your data and also as a way for you or other researchers to go back to that source when future research leads to information which conflicts with your original assumption. In genealogy research, any statement of fact, whether it is a birth date or an ancestor's surname, must carry its own individual source.

Kimberly Powell of About.com discusses this topic. Find the rest of her report HERE.

DIE NUWE e-SAGI MET 'N HALF MILJOEN PERSONE SE DATA IS HIER

DIS HIER:

Die nuwe e-SAGI (weergawe 5) met 'n half miljoen persone se besonderhede en koppelings.

DIE PRYS:

• R150 plus R10 posgeld (in Suid-Afrika) = R160.
• Persone wat 'n vorige weergawe gekoop het, betaal slegs R120 plus R10 posgeld (in Suid-Afrika) = R130.

SLEGS OP DVD

Dis slegs op ‘n DVD verkrygbaar, omdat die databasis so groot is. Dit kan nie in twee of meer CD’s “opgebreek” word nie.

WAT IS e-SAGI?

e-SAGI staan vir “elektroniese Suid-Afrikaanse Genealogiese Indeks”. Dit is 'n projek van die Wes-Gautengtak van die SA Genealogiese Genootskap. Lucas Rinken is die man wat die projek begin het. Hy het letterlik duisende ure reeds hieraan bestee. Dit bevat genealogiese besonderhede van 500 000 mense, maar dit het ook koppelings na hulle voorouers en families. Teen bogenoemde prys is hierdie inligting vir 'n genealoog 'n winskoop duisend en 'n hulpmiddel soos min. Die opbrengs uit verkope gaan na die tak.

GOEIE RAAD

Vir diegene wat nie ‘n DVD-speler in hul rekenaar het nie, het Dennis Pretorius die volgende raad:

• Koop die DVD;
• Vra iemand wat ‘n DVD-speler het om dat na ‘n geheue-stokkie (memory stick) te kopieer;
• Kopieer die databasis van die geheue-stokkie na jou hardeskyf.

Geheue-stokkies is by enige rekenaarwinkel verkrygbaar. Die pryse sal uiteraard wissel. Dit sal in die omgewing van R120 vir 'n 2 GB- of R180 vir 4 GB-stokkie wees. Eersgenoemde is meer as genoeg. Andersins leen een by 'n vriend.

BESTEL SÓ

Bestellings kan by Dennis geplaas word. Sy epos-adres is krugersdorp@pixie.co.za. KLIK HIER en stuur nóú 'n epos aan Dennis.

VORIGE BERIGTE

Inigting oor die aard en omvang van e-SAGI is te sien deur HIER TE KLIK. Gaan af na die opskrif: "400 000 Persone se Data". (Let wel: Die syfers wat in hierdie berig word, is verouderd. Soos hierbo berig, het die aantal persone intussen na 500 000 gestyg.) Lees ook HIER.

MONTHLY MEETING, 20 JUNE 2009

Date: Saturday, 20 June 2009;

Time: 14:00 to 16:00;

Place: Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk), Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort (Map below);

Subject: A Genealogical Visit to England;

Presenter: Bob Saunders, Architectural Technician and Vice-Chairman of the West Gauteng Branch of the GSSA.

Entrance Fee: R5,00 for refreshments.

CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE
(SOURCE: Mail and Guardian Online)

THE SOUTHEY FAMILY HISTORY IN BRIEF

Graham Southey (left) gave an interesting and amusing talk at the April 2009 meeting of the West Gauteng branch of the GSSA.

Southey is a very old surname. This name has been spelt in various ways -- South Hey, Southhey and Sowthey. From 1698 it was spelt as we know it.

Graham gave a broad outline of the early Southey history in England. He visited Wellington, an area in which the early Southey families had settled. The early settlers took a great interest in parish affairs.

At the local parish church he found the names of no less than nine Southeys who had been church wardens in the 1600s.

Thomas Southey (1545-1601) was known as the great clothier of Wellington. He married Joan Budd, a daughter of William Budd, a serge maker of Wellington. They had six sons and three daughters. The eldest son was Robert from whom several famous Southeys were descended.

Robert also lived in Wellington and his son Robert was a poet who became the Poet Laureate to King George III of England. They wanted to honour him with a title but he declined and said he would prefer a pension. There is a bust of Robert in Westminster Abbey.

Henry Herbert (1783-1865) was the King’s physician.

John (1666-1728) was a famous lawyer from Thornton in Somersetshire. He married an heiress, Mary Canon. Their granddaughter married the Honourable Hugh Somerville. She died giving birth to her only son, John Southey Somerville who became the 15th Lord Somerville.

Thomas became the founder of the London Wool Exchange in the 1800s.

George was the eldest son of another John Southey. He married Joan Baker. The 1820s was a bad era in England. At the age of 43 George Southey and his family decided to leave England for SA.

They were allocated land in the Grahamstown area. They were simply dropped off on their allocation. Fortunately they had brought two tents with them!

Graham knows little about the lives of George and Joan Southey.

Their eldest daughter was Sophia (1804-1880). She married Joseph Stark who was a founder member of the village of Pedi in the Eastern Cape.

Their eldest son William had to endure difficult times during the war of 1834/1835. He was an incredible farmer who eventually controlled farms in the Graaff-Reinet and Bloemfontein areas. Misfortune struck when he became ill and he lost these farms along with the finest stud stock.
Richard Southey, the third born, having assisted Sir Harry Smith, developed a lasting friendship with him. He held various positions of responsibility in the Cape Government and later became Sir Richard Southey.

Sir Richard Southey married twice and had 7 sons and 2 daughters.

Two of his sons became farmers. Charles and William began farming together on “Klipgat” in the Middelburg area. They divided the farm and Charles farmed with ostriches during the boom period, later developing his farm as a race horse stud farm.

William, Graham’s great grandfather became known as the “Father of Irrigation’ in SA. He had seen great potential for irrigation in times of flood. He started building weirs across the great Brak Rivier to irrigate his lands. He had 3000 morgen under cultivation.

Frederick William Southey, a son of William became a very successful sheep farmer. He exhibited sheep and took first prize for the grand champ merino ram for 17 consecutive years. In the 18th year Graham’s father took the championship from him. They did not speak to each other for 3 months.

Fred had 24 grandchildren. They held a gathering on the farm in 1995 in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fred Southey moving to that farm.

Fred owned 12 farms in that area, one in Alliwal North and another in Cradock. Each child inherited two farms and his bookkeeper of 40 years got the 13th farm in Cradock.

500 000 IS OM DIE DRAAI

Net 9 000 om te gaan. Dan’s hy by 500 000.

Dis Lucas Rinken (links) se e-SAGI (elektroniese Suid-Afrikaanse Genealogiese Indeks) – ‘n projek van die Wes-Gauteng-tak van die Genealogiese Genootskap van Suid-Afrika.

Lucas is al jare lank besig met dié databasis. Menige genealoog het al sy soektog na voorouers met behulp hiervan beëindig.

Met inligting wat hy van oral in die wêreld kry, het Lucas veral in die afgelope klompie maande die databasis vinnig laat groei. In September 2008 het dit die data van 400 000 bevat. Binne agt maande het dit met 100 000 gegroei.

Hy het dit reggekry met ‘n aantal helpers wat hom getrou bygestaan het.

Een van sy groot uitdagings is om duplikate deur te werk. In die jongste paar weke was daar nie minder as 5 176 sodaniges wat hy moes bekyk.

“Ek was dikwels naby aan tou opgooi. Dis sieldodende werk om paar na paar deur te werk, te besluit wat behou moet word en waarvan vergeet kan word en dan weer die volgende paar te pak, paar na paar na paar.

“Hulp en ondersteunende e-posse het my die moed gegee om deur te druk ek uiteindelik vorentoe te kan kyk. Sover ek weet, is die lêer nou skoon van moontlike duplikate. Dit los my met 491,336 name en gee my die geleentheid om die aanslag op 500,000 in alle erns aan te pak.

e-SAGI is voorwaar 'n hulpmiddel wat vir die ernstige genealoog onontbeerlik is. Die databasis word met die genealogiese program LEGACY gelees. Die standaard-weergawe van dié program kan HIER afgelaai word. Dié program is ook by e-SAGI ingesluit.

• Inligting oor die aard en omvang van e-SAGI is te sien deur HIER TE KLIK.

Die huidige databasis (met die data van 400 000 persone) is op DVD teen R120 plus R15 posgeld beskikbaar. Daar word besef dat baie mense nie oor DVD-lesers beskik nie. Daarom is die databasis ook op twee CD's beskikbaar teen R140 plus R15 posgeld.

Hierdie pryse is vir versending in Suid-Afrika. Versending na die buiteland sal groter posgeld meebring. Pryse moet met Dennis Pretorius bevestig moet word. Bestellings kan ook by Dennis geplaas word. Sy epos-adres is krugersdorp@pixie.co.za. KLIK HIER en stuur nóú 'n epos aan Dennis.

Die beskikbaarheid van die jongste databasis (met 500 000 persone se data) sal aangekondig word sodra dit gereed is.

Beendere uit grafte dalk vir moetie gesteel

Nelspruit. – Grafskenders het ’n tweede keer in ses weke op die Kaapsche Hoop-begraafplaas, suid van Nelspruit, toegeslaan.

In die jongste voorval is drie grafte oopgegrawe en die beendere is volgens die polisie vermoedelik verwyder.

Die grafskenders het die grafstene erg beskadig.

Dit kom nadat grafskenders ses grafte net voor die Paasnaweek omgedolwe en weer gedeeltelik toegegooi het.

Niemand is nog in verband daarmee aangekeer nie.

Die Universiteit van Pretoria (UP), wat opgrawings gedoen het, het bevind dat al die beendere uit die ses grafte waarmee gepeuter is, verwyder is.

Die Ngodwana-polisie ondersoek klagte van grafskending.

Die UP gaan môre weer opgrawings in die begraafplaas doen om te bevestig dat beendere in die jongste voorval ook verwyder is, het konst. Ngwako Kgofelo, woordvoerder van die Ngodwana-polisie, die naweek gesê.

Hy het gesê die polisie vermoed die beendere word gesteel vir moetie.

Die beendere word onder meer fyngemaal en misdadigers strooi byvoorbeeld voor ’n rooftog die fyngemaalde beendere oor hul lywe omdat hulle glo dit gaan hulle beskerm teen arrestasie of ander probleme.

Volgens Kgofelo is die polisie al raadop met die probleme by die Kaapsche Hoop-begraafplaas.

“Ons dink daaraan om die naburige Nelspruit-munisipaliteit te nader en te vra om dit te oorweeg om ’n draad om die begraafplaas op te rig,” het Kgofelo gesê.

“Die gemeenskap van Kaapsche Hoop kan ook dalk help met die beveiliging.” -- BEELD, 17 Mei 2009.

MONTHLY MEETING: 16 MAY 2009

Date: Saturday, 16 May 2009;

Time: 14:00 to 16:00;

Place: Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk), Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort (Map below);

Subject: The Van Wyks of Tarkastad;

Presenter: Ferdie van Wyk, member of the Northern Transvaal Branch of the GSSA;

Kort CV: Ferdie is gebore in 1942 in Les Marais, Pretoria. Hy is die enigste seun van Tom en Dawie van Wyk (Sy moeder was gedoop Izak Dawid Catharina van der Walt).

Hy matrikuleer in 1960 aan Hoërseunskool Helpmekaar waar hy hoofseun was. In 1962 het hy by die Staande Mag aangesluit. Hy het aan die Militêre Akademie, of te wel die Fakulteit Krygskunde van die Universiteit Stellenbosch gestudeer. Aan Unisa het hy 'n Honneursgraad in Strategiese Studies behaal. Dit het gelei tot ‘n oorplasing na Militêre Inligting. Sy laaste pos in die SA Leër was met die rang van Brigadier verbonde aan die staf van Lt. Genl. Georg Meiring die Hoof van Die Leer.

Op 22 Desember 1992 verneem hy op TV dat hy, twee generaals en nog drie brigadiers deur oud-president FW de Klerk afgedank is.

Daarna het hy hom in die rekenaarbedryf begewe.

Ferdie is getroud met Ina du Plessis. Hulle het drie kinders.

Entrance Fee: R5,00 for refreshments.

CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE
(SOURCE: Mail and Guardian Online)

10 STEPS TO WRITING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY

Eventually most of us want our research recorded in book form -- a big task. How is it done?

"Yes, the research is the fun part. Writing a family history book just seems too daunting to be fun. But when the relatives start nagging, try these 10 easy steps for making your family history book a reality."

Kimberley Powell tells more on ABOUT.COM: GENEALOGY.

Her proposed ten steps include:

1) Choose a Format for Your Family History

2) Define the Scope of Your Family History

3) Set Deadlines You Can Live With

4) Choose a Plot & Themes

5) Do Your Background Research

6) Organize Your Research

7) Choose a Starting Point

8) Don't be Afraid to Use Records and Documents

9) Make it Personal

10) Include an Index and Source Citations.

Kimberley also has the following tip to tackle your book:

“Tackling a full-blown family history is a huge project, one which many people find too overwhelming to even begin. Just finding the time to sit down and put your own stories on paper can be a near impossible feat. Just ask my grandmother who must be tired of hearing from me about those family stories she's been promising me for years.

“The trick to any large project is to break it down into manageable chunks. In the case of recording your family history, why not begin with a letter? Sit down once per month with a few pieces of paper or your computer and begin writing - to your children, grandchildren, or anyone who might be interested. Begin by selecting a topic for that month's letter - a particular ancestor, a certain time period, a special event... Then just let the words come. Make the letter an informal one, but be sure to record as much of your memories as possible, including names, dates, facts and feelings. Write just as if you were telling your children or grandchildren a bedtime story, because in a way you are. That monthly letter will soon be something that your descendants eagerly anticipate. Plus, before you know it, you will have finally written that family history - one letter at a time.”

LET'S TAKE NOTE

The recent tragic news from Germany and Italy points out just how fragile our world is. Documents, works of art, architecture, and more from throughout the centuries can be wiped out within seconds by earthquakes, fires, building collapses, wars, and other calamities. The loss to scholars, historians, genealogists, and others is incalculable. Luckily, we now have the technology and the ability to preserve multiple copies of all these priceless objects for future generations.

I would suggest that we digitize everything and make multiple copies of each copy, to be stored in widely dispersed locations.

The above are the introductory paragraphs of a report published on EASTMAN'S ONLINE GENEALOGY NEWSLETTER. It is worth reading.

• Voorgaande is veral van belang in die lig van die digitalisering van sterftekennisse in Suid-Afrika ... en natuurlik alle ander genealogiese werk, insluitend jou eie waaraan jy soveel tyd en energie bestee het.

• Dit laat 'n mens ook terugdink aan wat van jou genealogiese werk word ná jou afsterwe. KLIK HIER en KLIK HIER
  

GENEALOGY IN PRISON

UTAH STATE PRISON — In a cramped room here in the Wasatch medium-security unit, inmates sit hunched over computers, trying to decipher the aged writings of people long dead.

Some scroll through reels of microfilm, searching for a name that can help unlock the secrets of the past.

They are among hundreds of inmates doing genealogical work in family-history centers run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints inside the prison.

"The genealogical program here is a haven to get away from the environment within the prison itself," inmate Dan Maroney said. "It's a place for fellowship."

Read the full story on DESERT NEWS.

HOBBY-X

The Branch participated in Hobby-X, an exhibition of hobbies, held at the Northgate Dome, Johannesburg from 5 to 8 March 2009.

Above: Lucas Rinken in the "studyroom" exhibit at Hobby-X.

The stand drew much attention. As many as 130 people signed the visitors’ book. Seven new members were enrolled and seven copies of e-SAGI (electronic South African Genealogical Index) were sold. Chairman Lucas Rinken had his computer set up so that the visitors could search e-SAGI for information about family history. Lukas was even able to add 100 new people to the database.

Many of the visitors came from areas outside of Johannesburg and we were able to refer some people to the branch in Pretoria.

Lucas manned the stall each day but was ably assisted by other members of the branch, namely Gerard Marloth, Barbara Bouwer, Ruth and Alister Jobson, John and Iris Stephens, Louise Dick, Margaret Humphreys, Kriek Fourie and Penny Evans.

Bob Saunders designed the stall and was the main person setting it up.

Hobby-X is a wonderful opportunity to expose the public to geneology and to encourage people to join a group in order to get assistence and encouragement in this very rewarding hobby. It remains to be seen if those who joined will attend the monthly meetings and whether others who took information leaflets will follow up and make contact.

GEDIGTE OP SAGEN

Martina Louw skryf op SAGENEALOGIE:

Vir dié van julle wat 'n bietjie digkuns geniet, het ek 'n nuwe leêr op die '”files”-area van ons gespreksgroep opgelaai. Dis getiteld "Genealogie Gedigte". Daar is hele paar gedigte waarvan een in Afrikaans. Hopelik het van julle ouens 'n klompie meer, veral Afrikaanse genealogie gedigte, om by te las.

Een van die gedigte is:

If You Could Meet Your Ancestors …

By James Roche

If you could see your ancestors
all standing in a row
Would you be proud of them or not
or don't you really know?

Some strange discoveries are made
in climbing family trees
And some of them, you know,
do not particularly please.

If you could see your ancestors
all standing in a row
There might be some of them perhaps
you would not care to know.

But here's another question which
requires a different view;
If you could meet your ancestors
would they be proud of you?

GEDCOM IS LIKE FANAGALO

Suppose three individuals had just met and could not understand each other. The first individual could only understand English, the second French, and the third German. In order for our three friends to understand each other, they have three options.

• The first option is for two of the individuals to learn the language of the third.

• The second option is for each individual to learn the languages of both of the other two individuals.

• The third option is for all three to learn and communicate using a new secondary language developed specifically to allow translation of any word or phrase to and from any of the three languages. In this situation, the three could meet an additional friend who only speaks Italian. The Italian would only need to learn the new language to communicate with the other three as well.

An example of this took place in
the gold mines of South Africa.

Over the past twenty to thirty years, a language called Fanagalo was developed at the mines to allow all of the workers from many language backgrounds to communicate. The workers represented English, Afrikaans, various other European languages, and many Black tribal languages (Zulu, Xhosa, etc.). As a new worker came to the mines to work, he or she only had to learn Fanagalo to speak with the many people. It was much better than learning several different languages.

GEDCOM is like the third communication option.

LANCE J JACOB explains on GEDCOM 101.
CLICK HERE to read the article.

HOW POPULAR IS GENEALOGY?

BY DICK EASTMAN in his Eastman's Genealogy Newsletter,
19 February 2009.

WARNING: This article contains personal opinions.

A newsletter reader this week sent an e-mail asking a simple question:

I have heard about surveys showing genealogy to be the 2nd most popular hobby in America. Now I need a citation on this statistic and can't find one on the Internet. Can you help?

In short, the answer is "No." In fact, I question the "fact." I don't believe that genealogy is as popular as often claimed. Let's look at the facts.

I have heard two slightly different claims:

1. Genealogy is the most popular (or second or third or fourth most popular) topic on the World Wide Web.
2. Genealogy is the most popular (or second or third or fourth most popular) hobby/personal interest in the United States.

I have no doubt that genealogy is very popular. For proof, I can point out that more than 40,000 people read this newsletter every week. FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com are some of the more popular sites on the Web with hundreds of thousands of users. Local genealogy libraries and Family History Centers serve thousands of patrons every day. The study of one's family tree obviously is a popular activity among Americans, but is it really the second most popular interest? Or tenth most popular? Or fiftieth?

The only reputable survey that I know of was published in American Demographics magazine in 1995. The survey reported that some 113 million adults in the US, or four out of ten of us, were at least somewhat interested in family history. This survey appears to prove that genealogy is one of America's most popular hobbies.

I do believe this article's accuracy, but I suggest you closely examine the question asked: "at least somewhat interested." If you approached 100 strangers on the street and asked each of them if they were "at least somewhat interested" in their family tree, how many would answer in the affirmative?

Now, what happens if you ask 100 strangers if they are VERY interested in their family tree or if they have ever done anything at all to discover more about their ancestry? I don't know the answer to that, but I suspect it would be much less than four out of ten.

While many people may claim to be "somewhat interested," I dare say that most of them have never been to a genealogy library or to a courthouse. Most have never cranked a single roll of microfilm in their lives. How many people in your neighborhood do that? Some may have looked at one or two free online genealogy databases to find people of the same last name, but does that count as being interested in genealogy? I don't think they are very interested if they have never gone beyond the simplest of searches.

The American Demographics magazine survey was conducted in 1995, when the World Wide Web was in its infancy. In that year, probably 90% of all Americans had never seen the Web. In fact, some had yet to hear of it. What a difference we have seen the the past fourteen years! Today we do know that genealogy is a very popular topic on the web. I suspect there are more genealogists today than in 1995.

In short, while the 1995 survey in American Demographics magazine may be interesting, I believe it is no longer valid. The genealogy world has changed greatly since 1995. I would not trust a survey that is fourteen years old to provide meaningful answers about anything that is popular on today's World Wide Web.

The other surveys that I am aware of were conducted by Maritz Research. These surveys asked similar vague questions:

1. Are you at least “somewhat interested” in tracing your family history?
2. Are you at least “somewhat involved” with genealogy?

Sixty percent of the respondents said they were at least “somewhat interested,” and 45% claimed to be at least “somewhat involved” with genealogy. That sounds promising. However, again, let's examine the questions.

What is the definition of "at least somewhat?" Does "at least somewhat interested" mean, "I remember grandmother talking about that?" Or does it mean, "I have a database on my computer or a notebook on the shelf containing the results of my own search?"

The other thing that bothers me about the Maritz Research is the fact that it was commissioned and paid for by Broderbund, the former producers of Family Tree Maker software. One has to wonder how accurate a survey is when the company paying the researchers has a very biased interest in the results.

The reports of the Maritz Research surveys always reported glowing results and then casually mentioned that Family Tree Maker was the best-selling genealogy program in the world. The same reports usually did not mention that the company that produced Family Tree Maker commissioned and paid for the entire survey.

I wonder what the percentages would be in response to this question:

Have you personally done any research on your ancestry in the past year?

To be sure, genealogy is very popular on the World Wide Web. A search for the word "genealogy" on Google returns more than 97 million occurrences of the word. Time Magazine even named genealogy as one of the four most popular topics on the Internet in its 19 April 1999 cover article. (Sex, finance, and sports were the other three.)

My question is this: Does this high number of web sites reflect the true popularity of genealogy, or is it merely a reflection of the fact that today's genealogy programs can create thousands of web pages from one person's database? I suspect the answer is a blend of both.

The fact that 97 million web pages contain the word "genealogy" does not equate to 97 million people posting their own ancestry. In fact, it might be only tens of thousands of people using their genealogy programs to create thousands of web pages each.

If genealogy is truly one of the four most popular personal interests of Americans, we should be able to prove that by other means, right? We should be able to measure the dollars being spent, the popularity of local and national conferences, the number of magazines that serve this personal interest, and more. These are all tried and true measurements used by tens of thousands of marketing firms and others.

Let's start with magazines. If genealogy were truly as popular as our nation's interest in sports, at least one genealogy magazine would have a circulation similar to that of Sports Illustrated. Sadly, I do not know of such a genealogy publication. I could make the same argument about Newsweek, Oprah Magazine, Boating Magazine, Field & Stream, This Old House, Travel & Leisure Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Popular Mechanics, various movie fan magazines, and many more. There is no genealogy magazine in a list of the 100 most popular magazines of today. The magazine stand at your local drug store or grocery store probably contains no genealogy magazines at all. Larger bookstores typically do have genealogy magazines available, but not nearly as many as for other topics, such as sports, automobiles, needlework, camping, or pets. If I stop at the local magazine rack, I get the impression that more people are interested in poodles than in their ancestry.

How about national conventions?

The national Star Wars convention draws 40,000 to 50,000 attendees per year. The National Rifle Association's conventions attract 60,000+ attendees. The national convention of ham radio operators draws 25,000 to 30,000 attendees every year to Dayton, Ohio. A local health and fitness expo in Phoenix draws 70,000 attendees, and I suspect most of them live within 100 miles of the conference location. Local golfing, hunting, or fishing conferences near me regularly draw 10,000 people and, again, I suspect that most attendees live within 100 miles of the convention center.

Then there are hundreds of local and regional antique fairs, hot rod shows, boating shows, sportsmen's shows, and more. Many of these attract tens of thousands of people; some attract hundreds of thousands.

So, how big are the national genealogical conferences? In recent years, the two largest conferences attracted only 800 to 1,600 attendees each. Is this an indication that genealogy is one of the five most popular personal interests among Americans?

Side note: Other countries with smaller populations seem to attract more people to genealogy conferences. The annual Who Do You Think You Are? show in London typically attracts 12,000 to 15,000 attendees. However, not all of the attendees are genealogists; some are history buffs, others are military re-enactors, etc. The Biennale de Généalogie held in Paris in December 2006 attracted more than 16,000 attendees. The smaller Congrés de la Fédération Française de Généalogie is hosted annually in different cities in France and always attracts several thousand French men and women.

Finally, let's examine the businesses that serve this personal interest. I do not have sales figures available, but obviously the golfing industry serves a multi-billion dollar marketplace. So do firms that sell to hunting, fishing, gardening, health & fitness, pets, firearms, stamp collecting enthusiasts, and other companies that serve personal interests.

What is the total dollar amount spent on genealogy per year? While I am sure it is a significant sum, it must be a pittance when compared to the other personal interests just mentioned. Let's compare the money spent against that of other personal interests: golf, hunting, fishing, etc.

In summation, I will suggest that genealogy is indeed a very popular activity among Americans. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million, people are actively looking for their family heritage. However, that number pales in comparison to some other personal interests that I have mentioned.

Do you believe there are more genealogists than that? Is genealogy one of the top five personal interests in America? I have one challenge for you: find some believable statistics to prove it!

Source: Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 2009

Please take note that the Annual General Meeting of our branch will be held at 14:00 on Saturday, 21 March, 2009 at o the Church of the NGK, Congregation: Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort.

Agenda

1. Welcome

2. Apologies

3. Minutes of the previous AGM

4. Matters arising

5. Reports

5.1 Chairman's Report

5.2 Membership Secretaries' Report

5.3 Treasurer's Report

5.4 Report on the National AGM held at Bloemfontein on 7 th March, 2009

6. Election of new Management Committee

7. Closure

8. Refreshments

Please note that Derek Rubidge has other commitments this year and is consequently not available for re-election. The situation of our Vice-Chairman, Bob Saunders is still unclear. He is planning a stint overseas in the not too distant future. While he is still here, we should make the most use of his excellent services. We trust that he will again accept nomination as Vice-Chairman. All other committee members are available and eligible for re-election.

Gerard Marloth has agreed to join the committee as Membership Secretary as has Penny Evans who was invited to be spokesperson for new/beginner members. They were consequently co-opted in December and have already made their presence felt.

This does NOT mean that no other nominations for existing positions can be submitted. Any member may be nominated for any position. Please let us have such nominations as soon as possible. We have no specific nomination form. Nominations must just show clearly who is nominated for which position and give the names of the persons nominating and seconding the nomination and the assurance that the nominee is available and willing to be elected.

The minutes of the previous AGM are attached as are the financial statements for the year 2008 will be available at the meeting.

We look forward to seeing you at the AGM. Your voice and vote is IMPORTANT!

Friendly greetings,

L.G. Rinken

Chairman, West-Gauteng Branch, GSSA.

NS. Ons vertrou dat ons Afrikaanse lede sal verstaan dat hierdie skrywe slegs in Engels uitgestuur word.
___________________________________________________

NOTULE VAN DIE ALGEMENE JAARVERGADERING VAN DIE TAK, GEHOU OM 14.00 OP 15 Maart 2008, in die Ned. Geref. Kerk Ontdekkerskruin, Philipslaan, Discovery, Roodepoort.

TEENWOORDIG:

Lucas Rinken (Voorsitter); Barbara Bouwer; Celia Bayliss; Milford Juniper; Louw du Plessis; Kriek Fourie; Margaret Humphries; Bob Saunders; Richard Ford; Dennis en Minnie Pretorius; Derek Rubidge; Graham Southey; Danie Jacobs; Ds. Hennie le Roux; Frans en Donna Viljoen; John en Iris Stephens

VERSKONINGS: Louise Dick; Valda Napier; André Heydenrych

1. OPENING EN VERWELKOMING:

Die voorsitter heet almal hartlik welkom.

2. AFKONDIGINGS:

2.1 Verjaardae: Hy wens die volgende lede hartlik geluk met hul verjaardae wat voorlê: 17 Maart: Milford Juniper; 2 April Bob Saunders; 11 April Barbara Bouwer; 12 April Don McArthur (vorige spreker)

2.2 Komiteevergadering: Sal nie volgende Saterdag gehou kan word nie, maar die nuwe komitee sal die volgende datum aankondig.

3. NOTULE VAN DIE VORIGE ALGEMENE JAARVERGADERING:

Op voorstel van Danie Jacobs, gesekondeer deur Richard Ford, word die notule as gelese beskou en GOEDGEKEUR.

4. VOORSITTERSVERSLAG: Die voorsitter lê sy verslag aan die vergadering voor. Dit word GOEDGEKEUR.

5. VERSLAG OOR DIE LEDE EN SEKRETARIËLE SAKE: GOEDGEKEUR.

6. FINANSIËLE VERSLAG: Aangesien die verslag nie vandag beskikbaar is nie, sal dit aan lede gesirkuleer word.

7. VERSLAG OOR DIE ALGEMENE JAARVERGADERING VAN DIE GGSA: Die verslag oor die AJV van die GGSA te Potchefstroom op 1 Maart 2008, word deur die sekretaris aan die vergadering voorgehou. Dit word GOEDGEKEUR.

8. VERKIESING VAN TAKBESTUURSKOMITEE: Die voorsitterstoel word deur Dennis Pretorius ingeneem. Nominasies word gevra vir 'n

VOORSITTER. Lucas Rinken word deur Richard Ford voorgestel, gesekondeer deur Danie Jacobs. Lucas word gelukgewens en neem weer die voorsitterstoel in.

ONDERVOORSITTER: Bob Saunders word deur Richard Ford voorgestel en deur Kriek Fourie gesekondeer. Hy word ook eenparig verkies. Hy word gelukgewens.

TESOURIER: Kriek Fourie word deur Lucas Rinken voorgestel, gesekondeer deur Danie Jacobs. Hy word eenparig verkies. Hy word gelukgewens.

SEKRETARIS (Notulerend): John Stephens word deur Danie Jacobs voorgestel, gesekondeer deur Bob Saunders. Hy word herkies en gelukgewens.

SEKRETARIS (Sosiaal en fumksies): Margaret Humphries word deur Lucas Rinken voorgestel, gesekondeer deur Barbara Bouwer en word eenparig verkies en gelukgewens.

BIBLIOTEKARIS: Aangesien Louise Dick gevra het om nie weer verkies te word nie, word Graham Southey versoek om die werk te doen. Hy willig in. Dit word GOEDGEKEUR. Hy word gelukgewens.

ADDISIONELE LID: Derek Rubidge willig in om die pos te vul. GOEDGEKEUR. Hy word gelukgewens.

9. VERSLAG OOR HOBBY-X: Die voorsitter noem dat dit nie vanjaar so voorspoedig gegaan het nie. Daar is 17 nuwe lede gewerf, waarvan ongeveer 13 vir ons tak is. Hy bedank almal wat daar gehelp het en in die besonder vir Bob Saunders en Richard Ford met hulle insette vir die stalletjie.

10. UITSTALLING VAN CELIA BAYLISS SE WERK: Een van ons lede, Celia Bayliss, vertrek op 1 Mei 2008 na die Kaap. Die voorsitter het haar versoek om haar skitterende genealogiese werk te kom uitstal en ons daaroor toe te spreek. Sy doen dit kortliks. Daarna verdaag ons om haar hoogstaande uitstalling te beskou en daaroor vrae aan haar te stel. Haar werk word deur almal absoluut bewonder.

11. VERVERSINGS: Die vergadering verdaag om verversings te geniet. Die dames word hartlik bedank vir die heerlike verversings.

NOTULE AS GELEES BESKOU EN GOEDGEKEUR OP...................................... 2009.

VOORSITTER SEKRETARIS

NEWSLETTER, FEBRUARY 2009

By Bob Saunders, vice-chairman

Greetings fellow genealogists

This newsletter is a first in a slightly different format, which we hope you will find more informative than previously, and to which we hope you will respond by being more interactive with the branch and committee.

The upcoming meeting:

The February meeting is one which the committee would really wish to see EACH and EVERY member of the society present -- even more so than the AGM (if needs be), as we are faced with a serious dilemma, in as much as we are not attracting our members regularly to our meetings, and we can only imagine that the talks we have planned and presented to date have not:

a) inspired you to want to attend, or
b) the subject matter does not interest you or
c) the topics presented are not addressing your needs (as members old and young, experienced or novice or somewhere in between these parameters).

So the question that has to be asked is this:

a) What do YOU want from your society?
b) How can YOUR committee best serve your interests and needs from your branch.
c) What can WE do to inspire you to participate more regularly or
d) What can WE change to suit the needs of those among you who have not ever attended a meeting or
e) WHAT aspects, if you did attend one, left you disillusioned about what you experienced?

To make the workshop a success, it is essential that each participant provides an input on as many of these aspects as possible. So please put on your thinking caps and help us to steer the programme in a direction that you believe will be beneficial to you specifically and the branch as a whole.

Should you not be in a position to attend the meeting, please do not simply ignore the letter. Your opinion still counts and we are relying on you to give us feedback by means of a return e-mail if you know you will be unable to attend so that these ideas can also be presented to the committee and others. Where there is a common theme, the answer is simple, and we will attempt to address these immediately. Where there are less common or unique requests/suggestions, we may have to debate the merits and take a vote on the relevance to the branch as a whole. Please do not remain silent on any issue of contention, or any suggestion. Every contribution will be considered.

Next month's meeting:

The March meeting is our Annual General Meeting and will take place on 21 March 2009. Please note that we need to have your nominations for the committee if you believe you have a likely and willing candidate. We will welcome all nominations to which the nominee has consented, as we would like to see some new faces on the committee. If you wish to volunteer services, we will find a nomination for you. Many hands make light work and we could use some fresh ideas too.

Please note that all paid up members are eligible to vote and we would really appreciate a great turnout for this event. AGM's are notoriously shunned by the majority of people for the wrong reasons. We will make ours as light as possible despite the need to make the various reports and execute the necessary formalities. Please show your support by attending and making your voice heard by casting your vote on the motions, and the election of the committee.

Those of you who have not as yet renewed your membership, January was when your subs fell due, so please bring your membership up to date by paying your subs and completing the renewal form as soon as possible - preferrably at the February meeting. We will have the necessary forms at hand and a willing treasurer (or substitute) to receive the funds. Remember this can also be done electronically if this suits you better.

Future Meetings:

Your committee is in the process of planning for the year, but a lot depends on the suggestions which will arise from Saturdays workshop, in determining the direction we follow for the year. We still have the Ben Leach talk in hand, which we are sure Ben will gladly deliver in due course once he has fully recovered. Sterkte Ben, ons sien uit na jou toespraak in die nabye toekoms.

Interessanthede:

Ek will graag die Noord-Transvaaltak komplimenteer deur om n idee uit hulle nuusbrief te "steel" en by ons eie nuusbrief in te sluit. Hulle het n spesiale deel wat hulle "hoenderveloomblik" noem, waar lede se stories oor 'n hoendeveloomblik beskryf is. Ons het almal 'n storie of tien oor ons eie navorsing en natuurlik daai een deurbraak oomblik of ongelooflike gelukkige vonds of wat ookal om met ons medelede te deel, om 'n waarskuwing te gee, 'n bietjie moed in te praat of selfs 'n bietjie raad te bied. Ons vra julle om ook hieroor te dink en bydraes te bied vir publikasie. Laat weet asseblief van julle stories wat ons dan onder "interessanthede" sal plaas. Die stories kan net uit 'n paar paragrafies bestaan of 'n langer. Onthou, dit gaan oor ervarings te deel.

Library:

We have a small library which is being constantly augmented with books via donation and of course purchase. We are anxiously awaiting to receive a substantial donation from a collection, but more about that in the next newsletter. Graham Southey is our librarian. Between him and Lucas Rinken, our chairman,, they are busy catalogueing our current collection. Please make use of this underutilised resource. There are many magazines for light reading, a fair number of historical type books for more intense reading, and then there are the very serious tomes such as the SAG's for study and research purposes. All of these are at your disposal. Should you find any books in your own collection that you no longer need or want, and these are of some merit and historical significance, please also consider donating these to our library. You will duly be acknowledged for your contribution.

Don't forget that we are still looking for those parts of your research that are complete to be added to our collection either in an omnibus that will be compiled from time to time depending on volume or your very own publication whether it be hard copy or in electronic format. You never know who may benefit from that material in the future - and you will have had a hand in it.

Laastens:

Dit is die nuwe voorgestelde formaat van ons maandelikse nuusbrief,. Ek vra asseblief vir kommentaar en kritiek asook bydraes vir die toekomstige uitgawes, waarin ons byvoorbeeld verjaarsdae sal kan aankondig, nuwe lede verwelkom, huldeblyke publiseer en meer. U voorstelle en nuusbrokkies sal ook verwelkom word. Soos nuwe idees hulle verskyning maak, sal ons die brief uitbou.

Greetings from your committee with the reminder of this months meeting on Saturday the 21st February a 2pm (14h00) at the NG Church Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort.

Remember your R5 contribution for refreshments, for which we thank Margaret Humphries heartily for co-ordinating and arranging every month. Much is discussed and shared over those cups of tea and plates of eats. So be sure to get your share of the action.

MONTHLY MEETING: 17 JANUARY 2009

Date: Saturday, 17 January 2009;

Time: 14:00 to 16:00;

Place: Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk), Ontdekkerskruin, Phillips Avenue, Discovery, Roodepoort (Map below);

Subject: A Workshop on Legacy, a genealogy computer programme;

Presenter: Lucas Rinken, chairman of the Branch.

Background of Lucas' Legacy expertise:

• Compiler of e-SAGI, die biggest genealogy database in South Africa (close to 400 000 names);
• One of the official translators of Legacy into Afrikaans).
  

Request: Attendees are requested to identify questions beforehand;

Entrance Fee: R5,00 for refreshments.

CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE
(SOURCE: Mail and Guardian Online)

DIS LONEND OM TE ADVERTEER

’n Broer en suster, albei in hul 60’s, is Kersfees met mekaar herenig nadat hulle sowat 40 jaar gelede kontak verloor het.

Boonop het hulle uitgevind hulle woon al jare lank in dieselfde woonbuurt, het die Daily Mail gister berig.

Mnr. Ken Whitty (64) het gesê hy het sy suster, Yvonne, soms by haar potplante in haar voortuin gesien, maar het nooit vermoed dit is sy suster nie.

“Ons het so baie verander dat ons mekaar net nie sou herken nie.”

Die broer en suster het saam in Salford grootgeword. Hul ouers is in hul vroeë tienerjare dood.

’n Familievriend het hulle grootgemaak, maar hulle het uitmekaar gedryf nadat hulle albei uit die huis is.

In 1970 het Whitty na die huis gegaan waar sy suster vroeër gewoon het, maar dit was gesloop.

Oor die jare het Whitty probeer vasstel wat van sy suster geword het, maar kon nie eens vasstel of sy nog leef nie.

“Ek het gedink ek sal haar uiteindelik vind, maar tyd het verbygegaan en dit het nooit gebeur nie,” het hy gesê.

“Ek het gedink: Dis Kersfees; ek is volgende jaar 65 en ek moet iets doen.”
Hy het ’n boodskap in ’n plaaslike koerant geplaas waarin hy hulp vra om haar op te spoor.

Kort daarna het hy ’n foonoproep van ’n skoolvriend gekry.

’n Paar minute later het die telefoon weer gelui.

“Hallo, dit is Yvonne,” het sy suster gesê.

“Ek kon dit nie glo nie. Ek het haar gevra waar sy bly en sy het gesê in Reddish.

“Ek het gevra waar omtrent en sy het gesê in Noord-Reddish. Ek het gesê: ‘Ek ook.’”

Hy het onmiddellik na haar huis gegaan om haar te sien.

Bron: BEELD, 4 Januarie 2008

FAMILY MEDICAL TREES CAN LEAD TO HEALTHY FUTURE

By Linda Shrieves, Orlando Sentinel

When Elaine Powell's husband started having heart problems, she remembered his father died of a heart attack. That left her wondering if her husband had inherited a heart condition.

As a genealogist, Powell knew where to find the answers. Using death certificates and obituaries, she built a medical family tree for her husband. It turned out his family didn't have a long trail of heart disease.

But that search inaugurated another quest: Powell began researching her family's medical tree and discovered that her paternal grandfather died of colon cancer in his 40s. "I told my doctor, and she told me that it was very important because they'll screen me early," says Powell, 61, of Orlando.

Genealogy has long been used to trace family histories, but now some are using it to learn whether they're at risk for certain diseases.

"In some ways, family history is the cheapest, most widely available and most proven type of genetic test we have," said Dr. Alan Guttmacher, acting director of the National Human Genome Research Institute.

By considering family history, doctors can look for inherited diseases and practice preventive medicine. The notion is so popular that the U.S. Surgeon General's Office has set up a Web site — familyhistory.hhs.gov — that helps people create a medical family tree.

"Sometimes people think genealogy is not very important, that it's just a hobby," says Drew Smith, a Florida genealogist who lectures about medical family trees. "And yet, we always read about people who have illnesses and diseases that run in families. The truth is, for some people, this is a matter of life and death."

Start by asking all your living relatives how their parents and grandparents died.

After that, it's time to start searching for records. The best records, says Powell, are death certificates, which usually list cause of death. You'd need as much of the following information as you can find: the relative's full name, state where he or she died, and city or county.

Your family's medical history does not need to be traced that far back. For doctors and geneticists, it's most important to include three generations: yours; your parents; and your grandparents.

Source: sunsentinal.com

ENJOY YOUR FAMILY

Good idea from Kimberley Powell, About.com Genealogy Guide [genealogy.guide@about.com]

Please remember this holiday to spend and enjoy time with your family.

Ask questions about their history.

Pull out old photo albums.

Take new photos.

Sing songs together.

Write down treasured family recipes.

Set up a video camera and record your conversations around the holiday table.

Please remember that family is what family history is all about.

Happy holidays to you and your families!

FESTIVE MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Dear friends,

Another year has sped close to it's end.

A year with mixed fortunes - some good progess but a shrinking membership. Very disturbing and will receive detailed attention in forthcoming committee meetings.

Wonderful progress in our library with a fantastic contribution by Celia Bayliss before she moved to Cape Town. And a promise of a further vast donation from the estate of Peter Smits who, regretably, passed away last year. And a greatly improved location - much more space and additional storage cabinets. Assistance from Graham Southey and Derek Rubidge to place stickers in the donated items and/or to capture items electronically so that this can eventually be made available to members.

Interesting subjests well handled by speakers at out monthly meetings but a regretably small attendance by members!

Finances are in good shape thanks mainly to good sales of our e-SAGI database. The assistance of Dennis Pretorius in this regard, must be emphasised. Despite hicups, the database has grown subtantially and, although the expected number of people contained will fail to meet the 2008 target of 450,000, the target of 500,000 before the GGSA AGM in Bloemfontein in March 2009, is achievable.

I thank each and every member of the committee for their loyalty and assistance as well as each branch member who contributed no matter how small the contribution. In particular, I thank Gerhard Marloth and Penny Evans for their willingness to join the team in 2009!

For 2009, my wish to all is a year of unexcelled growth, health and prosperety. May all your 'blank walls' have cracks enabling you to find your 'lost' ancestors, and may the year ahead, for the branch, show continued growth in not only membership but also activities and interesting projects to which our members can respond and help to build our branch to greater hights.

Should you have complaints/thoughts for improvement, please contact me - I welcome all and any correspondence.

Ek vertrou ons Afrikaanse vriende sal verstaan dat hierdie boodskap in Engels uitgestuur word om komunikasie te vergemaklik.

Best wishes and friendly greetings,

Lucas Rinken, chairman

"MENTORS" FOR MEMBERS CONSIDERED

Report from Lucas Rinken (left), chairman of the Gauteng Branch of the GSSA:

The branch committee today (Saturday, 29 November 2008) at length discussed the decline of the branch membership from 83 to 64 last year. It was more disturbing when Richard Ford (right), National Executive Member and editor of Familia, gave a report back of the NEC meeting in Cape Town on 22 November 2008 indicating that the national membership had risen.

Questions now asked are:

• How can we attract more members?
• How can we ensure that annual membership is renewed?
• Are we providing our members with value for money in terms of monthly meetings/support?
  

I was particularly pleased when, in a discussion after our meeting, Danie Jacobs suggested that we should introduce a system of mentors for each member. So often members come to our meeting and do not hear what they hoped to hear. However, being new members, they don't ask questions and we never see them again. Others join up at events like Hobby-X and that's the last we see or hear of them.

If each new member could be assigned to a "mentor" in order to:

• retain contact,
• encourage them to attend meetings and
• try to assist in genealogical matters,

it could be greatly beneficial to members and the branch.

Details would have to be worked out and members need to be carefully allocated to the right mentor. A structured system where experienced members take a maximum of five members under their wings is forseen. Such allocation will be based on common interests or whatever criteria will be considered.

Methods of assistance need to be worked out.

I look forward to comments and suggestions from members at your earliest convenience. E-mail me at lgrinken@iburst.co.za.

• I am happy to announce that Gerard Marloth has agreed to join our committee next year as membership secretary.
  

• Furthermore, Penny Evens (left) has agreed to join the committee to be a spokesman for beginners and to keep the committee focused on what members need.

BABY NAMES EXPLORER

• Thomas took a serious dip in the 1960's, but recovered 30 years later.

• David reached his peak in the 1960's. Nowadays he is not popular anymore.

• Benjamin is rapidly losing steam.

• Until the 1970's nobody knew of Chloe. Now she is the most popular.

• Charlotte follows right behind.

These are some interesting facts about the history of names in New South Wales, Australia. In the latest newsletter of the electronic newsletter for family historians from the Society of Australian Genealogists most interesting information is given about "100 years of baby names".

The editors writes: "Not strictly a genealogy website but nevertheless one that may be of interest to researchers. Produced by the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages and The Powerhouse Museum, the Baby Names Explorer site is an interactive site allowing you to browse through more than a century of the top 1200 baby names in NSW.

“Enter all or part of a name in the name field and the graph adjusts to show the pattern of name usage over time. For example, entering the name 'Barbara' shows that the name reached its peak in the 1940s and was the 7th most popular girls name at that time. This site is a fun way to see whether your family naming patterns were typical of the time.”

Above: The rise and fall of the name "Robert" in NSW. (Please note: you cannot enter a name above. Click on "Baby Names Explorer" above. It takes a while to load.)

Keep in mind that these statistics related to only one territory -- New South Wales -- in Australia.

• Interesting subject for someone to do research in South Africa. How many babies are still baptised these days as "Jacomina" or "Johanna" or "Jacobus"? When did "Mireille", "Zander" and "Edzard" occur for the first time?

ELEKTRONIESE TELEFOONGIDS BRING VREUGDE

Die genealoog (of persoonsopspoorder) moenie Telkom se elekroniese telefoongids gering skat nie. Dis ‘n waardevolle hulpmiddel.

Gister het ‘n merkwaardige verhaal bekend geword toe Sandra (fiktiewe naam), ‘n vooraanstaande sakevrou in die Oos-Kaap, vertel het hoe dié gids haar gehelp het om haar aangenome dogter se biologiese ouers, na ‘n soektog van baie jare, op te spoor.

Agtien jaar gelede het sy en haar man die baba, Marlene (fiktiewe naam), aangeneem. ‘n Klompie jare het Sandra Marlene belowe dat sy haar regtige ouers opgespoor sal hê teen die tyd as sy haar 18de verjaardag vier.

Die soektog was jare lank aan die gang. Sandra het onlangs nog ‘n beroepsopspoorder groot geld betaal om te help. Sy het nog nie weer van hom gehoor nie.

Intussen het Marlene se 18de verjaardag nader gekruip.

Sandra het weer deur al haar dokumentasie gegaan om opnuut leidrade te probeer vind. Daar was ‘n adres – in ‘n ander provinsie -- op een of ander dokument. Toe sy op ‘n keer daar was, was daar niemand en die bure het vertel die mense wat daar woon se van* kom nie ooreen met die van waarna sy soek nie.

Heelwat later en ná nog baie navrae het Sandra Marlene se biologiese ma se nooiensvan nagespeur. Dit was al. G’n name, voorletters of adres nie.

Verlede week – enkele dae ná Marlene se 18de verjaardag -- was Sandra bra bedruk. Daai belofte aan Marlene …

Toe onthou sy dat iemand haar van die elektroniese telefoongids vertel het. Met wanhoop was sy voor haar rekenaar op die internet. Sy het Marlene se ma se nooiensvan op die elektroniese telefoongids ingetik. Daar was ‘n raps meer as 100 van hulle in die land.

Noukeurig het Sandra hulle een vir een deurgekyk -- nie dat sy gedink het sy sou iets van waarde vind nie. Dit was nog ‘n dag, nog ‘n metode, nog ‘n probeerslag. Ná enkele minute kon sy nie glo wat sy voor gesien het nie. Langs een van diegene op die lys voor haar, was die einste adres waar sy tevore gaan soek het.

Sy het sonder aarseling gebel. Dit was Marlene se een ouma (haar biologiese ma se ma). Daar was baie trane en baie vreugde.

En Marlene weet nou waar sy vandaan kom. Boonop is die groot ontmoeting dié naweek.

Die eenvoud van die saak is dat Sandra vroeër die verkeerde van* by die regte adres gesoek het. Met nog een brokkie inligting wat bygekom het, het die elektroniese telefoongids die geheim ontrafel. Bygesê: Sandra was geduldig en vasberade. Sy het nooit moed opgegee nie. Haar woord teenoor Marlene het sy nagekom.

* Die verkeerde van was toe al die tyd die pa s’n van wie die ma intussen geskei is.

• Die elektroniese gids kan gevind word by http://www.phonebookonline.co.za/.

MAANDVERGADERING: 29 NOVEMBER 2008

Datum: Saterdag, 29 November 2008

Tyd: 14:00 tot 16:00

Plek: NG Kerk, Ontdekkerskruin, Phillipslaan, Ontdekkers, Roodepoort
(padkaart onder)

Die aard van die byeenkoms sal 'n uitstalling wees met die klem op die boeke en pamflette in ons biblioteek. Dit sal lede die geleentheid bied om te sien wat ons het sodat hulle dit beter kan benut.

Toegang: R5,00 vir verversings.

ALMAL IS WELKOM.

KLIK OP DIE KAART OM DIT VERGROOT
(BRON: Mail and Guardian Online)

How to Create Your Own Genealogy Blog

Have you ever considered creating your own blog? A genealogy blog?

You may be thinking, "So, WHY do I need a genealogy blog?"

The short answer is:

• So that other genealogy researchers can find your blog (set up around a SURNAME you are interested in).

• The visitor to your blog finds something interesting on it that helps them.

• They may contact you and SHARE information with you that can help further YOUR genealogy research.
  

Where does one start? How is it done?

There are various blogplatforms. This blog of the West Gauteng Branch of the GSSA is done on BLOGGER. It is owned by Google.

Click here and read how to go about.

WORDPRESS is also a popular platform for creating blogs.

IMPRESSIVE SAG

Thought SAG stands for South African Genealogies?

Yes, but not only that. Click here and have a look.

"For the second year running the SAG has been among the prizewinners in the annual Website of the Year Awards run by the Federation of Family History Societies in the UK.

"Last year (2007) we received a Highly Commended award in the Overseas Society section.

"We were delighted to recently learn that we've been awarded 2nd overall in the same category for 2008."

Dealing in Historical Documents

A scary report for South African genealogists to note:

What family historian wouldn't love to possess their great, great grandfather's original will or a centuries old family Bible? Such items are treasures for anyone with a love of history. But they are also a rich source of income for collectors, leading to our nation's history disappearing piece by piece into private hands.

• In the summer of 2006, a former National Archives intern named Jim McTague stole 164 historical documents from NARA's Philadelphia facility, selling almost half of them on eBay.

• Six years earlier, former National Archives employee, Shawn P. Aubitz, pilfered several hundred documents and photos over a period of months, including pardons signed by Presidents James Madison and Abraham Lincoln.

• During a six-year period from 1996-2002, a Virginia amateur historian named Howard Harner repeatedly tucked Civil War papers into his clothes and smuggled them out of a National Archives research room.

• In 2006, Western Washington University discovered that more than 600 pages of maps, lithographs, charts and illustrations had been torn from at least 102 vintage volumes.

• Edward Forbes Smiley III, a Massachusetts dealer, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for stealing 98 rare maps from university libraries in the United States and United Kingdom between 1998 and 2005.
  

These and other thefts of historical documents are discussed in the excellent article To Catch a Thief which appeared in the April issue of Smithsonian Magazine. In response to such thefts, the National Archives has a program in place to help recover lost and stolen documents.

Read more at: About.com: Genealogy.

10 Ways to Celebrate Family History Month

October is regarded by many, especially in America, as "Family History Month". Many genealogists have adopted the month as their own. Who the person is who came up with this idea nobody knows, neither why October was chosen. However, whether you're new to genealogy, or have devoted a lifetime to it, here are some ways to craft and commemorate your past.

1. Get Started Tracing Your Family Tree;
2. Create a Family Cookbook;
3. Record Family Stories;
4. Uncover Your Family Health History;
5. Take a Trip Back in Time;
6. Scrapbook Your Family Heritage;
7. Start a Family Website or Blog;
8. Preserve Your Family Pictures;
9. Get the Next Generation Involved;
10. Craft a Heritage Gift.

Click HERE for the detail.

GRATIS HANDLEIDING VIR GENEALOGIESE NAVORSING

Daniël Jacobs skryf op SAGEN:

Die 2004-weergawe van my Handleiding vir Genealogiese Navorsing is al geruime tyd beskikbaar. Klik HIER om dit af te laai. Die grootte van die volledige handleiding was altyd ongeveer 24 MB. Sommige mense het probleme ondervind met die aflaai daarvan. Daar is nou 'n PDF-weergawe van 14MB beskikbaar vir aflaai. Ek glo die PDF-weergawe sal minder probleme gee met die aflaai. (Dit beslaan 189 bladsye met 94 aanhangsels -- altesame 389 bladsye.)

Daniël skryf onder meer in die handleiding:

• Ek het ‘n BA Hons in Geskiedenis aan die US en die Nasionale Diploma in Argiefwetenskap aan die RSA Technikon verwerf. Ek doen reeds die afgelope 18 jaar genealogiese en historiese navorsing en was vir 3 jaar werksaam in die NGK-argief en vir 3 jaar in die Nasionale Argief in Kaapstad. Ek het ook in September 2004 ‘n boek oor die geskiedenis van die Vosloo-familie voltooi vir mnr. Ton Vosloo, die voorsitter van NASPERS. Sedert 1992 is die kursus reeds deur meer as 80 mense bygewoon.
  

• Die doel met die kursus is om vir die kursusganger te leer hoe om familienavorsing te doen. Alhoewel groot dele van die kursus van waarde sal wees vir navorsing oor enige Suid-Afrikaanse bevolkingsgroep, word in die bespreking van bewaarplekke, bronne en die gevallestudie veral gefokus op die bronne en navorsingsmetodiek wat vir navorsing oor blanke Afrikaner-families van belang is.
  

• Wat is die oorsprong van die kursus? Ek het dikwels in die Nasionale Argief, Kaapstad se leeskamer opgelet dat 'n persoon byvoorbeeld die oggend in die argief sou aankom, die hele dag daar vertoef en dan die volgende dag weer daar is. Met die aanknoop van 'n geselsie het ek dikwels vasgetel dat die persoon nog nooit in die argief was nie, ten spyte van 'n hele dag se navorsing, veel vordering gemaak het nie. As ons dan gesels oor waarna die persoon op soek was, kon ek dikwels, deur die gee van 'n paar leidrade, hom of haar help om wesentlik vordering te maak met sy of haar navorsing. Ek het toe mettertyd besef dat daar 'n behoefte is aan 'n praktiese kursus wat vir die navorser vertel wat hy moet doen vandat hy by die argief se deur instap totdat hy weer daar uitstap. Die materiaal is dus baie prakties.
  

• Die argiewe en ander navorsingsinstellings bevat 'n onuitputlike bron van inligting. Daar word beweer dat geen groep oor sulke omvattende bronne m.b.t. sy voorgeslagte beskik as die blanke Afrikaner nie. Dit waarskynlik onder meer omdat feitlik alle blanke Afrikaners vir ongeveer die eerste 250 jaar aan die NG Kerk behoort het en die dokumente nie soos baie van die Europese dokumente in oorloë verwoes is nie.
  

Op 'n ander trant skryf Daniël dat Karel Schoeman nog 'n indeks van sy VOC-registers beskikbaar gestel vir aflaai. Klik HIER.