Born in Rustenburg, Transvaal, South Africa
ANCESTORS 
Son of Bernhard Louis Bantjes and Sarah Williamson (Frantz) Bantjes;
Brother of Alexander Adam Bantjes [half];
Husband of Lourike Christina (Kroep) Bantjes — married 2 Feb 1889 in Nylstroom, Waterberg, Transvaal, South Africa
Jan and Lourika had two children- Lourika Christina and Bernard Louis. His wife Lourika died November 9 1891.
He married Dorothea Maria Bantjes (Born Swanepoel) in October 1892. They had twelve children together- making a total of fourteen when counting Jenneken and Bernard from his first marriage.
In 1900 Jan was captured at the Battle of Paardeberg during the 2nd Anglo Boer War. He was sent to a Prisoner of War camp in Ceylon at Diyatalawa at the age of 36.
Jan Gerritze Bantjes was friendly with John G Lake, the Apostle of faith who came to SA and started the AFM church (Apostolic Faith Mission or AGS- Apostoliese Geloofsending- in Afrikaans). In a country humiliated and impoverished by the Anglo-South African War of 1899-1902, a spiritual awakening became evident in 1908. As no existing church welcomed the revival in their ranks, John G. Lake and Thomas Hezmalhalch started a new movement, the AFM in May 1908. Jan was instrumental in helping this church to grow.
He died of pleural effusion and heart failure on May 22, 1933, in Ventersdorp, South Africa, at the age of 68.
He was a house painter.
Source: Anglo Boer War Museum 2016 Boer Forces