Hieronymus left Germany as a soldier and arrived in Cape Town in 1782.
Germany was constantly involved in wars in the 1700's and most young men probably ended up as soldiers. (See Germany in the 1700s: germany-in-1748.php). His reasons for immigrating to South Africa is all speculation on our part.
Since the Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a supplies station at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, thousands of settlers and immigrants arrived from Europe. Most of the Europeans arrived as unmarried soldiers or employees of the Dutch East India Company.
Hieronymus was promoted to the rank of corporal in 1784 and to sergeant in 1785. He married Magdalena Maria Pieterse on 2 November 1788. They had three sons. Johan Christaan born in 1789, Johannes Elias born in 1790 and Hermanus Marthinus born in 1792. Hieronymus was a Roman Catholic and his wife NederDutch but they baptised their children in a Lutheran Church.
Hieronymus became the postmaster (posthouder) of Robben Island. Robben Island was used at various times between the 17th and 20th century as a prison, a hospital for socially unacceptable groups and as a military base. Its first prisoner was probably Harry die Strandloper in the mid 17th centrury.
In 1808 he found himself in the area of Tulbach were he was a farmer and a transporter. The place and year of his death is not known to me. Some of his grandchildren (fathered by Johan Christiaan) were born in Tulbach and Graaff Reinet. It could be that he moved with his sons to Graaff Reinet, but at 78 years of age it was highly unlikely that he joined the Maritz trek out of Graaff Reinet in 1836. Most of his grandchildren were born in Tulbach and Graaff Reinet and got married in places like Potchefstroom, Winburg, Kroonstad and Bloemfontein. All but one son joined the Maritz trek out of Graaff Reinett in 1836. Maritz left Graaff Reinet with 100 wagons and 700 trekkers. To follow their route, read more on the Maritz Trek: maritz-trek.php
Hieronymus's Grandchildren.
It is not known what became of Hieronymus' sons, Johannes and Hermanus It all rested on the capable shoulders of Johan Christaan to bring us Bornmans to where we are today. He definitely was up to the task. He married C C du Preez in 1809 and they had 10 children of which 6 were sons. He also could not resist the charms of his wife's sister, A D du Preez and had an illegitimate child with her. His sons were:
* Christiaan Hieronimus. Born 1812 in Tulbach. Family later found in Potchefstroom and Kroonstad.
* Johannes Jurgen. Born 1813 in Tulbach. (Illigetimate son by wife's sister.) Family later found in Worcester and Victoria Wes.
* Johannes Joachim. Born 183 in Tulbach. Family later found in Kroonstad and Winburg.
* Jacobus Johannes. Born in 1819 in Graaff Reinet. Family later found in Winburg.
* Leendert. Born in 1823 in Graaff Reinett. Family later found in Winburg.
* Meyndert Jacobus. Born 1825 in Graaff Reinet. Family later found in Winburg, Thaba Nchu, Bultfontein, Bloemfontein and Marquard.
* Marthinus Hermanus. Born in 1827 in Beaufort Wes. Family later found in Winburg, Kroonstad and Bloemfontein.