South Africa, Free State Dutch Reformed Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Title in the Language of the Record
Suid-Afrika, Vrystaat Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk Rekords

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1848 to 1956.

Index and images of christenings, marriages and memberships.

The Dutch Reform Church records have been maintained in good conditions. Records are found in different registration formats, most written in Dutch and others in Afrikaans, Dutch, and English.

To learn more about the Dutch Reformed Church Records, go to the Historical Records article, South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Records (FamilySearch Historical Records) for more information.

For a list of records by localities and dates currently published in this collection, select the Browse.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
These christening records may contain the following information:


 * Name of child
 * Date and place of christening
 * Date of birth
 * Names of parents
 * Names of witnesses

These marriage records may contain the following information:


 * Date and place of marriage
 * Name of groom
 * Groom's birth year
 * Groom's marital status, occupation and residence
 * Age of bride and groom
 * Names of parents
 * Bride's birth year
 * Bride's marital status and residence
 * Marriage type (by license or banns)
 * Names of witnesses

How to Use the Record
To search the christening or baptism records, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Names of parents
 * Approximate year of birth and place of birth

To search the marriage records, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of bride or groom
 * Approximate year of marriage and place of marriage

Search the Collection
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the “Town/Municipality” category ⇒Select the “Event Type” category which will take you to the images.

Look at each image one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Afrikaans. For help with reading the records, see the following wiki articles:

Afrikaans Word List

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Try searching for the nickname, such as George for Geo
 * Try looking through the estate files for the last residence of the deceased OR for the birth of a child.

Related Websites

 * Genealogical Institute of South Africa

Related Wiki Articles

 * Afrikaans Word List
 * South Africa Vital Records Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * South Africa

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 28 February, 2012), La Plata &gt; San Ponciano &gt; Matrimonios 1884-1886 &gt; image 71 of 389 images, Artemio Avendano and Clementina Peralta, 1884; citing Parroquia de San Ponciano en la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matrimonios. San Ponciano, La Plata, Buenos Aires.