1st Generation Jan Swart arrived in Kaapstad in 1685 | 1st Generation The first Swart, Jan Swart (born 1646 in Hoorn, Netherlands), arrived in the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa in ca. 1685. It is recorded that he lived in Waterland, Netherlands before he moved to Southern Africa. He was a "ziekentrooster" in the service of the H.O.I.C (Holland - East Indian Company) who owned the Cape Colony. The "ziekentrooster" in those day's did the job of doctor, pastor and school teacher. Jan's wife Margaretha Coerie with his three sons Nicolaas, Johannes and Pieter, arrived a few years later from Europe and the family settled in Stellenbosch. The house that Jan build for his wife in the 1690's still exist today on the corner of Andringa and Dorpstreet in Stellenbosch and is currently used as a Hotel. |
Cape colony boarder 1700 | 2nd Generation Pieter, the third oldest son started to farm with livestock and in the early 1700's and obtained grazing rights at Uilkraal near Gansbaai on the other side of the Hottentots Holland mountain range which formed the first border of the Cape Colony and the rest of Africa. In this way the Swart's became one of the first European pioneer family's in the Overberg region. Pieter married in 1721 Sara du Buis, the daughter of a French Huguenot, Jean du Buis and Sara Jacob of Calais (France) who fled to South Africa. The couple had 4 sons and 5 daughters. |
3rd Generation
The second oldest son of Pieter was
also called Pieter (born 1726) and married Maria Catharina Bury the
daughter of Pieter and Johanna Bury previously from
MaastrichtNetherlands. After Maria Catharina died in 1764, Pieter
remarried in 1766 Jacoba Margaretha Swart, the daughter of his
cousin, Jacobus Swart and Elisabeth Peters. Pieter farmed first on
the farm Blouklip and later on the farm Melkbos in the Bredasdorp
area. 11 sons and 4 daughters was born from the two marriages. | 4th Generatio The 9th oldest son of Pieter was Johannes Cornelis (born 1780) and was known as Groot Jan (Big Jan). He was the first Swart who moved over the Breede river to Swellendam area. He farmed at Diptkasmond on the banks of the Breede river. He was married to Susanna Dorothea Geldenhuys and they got 5 sons and 12 daughters. One of his sons moved to the Orange Freestate and become a new branch of the Swart family in that area, the so called Rouxville - Zastron Swart's. |
Johannes Cormelis & Gertruida Johanna | 5th Generation The 3rd oldest son of Johannes also
named Johannes Cornelis (born 1817) married another Geldenhuys , Gertruida Johanna.
Lang Jan (Long Jan) as he was
nicknamed, farmed on the farm Sandkraal where he was buried after his death in 1889. This farm is still a Swart farm in the hands of his descendants. Two sons and three daughters was born for this family. |
L.G. Swart & Johanna Christina | 6th Generation In 1838 a second son, Lourens Geldenhuys Swart was born for Johannes and Gertruida. Lourens farmed the neighboring farm Landplaas and married Johanna Christina Kemp, daughter of Matthys Johannes Kemp. In the 1880’s Lourens Geldenhuys Swart bought a nearby farm Koesanie. Lourens was buried on Landplaas which is still a Swart farm today. |
Matthys J. Swart & Jacomina Elisabeth | 7th Generation Matthys Johannes (born 1861), who was named after Lourens's father-in-law, Matthys Johannes Kemp, started farming on Koesanie. In 1910 at an age of nearly 50 years, Matthys started a Merino sheep stud and concentrate on medium and fine wool. He was a strong supporter for the Tasmanian type of Merino. This type had allot of wrinkles, the more skin the more wool you get, they believed. Matthys married Jacomina Elisabeth Burger. (Burger is a surname of German origin) 6 Sons and 7 daughters was born. |
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Matthys (2nd) with Merino Ram | 8th Generation After the death of Matthys, his son Matthys Johannes (the second, born 1888) took over the family business and Merino stud. He was the third oldest son and called after his father. "Oom" Thysie ("oom" means uncle, in Afrikaner culture older persons was called "oom" out of respect), as many people called him, became well known for his Merino sheep and he won the Fagan cup in 1935 for "best wool sheep". Matthys married Judith Dorothea Philippina Streicher, daughter of his best friend, Jan Bastiaan Streicher. (The
first Streicher arrived in the Cape in the1790's. He was Simon August
Friedrich Streicher from Buckeburg in the countship of Lippe, Germany.
He became a cannoneer in the service of the H.O.I.C. After the battle of
Blaauwbergstrand he became a farmer in Swellendam district.) Matthys was 53 years old when he was married for the first time and Judith 33. There three children was Matthys (born 1943), Streicher and Elna. |
Matthys J Swart (3rd) on his Lanz | 9th Generation In 1960, Matthys Johannes (the third, born 1943) joined his father on Koesanie. Matthys was called after his grandfather Matthys who was born in 1861. It was Matthys who started with Simmentaler cattle in 1964 and studbreeding in 1965. He married Maria Rossouw in 1966, daughter of Richard Knipe Rossouw and Helena Wilhelmina Catharina Malan. Both surnames Rossouw and Malan is originally French Huguenot surnames who came to South Africa in the 1700's. Three children was born from this marrage: Matthys (Thys), Helena and Rossouw. Matthys (the 3rd) started to restore old Lanz Bulldog tractors and today he has one of the biggest Lanz collections in South Africa. |
Thys & Gertruida 1997 
Rossouw & Adelle | 10th Generations Today Matthys (the 3rd) is farming together with his two sons, Matthys Johannes(the 4th, born 1968, called Thys and named after grandfather Matthys the second.) and Richard Rossouw Swart (born 1971, called after his grand father on mothers side, Richard Knipe Rossouw). The farming company is named Swart Broers Boerdery. Matthys (the 4th) studied at the University of Stellenbosch where he received a BA degree in Political Science and History. He joined the South African Defense force in 1990 where he became and officer. He resighn from the army before the 1994 election. After farming as farm manager for a medical doctor he joined his father on the family farm in 1998. Thys married Gertruida Johanna Cronje (Daughter of Gerhardus Johannes Cronje and Charlotte Maria Schoeman) Rossouw studied Agriculture at the Pretoria Technicon and also did his national service at the South African Defense Force. Rossouw also became an officer. Rossouw farmed as branch manager for Elstelm farms where he manage a Bonsmara stud. He married Adelle' Vermeulen, daughter of Andre and Yvonne Antoinette Vermeulen and joined the family farm in 2002. |
Matthys & Gerhardus | 11th Generations For Matthys and Gertruida the following children was born: Matthys Johannes (the 5th) born 1999, Gerhardus Johannes born 2004, Charlotte Maria born 2006. For Rossouw and Adelle': Matthys Johannes in 1999 (called MJ) and Rianette in 2003, was born. |
