Johannes Christoffel Krog South Africa 1795
Settlement in the Cape
Johannes Christoffel Krog settled in Swellendam, about 300km east of the Cape Colony. He married Hester Maria Krog (born Maree)[1] on the 28th of August 1803 in Swellendam (Cape Colony). Below is a copy of Johannes Christoffel Krog’s marriage record [2].
All we know about Hester Maree, daughter of Petrus Ignatius Maree and Susanna Roux, is that she was born in about 1782 and was christened the following year. Hester (Maree) Krog was part of the settlement of the Dutch Cape Colony. Cape of Good Hope – Kaap de Goede Hoop (1652-1806) Project.
Children
b1 Johannes Christoffel * 18 Jun 1804, X Uitenhage 5 Jul 1824 Margaretha Maree
b2 Susanna Elizabeth * 1 Des 1805, X Uitenhage 4 Maart 1827 Johannes Deetlefs
b3 Petrus Johannes = 5 Sep 1809X 22 Mei 1858 Henrietre Jacoba Maria Magdalena Clignet van Lelieveld
b4 Carl Ignatius *29 Jun 1812, = 13 Jul 1812 X Anna Sophia Knoetze, XX 19 Des 1839 Elsje Jacomina Baird
b5 Josephus Gerhardus * 23 Maart 1815, 7 Mei 1815, X 20 Jun 1843 Anna Fredrika Berning
b6 Jeremias Wessel * 13 Okt 1818, = 21 Feb 1819, X Maria Keyser
b7 Cornelis * 26 Jan 1822 = 20 Feb 1823, X Elsa Elizabeth Coenradina Fredrike Scheepers, XX 26 Feb 1878 Susanna Jacoba Scheepers
b8 Martin Johannes Christiaan * 20 Apr 1825, X 26 Maart 1850 Hester Jacomina Francina van der Vyver
Geslacht-register der oude Kaapsche familien by De Villiers, C. C. (Christoffel Coetzee), 1850-1887; Theal, George McCall, 1837-1919
Johan Christoffer Krog or Johannes Christoffel Krog?
It would appear that Johan Christoffer Krog changed his name when he settled in Cape Colony. We know his name on arrival was Johan Christoffer Krog (from the Hertog van Brunswijk ledger). However, the 1894 “Geslacht-register der oude Kaapsche familien” refers to him as Johannes Christoffel Krog.
I have not found any information to clarify or explain when and why the name change. I am working on the hypothesis that he “adapted” his European name to something more locally recognised and relevant.
Inventories of the Orphan Chamber, Cape Town
An inventory is a list of the assets of an estate, sometimes with values attached. Within a few days of a householder’s death, a list had to be made of all his/her fixed properties, goods and chattels. In Cape Town this was done by the Orphan Chamber and in the country by neighbours. There had to be at least two witnesses. The inventory was not for tax purposes, but to see how much the estate was worth so that it could be shared among the heirs.
The list was sent to the Master of the Orphan Chamber to be transcribed by a clerk according to a standard format, signed and then numbered and filed in more or less chronological order.[3]
Johannes Christoffel Krog, as he has now become known, is referred to in the Inventories of the Orphan Chamber. These entries provide some details and information about his early life as a settler.
In two entries, “J C Krog” – as he is referred to in the records – is listed as owing money to two different farmers in the Swellendam area.
In the first inventory (Reference no.: MOOC8/46.32[4]), “Inventory of the estate of Cornelia Gildenhuis and late Daniel Steyn deceased the 12th April 1829 on the place Leeuw Rivier aged 79 years”, reference is made of J C Krog who on 21 February 1814 borrowed 250 guilders[5] from Daniel Steyn (and Cornelia Gildenhuis).
The aforementioned persons therefore had a claim on J C Krog worth 250 guilders plus the 15 years interest (The historical interest is 4%). The inventory was taken by the agent to the Orphan Chamber in the district of Swellendam at the place Kliphoogte Leeuwe River on May 1st 1829.
In the second (MOOC8/67.28a[6]), on 2 February 1821 J C Krog borrowed 15 “rijksdaalders”17 (= worth 37,50 guilders) of Gabriel Willem le Roux. He did so by a “onderhandsch briefje”. This means that the loan was put on paper and signed by J C Krog so the heirs would have a claim on of 15 rijksdaalders against J C Krog.
J C Krog’s loan is listed in a different column from the first three. The column his debt is listed under meant that the heirs had little confidence that he will be able to pay back the loan, but when he and / or the other four do, the widow will inform the Orphan Chamber19. This would suggest that J C Krog wasn’t financially well off.
Johannes Christoffel Krog died in 1855 aged 77[7].
[1] Oude Kaapsche Familien Part 2, genealogy of early settlers in South Africa, 1894, p 325 
[2] Geslagsregisters van die ou Kaapse Families, p1330 (SAG Vol 4) See: https://www.stamouers.com/index.php/stamouers/k-to-m/269-krog-johann-christoffel & “Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSFQ-SRPZ?view=index : Dec 15, 2024), image 43 of 157; Cape Dutch Reformed Church Archives. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSFQ-SRPZ?view=index
[3] Household Inventories at the Cape: A Guidebook for Beginner Researchers – https://www.vassa.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Household-Inventories-at-the-Cape-Text.pdf 
[4] National Archives and Records Service of South Africa – http://southafrica.mypeoplepuzzle.net/SearchIndex/MOOC_Index.html
[5] rd:s means rijksdaalders (plural). One rijksdaalder is worth 2,5 guilder (florin) (or 50 stuivers = 50 shilling). So 100 rijksdaalders is worth 250 guilders
[6]National Archives and Records Service of South Africa – http://southafrica.mypeoplepuzzle.net/SearchIndex/MOOC_Index.html
[7] Reference: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-1-464239051-1-500620/johannes-christoffel-krog-in-myheritage-family-trees. Reference source: Unknown (£)