Elsje Maria Elizabeth Rohrstorf / Roestorf

Mentioned in the Cape Melting Pot on page 162:

http://www.e-family.co.za/ffy/RemarkableWriting/CapeMeltingPot-FFY.pdf

Please note date of birth yet to be determined. First child born 1780.

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ROHRSTORF, Christiaan Johannes. - Son of Christian Rohrstorf? ~(1) Elsje Smit; (2) Dina Dorothea Brits. Children: By first wife: Christiaan Johannes Fredrik, Elsje Maria Elisabeth, both bapt. 13.11.1803; by second wife: Elsje Maria Elisabeth (* 31.5.1804), Hans Jacob (*1.6.1805), Aletta Dorothea (*6.10.1806), Hester Engela (*28.2.1809), Dina Dorothea Frederica (*2.11.1811). (Bapt. Reg. of Swellendam.)
Note: Independent research has shown that the full name of the stamvader was Christia(a)n Johannes Rohrstorf. He was a soldier with the VOC after enlisting on 7 December 1756. He undertook 2 trips to Batavia passing via the Cape before resigning on 20 July 1762. On 22 December 1766 he signed a work contract with a local farmer at the Cape. A second work contract was drawn up and signed with a farmer on 27 December 1771. His age is not given on any of the documents. Sometime thereafter he established a relationship with a local women Elsje Smit van der Kaap. The relationship appears to have been de facto and their 5 children - 2 sons and 3 daughters do not appear to have been baptised.
Christiaan Johannes Frederik was the son of Christian Johannes R. and Elsje Smit van de Kaap. Christiaan was baptised as an adult in 1803 and his guardian gave permission for his marriage to Dina Dorothea Brits in 1805. On the marriage document his age is recorded as 22 years old. A guardian giving permission for his marriage likely indicates that both parents were deceased at the time. Christiaan Johannes Frederik and Dina Dorothea Brits had 10 children - 4 sons and 6 daughters. After Dina’s early death in 1823 he married a Maria Catharina Minie and had a further 8 children with her (4 boys and 4 girls). His brother Jan only fathered daughters. By they early 1800s the surname is referenced as Roerstorff/Roerstorf/Roesdorff and then evolved to modern day Roestorff/Roesstorff/Roestroff/Roestoff/Roestorf/ Roestof. - https://safrika.org/Names/PersonaliaEgs.html#ROHRSTORF1

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