Page 159 - KBHA Bulletin 10

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THE BLOODING OF THE NETS
A Film made in False Bay in 1943 by Braam Auret

Faans Klopper

The Auret’s of Simon’s Town

It was during this great persecution in1685 that Jeremias Etienne Auret fled from

Nantes, France, to settle in Gravenhage, Holland. The Huguenots were received with
open arms in Germany, Prussia, Denmark, Ireland, The Cape of Good Hope, England

and Holland.

In 1747, 62 years after the decision of the Here XV11 that a large number of colonists
should be sent to the Cape of Good Hope, and that there would be room for some

French refugees of the Protestant faith, we find the first mention at the Cape of Jeremias

Auret, son of the Huguenot refugee, Jeremias Etienne Auret.

Jeremias Auret was in the employ of the Dutch East India Company at the Cape. His
son, Jeremias, born in 1751, made a name for himself. He was known as a trader, farmer

and officer and in 1767 was employed in the service of the Dutch East India Company

as a learner cooper. After this he obtained full citizenship and in 1774 he was appointed
a licensee to retail Cape wine and brandy at Rondebosch and False Bay.

In 1780 he acquired land at Simon’s Town and settled there to trade with visiting ships.

He built houses and store-rooms and provided accommodation for visiting marine

officers and visitors. In 1784 he acquired more land and soon became a flourishing
ships’ chandler while still holding his liquor license. (Fig. 5.1). In 1789 the property

Buffelsfontein near Cape Point was granted to him. During the French occupation,
under Suffren in 1781, his business expanded as he benefited from trade with the French