Johannes Wilhelmus de Jager, b1c11d5e7

THE MANOR HOUSE AND GOOSE COTTAGE WASBANK FARM, BIGGARSBERG VALLEY – WASBANK, KWA ZULU NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

The title deeds recorded on 1st April 1852, have been in the same family since that date. Jan de Jager and his father-in-law, Karel Landman, passed through the valley in 1838 on their way to Blood River, and the farm derives its name from the particular stop-over when the Voortrekkers washed their clothes at the river on their way to the Battle of the 16th of December.

Jan de Jager told his grandchildren in 1897 that, when the Vow was taken by the Voortrekkers making a promise to the Almighty, that should they win the battle against the Zulus, then that day will be taken as the Day of the Vow, and will be honoured by the nation as a Sabbath. The Oath, according to what was told to the descendants of Karel Landman and Jan de Jager, was taken at Danskraal, just outside the present-day Ladysmith and NOT at Wasbank, as some historians now affirm. In fact, on the day of the Vow, Chief Jobe (after whom Jobs Kop was named) sent the Voortrekkers 2 white oxen as a token of peace, and the Zulu Impi danced there for them (hence the name Danskraal), and gave them scouts to help the Voortrekkers on their way to Blood River. Chief Jobe was known to oppose Dingaan.

The Voortrekkers left Danskraal on the Saturday 8th December and got to the present day Sundays River (near Wessels-nek and the Mitchell - Innis farms) where they outspanned as they never trekked on the Holy Day. The following day (Monday) they trekked down into the current Biggarsberg Valley, and stopped at the Wasbank River AT THE SPOT where the current railway bridge is as this was a convenient place to cross. Here they stopped to wash their clothes on the flat river stones,

After the battle, Karel Landman settled on the farm Uithoek - his house is the ONLY Voortrekker Pioneer house still standing and visitors are welcome by prior arrangement as one of his descendants still farms on the same farm. Karel Landman and his son-in-law, Jan de Jager owned the land from the present day Glencoe, right through to Ruigtefontein (farms east of Wasbank Village) and claimed this after the Blood River Battle.

Jan de Jager married Karel Landman's daughter, Susanna Sophia, and they lived on the Wasbank farm adjoining Uithoek. The first house was near the river, and the ruins of this dwelling can still be seen. It also served in later years as the Farm School, and all 3 children of Anna Helena Goosen (nee de Jager) plus the children from neighbouring farms went to Primary school here. In 1891, his son Lodewyk de Jager who married Anna Helena Steenkamp from Middelburg, Transvaal, built the sandstone waenhuis (wagon house) and in 1892 the main house, known in the district as Manor House.

On the Waenhuis( Sandstone shed) the date is on a sandstone plaque. There are several bullet marks on and around this as the British soldiers tried to obliterate the name of L.J. de Jager 1891. This was related by the writers’ mother, who was an eye-witness.

Anna Helena de Jager and her daughters Susanna Sophia and Anna Helena lived in the house during the Anglo-Boer war until it became known in 1900 that Lodewyk de Jager (husband and father) was not fighting with the British forces and fought with five of his six sons on the side of the Boer troops. During this time they helped many Boer soldiers to hide from the British even when there were British soldiers camping near the house. Mrs. de Jager and daughters were first taken to the De Jagersdrift Concentration camp, and in May 1900, put into cattle trucks and transported by train to the Volksrust Concentration camp. The house was occupied by British Officers, and is reputed to be the only Boer homestead in Northern Natal not burned down in the Anglo Boer War. In one room of the house, there is a bloodstain on the floorboards caused by one officer (during a game of cards) allegedly accused another one of cheating and shot him dead - however, it was later rumoured a young lady was involved. (Note: when the floors were repaired in 2006, the board were turned upside down so the stain is no longer visible).

Lodewyk de Jager was arrested by the British in May 1900, accused of High Treason, tried by a military Court and fined 5 000 British pounds and sentenced to 5 year imprisonment. This was based on the fact that he was domiciled in Natal, but fought on the side of the Boers. Two of his sons were exiled to a prison camp in Bermuda. Lodewyk paid the fine by taking a bond on the farm Wasbank, thus debarring the British from taking any of his 17 farms, most of them in the Transvaal Republic and the New Republic of Vryheid. It is believed that many people in Natal wanted to appropriate his farms. Lodewyk was first imprisoned in Dundee, then Ladysmith, Colenso, Escourt, Durban and finally to Central Gaol in Pietermaritzburg. He refused to eat the prison food, had his own iron bedstead moved from prison to prison and all his meals were provided by the local hotels in the towns. See the photograph of the Political prisoners in 1902 in the House – they were mainly Afrikaner farmers in Natal.

On the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, a General Amnesty to all political prisoners was granted by Edward VII on condition that they sign an oath of allegiance to the British Crown. He was one of two Boers who refused to sign - the British kept them in goal for a further three months, and eventually released them. Lodewyk appealed to the Privy Council in London after the hostilities ceased in 1902 with the Peace of Vereeniging, and copies of all these documents can be seen at Manor House. To date it has not been established which British Garrison made use of the house, although a badge and button (among other spent cartridge cases) of the Irish Fusiliers were found on the ground outside the old Waenhuis by Anna Helena, one of the daughters of Lodewyk de Jager on her return with her mother and sister from the concentration camp.

Anna Helena married Abraham Goosen in 1914, and they farmed with more than 5 000 Merino sheep and 800 cattle on the farm from 1914 - 1942 when he died, but she carried on till 1966. He was also the first farmer to import Merino stud rams from Australia and many heated debates were waged regarding the Merino versus Corridale Breeds. Newpaper articles from 1938 can be seen in the House. He also broke the South African wool record price twice. They had three children, Ann (Anna Helena Steenkamp de Jager) Hubbard (1916- 1986), Vaatjie (Nicolaas Johannes) Goosen 1918 - 1953 and Lettie (Aletta Cornelia Greyling) Senekal b.1924 - 2010.

The youngest daughter of Lettie, Sarie (Senekal) Mehl, has managed Wasbank farm since 1980 and is the current owner. Realizing that not too many people had the privilege to have family farms like Wasbank to visit, she started up the company Jacana Country Homes & Trails in 1991. She saw beautiful old country houses going to ruin and set out by restoring old farmhouses. From four farm stays, the business had grown to administer the marketing and reservation for more than 120 farms throughout the country - ostensibly farmstays, hiking-, horse- mountain bike trails on private farms. Wasbank Farm's Manor House & Goose cottage are both included in the Jacana portfolio. The business was sold in 2006. You can visit the website at www.jacanacollection.co.za FOOTNOTE: Details of the History was recorded by Lettie Senekal ( neè Goosen) in December 1997, who was the previous owner of Wasbank farm. Lettie passed away in March 2010 at the age of 85 years. She was the only baby ever born in Manor House. She was also the youngest grandchild of Lodewyk de Jager.

From: http://www.wasbankfarm.co.za/history.html