Albert Barend Gildenhuizen (also spelt Gildenhuisz or Gildenhausen) arrived at the Cape in 1661 from Burgsteinfurt, Wesfale, Holland, as a sailor on board the ship "Princesse Royale". He became a "vryburger" on 23rd September 1661, the year before Cape founder Jan van Riebeeck returned to the Netherlands.He returned to Holland to marry Margaretha Hoefnagels and settled in the Cape in 1672.
The Geldenhuys Stamvader was employed as a farm labourer from 1662 to 1665, and were known as knechts (hired hands released from the Garrison), working on various farms, among others with farmer Jacob Cloete.
ÒFree burghersÓ were granted 11.5 hectares of land along the Liesbeek River.
Their descendant son, Barend Gildenhausen born on 6th September 1682, was the first purchaser of Vergelegen Ð the Hottentots Holland wine farm established by Willem Adriaan van der Stel, the son of well-liked Simon van der Stel. Vergelegen borders the town Somerset West.