A Kootkar Family of Meppen in Germany (1): Elizabeth

Jan van Dam was baptised on 22 May 1757 in Zwijndrecht, Holland, as the eldest son of Melis van Dam and Pieternella de Bondt (±1735-1799). Jan's mother is a descendant of my 17th-century ancestor Arij de Bondt. Jan had 4 younger sisters and 2 younger brothers.
Jan was living in Culemborg in the middle of The Netherlands when he met a Roman Catholic girl, Anna Maria Elizabeth  Francisca Kootkar. She was born in Meppen just across the Dutch border in Germany. Her surname is also written as Kootker, Coutker, Kooter, and even Houtker.
Elizabeth and Jan were married on 28 October 1781 in Culemborg.

Jan and Elizabeth had 2 daughters:

• Juliana was baptised on 28 July 1782 in Lexmond with witness “Pieternella van Dam” - likely grandmother Pieternella de Bondt, wife of Melis van Dam. Juliana was married on 14 May 1808 in Dordrecht to Johannes Pieter Hill. He was likely born in Enkering in Germany, and died in 1857 in Dordrecht. Juliana died there on 9 August 1876 at the age of 94. They had daughters named Anna Elisabeth, Juliana (1813-1877) and Johanna.
• Pieternella was baptised on 18 October 1792 in Amersfoort. Pieternella died on 4 April 1874 in Rotterdam. Pieternella was married to
  1. Johannes “Jan” Virulij (also: Verleij) on 26 March 1817 in Rotterdam. He was a widower of Rotterdam, baptised in 1766. He died in 1823. Jan and Pieternella had sons named Johannes, Dirk and Pieter.
  2. Johannes Frederik Schnaar (1797-1824) on 27 December 1826 in Rotterdam. His eyes, hair and eyebrows were brown. They had children named Frederik Jacob, Maria Elizabeth and Cornelis.

Juliana van Dam was married in 1808 in Dordrecht

Jan van Dam died in Dordrecht on 30 July 1833 around 17:00, aged 76. His widow, Anna Maria Elisabeth Francisca Kootkar, died on 9 September 1843 in Dordrecht. Her age was given as 93.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, FamilySearch.org, HetUtrechtsArchief.nl, StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl, RegionaalArchiefDordrecht.nl, RegionaalArchiefRivierenland.nl, GeldersArchief.nl.