FLORENCE Farm History 1866 – 1989

The farm’s name “FLORENCE” was originally given by the Scottish families who occupied the land in the late 1800s. The name was probably derived from the popular English girl’s name at the time – for example think of Florence Nightingale.

Alexander McCorkindale was the founder of this area. He, together with many other Scottish families, settled in the area because it reminded them of Scotland. To this day the area is still known as New-Scotland. (Read more about this in The Chrissiesmeer History section.)

A map compiled by the British Military Intelligence in 1900 (hanging in our lounge), shows that the original Florence farm was about 3 000 ha and belonged to R.S.M. Royston.

1866:-

Richard Septimus Manchester Royston was a stonemason, who among others built the Durban Post Office. In 1866 he was sent to Lake Chrissie by the government of that time as a Protector of the “Florence” San Tribe. He built  the sandstone house on the original farm Florence – now called “Oom Tony Rijchrt se Florence”. The house sadly burnt (ed) down on 31 December 1946. Fanie du Plessis and Bessie (Meyer) du Plessis (her father was Rooi Koos Meyer) was living on that part of Florence at the time – Bessie was the aunt of Ina (Meyer) Rijchrt, Oom Tony’s wife.

Royston was also a farmer, transport rider, store keeper, builder and first churchwarden of the St. George’s Church in Lake Chrissie (opposite the Police Station on the main road to Swaziland).  He died on 9 November 1918 and his gravestone can be visited in the Lake Chrissie cemetery. We had the privilege of meeting both his grandson (Donald Redvers Royston – tell (delete)nr: 033-347 1537) and great grandson (Rev. Father Basil Garnet Royston - frbasilroyston@dochs.org or brercottage@covad.net) in April 2001. (The above information was obtained from them).

1918:-

After 1918, Florence Farm came into the hands of the Meyers and it was later divided into seven parts, supposedly for their seven children.

Hulle het 8 kinders gehad:

1. Rooi Koos Meyer getroud met Martjie
2. Jan Bles Meyer getroud met Bellie.
3. Chrisjan Meyer getroud met Bettie.
4. Nelie Meyer getroud met Klasie Swart
5. Grieta Meyer getroud met Jaap Munnik
6. Nonnie Meyer getroud met Hendrik Spies ( Fransie van Niekerk se pa en stief ma )
7. Johanna Meyer getroud met Frikkie van Niekerk
8. Johannes (Hans)Phillepus Meyer verloof aan Gerrie Spies maar oorlede in ‘n perdekar ongeluk. Sy graf is ook hier op Florence.

Fransie van Niekerk het ons in Junie 2005 besoek en baie inligting verskaf. Dit is Fransie se pa Hendrik Spies wat op die skuur se dak sit (sien foto onder) - gebou in 1938. Vandag is dit Florence Gasteplaas se Waenhuis Cottage.

(Fransie was toe woonagtig in Ruimtesig Co4, Lynnwoodrif, Pta Tel nr: 012 991 4471 of 082 2155 622.)

In Julie 2006 besoek Fanie en Bessie ( Meyer) du Plessis se seun, Lourens Martinus du Plessis ons en vul nog geskiedenis in (tel nr: 082 922 1636 of 013 7411 378).

1950: -

Een van die Meyers se naam moes Kobie gewees het , want volgens Tannie Marie Groenewaldt, wat ook vir my Ané Steinberg ( gebore Steenkamp) op Chrissiesmeer skoolgehou het, het haar pa, David Stephanus de Villiers die plaas Florence, by Kobie Meyer gekoop - vermoedelik na hy uigeboer het. Dit moes ongeveer 1950 rond gewees het. David De Villiers het weer aan die huis verbou en verbreek want ons het sinkplate gekry wat gemerk was vir De Villiers via Breyten.

Na hulle dood het Tannie Marie Groenewaldt die plaas geërf en aan die van Eedens verkoop. Oom Theuns en Tannie Kowie van Eeden was albei onderwysers en het deeltyds geboer. Hul kinders, Marina en Deon van Eeden, was saam met my en Nico op Carolina op skool en dié het baie kere op Florence gekuier gedurende 1973 – 1977.

1980:-

Rondom 1980 het die van Eedens aan die Weilbachs van die Vrystaat verkoop. Hulle het probeer koring plant en baie natuurlike weiding omgeploeg wat honderde jare sal neem om weer te herstel. Florence is ‘n baie sensitiewe vleiland plaas. Die Weilbachs het  probeer om die vleilande te dreineer, diep slote is van die een pannetjie na die ander gemaak maar ten einde laaste het hulle die stryd teen die natuur verloor.

1989:-