Hans RAS

Stamvader Hans (Klaas) RAS was born about 1635 and came to South Africa as a soldier from Angelen, arriving March 1658 and in the same month he became a burger. In 1661 Hans Ras and Herman Remajenne was frequenting the slave women at the Company post Bosheuwel.

On 2 September 1662 he married Catharina USTINGS (also spelt Ufftincx) who was born 1641 and came to South Africa in 25 July 1662 on the 'Hof van Zeeland'. She was from Lubeeck, West Germany and was a widow when she arrived. Catharina was a most remarkable women, and was known as Tryn Ras. On their wedding day the bridal pair were taken by Frans Gerrits and Thieleman Hendricksz in two wagons. They started to race one another and they had an accident. A fight took place and Hendricksz stabbed Ras twice, with the second stab the knife broke off in Ras's ribs. He was a prosperous farmer and was often in trouble with the authorities. Hans Ras died in 1671 having been killed by a lion.

CHIDLREN

b1 Hendrik (he went to Ceylon)
b2 Nicolaas baptised 12 Sep 1666, X Maria van Staden
b3 Maria Ras baptised 23 Jun 1669, X Joost Strydom (Strydom stamouers)
b4 Hans Ras baptised 25 Jun 1671, he did not marry and died 1705

On 17 April 1672 she married stamvader Francois Champelaar from Ghent. Francois was murdered by Hottentots.

On 29 October 1673 Catharina married Cornelis Laurens from Switzerland who was killed by an elephant in 1677/78. On 25 January 1680 Catharina married Matthys Michaelsz who was from Germany and in 1708 she died.

Sources:
Margaret Cairns article in Familia (Tryn Ras I, Tryn Ras II, Tryn Ras III)

de Villiers and Pama, Genealogies of old S A Families 1981

Thanks to research by:

Thanks to submissions by:
Mark Barker mabarker@mweb.co.za
AM van Rensburg