Anna de Koning
17th Century
Portrait of Anna de Koning painted in the 17th century. This is possibly the only contemporary portrait painted of a freed enslaved person at the Cape. Image: E313, Western Cape Archives and Records Service (WCARS)
“… Anna de Koning was to make quite a name for herself at the Cape, progressing from being a slave to becoming the mistress of that great Cape property, Groot Constantia,” South African History Online.
Anna arrived in the Cape around 1660 at the age of five with her mother Ansela (or Angela). Taken from her home in Bengal and enslaved, she would go on to become one of the wealthiest and most influential women in the Cape Colony.
Anna and Ansela briefly worked for commander Jan van Riebeeck, before being sold to Abraham Gabbema. Gabbema handed Ansela her freedom papers the night before he returned home to Europe.
Freed from slavery, Anna and her family were no longer bound to the harsh life they had come to know. Instead, her mother, Ansela, was baptised as a Christian and was treated as a respected member of Cape society. She married a wealthy farmer and Anna grew up in a large home on the Heerengracht.
In 1678 Anna married Olof Bergh, a wealthy Swede who was an official of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and an expedition leader under Simon van der Stel’s government. They were married for ten years when Olof was sent to retrieve treasure from a shipwreck. He decided to keep some of it (mostly brandy) for himself and was later arrested and charged with theft. Anna, Olof, and their children were banished to Robben Island. After three years on the small island Olof was offered the opportunity to retain his rank and influence but only if he left to live in Ceylon. He chose life in exile and boarded a ship to Ceylon. It is possible that Anna chose to stay in the Cape, or she may have accompanied him to Ceylon. Olof rose in rank and wealth and when he returned to the Cape, he purchased numerous properties, including the house on the Heerengracht, De Kuilen farm, a house in the Table Valley, one near the Groote Kerk in the city, two farms near Piketberg and a farm in Durbanville, now called Groot Phesantekraal. He was pardoned for his crimes and promoted to Cape garrison commander.
Part of Anna’s inventory of possessions that was compiled after her death. This document covers 32 pages and lists properties, clothing, jewellery, weapons, medicines, linen, furniture, household goods and more and is an indication of her vast wealth. This formerly enslaved woman also owned 27 enslaved workers. Image: MOOC 8/5: 118, WCARS
When Simon van der Stel died, Olof and Anna purchased Groot Constantia. Olof died in 1724 and all his possessions were bequeathed to Anna. She became the grand mistress of several estates and rejected numerous marriage proposals. She lived her final years as a wealthy widow, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Anna and Olof are the matriarch and patriarch of the South African Bergh family.
Anna de Koning would also become the matriarch of many South African families.
