The database primarily contains records of slave registrations that were made mandatory by the British from 1816 onwards. Known since 1752 to big game hunters and the ever encroaching semi-nomadic settler farmers, Cradock was founded in 1813 at the junction of the Great Fish River and the Cradock spruit, with the establishment of a British Fort to protect against Xhosa guerrilla attacks into British territory. A burgeoning agricultural town soon grew around the fort which also served as a base for British expansion eastward. Cradock was a major supply depot for the Boers during the Groot Trek of 1835 - 1837 as they travelled to the future Transvaal and Natal. Cradock eventually became one of the worst, if one can even place a degree on the absolute horror of it, segregated  Apartheid towns in the former Homelands created by the Boere Republic.Slavery was abolished by the British at the Cape Colony on 01 December 1834 but slaves had to serve a four year "apprenticeship".  On 01 December 1838 all forms of forced labour was ended and slavery officially came to an end. Where no exact birthdate is given, the stated year of birth is an approximation by the slave owner.

Slave records - South African National Archives

Archive copying by Lara Seaward