Jerzy Botkiewicz

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerzy_Botkiewicz

Jerzy Botkiewicz – probably the first permanent settler from Poland

On July 10th 1676, Jerzy Botkiewicz from Warsaw arrived in the Colony, following a fourth -month journey on the Wapen van Zierikzee. It was as a Cadet that he commenced a service (Nationaal Archief 2012), whose completion in 1692 was followed by a decision to stay on in the Colony, of which he became a Free Settler (Court of Justice 1694; VOC 1725). His declared sources of upkeep included hunting and the working of salt deposits, and in January 1707 he obtained a concession for this kind of activity close to the Graauw heights. After several months, this was extended to include the Piketberg Mountains area (CAD 1707a, b). He was pioneer explorer of the this area, which did indeed begin to come under management at the beginning of the 18th century (Fig. 4). Botkiewicz had a homestead on the north-easternmost margins of the area that had been brought under the control of Europeans. This situation of course left him vulnerable. In early September 1707, he was set upon by two slaves on the run: Cesar of Macassar (Indonesia) and Aaron of Bengal. The pair were intent on stocking up with equipment and supplies needed to survive further inland, and when Botkiewicz tried to resist them, he received many a blow from a knobkerrie that knocked him to the ground. Leaving him for dead, the fugitives plundered the house and then set off. Unfortunately for them, they were soon apprehended and ultimately sentenced to death in court, the entire legal process being experienced by Botkiewicz, who of course testified against them (Court of Justice 1707a,b; Leibbrandt 1896). In any case, Botkiewicz’s activities were not to bring him any real wealth. As of 1720, his worldly goods essentially consisted of a horse, a sabre, a carbine and a pistol. He had no cattle and did not cultivate his land, while the documents known to the author have nothing to say about any family (VOC 1719b). The last document known to the author which makes reference to Botkiewicz is the list of employees, dating from 1725 (VOC 1725). It is reasonable to assume that he died shortly thereafter, never again leaving the Colony. He spent about 50 years on the African continent, and hence the greater part of his life.

Source: http://rcin.org.pl/igipz/Content/29182/WA51_49371_r2012-t85-no3_G-P...