South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives) - FamilySearch Historical Records

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South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers, 1660-1970 CID1478678 {{{CID2}}} {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
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South Africa
Flag of South Africa
Location of South Africa
Record Description
Record Type:	Church Registers
Collection years:	1660-1970
Languages:	Afrikaans, Dutch, English
Title in the Language:	Suid-Afrika, Kaap Provinsie Nederduitse Hervormde Kerk Rekords
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South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
Related Websites
South African Genealogy
Cyndi's List - South Africa
Find A Grave - South Africa
GenealogyInTime Magazine
Cape Master Death Notice Index
Genealogical Society of SA - Graves
Genealogical Society of SA - Funeral Programs
Archive
State Archives, Cape Province

What is in This Collection?

This collection dates from 1660 through 1970 and includes records of baptisms, marriages and membership records for South Africa. The collection also includes marriage records for Karas, Namibia from 1936 through 1960. The Dutch Reformed Church records have been maintained in good condition. Baptisms and marriages are found in different registration formats, usually in bound registers, which are kept at the local church archives in care of the registrar. Since 1928 the registrar sends the registries to be archived at the Central Archive of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town, South Africa.

Reading These Records

These records are in Afrikaans and English. For help reading these records see the following guides:

• Afrikaans Word List
• Netherlands Language and Languages
• South Africa Language and Languages

General Information about the Dutch Reformed Church

When South Africa was settled by the Dutch in the 16th and 17th centuries, they transplanted their Dutch Reformed theology into the African continent. The Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa was formally established in 1652 and became the only official church in South Africa until 1778, when freedom of public worship was given to other churches. The history of the Dutch Reformed Church has been very much bound up with the politics of the Afrikaner community of South Africa.

The Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa consists of three separate churches: the Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk (the largest and usually called the Dutch Reform Church; the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk (largely restricted to the Transvaal); and the Gereformeede Kerk in Suid Afrika (the Doppers). During the 17th and 18th Centuries the Dutch Reformed Church (Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk) was the only officially recognized Church denomination in South Africa and many white residents of the Cape belonged to it. In later years other church denominations were created in Cape, leaving a decline in the membership of the Dutch Reformed Church.

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives), 1660-1970.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Baptism:

• Name
• Date of baptism
• Place of baptism
• Date of birth
• Names of parents

Marriage:

• Names
• Date and place of marriage
• Ages
• Country of birth
• Marital status
• Occupation
• Residence
• Names of persons giving consent

Collection Content

For additional details about these records and help using them see South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records).

Sample Images

• South Africa, Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church DGS 4434392 68 Baptism.jpg

  Baptism Record

• South Africa, Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church DGS 4434431 23 Marriage.jpg

  Marriage Record

• South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives) 1660-1970 DGS004434389 1077.jpg

  Baptism Record

• South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers (Cape Town Archives) 1660-1970 DGS4434429 772.jpg

  Membership Record

Coverage Table

The collection includes records from the following municipalities in Namibia and South Africa:

Country Province Municipality Record Type Year Range Namibia Karas Keetmanshoop Marriage 1936-1960 South Africa Cape of Good Hope Cape Town Baptism 1695-1948 Marriage 1839-1952 Memberships 1757-1929 Ceres Baptism 1903-1926 Paarl Baptism 1849-1865 Richmond Baptism 1844-1865 Stellenbosch Baptism 1688-1908 Marriage 1700-1944 Memberships 1732-1857 Tulbagh Marriage 1899-1911 Transvaal Brixton Marriage 1931-1951 Jeppe Marriage 1942-1952 Johannesburg-Wes Baptism 1931-1948 Memberships 1931-1943 Turffontein Marriage 1931-1956 How Do I Search This Collection? You can search the index or view the images or both. Before using this collection it is helpful to know: Name of the person you are looking for Approximate date of birth or marriage Search the Index Search by name on the Collection Details Page. Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields Click Search to show possible matches View the Images View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page Select Country Select Province Select Municipality or Town Select Record Type and Years to view the images How Do I Analyze the Results? Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log. What Do I Do Next? I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now? Use the age to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in civil records Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have moved, been recruited or lived nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify. Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual. This compiled list can help you identify possible relations that can be further verified by researching vital records indexes in the country When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900 I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now? Switch to a different record collection. Depending on the time period, either Civil Registration records or Church Records may be more useful While searching, it is helpful to know such information as the ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as an ancestor and that the ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation Search the indexes and records of local genealogical societies Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1800 There is also some variation in the information given from one record to another Be aware that there may have been some transcription errors Citing This Collection Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used. Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection. Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information. Image Citation: When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen. How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki? In other languages: English | português |

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