Prior to the coming of the white man, this area was populated by San ("Bushmen"), who were hunter gatherers and Khoi ("Hottentots") who were semi-nomadic pastoral people. The San had no conception of "property" while to the Khoi, and later the blacks and whites as well, cattle and other livestock represented wealth. Consequently hunting (or poaching, depending on the point of view) was always a source of aggravation. Sadly, the San were ultimately hunted nearly to extinction by all races and little remains of their heritage from East Africa right through to the Cape except their celebrated rock art.
During the 18th century Dutch speakers from the west began to settle and farm in the district while Xhosa were appearing in the Zuurveld to the east. Pressure on both sides to expand created friction between these two races. And so were laid the foundations of black/white conflict in South Africa with a series of "Frontier Wars" which started while the Cape was still under Dutch rule and continued for many years after the British took control.
Lord Charles Somerset, the governor at the Cape from 1814 to 1826, founded in 1814 an experimental farm in the shadow of the Boschberg. Here many different crops were grown, including tobacco which was in short supply due to the British-American War. After the ending of that war, tobacco production on the farm ceased but it continued to help provision the army garrison.
In 1825 a township was laid out on the grounds of this farm and was named after Lord Somerset. The "East" was to distinguish it from the other Somerset ("West") near Cape Town.
The first street of this new township was Paulet Street, at the foot of the Boschberg, and still contains many properties dating from this early era.
In 1835 a volunteer mounted unit of about 170 of the town's citizens was formed to take part in the 6th Frontier War and also saw action in subsequent wars.
When Dr William Gill, the district surgeon, died in 1863 he bequeathed most of his estate for an institution of higher learning but with the stipulation that none of the money be spent on erecting or acquiring buildings. The local farmers and townsfolk clubbed together and Gill College opened in 1869.
The town has grown over the years but has remained a "small" town with much of the charm of yesteryear.
During the 18th century Dutch speakers from the west began to settle and farm in the district while Xhosa were appearing in the Zuurveld to the east. Pressure on both sides to expand created friction between these two races. And so were laid the foundations of black/white conflict in South Africa with a series of "Frontier Wars" which started while the Cape was still under Dutch rule and continued for many years after the British took control.
Lord Charles Somerset, the governor at the Cape from 1814 to 1826, founded in 1814 an experimental farm in the shadow of the Boschberg. Here many different crops were grown, including tobacco which was in short supply due to the British-American War. After the ending of that war, tobacco production on the farm ceased but it continued to help provision the army garrison.
In 1825 a township was laid out on the grounds of this farm and was named after Lord Somerset. The "East" was to distinguish it from the other Somerset ("West") near Cape Town.
The first street of this new township was Paulet Street, at the foot of the Boschberg, and still contains many properties dating from this early era.
In 1835 a volunteer mounted unit of about 170 of the town's citizens was formed to take part in the 6th Frontier War and also saw action in subsequent wars.
When Dr William Gill, the district surgeon, died in 1863 he bequeathed most of his estate for an institution of higher learning but with the stipulation that none of the money be spent on erecting or acquiring buildings. The local farmers and townsfolk clubbed together and Gill College opened in 1869.
The town has grown over the years but has remained a "small" town with much of the charm of yesteryear.
