Neeltje Weeda's 1730 Twins

Neeltje Weeda was baptized on 23 December 1708 in Westmaas, Holland. Her parents are my ancestors Pieter Claessen Weeda and Adriaantje Hendriks van der Giessen. Neeltje's father may have died around 1721, when Neeltje was approximately 12 years old.
Neeltje Weeda was not yet 21 years old when she was married on 23 October 1729 in Westmaas to Willem Wesselse Bongaarts. Willem was born in Neukirchen, located west of Moers in Germany.

On May 29, 1730, Neeltje Weeda gave birth to twins named Wessel and Pieter. They were baptized on June 4 with witnesses Johanna Claas Herman and Hendriksjen van der Waal. Both sons would grow up and marry. Neeltje Weeda and Willem Bongaarts were to have a total of 12 children, although at least 3 of them died young.

Neeltje's elder brother Cornelis Weeda was married in 1731 to Marijgje Tuck, a daughter of my ancestor Crijn Jansz. Tuck. Another brother, Claas Weeda, married twice, and is my ancestor through his daughter Neeltje Weeda (±1736-1809).

Martiena Maria de Kok travelled to Argentina

 Martiena Maria de Kok was born on November 10, 1852, around 23:00 in Krabbendijke, Zuid-Beveland, Zeeland, The Netherlands. Her parents, Jacobus de Kok and Gillina de Hamer, were married in Krabbendijke on March 13, 1851. Martiena Maria's younger siblings were all born in nearby Rilland.

 Martina Maria was working as a maidservant when she was married on May 4, 1876, in nearby Kruiningen to labourer Lucas de Jonge. Lucas was born in Kruiningen on July 29, 1850. His parents were labourer Dingenis de Jonge (1825-1907) and his wife Willemina van Weele.
 Marina Maria's eldest daughter Wilhelmina Jacoba de Jonge was born on February 20, 1877, in Kruiningen, Zuid-Beveland, Zeeland. Another daughter, Hellina de Jonge, was born on June 14, 1878, in Poortvliet, Tholen, Zeeland. Their first son, Jacobus Dingenus, was born there, too, on November 10, 1880. Their 10th child, Johannes, was born on February 13, 1889, in Yerseke, Zuid-Beveland, Zeeland.

 The couple traveled with their children to Buenos-Aires in Argentina.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 2-2-1906

Lucia van Loon (1759-1838) had children with 3 husbands

Lucia van Loon was baptized on 3-6-1759 in Essen, Belgium. Her parents, Johannes van Loon and Petronilla van Velthoven, were married on 3-5-1756 in Nispen-Essen. Nispen is a village located just south of the current Dutch-Belgian border, while Essen is located just north of it.

On 3-1-1778 in Nispen-Essen Lucia was married to Petrus Hertoghs. They had 2 sons and a daughter before he was buried on 4-3-1785 in Nispen-Essen.

On 4-7-1785 in Nispen-Essen Lucia was married to Joannes van Ginderen. They had a daughter before he was buried on 19-12-787 in Nispen-Essen.

On 9-6-1788 in Nispen-Essen Lucia was married to Paschasius Goossens. Adrianus van de Sanden and Maria Schelpheuvel were witnesses at their marriage. Paschasius was baptized on 22-7-1762 in Nispen-Essen. His parents, Joannes Goossens and Anna Deckers, were married in Nispen-Essen op 9-10-1757. Paschasius and Lucia had 5 children together before he died on 24-10-1828 in Kalmthout, Belgium.

Lucia van Loon died there on 27-1-1838.

Lucia van Loon and Paschasius Goossens were married on 9-6-1788 in Nispen-Essen

Maria Nagtegaal (1793-1823) had an illegitimate son

Jacob Nagtegaal (1746-1804) was a widower and living in Melissant, when he married Jacomijntje Visbeen (1764-1842) on 27 January 1793 in Dirksland. Ten months later, on 1 November 1793 Jacomijntje Visbeen gave birth to twin daughters Maria and Dingena. They were baptized in Dirksland on the 10th with widnesses Willemijntje Visbeen (mother's sister) and Ariaantje den Heek. Jacob had a daughter Arendje (1778-1822) from his first marriage. He subsequently had 3 sons named Jacob (1798-1848), Dingeman (1800-1849) and Leendert (1802-1845). When Jacob’s death was registered on 13 December 1804 in Melissant, his twin daughters were 11 years old.

Twins Maria and Dingena Nagtegaal were baptized in Dirksland on 10-11-1793.

Maria Nagtegaal (also: Nachtegaal) was 22 years old and unmarried, when she gave birth on 8 October 1816 in Dirksland to a son named Pieter. None of Maria’s brothers or uncles were named Pieter, so she may have named her son after his unknown father.

Description of Pieter Nagtegaal (1816-48)

Maria Nagtegaal, aged 29, died on 30 October 1823 in Goedereede when her son was just 7 years old. Maria’s twin sister, Dingena, remained unmarried, too, and died on 15 May 1825, aged 31. Maria’s mother, Jacomijntje Visbeen, died on 9 October 1842 in Melissant, aged 77. By 1850 all of Maria’s siblings had died, too, all before the age of 50.

Maria’s son Pieter was married on 13 May 1837 in Melissant. The documents presented at his marriage mention his maternal grandparents. Pieter had blue eyes and blonde hair, and a broad nose. Pieter’s bride was Cornelia Palingdood (1814-1898). She was born on 16 January 1814 in Dirksland, and her parents are Beschier Palingdood (1779-1833) and his wife Plonia van Gilst.
Pieter was to have children named Maria, Beschier, Jacob, Plona and Jacomina. His son Jacob Nagtegaal (1842-1909) had a son named Pieter Nagtegaal who was to reach the age of 96. Maria’s son Pieter died on 18 October 1848 in Melissant, 32 years old. Cornelia Palingdood remained a widow for 49 years, and died on 30 June 1898 in Melissant, aged 84.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, Districtklappers Zuid-Holland.

The divorce of Dirkje Vroegindeweij (1865-1924)

Vroegindeweij - also written as “Vroeg in de Weij” - is an interesting surname that can be translated as “early in the meadow”. The family descends from Dammis Vroegindeweij who was - in the 17th century - living in 's-Gravendeel, Holland.

Dirkje Vroegindeweij was born on 26 December 1865 in Dirksland, Holland. Het parents are Arij Vroegindeweij (1838-1918) and Hester Soldaat (1843-1929). Dirkje was named after her paternal grandmother Dirkje Gardenier (1805-1858). Dirkje's younger siblings were named Aren (1867-1932), David, Cornelis, Simon and Gerard (1887-1942).

Aged 20, Dirkje Vroegindeweij was married on 21 April 1886 in Zierikzee, Zeeland, to painter Adrianus Marinus Phernambucq. He was born in Zierikzee on 14 May 1856. His parents are Neeltje Trouw (1829-1890) and painter Pieter Roeland Phernambucq (1829-1901). The father of Pieter Roeland, painter Adrianus Phernambucq, had in 1867 emigrated to the U.S.A.
During her first marriage with Adrianus Marinus Pernambucq, Dirkje was 8 times pregnant. Their surviving children were named Pieter Roeland, Hester, Jacobus Johannes, Arij and Marinus, all born in Zierikzee. Finally, Neeltje gave birth on 10 February 1896 in Rotterdam to a death baby girl. Just a few weeks later, on 2 March 1896, the Court in Zierikzee pronounced her divorce - based on adultery committed by Dirkje. Adrianus Marinus Phernambucq died that same year, on 31 October 1896, in Zierikzee.

Zierikzeesche Nieuwsbode, 31-3-1896

Dirkje Vroegindeweij, aged 36, married Dirk Hendrik Hoek on 10 September 1902 in Rotterdam. He was born on 22 January 1872 in Steenbergen. His parents are Arie Hendrik Hoek (1834-1878) and Catharina Johanna Bierens. Dirkje's second marriage remained childless.

Surname Saturday - Schoonderwoerd

Schoonderwoerd is a toponym, a surname derived from a place name. Schoondrewoerd is a village located in the middle of The Netherlands in an area known as Vijfheerenlanden (literally “land with 5 lords”). Among the 5 lords that the area derives its name from are the medieval Lords of Arkel that are likely my ancestors, too. Schoondrewoerd ceased to be an autonomous village in 1986, when it became part of Leerdam.

One of my ancestors is 16th-century Wouter Maesz. One of his grandsons is Wouter Maesz. Schoonderwoert who originated in Woudrichem and later moved to Hoornaar. Wouter had 2 wives: Vijverke Gijsberts (±1625-1659) and Adriaentge Willems. Wouter II and his first wive had a grandson named Wouter Maaez Schoonderwoert, too. This Wouter III married his half-cousin Neeltien Willems Schoonderwoert, a granddaughter of Wouter II and his second wife. Wouter III and his half-cousin had 7 children.

Wouter Maesz Schoonderwoert (II)
x Vijverke Gijsberts    - Maes     - Wouter x    - 7 children
x Adriaentge Willems    - Willem   - Neeltien      incl. Maes

John Terlouw (1848-1919) in Pella

Pella in Marion County in Iowa was founded in 1847 when some 800 Dutch immigrants led by Minister Hendrik Pieter (“Henry”) Scholte settled the area. Among them was Jan Terlouw (1825-1908), younger son of Jan Terlouw  (±1786-1850) and Grietje den Ottolander (1787-1849). Grietje is a paternal descendant of my 16th-century ancestor Vastert Adriaansz.

The first Jan Terlouw (1825-1908) with his family.

Jan Terlouw sr., the first emigrant, had some elder brothers, including Huijbert Terlouw (1816-1902). Huibert and his first wife, Maaijke de Groot (1826-1852), had an only child, Jan Terlouw jr., born on 27 July 1848 in Noordeloos, South Holland, The Netherlands. After Maaijke's early death, aged 26, on 22 January 1852 in Langerak, Utrecht, The Netherlands, Huijbert married there on 1 April 1853 Hilligje de Jong (1817-1894), widow of Cornelis Maat (1802-1849) and mother of several children. Hilligje is a descendant of my ancestors Hillige Teunisse and Claes Adriaensz Brand (±1616-±1673). Hilligje and Huibert had 4 additional children. 
Jan Terlouw jr. was married on 23 January 1880 in Vianen, Utrecht, to Bartje Bogaard (1848-1899) of Vianen. They had the following children: Maaijke (1880), Johanna (1881), Grietje (“Gertie”), Huijbert (1884), Jacoba (1886), Bastiaan (died young) and Bastiaantje (1889). After Bartje's death on 20 February 1899 in Langerak, aged 50, her widower Jan Terlouw emigrated to the Pella, Iowa, USA, and took the name “John”. He died there on 24 August 1919.

Huizer ancestors of emigrant Bastiaan Klap

Laborer Bastiaan Klap (18) traveled in 1889 to Argentina, hoping for an "amelioration" of his existence.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 5-11-1903

Bastiaan Klap was born on July 14, 1868, in Kapelle, Zeeland, The Netherlands. He was the eldest surviving son of Willem Klap en Neeltje Christina Huizer who were married on November 2, 1866, in Kapelle. 
Bastiaan's maternal grandparents were Bastiaan Huizer and his first wife, Kaatje Kister. After the death of his first wife, Bastiaan married widow Maria van de Vrie in Kapelle in 1862. Bastiaan died there on January 19, 1882.
Bastiaan Huizer was born in Ridderkerk and subsequently baptized in IJsselmonde on February 6, 1805. He is a son Cornelis Huizer and Neeltje Smit(s) who were married in Ridderkerk on 18 May1794. Bastiaan's father, Cornelis Huizer, had a twin sister Marijtje, and they were both baptized on December 8, 1771, in Ridderkerk. Their parents were Jan Hendrikse Huizer (1732-1795) and his wife Wijntje Cornelisse Erkelens (1732-1795).

Soldier Arie Koomans (1789-1812)

Pieter Koomans (1750-1802) of Strijen, Holland, had eight children with his first wive, Jannigje Bezemer (±1760-1798), but just two them - Arie and Jannigje - seem to have survived to adulthood. 

Strijen

Pieter's eldest surviving son, Arie Koomans, was born on April 2, 1789, and baptised in Strijen on the 5th. His next children, daughters Jannigje and Maria, were born subsequently in 1790 and 1792. Three little sons named Andreas all died young. Pieter's first wife, Jannigje Bezemer, died in May 1798. With his second wife, Adriana Moerkerken (1773-1850), Pieter had had one son named Andreas. After just 2 years of marriage with his second wife, Pieter Koomans died in May 1802, leaving his son Arie an orphan at age 13. Arie's stepmother was remarried in 1803 to Bernardus Bremken (1762-1808) and next in 1810 to Pieter Berrevoets (1775-1861).

In early 1795, intervention by French revolutionary forces had led to the downfall of the old Dutch Republic. The Dutch departments were incorporated in the French Empire by decree on 9 July, 1810. In the summer of 1812, before the invasion of Russia, Napoleon assembled new troops from all over Western Europe for his Grande Armée.
Arie Koomans was send to France, and incorporated into the 9th artillery regiment¹. The artillery was the part of Napoleon's army that fired its cannons. Arie was taken to a hospital on October 12, 1812. He died on October 28 in Douai, France, aged 23. His death was registered in Strijen on April 9, 1813.

Arie's surviving sister Jannigje was married, had several children, and died in 1831 in Hardinxveld. Their half-brother Andreas (1800-1842) married, moved to Delft, Holland, and had descendants, too. Step-brother Hendrik Bremken (1803-1865) and step-sister Cornelia Bervoets (1818-1906) were both married, too.

Note 1: Arie's army number was 2728.

Sources: Archieven.nl, WieWasWie.nl.

Longevity ~ Pieter & Pieternella Nagtegaal, both 96

Pieter Nagtegaal was born on 5 November 1874 in Melissant as the eldest son of Jacob Nagtegaal (1842-1909) and his wife Neeltje Molenaar who were married on 28 April 1870 in Melissant. Pieter had several younger siblings.
On 5 November 1897 in Melissant Pieter was married to Maria van Oudenaren. She was born on 11 September 1877 in Melissant as the second child of Leendert van Oudenaren en Wilhelmina van Lenten. The couple had 5 children who were to reach adulthood: Neeltje (1900-1959), Wilhelmina (1901-1984), Pieternella, Leendert Jacob (1904-1999) and Cornelis (±1909-1943).

Eilanden-nieuws, 6-11-1970

In 1962 Pieter Nagtegaal and Maria van Oudenaren celebrated 65 years of marriage. Maria died around Christmas 1966, aged 89. On 5 November 1970 Pieter Nagtegaal was 96 years old, blind, and the oldest resident of Melissant. He died in Melissant on 11 December 1970 around 22:00. He was buried on the 15th. On 7 January 1971 his descendants expressed their gratitude for the compassion shown after Pieter's death.

How Cent Bos descends from Centje Cente

Cent is a first name prevalent among my paternal ancestors within the Bos family on the island Hoeksche Waard in Holland. The family originated in Puttershoek. Later, they were living in Numansdorp. In the early 19th century my ancestral branch moved to Cillaarshoek.
My father, Teun Bos, was named after his grandfather, who was a grandson of Cent Leenderts Bos (±1787-1869). When following the line of the eldest sons, however, a Cent Jacob Bos (1922-1988) can be found. In this post I'll show the ancestors of his cousin Cent Bos (1908-1997).

1. Cent Bos was born on 11-3-1908 in Cillaarshoek. He died on 15-3-1997. 
2. Pieter Bos (1882-1963) was married in 1907 to Hermina Vermeulen (1886-1965).
3. Cent Bos was born on 5-9-1845 in Cillaarshoek and died there on 4-11-1917. He was married on 4-5-1876 in Maasdam to Adriaantje (“Jaantje”) van Steensel. She was born on 9-10-1851 in Strijen and died on 18-8-1940 in Cillaarshoek Jaantje's grandmother was Jannigje Cente Bos (1758-1828), a daughter of Cent Leenderts Bos (1723-1783).
4. Cornelis Bos (1813-1888) was married to Kommertje Hoek (1812-1859) in 1842 in Maasdam. Secondly he married Neeltje van Houten (1838-1887) in Maasdam in 1860.
5. Cent Leenderts Bos (±1787-1869) was married to Barbara van der Giessen (1787-1857). Their children were baptised in Cillaarshoek.
6. Leendert Cente Bos (1755-1830) was married to Hendrina van Kooten (±1763-1821) in 1786 in Numansdorp. Their youngest son Leendert Bos (1804-1863) was baptised in Cillaarshoek.
7. Cent Leendert Bos (1723-1783) was married to Magteltje Reijerkerk of Heinenoord in 1746 in Numansdorp.
8. Pleuntje Cente Bosman (1692-1767) was married to Leendert Cornelisse Bos (1693-±1725) around 1717. She married secondly Laurens Jacobsz Lievaart (±1675-1740 in 1728 in Numansdorp. Around 1742 she was married thirdly to Tielman Barendsz. Her first husband, Leender Bos, was a son of Cornelis Gijsberts Bos (1655-1731) and Lijsbeth Stevens (1659-1705).
9. Cent Cornelisse Bosman (1666-1756) was married to Hendrikje Dwarswaard. He married secondly Marike Gerrits Steen (±1677-1755) in 1705 in Numansdorp
10. Cornelis Centsz of Puttershoek was married in 1666 in Heinenoord to Barber Jans Boer (1641-1720).
11. Cent Gijsbertsen of Puttershoek was married in 1610 to one Neeltgie Arijens. The mother of his son Cornelis, however, was his second wife, Maergien Cornelisse, whom he married in 1634 in Puttershoek.
12. Centje Cente was married to Gijsbert Gerrits Boschman. In 1630 in Puttershoek she married secondly one Cornelis Cornelisz.

Numansdorp

Jan & Hester Vroegindeweij in the U.S.A.

In the autumn of 1947 Jan Vroegindeweij, his wife Hester Vroegindeweij, and their 3 children were in The Netherlands for a family visit. They were staying with Jan's parents David Vroegindeweij (1881-1949) and Lucretia Geertruida Schilperoord (1882-1973). During WWII Jan had been working in an ammunition factory.

Eilanden-nieuws, 22-11-1947

Vroegindeweij is an interesting surname that can be translated as “early in the meadow” and is sometimes written as “Vroeg in de Weij”. Both Jan and Hester descend from Dammis Vroegindeweij who was living in 's-Gravendeel, Holland, in the 17th century. They have a more recent common ancestor in Dammis Claesz Vroegindeweij (1731-1775).

Hester Vroegindeweij was born on 9 June 1909 in Dirksland in Holland. Her parents are Simon Vroegindeweij and Leentje van Es. Hester was named after her grandmother Hester Soldaat (1843-1929), wife of Arij Vroegindeweij (1838-1918).
It's likely that Hester emigrated to the U.S.A. with her parents - sometime after 1923. Simon's elder brother Cornelis Vroegindeweij emigrated to the U.S.A. in april 1930, taking his children with him, too.
The 3 children accompanying Jan and Hester to Holland in 1947 were Lucretia Geertruida, Elaine and Cornelis Johan. Another son, David Simon (“Daaf”), was born on 20 November 1949 in Paterson, New Jersey.

Eilanden-nieuws, 30-11-1949

Latin Terms - Copulatio & Matrimonium

When doing genealogical research, you may - once in a while - stumble upon some words of Latin. For centuries, the church provided for baptisms and burials, and Latin has been the standard for the Roman Catholic liturgy since the 6th century. In the "Latin Term" Series I try to explain some Latin Terms that can be found in genealogical documents.

The Latin word “proclamation” denotes the “announcement of a proposed marriage”. A related Latin term is “matrimonium contrahunt” which means “getting married”. The related word “matrimonio” is Italian for “marriage”. 

The Latin term “copulatio” is used to denote a “marriage ceremony”. The corresponding verb is “copulare”, which means “to join together”. The term was used in catholic churches when a man and a women were married. Nowadays in English the meaning of the verb “to copulate” is somewhat different, but that word originates from the same Latin term.

After the marriage ceremony the couple are “coniuges”, i.e. “spouses”, and one spouse is a “coniunx”.

Latin	English
coniuges	spouses
copulare	to join together
copulatio	marriage ceremony
copulationis	of marriage
copulati sunt	they were married, joined
copulatus	married, joined
copulavit	he married (performed a wedding)
matrimonium	marriage
matrimonium contrahunt	getting married
per subsequens matrimonium legitimatus	legitimized by subsequent marriage
proclamation	announcement (of a proposed marriage)

See also: bhic.nl, FamilySearch.org/wiki.

2 couples married in the English Church in Dordrecht in 1728

“On the 4th of Julii 1728 the banns of marriage publish’d between Anthony Knogh, widr., and Katherin van Pelt, j.dr., both living in this town, and also between Thomas Wadeley, widowr. living at Rotterdam, and Elizabet Payne, widow to Richard Banks, living in this town, and that for the first time, the 11th dito for the 2nd time, and on the 18th for the 3rd time, and the two first were then married by our minister in the morning service, immediately after sermon. On the 1st of August the two last, viz. Thom. Wadely and Elisabeth Payne were married.”

Elizabeth Paine was the widow of Richard Pense and she was born in England. At the time of her marriage she was living just outside of one of the city gates of Dordrecht. Thomas Wadeley was widower of Mary Smith whom he had married on 24 October 1724 in Rotterdam in the English Episcopal Church. They couple were married on 1 August 1728 in the English Church in Dordrecht.

Widower Thomas Watleij married widow Elzabeth Paine on 1 August 1728.

Catharina van Pelt was assisted by her aunt, and had received permission from her guardian Hendrik van Pelt. Anthonij Knogh was a widower. He was baptized on 10 March 1698 in Dordrecht. His parents are Pieter Knoch and Pieternella de Jager.
Anthonij Knogh and Catharina van Pelt had 3 children, named Pieternella Elisabeth (baptized on 26 February 1734, buried on 20 May 1734), Pieter (baptized on 12 October 1735) and Paulus (baptized on 8 May 1737). One of the children of Anthonij Knogh was buried on 7 July 1736.

Wedding Wednesday ~ Jacoba Johanna Naaktgeboren

In Zwijndrecht on Thursday 23 December 1926 Jacoba Johanna Naaktgeboren (22) and Cornelis Stok (23) were married. Cornelis was born in Zwijndrecht. His parents are Corstiaan Stok (1864-1943) and Antonia Vorster (1868-1948). Jacoba Johanna was born in The Hague. Her parents are Adrianus Naaktgeboren (1862-1950) and Johanna de Rooij (1873-1947). Johanna is a daugher of Willem Marinus de Rooij (1853-1933) and Christina Jacoba Faassen (1854-1936), who descends from my ancestor Lodewijk Faassen (1746-1816).

Cornelis Stok & Jacoba Johanna Naaktgeboren

Willem Hendrik Kooijman of Vianen

In 1928, Willem Hendrik Kooijman (37), his wife Grietje (37) and their sons Frederick (14) and Albert (9) crossed the border from Canada to the United States.

Willem Hendrik Kooijman was born on 1 November 1890 in Vianen, Utrecht. His parents are Frederik Kooijman (1856-1924) of Vianen and Frederike Niemann of Hagen, Westphalia, Germany, who were married in Vianen on 28 October 1887. His paternal grandparents are Cornelis Kooijman (1825-1909) and Maria Adriana van de Koppel. His paternal great-grandparents are Aart Kooijman and Adriana de Bont (1802-1846).

Bigamist Theodoor Theeuwissen in Brussels

Theodorus (“Theodoor”) Theeuwissen was born in Breda, The Netherlands, on July 10, 1821, around 23:00. His parents were Johannes Frederik Theeuwissen (1797-1857), shopkeeper in Breda, and his wife Adriana Joanna de Vet (1799-1854). Other siblings were Hendrika, Johanna, Johannes, Wilhelmina and Cornelis Goverdinus Teeuwissen.

In 1846 in Brussels in Belgium Theodoor Theeuwissen married a woman named Delphine Haijims. He fathered 4 children with her before he left.

In Marseille in France in 1864 Theodoor married Victorine Discours. Victorine was already pregnant, when she found out that her new husband was still married to another woman. She was the one who filed a complaint against her husband. As a result of that Theodoor Theeuwissen was convicted to a five-year prison sentence.

Algemeen Handelsblad (newspaper), 28-9-1865

The newspaper clipping above also mentions that Theodoor Theeuwissen was working as a printer and typesetter.

Sources: Delpher.nl, StadsArchief.Breda.nl, BHIC.nl, WieWasWie.nl.

Surname Saturday - Hoppel

“Ons Voorgeslacht” is a magazine for genealogy in Holland. In 1957 it featured an article by J. MacLean describing the Hoppel family in Heerjansdam. Since then K.J. Slijkerman has found some addition information about this family.

Mathias Hoppel was a pastor in Heerjansdam in the period 1583-1616. He had moved there from the area around Aachen in Germany. His wife’s given name was Maeijke. Their known children are Aert, Sara, Abraham and Hendrik. Weakened due to old age, Mathias retired in 1616. 

Mathias' son Abraham was discredited in the summer of 1614 when Vranck Corneliss van Esch made a declaration that one evening, when he was working on his land, Vranck had seen Abraham Hoppel, completely naked and smelly, and carrying a knife. It was just moments after Abraham had tried to rape two young women, Aeltgen and Meijnsken, daughters of Aert and Lijsbet Pieters. Abraham Hoppel was ordered to pay their mother 12 pounds.
Despite this gross misbehavior, Abraham was a member of the local water authority in 1619, 1624 and 1625.

Hendrik Hoppel, another son of Matthias, was married to Ingetje, daughter of Bastiaan, who had brothers Leonardt and Pleun. Hendrik had surviving children named Bastiaen, Hendrik, Marija, Arien, Hendricxie and Maeijken. In 1619 Hendrik is mentioned as being 40 years old, so he was born around 1579.
I descend from Hendrik’s son of the same name whose daughter Maeijke married Cornelis Leenheer (±1638-1709) on 10 April 1662 in Heerjansdam.

Sources: J. MacLean: Ons Voorgeslacht 1957; K.J. Slijkerman: Ons Voorgeslacht 1999, Kronieken 2000.

Longevity ~ Sina Kamerling (98)

Funeral Ad of Sina Kamerling
(Eilanden-Nieuws, 9-4-2002)

Sina Kamerling was born in the autumn of 1903 in Oude-Tonge on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee in Holland. She was a younger daughter of Aren Kamerling (1861-1923) and his wife Klazina Adriana van der Tulp (1867-1959).

In 1921 Sina's elder brother Nicolaas Kamerling (1894-1971) married Cornelia Markus (1899-1976). She was one of the many children of Job Markus (1865-1937) and his wife Cornelia van der Made (1867-1942). It was one of Cornelia's younger siblings, Cornelis (“Cor”) Markus, who came to the attention of Sina Kamerling. Sina (23) and Cor (22) were married on October 22, 1926 in Nieuwe Tonge.

Before World War II, Sina Kamerling gave birth to Cornelia, Aren, Klaas Adriaan, Dirkje and a stillborn child. After the war an additional child was born: Adrianus, known as “Adrie”. He was to marry Annelies Swanette Käte Schulz, and lived in Germany.
Sina's son Klaas Adriaan Markus, born in the summer of 1931 in Melissant, moved to Terrace, Canada. He married and had 2 children named Chantal and Adriaan. 
Sina's daughter Dirkje Markus, born in the autumn of 1936 in Nieuwe Tonge, married widower Jacob van Erkel. He had lost his wife, Lijntje Adriana van Putten, and a daughter, Willemina Maria van Erkel, during the flood of 1953. After his death at the age of 65 on October 22, 1982, in Nieuwe Tonge, Dirkje married P. de Jong. 
Sina's brother-in-law, Johannis (“Joe”) Markus, born on April 30, 1901, in nearby Dirksland, travelled the the U.S.A. in January 1921. At first he lived and worked at the farm of the Buth family. Later he worked for a diary factory in in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He married Helen Gaca. In 1955 and 1969 the couple visited The Netherlands.

Joe Markus and his wife
(Eilanden-Nieuws, 12-9-1969)

Sina's mother, Klazina Adriana van der Tulp, died on June 10, 1959, in Nieuwe Tonge, aged 92. Sina's husband, Cor Markus, died on April 21, 1983 in Sommelsdijk, at the age of 79. He was buried there on the 26th. Sina's youngest son Adrianus Markus was in bad health for years beftore he died on November 21, 2001. The next year, on April 8, Sina died in Sommelsdijk at the age of 98 years and 7 months old. The last years of her life Sina had been living in a nursing home. She was buried in Sommelsdijk on the 12th.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher Newspapers.

Tuesday's Tip - Was your ancestor married more than once?

Looking at historical records, it is not always easy to identify an ancestor who has been married more than once. Missing a marriage can often mean missing an entire branch of the family. It can also result in assigning descendants to the wrong parent. 

Among my ancestors are two men who were married five times: Pieter Huigen Blaak and Crijn Jans Tuck. Two female ancestors married four times: Ariaenken (daughter of Roel) in Sprang and Mariken (daughter of Dammas) in IJsselmonde.

See also: http://www.genealogyintime.com/GenealogyResources/Articles/look_for_missing_marriages_page1.html

4 children born before their parents' marriage

Hermanus Blekton (also Blackstone, Blikton, Blextoon, Blaxstone) is a son of Jan Blekton (†1802) and Willemijna van der Weijden (1754-1800). This family name has an English ring to it. Additionally, its many variations are an indication of a foreign origin. The family can be traced back to one Isack Blekston whose burial in Dordrecht was registered on 8-1-1704.

Hermanus was married on 18-1-1832 in Dordrecht to Neeltje Meijer. Neeltje was baptized in Dordrecht on 5-8-1796. Her parents are Abraham Meijer (†1812) and Adriana Romijn (†1808). Remarkably, upon their marriage Hermanus and Neeltje acknowledged to be the parents of 4 (!) children: Jan, registered in 1823, Abraham in 1825, Willem in 1828 and Adrianus in 1830. Willem died in December 1832. Adrianus died aged 4. Within their marriage 3 additional children were born: Jannetje, another Willem and Maria Adriana.

Dordrechtsche Courant (newspaper), 15-8-1850

Neeltje Meijer died on 21-7-1850 in Dordrecht. Hermanus Blekton died there on 18-5-1864.

Longevity ~ Willem Molendijk (91) in Mijnsheerenland

Willem Molendijk was 91 years old when he died on 25-5-1885 in Mijnsheerenland in Holland. He had been a widower for just 2 years for he had lost his wife on 25-1-1883.

Nieuwsblad, gewijd aan de belangen van de Hoeksche Waard,  IJselmonde, Kralingen & Vlaardingen, 7-5-1885

Willem Molenldijk was born on 10-5-1794 in ‘s-Gravendeel in Holland as the eldest son of Cornelis Molendijk (1772-1854) and his wife Trijntje Niemandsverdriet (1772-1853). Willem's paternal grandparents are Willem Molendijk (1736-1800) and his wife Lijsbeth (“Leijsje”) Molendijk (1743-1802). Willem's paternal great-grandparents are Adriaan Molendijk (1703-1773) and his wife Luijcksje Molendijk (±1711-1793). This Molendijk family had many branches, all descending from a Goossen Ariensz. who was married in 1689 in Ridderkerk in Holland.

Signatures of Willem Molendijk and Jannigje
van Prooijen and both their fathers.

At the age of 34, Willem Molendijk married Jannigje van Prooijen on 14-5-1828 in ‘s-Gravendeel. Jannigje was born there on 17-12-1805 as a younger daughter of Leendert van Prooijen (±1766-1843) and his first wife Aagje den Boer (1770-1809). This couple had 8 children who reached adulthood, but only 3 of them – Lijntje, Maria and Jannigje - were married. As a widower, Jannigje’s father Leendert was to remarry in 1812 in ‘s-Gravendeel. Leendert’s second wife was Lijntje Molendijk (1764-1842), widow of Jan van der Linden (†1810) and daughter of Cornelis Molendijk (±1735-1784).

Jannigje van Prooijen and Willem Molendijk had a stillborn son in May 1829. Soon, however, they had two daughters: Aagje, born on 18-4-1830, and Trijntje, born on 29-5-1831 in Mijnsheerenland. Nearly eight years later, a son Cornelis was born on 24-1-1839. Their youngest daughter Lijntje died on 3-2-1850, aged seven.

Hendrika Agatha Warbie's husband had left for Connecticut, USA

Hendrika Agatha Warbie was born on 18 September 1896 in Rotterdam, Holland, as the second daughter of Johannes Warbie (1864-1918) and Agatha Pieternella van der Toorn (1876-1945). Her parents had been married on 19 October 1892 in Rotterdam when her mother was just 16 years old. Their first daughter was born on 12 February 1894 and named Johanna Wilhelmina. Agatha Pieternella gave birth to 11 children, but most of them died in infancy. A son named Leonardus Gijsbertus Warbie (1900-1928) and a younger daughter named Agatha Warbie (1903-1956) both survived infancy, too. 

Hendrika Agatha's oldest sister, Johanna Wilhelmina, was married in 1917. Their father, Johannes Warbie, died in Rotterdam on 21 December 1918.
Hendrika Agatha Warbie was married on 20 December 1922 in Rotterdam. The groom, Franciscus Hendrikus van Waardenburg, was born on 24 December 1888 as younger son of Adrianus Wijnandus van Waardenburg en Adriana van der Torren. His grandfather and great-grandfather were also named Adrianus Wijnandus van Waardenburg and were also living in Rotterdam.
Hendrik Agatha Warbie gave birth a daughter who died on 23 March 1923 in Rotterdam before she had been given a name.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 14-8-1934

Around June 1923 Franciscus Hendrikus van Waardenburg left his wife and disappeared. The next Hendrika Agatha gave birth to a son Gerrit who died 4 months later on 23 March 1925 in Rotterdam. He can't have been her husband's son. 
As an abandoned wife, Hendrika Agatha, started divorce procedures in 1934. She didn't know what had happened to her husband since he left, and thought he may have died. She indicated that she wanted to remarry.
A judge in Rotterdam decided at the end of 1935 to grant Hendrika Agatha Warbie a license to enter into another marriage, because nothing had been heard of her husband for over 10 years, and he had not responded to three published calls.

Henri Gerrit Booij (1907-1944) from Rotterdam was buried in Changkai

Henri Gerrit Booij was born on 2 July 1907 in Rotterdam. His parents are Hendrik Booij and Jannetje de Wilde. His paternal grandparents are Gerrit Booij (1837-1882) and Bregtje de Waal. His paternal great-grandparents are Jacob Booij (1785-1866) and his third wife Niesje Beets (1810-1882) who were living in Ilpendam, Holland. The paternal great-great-grandparents of Henri Gerrit are Gerrit Jacobsz. Booij (1757-1828), Eegje Jans Dekker (1763-1820), Sijmon Jansz. Beets (±1767-1817) and Krelisje Bos (1776-1848).

When Henri Gerrit Booij was 21 years old, his father Henri Booij died on 1 June 1929, aged 52, in Hillegersberg (now part of Rotterdam). He had been born on 30 May 1877 in Buiksloot, Holland, and had been working as a waiter. Henri's widow, Jannetje de Wilde, was born on 19 March 1873 in Amsterfoort, Utrecht area, The Netherlands. They had been married on 7 March 1901 in Amsterdam. An overview of their younger children and birth dates is shown in the image below. 

Henri Gerrits Booij with his parents and younger siblings

At the age of 31, Henri Gerrit Booij was married on 23 November 1938 in Rotterdam to Helena Johanna Maria Verbakel, aged 29, born in Rotterdam. She was born on 7 March 1909 in Rotterdam as the eldest daughter of Wilhelmus Jacobus Verbakel (1879-1964) and Johanna Gerarda Visser. At some point the couple traveled to Indonesia.

POW Camp Card for Henri Gerrit Booij

In Indonesia Henri Gerrit Booij was working as a hotel clerk, probably in Nongkodjadjar on Java. He was described an infantry sergeant for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) when he was captured by the Japanese on Java on 10 March 1942. He was transferred to the main Java Prisoner Of War (POW) Camp on 1 November 1942, and interned. He was transferred to the Thai No. 4 Branch Camp 7855 on 29 January 1943. Often, prisoners in the Thai POW Camps were forced by the Japanese to work on the Burma Railway between Nong Pladuk in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Burma (now Myanmar). Henri Gerrit Booij died in the No. 4 Branch Camp on 11 February 1944. He was buried in Chungkai.

Hendrik Kooijman was born in Versailles in 1816

For some unknown reason Dutchman Hendrik Kooijman was born on 27 August 1816 in Versailles in France. His parents are workman Johannes (“Jan”) Kooijman and Johanna Jansen. The couple had an earlier son, Henricus Anthonius Kooijman, baptized on 29 March 1808 in Utrecht with Roman Catholic rites. Jan, however, had been baptized on 12 January 1775 in Vianen in a Dutch-Reformed church as a younger son of an elder Jan Kooijman and his wife Hendrikje Vreeswijk (±1733-1821) who had been married in Utrecht on 6 November 1757. Hendrikje's parents are Lambertus (“Lammert”) Vreeswijk and Antonia (“Teuntie”) Vermeulen.

Hendrik Kooijman was born in Versailles on 27 August 1816.

Hendrik Kooijman had two siblings named Jan who both died young, as did a sister named Paulina. Additionally Hendrik had a sister Hendrika born on 23 September 1826 in Vianen. Hendrik and his brother Peter (1823-1884) seem to be the only two of these siblings who reached adulthood.
Hendrik's father, Jan Kooijman, died on 8 October 1854 in Vianen, aged 79. His widow, Johanna Jansen, died on 14 November 1858 in Vianen, aged 72.

Hendrik Kooijman was married in Vianen on 27 November 1841 to Cornelia Kortenhoeven (1817-1862). As a widower Hendrik married Johanna Jacoba Paalhaar (1830-1881) on 3 February 1865 in Vianen. Hendrik had children from both his marriages. Hendrik's younger brother Peter Kooijman married twice, too.

Wedding Wednesday - Willem Houtmeijer married Hendrikje Nout in 1796 in Linschoten

Willem Houtmeijer was born in Lienen to the south of Tecklenburg in Germany. In 1796 he lived in Nieuwerbrug in South-Holland. He was married in Linschoten on 17-4-1796 to Hendrikje Nout. She was born in Lageweide, to the west of Utrecht City. At the time of her marriage she was living in Barwoudswaarder to the northwest of Woerden. The villages of Nieuwerbrug and Barwoudswaarder are at a walking distance of just 3 km.

Tecklenburg

Where in the World is Theunis Ariens van der Giesen?

Arie Jansz. van der Giessen and Ariaantje Ariens Buijtendijk were married on 30 May 1717 in Westmaas, Holland. They became the parents of a large family of 11, including a son Theunis, baptized on 24 September 1719 in Numansdorp, Holland.

Theunis Ariensz. van der Giessen, originating in Numansdorp, joined the Dutch East Inda Company (V.O.C.) as a soldier, protecting ships. On 29 March 1741 Theunis sailed from Goeree, an island in the southwestern part of Holland, on a flute ship named “Delfland”. Its skipper was named Egbert Verduin. Its crew consisted of 119 sailors and 60 soldiers, including Theunis. 
A long-distance voyage was hard on the health of a sailing ship’s crew. During the first 2-3 months of the voyage newcomers aboard usually developed scurvy due to a vitamin C deficiency. The “Delfland” arrived at Cape of Good Hope in South-Africa on 24 June, departing at 18 July. Ship and crew arrived on 11 September 1741 in Batavia, the capital of the Dutch East Indies, corresponding to the present-day city of Jakarta.
After staying in Indonesia for over year, Theunis Ariensz van der Giessen was supposed to board ship for the homeward voyage on 20 November 1742, but he never turned up. He has been missing ever since.

Salary and expenses of Theunis Ariensz. van der Giessen

Sources: V.O.C. opvarenden bij het nationaal archief, huygens.knaw, VOCsite.nl. 

You can read about Theunis van der Giessen in the Dutch language, too:

Theunis Ariensz. van der Giessen uit Numansdorp bleef in Azië

Geertrui Papenvelt (1803-54) of Emden, Germany

Dutch translation of Geertruid's baptismal record

Geertrui Papenvelt was born on 12 June 1803 and baptized on the 16th in Emden, Germany. Her parents are Gerrit Papenvelt and Maria Noteboom. Her brother Jozef was born on 25 May 1805 and baptized there on the 30th.
Gerrit Papevelt died on 29 June 1817 in Emden. His death was registered in Dordrecht, Holland, on 22 November 1819. As a widow Geertrui’s mother lived in ‘s-Gravendeel, Holland. Maria Noteboom died there as Gerrit's widow on 9 August 1852, aged 74. Her parents are Joost Noteboom (†1787) and Jannigje Korsse de Jong (†1795).

Earlier, on 20 July 1826 in Vlaardingen, Holland, a woman named Teuntje Verboom had died as widow of Gerrit van Papenvelt. They had been married on 6 November 1796 in Vlaardingen, and they had had a son Arij Papevelt (1797-1854). Teuntje Verboom (1763-1826) was widow of Maarten Bos(ch). Gerrit Papenvelt was widower of Trijntje Noorthoek. This first marriage had taken place on 6 May 1791 in Vlaardingen, and the surviving children of Gerrit's first marriage were Johannis (1791-), Teunis (1793-1843) and Peije (1794-1813).
Did Gerrit Papenvelt move to Emden, Germany, to be able to contract a bigamous marriage to Maria Noteboom, or did Gerrit and Maria just pretend to be married, while living in Germany?

Longevity ~ Daatje de Sterke (94) in Dordrecht

Daatje de Sterke was born on Sunday December 14, 1834, around 1 o'clock in the afternoon in Werkendam in The Netherlands. Her parents are Pieter de Sterke (1794-1888) and his 29-year-old second wife Adriana de Vries (1806-1881). Adriana had been an illegitimate daughter of Jannigje de Vries, abandoned wife of Cornelis van Aalst. Daatje's paternal grandparents are my ancestors Pieter de Sterke (1765-1842) and Adriana Knikman (1766-1804).

Jacob Vrolijk was a blacksmith

Daatje de Sterke was first married on 16 May 1855 in Dordrecht to blacksmith Jacob Vrolijk. Jacob was born on 27 August 1834 in Dordrecht. His parents are blacksmith Jacobus Vrolijk and his wife Sija van der Koog. This Sija is named after her grandmother Sija Brand (±1758-1803) who married Willem van der Koog (1734-1809). As a result, Sija van der Koog is a descendant of both my ancestors Jacobus van der Koogh (1710-1793) and Jillis Jacobsen Brand.
Upon their marriage Daatje de Sterke and Jacob Vrolijk acknowledged to be the parents of a daughter named Hendrika, born in 1854 in Dordrecht, although it's unlikely that Jacob really was the girl's father, because little Hendrika was not named after any of her official grandparents.
In 1857-58 Daatje gave birth to a daughter Sija and a son Pieter Jacobus, who both died young. Her husband, Jacob Vrolijk, died in Dordrecht on 19 October 1859,  aged 25, while Daatje was pregnant again. When the boy was born on 13 May 1860, he was named after his father.

Signatures of Jacob Vrolijk
and Daatje de Sterke

As a widow Daatje de Sterke gave birth to a daughter named Catharina on 11 April 1863 around 8:30 in Dordrecht. This girl died on 18 June. On 5 December 1864 around 22:00 in Dordrecht Daatje gave birth to a son named Andries Anthonie. In both cases these births were reported at the civil registry office by the midwife.

Nearly two years later, on 19 September 1866, Daatje de Sterke (31) was married to Anthoon van Leeuwen (28). They acknowledged to be the parents of Andries Anthonie. Antoon was born on 21 December 1837 in Dordrecht. His parents are Adrianus van Leeuwen and Johanna Margrita Keldermans.
During her second marriage, Daatje de Sterke had 4 children who died young, but a son named Pieter and the youngest, Hendrika, survived infancy. Daatje's eldest daughter, Hendrika Vrolijk, died at the age of 18 on 4 March 1873 in Dordrecht. In the summer of 1883 Daatje de Sterke moved to Rotterdam with her children Andries Anthonie, Pieter and Hendrika.
Of Daatje's 4 surviving children Pieter van Leeuwen (1866-1959) was the first to marry in 1887. Andries Anthonie van Leeuwen married in 1888. Jacob Vrolijk, a supervisor in the navy, was married in 1891. The last to marry was Daatje's youngest daughter Hendrika van Leeuwen who was married on 26-10-1898 in Rotterdam to Johannes George Vrolijk. The groom and the bride's half-siblings all descend from the couple Johannes George Vrolijk (±1782-1833) and Maaike Kraan (±1782-1857).

De Maasbode (newspaper), 13-3-1929

In Dordrecht on 6 June 1894 Anthoon van Leeuwen died, aged 56. This time Daatje de Sterke was a widow for nearly 35 years. Daatje died on 10 March 1929 in Rotterdam, 94 years, 2 months, 2 weeks and 3 days old. Her son Pieter van Leeuwen would reach the age of 92 years. Another son, Andries Anthonie van Leeuwen, died on 29 January 1959 in Rotterdam, 94 years, 1 month and 25 days old.

Harmen Hilgeman was born in Lengerich in Germany - Wedding Wednesday

Johan Harmen Hilgeman was born in Lengerich near Tecklenburg in Germany. He was married in Linschoten, Utrecht, The Netherlands, on October 24, 1802, to Henrica Nout, born in Linschoten, but at the time living in Wulverhorst near Houten to the south of Utrecht City. They had several children.

Tecklenburg

Their daughter Catharina Hillegeman was married, aged 23, on March 13, 1828, in Barwoutswaarder to Coenraad Hendrik Bardelmeijer (27), born in Lienen near Tecklenburg in Germany. He was as son of Coenraad Hendrik Bardelmeijer snr. and Christina Gessie. Catharina died on March 4, 1829, aged 24.

Sources: wiewaswie.nl & Brouwer's Utrecht Genealogy.