Rev Jacob Links biographical account

Brief (17 pages) manuscript describing the life and work of Jacob Links, possibly written by Barnabus Shaw, after 1825; article on Links, with portrait, from the 'Paper relative to Wesleyan Missions and the State of Heathen Countries' (No XVIII, December 1824); manuscript copy, probably made by Link...

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Archive & Special Collections MMS/17/02/04/15 Open

Order number: MMS/Special Series/Biographical/South Africa/FBN 9 (fiche 375)
Date(s) of creation: 1820s
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Links; Jacob (c1800-1825); teacher, Christian convert, ordained missionary
Other authors: Shaw; Barnabus (1788-1857); ordained missionary

collection SOAS Archive
id MMS.17.02.04.15
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
scb_order_with MMS/Special Series/Biographical/South Africa/FBN 9 (fiche 375)
callnumber MMS/17/02/04/15
callnumber_txt MMS/17/02/04/15
callnumber-sort MMS/17/02/04/15
prefix_number 15
title Rev Jacob Links biographical account
scb_date_creation 1820s
scb_level Item
level_sort 8/Collection/Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Sub-Collection/Series/Sub-Series/Sub-Sub-Series/File/Item
scb_extent 17 pp.
author Links; Jacob (c1800-1825); teacher, Christian convert, ordained missionary
author_facet Links; Jacob (c1800-1825); teacher, Christian convert, ordained missionary
Shaw; Barnabus (1788-1857); ordained missionary
authorStr Links; Jacob (c1800-1825); teacher, Christian convert, ordained missionary
author_letter Links; Jacob (c1800-1825); teacher, Christian convert, ordained missionary
author2 Shaw; Barnabus (1788-1857); ordained missionary
author2Str Shaw; Barnabus (1788-1857); ordained missionary
format Archive
scb_admin_history Jacob Links, the son of Keudo Links, was born about 1800. His father was an important member of his tribe in Little Namaqualand [Cape Province, South Africa]. He grew up around Lily Fountain in Khamiesberg [Lilifontein, Kamiesberg, Northern Cape Province] along with his brothers Peter, Robert and Barnabus. He converted to Methodism in 1816 (most of his family also became Methodists) and when he was about 17 he assisted Barnabus Shaw as an interpreter (he learnt both Dutch and English) and as a lay preacher. Links also took on responsibilities as a schoolmaster. In 1818 it was agreed that he should became a candidate for the ministry by the Wesleyan Methodist Conference and he became an assistant missionary working with Barnabus Shaw and James Archbell (the latter in Greater Namaqualand [Namibia]). Both Archbell and Links attempted to preach to the Bushman, particularly around Warm Bath (sometimes referred to as Nisbett's Bath) [Warmbad, Namibia], but with little success. Unable to cope with the harsh living conditions both men had to give in with Links returning to Lily Fountain. In 1822 Links was ordained. In 1824 the Rev William Threlfall arrived in Lily Fountain to recover from illness. On Threlfall's recovery it was agreed that he would lead a party to assess whether a mission was possible north of the Fish River in Namaqualand [Great Fish River, Namibia]. Threlfall left in late June 1825 with Links and Johannes Jager, a local missionary assistant. On route they were discouraged from progressing further and found it increasingly difficult to procure a guide. However, at Warm Bath they acquired the assistance of Nauwghaap (alias Hans Jantje) as a guide. One or two days after leaving Warm Bath (around 10 August) they were joined by a group of local Bushmen and whilst camping that evening, at the instigation of Nauwghaap, Links and his two companions were murdered for their possessions. Nauwghaap, along with his conspirators, were tried and executed at Silver Fountain [Silverfontein, Cape Province] on 3 September 1827. Jacob Links left a widow. Two of his brothers, Peter and Barnabus, continued to be heavily involved with the Methodist mission in Little Namaqualand. Further Reading: Birtwhistle, N A, William Threlfall: a study in missionary vocation (1966); [Boyce, W B], Memoir of the Rev. William Shaw, late General Superintendent of the Wesleyan missions in south-eastern Africa (1874); Broadbent, S, The missionary martyr of Namaqualand : memorials of the Rev. William Threlfall, late Wesleyan missionary in South Africa, who was murdered in Great Namaqualand, together with two native converts, Jacob Links and Johannes Jager (1860); Cheeseman, T, The story of William Threlfall, missionary martyr of Namaqualand, with some account of Jacob Links and Johannes Jager, who fell with him (1910).
description Brief (17 pages) manuscript describing the life and work of Jacob Links, possibly written by Barnabus Shaw, after 1825; article on Links, with portrait, from the 'Paper relative to Wesleyan Missions and the State of Heathen Countries' (No XVIII, December 1824); manuscript copy, probably made by Links, of Rev Schmelen's catechism for the 'use of the Great Namaquas' with insert of notes by Links for sermon [1820s].
scb_related_name_code GB/SOASNAF/P920
GB/SOASNAF/P924
scb_related_name_relationship Subject of
Subject of
scb_place_code 3355338
953987
9406051
1085596
3371201
scb_access_status Open
scb_conditions_gov_access Only to be viewed on microfiche
language English
Khoekhoe
language_search English
Khoekhoe
scb_scripts_material Latin
scb_related_material Unfortunately there are no letters written by Jacob Links extant within the official correspondence for South Africa in the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society. Some of his work is mentioned by his colleagues Barmabus Shaw, James Archbell and William Threlfall in their correspondence (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape/FBN 7). The synod minutes for the Cape District may mention some of his missionary work (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1). An additional image of Links can be found within MMS/Africa/Photographs/Box 1194 (file 1).
hierarchy_top_id_raw MMS
hierarchy_sequence MMS.0017.0002.0004.0015

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