Hendrik Lambert Johannes (II) Bronkhorst

Probate: TAB MHG O/12980 (1897) - see 'Sources'

Hendrik Lambertus Johannes (ii) was married THREE times and seems to have lost his first two wives in childbirth with their first child. In both cases he is in attendance at the baptism, noting that the mother is deceased. Seeing that the babies survived, he married again soon thereafter (most probably even before the baptism). The three marriages of Hendrik Lambertus Johannes and his 9 children seem to be as follows (in the opinion of Johann Ahlers, May 2018):
NOTE: Source of baptisms: Transcription of "Zoutpansberg dope 1852-1867" form the Archive of the "Ned. Hervormde Kerk" in Pretoria.

x bef. Jan 1850 to Geertruida Maria Margaretha Botha (1831 - between 8 Oct 1850 and Aug 1851). One daughter, Geertruida Maria Magdalena (sic), is born on 8 Oct 1850, and at the baptism, apparently on 10 Apr 1852, her mother is reported as deceased. Her father is possibly already into the second marriage. Witnessess at the baptism are Hendrik Johannes Cornelis Potgieter, Herman Philip (sic) Potgieter, Neeltje Elisabeth Botha and Janetta Kruger. In HLJ (ii)'s 1897 probate this daughter is not listed, and must be assumed deceased.

xx bef. Sep 1851 to Cecilia Johanna Grobler (bef. 1836 - between 7 Jun 1852 and 1854). [Please NOTE that this was NOT the sister of his third wife. His third wife's sister did have the same names, but was married to William Robinson at the time, produced children and lived in Middelburg, Transvaal.] One son, Hendrik Lambert Johannes was born from this marriage on 7 Jun 1852 and baptised in 1854, at which time his mother is reported as deceased. Witnessess at this baptism are the father's brother and wife, LM Bronkhorst and AS Grobler, and the deceased mother's brother and his wife, P Grobler and PJ Botha. It seems that this son, HLJ, is listed in both the 1897 probates of his father and his stepmother.

xxx bef. Jan 1861 to Cornelia Johanna Geertruida Jacoba Grobler (28 Nov 1831 - 22 Apr 1897), who passed away on the farm Nooitgedacht, Groot Spelonken. Seven children seem to have been born from this marriage, if we assume that the HLJ listed on both 1897 probates, refers to the HLJ from the 2nd marriage.

• Discrepancies w.r.t. children listed on probates:
  • Seven children are listed on the 3rd wife's 1897 probate (of which one son, Nicolaas Johannes, is not listed on the father's probate; whilst, UNUSUALLY, one stepson, Hendrik Lambert Johannes, IS listed on her probate, although it is to be remembered that she essentially took care of him from his birth).
  • About one month later, seven children are listed on the father's probate (of which one daughters is not listed on the 3rd wife's probate. The daughter was Cornelia Johanna Gertruida Jacoba, after her mother - her long names seem like two daughters on her father's probate).
  • Both probates were not completed and signed by a family member, but by the Veldcornet of groot Spelonken, TJ Kelly. Some discrepancies could thus be understood.
• Unusual chronology of events surrounding the deaths of the 3rd wife, and of HLJ Bronkhorst a month later? [STILL TO BE RESEARCHED IN THE ARCHIVES and to be determined whether it was the HLJ of this profile that was involved.] Please note that what follows is pure speculation by Johann Ahlers, based on circumstantial dates and information in the INDEX of NAAIRS - other than Death Notices, the content of the relevant files have not yet been consulted.
  • Mrs CJGJ Bronkhorst (born Grobler) passed away on 22 April 1897 on their farm Nooitgedacht, Groot Spelonken. Veldcornet JT Kelly completed the Death Notice TAB MHG O/12784 (specific date not known).
  • About two weeks later, on 4 May 1897, the Public Prosecutor (State) opens a preliminary investigation in Heidelberg, Transvaal, versus Hendrik Lambert Bronkhorst w.r.t. 'careless manslaughter' - the actual item in the NAAIRS index is in Dutch: "Publieke Aanklager, Heidelberg. Voorloopig onderzoek de Staat versus Hendrik Lambert Bronkhorst wegens onvoorzichtige doodslag." Why Heidelberg? Was that where the only Public Prosecutor was seated? And was it related to THIS HLJ Bronkhorst? (Note NO third name in the index item.) Was it related to the death of his wife? Or was it just pure coincidence? File reference from the NAAIRS index: TAB SP 135 ref. SPR3518/97.
  • A further two weeks later, on 19 May 1897, our Mr HLJ Bronkhorst passed away on their farm Nooitgedacht, Groot Spelonken. Veldcornet JT Kelly completed the Death Notice TAB MHG O/12980 on 2 June 1897. Was this death a total coincidence? Or did HLJ die of a stress-related incident following the announcement of the investigation into the accidental death? Or did he commit suicide (due to shame / guilt / inability to explain the circumstances)?
  • On 26 May 1897 the Auditor General reports that the Commissioner of Native Affairs Rhenosterpoort sent a bill for 5 Pounds 8 Shillings to H Bronkhorst. The specific item in the Index reads in Dutch: "Auditeur Generaal. Commisaris van Naturellen Rhenosterpoort zendt in rekening H Bronkhorst ad 5 Pounds 8 Shillings." File reference from the NAAIRS index: TAB SP 137 ref. SPR4310/97.
  • On 15 July 1897 the Public Prosecutor, Heidelberg sends a message related to H Bronkhorst that the (alleged?) crime was perpetrated on 6 March 1897. (So, the 'crime' pre-dated both deaths on Nooitgedacht!) The Dutch Index entry reads: "Publieke Aanklager Heidelberg. Seint re Bronkhorst, dat de misdaad plaats vond op 6e Maart 1897." File reference from the NAAIRS index: TAB SP 141 ref. SPR5495/97.
  • A few days later, on 20 July 1897, the Superintendent of Native Affairs (acting on behalf of the Commision of Native Affairs) sent a bill to H Bronkhorst for the serving of summons / subpoenas of 14-16 May for 6 Pounds 7 Shillings and 6 Pence. The Dutch Index entry reads: "Superintendent van Naturellen waarnemend Commisie van Naturellen zendt rekening H Bronkhorst voor het dienen van dagvaardingen van de 14e-16e Mei 1897 ad 6 Pounds 7 Shillings 6 Pence." File reference from the NAAIRS index: TAB SP 141 ref. SPR5698/97.
  • On 11 August 1897 the Public Prosecutor, Heidelberg reports w.r.t the Bronkhorst message that a native was shot in the right leg. The Dutch index entry reads: "Publieke Aanklager, Heidelberg. Re Bronkhorst bericht Kaffer in rechter been geschoten werden." File reference from the NAAIRS index: TAB SP 143 ref. SPR6274/97.
  • On 24 August 1897 what may be the last related archive entry, seems to settle the whole affair. The Public Prosecutor, Heidelberg filed an affidavit of HA (?) Bronkhorst and a Certificate of the Commisioner for 'careless manslaughter'. The Dutch index entry reads: "Publieke Aanklager Heidelberg Verklaring van HA Bronkhorst en Certificaat Commisaris wegens onvoorzichtigendoodslag." File reference from the NAAIRS index: TAB SP 144 ref. SPR6770/97.
  • Were these Archive Index entries at all related to each other? Were they related to THIS Hendrik Lambert Johannes Bronkhorst? Were they at all related to the two deaths on Nooitgedacht? Would be interesting to know...
• Could anyone with related or corroborating information, or able to perform the necessary research in the TAB Archives, please advise everyone interested by opening a discussion on the profile tab? It really would be better if ONLY facts could find their way into the 'About' tab, and not isolated facts and speculation as I have just done...