The baptism record in Tulbagh show Johanna Catharina (Mauritz) Voortman had 8 of her children with Hendrik Fortman baptised. In the record she has the name Caatje Hottentotin and Catharina Hottentotin and Catharina Maurits Hottentotin. Here is just two examples of my relatives (I am a direct descendent of both and Caatje of course - making these great grandmothers).
Anna Maria
Baptised: 1747, Den 19 Feb
Father: Hendrik Fortman
Mother: Caatje Hottentotin
Witnesses: Johannes Swanepoel, en Dina Brits
Source: Nederduits Gereformeerde Gemeente (NGK), Tulbagh, Baptism register, 1743 to 2 Feb 1800, page 8, entry number 8. Repository: NG Kerkargief, Noordwal-Wes, Stellenbosch, G4 7/1. Transcribed by Lynn Couperthwaite, Trysie Joubert, Richard Ball as part of the eGGSA Project, from VC 657, Cape Archives Repository
Susanna
Baptised: 1747, Den 19 Feb
Father: Hendrik Fortman
Mother: Caatje Hottentotin
Witnesses: Johannes Swanepoel, en Dina Brits
Source: Nederduits Gereformeerde Gemeente (NGK), Tulbagh, Baptism register, 1743 to 2 Feb 1800, page 8, entry number 9. Repository: NG Kerkargief, Noordwal-Wes, Stellenbosch, G4 7/1. Transcribed by Lynn Couperthwaite, Trysie Joubert, Richard Ball as part of the eGGSA Project, from VC 657, Cape Archives Repository
The L0d mtdna reading in her direct female descendants through to my first great grandmother (paternal) together with these baptism record suggests that there is no mystery about her origins most likely being Cochoqua Khoe who occupied the Roodezand (later Tulbagh)
According to the excellent FIRST FIFTY YEARS website (Delia Robertson) her name appears in a number of other records with Hottentotin behind the variations of her name. She also has records with "van der Kaep" behind her name and "van Cabo de Goede Hoop" behind her name denoting effectively that she was not European.
The spelling is Fortman rather than Voortman in the records.
I would like to see the actual film image if anyone has a copy of the baptism records.
Patric Tariq Mellet
