THE SWISS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 1652-1970 - swissroots-za.ch

of Jan Oberholster of Zurich. Doubtless they assisted each other in their business
enterprises but what little evidence is available indicates that they were opposites in
character, Oberholster being something of a rough diamond, Nicolaas more refined. He
appears to have been reasonably successful in business, never married and died young.
Immediately after his death an inventory was made of all Nicolaas’ belongings. It lists
a box holding 381 gulden which was entrusted to Oberholster, various blacksmith’s
tools and some merchandise plus the following: a house and household goods; 2 male
slaves, 2 horses, a gun, 2 swords and a fencing sword, and his wardrobe comprising 1
black frock coat, trousers, hat and shirt, 1 brown frock coat and shirt, 1 jacket, 3 odd
shirts, 1 pair of new shoes and last but not least a cage with 3 canaries. The fencing
sword and canaries indicate a gentleman of some refinement but it is puzzling that the
inventory lists no socks to wear with his black hat, frock coat, trousers and new shoes –
or was he buried with his only pair of socks on his feet?
Provoost, Soors born Solothurn [Probst, Georg?], soldier. Arrived 23.12.1694 on
Pampas (? its last voyage is recorded to have been in 1691 1 ) 1695-1722 soldier, 1704
and 1706 sick, 1723-24 one of four Company hunters. / 1 KAB, MR 1696-1705, 1706
and 1723-1724; 2 NL, ARA MR 1703; 3 NL, ARA, VOC 4057/59 MR 1706-1707; 4
KAB, MR 1709-1710, 1712-1713, 1715-1717, 1719 and 1721-1722.
Franse, Jacob born Basel, arrived sick 26.4.1695 on Waalstroom , recovered and
departed on Swarte Leeuw. / NL, ARA, VOC 4037, MR 1696.
Baldinger, Hans Jorg born Schaffhausen. 1696 loaned as farmhand to Alexander
Blanck of Schaffhausen whom he served to the end. Blanck’s widow must have disliked
him, for she dismissed him immediately after Blanck’s death in August 1700, when she
would have had the greatest need for a man’s help on the farm. 1 1701-1705 soldier. 2
1702 while stationed in the rietveld to harvest thatching reeds he was detained for
allegedly selling stolen sheep. 3 / 1 KAB, CJ 2872, p. 241; 2 KAB, MR 1701-1704 and
NL, ARA, MR 1703; 3 KAB, CJ 4-1.
Boumann Pieter born Berne [Baumann?], 1696-1698 soldier, 1699-1700 to end of
contract period?, corporal. 2 / 1 KAB, MR 1696-1700; 2 NL, ARA, VOC 4043, MR
1700.
Hofberger, Johannes born Chur GR, 1696 soldier. / KAB, MR 1696.
Loets, Hans Jacob born Schaffhausen [Lutz?], 1696-1699 soldier. 1 1700 loaned as
herdsman to Oloff Bergh, 2 21.7.1721 made will while lying very sick in the house of
Michiel Ley of Basel. 3 27.10.1701 loaned as servant to Johann Pheiffer. 4 / 1 NL, ARA,
VOC 4037, MR 1696 and KAB, MR 1697 and 1699; 2 KAB, CJ 2873, p. 312; 3 KAB,
CJ 2649:59; 4 KAB, CJ 2875:72.
Lucher, Jacob born Aarburg BE, arrived 22.10.1696 on Vosmaar for Kamer Zeeland.
1696-1707 soldier, 1709-1716 wagon-driver. / KAB, MR 1697-1699 and 1701-1716;
NL, ARA, VOC 4043 and 4057-4059, MR 1700 and 1706-1707; NL, ARA, MR 1703-
1715.
Ryke, Frans born Basel [Reich?], 1696-1697 soldier. / NL, ARA, VOC 4037 MR 1696.
Ferne alias Ferny, Verney, Pharing born Berne [Vernet or Vernez, VD]. 1696
soldier, 1 1697 loaned to burgher Barend Jansz of Zwoll, 2 1702 freeman hired as
shepherd by former Burgher Councillor Fleuris Dirkse van Schalkwyk 3 and recorded as
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