South Africa, Netherdutch Reformed Church Registers (Pretoria Archive) - FamilySearch Historical Records

South Africa

Access the Records
South Africa, Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa, Church Records, 1838-1991 CID2155416 {{{CID2}}} {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.
South Africa
Flag of South Africa
Location of South Africa
Record Description
Record Type:	Church Records
Collection years:	1838-1991
Languages:	Afrikaans, English
Title in the Language:	Suid-Afrika, Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika, Kerk Rekords
FamilySearch Resources
South Africa Genealogy
Africa Historic Maps
South Africa Websites
South Africa Archives and Libraries
South Africa Church Records
South Africa Civil Registration
Western Cape Province, South Africa Genealogy
Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Genealogy
Northern Cape Province, South Africa Genealogy
Related Websites
South African Genealogy
Cyndi's List - South Africa
Find A Grave - South Africa
GenealogyInTime Magazine
Genealogical Society of SA - Funeral Programs
Genealogical Society of SA - Graves
Archive
Dutch Reformed Church of Africa, Pretoria

What is in This Collection?

This collection will include records of christenings, marriages, and membership records of the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa located in Pretoria for the years 1838-1991. These records are from various areas of Angola, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Dutch East India Company sent a crew to create a Dutch settlement in the Cape of Good Hope in 1652. Many of the members of the crew belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church, and created a community in Cape Town. The church group suffered from several divisions, most notably the Doppers.

Image Visibility

Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images. For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

Reading These Records

These records are in Afrikaans and English. For help reading these records see Afrikaans Word List and South Africa Language and Languages.

To Browse This Collection

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for South Africa, Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa, Church Records, 1838-1991.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Christening

• Date of baptism
• Place of baptism
• Name of the minister
• Name of the child
• Date of birth
• Names of the parents
• Witnesses

Membership

• Full name of member
• Date of birth
• Date they joined
• Where they joined
• Pastor that oversaw joining

Marriage

• Race
• Full names
• Date of marriage
• Ages
• Countries of birth
• Occupations
• Residence at time of marriage
• District and province of marriage
• Name of person giving consent to the marriage
• Name of person solemnizing the marriage
• Other notes

Collection Content

Sample Images

• 

  1954 Christening Records

• 

  1967 Membership Records

• 

  1925 Marriage Record

How Do I Search This Collection?

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

• The name of the person you are looking for
• Approximate date of the event (birth, marriage, death)

Search the Index

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.

1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page

1. Select Country
2. Select Province
3. Select Municipality or Town
4. 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?

• Add any new information to your records
• Use the age to find an approximate birth year to begin your search in church or 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
• Keep in mind that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
• 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
• Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names
• 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.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.