South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (Stellenbosch Archive) - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions

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{{Record_Search_article|CID=CID1392488|title=South Africa Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1817-1991|location=South Africa|scheduled=}}
{{Record_Search_article|CID=CID1392488|title=South Africa Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1817-1991|location=South Africa|scheduled=}}  
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==== Style Guide  ====
For guidelines to use in creating wiki articles that describe collections of images and indexes produced by FamilySearch, see: [[FamilySearch Wiki:Guidelines for FamilySearch Collections pages|FamilySearch Wiki: Guidelines for FamilySearch Collections pages ]]
== Collection Time Period<br>  ==
The collection of records covers the years 1660 to 1970.
== How to Use the Records<br>  ==
Begin your search by finding your ancestors in the index. Name indexes make it possible to access a specific record quickly. Remember that these indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.


{{Contributor invite}}
Use the locator information found in the index (such as page, entry, or certificate number) to locate your ancestors in the records. Compare the information in the record to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.


== Collection Time Period&nbsp;  ==
When you have located your ancestor’s in the records, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example:


The collection of records covers the years 1660 to 1970.  
* Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information.  


== Record History&nbsp;  ==
* Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names. * Occupations listed can lead you to employment records or other types of records such as military records.


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 Reform Church has been very much bound up with the politics of the Afrikaner community of South Africa. The baptism and marriage records are recorded in bound registers, which are kept at the local churches archive 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.  
* Use the parent’s birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family.  


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 Reform Church (Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk) was the only officially recognized Church denomination in South Africa and practically all the whites in the Cape belonged to it. In the following Centuries, several other churches denominations were created in Cape, leaving a decline in the membership of the Dutch Reform Church.  
* Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the child being baptized, the bride or the groom, this is especially helpful if the surname is unusual.  


=== Why This Record Was Created&nbsp;  ===
* Continue to search the marriage records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the bride and groom who may have married in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.


Registers were created to track the church’s members by recording the vital events of christening or baptism (which occurred soon after the child was born), marriage, and memberships.  
* When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.  


=== Record Reliability&nbsp;  ===
<br>


The records are usually very reliable since they were recorded by the minister usually when the event happened.
Keep in mind:


== Record Description&nbsp;  ==
* Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1900.


* There is also some variation in the information given from one marriage record to another record
== Record Description<br>  ==
The Dutch Reform Church records have been maintained in good conditions. Baptisms and marriages are found in different registration formats, most written in Dutch and others in Afrikaans, Dutch and English. Deaths records are not found among these registers.  
The Dutch Reform Church records have been maintained in good conditions. Baptisms and marriages are found in different registration formats, most written in Dutch and others in Afrikaans, Dutch and English. Deaths records are not found among these registers.  
 
=== Record Content<br>  ===
<gallery perrow="3" heights="120px" widths="160px" caption="South Africa Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church Record Examples">
<gallery caption="South Africa Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church Record Examples" widths="160px" heights="120px" perrow="3">
Image:South Africa Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church Records Birth DGS 4434390_171.jpg
Image:South Africa Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church Records Birth DGS 4434390_171.jpg
Image:South Africa Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church Records Marriage DGS 4322664_786.jpg
Image:South Africa Cape Province Dutch Reformed Church Records Marriage DGS 4322664_786.jpg
</gallery>
</gallery>
=== Record Content&nbsp;  ===
'''The key genealogical facts found in most baptismal records are:'''  
'''The key genealogical facts found in most baptismal records are:'''  


Name of principal  
* Name of principal  


Date of birth  
* Date of birth  


Date of baptism  
* Date of baptism  


Father and mother’s names and sometimes their address  
* Father and mother’s names and sometimes their address  


Complete witness’s names and sometimes their address  
* Complete witness’s names and sometimes their address  


Registration place  
* Registration place  


<br>
<br>  


'''The key genealogical facts found in most marriages records are:'''  
'''The key genealogical facts found in most marriages records are:'''  


Names of groom and bride  
* Names of groom and bride  


Date of marriage  
* Date of marriage  


Age at time of marriage  
* Age at time of marriage  


Country of birth  
* Country of birth  


Civil status at time of marriage  
* Civil status at time of marriage  


Occupation  
* Occupation  


Residence at time of marriage  
* Residence at time of marriage  


Race  
* Race  


Place of marriage  
* Place of marriage
 
== Record History<br>  ==
<br>
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 Reform Church has been very much bound up with the politics of the Afrikaner community of South Africa. The baptism and marriage records are recorded in bound registers, which are kept at the local churches archive 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.  
 
== How to Use the Record&nbsp; ==
 
Begin your search by finding your ancestors in the index. Name indexes make it possible to access a specific record quickly. Remember that these indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.
 
Use the locator information found in the index (such as page, entry, or certificate number) to locate your ancestors in the records. Compare the information in the record to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.
 
When you have located your ancestor’s in the records, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example:
 
• Use the marriage date and place as the basis for compiling a new family group or for verifying existing information.
 
• Use the birth date or age along with the place of birth of each partner to find a couple's birth records and parents' names. • Occupations listed can lead you to employment records or other types of records such as military records.
 
• Use the parent’s birth places to find former residences and to establish a migration pattern for the family.
 
• Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the child being baptized, the bride or the groom, this is especially helpful if the surname is unusual.
 
• Continue to search the marriage records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives of the bride and groom who may have married in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family or even the second marriage of a parent. Repeat this process for each new generation you identify.
 
• When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 
<br>
 
Keep in mind:
 
• Earlier records may not contain as much information as the records created after the late 1900.
 
• There is also some variation in the information given from one marriage record to another record.  
 
<br>
 
=== How Has This Article Helped You?&nbsp;  ===
 
[[FamilySearch Collection Feedback|Send us your story.]]
 
<br>


== Related Web Sites&nbsp; ==
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 Reform Church (Nederduitse Gereformeede Kerk) was the only officially recognized Church denomination in South Africa and practically all the whites in the Cape belonged to it. In the following Centuries, several other churches denominations were created in Cape, leaving a decline in the membership of the Dutch Reform Church.


=== Why This Collection Was Created?  ===
Registers were created to track the church’s members by recording the vital events of christening or baptism (which occurred soon after the child was born), marriage, and memberships.
=== Record Reliability ===
The records are usually very reliable since they were recorded by the minister usually when the event happened.
== Related Web Sites  ==
[http://southafricanfamilyhistory.wordpress.com/2006/08/04/genealogical-institute-of-south-africa/ Genealogical Institute of South Africa]  
[http://southafricanfamilyhistory.wordpress.com/2006/08/04/genealogical-institute-of-south-africa/ Genealogical Institute of South Africa]  


This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.  
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.
 
== Related Wiki Articles  ==
== Related Wiki Articles&nbsp; ==
 
[[South Africa Websites|South Africa Websites]]  
[[South Africa Websites|South Africa Websites]]  


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[[Portal:South Africa/Research Tools|Portal:South Africa/Research Tools]]  
[[Portal:South Africa/Research Tools|Portal:South Africa/Research Tools]]  


[[Portal:South Africa/Jurisdictions|Portal:South Africa/Jurisdictions]]  
[[Portal:South Africa/Jurisdictions|Portal:South Africa/Jurisdictions]]
 
== Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections  ==
<br>
A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: [[How to Cite FamilySearch Collections|How to Cite FamilySearch Collections]]
 
== Sources of This Collection  ==
 
“South Africa Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1817-1991,” database, FamilySearch Historical Records, 2010; from Genealogical Institute of South Africa. “Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1817-1991.” Genealogical Institute of South Africa, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa. FHL microfilm, 52 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
 
<br>
 
=== <br>How to Cite FamilySearch Historical Collections&nbsp; ===
 
==== Why Should You Cite Your Sources?&nbsp;  ====
 
It is recommended that you cite the sources of information as you search genealogical records. Citing sources will allow you to avoid duplicate searches later and share your sources with other researchers. A citation with specific details about the source document should allow yourself or others to easily find the source document at a later time. You should cite all sources searched, whether new information is found, to avoid duplicating searches without findings.


<br>
Please add sample citations to this article following the format guidelines in the wiki article listed above.
Examples of citations:


==== Sample Citations ====
*United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71
*Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023
=== How Has This Article Helped You? ===
[[FamilySearch Collection Feedback|Send us your story]]
==== Style Guide ====
For guidelines to use in creating wiki articles that describe collections of images and indexes produced by FamilySearch, see: [[FamilySearch Wiki:Guidelines for FamilySearch Collections pages|FamilySearch Wiki: Guidelines for FamilySearch Collections pages ]]
== Sources of Information for This Collection:  ==
“South Africa Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1817-1991,” database, FamilySearch Historical Records, 2010; from Genealogical Institute of South Africa. “Dutch Reformed Church Records, 1817-1991.” Genealogical Institute of South Africa, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa. FHL microfilm, 52 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.


[[How to Cite FamilySearch Collections|''More information about citing or documenting your sources'']]''can be found at:'' How to Cite FamilySearch Collections
<br>The format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections, including how to cite individual archives is found in the following link: [[How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections|How to Create Source Citations for FamilySearch Historical Records Collections]]
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