Abraham van der Weijden, a Dutch citizen, was a ship's captain and the initiator of Freemasonry in South Africa.
The Pauw departed for Batavia on 5 December 1771 and stopped over in Cape Town, South Africa on 24 April 1772.
Van der Weijden issued a provisional warrant of authority, which was subject to the Netherlands' approval.
In July 1772 van der Weijden established the Lodge La Fidele Sinceritie in Batavia.
Van der Weijden had a difference of opinion with Carl Phillip Cassel, also a ship's captain.