Person:Lucas Jansen Van Vuren (8)

Writers described Lucas as a long dark man of over six feet with a big beard and eyes like an eagle. It is described how he once rode across a plain near the Klein Vis River. In the vicinity was a lot of springbok and Lucas chanced upon a lion. He tried to rode around the lion as he did not have his gun with him as normal. The lion however persued him and killed his horse. Lucas managed to run away and lived to share his story. He was however very upset that the lion also took his saddle which he could not find the next day.

Lucas also unwillingly got embroiled in the Slagtersnek rebellion on the Eastern Cape frontier in 1813 .The rebellion began when a Khoikhoi labourer named Booy, came to complain about his master to Stockenstrom, the deputy magistrate of Cradock. The master was Freek Bezuidenhout a notorious frontier ruffian who lived with a Baster women. His Baster son had to call him baas.

Booy claimed that his master had withheld wages and had severely assaulted him. When Stockenstrom summoned Bezuidenhout to appear he ignored the order exclaiming "What does Stockenstrom think? I care for my life as much as nothing". Stockenstrom requested help from the military stationed in the frontier and a company of two British officers and twelve Khoikhoi troops arrived at Bezuidenhout's house. A brief battle ensued and Bezuidenhout was killed.

Lucas was Freek Bezuidenhout's neighbour and attended his funeral. At the funeral Freek's brother Hans swore vengeance and Hendrik Prinsloo enlisted support. Lucas upon hearing Hans tirade got on his horse and rode away. Hans however followed and stopped him and pertinently asked him if he does not wish to revenge the death of his brother Freek to which Lucas answered no. Hans treathened Lucas that he will suffer the consequences. News about the episode spread quickly and soon it was rumoured wrongly that Lucas was killed during the altercation with Hans Bezuidenhout.

The rebels threatened burgers that did not want to join them that their families would be killed. One Krugel commandeered Lucas to go to Slagtersnek. At Vanaardtspos he realised that something was up and at Jagersdrift he, Christiaan Dreyer and Theunis Fourie decided not to proceed to Slagtersnek and they all turned around and went home.

In the end the Slagtersnek rebellion was crushed and five of the leaders hanged. Lucas was summoned to appear in front of the magistrate at Uitenhage to account for his part in the Slagtersnek episode. His fine was to pay for the cost incurred by the court sheriff in delivering the summons.

1.   Herman Giliomee. The Afrikaners: Biography of a People. (Published in 2003 by Tafelberg)
   Pages 85-86.
2.   Dr. JA Heese. Slagtersnek en sy mense.
3.   George Thompson. Travels and Adventures in Southern Africa.
4.   Jane Meiring. Thomas Pringle - His Life and Times.