| ShipVoyage* | On 20 March 1688 the China departed Goeree enroute to de Caep de Goede Hoop where it docked on 4 August 1688. Among those on board were a group of eight orphan girls sent to the Cape following requests by Jan van Riebeeck (1659) and Simon van der Stel (1685) that the Heeren XVII send between 20 and 40 marriageable girls to the Cape. When they were finally sent in 1688 the Heeren XVII wrote that they had been selected because of their experience in farming and it was suggested they be encouraged to marry farmers. They were: Ariaante Jansse, Willemyntje Ariens de Wit, Ariaantje Jacobs, Judith Verbeek, Engeltje Cornelisse van der Bout, Catharina Jansz van der Zee, Petronella Cornelisz and Anna Elkop. Also, on board were 28 Huguenot refugees from Provence, of whom 8, mostly women, died enroute. The refugees who commenced this 19 week voyage were Matthieu Fracassé, Pierre Jaubert, Susanne Reyne, Pierre Jourdan, Marie Jourdan, Jeanne Rousse, Marie Rousse, Marguerite Rousse, André Pellanchon, Paul Jourdan, Pierre la Grange, Jehane Marque, Jean Jourdan, Pierre Jourdan, Jean Mesnard, Louise Courbonne, Marie Anthonarde, Pierre Malan, Elisabeth Richarde, Jacques Malan and Paul Roux.1,3,4 |
