COMMERCIAL LOAN AGREEMENT DATED 25 AUGUST 1735 (Signed by Ryk Tulbach)

1 folio leaf handwritten on both sides with the VOC crest embossed at the top of the first side and the red VOC seal on the second page of the document, which is slightly cracked at the edges, but otherwise in very good condition, a very good copy.

This agreement is between Jan Valk – Landbouwer/ farmer, and Johannes Swellengrebel, to whom he owes 2000 guilders. The security for this loan is a piece of the farm Elsenberg in the district of Stellenbosch. The agreement is signed by Ryk Tulbach, who in 1735 was the Chairman of the Council of Justice. It has the signatures of 2 witnesses as well.

Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa Volume 10 page 653 -654: Ryk Tulbach arrived at the Cape, barely 17 years of age, and became a clerk in the secretariat of the Council of Policy. In 1725 he became the Secretary of that Council and three years later a member of it and of the Council of Justice. In 1732 he attained the rank of Merchant and in 1739, when he had risen to the position of Secunde and chairman of the Council of Justice, the rank of chief merchant. In 1751 he succeeded Hendrik Swellngrebel as Governor, a post he held until 1771.

Elsenberg: In 1698 a farm in the Stellenbosch district was granted to Sameul Elsevier who was second in charge (secunde) under Governor Simon van der Stel. Elsevier named his farm Elsenburg after himself. Elsenburg was situated near the farm Muldersvlei, which belonged to Johannes Mulder who was the first magistrate (landdrost) of Stellenbosch (1685 – 1691).

Elsevier only lived on his farm for 9 years because he was one of the officials who were recalled with Willem Adriaan van der Stel to the Netherlands by the Dutch East India Company in 1707.

Elsevier built a house on the farm and after he had left, his son lived there until his death in 1709. After 1709 Elsenburg had five consecutive owners until 1742 when Johann Philip Giebelaar bought it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/dreamcatcher-photos/5923227744