- Walker , E. A. 1938 . The Great Trek 121 – 2 . Londen Vgl. o.a. (pp.;M. Nathan, The Voortrekkers of South Africa (Londen, 1937), pp. 143–5;G. M. Theal, History of South Africa from 1795 to 1872 (Londen, 1926, 4e uitg.), II, pp. 288–92;G. E. Cory, The Rise of South Africa (Londen, 1919), III, pp. 357–9;C. S. Potgieter en N. H. Theunissen, Kommandant-generaal Hendrik Potgieter (Johannesburg, jaartal onvermeld), pp. 51–7;H. B. Thom, Die Lewe van Gert Maritz (Kaapstad, 1947), pp. 89 en 99–100;D. J. Kotzé, Die eerste Amerikaanse Sendelinge onder die Matabeles in Argief-jrb. vir S.A. Geskiedcnis, 13de jg., I, 1950, pp. 262–72;P. J. van der Merwe, Nog verder noord (Kaapstad, 1962), pp. 167–72;G. S. Preller (red.), Daghoek van Louis Trichardt (1836–1838) (Kaapstad, 1938), pp. 334–9;H. F. Hofstede, Geschiedenis van den Oranje-Vrijstaat … ('sGravenhage, 1876), pp. 34 en 50–1;J. A. Heese, “Die Liebenberg-Moord, Augustus 1836” in Familia, jg. XI, 3, 1974, pp. 66–8;D. C. F. Moodie, The History of the Battles and Adventures … in Southern Africa (Kaapstad, 1888), I, pp. 518–23;J. Meintjes, The Voortrekkers (Londen, 1973), pp. 50–3;O. Ransford, The Great Trek (Londen, 1972), pp. 65–8;J. C. Voigt, Fifty years of the History of the Republic in South Africa (Londen, 1899), I, pp. 287–292;F. J. J. van Rensburg, “Is Totius se gedig eg?” in Die Vrystater, 4 November 1941, pp. 7 en 10;M. M. van der Post (gebore Lubbe), “Die moord op die Liebenberg-trek”. Brief in Die Volksblad, 13 Oktober 1938, p. 6. Laasgenoemde twee items is deur prof. M. C. E. van Schoor onder my aandag gebring
- Hoofstuk , V and Preller , G. S. Van der MerweNog verder noord Voortrekkermense, 1, p. 124 et seq. en III, p. 15 et seq.
- Kotzé, Die eerste Amerikaansc Sendelinge ondcr die Matabeles, pp. 264–70: Theal, History of S.A. from 1795 to 1872, II, pp. 288–92;Potgieter en Theunissen, Hendrik Potgieter, p. 50 (sketskaart) en pp. 51–4;Journal des Missions Évangéliques, 1837, p. 115 (brief van sendeling Lemue, Motito, Oktober 1836)….” Op 7 Oktober 1836 het De Zuid-Afrikaan dit met 'n terugvertaling in Hollands gepubliseer en 'n dag later het The South African Commercial Advertiser gevolg met sy publikasie van dieselfde berig, ook uit The Graham's Town Journal van 29 September 1836. (Daar volg nou meer tekstuele afwykings soos „On the 7thday after the attack, I went back to the place where I had left my waggons …“).The Graham's Town Journal van 29 September 1836 het nog 'in verdere kon-temporěre berig afkomstig van eerw. Archbell, gedateer Thaba Nchu, 4 September 1836, gepubliseer: That several farmers who were out hunting in the neighbourhood of the Vaal River, and who had joined a party who were migrating from the colony, were unexpectedly attacked by a large body of armed natives supposed to be the warriors of Masselikatse. The farmers defended themselves, it is said, with spirit, but were overpowered by numbers, and all massacred. The persons killed are said to be, two farmers named Kruger and du Toit, together with their five servants: Barend Liebenberg, the elder, his two sons, and his son-in-law;as also a person employed as school-master, together with three of their wives, and several children, some of whom were infants at the breast of their mothers. The savages carried off 5 waggons, 80 oxen, about 1 000 head of cattle, and a large number of sheep.” Dit is ook deur The South African Commercial Advertiser van 8 Oktober 1836 oorgeneem.
- J. 139: Opgaafrolle, 1836, Graaff-Reinet, veldkornetskap Uitvlugt, no. 93 (Kaapse Argiefbewaarplek);C. Pama en C. C. de Villiers, Geslagsregisters van die ou Kaapse Families (Kaapstad, 1966), I, p. 472;Heese, “Die Liebenberg-Moord”, p. 66. In Death Notice no. 4211, M.O.O.C. 6/9/20 (K.A.), gee die patriarg se seun Albertus Johannes op 3 April 1840 te Colesberg sy vader se ouderdom op as 77 jaar. Die jaar waarin hy oorlede is, gee hy foutiewelik as 1837;en slegs vyf kinders word vcrmeld. A. J. Liebenberg meld verder dat daar nog Rds. 2 760 verskuldig was aan sy vader weens die verkoop van sy plaas Rietfontcin, en dat kompensasiegelde vir twee slawe horn ook nog toegekom het.Veldkornet Stephanus Erasmus se eie relaas het hy aan kolonel Somerset gerig op 9 September 1836 vanaf die Kraairivier: „I have the honour to acquaint you, that on my return from the journey I had taken into the interior for the purpose of shooting game, for which I obtained a licence from you, I was attacked on the banks of the Vaal River by a party of Masilikatzi's people, amounting to about 500 or 600. I myself, and my three sons, were luckily not with the waggons at the time the attack was made, and on my return to my waggons in the evening I found them surrounded by these savages, who prevented my approach, though I attempted it twice. I had no alternative but to fly to some waggons which I knew were about five hours on horseback from me, accompanied by one of my sons: my other two sons are still absent, as also a farmer of the name of Carel Kreiger [Kruger], who was with my waggons. These 3 I am afraid are murdered, as no intelligence has yet arrived of them. On coming to the waggons on Monday morning, I collected eleven farmers, and rode back with them, to save my two sons, and to recover my property, but after an hour we fell in with the savages, who prevented our proceeding further by a furious attack. We had to fight our way back to the waggons, almost surrounded by about 500 of the enemy. On reaching the waggons, we had scarcely time to prepare for our defence, before we were completely encompassed, and it was only by a desperate struggle, which lasted from about ten o'clock in the morning till 4 o'clock in the afternoon, that we succeeded in driving the enemy back, with only the loss of one man of the name of Bronkhorst on our part. It appears that a number of the enemy had detached themselves from the main body, and attacked 9 other waggons belonging to farmers who had crossed the Orange River with their cattle, where they had succeeded in murdering 12 white people, including 2 women and some children. The men's names are Barend, Stephanus and Hendrick Leenberg [Liebenberg], Barend Leenberg, jun., Johannes du Toit, and an Englishman (name unknown). They also murdered 12 black servants belonging to these waggons. However, they succeeded in saving these 9 waggons, though the enemy took more of their flocks. On the 6th day after the attack, I went back to the place where I had left my waggons, accompanied by one man, and found that the enemy had taken my 5 waggons, and killed 5 black servants, who were all the people there at the time the attack took place. The spoor of the waggons go in a direct northerly direction. When I found there was nothing further to be done, I went back to the waggons, and accompanied them three days journey on my road home, which I reached on Thursday last. I have lost to the value of 8,000 Rds.” Dit berus in Printed Proof 0.101, pp. 21–22, in C.O. 48/193 (Public Record Office, Londen). Basies dieselfde berig, maar met 'n aantal tekstuele variasies, is deur “A.G.” na The Graham's Town Journal gestuur wat dit op Donderdag 29 September gepubliseer het. Die lys van die dooies lui soos volg: „… Barend Stephanus and Hendrik Liebenberg, Barend Liebenberg, jun., Johannes du Toit, and an Englishman. They also murdered 12 black servants belonging to these waggons;
- J. 139: Opgaafrolle, 1836, Graaff-Reinet. veldkornetskap Uitvlugt, no. 94: veld-kornetskap van G. D. Joubert, nos. 131 en 130 (Kaapse Argiefbewaarplek): Potgieter en Theunissen, Hendrik Polgieter, pp. 54–6;G. B. A. Gerdener, Sarel Cilliers (Kaapstad, 1925), pp. 26–30;Pama en De Villiers, Geslagsregisters, I, p. 472;Theal, History, II, p. 291;Heese, “Die Liebenberg-Moord”, p. 66;W. C. Harris, Narrative of an Expedition (Bombaai, 1838), pp. 352–4. Vgl. ook G.R. 10/25: Letters Received Januarie-Junie 1836, G. D. Joubert aan Siviele Kommissaris, Hebron, 25 Februarie 1836 (K.A.)
- Kotzé . 1950 . Die eerste Amerikaanse Sendelinge onder die Matabeles 268 – 71 . Kotzé (red.), Letters of the American Missionaries 1835–1838 (Van Riebeeck-Ver. no. 31, Kaapstad, pp. 153–4;The Missionary Herald, XXXIII, 9 Sept. 1837, p. 417: Heese, Die Liebenberg-Moord', p. 66
- Heese . “Die Liebenberg-Moord”, pp. 66–8 (aanhaling op p. 68)
- Preller , G. S. Voortrckkermense (Vm.) IV, pp. 133–4
- Preller . Vm. IV, pp. 134–6
- Preller . Vm. IV, p. 24
- Preller . Vm. IV, pp. 25–7
- Heese . “Die Liebenberg-Moord” 66 – 8 .
- Villiers , Pama-De . Geslagsregister III, p. 990
- Death Notice, filed 7 lanuary 1841, nos. 4700 en 4700½, M.O.O.C. 6/9/22 (Kaapse Argief bewaarplek)
- Preller . Vm IV, p. 25. Dit kon ook wees dat die Du Toit-familie tog een kind verloor het. In 'n lys van Voortrekkers uit die distrik Colesberg word die getal kinders van Johannes du Toit as ses aangegee. Vgl. L.G. 231: no. 45, W. M. Edge, Acting Civil Commissioner for Albany aan H. Hudson, Acting Secretary to Government, Grahams Town, 3 Mei 1838, bylae, Return of persons who have quitted the Eastern Province during the years 1836 and 1837 and proceeded across the Boundary of the Colony, p. 132 (Kaapse Argiefbewaarplek)
- Death Notice, nos. 4700 en 4700½, M.O.O.C. 6/9/22. Vgl. verder Death Notice no. 4211, M.O.O.C. 6/9/20 (K.A.)
- Pama en De Villiers, Geslagsregisters, I, p. 472;Heese, “Die Liebenberg-Moord”, p. 66
- G.R. 10/26: bladsye ongenommer. Hier gee Joubert ook verder 'n insiggewende lys van die Blankes wat op die Vaalrivier vermoor sou gewees het: Barend Lieben-berg senior, Stephanus Liebenberg Bseun (met twee kinders), Hendrik Liebenberg Bseun (met vrou en drie kinders), Johannes du Toit (met sy vrou), van Christiaan Liebenberg 'n minderjarige seun Sarel, 'n Engelsman, en 'n Bronkhorst. Tot nog toe, sě die veldkornet, is vermis Barend Liebenberg C(?) seun, Karel Kruger, twee jong Erasmusse en een Claassen. Vgl. dit met 'n ander kontemporěre lys onder-teken deur J. G. S. Bronkhorst en deur J. de Klerk J seun, onder datum 25 Januarie 1837 aan De Zuid-Afrikaan van 17 Maart 1837 voorsien: he returned with the tidings that our camp presented a bloody scene: they all then rode thither, and found Mr. Liebenberg, Sen., and the wife of H. Liebenberg, lying dead;there were also several corpses who they could not identify. They returned to us the same afternoon with this sad account;five of us then rode thither, and found the killed to be B. Liebenberg, Sen., Johannes du Toit and wife, H. Liebenberg, Jun. and wife, S. Liebenberg and a male child. MacDonald a schoolmaster, and a son of C. Liebenberg. We then could do nothing there, followed the spoor of our camp, and reached it the third day;we found the survivors, and part of our cattle. The account here was equally melancholy. My son, G. Bronkhorst, R. J. Bronkhorst, and a son of Christ. Liebenberg, named Barend, were missing, and not yet found. We found the son of Christ. Harmse killed;we then learnt how the sad disaster had occurred;they began by killing Stephanus Erasmus, who, with 8 others were shooting at a distance;four of them escaped, namely, Stephanus Erasmus and son, and Pieter Bekker and son;2 sons of Erasmus, Johannes Clasens, and Karel Krugcr, are missing;the Caffers took all their wagons and goods;they attacked us without the least provocation;Erasmus brought the first report that the Caffers were murdering. Ten of us then rode towards them, sueing for peace, but the Caffers drove them back to the camp;the killed persons were separate, and not in the great camp;a party of Caffers divided, and murdered them, while the other party foughl against the camp.“We returned to our Camp, and reached it on the 2nd September, but found it in a sad state. When we were a third part of a schoft on this side of Trichard, we sent five men, named C. Liebenberg, R. Jansen, A. de Lange, D. Opperman, and A. Zwanepoel, in advance, to get fresh relays. Coming to the first camp they saw a wagon in the river: D. Opperman rode thither while the others off-saddled, and on coming there he saw two wagons fastened together;There were only 35 men in the camp who fought against the Caffers. They succeeded in repulsing them, killing several.” (Van der Merwe, Nog verder noord, pp. 170–1)
- Death Notice, nos. 4700 en 4700½, M.O.O.C. 6/9/22
- “Die Liebenberg-Moord”, p. 68
- Preller . Vm. II, p. 87
- Campbell , J. Campbell se amp word nie in die Doodskennis vermeld nie. Dit blyk egter o.a. uit L.G. 375: Letters Received from Clerk of the Peace Colcsberg, 1836–40, no. 2, Acting Clerk of the Peace, Colesberg, aan Sekretaris van die Luitenant-goewerneur, 10 April 1837, pp. 7–9. In die Cape of Good Hope Bluebook vir 1839 word J. Campbell ook amptelik beskryf as “Acting Clerk of the Peace” te Colesberg (aangestel vanaf 15 Feb. 1837), p. 156. Die Bluebook is gedateer 9 Sept. 1840 op p. 432. In die Bluebook vir 1840 word hy aangegee as “Clerk of the Peace” (p. 176), maar op p. 452 blyk dit dat die Bluebook 7 Augustus 1841 gedateer is
- Pama en De Villiers, Geslagsregisters, III, p. 990
- G.R. 10/26: G. D. Joubert aan Siviele Kommissaris te Graaff-Reinct, 14 November 1836 (K.A.)
- M.O.O.C. 6/9/32: no. 7135, 12 Februarie 1844 (K.A.). So dien Jacobus Andries Rudolph in Oktober 1840 die sterfkennis van sy stiefdogter te Port Elizabeth in. Hierdie minderjarige Magdalena Elizabeth Maria Marais is op 2 November 1837 in Natal oorlede. Rudolph (broer van die bekende Bernard Rudolph) het met die weduwee Marais getrou. Kyk M.O.O.C. 13/1/93: no. 7, filed 18 Maart 1841
- Sept. 1876 . Sept. , Kyk o.a. A. E. Steenecamp nèe Retief se “The Journal of a Voor-Trekker” in The Cape Monthly Magazine, New Series, XIII, 75, p. 181;vgl. ook 'n Paar Saamwerkers, Die Daghoek van Anna Stecnkamp en fragmentjies oor die Groot-Trek (Pietermaritzburg, 1939), p. 10
- G.R. 16/55 (Kaapse Argiefbewaarplek). Vgl. ook Thorn, Gert Maritz, pp. 99–100
- Kyk, benewens die bronne en literatuur onder voetnoot 1 vermeld, ook J. D. Kestell en N. Hofmeyr se De Voortrekkers of het Dagboek van Izak van der Merwe, Een verhaal… (Amsterdam en Pretoria, datum onvermeld), pp. 62–3.Op byna 86-jarige leeftyd het mev. M. M. van der Post (weduwee van C. W. H. van der Post) deur Alba Bouwer uit die Liebenberg-familietradisie die verhaal soos volg laat opteken: „Onder die eerste trekkers was die drie Liebenberg-broers wat naby die Vaalrivier in die Vrystaat van hul trekgeselskap losgebreek en vooruit getrek het. Laat op 'n middag het hulle deur die Vaalrivier getrek en besluit om die nag daar kamp op te slaan. Teen sononder is 'n slawemeidjie van die een gesin met die vier kinders van die een broer af rivier toe. Terwyl die kinders daar rondgespeel en sy haar wasgoedjies op 'n rivierklip uitgeklop het, het sy skielik die woeste geskree en gegil gehoor wat net een ding kon beteken-'n Matabele-aanval op die waens. Lam van skrik het sy die kleintjies gegryp en met die vier kinders langs die rivier op gevlug tot by 'n wye vlak waterval. Die water het oor 'n ver oorhangende klip afgeval, en agter die stroom was daar 'n droé holte waarin hulle doodverskrik ingekruip het.Eers laat in die nag toe daar 'n swaar stilte oor die grasveld gehang het, het die oorblufte meidjie met die vier vaak kinders agter die ruisende waterval uitgekruip en na die verwoeste kamp gesluip. Alles was verniel, en die verminkte lyke van die Liebenbergs en hul mense het in die puin gelě. Toe het die kinderoppaster teen dagbreek met die baba op die rug en die ander kinders aan die hand begin terugstap al op die waspoor langs waarmee hulle die vorige dag gekom het. Hulle was nic baie ver nie toe ontmoet hulle die perdekommando wat deur die ander trekkers uitgestuur is om die Liebenbergs te kom waarsku teen die Matabele's wat op die moor uit is. Hulle het die meidjie en die kinders by hulle op die perde gencem en met hulle teruggery na die groot laer toe. 'n Oom van die Liebenberg-kinders. oom Apie Strauss, wat ook by daardie trekkers was, het toe die vier kinders van sy suster aangeneem en hulle saam met sy kinders op sy plaas in die Edinburgh-distrik grootgemaak.”Dit is die juiste verhaal van die Liebenberg-trek, wat in ander geskiedkundige werke op ander maniere vertel is. Outentiek is dit, omdat die oudste van daardie vier kinders, destyds 'n twaalfjarige dogter, dit net so aan haar kinders en klein-kinders oorgedra het. Nie 'n enkele kind van die Liebenberg-trek is deur die Matabele's na hul stat weggevoer soos sommige geskiedskrywers beweer nie.” (Sarie Marais, 21 Mei 1952, pp. 7 en 9.) Die oudste Liebenberg-dogter (later getroud met A. P. Lubbe) was die moeder van Maria Magdalena van der Post (gebore Lubbe) en sy het rede gehad om destyds as twaalfjarige die verhaal te onthou en aan haar nageslag oor te dra. Vgl. ook M. M. van der Post (gebore Lubbe) se brief, 10 Oktober 1938, oor die moord op die Liebenberg-trek in Die Volksblad van 13 Oktober 1938. 'n Grootliks foutiewe relaas van die verhaal word deur die skrywer Laurens van der Post in sy Venture to the Interior (Londen, 1952), pp. 3–5, meegedeel. Hy verplaas bv. die Liebenberg-moord na die huidige dorp Louis Trichardt (p. 3).Graag spreek ek my dank uit aan prof. C. W. H. Schmidt van die Departement Staats- en Volkereg, Universiteit van Suid-Afrika, vir belangrike inligting oor die Liebenberg-familietradisie wat deur die Van der Post-familie nagelaat is. Hy het my aandag gevestig op die artikel in Sarie Marais en L. van der Post se Venture to the Interior
South African Historical Journal
Volume 8, 1976 - Issue 1