This letter was written by S.J.A. Pitout in 18-05-1906 the farm Vlaklaagte Lombaardsdrift. Translated 6-01-2003
Vlaklaagte 18-5-1906
Lambaardsdrift via Brandfort.
Lieve Charles!
Ik ib uwe brief eergister ontvangen, maar zy heb in een fout via Boshof
geschreven, daardoor is het zoo lang op weg geweest, hartlyk dank vaar die
nieuws, van al de kinderen, Ik kryg zelden een brief van Johanna,
Willie schryf my hy heeft C. Ooshuizen kennes gegeven dat hy den 4 Juni
weg gaat, domme Jangen, om ₤200 pound per jaar zo op te geven, Hy zeg hy
is moedeloos: omdat zyne familie niet aan hem schryven,
Charlie schryf my dat Mr T Burger die bezigheid verkocht heb, en dat hy nou een
ander verdienste moet zoek, om zyn brood te verdien,
Met Lodewyk en familie gaat het goed, zyn veld is op gevreet daarde sprinkanen
zoo dat hy zyn vee heef laten trekken, hier is nog maar water vaar 15 dagen,
Zy vraag my naar myn Vader Hy heete Charles Jozefus Twyford,
zyn Moeder van was Pitout, hy was te Brussel gebaren, maar in Parys opgevoed
by zyn tante Miss Pitout, en zy heeft hem hare erfgenaam gemaakt maar dan
moet hy haar naam aan neem, Pitout en niet Twyford zoo is het dat wy die
naam draag, Ik dink haar naam was Jeanet, en myn Vader is van haar
weggeloop toen hy omtrent 18 jaren oud was, en heeft in Engeland diernst genamen
in den 62 ste Regement, en die Regement is later Condend omdat er te veel vreemde
bloed in was, en is als Immegranten uitgezonder naar de Kaap waar myn Vader
myne Moeder Aletta Elizabeth Leroux heeft ontmoed en daar zyn zy getrouend,
Myn Vaders erfportie moet nog in Parys in die weeskamer of ergens wees, Als zy nog
iets Verder wel weet dan kunt zy my in uwe volgende brief vragen,
Ik ben daar Gods goedheid nog geheel wel, gelyk ik bly ben te hooren dat zy ook ben,
allet heil en zegen wens vaar uwe welfaart blyf ik na minzame groete
Uwe lief hebbende Vader
S J A Pitout
Typed as per original letter on 6-01-2003 by Carl Johannes Pitout (31-03-1946)
TRANSLATION
Vlaklaagte 18-5-1906
Lombaardsdrift via Brandfort.
Dear Charles,
I received your letter the day before yesterday; As you made the mistake by sending
it via Boshof instead of Brandfort, it's been on it's way a long time. Thanks for all the news
of the children. I very seldom get a letter from Johanna.
Willie wrote to tell me that he's given notice to Oosthuizen.
He's leaving the 4th June. Silly guy to give up ₤200 per year just like that. He says he's very depressed
because his family never write to him.
Charlie wrote to tell me that Mr T Burger has sold his business
and that he's looking for a job. All is well with Lodewyk and family. His veld has been stripped
by the locusts he had to relocate his cattle and here we only have water for the next 15 days.
You wanted information about my Father. His name is Charles Josefus Twyford.
His Mother's name was Pitout. He was born in Brussels but grew up in Paris where he lived
with his Aunt a Miss Pitout. She made him Heir on condition he adopted the name Pitout
instead of Twyford. That's why we are now called Pitout I think her name was Jeanet.
My Father left her when he was approximately 18 years old. He went into the army in England;
The 62nd Regiment. That Regiment was later dismantled because there was too much foreign
blood in it and they were all sent to the Cape as Immigrants. That's where my Father met
my Mother Aletta Elizabeth Le Roux and they married. My Father's inheritance must still be
in Paris somewhere. If you want to know anything else please ask away in your next letter.
I am still alive and well thanks to the Lord and I'm glad to hear that you're also well.
I wish you all the best and with greetings.
Your loving Father
S.J.A. Pitout.
Translated and typed 6-01-2003 by C.J.P
