Johannes Christoffel Krog South Africa 1795
Birth – 1778 (approx)
Johannes Christoffel Krog (also referred to as Johan Christoffer Krog” is the progenitor of the Krog family name in South Africa.
It is common belief that he was Norwegian, born and from Bergen. This belief is based on Dutch East India Company (“VOC” hereafter) records that stated he was “from Bergen”. Furthermore, Johs F. Krog’s book Die Geslagsregister van die Krogs in Suid-Afrika recorded J C Krog’s arrival at the Cape from Bergen, Norway in 1794.
I contacted The National Archival Services of Norway to get more information on our progenitor but, they had no record of a Johannes Christoffel Krog (or any derivative thereof) for the period between 1750 and 1790. They suggested that I contact the Danish national archive, as it may be that he was Danish.
During the time Johannes Christoffel Krog would have been alive, Norway was part of the Danish Crown lands and many Danish officers were based in Norway as part of the Crown lands naval fleet. The Danish National Archives, however, did not have any records of him either.
Failing on both fronts, I extended my research to the German national archives, where I believe I found information that may provide an explanation of Johannes Christoffel Krog’s family and birthplace. I must say that the information below is a working hypothesis because there are gaps in the information, and I am not able to create a clear link yet.
I believe Johannes Christoffel Krog is of German descent, the son of Johann Christoffer Krog[1] and Catharina Margareta Bandelow[2]. Johann Christoffer Krog was born around 1750.
Information from their marriage certificate suggest that both Johann and Catharina were both German. They married on the 28th August 1777[3] in “Staven, Staven, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Deutschland” in the “Evangelische Kirche Staven (AG. Neubrandenburg)”. Below is a copy of their marriage certificate:
Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971 / Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1971
Records[4] indicate that Johann Christoffer Krog and Catharina Margareta Bandelow had one child – Johannes Christoffel Krog (progenitor/stamvader).
[1] https://www.openarch.nl/ghn:6df51ba4-3432-41e4-a2fe-8010b1406133
[2] https://gedbas.genealogy.net/person/show/1024471912
[3] https://gedbas.genealogy.net/person/show/1024471905
[4] Catherina Magarethe Bandelow (± 1750-????) » McDonald and Potts family tree – black Hebrew Yahya » Genealogie Online