French speakers at the Cape: The European background

ISBN: 0 86981 222 X

Publication Date: 31 December 1981

French Speakers at the Cape is primarily concerned with the European background of those settlers who came to South Africa from France and adjacent territories during the first century of White colonisation. Some attention is also devoted to French speakers in the service of the Dutch East India Company in the period and to French visitors to the Cape. Since the French Calvinist impact upon Cape society plays an important part in this study, a general survey of the events leading to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 and the dispersal which followed that legislation is provided.

Finally, the fortunes of some of those colonists who left the Cape to return to Europe are traced, with particular reference to the family of the minister, Pierre Slmond. This study is based upon a wide range of archival material in Europe in addition to many published sources. Although interesting discoveries have been made, it does not pretend to have found the answer to every problem in the difficult task of tracing family origins. It is hoped, however, that the information collected here will lead others to make further fruitful investigations.