Adolph Jonker1

M, #12621, b. circa 1708, d. before 20 February 1779
Father-Putative*Jonker van Macassar1 b. c 1660, d. 1747
Mother-Putative*Rosetta van Java1 b. c 1690, d. bt 11 Feb 1733 - 24 Apr 1733
NoticeRosetta van Java, Jonker van Macassar, Adolph Jonker, Catharina van de Caep, Catharina van de Caep, Jacob Jansen, Johannis van de Caep, Johanna van de Caep, Johanna Jonker, Maria Juliana Jansen, Adam van Batavia, Bastiaen van Cijlon, Johannes Jansz van Ceijlon and Rosetta van Bengale are the subjects of two important articles published by Remarkable Writing on the First Fifty Years project as part of Mansell Upham's Uprooted Lives series. (Clicking on the title will take you directly to a download of the article.)

The first is: God's Slave and Afrikaner 'Hearts of Darkness' — Abdullah alias Adolf Jonker (c.1707-1770)

And the second: Identifying Jonker van Macassar

There will be further updates to the profiles of some of these individuals in due course.

Copyright / Terms of Use Notice


The material on this website is subject to copyright.
Facts (names, dates, and places) are not copyright. You are free to transcribe them but not cut and paste into your data provided you use the correct attribution and citation.
I have created the narratives, sentences, and citations; they are copyright and may not be used.
You may not add them to your genealogy, your personal documents, your tree on Ancestry, nor in the data or profile sections on Geni, nor anywhere else.
Many of the images are also copyright. You may not copy them without the consent of the copyright holders.
You must use the correct attribution and citation, viz.: Robertson, Delia. The First Fifty Years Project. Here you add the page URL.

NGK Drakenstein Baptisms 1694-1732NGK Drakenstein Baptisms 1694-1732
Last Edited21/03/2017
Birth*Adolph Jonker was born circa 1708 in de Caep de Goede Hoop, his age is estimated based on the fact that he was baptised as someone who had attained their majority - bejaard - in 1733.2,1,3
 
BaptismAdolph Jonker was baptized on 25 January 1733 Nederduitsche Gereformeerde Kerk, (Cape Town), Cabo de Goede Hoop. the term bejaard, used in this, and many other adult baptisms at the Cape during this period, simply means 'of age' - or in modern terms - a person who had attained their majority. The age of majority at the time was 22 for women and 25 for men.4 
Marriage*He married Maria Petronella Langeveld, daughter of Pieter Jacobsz: and Cornelia van de Caep, on 26 June 1740 Nederduitsche Gereformeerde Kerk, (Cape Town), de Caep de Goede Hoop.5,1
 
Death*He died before 20 February 1779 de Caep de Goede Hoop, when the inventory of his estate was carried out.6
 
Inventory*Adolph's estate was inventoried on 20 February 1779. The inventory named Pieter Jonker, Johanna Jonker, Jacobus Jonker, Adriaan Jonker, Daniel Johannes Jonker, Michiel Jonker and Johannes Jonker as benefitting from the estate.7

Family

Maria Petronella Langeveld b. b 7 May 1719, d. 4 Jan 1773
Children
(Child2) Will On 24 January 1727, Jonker van Macassar 'appeared' before the Secretaris or Secretary of the Council of Policy, Daniel Thiebault, to execute his will with the assistance of a Portuguese interpreter. This assistance may have been accorded to him due to his royal status. He was in fact ill and confined to bed, so the official would have come to him. However, there is nothing in the record which indicates the will was ever probated. There are several edits in the original will. He is described as a Vrij gegeevene Leijffeijgen known to the Secretaris. His de facto wife Rosetta van Java named on this occasion as Rosetta van Java, is first described as sijne Concubine, this is deleted and substuted with de vrijswartinne. To her he bequeaths the slave Alexander van Couchin and stipulates that this bequest cannot be contested. To their son and daughter Jacob Jansen and Johanna Jonker, he leaves the slave September van Manda. A comment describing Jacob as door een ander persoon geprocreeert was crossed out, but at his 1730 baptism Jacob is described as halfslag, indicating his father was white and that he was therefor not the biological son of the prince. To his other son and daughter Jacob Jansen and Johanna Jonker, he bequeaths the slaves Cassamie of Origin Unknown and Fortuijn van Bougis. All of the slaves were to remain with his de facto wife until the children attained their majority. Rosetta van Java also inherited the residue of his estate except for Rds 50 given to Jacob to assist in raising the other children to majority.
Misc* On 16 October 1734, Adolph swears the oath of loyalty, and becomes a vrijburgher at de Caab de Goede Hoop. It was a legal requirement that free individuals take the oath at age 16. However, Adolf was only baptised as an adult on 25 January 1733 as his putative father, sought to legitimise him and his sisters so that they could inherit from his estate. Baptism was a requirement for free individuals and was often a prerequisite for rights and privileges. Prior to this Adolph's status as a free person was legally questionable, as was his right to inherit from his father's estate. But his status now resolved, he also became subject to the requirement to take the oath of loyalty.8 
Occupation* Between 1745 and 1762 Adolph Jonker was the teacher at Drakenstein.9 
Occupation Between 1745 and 1778 Adolph Jonker was the koster or sexton at Drakenstein, de Caep de Goede Hoop.10 
LandAppl*He aplied for land at the Paarl in 1750.11 
Names in the record, in publications, etc.1735, the name of Adolph was written in the record as Abdul Jonker.12
NotesKatzilimuda van Macassar appears to have been a high-ranking member of the Ternaten royalty sent into political exile at the Cape by the VOC, and a half-brother to Jonker van Macassar similarly exiled. He would therefor be the uncle of Adolph Jonker.13
Monsterrollen and Opgaafrollen (Muster and tax rolls)April 1720 Jonker van Macassar and Rosetta van Java were enumerated on the opgaafrol (census/tax roll) in the Cape District, along with two sons, presumably Adolph Jonker and Jacob Jansen. This opgaaf while dated April 1720, was identified as that for 1719. Recorded with them were two male slaves, who may have been any of the following November of Origin Unknown, Leander van Malabar, Alexander van Couchin, September van Manda, Cassamie of Origin Unknown and Fortuijn van Bougis. All of these individuals appear variously in the record connected to one or both of the principles.3
1721 Jonker van Macassar and Rosetta van Java were enumerated on the opgaafrol (census/tax roll) in the, along with two sons, presumably Adolph Jonker and Jacob Jansen. Recorded with them were two male slaves, who may have been any of the following November of Origin Unknown, Leander van Malabar, Alexander van Couchin, September van Manda, Cassamie of Origin Unknown and Fortuijn van Bougis. All of these individuals appear variously in the record connected to one or both of the principles.14
1724 Jonker van Macassar and Rosetta van Java were enumerated on the opgaafrol (census/tax roll) in the Cape District, along with two sons, presumably Adolph Jonker and Jacob Jansen; and three daughters, two of whom were most likely Johanna Jonker and Catharina van de Caep. There was time between the 1721 and 1724 opgaafrollen for the birth of three daughters, one of whom would have died post 1724 (based on subsequent enumerations). Recorded with them were three male slaves, the first would have been Leander van Malabar. The other two may have been any of the following November of Origin Unknown, Alexander van Couchin, September van Manda, Cassamie of Origin Unknown and Fortuijn van Bougis.15
1725 Jonker van Macassar and Rosetta van Java were enumerated on the opgaafrol (census/tax roll) in the Cape District, along with two sons, presumably Adolph Jonker and Jacob Jansen; and two daughters, most likely Johanna Jonker and Catharina van de Caep. It is worth noting that a year earlier the couple had been enumerated with 3 daughters, one of whom now seems to have died. Recorded with them were four male slaves, who would have been Alexander van Couchin, September van Manda, Cassamie of Origin Unknown and Fortuijn van Bougis. All of these individuals appear variously in the record connected to one or both of the principles.16
1735 Adolph Jonker was enumerated on the opgaafrol (census/tax roll) in Cape District, he is recorded after Lourens Bastro (311) and before Jacobus Jansz (312.)17
1738 Adolph Jonker was enumerated on the opgaafrol (census/tax roll) in, he is enumerated after Jacob van Ambon (widower) (0485) and before Job Constant (0487.)12
Slave EmancipationsOn 11 February 1733 Jonker van Macassar applied to the Council of Policy through the ondercoopman, junior merchant Abraham Decker for the freedom of his children Adolph Jonker, Johanna Jonker and Catharina van de Caep whom he had fathered with his slave Rosetta van Java ( bij desselfs slavin...geteelt ). The children were named as Amel, Talie and Adel in the record, and the first two were already living with Decker, while the third, Adel, was living with Aletta de Beer the widow of Daniel Thibault. The prince also sought in this application to identify his three children as his heirs.18
On 24 April 1733 Adolph Jonker, Johanna Jonker and Catharina van de Caep were emancipated by order of the Council of Policy following the earlier request of their father, Jonker van Macassar. His application was submitted by the ondercoopman Abraham Decker who acted on his behalf. The children's mother Rosetta van Java described in this document as the slavin of the prince, was said to be overledenen, that is deceased.19
Property TransactionsOn 15 August 1752 Adolph Jonker was granted two morgen of land at the Paarel by the Company.20

Citations

  1. [S34] J.A. Heese & R.T.J. Lombard, South African Genealogies 4 J-K (Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council, 1992), p.120. Hereinafter cited as S.A. Genealogies 4 J-K.
  2. [S736] VC 605 (NGK G1-8/2), NGK Baptism Registers 1713-1742 (Cape Town), 2012: Den 25 dito [Januarie 1733] Een bejaard persoon nae voorgaande belijdenis, genaamt Adolf. (bejaard=adult. Legal adulthood for men was 25 years of age.), transcribed by Corney Keller, (1713-1742), Genealogical Society of South Africa, eGSSA Branch http://www.eggsa.org/sarecords/. Hereinafter cited as NGK Baptism Registers 1713-1742 (Cape Town).
  3. [S432] Robert C-H Shell compiler, Changing Hands, A calendar of bondage in southern Africa, 1550 to 1888, CD-ROM; ISBN 1-86918-063-1; (Cape Town: Ancestry24, September 2007), 1719 Census of Cape, Stellenbosch and Drakenstein
    Householder Last Name:           MacAsser Van
    Householder First Name:          Jonker
    District:                    Cape District
    Comment:               Freeblack
    Spouse Surname:               Caap van der
    Spouse First Name:               Rosetta
    Free Males:               1
    Free Females:               1
    Free Sons:               2
    Free Daughters:               0
    Knechts:                    0
    Male Adult Slaves:               2
    Female Adult Slaves:          0
    Male Slave Boys:               0
    Female Slave Girls:               0
    Horses:                    0
    Cattle:                    0
    Sheep:                    0
    Pigs:                    0
    Vines:                    0
    Leggers Of Wine:               0
    Barley Sown:               0
    Barley Reaped:               0
    Oats Sown Muids:               0
    Oats Reaped Muids:          0
    Rye Sown:               0
    Rye Reaped:               0
    Sabres:                    1
    Carbines:                    1
    Pistols:                    0
    All Slaves:               2
    Sequence Number In Original IDNO:     0334
    Source:                    Opgaafrolle KA 4060 (April 1720)
    Source Location:               Cape Town Archives. Hereinafter cited as Changing Hands.
  4. [S736] VC 605 (NGK G1-8/2), NGK Baptism Registers 1713-1742 (Cape Town) transcribed by Corney Keller: Den 25 dito [Januarie 1733] Een bejaard persoon nae voorgaande belijdenis, genaamt Adolf., 1713-1742, Genealogical Society of South Africa, eGSSA Branch http://www.eggsa.org/sarecords/
  5. [S744] Mansell Upham 'God's Slave & Afrikaner 'Hearts of Darkness' - Abdullah alias Adolf Jonker (c. 1709-1779)', First Fifty Years, Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), (http://e-family.co.za/ffy/ui66.htm), May 2013. "...marries Cape 26 June 1740: Den 26 dito [junij 1740] Adolf Jonker, van Cabo de Goede Hoop burger alhier jongman, met Maria Pieternella Langveld van Cabo voorn:[oemde] jonge dochter."
  6. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "1779: Jonker (Adolph); Koster of Drakenstein (deceased); is succeeded by the burgher Hartwich Johannes Luttig [Resolution of the Council of Policy, 3O March 1779) (no. 41, 22 February)][CA: C 157, pp. 132-164]."
  7. [S788] Webpage Tanap (http://databases.tanap.net/).
  8. [S899] Eed Boek 1692-1748, C2660 and C2661 (previously C 678); Council of Policy; Western Cape Archives and Records Service, Roeland Street, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.
  9. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "1745-1762: teacher [DRC/A: Paarl: Notule 1731-1784]."
  10. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "1745-1779: koster [sexton] (Drakenstein)."
  11. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "1750: Jonker (Adolff): burgher, and koster at Drakenstein; asks for the freehold of a piece of ground at the Paarl 2 morgen in extent on which settle (number 75)."
  12. [S867] Opgaafrol, FILE NUMBER; J; Tax Rolls, 1738, Cape Archive Depot, 0486 Jonker VS Abdul 1 (man) K. My thanks to Hans Heese for sharing his transcription of this opgaaf.
  13. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "Kitsjel Moeda / Kitsjil Moeda / Kutsjel Moeda / Kiaij Moeda [G.C. de Wet Die Vryliede en Vryswartes in die Kaapse Nedersetting 1657-1707 has Kijaija Moeda] / Sriyay Moeda / Macassar Katzilimuda ex-Captain Laut, of Gerontale [Gorontalo] Kitsjel Moeda; 1681 Prins Capiteijn Laut van Gerontale, ... Kapita Laut (s/o Toboleo); ..."
  14. [S761] Opgaafrol, FILE NUMBER; J; Tax Rolls, 1721, Cape Archive Depot, 0336 Macassar V VS Jonker 112 2 K
    0336B Java V VS Rosetta K. My thanks to Hans Heese for sharing his transcription of this opgaaf.
  15. [S860] Opgaafrol, FILE NUMBER; J; Tax Rolls, 1721, Cape Archive Depot, 0324A MACASSAR VAN VS [Vrijswart] JONKER 1 [Male] 1 [Female] 2 [Sons] 3 [Daughters] 3 [Slaves]
    0324B MACASSAR VAN VS [Vrijswart] ROSETTA. My thanks to Hans Heese for sharing his transcription of this opgaaf.
  16. [S864] Opgaafrol, FILE NUMBER; J; Tax Rolls, 1721, Cape Archive Depot, 0396 Macassar v VS Jonker 1122 (1 man, 1 woman, 2 sons, 2 daughters) 4 (slaves) K
    0396B Macassar v VS Rosetta K. My thanks to Hans Heese for sharing his transcription of this opgaaf.
  17. [S866] Opgaafrol, FILE NUMBER; J; Tax Rolls, 1735, Cape Archive Depot, 0312 Jonker Adolf 1 (male) 1[?] 1 [?] K. My thanks to Hans Heese for sharing his transcription of this opgaaf.
  18. [S729] Webpage tanap.net (http://databases.tanap.net/cgh/) (Original records held by Western Cape Archives and Records Service, Roeland Street, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa) "Reference code: C. 91, pp. 108-117. Woensdag den 11e Februarij 1733
    http://databases.tanap.net/cgh/."
  19. [S859] Manumission, CJ 3083 24 April 1733, ... Sekere drie kinderen door bovengen:[de] ternataansen prins bij sijn Overledenen Slavin rosetta van ceijlon geprocreeert, met namen Amel, talie en adel van de caab permiteerende haar lieden vrijders om sig met alle geoorloofde handteeringen en traficquen Met God en met eere door de weerelt te mogen redden en erneeren ...; Western Cape Archives and Records Service, Roeland Street, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Hereinafter cited as Jonker Children Manumission.
  20. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "Dingsdag den 15: Aug:[ustu]s 1752
    ‘S voormiddags alle præsent.
    Is op het hierom in Schriptis gedaane versoek bij den Burger en Koster aan Drakensteijn Adolf Jonker, aan denzelven in Eijgendom gegeeven, een Stukje Huijs Erfs en Thuijn Land geleegen aan de Paarel ter groote van Twee Morgen Netto [CA: C 130, pp. 284-286]."
  21. [S502] Website Family Search (www.familysearch.org) "[1741] Deb 30 dito (April) Adriaen, de oùders Adolph Jonker, en Maria Peiternella Langevelt de Getyuhgeb Arij Batsianze, en Pieternella van de Cust.
    https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11116-194185-9."
  22. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "Johannes baptised Drakenstein 29 June 1749."
  23. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "Jacobus baptised Drakenstein 22 November 1750."
  24. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "Adriaan baptised Drakenstein 18 November 1753
          marries 15 November 1778
         Aletta Margaretha van Deventer."
  25. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "Daniel Johannes baptized Drakenstain 12 October 1755
         marries Cape 21 February 1800
         Magdalena Catharina Delport."
  26. [S34] J.A. Heese & R.T.J. Lombard, S.A. Genealogies 4 J-K, p.120-121.
  27. [S744] Mansell Upham 'UL28 Adolf Jonker', Uprooted Lives - Unfurling the Cape of Good Hope's Earliest Colonial Inhabitants (1652-1713), "Johannes baptised Drakenstain 21 September 1760     
         marries 31 October 1784
         Magdalena van Zyl."
 

Bookmark and Share