Rousseau Family Website

My name is Rita Rousseau and I started this site.This site was created using MyHeritage.com. a system allowing anyone to create a private site for their family, build their family tree and share family photos.   Since moving to the other side of the world, family has become very precious to me - it is very important to remember ones 'roots', and maintain the link with ones family.                                                                                                       We understand this Rousseau branch originates from a Pierre Rousseau (1666-1719) who fled France (Mer or Menar-la-ville, near Blois) during the reign of Louis XIV.  He settled in the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) in 1688, was one of the first church deacons of the congregation Drakenstein, and owner of the farm "Die Boog van Orleans" (The arch of Orleans).  He married Anne Retief (died 1710) and remarried Geertruy du Toit (7 Dec 1710).  They had 12 children.Rousseau means "someone with red-brown hair or beard".The family crest has a red background, with a silver horse on its hind legs.  This crest is owned by Frederik Russow (or Russouw), also known as Russow de Wit.  Pierre Rousseau lived in the Cape at the same time.  With time, confusion arose as members of the family Russouw started spelling their last name Rousseau, and vice versa.  Today, with over 10,000 decendents, it is almost impossible to unravel this geneology knot, and thus everyone in this clan use the Russouw crest.