The current owners of this property at the corner of Fenter and Strydom are the Meygaardens and have been staying here for the last 17 years. According to the book “Geskiedenis van Heidelberg 1836-1877” the first owner was a Mr F Kilian. This could have been a mistake on the F. as in my research I cannot find a F. Kilian.
It is estimated that the house was built in the 1890’s, if the building material that was used is anything to go by. In the 1980’s, apparently one of the TV program Trompie’s episodes was filmed at the property with a baboon on the veranda. The Late Ex President of South Africa’s ex wife Winnie Mandela also had a movie filmed at the property. The name of the movie was Mrs M.

Petrus Johannes Justus Daniel Kilian (1850-1941)
P.J.J.D. Kilian was born in the Harrismith district on the 24th of February 1850, the son of a Voortrekker. After fighting for the Free State in the Basuto-War of the 1860s, he moved to Heidelberg in 1868. In 1869 he married Regina Geere of Boskop. After her death in 1874 he married Elsje Meyer, when he bought the farm Braklaagte.

In 1878 he became a Widower again. Two years later he left his three daughters under the care of his sister for a business trip to Pietermaritzburg. He just arrived there when he heard of the start of the First Freedom War and quickly returned to the Transvaal and participated in a number of battles ending eventually at Amajuba.
He was the messenger that brought the report of the victory of the battle of Amajuba to the triumvirate in Heidelberg.

In 1881 he sold Braklaagte and bought Boskop with his third wife, Maria de Lange, staying there for the next forty years. Because he wanted to be close to the church, he spent his last 21 years in their townhouse in Heidelberg. He died on the 10th of November 1941 in his 92nd year.
As a Churchman, he was an elder of the Congregation already in the thatch church. He was an admirer of ds. A.J. Louw and the district of “Onderste Rooikoppie” was under his care. 

Petrus Kilian’s greatest sacrifice was during the Second Anglo-Boer War, when he was irreparably mutilated in the battle of Bosrand at the Tugela. He was three months out of action, but learnt quickly picked up the mauser and using only one arm continued the struggle until the bitter end. 
He was in the Commando of Stefanus Buys and often presented the evening worship service. It was highly appreciated except one day when a “burger” complained, “Maar die Oom Petrus kan darem gerus n bietjie korter bid!”

A hero from Heidelberg
With the victory on the 27th of February 1881 at Amajuba and the English leader, sir Pomeroy Colley mortally wounded, the Republic became independent once more. With this spirit of victory, the Boers walked amongst the battlefield victims. Petrus Kilian from Boskop, Heidelberg, came across the dying Colley. Enemy to Enemy. With a spirit of mercy and Christianity: Kilian takes Colley’s own helmet and holds it above the dying man’s face to protect it from the scolding sun. And maybe some water from his water bottle for the parched lips until the man died.

Kilian was given the noble and difficult task of taking the good news to the government. It had rained a lot and the rivers were full. His task was full of danger. He began his journey between 11-12 o’clock that afternoon, swimming through the Klip River, and Kammandospruit, arriving at the farm of a Botha where he rested. The next day he managed to get through a drift and that evening slept by family of his wife. En then travelled to where Villiers now is where he crossed the Vaal river on a pont. By Mrs Nieuwenhuize, on the other side of the Vaal, he managed to obtain a fresh horse with the name of Kolberg. Op Lammermoor by Gouws he rested and late in the afternoon arrived in the lager of Brinksdorp. A person can imagine the rejoicing of the news that was brought to the lager. 

(Source: Translated from the original Afrikaans in “Aan God Alleen Die Eer” by Dr. A.E. Faul Bosman)      

Kilian, Petrus, Farm Bosoord/Boskop. Son of a Voortrekker. Mormon-like appearance. Rode with a bible in one hand and a mauser in the other. He was 15 when he fought in the Basuto War. 

Widowed 3 times, before he fought with the Heidelbergers at Bronkhurstspruit, Wakkerstroom and Ingogo (Schuinshoogte). Fought at Majuba Mountain on the 27th February 1881. Asst Vk Christiaan de Wet led the Heidelbergers up Majuba. Kilian’s Wesley Richards rifle overheated so he picked up a Martini-Henry and continued firing. At one occasion he lined up three Highlanders and shot them with one shot. 
While walking around after, he squatted next to a dying man, shielding his eyes from the sun’s glare. A bullet entered the man’s right eye and exited behind the left ear. General Joubert pointed out that the man was Colley. They held a short servicean the man died in Kilian’s arms.

The next morning Kilian was selected to take the message of victory to the Triumvirate government at Heidelberg. He galloped over veld and swam flooded rivers for 20 hours, arriving exhausted. After delivering the message, he laid on a lawn. Paul Kruger came out of his house and stated that Kilian’s ride would rank beside Majuba as a victory of the spirit.

During the 2nd Anglo-Boer war, he was hurt when retreating at the Battle of Bosrand (Cingola) 17.2.1900. His horse  hit a wire fence hidden in the grass and he flew over its head hitting the bone-hard earth shattering his left arm and shoulder. While his arm was set by Dr O’Reilly, he devised a wooden rifle support and practised mounting and dismounting his horse and Joined Kmdt Buys in the Freestate.
April 1901.  Petrus Kilian found that his broken shoulder and arm was so painful that he could not properly discharge his duties as a veldkornet.  He asked commandant Buys to appoint someone else.  Buys reply, “I’ll place your men under the command of veldkornet Hans Grobler”.

Petrus Kilian’s son, Justus, 13, was nick named by Oubaas (old boss).  He and his brother, Adriaan, 9, were initially responsible for hearding their fathers cattle, but after their farmhouse at Boskop was burnt down Justus joined his father on commando, whereas Adriaan remained with his mother.  
During the war, Petrrus Killian’s party had come across over 3000 sheep that had been killed near Villiers at the Vaal river’s edge. As the sheep refused to ford the river, they were shot by the British. 
Petrus was at his devastated farm when he received a message to go to Kraalstation.  Kilian surrendered his rifle at Heidelberg that afternoon.  The British had erected a tent camp alongside the Blesbokspruit for the disarmed Boers.  He purchased clothing at Schultz’s store the following morning, then left by train for Vereeniging to fetch his family at the concentration camp.  They were reunited the following day, and Kilian thanked God that they were all alive.

Petrus Kilian had lived on his farm until 1920, when he moved to Heidelberg to be closer to his church.  His younger son, Nico, recorded his war experiences and another son, Justus, who was the minister of the church wrote the book, “Laat ons  Veg”, which was published in 1975.  Petrus died in 1941 at the age of 91 years.  He is buried in the kloof cemetery.

Killian, Justus, rode with his father, through the hail of bullets.  He noticed Piet Kruger, 16, on his knees crying, “Ag! Help me”.  He flashed past crouched over his horse’s neck, then had a twinge of conscience and turned back.  Kruger hobbled up on one leg and said “help me, I am badly wounded.” The bullet which passed through his leg had killed his horse. Justus helped him.
Justus became a minister of the church

(Source: “Heidelbergers of the Boer War” by Ian Uys)