All, In the last week, I have been asked a question about the origins of Matthias van Eyssen, the progenitor of the South African family. He arrived at the Cape in 1758, was made a burger in 1768 and married in 1763. I was surprised to find there is no entry, not even a placeholder, on www.stamouers.com . >From my own opinion on the reliability of various "sources", I think it is most likely he was from Eitzen (von Eitzen) near Oldenburg in Germany. But, many say he was born in Utrecht. The only credible reference I have is Hoge: Personalia of the Germans at the Cape, which is hardly a primary source. There is circumstantial evidence he was German, not Dutch: His wife, Aletta Josina Luyt, was of a German family, their children were baptised in the Lutheran church and their children married into German families like S(ch)malberger and Loedolff. I will appreciate any clues on the VAN EYSSEN origins. Thank you, Keith Footnotes: 1. Colenbrander, "Afkomst der Boeren" says (1763) he was Matthijs van Eisden from Oldenburg in Germany. 2. de Villiers / Pama says he was Matthias van Eysen or van Eisden, originally von Eitzen from Oldenburg. 3. SA Genealogies says he "a. van Renswoude", which is "arrived from Renswoude" (which is near Utrecht), but "arrived from" is not "born".