During the summer of 1687 Holland, the execution by burning at the stake of Johannes van Wyk, the father, and his wife Katrina, had taken place in the Lowlands of the south. Three members of the van Wyk family escaped on the Huguenot ship to the Cape of Good Hope on the 3rd December, 1687. This is their story and subsequent settlement in South Africa.
Charles I inherited the Netherlands. This allowed the Dutch Calvinists to be reefed into line by burning at the stake. This went on until the defeat of the Armada in 1588 when things eased off somewhat. Protestants and Jews were being prosecuted throughout Europe. Henry the IV granted amnesty by the Edict of Nantes. This allowed some measure of private worship. However, in 1685 Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, resulting in 400,000 people leaving France and the Lowlands. Many settled in England, Pomerania and in East Prussia. Clerics made enquiries as to who possessed a Bible. The finger was pointed to the van Wyk household living in a small town in the Lowlands. Without warning, clerics and soldiers burst into the family home and searched it. A copy of the Bible was found. The owners who owned up were the father and mother of the family. These culprits were dragged away and interrogated during the night. The accused refused to implicate other members of the family. Many people were simply not aware of trouble coming their way, until morning, when the bells summoned the townspeople to the square. During the past, the bells were rung only in case of disaster such as flood or fire. This time the bells were ringing by order of religious clerics acting on behalf of the powers that be. A tree in the town square had its branches lopped off. Wood stacked upon dry thatch was piled waist high round the tree trunk. Tallow was poured over the wood to ensure that it would burn fiercely. The two van Wyk prisoners were dragged up the pile of wood by rough soldiers, and were tied to the tree trunk by chains, which had been slung over a fork in the tree. The Bible, which had been found in their home, was strung by a chain round the father’s neck. Several finely dressed clerics, who were prosecutors as well as judges, came forward and in learned tongue read the scroll containing the execution order. One of the learned clerics translated for the benefit of the condemned prisoners. The soldiers made room for a man bearing a flaming faggot. He handed it to a cleric, who with burning faggot in hand mock pleaded with the prisoners to recant and admit their folly. It was pointed out that the Holy Sea was merciful, and would show clemency even at this late hour, if they made a full confession and renunciations in order to save their souls. A reward was also offered if the prisoners disclosed as to who sold them the Bible and encouraged them to read it. There was only deathly silence. Those who feared being exposed by the condemned gave a sigh of relief, when they realized that they would not be implicated. According to the clerics it was better that the condemned prisoners should die, rather than their false teachings corrupt the whole community. As no response was forthcoming, the onlookers watched with horror as the cleric torched the kindle. The flames soon spread to the wood on which the shivering, frightened condemned father and mother stood, consoling each other with whispered words of love and comfort. Astounded and frightened onlookers were deeply touched that the victims had not tried to save themselves from the cruel death they were about to suffer. Many, who lined the walls of the surrounding houses, turned their faces to the wall in horror to avoid seeing the ghastly sight. Others propped their fingers in their ears to avoid hearing the screams and sorrowful, futile lament of the condemned pleading for mercy. Relatives in disguise, in sympathy stood agonizing, biting their fingernails and wringing their hands as they watched from one of the windows. The tallow soon spread the crackling fire, causing flames and smoke to billow upwards. There was tugging and rattling of the chains, as the wreathing victims screamed for mercy. Their agonizing pleas fell on deaf ears. Their cries of distress and pain were carried away on the wind. No one came to the rescue. Soon they were engulfed in flames, burning like torches. Mercifully oblivion came, and their spirits departed. It was a dreadful sight to behold as the fierce cleansing fire consumed the Bible and bodies hanging in submission.
Willem VAN WIJK of Sandwijk, Drakenstein,
died circa 1702, joint Stamvader (Progenitor) of the South African Van Wyk family and his children. Written by Richard Ball, based on his research among the original documents found in the Cape Archives. There were two Van Wyk Stamvaders, Willem van Wyk and Arie van Wyk. He writes about the first of these.
Boshof is the administrative town in the goldfields region of the Free State Province, South Africa. The town was formed in 1855 on the Vanwyksvlei farm. It was named after Jacobus Boshoff who became the 2nd President of the Orange Free State on the 27 August 1855
More About Peter Raymond Van Wyk and Nicole Renee Von Sponneck: Marriage 1: 28 Feb 2009, Springs, Gauteng, South Africa. Marriage 2: 28 Feb 2009, Springs, Gauteng, South Africa.
Peter Raymond Van Wyk (b. 12 Dec 1978)
Notes for Peter Raymond Van Wyk: