Stephanus Petrus Erasmus : grensboerpionier en voortrekker, 1788 - 1847

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to compile a description of thelife and contribution of Stephanus Petrus Erasmus,eastern frontier pioneer and Voortrekker. Secondly,Erasmus has been set against the background of theproblems of the frontier farmers of the north-easternfrontier wards, Brak River and Kraai River in the years1825 - 1837.Stephanus Erasmus was christened as the surname child ofDaniel Elardus and cat.har-dria Elisabeth Erasmus in April1788. In 1804 or 1805 Daniel Erasmus moved from theGraaff-Reinet district to the Swellendam district. HereStephanus Erasmus married Maartje Wilhelmina ZachariaKruger in 1812. At least ten children were born out ofthis marriage, while a second marriage to Anna MariaNeethling produced a daughter.Erasmus moved to the Beaufort district in 1821. From1822 1824 he -'resided in the Graaff-Reinet area, andfrom 1825 he settled in the new district of SomersetEast.Like many of the other frontier farmers, thisfrontier pioneer probably participated in the northeasternmigration for economical and geographicalreasons.Erasmus played a leading role in this district in thecapacity of provisional field cornet for Brak River.From 1835 he was field cornet for the new ward of KraaiRiver where he settled on the farm Mooiplaats.As a respected leader, Erasmus was fully aware of theadministrative neglect of the north-eastern frontierwards. The progressive destabilisation of these wards,as well as the conflict between groups of black refugeesthistheuncertainty regardingdissatisfaction withfrontier farmers, contributedinsecurity. The question offor concern to Erasmus and hisThetheirand the north-easterntowards the feeling oflandownership was a causefellow pioneer farmers.issue contributed toBritish government.Like many other frontier farmers, Stephanus Erasmus cameinto conflict with the authorities with regard to thetreatment of his slaves. To make matters worse, a murdercharge was brought against him after he had shot andkilled a black man in the execution of his duties asfield cornet.In 1836 Erasmus went on a hunting expedition in thedirection of the Vaal River. During this expedition theNdebele of Mzilikazi ambushed them on 21 August 1836 andtwo of Erasmus's sons were killed. Two days laterErasmus took part in the Vaal River battle.Erasmus then returned to the Colony from where heemigrated by the middle of 1837. As the leader of hisown trek he held the office of commandant. It appearsthat he was a distinguished and revered Voortrekkerleader. He was, for example, one of the six commandantsat the battle of Blood River, and was in a leadershipposition during the battle of the White-Mfolozi.As a citizen of the Republic of Natal, Erasmus played aleading role in public life. He was a member of theVolksraad as well as a member of the Council of Landdrosand Heemrade.After Britain had annexed Natal, Erasmus moved to Winburgand Potchefstroom. In 1845 he went to Ohrigstad where hedied in February 1847.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University