Marthinus Steijn (Steyn)

The loan-farm was acquired in 1816 by agriculturist, Marthinus Steyn (born 1775, and spelt Steijn). He was father of wainwright (wagonmaker), Pieter Gysbert Steyn (born 1805), who later became the owner of The Drostdy, and Marthinus was also the grandfather of President M T Steyn of the Orange Free State Republic. Marthinus Steijn commissioned land-surveyor H F Schutte to survey the farm and this was done in August 1816, for which Schutte was paid 160.70 Rix Dollars. Schutte's diagram of 1816 shows three buildings which include a T-shaped dwelling on the property. We believe that the small labourer's cottage to the south east of the main homestead is one of these. This is confirmed by Hopley's survey map of June 1837, which indicates Schutte's three buildings as "old ruins", and the new H-shaped homestead as the "new house". Schutte was a partner of Thibault and he may well have been influenced by Thibault's style, which is reflected in the gables at Klippe Rivier. Marthinus Steijn wrote several letters to the Governor of the Cape between 1816 and 1832 applying for Title to Klippe Rivier, and this was finally granted on 5 November 1832, and he took transfer of 1402 Morgen and 400 square roods on 28 March 1833, for a cost of £3000. Today this measurement would represent 1201 hectares or 2968 acres. Sadly, Marthinus Steijn died on 17 October 1834. Based on Steijn's will and the inventory of Klippe Rivier, we are able to see that the house comprised of 11 rooms and in essence very little has changed since then. M Steijn's signature may be seen in a pane of glass in the sitting room of the main homestead.