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History
of the Area
The
Eastern Free State was first occupied by indigenous San and Koi
people who lived in harmony with the multitude of game which populated
the vast grass plains. Blacks first arrived in the early 1800's as
refugees from the great warlords Chaka, Dingaan and Mtsilikatse,
according to the explorer Dr. Andrew Smith who traveled through this
region prior to the Great Trek. They mainly lived in the Witteberge
mountains south of Bethlehem.
The
Voortrekkers
Hunters and adventurers, probably arrived in the
1820's but only came in large quantities during the great trek, about
July 1837. The region was occupied by Trekkers under Andries Hendrik
Potgieter. After the arrival of Piet Retief in 1837 it was decided at a
contentious public meeting to make Natal the destination of the Trek and
to establish a Boer Republic there. Thereafter the Bethlehem region was,
for a number of years, mainly a through station.
Fouriesburg
Fouriesburg was originally a farm called
Groenfontein, belonging to Rooi Stoffel Fourie. The town was proclaimed
in 1892, deriving its name from the fact that so many Fouries lived in
the area.
"Proklamasie deur die Vrystaatse
Volksraad - Uitgevaardig te Bloemfontein - 1 Junie 1893
...de Raad gehoord hebbende het rapport dier Commissie benoemd by
Raadsbesluit van 17 Junie 1892, om ondersoek te doen naar de geskikdheid
van die plaas GROENFONTEIN, Distrik FICKSBURG, besluit gemelde plaas te
erkennen onder die naam van FOURIESBURG"
Fouriesburg was proclaimed Capital of
the Free State during the Anglo-Boer war, after the Government moved
from Bloemfontein and Bethlehem was occupied by Lord Roberts. The
proclaimed printed on a field press in Snymanshoek, was never rescinded.
Surrender Hill is a memorial to fallen British soldiers & Boers.
Four thousand Boers surrendered here and the majority was sent to India
as prisoners of war.
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