Guillaume 'Willem' Nel (Néel), SV/PROG 1 - Alternative Death Date

http://www.e-family.co.za/ffy/g5/p5712.htm also uses the c1734 date (citing GISA, South African Genealogies 6 N, 2000).

- so I'm changing it to that until someone pulls a research rabbit out of the hat.

Petrus Johannes Nel b2.c3.d2.e6.f5.g10.h4.... has contacted me, saying =Guillaume signed his Last Will and Testament on 26/1/1734 at his house in Cape Town. As he was already very weak he signed with a 'X' despite the fact that he could write. His exact date of death is on my research list as well as the place of death but I suspect it was in Cape Town.
EDIT. I have Guillaume's date of death as 17/6/1735.=

As an aside:= As far as Guillaume's financial status is concerned he may have started off poor but being a hard worker he acquired 2 farms and became a prosperous land owner. After he sold Blaaukippen to his son in law Pieterse, he bought a house in Cape Town where I suspect he lived until his death. My research points to the fact that he and Adam Tas were good friends and that he often did jobs for Tas. His tax returns also indicate financial growth. His last Will and Testament was signed in Cape Town at his house in Cape Town when he was weak.=

Petrus Johannes Nel b2.c3.d2.e6.f5.g10.h4....: Wow! this is a real find! Can you give us the sources of this info?

A certain Prof at Stellenbosch University researched the history of Blaauklippen and wrote a book on the subject. A copy is held at Blaauklippen. I came across the book at the University's research library. It is not commercially available but the Librarian was kind enough to make photo copies of the chapter covering Guillaume's ownership and tax returns. I have lent the book to someone and will name the Prof as soon as I have it back. Guillaume's Testament was obviously written in Dutch but I had it translated by an acquaintance who originates from Holland. The ownership of the house in Cape Town and other information I researched at The Cape Archives in Cape Town.

Guillaume was granted Bootmansdrift (Wellington) 17.9.1714. He sold the farm to A.van Jaarsveld 1721 for 2000 guilden. In 1722 he bought a house from Dirk Bulthus. The address was Property number MM8 Table Valley (Cape Town). This is where he signed his Testament on 26/1/1734.

Oh, we must get this Prof's name asap :-)

Looking forward to more amazing findings!!

Me too. How do people feel about returning the death date to 17/6/1735? Or should we wait for the book source first?

I'm fine with returning the date of death to 17/6/1735. The research on this date seems solid and it's very possible that the information available at the Franschhoek Museum refers to the signing of the will rather than the date of death. I'm fascinated to find out this information about this Huguenot ancestor and look forward to hearing more. Thanks Petrus for your invaluable input.

P.S. I've updated my research notes on Guillaume's profile, which appear right at the bottom of the 'Overview' section.

Great - thankyou. Feel free to give the whole About a good edit - big traffic profiles like this one accumulate all the flotsam and jetsam from lots of merge-ins; so benefit from someone streamlining the duplicated data every now and then.

Jeanne De La Batte or Johanna Labat as she was known died circa May 1736 as her son Jean (Jan) Neel signed the "nevenstand Custing brief" on behalf of the heirs on 9.5.1736. Jeanne lived with her son Jean on Rustenburg after Guillaume passed away.

Do make sure that's on her profile Petrus. Thank you.

The book on Blaauwklippen was written by Prof H.N.Vos, Historical Archaeologist and Consultant in 2002.

Sharon - yep, lots of flotsam and jetsam on this profile. I did a lot of the original research on this ancestor, but I see a huge amount of 'stuff' has been added to his profile since then. I don't have the time to do a full review, but will try to get to it as soon as I have a gap - much needed!

Thanks Petrus. Thanks Lee

Does anyone have a copy of his last will/testament? Please share the post or link