Follow
Moolman-Webster Trek to Rhodesia (1893)
How to Participate
To participate in a project you do need to first be a collaborator - so join the project! Look at the discussion Project Help: How to add Text to a Project - Starter Kit to get you going! Further help can be found at Geni Wikitext, Unicode and images.
To join the project use the drop down menu at the top left of the screen and click Join the Project. If this option is not available to you then contact a collaborator and ask to be added to the project. As a collaborator you will be able to edit this page.
- Please add the relevant profiles of the Moolman-Webster Trek participants (not their entire descendants - only those who were on the trek). This is easily done from the profile page using the Add to project link. Only profile profiles can be added to projects.
- If you have interesting stories or anecdotes about someone who participated please add them to the relevant section below with a brief description, adding full details to the "About" section on the profile.
- If you have any related queries please start a discussion linked to this project. (See the menu top right).
- Please add related projects to the menu on the right.
- If you have links to related web pages that would be of interest to others please add them in the relevant section at the bottom of the page.
- Add any documents of interest using the menu at the top right of the page, and then add a link to the document in the text. If you do not know how to do this please contact one of the other collaborators to assist you.
Background
This Trek consisted of two parties who met across the border in the new Rhodesia. The two parties linked up near Fort Victoria. Both parties originated from the Transvaal.
The leader of the first party was Johannes Nicolaas Moolman who had left from Pieterburg early in 1893. He had 2 wagons and cattle and planned to settle in the high plateau between Fort Victoria and Fort Salisbury around Fort Charter or Enkeldoorn.
The second party was that of Joseph Webster who was born in England. he had been in South Africa long enough to have taken part in the Damaraland War and other clashes with the natives. He had one wagon laden with supplies for 12 months and the whole family. They left the Transvaal early in 1893.
On 30th August, 1893, the party arrived on Moodie's farm at Water Fall. Moolman pegged his farm about 6 miles from Moodie, but Webster went too far to the east in the direction of Mozzerezi and found out afterwards that his farm was pegged in Portuguese territory.
Shortly after he had pegged his farm Webster killed just beyond Chipungabera. An English missionary, Burgin, who was staying with them, accidentally killed Webster when his gun went of whilst he was cleaning it.
Webster's son John and Jurie Moolman, Moolman's son, started transport riding for for the American missionaries and Portuguese from Malata to Mount Silinda.
Mrs Webster, realising that it would be impossible to continue living in the Portuguese territory applied for a farm in Rhodesia near Melsetter. She lived on this farm "The Meadows" for many years. She died aged 84 in the Mt. Silinda Hospital.
Members of the Moolman-Webster Trek.
Catherina Elisabeth Frederika Pheiffer (Moolman) (1844-1913)
Children
- Jurie Moolman (1874-1940)
- Hendrik Moolman (1879-1933)
- Aletta "Lettie" Maria Moolman who married Johannes Cornelius Human.
Johannes Hartkopff who moved to Salisbury where he died the following winter.
Piet Lourens who went back to the Transvaal
Joseph Edward Webster and his wife Sarah Webster
Children