The Griqua tribe under the Koks

Philippolis was the capital of the Griqua Chief Adam Kok. There were three Griqua cheifs bearing the name Adam Kok.

Adam Kok I

Adam Kok I was a freed slave who used to be a cook in the kitchens of the Cape governors. When he obtained his freedom, he moved north with some followers, and they settled in Klaarwater, which is today called Griquatown, where the London Missionary Society established a mission in 1801. The people who settled there were Griquas, Tswanas and others, and referred to themselves as Bastards.

Adam Kok II

Adam Kok II
(© Transgariep Museum)

In the 1820s there was a split between the then Griqua leader Andries Waterboer and Adam Kok II, son of the freed slave Adam Kok, and his followers. Kok and followers moved east to what is today Philippolis.

The London Missionary Society established a mission in Philippolis in 1823 for the KhoiKhoi and San (Bushman), and the Kok clan joined in.

Vet River,1846

The British guaranteed the sovereignty of Kok in the area. In 1845 European farmers north of the Orange River raided the Griqua settlement in Philippolis, and Kok appealed to the British authorities, who sent help. The clash at Zwartkoppies resulted in the defeat of the European farmers, who fled northwards across the Modder River into the Winburg Republic.

Jan Kock, leader of the previous attack, sent a letter to Adam Kok II, demanding the return of stolen cattle. Kok forwarded the letter to the Cape Governor Sir Peregrine Maitland, who issued a warrant for the arrest of Jan Kock. Under Henry Douglas Warden (1800 - ) a group of 200, consisting of Brits, Barolong, Griqua, Bastards and Koranna set out to arrest Kock.

Jan Kock set up laager with about 100 men on the farm of F van Biljoen on the north bank of the Vet River. After exchanging many shots, Warden called off the fight, and although no party claimed victory, the European farmers were demoralised at having to fight coloured troops. Jan Kock sent a letter requesting pardon for himself and his followers.

Adam Kok III

In 1862 the Kok clan, under Adam Kok III (1811 - 1875, nicknamed Muis, meaning Mouse), moved to what is today known as Mount Currie, named after Sir Walter Currie, who allowed the Griquas to settle in the area, afterwards known as Griqualand East. It is not certain how many people were in the clan as figures range from 2000 to 5000, but they had a huge herd of cattle, estimated to be consists of 20'000 beasts.

In 1872, after input from Rev William Dower, a "palace" was built for Adam Kok at a different site, which today is called Kokstad.

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