Die lewe en werk van Petrus Lafras Uys, 1797-1838

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a biographical study of the life and contribution of Petrus Lafras Uys, aleading figure in the district of Uitenhage and later leader of the V oortrekkers. Hisactions are placed against the backdrop of the problems and grievances of theAfrikaner farmers in the districts of Swellendam and Uitenhage during the years 1815-1837, and his interaction with other Voortrekker leaders after he had left the CapeColony in 183 7 as leader of a Voortrekker party.Piet Uys, the son of Jacobus Johannes Uys and Susanna Margaretha Moolman, waschristened in October 1797. He married his cousin, Alida Maria Uys, in the district ofSwellendam in 1815. He settled in the ward Gamtoos River in the district ofUitenhage towards the end of 1825 or early in 1826.As an energetic Dutch farmer, the many grievances in connection with landownershipcontributed to his feelings of restlessness and dissatisfaction with his stay in the districtof Uitenhage. The destabilization of the eastern borders and the conflict betweenwhite farmers and black groups led to feelings of insecurity. These feelings ofinsecurity became unbearable during the Sixth Border War of 1835 in which Uysfought honourably as field cornet.The requisitioning of horses, livestock and wagons by the government during this warand the lack of compensation, resulted in great financial losses for Uys and his family.Just as many other farmers, Piet Uys clashed with the government about the treatmentof his slaves and labourers. The court case instituted against him and his wife by hisindentured slave Rosina remained part of the complexity of grievances of the Uysfamily and friends for a considerable length of time.Piet Uys was one of the first frontier farmer leaders who showed an interest in the interior of the country as a possible establishment of a settlement. It is possible that hewent on an expedition as early as 1829. Furthermore, Uys was also the organizer andleader of the well-known Reconnaissance Commission that undertook an expeditioninto Natal in September 1834.Uys left the district ofUitenhage as leader of a trek in April 1837, with the intention ofemigrating to Natal. He was in conflict with the existing Voortrekker government anddid not accept the governmental arrangements. Differences of opinion as to the routeto be taken and the question of who should be the Voortrekker minister, became issuesof conflict.Yet Uys did not hesitate to assist his fellow Voortrekkers in their hour of need. Healso played a key role in the military. Thus it was that Uys, as eo-commander tookpart in the Campaign ofMarico against the Ndebele in November 1837. He was also,together with Hendrik Potgieter, commander of the punitive commando who set offagainst the Zulu in 183 8. During the Battle of Italeni, 11 April 183 8, Pi et Uys and hisson, Dirk Comelis, were mortally wounded.After his death, his family and friends settled in Natal. Many members of his familyheld important positions in public life and in the military in Natal, and later in theRepublic of South Africa.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University