Gerrit Willemsz Nieuwoudt, b11 - are Gerrit Willemsz and Gerrit Nieuwoudt the same?

The Census info suggests Gerrit lived with Anna & Isaac until he was about 7 or 8yrs old [when he spends 2 years visiting with his father's family?] then returns to Anna & Isaac at about 9yrs old."

I cannot find any of proof this in the census info. Could you provide the exact reference where this is to be found?

Knowing the children Anna or Isaac have baptised up to this date, it's reasonable to assume that Gerrit is one of the boys living with them in 1724 (when he would have been 7 or 8), then not in 1725-6, and then again in 1727.

We have no evidence for another child - so no reason to manufacture another scenario, when this one is perfectly tenable.
You appear invested in it not being so - but so far haven't provided a better explanation.

"That the Gerrit Willemse for whom we have baptismal evidence, takes on his stepfather's surname and lives in that household once it is steady and formalised enough to look after him, and then marries a woman his own age, and has a child at 23..."

Is there any proof of this?

You know there is.

" is far more likely than that Anna & Isaac named a son (for whom we have no birth evidence) after her ex lover, who marries a woman at least 5 yrs older than him and has a child at 18 or younger..."

Is there any suggestion or proof that Gerrit Nieuwoudt was named after Anna van Wijk's ex-lover?

? Gerrit ?

Occam's razor seems to be blunt.

I think you misunderstand what the most simple explanation means. Your solution involves far more leaps of faith and fairy dust than the data can support.

"It would be useful to have the exact census info you are working from."

You do, the same census info you refer to above.

I don't have the data that you're giving us here: "Post-1717 Anna van Wijk features in the Muster Rolls with only a daughter."

"TIMELINE?

• c1690-98 Anna van Wijk born to Willem van Wijk (b. c1655) & Trijntje Harmensz (b. c1676)
• c1713-1717 Anna van Wijk relationship with Gerrit Willemsz (b. c1670)

Proof? Baptismal doc of Gerrit Willemse?

• c1717 > relationship with Isaac Nieuwoudt (b. c1690)

1718 Helena born to Anna & Isaac Nieuwoudt illegitimate

1720 Jeremias born to Anna & Isaac Nieuwoudt illegitimate

• 1724 6 February at Cape Town marriage to Isaac Nieuwoudt surgeon (widower)

1724 Alida born to Anna & Isaac Nieuwoudt (dies young)

• 1724 Census - 2 sons, 2 daughters

Gerrit Willemsz (Nieuwoudt ?), b11 (>2 May 1717 -)

Proof? No other sons baptised by either of the adults involved?

• 1725 Census - 2 sons, 1 daughter
• 1727 Census 3 sons, 1 daughter.

Gerrit Willemsz (Nieuwoudt ?), b11 (>2 May 1717 -)

Proof? No other sons baptised by either of the adults involved?

1732 Anna Catharina born to Anna & Isaac Nieuwoudt

• 1732 - 1737 Anna van Wijk dies

Ball Family Records referenced on Geni in Nieuwoudt (and Willemsz) profiles.

I'm probably being stupid, but I'm not finding them here - can you point me in the right direction?

• http://www.ballfamilyrecords.co.uk/kfp/I303.html
• http://www.e-family.co.za/ffy/g6/p6292.htm

I have no problem with it being true; I just want to know the data we are working with.

"'I'm not the one who has to prove anything. I'm just providing reasonable possible explanations for your contention that Gert Willemse died/ disappeared?"

Am I correct that the assumption that Gerrit Nieuwoudt was adopted, in the absence of any proof, requires proof of any alternative to be considered?

Yes, that's what we've been doing gathering all the data here. We're assuming a name change because there is no baptismal or census evidence of a new person called Gerrit Nieuwoudt who could more reasonably fit the specs of the Gerrit Nieuwoudt who married Jannetjie Steenkamp in 1739 than the Gerrit who was born in 1717.

https://www.geni.com/discussions/238379?msg=1509105 That link doesn't help me. Can you see what it says?

1719 Cape Town Muster Roll

• Jannetjie van Wijk with one daughter

Thank you. Would fit with Helena.

No more muster rolls before 1724?

Now we just need the info that confirms that Anna was called Jannettie

Jannetjie Johanna van Wyk

:-)