Johan Bernhard Rudolph, b1c1

Johan Bernhard Rudolph (b1c1)

He was known in day-to-day life as Bernhard and possessed substantial farming properties in the Olifantshoek district in the Eastern Cape. He owned, amongst others, the Riet Valley, Klipfontein and Lange Hoop farms as well as half of the Wolwekop farm. He was a well established and respected farmer and one of the more famous that trekked. Bernhard was married to Elizabeth Susanna Fourie. He was also one of the few farmers in the region that were literate and proficient in English. He also made sure that all of his children received a good education. Like his cousin Gert Maritz, he was a competent wagon maker. His brothers Gert (Gerhardus Jacobus) and Andries (Jacobus Andreas) were amongst the first groups to trek, but Bernhard was initially against the trek. He rode after them as far as ThabaNchu in order to try and convince them to turn back. He travelled with them as far as the Sandrivier and also spoke with Gert Maritz and Piet Retief. The latter two eventually convinced him to trek.

Information available indicates that he was not part of Gert Maritz’ trek but rather a part of Karel Landman’s trek.

Het aan die slag van Bloedrivier op 16 Desember 1838 deelgeneem

Rudolph Johan Bernard b1c1 *1.4.1794 [B] Bird 366 Johann Bernhard Rudolph was van die begin van die trek betrokke met die administrasie en is in 1839 as die eerste Weesheer aangewys en in 1842 as Landros van Pietermaritzburg.