Senekal was established in 1877 and lies amidst the panoramic splendour of the Eastern Free State, on the main route (N5) between Bloemfontein and Durban. The town was named after Commandant FP Senekal and founded on the farm De Put. The magnificent Dutch Reformed Mother Church rests
in the middle of the town, and is "protected" by fascinating prehistoric petrified
tree trunks which were discovered in the area. Senekal, with its enviable
climate, atmospheric scenery and majestic star studded nights, is situated
only 25km from the renowned Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve.
Original owner of the farm Biddulphsberg
Jan Cilliers, the Voortrekker pioneer and brother of the well known Sarel
Cilliers, was the first owner of the farm Biddulphsberg. During 1950 the remains
of Jan Cilliers, his wife and son was exhumed by his descendants and buried
in the family graveyard.
Jacob Stephanus Erasmus, the ancestor of the current owner of Biddulphsberg,
bought the farm Biddulphsberg on 27 December 1873.
Genealogical register of the Erasmus Family
| Jacob Stephanus Erasmus (1830 - 1921)
m Elizabeth Maria Malan (? - 1887) |
m
Maria Elizabeth Viljoen (second wife) |
| Hendrik Stephanus |
David Edward |
Hester (Jacobsz) |
Susanna (Botha) |
Jacob Stephanus |
Daniel Johannes |
Elizabeth (Drotsky) |
Johanna (Coetzer) |
Willem Stephanus |
Maria Susanna |
| Daniel Johannes Erasmus (1870 -
1924) m Anna Elizabeth Sophia Fourie (?) |
m __van Schalkwyk (second husband) |
| Jacob Stephanus (1896 - 1897) |
Theunis Gerhardus Fourie |
Daniel Johannes |
|
| Daniel Johannes Erasmus (1904 - 1989) m Johanna
Margaretha Bornman (1908 - 1994) |
| Johanna Margaretha |
Anna Elizabeth |
Daniel Johannes |
Bornman |
| Bornman Erasmus (1940
- ) m Anna Magrieta Roets (1946 - ) |
| Mariette |
Daniel Johannes (Johan) |
Johanna Margaretha (Grietjie) |
Petrus Nicolaas (Nico) |
Jacob Stephanus (Fanie) |
| Mariette Erasmus
(1964 - ) m Robert Hewitt (1964 - ) |
| Johanna Margaretha
Erasmus (1967 - ) m Johan Karelsen (1973 - ) |
| Petrus Nicolaas Erasmus (1969
- ) m Estelle Juliet Smit (1972 - ) |
| Elsje |
Johann Bornman |
| Jacob Stephanus
Erasmus (1971 - ) m Nicolien Oosthuizen (1971 - ) |
| Jacob Stephanus (Stephan) |
Nicolaas Frans |
