WHO AM I?
My name is Elaine Bell (nee du Preez). I grew up and went to school in Cape Town. My father asked me to look into the family history and I became "addicted" to the world of genealogy. I never knew that so much information regarding our ancestors was out there just waiting to be discovered or unearthed.
Since I began my research in 2009, I have discovered unwed mothers and illegitimate children, slave grandmothers, slaves, a few murdered family members, one rape, and numerous insolvent ancestors. Not mention ancestors exiled to far off places!
I discovered "professions" such as tailors, bootmakers, dressmakers, peat carriers and numerous farmers. I have always maintained that I "do not come from hardy stock" only to uncover the fact that my ancestors were farmers. One of my du Preez ancestors even left Stellenbosch to settle in Prieska.
I found the whole experience of researching my ancestors to be fascinating and very interesting. I hope to uncover more in the future.
The photograph below is of my husband Gavin and I at the Rodin Museum in Paris.
Since I began my research in 2009, I have discovered unwed mothers and illegitimate children, slave grandmothers, slaves, a few murdered family members, one rape, and numerous insolvent ancestors. Not mention ancestors exiled to far off places!
I discovered "professions" such as tailors, bootmakers, dressmakers, peat carriers and numerous farmers. I have always maintained that I "do not come from hardy stock" only to uncover the fact that my ancestors were farmers. One of my du Preez ancestors even left Stellenbosch to settle in Prieska.
I found the whole experience of researching my ancestors to be fascinating and very interesting. I hope to uncover more in the future.
The photograph below is of my husband Gavin and I at the Rodin Museum in Paris.