Hendrik MEYER from Bremen (likely Heinrich, originally) appears as soldier in the grootboek en journaal of the V.O.C. ship Eindhoef in 1745, with a note that he transferred to the ship Huis te Rensburg at the end of that year. ^[1]  Records for the Huis te Rensburg then give his further employment record, including mention that he left service at the Cape of Good Hope. ^[2]

He arrived at the Cape in 1746, and the Generale Monsterrollen show him working as a wagon driver by 1751. When he became a vrijburger in 1755, he was resident at Stellenbosch. ^[3]

He marries Elisabeth Engela ESTERHUYSEN on 1 February 1756 ^[4], and later marries on 10 February 1765^[5] Beatrix MARTENS ~ 10 february 1748 d.o. Lourens Maartens and Martha Visser.

Beatrix then on 19 Aug 1776, marries Nicolas Casparus WILLEMSE ~ 11 Jul 1751. s.o.Mattheus Willemse and Johanna van Wielligh. [6 recordered children born of this marriage].
Given the date of birth for her last child with Hendrik, he probably died some time in late 1775 or early 1776. ^[6]

Children;

1st marriage;

b1  Anna Elizabeth ≈ 23 October 1757
b2  Hendrik ≈ 10 June 1759 x 7 October 1781 Elizabeth Catharina ESTERHUYSEN
b3 Johannes ≈ 29 November 1761
b4 Jan Jacob ≈ 29 March 1764

2nd marriage;

b5 Christiaan ≈ 8 December 1765
b6 Gesina ≈ 4 January 1767
b7 Anna Johanna ≈ 14 August 1768
b8 Johan Christoffel ≈ 4 November 1770
b9 Beatrix ≈ 12 September 1773 x 2 February 1794 Petrus Hieronymus BOSHOF~ 6 Oct 1771, s.v. Willem Hendrik Boshof [SV] en Martha Maria Cordier.
b10 Hermanus ≈ 18 February 1776 x Johanna Dorothea BOTHA

Sources

[1] Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC), nummer toegang 1.04.02, inventarisnummer 6182 (Eindhoef: Grootboek en journaal, 1745 - 1746 1745 - 1746) Folio 85
[2] Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC), nummer toegang 1.04.02, inventarisnummer 6183 (Huis te Rensburg: Grootboek en journaal, 1745 - 1746 1745 - 1746) Folio 298.
[3] J. Hoge, “Personalia of the Germans at the Cape”.
[4] Nederduits Gereformeerde Gemeente (NGK), Stellenbosch, Marriage register 1689 to 1788. Repository: NG Kerkargief, Noordwal-Wes, Stellenbosch.
[5] Nederduits Gereformeerde Gemeente (NGK), Cape Town, Marriage register, 1757-1803. Repository: NG Kerkargief, Noordwal-Wes, Stellenbosch.
[6] C.C. de Villiers, “Geslachtsregister der oude Kaapsche Familien”.   

Contributed by;
Ivan Meyer.