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Name: VILJOEN, Jan

Birth Date: 24 Nov 1870 Rustenburg, Transvaa

Death Date: 16 May 1916 Tanganyika

First Date: 1906

Last Date: 1916

Profession: Farmer

Area: Nakuru, Hut has J. P. Viljoen 1909 Nakuru, Lower Molo

Married: Maria Magdalena Christina Wilhelmina de Waal

Children: Maria Magdalena (16 Mar 1915 Kenya-4 July 1975 Salisbury, Zimbabwe)

Book Reference: SE, Eldoret, Hut, Pioneers, Barnes, Habari 2009

General Information:

SE - J. Viljoen - Nakuru - June 1908
Pioneers - Eldoret - Letter to Mr A. Cloete - Dear Anaak,  Yes, this long ago history you will have to show John de Waal, as he knows a lot about the things that happened then. Bon van Breda was pushed over the Portuguese Boundary by the English Forces in 1900 with other Burghers, as also John de Waal, but Bon managed to get away from the army and by slow stages arrived in Lourenco Marques. From there in early 1901 he took ship to Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. He worked sub-contracting somewhere near Nakuru. From there he joined a small party on a shooting expedition. They passed Eldama Ravine and on to the Plateau by native footpaths in 1901. In 1902, at the termination of the S.A. War, he went back and brought his two brothers, Dirk and Piet, with him in the middle of 1903. They applied and each received 10,000 acres. At the end of 1903 Dirk met Dad in Jo'burg and told him about the country. At the end of 1904 Dad and I came up, but the war with the Nandi was on. I stayed in Naivasha. ………… …
In October 1905 my father and family arrived, also John de Waal in 1906 approx. One month after, Janie and Jan Viljoen came with their families. Together we trekked up to Nakuru with our stock, with untrained oxen. …… ……At the beginning of 1907 Dad and John de Waal and D and B van Breda took a trolley on the Sclater's Road, and that was the first wagon ever to be on the Plateau. Shortly after that I took our big wagon with Mother, Madge and Jos through. This was a very hard journey. So our family was the first to be on the Plateau as a family. ….. …..
At the end of 1908 van Rensburg's trek came in. They all landed at Nakuru. After an expedition to the Plateau, they left early in 1909 (March approx.) I went with them, taking a load for us. From 1907, the first time we went up with the family, there was always one or other of us on the Plateau with the sheep and cattle ……. Ever Yours C.V. Cloete (C. Valerius 'Sonnie' Cloete)
Barnes - Nairobi South Cemetery - Jan Viljoen, born 24 Nov 1870, died 16 May 1916 aged 45
Habari 2009 - At the end of 1906, the Arnoldis, John de Waal and the Cloetes, joined by the Viljoens and Fred Loxton from Bethal, trekked with all their possessions to Nakuru. From there, in the beginning of 1907, Frans Arnoldi and John de Waal, accompanied by Sonny Cloete's father, Abraham Joubert and Fred Loxton travelled by ox wagon up the western wall of the Rift Valley to the Plateau (a hazardous journey lasting 2 months) where they stayed with the Van Breda brothers. Afterwards they settled on the Plateau.
Eldoret - letter from C.V. Cloete - "In October 1905 Father and family arrived, also John de Waal in 1906  approx. 1 month after Janie and Jan Viljoen came with their families. ... the Viljoens went to Lower Molo …"

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