Single sheet of laid paper, 330 x 420 mm, written on one side only, folded - worn at the folds and one quarter is detached, with the official red wax seal of the VOC; signed by Governor Tulbagh and the Secretary of the Council of Policy. Dated 21 November 1753.
Rijk Tulbagh Gouverneur en Raad wegens de Vereenigde Nederlandsche Geoctroyeerde Oost Indische Comp: aan Cabo de Goede Hoop, met den Ressorte van dien &c: &c:
Alzoo Johan Christoffel Rogge van Ypstad, in 't Jaar 1741, voor Soldaat, te hebben gevaaren, met het schip Scheybeek overgekomen, dus op den 6 September desvorigen Jaars onder ons, op sijn versoek tot Wagenaarmaker met f14. maandgelden geadvanceerd, van ons bij Request der verleend sust verogt, omme op 't Comp: Dienst ontslagen en tot Burger te mogen worden aangesteld…
Translation:
Rijk Tulbagh, Governor and Council on behalf of the United Netherlands Chartered East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope, and its dependencies, etc. etc.
Whereas Johan Christoffel Rogge of Ypstad [Ystad, Sweden], having travelled in the year 1741 as a Soldier, arriving on the ship Scheybeek, and having on the 6th of September of the previous year been promoted under us, at his request, to Wagon-maker with a monthly salary of 14 Guilders; has now by Request asked of us to be discharged from the Company's service and to be appointed as a Free Burgher [Citizen]…
Johan Christoffel Rogge was an immigrant from Ystad, Sweden. He arrived at the Cape as a soldier which was a common way for European men to gain passage to the Cape. He was a skilled Wagon-maker. In the 1750s, wagon-making was a vital industry as the colony began expanding further into the interior. By attaining Free Burgher status was freed from service to the V.O.C. and was granted the right to own land, start a business and remain in the Colony permanently. This is a foundation document for the Rogge (Rog) family in South Africa.
Rijk Tulbagh served as Governor of the Cape from 1751 - 1771. He was known for 'Tulbagh’s Sumptuary Laws' and his interest in botany - he corresponded with Carl Linnaeus.
