Jacobus Johannes "Koos Bybel" Uys

Also known as "Koos Bybel" . Received a Bible from inhabitants of Grahams Town when he participated in the Great Trek, opening the hinterland of South Africa.1838.

c5 Cornelis Janse ˜ Stellenbosch 17 Jun 1736, getroud: Maart 1766 Alida Maria Swart

d2 Jacobus Johannes ˜ Stellenbosch 3 Feb 1771, gesterf: Natal Julie 1838; die bekende Voortrekker; getroud: 10 Mar 1793 Susanna Margaretha Moolman

Photograph of a panel at the Voortrekker Monument: With acknowledgements to the S.A. National Cultural Historical and Open-Air Museum

British settlers, Grahamstown, presenting a Bible to Jacobus Johannes ("Koos Bybel') Uys and his son Petrus Lafras ('Piet Italeni') as afarewell token of their esteem.

Military History Journal. Vol 3 No 6 - December 1976

Jacobus Johannes (Koos Bybel 1770-1838), the patriarch of this branch of the Uys family had six sons: Cornelisjanse (1796-1872), Petrus Lafras (Piet Italeni 1797-1838), Jacobus Johannes (Cobus 1800-1871), Dirk Cornelis (Swart Dirk 1814-1910), Johannes Zacharias (Jannie Gyselaar 1819-1898), and Wessel Hendrik (1824-1877). In October 1837 Koos Bybel had a mud and daub church built at 'Kerkspruyt' near Thaba 'Nchu and requested the Wesleyan missionary, James Archbell, to officiate at the first Holy Communion of the Trekkers held north of the Orange River. To commemorate the event he chiselled his name on a large rock, which is now housed at the Bloemfontein Museum.Koos Bybel died, aged 68, at Plessis Laager, near the present-day Pietermaritzburg, having reached his 'promised land'.