Van der Veen story telling: I would like compensation for my oxen and wagon

One of the assumptions I had made was that my grandfather William Hendry van der Veen was Afrikaans and after his marriage to Nellie, who as born on the Isle of Wight, the family becomes English speaking.

Looking at all the archive documents this does not seem to be the case, as many of the van der Veen clan marry into English speaking families, so English and Dutch are closely interwoven from the early days after settling in Pretoria.

I particularly enjoyed reading the Military Compensation Board documents that I sourced at the National Archives. From these documents I noticed that the van der Veen's also change their status during the Boer Wars, from Boer Commando's to either taking the Oath of Neutrality or the Oath of Allegiance to the British.

One written statement by Arend Johannes van der Veen (b 1859 - d 1932) in 1901, post the Second Boer War, is a delight to read and so full of detail.

He notes being born in Holland and that he came to the Transvaal in 1868, at 9 years old, I assume with his father Bernadus Johannes. This must have been the second wave of van der Veen arrivals, as the original Dutch Settler, AJ van der Veen came out with only 3 of his children in 1858.

After serving with the Pretoria District Commando, Arend Johannes takes the Oath of Neutrality in June 1900 and in his statement says he is willing to take the Oath of Allegiance. His written English is excellent and he makes it clear that he has not helped the Boers since his surrender either.

But, he is not happy with his ten oxen that were taken during the war, as well as his wagon that was commandeered and makes claim for reparation for these losses as well as damages to his house.

The file has written witness statements including that of his brother-in-law and business partner, Tom Austin, who is a British subject.

Even the farm staff were asked for their testament, here is part of a page where Abraham tells of a number of Boer soldiers that passed by the farm Garsfonetin and took 21 trek oxen.

Another random link, the Boer General was Hamilton, Arend Johannes refers to him in his documentation about the theft of his cattle, and the National Archives are in Hamilton Street in Pretoria....