Ancestors Research South Africa

Index to Birth Registers in the Cape Town Archives

Please note that although these registers are housed in the Cape Town Archives they are the property of the Home Affairs Western Cape. There is a 100 year embargo on access to these files by the public. To find out more on how these registers work, please consult the article on Birth Records in South Africa.
Index to Birth Registers in the Cape Town Archives2021-01-23T06:18:47+02:00

Birth Records in South Africa

The Department of Home Affairs, in Pretoria, holds the most comprehensive compilation of personal resources for all South Africans. Access to the registers of births is closed for a period of a 100 years, to protect individuals, as stipulated by the office of origin. The general public may only view these records prior to 1908, and these are housed in the various archival repositories.
Birth Records in South Africa2023-12-05T14:53:18+02:00

Can you marry your cousin?

Ascendants and descendants in the direct line - father and daughter, grandfather and granddaughter, and so forth - may not marry each other. Collaterals are prohibited from intermarrying if either of them is related to their common ancestor in the first degree of descent.
Can you marry your cousin?2018-10-16T12:50:16+02:00

Cemetery Project for School Children

A wonderful classroom project for teachers to explain to children the importance of cemeteries and not to be afraid of visiting them. Also why cemeteries have different sections as well as understanding the circumstances on reasons for deaths in a certain year - these are just a few things that are covered in this lesson.
Cemetery Project for School Children2018-10-16T12:14:18+02:00

The Emigrants Guide to South Africa

The Emigrants Guide to South Africa is a comprehensive guide published in 1880 specifically for British residents who would like to live in South Africa. It provides a list of the fleet of ships names. Details on what was available on board, how much luggage each person is allowed, no alcohol allowed by passengers to be taken on board - their is ample available, cost of fare, menu descriptions and basically a fascinating insight to what your ancestors life would have been on their long voyage to South Africa
The Emigrants Guide to South Africa2018-10-16T12:14:34+02:00

Rondebosch Down the Years 1657 – 1957

Rondebosch, untamed as it was in 1657, those early settlers fell in love with its streams and glades and mountain-slopes, and with the wonderful shelter it afforded from the turbulent winds that harassed them in Cape Town. The progress of three centuries has so far not dimmed its beauty, though it needs to be guarded jealously in these "flat-ridden" days.
Rondebosch Down the Years 1657 – 19572018-10-16T12:06:08+02:00

General Register of Native Pupils and Apprentices Lovedale Missionary Institution A – F

Extracted roll of learners from the Lovedale Register prepared by Dr. James Stewart - In the following pages we have accordingly endeavoured -according to the best of our information - to give the individual records of over 2000 natives of South Africa, and also of some hundreds of Europeans who have at different times come for instruction to this place - though the record Europeans is little more than a mere roll at present.
General Register of Native Pupils and Apprentices Lovedale Missionary Institution A – F2018-10-16T12:07:09+02:00

Photographers of the 19th Century in South Africa

Over 200 19th Century South African Photographers have been listed here. Should you have any additional information please contact me or you would like to use this content - please don't copy this material but rather put a link to my website.
Photographers of the 19th Century in South Africa2018-10-16T12:07:55+02:00

Home Remedies of the Cape

A study of the inventories of the people at the Cape, from 1673 to 1826, tells us of their lifestyles and efforts to maintain good health. When we look into their home medicine chests and pharmacy shops, we realise how they relied on prescriptions from the West, spices from the East and indigenous plants, to remedy their illnesses.
Home Remedies of the Cape2019-12-02T08:24:25+02:00

Simonstown History

The town was named after Simon van der Stel. Simon's Bay was made the official winter anchorage for the Dutch East India Company's ships in 1743. Baron G. W. van Imhoff, Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, who touched at the Cape in the same year, chose a site for a magazine, hospital and barracks at Simonstown. A small garrison was stationed there, and when a stone pier was constructed in 1768, a bakery, a slaughter-house, a carpenter's shop and a smithy were erected, as well as a residence for the Governor (who always spent a few days there when the fleet arrived).
Simonstown History2018-10-16T12:03:19+02:00

Did your Ancestors qualify to vote in South Africa

When the Cape Colony achieved representative government in 1853, all male persons complying with the following qualifications could be registered as voters: those who had occupied, for a period of twelve months, building which alone or with the ground on which it stood was worth at least £25; those who had, for a period of twelve months, earned a salary or wages amounting to at least £50 per annum.
Did your Ancestors qualify to vote in South Africa2020-05-08T12:24:43+02:00

What is a Veldkornet

The field cornet was the most many-sided military, administrative and judicial officer in South Africa in the 19th century. The word `kornet' is derived from Spanish corneta (Latin corms, horn), which meant a cavalry flag and was later extended to mean the officer who carried this. Denoting a particular rank in the army it came from the Netherlands to South Africa.
What is a Veldkornet2018-10-16T11:58:57+02:00

Marriages and Divorces in South Africa

Pre 1972 Since the days of Roman law marriage in the Western world has been defined as the legally recognised union of one man and one woman, to the exclusion, while the marriage lasts, of all others. Polygamous unions, being fundamentally opposed to our conception of matrimony, are not recognised as valid marriages. Thus, Bantu customary unions, though by no means without legal effect (see Bantu law), are not marriages in the eyes of South African law.
Marriages and Divorces in South Africa2018-10-16T11:58:40+02:00

Name Changes of people in South Africa

Did you know that anyone can change their name? When looking for family members or ancestors, it is important to remember that they may have change or altered their first name or surname.
Name Changes of people in South Africa2021-05-18T12:59:42+02:00
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