Bernhard Vrey, SV/PROG

Bernardus VREY. Bernard (or Bernardus) Vrey came from Montabaur (Germany). He arrived in the Cape in 1750 as a sailor and later became a carpenter and builder. In 1756 he became a Free Burgher. He married Anna VAN AARDT on May 24 1756.

Anna VAN AARDT was the daughter of Theunis VAN AARDT and Hilletje Kervel. He married a second time to Anna Margaretha BOTHA on Oct 6 1768.

VRY BERNHARD (S Frey). – Montabaur. Arr. 1750 as young sa., house-carpenter 1751, farmhand 1752-55, b. 1756. ~ (1) 24.5.1756 Anna v. Aarde; (2) 6.10.1768 Anna Margaretha Botha. 5 children. (GMR 1751; CJ 1143: 87; Rq. 1756: 92; G.R. nr. 1035.)

- Dr. J. Hoge, Personalia of the Germans at the Cape, 1652-1806, Archives Year Book for South African History (Cape Town: Government Printer, Union of South Africa, 1946)

Zanddrift

Swellendam, Western Cape

Owner: Widow Botha

Type: Farmhouse

Style: Unknown

Status: Extant

Street: Swellengrebel Street

Str No: 32

On the Drostdy grounds now stands a fine T-shaped homestead, in use as a restaurant, which is a reconstruction of one of the finest houses in the district, Zandvliet, which stood near Ashton. The story of this farm begins with a tradition, and this tradition seems to agree with ascertainable facts. The house is said to have been built by a certain Widow Botha, who had two daughters (and later a son) by her second husband.

Purely on grounds of style, the house can be dated to the third quarter of the 18th century; circumstances point to c1768 as the probable building date, although part of the front may be slightly older. In those days it was customary for women to sign legal documents with their maiden names. This custom persisted until killed by the German-English influence of Victoria's reign, and in the Cape was sometimes used as late as c1850. It is therefore no surprise to find that Zanddrift was a loan-farm held by Elsje Botha, eighth child of Jacobus Botha, widow of Jan Harmansz Potgieter, and later wife of Daniel Lombard, by whom she had two daughters and a son.

The adjoining farm Jan Harmansgat was at that time held on loan by Jacobus Botha, who by 1768 would have been fifty years old (possibly more) and may have employed Jan Harmansz Potgieter to help him. Botha also held Zanddrift on loan, but in 1769 relinquished it in favour of his daughter Elsje. We may well assume that the house was already built; a year was none too long for a request for such a transfer to reach the Cape from so remote a place and for a reply to be received. Elsje Botha did not get on with her second husband, and the pair separated. But she and her many children prospered on Zanddrift, for she is recorded as having held other loan-farms too.

The house, built on a T-shaped plan, has at some time been added to while retaining the T-shape. One front wing is longer than the other, while behind the kitchen an extra room has been built on. There is no front-gable, though there are signs that there was once a dormer gable over the front door; the end-gables are straight and without mouldings. In several respects the house is one of the most authentic in the Cape. The windows in front, two double and two single casements with board-and-batten shutters, are certainly the originals. Inside there are some fine stinkwood and yellowwood doors, as well as some delightful and unusual small inlaid muurkassies. There are typical Overberg sparretjiesolders, on fine moulded yellowwood beams. The use of coloured clay, peculiar to the district, is an interesting feature. The front door lock is of great interest and possibly as old as the house. In from there is an attractive stoep paved with stone.

It seems likely that a certain Bernardus Vrey described as a 'huistimmerman', helped in the building of Zanddrift; descendants of his still live in the neighbourhood. The two wall-cupboards can hardly be ascribed to anyone else, and the doors too, unusually fine for this outlying area, should be his work. Vrey married Anna Margaretha Botha, a niece of Elsje's.

The fine homestead had been standing empty for many years and seemed destined to go to ruin, when the Drostdy Museum decided to dismantle it and transport it to Swellendam. Rebuilt on a site opposite the Drostdy, it is a very convincing reconstruction.

Inligting uit "Die Greyfamilie in Suid Afrika" deur Alida Grey. Van Montebaur - aankoms 1750. Vryburger 1756