Philippus Albertus Myburgh

Philippus Albertus Myburgh ll as he is known inherited Meerlust from his father Johannes Albertus Myburgh in 1828. Philippus was born in 1796, and the 1st son of Johannes Albertus ll. Philippus was married to Emerentia von Wielligh. They together had eight children. He was the 4th wine master there till his death in 1883.

These years at the Cape Colony, and Meerlust are labelled the lean years.

One of the valuable assets he inherited were the slaves, purchased by his father.In 1833 a bill for the emancipation of slaves was passed throughout all British dominions received royal assent, and became instant law. Most slaves strayed with their employers as apprentices. The ultimate freedom date was 01 December 1838, however most slaves at Meerlust decided to stay, and their descendants worked there until the 21st century. Many farmers were left with nothing as they were not paid out what they were promised by the British Government for the slaves, and other issues, so this lead to the start of the Great Trek in 1838.... With the advent of the Groot Trek, he elected to stay on at Meerlust. The wine industry at this time was not lucrative, even though many attempts were made to revive it. The Cape of Good Hope Agriculture Society was formed in 1831. This to encourage farmers to participate in shows, and win prizes for the best wines. However Europeans had the idea that our wines were not of good quality at the time, and not much was done to encourage trade between Cape Colony and Europe. During the 1950's there was a welcome improvement in the economy when European merchants purchased many of their stocks of wine from the Cape Colony, as there was an outbreak of a fungus mildew in the European vineyards. Prices rose from 67 to 83 rix dollars, and exports increased ten fold during this time....yet in 1859 Carl Pappe, a colonial botanist, reported to Hon. Rawson, secretary of government, that the Cape Colony grapes on many farms were infected with that same fungus. This led to closure of many vineyards, especially Hottentots Holland area. At Meerlust mildew was also found, however no records showed, to what extent the vineyards were affected, nor how P.A. Myburgh had treated his grapes, as no cure was known as the time. In 1860 another blow was dished out...the import tariffs on French wines was to be reduced to encourage business the France, and by 1861, the special rates the colony enjoyed since 1813 were abolished. This , despite many efforts by the wine masters in the colony, close international business for many years. Together with a poor economy in the 1860's could not lift peoples spirits, and added business was difficult The 1st train puffing past Meerlust in 1863, created much excitement, yet no added business.... The discovery of diamonds in 1866 far north of Cape Town brought persons from all over the globe, and so the industrial revolution in Cape Colony started, so too a new market for wine. Fortune hunters, Diamond Diggers, Hunters, and Prospectors flocked here. The price of wine increased from 3 pounds to 12 pounds a leaguer. Good business was short lived Soon hereafter a Sir Gordon Sprigg added extra taxes to wine. Plenty of complaints were risen to no avail as this led to decreasing profits to the wine masters; they again went up in fury. In 1877 the Zuid Afrikaanche Wijnbouewers Vereeniging was established. It was through this medium, that the farmers got what they wanted, and resulted in almost exempt from duty taxes. By this time P.A. Myburgh ll was in his 80's so not much is known of his activities, and no diary was kept for record purposes.

He outlived his wife, and his son Johannes Albertus died at age 22 : 1833 - 1855, Magdalena Maria soon after birth in 1836. Three sons Nicolaas, Philippus Albertus, & Jacobus, and his daughter Elizabeth Clasina, widow of Daniel Brink outlived him. Meerlust was passed on to Nicolaas Myburgh, then 44 years old to be the 5th Myburgh wine master of Meerlust.

1. # Meerlust . 300 YEARS OF HOSPITALITY . Phillida Brooke Simons. A book I purchased on a visit to Meerlust in 2011. Photo of Philippus Albertus Myburgh ll also from this book.

   ---

EENZAAMHEID 60m

9.7.1693 OSF 1 345 Claas Hendriksz Diepenauw

13. 9.1715 T 1052 Adam Tas van boedel Diepenauw

1. 9.1722 T 1480 Philip Morkel van boedel Tas

25. 10.1764 T 3998 Johannes Albertus Myburgh getroud met Sophia Margaretha Morkel van boedel Catharina Pasman wed Philip Morkel

18. 9.1790 T 6498 Philip Albert Myburgh J.A. zn van wed J.A.

21. 6.1816 T 151 Philip Albertus Myburgh Jr van boedel Sr

31. 6.1843 T 727 Philippus Albertus & Jacobus Myburgh van boedel P.A. Myburgh Jr

9. 12.1874 (135)

17.8.1877 (328)