Links, Paul * ?, ? † . "Chief Cupido (Kido) Witbooi appointed Paul Links, acting captain of a branch oft he Swartboois, as an 'onder-kaptein' fort the western part of Little Namaqualand."1 "The Links clan of "Paul Links, 'captain oft he Great River', entertained close ties with the Kok family and was mentioned by several missionaries: CA, LMS journal, C. Albrecht, 21 May 1806 - 10 December 1806, entry of 14 July; CA, LMS letter, Seidenfaden, Cape Town, 1844, p. 32; NA, 'Quellen', vol. 3 a. Knudsen, Bethany, 1 November 1843 - 1 March 1844, p. 32; NA, 'Quellen', vol. 3 b, Kreft, January - December 1861, p. 51; Alexander, Espedition, vol. 1, p. 195."2 "In June 1821, the Weslyan missionary James Archbell and his wife visited Schmelen at Bethany. Archbell and his assistant, Paul Links [this must be probably Jakob Links], worked energetically to establish a supply line by ship from Angra Pequena to the Cape, in close cooperation with Barnabas Shaw at the Kamieberg. Schmelen had suggested that John Philip initiated trade relations between Walvis Bay and the British garnison in St. Helena. These plans were abandoned when Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821."3 At the end of 1835, Alexander met Paul Links in Aris at the Orange River. Links reported a matter to him: a White man had occupied an island off the coast, where Links and his people had caught seals for many years already. Links inquired from Alexander if this was legal, as the White man produced a [fake] document which seemingly showed the permission of the Cape Governor.4 Frederik Hein wrote in a report to the mission on 08.05.1851 that Paulus Links was the "Captain" in the area around Richtersfeld were Hein was stationed.5 Married: Children: Education: Other family members connected to RMG: Johannes (Johann) Links (from Warmbad) attended the five year long course of Fenchel at Keetmanshop from 1889 up to the examination in 1894 together with Frederik Hein from Richtersveld, Nikodemus Davids, Kornelius Zwartbooi from Walvisbaai, Tomy Alcock and Eduard Thomas from Keetmanshoop.6 Wandres writes on the 31.01.1895: "Der junge Schulgehülfe Johannes Links hat bis jetzt zu meiner Zufriedenheit gearbeitet, indes freue ich mich mit Zittern und lasse es an Ermahungen nicht fehlen."7 Johannes Links schließt sich 1905 den Kämpfern von Morenga an. "[...] in hochverräterischer Weise, nachdem er an den Trunk gekommen war [...]"8 While RMS missionary Nyhof was stationed in Steinkopf, waiting for the permission by the military to move to Warmbad, he encounters Johannes Links. Links asks for re-employement and is employed as a teacher.9 By the middle of 1909 it is reported in BRMG that Johannes Links had moved to the Cape and did not return again.10 Another Johannes Links In the Church Books of Gibeon a Johannes Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 826; born 12.12.1911, baptized by Spellmeyer on 27.06.1915. His parents: Piet Links ("Kapboy") and Maria Magdalena Links; Godparents: Jakob and Maria Witbooi, Johannes Swartbooi.11 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Maria Magdalena Links (mother of Johannes Links) is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 803; without date of birth, baptized by Spellmeyer on 27.06.1915 (on the same day with her son Johannes Links. No parents or godparents are mentioned (no other information available).12 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Magrita Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1459; without date of birth, baptized by Spellmeyer on 21.11.1920. No parents or godparents are mentioned (no other information available).13 Paul Links (Nama) attended the "fifth course" of the Augustineum in Okahandja (according to HMM documents, the "fith course" of the Augustineum was held from the 03.02.1936 till the 25.11.1938. The course was inteded to last until 193814. He was from Gibeon and born 1913. He attended 5 years school in Maltahöhe and worked on Kranzplatz before coming to the Augustineum. (His vita is therefore very much similar to that of Jeremias Vlermuis). He was confirmed in Maltahöhe. He was not married to Martha when joining the course. He spoke Nama. He completed the course with the examination on the 02.12.1938 and was send as teacher to the RMS mission school at Hoachanas.15 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Paul Links (brother of Pieter Links) is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 680; born 09.04.1913, baptized by Spellmeyer on 02.08.1914. His parents: Hendrik and Christina Links Godparents: Johannes Hanse and Katharina April.16 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Christina Links (perhaps the mother of Paul Links) is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 677; without date of birth, baptized by Spellmeyer on 02.08.1914 (on the same day with Paul Links). No parents or godparents are mentioned (no other information available).17 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Pieter Links (brother of Paul Links) is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 917; born 11.04.1914, baptized by Spellmeyer on 02.07.1916. His parents: Hendrik and Christina Links Godparents: Andreas and Anna Bikeus [sic].18 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Hendrik Links (perhaps father of Paul and Pieter) is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1061; without date of birth, baptized by Spellmeyer on 05.08.1917. No parents or godparents are mentioned (no other information available).19 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Isaak Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1129; born 19.10.1917, baptized by Spellmeyer on 11.11.1917. His parents: Hendrik and Christina Links Godparents: David Richter Swartbooi and his wife.20 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Hendrik Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1462; born 20.01.1920, baptized by Spellmeyer on 21.11.1920. His parents: Hendrik and Christina Links Godparents: Jan and Katharina Simon.21 On the 07.05.1922 Maria Links (a widow, no further details) dies in Hoachanas (registration No. 11) of old age ("Altersschwäche") and is buried by Laaf.22 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Priscilla Links (mother of Frederik and Willem) is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1321; without date of birth, baptized by Spellmeyer on 09.05.1919. No parents or godparents are mentioned (no other information available).23 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Frederik Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1330; born 12.10.1911, baptized by Spellmeyer on 09.05.1919 (same day like the mother). His parents: Alex and Priscilla Links Godparents: David and Rachel Frederik.24 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Willem Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1331; born 17.11.1912, baptized by Spellmeyer on 09.05.1919 (same day like the mother). His parents: Alex and Priscilla Links Godparents: Paul and Karolina Isaak.25 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Josephine Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1388; born 02.01.1908, baptized by Spellmeyer on 09.11.1919 (same day like the mother). His parents: Alex and Priscilla Links Godparents: Jonas and Katharina Potlar.26 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Johannes Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1315; without date of birth, baptized by Spellmeyer on 09.05.1919. No parents or godparents are mentioned (no other information available).27 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Johannes Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1335; born "in the year 1900", baptized by Spellmeyer on 09.05.1919. His parents: Johannes and Maria Links Godparents: Hendrik and Anna Windstaan.28 In the Church Books of Gibeon a Frederik Links is registered under "Register der Getauften" (Baptism Register) No. 1336; born 18.04.1913, baptized by Spellmeyer on 09.05.1919 (same day like the mother). His parents: Johannes and Maria Links Godparents: Pieterl and Dora //Kheibeb.29 Mission Stations: History with the RMG: 1 Dedering 1997:62. 2 Dedering 1997:63. 3 Dedering 1997:114. 4 Alexander 1838:100. 5 BRMG No. ?? 1851:365. 6 Mentioned by missionary Ch. Spellmeyer in his speech "What methods and which aims should we pursue in the upbringing of our indiginous helpers? Or Why, how and for what do I train my indiginous helpers?", RMG 2.621 p. 208. 7 BRMG 1895:104. 8 JBRMG 1905:22+23. 9 BRMG 1907:198. 10 BRMG 1909:158. 11 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:45. 12 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:43. 13 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:79. 14 AELCRN V 6.1:37. 15 AELCRN V 6.1:38-39. 16 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:37. 17 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:37. 18 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:49. 19 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:57. 20 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:61. 21 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:79. 22 Hoachanas Kirchenbuch p. 193. 23 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:71. 24 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:71. 25 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:71. 26 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:75. 27 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:71. 28 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:73. 29 Gibeon Kirchenbuch 1909-1925:73. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------