Krynauw ancestor
Daniel Krynauw b 1670- Signature
On this page, an attempt is made to gather the available information about the ancestor of the Krynauw family in South Africa. It was compiled by H Hubert Krynauw, 1955
1. The Ancestor, Daniel, and His Place of Origin
Upon his arrival at the Cape in 1707, the VOC recorded Daniel’s place of origin as Grabo, and his surname was spelled as Crijnou. The present-day Grabow is located on the Elde River, 126 km from Hamburg in northern Germany.
Modern Germany is a federation of 16 states, with Grabow situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, within the Ludwigslust-Parchim district.
Territorial boundaries were quite different at the time, raising the question of whether Grabo was ever part of Poland, since the name Grabo originates from Slavic-Polabian roots. However, Grabow has always been part of Germany. (Polabian refers to the Slavic people who lived around the Elde River region.)
2. The Place Name, Grabow
The “grab” in Grabow refers to hornbeam wood, a type of wood common in northern Europe, known for its hardness, comparable to an animal’s horn. Names incorporating the root “grab” are frequent in Mecklenburg, with slight variations such as Grabowe (1186, 1252, 1275) and Grabow (1189, 1298).
Pope Urban III first mentioned Grabow Castle in a letter dated February 23, 1186. The town was granted municipal rights by the Count of Dannenberg in 1252. On June 3, 1725—shortly after Daniel’s departure—the town was devastated by a major fire, and the palace was never rebuilt. The historic centre of Grabow is distinguished by a core of half-timbered houses from the 18th century.
In 2023, Grabow had a population of 5,573, compared to an estimated slightly over 1,000 in the 1700s.
There is also a connection to the Grabowa River in northern Poland. The name Grabow and its variations—Grabau, Grabo, etc.—are widespread in northern Europe. In 1994, Pieter, 1936, counted 26 towns with the name “Grabow” across northern Europe. The Mormon website contains records from the Evangelical Church in several towns named Grabow, including:
In Germany
Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1640 – 1922)
Preussen-Sachsen (1810 – 1874)
Preussen-Brandenburg (1673 – 1835)
Preussen-Posen (1870 – 1876)
Preussen-Pommern (1618 – 1945)
Preussen-Ostpressen (1761 – 1868)
In Poland
Bydgoszcz (1778 – 1915)
Szczecin (1618 – 1945)
Bialystok (1761 – 1868)
Poznan (1870 – 1876)
3. Confirmation of Place of Origin
According to both Daniel (1921) and David W. (1908), the progenitor originated from Grabow. Pieter (1936), through records from the Lutheran Evangelical Church, also concluded that Daniel was from Grabow. The city archive has very few records from the period before the fire, making the church the only reliable source. These records indicate that the surname Kreinow existed in Grabow over an extended period, with various spellings including Kreinow, Kreynow, Kreinou, Creinow, Creynow, Kreinowe, Kreinowen, and possibly even Krinne. Such variations are not uncommon.
4. Information on Daniel Krynauw Obtained from Church Records
The church records (see History/Church records for more details) indicate that Daniel Kreinow was baptised on December 26, 1670, and also provide information regarding his family. Through his research, Pieter confirmed that the progenitor was born in Grabow, Mecklenburg.
The following information is derived from the church records:
- 1656: Daniel Kreinow’s grandfather, Christian, was a council member and married to Liesabeth Falckenhage.
- 1658: Stepfather Johan was born.
- 1659: Stepfather Johan passed away.
- 1660: Stepsister Liesabeth was born.
- 1665: Grandfather Christian Kreinow passed away.
- 1665: Daniel’s parents, Daniel Kreinow and Catharina Klüssen, got married.
- 1667: Brother Jochim was baptized.
- 1668: Brother Christian was baptised.
- 1670: Daniel was baptised on December 26, 1670.
- 1676: Maternal grandfather, Jochim Klüssen, passed away when Daniel was 6 years old.
- 1677: Daniel’s father passed away when he was 7 years old.
- 1688: Stepmother Liesabeth Falckenhage passed away when Daniel was 18 years old.
- 1704: Daniel’s mother passed away when he was 34 years old.
There are no records of marriages, births, or deaths for Daniel or his older brother, Christian, in the church registry, suggesting that Daniel may have left the region. If we align this timeline with the details of the progenitor’s arrival and marriage at the Cape, the subsequent timeline unfolds as follows:
- 1707: Daniel arrived at the Cape at the age of 37.
- 1711: He became a citizen at the Cape at the age of 41.
- 1718: He married Jeanne Jourdan at the age of 48. Jeanne was 20 years old, having been born in 1698.
- 1719: His daughter, Elizabeth, was born when he was 49 years old. She was named after Daniel’s mother-in-law (possibly also after his stepmother).
- 1721: His son, Daniel, was born when he was 51 years old, named after his father.
- 1724: His daughter, Catherina Margaretha, was born when he was 54 years old, named after his mother.
- 1726: His son, Christiaan, was born when he was 56 years old, named after his grandfather and brother.
- 1728: His son, Johannes, was born when he was 58 years old, named after his father-in-law.
- 1731: Daniel passed away at the age of 61.
This timeline provides a reasonable explanation and confirmation of the ancestor’s birthplace. It appears that Daniel made the decision to leave his homeland sometime between 1704 (after his mother’s death) and 1707 (when he departed for the Cape). His naming pattern aligns well—his children were all given family names. Based on this research, Pieter was convinced that Daniel hailed from Grabow, Schwerin, Mecklenburg.
The only concern is the significant age gap of 28 years between Daniel and his wife, Jeanne. In the absence of further information, this is tentatively accepted.
5. What Might Have Led Daniel Krynauw to Leave His Homeland?
According to VOC records, Daniel enlisted as a soldier on December 24, 1696. He departed the same day from Texel, the Netherlands, aboard the Grimmestein, en route to Batavia. (Batavia was the primary Dutch colonial settlement in the Dutch East Indies, serving as the administrative and commercial hub of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Asia.)
Further VOC Records
- Daniel stayed at the Cape of Good Hope between April 25, 1697, and May 17, 1697.
- Arrived in Batavia on July 19, 1697.
- Departed from Batavia on November 30, 1703, aboard the Flora, en route to Europe.
- Stayed again at the Cape of Good Hope between March 3 and March 30, 1704.
- Likely left VOC service in the Netherlands on August 9, 1704.
- Re-enlisted in VOC service as a land-based official on January 8.
- Departed the same day from Texel, Netherlands, aboard the Huis te Loo.
- Upon arrival on June 7, 1707, he settled as a stable hand and saddler in VOC service.
- On December 8, 1711, he became a free citizen.
- Resided in the Cape settlement as a saddler and innkeeper.
- Served in the citizen militia between 1719 and 1727.
- Retired as a sergeant due to poor health.
- Passed away in 1731; his will was recorded on August 8, 1731.
- Signed his surname as Krijnauw in 1704 and 1724.
Migration Considerations
Records indicate that Daniel visited the Cape multiple times during his VOC service, suggesting that his decision to emigrate was deliberate. To explore other possible reasons, one must consider the historical context of Europe in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
“Germany” in the Late 17th and Early 18th Century
During the 18th century (1700s), “Germany,” as we know it today, did not exist as a unified nation. Instead, it was a fragmented collection of hundreds of states, authorities, bishoprics, and free cities within the Holy Roman Empire (Heiliges Römisches Reich Deutscher Nation). The Empire was a loose confederation under the nominal rule of the Habsburg emperors (based in Vienna), though real power was highly decentralised.
Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a poor, rural, and politically unstable duchy. The dukes ruled with near-total authority, while the noble class (Junkers) oppressed the peasantry. Farmers and townspeople were heavily taxed to finance the duke’s lavish court. Additionally, agricultural crises due to repeated crop failures (1690s–1700s) led to famine, making survival difficult. Unlike prosperous trading cities such as Lübeck and Hamburg, Mecklenburg had little commerce, and emigration was a common escape from hardship.
At this time, the VOC actively recruited Germans as soldiers and labourers, offering steady wages and the opportunity to own land at the Cape—something nearly impossible for most in Mecklenburg.
These factors—and potentially others—likely influenced Daniel Krynauw’s decision to settle at the Cape of Good Hope.
Sources
Le Roux, Jos: Die Krynauw familie van Suid-Afrika, Voorlopige uitgawe. Nov. 2011. Calgary (Jos le Roux (5)
Nationaal Archief, Nederland (https://www.nationaalarchief.nl)
Pieter HJ Krynauw, 1936 (Pieter 1936 (3)
Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, commonly known as the Dutch East India Company, was a chartered trading company and one of the first joint-stock companies in the world. Established on 20 March 1602, considered to have been the world’s first multi national corporation and by far the largest trading entity with the East in its time.
