Erasmus SCHMIDT arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on board the Mijnden from Holstein, Germany, in 1717 in the service of the VOC, contracted as a soldier. He was granted free burgher status in 1727, at which time his name changed to SMIT.

He married Cornelia van EMMENES on 6th May 1731. They lived at Drakenstein, and he died on 6th May 1787, at Stellenbosch

He worked as a farmhand during 1718-1721 then rejoined the VOC in 1722 until 1727.

It’s interesting to note that the change of name was most likely due to illiteracy, as I could only find an ‘X’ on the original documents next to his name.

Children:
1. Anna ˜ 08.02.1732 X J. D. H. van Bieleveld.
2. Johan Erasmus ˜ 05.07.1733 X Rachel Jordaan. XX Johanna Theresia Loubser.
3. Gesina ˜ 30.01.1735 X Willem Botha. XX Pieter Jordaan.
4. Martha ˜ 21.10.1736 X Gerrit van Wyk.
5. Cornelia ˜ 04.10.1738 X Jan Adriaan Venter.
6. Geertruy ˜ 22.01.1741 X Willem van Zyl. XX Hendrik van Zyl.
7. Erasmus ˜ 04.10.1742 X Aletta Margaretha Wiese 25.08.1765. XX Maria Magdalena van der Linde.
8. Gerrit ˜ 17.04.1745 X Anna Elizabeth Coetzee.
9. Pieter circa 1748 X Anna Dorothea Kramer. XX Maria Nienaber.
10. Albert ˜ 17.01.1751 X Jacomina van Wyk 17.11.1771. XX Cecilia Jacoba Coetzee 07.11.1779. XXX Susanna Aletta Korff.

Sources:
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SOUTH AFRICA (CJ 2880, no 32 and CJ 2882, no 30)

PERSONALIA OF THE GERMANS AT THE CAPE 1652-1806 By Dr. J. Hoge

GESLACHT-REGISTER DER OUDE KAAPSCHE FAMILIEN By C. C. de Villiers

Die Voorouers en Nageslagte van Stephanus Albertus Smit van Waterval, Burgersdorp by J.A. (Koos) Smit 1970

Web Site:
http://www.e-family.co.za

Thanks to research by:

Ron Smit ronsmit@intekom.co.za