APPENDIX

6. CLAASSENS FAMILY

Claassens means “a son of Claas or Nicholas”

There are four founders of the family Claassen(s) in South Africa.

1. Claasz Claaszen a soldier from Delve, Dithmarschen in Germany who arrived in 1720. He farmed from 1722-1734; married Aletta Knoetzen on 22 May 1735; and died in 1767. 6 off-spring

2. Klaas Jacob Claasen a sailor from Eiderstedt, Sleeswyk in Germany, who arrived in 1762, married Helena Boonsaaier on 22 January 1771 and died in 1788. 3 off-spring

3. Hermanus Claasen from Copenhagen, Denmark who first married Jannetje van Wyk on 10 July 1768; and next Sara Maria Stricker on 15 January 1786. 11 off-spring

4. Cornelis Claasen, a servant of the VOC., who arrived from Utrecht circa 1657. He married Catharina from Malabar (or from Coromandel, India) on 15 March 1676. 6 off-spring

I favour descent of the family from the latter as males registered as being of that line in the early 1800’s carry the names “Hermanus Johannes Hendrick”.

1. Hermanus Johannes Hendrick Claassens m Johanna Elizabeth Malan. 4 offspring

1.1 Jacob David Malan Claassens b 23 May 1888 d 3 December 1970 m Maria Johanna Bekker (third child of Stephanus Bekker and Rachel Catherina Oosthuizen : b 24 July 1898 d 16 February 1952), 19 December 1917

1.1.1 Rachel Carina Claassens

1.1.2 Hermanus Johannes Claassens

1.1.3 Johanna Elsabé‚ Claassens

1.2-1.4 various offspring

1.1.1 Rachel Carina Claassens b 8 July 1925 d 4 November 1950 m Andries Benjamin la Grange (b..d..), 19 December 1948

1.1.1.1 Andries Benjamin Claassens b 17 July 1950

1.1.2 Hermanus Johannes Claassens b 9 July 1927 * 3 wives; 3 children by first wife

1.1.3 Johanna Elsabé Claassens b 24 May 1929 m Cornelis Adrian Marais (b 22 May 1927 d 16 August 1982), 18 March 1953

1.1.3.1 Adrian David Marais b 22 February 1954 m Gillian Tracy Michele Rlordan (b 2 November 1959), 23 January 1989

Richard Cornelis 25 September 1992

Adrienne Frances 13 December 1994

1.1.3.2 Dennis Neill Marais 11 February 1956 m Pauline Swart (b 10 September 1955), 27 January 1996

1.1.3.3 Leon Pierre Marais b 15 May 1957 d 17 July 1984 (leukaemia)

1.1.3.4 Carina Marais b 10 June 1958 m Johannes Derick Smith (b 10 December 1954), 24 May 1990

Michael Dean b 28 May 1991

Adrian David 20 September 1992

1.1.3.5 Leslie Charles Marais b 28 June 1960 m Nicola....... (b 11 April 1962), 1 September 1997

1.1.3.6 Nicholas John Marais b 12 March 1962 m Audrey Catherine Koppel (b 18 July 1962), 8 February 1992

Nicholas Thomas b 1 April 1994

Susan Catherine 16 May 1996