Johan Carel Thom (1857 - 1936)

Born 1 Mar 1857 in Paarl, Cape Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Johanna Margaretha (van Niekerk) Thom — married 4 Jan 1883 in Durbanville, Cape Colony

Descendants

Died 6 Mar 1936 at age 79 in Sea View Hotel, Strand, Union of South Africa

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Daniël Gerhardus Malan [send private message], Anja Jordaan [send private message], and Johan Jordaan [send private message]

Biography

Johan Carel was born on 1 March 1857 in Paarl in the Cape Colony. He was the son of Michiel Christiaan Vos Thom and Maria Elizabeth Thom.^[1]

He was baptised on 22 March 1857 in the Dutch Reformed Church of Paarl in Paarl.^[1]

On 4 January 1883 he married Johanna Margaretha van Niekerk in the Pastorage of the Dutch Reformed Church of Durbanville in Durbanville.^[2]

He was one of the wagon makers in Paarl and was a partner in the firm Thom & Verster.^[3]

During the Anglo-Boer war he and his brother, David, was imprisoned at Beaufort West by the British.

He wrote the following letter from the prison to his wife (see images for photos of the original):^[4]

No 3.

Beauf West

Nov. 11 1901

 

My dearest Marg!

 

Yours 2^nd inst came to hand last Friday, as well as Georgie's and "snapshot" of our picnic party. Many thanks for all these.

It was indeed a good idea of yours to send the photo, as I have nearly forgotten all your faces.

Yes my dear, we always look back with pleasure on days spent happily together, and with deep sorrow on the unhappy ones, but we hope that these sorrowful days may bring us a lasting blessing.

Kindly tell Girtie + Mim (sister) that I have received their letters yesterday (Sunday), and as I was looking out for one from you, but received none, they were a great consolation to me, the more as I was so "depressed" in spririt, as I usually am on Sundays, while I always remember, how we used to go to church every Sunday, and now it is 12 weeks since we walked to Gods House together.

However, we know He is here with us too, and that one Spirit unites us to the Throne of Grace.

I am glad to state that we are all well still, although the continues strain on my weak brains causes me much sleeplessness.

we hope and pray however, that this week, ending a three months imprisonment, may bring an end to our miseries

You may believe me when I say, that during these three months, I have got more grey hairs on my already bald head, and on my moustache, than I have had ever before.

I was astonished to see that you have no cook as yet, as I thought you may now find many, while there is no trade at present

You must surely invite mother for a stay with you, when convenient, for a change of air, will do her a world of good.

Please tell Mic. to do his utmost best with his books, and let him think about Jim's saying, that he must not leave school before he has passed his examination, as he cannot get on well in the world at present, unless he has passed.

Please tel Girtie + Mim, that I shall answer their's letters next time.

Now my dear, as I saw on your letter that my Dutch letters have again been cut, and as I suppose it must be the little news I wrote, and as I therefore do not like to write more, it would be best to throw down the pen, after having loaded you and the children with the usual blessings, and love to the whole family, and comp. to the ungiving friend.

As ever my dearest

your loving husband

Carel.

He died on 6 March 1936 at the Sea View Hotel in the Strand.^[5] He was buried in the church yard of the NG Strooidakkerk in Paarl.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1}

   Baptism:

   Source: South Africa, Cape Province, Paarl, Dutch Reformed Church Paarl, Baptism register, 1856-1867, vol. G3/3/13, p20, entry 2; "South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D48S-TTH?cc=1478678&wc=M6GW-RNL%3A49605401%2C49605402%2C50260701%2C50267601 : 21 May 2014), South Africa > Cape of Good Hope > Paarl > Baptisms 1856-1865 > image 13 of 305; State Archives, Cape Province.

   Added by Danie Malan on 17 Feb 2024.

   ---

   LNAB: Thom

   Transcription:

   p. 20

   Ged op den 22 Maart 1857

   Johan Carel

   Geb aan de Paarl den 1 Maart 1857

   z v Megael Christiaan Vos Thom

   George en Margaretha Elisabeth Voegt Johannes

   Wonende als boven

   Get Johan Carel Voegt Junior

   Pieter David Voegt

   Margaretha Voegt

   Johan Carel Voegt Senior

   ---

2. ↑

   Marriage:

   Source: South Africa, Cape Province, Durbanville, Dutch Reformed Church Durbanville, Marriage register, 1879-1914, vol. G17/5/2, no. 399; "South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSV8-QSB2-M?cc=1478678 : 23 July 2023), > image 1 of 1; State Archives, Cape Province.

   Danie Malan, 17 Feb 2024.

3. ↑ First hand information by Daniël Malan.
4. ↑

   Prison letter No. 3:

   Letter he wrote from prison in Beaufort West on 11 Nov 1901 to his wife. Original letter in possession of his grand child, [[Catharina Veronique Retief. Photographed by Danie Malan on 25 Apr 2024.

5. ↑

   Death notice:

   South Africa, Cape Province, Cape Town, Cape Town Archive Depot, Estate File, MOOC, vol. 6/9/4732, no. 49394; "South Africa, Cape Province, Probate Records of the Master of the High Court, 1834-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C914-7HV3?cc=2517051&wc=WV44-SS3%3A1598062407 : 27 April 2020), 007736478 > image 1219 of 1497; Pietermaritzburg Archives (Formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa.

   Danie Malan, 17 Feb 2024.

6. ↑

   Gravestone:

   Source: eGGSA library, Gravestones in South Africa, Western Cape, PAARL, NG Strooidakkerk, church yard; https://www.graves-at-eggsa.org/main.php?g2_itemId=724749.

   Danie Malan, 17 Feb 2024.