Catharina van der Westhuizen Lotriet, c5d1 SM - Dates are out?

Private User says

In response to your message regarding the date of birth of Catharina Van Der Westhuijsen - Profile: https://www.geni.com/people/Catharina-Lotriet-c5d1-SM/6000000003355...

Kindly note that Catharina’s date of baptism 11 March 1759 has been incorrectly recorded as her date of birth. She was baptised as an Adult on 11 March 1759 and the baptism was recorded in the “De Naamen der Gedoopte Bejaarde” Register.
See the FamilySearch link below.

Baptism Catharina Van Der Westhuijsen 11 March 1759 to Cornelis Van Der Westhuijsen and Francina Baster Hottentotin, Parish registers for the Dutch Reformed Church at Swartland, Cape Province
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKD-LQQZ-P

According to WikiTree Catharina Van Der Westhuijsen was born in about 1741.

You will note that on the same day 11 March 1759 Franciena (Francina) the daughter of Frans Lottering (Yes, his surname appears in the Register as Lottering) and Catharina van der Westhuizen is also baptised. I assume the she is not only the eldest child but also the eldest daughter as she is named Francina after her grandmother, the mother of her mother.
See the FamilySearch link below.

Baptism Francina Lottering 11 March 1759 to Frans Lottering and Catharina Van Der Westhuisen, Parish registers for the Dutch Reformed Church at Swartland, Cape Province
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKD-F33F

On 27 July 1759 two more of Frans and Catharina children were baptised – Barend (the eldest son) and Christina (the second daughter).

I side track now. Food for thought which I think is a gem. If they were following the strict children naming tradition that was practiced at the time then they would have named the eldest (first) son after Frans’ father and the second daughter after Frans’ mother. Therefore perhaps we can assume that Frans’ parents name could possibly have been a Barend and Christina.
See the FamilySearch link below.

Baptism Barend Lutriet and Christina Lutriet to Frans Lutriet and Catharina van der Westhuisen 27 July 1759, Parish registers for the Dutch Reformed Church at Swartland, Cape Province
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKD-F337

On 29 July 1759 Frans and Catharina got married.
See the FamilySearch link below.

Marriage Record Frits Luttrit and Cathrina van der Westhuisen 29 July 1759, Parish registers for the Dutch Reformed Church at Swartland, Cape Province
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKD-F3HJ

This means that they had 3 children out of Wedlock. The only reason I can think of for them not getting married sooner is that Catharina had not been baptised yet. When was Frans baptised? (I haven’t found a baptism record for him yet.) You had to get married in Church in those days and to do so you had to be a baptised Christian.

As Frans and Catharina had already had 3 children by 1759 one can assume that the earliest that the first child could have been born was at the latest is 1755 which is pushing it. This meant that she would have had to fall pregnant in 1754/55.

All this theory stuff aside. I am of the opinion that Frans was born at the Cape and that his father may have been the South African Progenitor.

I note that according to WikiTree Frans was born in about 1735 in the Cape.

I hope this gives you some clarity.

Thanks Lorraine

That makes sense Sharon. As we know at times a complete household were baptised on the same day and married as well.

Thank you for your good explanation.

Judi