Wouter Corneliss Mostert

• http://www.eggsa.org/sarecords/index.php/muster-rolls/muster-rolls-...
• Man: Wouter Mostaert
• Vrouw: Hester van Lier
• Soons: 1 adopt
• Dogters: 1
• Knechts: 2
• Slaven: 8
• Slavinne: 4
• (Slaven) Kindre: 1

http://www.eggsa.org/sarecords/index.php/church-registers/cape-town... 1662

23 April Grisella, daughter of Wouter Cornelisz Mostaert, burger councillor witnesses: Heindrick Heindricxsz van Seurwaerden, free burger, and Thomas Muller, free Saldanha trader

http://www.e-family.co.za/ffy/g7/p7858.htm

From: Precis of the Archives of the Cape of Good Hope Letters Despatched from the Cape 1652-1662 TO WHICH ARE ADDED LAND GRANTS, ATTESTATIONS, JOURNAL OF VOYAGE TO TRISTAN DA GUN HA, NAMES OF FREEMEN, &c. H. C. V, LEIBBRANDT, KEEPER OF THE ARCHIVES.

MUSTER ROLL OF THE OFFICERS, SOLDIERS AND SAILORS STATIONED AT THE FORT THE GOOD HOPE ON THE 20TH MARCH, 1656 (1 of 133 persons) (#61) Wouter Cornelis Mostert, of Utrecht, arquebusier

The Commander and Council of the Company's Fortress and further establishment at Cabo de Boa Esperance, &c., to all who shall see or hear this read : greeting ! Be it known that : As Harmen Remajenne, of Cologne, sailor, in the service of the Company, has requested us to be discharged from the Company's service, and placed in freedom, notwithstanding he has still to serve 10 months longer which he will remain bound at any time to do we have by this granted his request, and permitted him to reside as a free burgher here at the Cape under the obedience and dominion of the State of the United Netherlands ; to choose his domicile here, and maintain himself with agriculture and lawful trade, submitting himself to all such ordinances and articles as have been framed, or may hereafter be still drawn up and published for the service of the general Company, provided that he shall remain a freeman for 12 years at least, according to contract made with him. In the Fort " The Good Hope," the 11th April, 1657. (Signed) HYCKLOFF VAN GOKSS.

As above to : Idem. Wouter Cornelisz:, Mostert of Utrecht, arquebusier, d.d. 14th April, 1657

1657. The Commander and Council, &c. (see pp. 1, &c., of the free letters) grant to Jan Reyniersz:, of Amsterdam, and Wouter Cornelisz: Mostert, of Utrecht, a certain piece of land, broad S. by E. and N. by W. 200 roods ; deep E. by N. and W. by S. 100 roods, according to above diagram No. 6. In the Fort the Good Hope, this l5th day of April, 1657. (Signed) JAN VAN RIEBKECK.

Diagram shows the Fresh River named Liesbeek and small branch of the Salt River

MUSTER ROLL OF THE OFFICERS, SAILORS AND SOLDIERS STATIONED AT THE FORT THE GOOD HOPE AT CABO DE BOA ESPERANCE, THE 31st MAY, 1657 Freemen (1 of 14) Wouter Cornelisz: Mostert, of Utrecht.

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1657-1674

Summarised by Michele Woodroffe previously Jacob (nee Mostert) from:

History of South Africa (1486-1691) By George McCall Theal Published by London, S. Sonnenschein, Lowrey, & co., 1888 Page 93

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015022637840&view=1up&...

In order to reduce the number of waged workers, from the 21st of February 1657 a number of ex-employees of the VOC were allotted ground for farming. Previously, only petty officers with families and other selected individuals were permitted to make gardens for their own use.

These new free burgers were no longer servants of the Company but subjects although a number of trade restrictions were placed upon them.

Wouter Mostert, who Theal records as having been a miller prior to his arrival with the VOC at the Cape, was contracted to build ,and later run, a water-powered mill to replace the horse driven mill that the Company had imported.

Page 115 Wouter Mostert was appointed corporal under Stephen Botma, commander of the militia, along with Herman Remajenne.

Page 126 The next year Wouter Mostert was selected, along with Leendert Cornelissen by the Council of Policy, as a burgher councillor.

Page 199 In 1670 Wouter Mostert was awarded the contract for the construction of a stone watercourse from the resevoir to the jetty.

Page 235 1674 War with Gonnema- Expedition towards the Little Berg river Wouter Mostert (who commanded a group of 400 burghers) was part of the forces which seized 800 head of cattle and 4000 sheep abandoned by Gonnema's strategic retreat from the encampment at the Little Berg river.

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From:

KINSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SOCIAL CAPITAL: ALCOHOL PACHTERS AND THE MAKING OF A FREE-BURGHER SOCIETY IN CAPE TOWN, 1652-1795 by Gerald Jacobus Groenewald Presented for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in the Department of Historical Studies UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN November 2009

https://open.uct.ac.za/bitstream/item/8419/thesis_hum:2009_groenewa...

Individuals with the Right to Sell Alcohol, 1656-167

Summarised from the text by Michele Woodroffe (nee Mostert)

The original "tappers" were required to buy their liquor from the VOC but were allowed to sell the liquor and run bars or taverns without paying a further fee for this privilege.

However by 1665 the Council of Policy realised the small group of free burgers who paid annual for the right to purchase alcohol from the VOC and distribute it were gaining a considerable economic advantage without great effort. This was causing much unhappiness amongst those burghers whose efforts and agriculture failed. The Council consistently received requests from such burghers for permission to set up bars known as taps.

The Council decided that in future the four people who had been given the right to operate taps at this time, would not only have to buy their alcohol from the VOC but also pay an excise on this liquor.

In 1665 Wouter Mostaert was added to the growing lst of tappers and in 1668 he proposed and was granted the right to buy alcohol from passing ships instead of from the VOC. He paid an annual fee of f 100 in addition to the excise fee for this advantage.

Over time, further changes to the pachter laws were made including a charge for the right to sell alcohol. By the mid 1670s the regulations in this small , close industry were so strict that in 1676 Nicolaas Verburch. the visiting commissioner, commented that the laws and ordinances at the Cape were ‘very strict' and further remarked that ‘the Dutch Colonists are called here free people, but they are so restricted and bounded in everything that their unfreedom becomes more than apparent'.

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From: Precis of the Archives of the Cape of Good Hope Letters Despatched from the Cape 1652-1662 TO WHICH ARE ADDED LAND GRANTS, ATTESTATIONS, JOURNAL OF VOYAGE TO TRISTAN DA GUN HA, NAMES OF FREEMEN, &c. H. C. V, LEIBBRANDT, KEEPER OF THE ARCHIVES.

MUSTER ROLL OF THE OFFICERS, SAILORS AND SOLDIERS STATIONED AT THE FORT "THE GOOD HOPE," AT CABO DE BOA ESPERANCE, ON THE 15TH FEBRUARY, 1658 FREEMEN Jan Rieyniersz:, of Amsterdam, owner. Wouter Cornelisz: Mostert In their service: Jan van Passel, of Geel Roeloff Hansz:, of Christiania Claes Schryver

The Commander, &o., grant in full ownership to Wouter Cornelisz: Mostaert, free burgher and resident here, a certain plot of land situated in Table Valley, Eastward from the Lion Mountain, adjoining on the North the uncultivated land towards the seaside, on the South Table Mountain, on the West the Lion Mountain, and on the East the garden of the Hon. Company. Deep N.E. and 8.W. 23 roods, 5 feet, and broad N.W. and S.E. 15 roods, forming an area of 351 square roods, as shown on the above diagram, No. 19. Given in the Fort the Good Hope, the 10th September, 1659. (Signed) JOHAN VAN RIEBEEOK.

1660 FREEMEN Wouter Cornelisz: Mostert, of Utrecht, miller and brick-maker WIVES Hester Weyers, of Lier CHILDREN 0
DUTCH SERVANTS Jan van Baerlem

By the Commander, &c., has been granted in full ownership to Wouter Cornelisz: Mostert, free burgher and resident here, a certain plot of square land, on which to build and to live, situated in Table Valley, westward from the aforesaid Fort, at the corner of the streets along the sea side and the plain of the Fort, adjoining on the N. the street of the sea side, on the S. the plot of the free burgher Jan Martensz: de Wacht ; on the W. the erf of the free burgher Juriaen Jansz:, of Amsterdam; and on the E. the street of the plain of the Fort; long N.W. and S.E. 140 and broad 22 feet, Rhineland measure. (No diagram) . 20th September, 1660.

By the Commander, &c., has been granted to Wouter Cornelisz: Mostert, free burgher, and resident here, in full ownership, a certain plot of ground situated in Table Valley, eastward from the Lion Mountain, adjoining on the N. the uncultivated land towards the sea side, on the S. towards Table Mountain, on the W., with the same towards Lion Mountain, and on the E. the garden of the Hon. Company, long as can be seen above by CF 109, CA 18|, BD 10, and AB 29 roods, forming an area of 2 morgen and 16 roods of land, Rhineland measure, as shown in the above diagram No. 42, in exchange for the plot No. 19 granted him according to the deed on the 10th September, 1659. This has been done because the new grant is better suited for his brick making business, so that the title deed of the 10th September, 1659, has been cancelled, as the land which it refers to adjoins the new plot which is thus made much bigger, and is given him by virtue of this in full ownership, so that he may use the clay for bricks and tiles. (No Diagram). 10th February, 1661.

1662 21st January. Declaration of Lucas Janez:, cadet, and Jan Staets ot Bergen, freeman, that on Saturday last in this Table Valley they came to H. Jansz: van Schayck, also a freeman, in charge of the sheep of the burgher, Wouter Cornelisz: Mostert. Whilst smoking a pipe of tobacco together, deponents saw at a distance something moving. Schayck said it was a stone. Again seeing the same thing and asking the cause, Schayck replied, "It is mad sheep of the Company." Deponents then went away. Deponent states, however, further declared that at nightfall he was driving the pigs home, and when near the sheep of W. C. Mostert found them without a herd ; he called to Schayck many times, who at last came out of some palmetto jungle and asked deponent whether he was alone. Deponent said, " Yes." Schayck then looked very much frightened and astonished, and deponent asked what he was doing. Schayck replied, "Be quiet, I am killing a sheep of the Company," which deponent saw. He was asked how he would get it away without anyone seeing him, and he replied, " I will leave it so long here hanging on a tree ; when I have had my supper I can take it away in the dark and hide it in th3 sheep shed Being again asked how he was going to take it with him to-morrow to the " veld," he replied, " I will carry it away before daylight into the rushes, and when T am in the ' veld ' with the sheep I can boil it," Schayck further invited deponent to come and take a share. Statement of Schayck : That three weeks ago the mad sheep had often come to his troop, and that he had always given it back to the Company's herds. He added that the swine herd had advised him to kill the animal, and denies that he killed any, much less the mad sheep. The above confirmed by oath

1662 5th August. Declaration of Roeloff de Man and Wouter Mostaert (both signatures attached), that when the master gardener here, the late Jacoh Huybertsz:, of Rosendaal, had departed this life on the 2nd March last, as far as we know nothing of any value was found in his little house ; that he left a poor widow, again to become a mother, and two children behind him ; that he had overdrawn his salary, and there was nothing to his credit excepting fl. 3st: 10 penningen, as the books will show.

1662 5th September. Declaration of H. Hendricksz:, burgher- Councillor, and W. C. Mostert, ex-ditto, that they will be sureties for Tieleman Hendricksz:, freeman, now a prisoner for wounding H. Ras. and bind themselves in all points according to law.

1663 21st August. Declaration of Cateleijntje Kerkhove, wife of Marten Jacobsz:, late chief gardener and now freeman here, Barbara Greens, widow of the late master gardener Jacob of Rosendaal, and Catharina Uftinck, wife of the freeman Hans Ras. made at the request of Hester Weyers, wife of W. C. Mostert, freeman, that Theuntje ..... wife of the Saldanha trader Bartholomeus Boras, of Woerdeu, had often said to deponents that Hester Weyers, wife of W. C. Mostert, had had two children in the Fatherland, and that one of the children had been killed by the mother herself, viz., H. Weyers, and murdered. Of the other child, however, no information existed. 1663 10th September. I, the undersigned, declare that what I have said of the wife of W. C. Mostert, is false and a lie ; that I know said wife only as one of honour and virtue, and have nothing to say against her. This I declare in presence of the Commander and Council. I. THEUNKEN BARTHOLOMEUS VAN DER LINDEN

1665 The Commander and Council having been informed of the blasphemous language of the wives of Tielman Hendriksz:, Jacob Rosendaal, and H van Zeurwarden, burgher and farmers here, have, in order to obtain proper information (the witnesses being far away in the country) deputed the fiscal and the ensign, with the burgher councillor Wouter Mostert, to inquire into it carefully, &c. On their return they reported that the wife of the farmer Jan Pietersz, viz., Beatrix Weyman had declared that when she and other women were some days ago working at the house of Hans Ras, the wife of Tielman and that of Zeurwarden arrived there, and about an hour afterwards said to Rosendaal's wife, "So you obtained the tap now." The latter replied " Yes, does it hinder you ?" The first answered, "During the last few days homeward-bound men have been at your place, and they have, they tell us, spent much money at your place, and also drunk at mine." Kosendaal's wife retorted, " Do you begrudge me the earning of a stiver ? " The other replied, " Yes, I also heard from the homeward-bound that you were such a lady in the Fatherland, in fact a workhouse prostitute, and that your father was in the rasphouse. You also have changed your name from Grietje into Catryn." This was confirmed by the wife of Zeurwaarden. Rosendaal's wife replied, "Be silent, you adulterate your liquor, and if you did not do that you would not have such fine clothes on your body." Catryntje also called Tielmaii's wife a dishonest woman, adding that those who did not fall did not require to rise. Neeltje Jacobsz:, wife of F. Gerritsz, declared that the dispute had its origin in the tap ; that Tielman's wife had reproached Catryn with having said to the homeward-bound, " Come into the, house, I will give you the first cup." Catryn replied, " Those who say this behind my back I do not consider honest, and those who say it in my presence, likewise." Tielman's wife replied, "They can say nothing dishonourable about me at the Cape, or that I have sat in the House of Correction, or that I have been a prostitute, or that my father died in the rasphouse." Zeurwaarden's wife said in between that she had also heard it, and recommended Catryn to let her prove her words whilst the ships were still here, for " this charge might cling to your children's children." She did not listen to the rest of the conversation, but heard Catryn say, "l do not adulterate my liquor." Declared this 4th day of June, 1665, and signed by the witnesses.

Transcribed by Michele Woodroffe (nee Mostert) from:

“DIE NOTARIËLE STUKKE VAN DIE TWEEDE DEKADE (1671 — 1680).” Kronos, vol. 15, 1989, pp. 14–48. JSTOR, Accessed 24 Apr. 2021

www.jstor.org/stable/41056264.

24 March 1677 Skipper Adriaan van Asperen sells the slave Joost en Aran van Madagaskar to Wouter Mostaert for 55 Rds.

23 November 1677 Hester van Lier, widow of Wouter Mostaert, sells the slave David van Tuticorin, to Tobias Vlasvath, officer of the VOC at the Cape of Good Hope, for 50 Rds.