Coenraad Rijsdijk (1844-1923) married his niece Pietertje Rijsdijk (1869-1946)

Coenraad Rijsdijk was born on 20 June 1844 in IJsselmonde, Holland. His parents are Arij Rijsdijk (1815-1883) “the elder” and his first wife Pietertje Mens (1820-1847). Coenraad had an elder brother Arie Rijsdijk “the younger”, born on 29 October 1841 in IJsselmonde.
After their mother’s death on 20 November 1847 in nearby Ridderkerk, their father married Lena de Ruiter on 14-3-1840 in nearby Barendrecht. By the time Arij “the elder” married his third wife, Maria Monfrooij (1826-1892), on 10 September 1880 in IJsselmonde, Coenraad was already a married man.

Coenraad’s elder brother Arij “the younger” was the first to marry on 27 June 1863 in IJsselmonde. His bride was Maria Wuister (1840-1880). Maria and Arij had several children, including a daughter Pietertje Rijsdijk, born on 30 January 1869 in IJsselmonde. Arie Rijsdijk “the younger”, aged 29, died on 30 April 1871 in Charlois, now part of Rotterdam. His widow Marie Wuister died at the age of 39 on 4 March 1880 in Barendrecht, leaving her daughter Pietertje an orphan at the age of 11. Thus, Pietertje's uncle Coenraad Rijsdijk became her guardian.

At the age of 23, on 24 April 1868 in IJsselmonde, Coenraad Rijsdijk had married 20-year-old Trijntje de Ruiter. She was born on 12 August 1847 in IJsselmonde, and her parents were Arie de Ruiter (1796-1863) and Pieterje van der Velde (1809-1890). Coenraad and Trijntje had 10 children, but most of them died young, including twin daughters. Trijntje died on 26 March 1886 in Spaarndam, Holland, 2 weeks after giving birth to her youngest daughter, who died young, too.
The next year, on 24 March 1887 in Barendrecht, 42-year-old Coenraad Rijsdijk married his 18-year-old niece Pietertje Rijsdijk whose guardian he was. On 29 November 1886 the couple had obtained a special permission to marry, because an uncle-niece marriage is usually not allowed. The couple also got permission to marry without fees, because they were poor, so Coenraad’s job as “merchant” was likely more like a humble door-to-door salesman.

Dutch King Willem III gave permission for this uncle-niece marriage

Pietertje Rijswijk gave birth to a death baby in IJsselmonde on 22 July 1887 around 4 o’clock. It’s unknown if the baby was either a miscarriage, or full-term - and then conceived before the wedding ceremony. Three more pregnancies resulted in lifeless children. Twelve other pregnancies were successful, but half of those children died young anyway.

Gijsbrecht Lambrechts Cruijck and Delft pottery

An important pottery dynasty was the family of businessman Lambrecht Gijsbrechtsz. Cruijck, who bought factory “De Dissel” in 1640. He had enough money to encourage experimentations and push innovations. With the influx of money and inventiveness, an much experimenting, Dutch pottery factories managed to make a thin type of earthenware which was covered with a white tin glaze. Although made of low-fired earthenware, it resembled porcelain amazingly well. The Delft factories were able to produce some exceptional masterpieces in high quantities, and became one of the leading ceramic centers in Europe.

Delft Blue

Lambrecht Gijsbrechtsz. Cruijck had at least three children who either bought shares in other factories, or married other factories owners.
His daughter Christijna Cruijck (†1677) was married in 1643 to Wouter van Eenhoorn (†1679), who owned - or had shares - in “De Porceleyne Fles” (The Porcelain Bottle), “De Grieksche A”, “De Paauw”, “De Drie Posteleyne Astonne” (The Three Porcelain Ash-Barrels) and “Het Hooge Huys” (The High House).
Another daughter married Willem Cleffius (also: Klestius), who originated in Köln in Germany, and was living in Amsterdam. He invested in several pottery factories, too.
Lambrecht’s son Gijsbrecht Lambrechtsz. Cruijck owned “De Porceleyne Schotel”, “De Dissel”, “De Witte Ster” (The White Star) and “De Paauw”. Lambrecht’s grandchildren later reproduced a similar scheme, and - until around 1720 - they had a quasi-monopoly over the industry.

The Dutch Delftware industry was closely protected and supervised by the Guild of Saint Luke. Self-employed pottery owners were required to obtain the title of master from the Guild. This level of mastery was ensured by a compulsory master’s test and an additional financial contribution.
Soon after his father's death in 1644, Gijsbrecht Cruijck became a master pottery baker on 23 October 1645. His work was praised for the skilfully modelled forms, the elegance and the slightly pale decor that stood out against a light, azure blue background.

The old church in Delft

A prenuptial agreement was made on 1 July 1646 in Delft between Gijsbrecht Kruijck and his betrothed Annetgen van Lit. Gijsbrecht was accompanied with his brother-in-law Wouter van Eenhoorn and his uncle Harmen Willems Braije. Annetgen was assisted by her father Wouter Claess van Lit. The couple were married on the 22nd. Gijsbrecht Kruijck had 6 children buried in the period 1648-1663, and additionally a son in 1670. Lambertus, Hendrick and Judith, who reached adulthood and were married, are most likely his surviving children.

Pottery factory “De Paauw” (The Peacock), located at the Koornmarkt in Delft, was founded in 1651. Initially its ownership was shared among several people. In 1663 Willem Cleffius, Gijsbrecht Lambrechtsz Cruijck, Wouter van Eenhoorn and Leendert van der Let were its owners. In 1677 Gijsbrecht was no longer one of them.
Gijsbrecht was also owner of pottery factory “De Porceleyne Schotel”. He had bought the latter from Dirck Hieronimusz van Kessel in the 1640s. That factory had grown into a row of houses, barns and yards, and included 2 mills, and its own clay laundry, which was located on the east side of the town.

Gijsbrecht's son Lambrecht married Louijsa, daughter of Simon de Breet, on 29 August 1683 in Delft. Lambertus and Louijsa had a large family together, including children named Anna, Simon, Mari, Beatrix, Joannes, Hendrintje and Judith. This Lambrecht Cruijck died on 2 February 1713 in Wateringen. His descendant Johanna Kruijk (1795-1874) was the mother of Johanna Zuijderwijk (1832-1878) who lived in Rhoon, and is an ancestor of my nephews.
Annetgen van Lit was buried in Delft on 19 February 1665. Her widower, Gijsbrecht Lambrechts Cruijck, died on 27 January 1682, and was buried on the 30th in Delft.

Sources: StadsArchiefDelft.nl, Aronson.com, Archive.org, StichtingBehoudVanOud.nl, Wikipedia.org, List of historical pottery factories in Delft.

Swede Anders Paulson (1865-1919) in Holland

Anders Paulson was born on 16 March 1865 in Eskilstorp, Bastad, Skåne, Sweden. His mother is Hersti Nilsdotter. His father is Paul Nilsson who died, aged 70, in 1909 in Sweden.

Bredasche Courant, 8-11-1909

In 1907 engineer Anders Paulson started a company for manufacturing and selling matches and related items. His his associate was Leonardus Jacobus Maria Eras. The company was located in Teteringen near Breda, Brabant, The Netherlands.
1908 was a special year for Anders Paulson. On 24 June 1908 in Numansdorp, Holland, Anders married Neeltje Hendrika (“Nellie”) Kluifhoofd. She was born on 14 November 1873 in Numansdorp as daughter of Susanna Niemantsverdriet (1837-1923) and Dirk Kluifhoofd (1837-19121), mayor of Numansdorp.
On 9 December Swede Anders Paulson was naturalised as a Dutch citizen.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 15-6-1910

The eldest son of Anders Paulson and his wife Nellie was Frans Paul Dirk, born on 16 July 1910 in The Hague, Holland. A son named Anders - like his father - was born in May 1913 in Breda.

Surname Line With the Longest Stay in a Locality

On his Genea-Musings Blog, Randy Seaver wrote about a Surname Line With the Longest Stay in a Locality. Many of my ancestors lived for several generations in the city of Dordrecht, on an island named the "Hoeksche Waard", and also in an area known as the "Langstraat" (a small protestant area, surrounded by a much larger catholic area). Most of my ancestors all used to live in Holland, a geographical region and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands, so lines of ancestors in one region is not a challenge for me at all. Therefore I've made a line of ancestors (a) living in one city, Dordrecht, (b) living on one island, the Hoeksche Waard, and (c) living in one village, Strijen.

On my mother's side I've got family that has been living for 9 generations in the city of Dordrecht:

1. Baerthout Pietersz de Sterke was born in Gouda and moved to Dordrecht; his son is
2. Matthijs Baerthoudsz de Sterke who was baptised in Dordrecht and lived there; his son is
3. Baerthout Thijssen de Sterke (1640-1712) who was born in Dordrecht and lived there; his son is
4. Pieter Baerthoutsz de Sterke (1672-1716) who was born in Dordrecht and moved in 1706 to Rotterdam; his son is 
5. Pieter de Sterke (1705-1769) who was born in Dordrecht and lived there; his son is 
6. David de Sterke (1733-1797) who was born in Dordrecht and lived there; his son is 
7. Pieter de Sterke (1765-1842) who was born in Dordrecht and lived there; his son is 
8. Arie de Sterke (1796-1892) who was born in Dordrecht and lived there; his daughter is
9. Adriana de Sterke (1828-1917) who was born and lived in Dordrecht. She is my great-great-grandmother.

My paternal ancestors all lived on an island named the Hoeksche Waard. It's located to the west of the city of Dordrecht, and to the south of the city of Rotterdam. Around 1600 my Bos family was living in Puttershoek in the north of the island. After the reclamation of a new polder at the south of the island, my paternal ancestors moved to the new village of Numansdorp. In the early 19th century my paternal ancestors moved to a dike just south of the tiny village of Cillaarshoek. Finally, my father moved to the nearby village of Strijen near the end of his life.
My paternal ancestral line has 12 generations on one island:

1. Gijsbert Gerrits Boschman lived around 1600 in Puttershoek in the Hoeksche Waard, an island. He is the father of
2. Gijsbert Cornelisse Bos who lived in Numansdorp in the early 17th century. He is the father of
3. Cornelis Gijsberts Bos (1655-1731) who was born in Numansdorp, and lived there. He is the father of
4. Leendert Cornelisse Bos (1693- ±1725) who was born in Numansdorp, and lived there. He is the father of
5. Cent Leenderts Bos (1723-1783) who was born in Numansdorp, and lived there. He is the father of
6. Leendert Cente Bos (1755-1830) who was born in Numansdorp, and moved to Cillaarshoek, both in the Hoeksche Waard. He is the father of
7. Cent Leenderts Bos (±1788-1869) who was born in Numansdorp, and lived in Cillaarshoek, both in the Hoeksche Waard. He is the father of
8. Cornelis Bos (1813-1888) who was born in Cillaarshoek and lived there. He is the father of
9. Teunis Bos (1853-1923) who was born in Cillaarshoek and lived there. He is the father of
10. Hendrik Bos (1901-1985) who was born in Cillaarshoek and lived there. He is the father of
11. Teunis Pieter Bos (1929-2021) who was born in Cillaarshoek and lived there, and - at the end of his life - in nearby Strijen, both in the Hoeksche Waard. He is the father of
12. me; I grew up in Cillaarshoek in the Hoeksche Waard, an island.

Vijgeboom cousin marriage: Elisabeth & Herman Hendrik in Rotterdam

The cousins Elisabeth Vijgeboom (1761-1827) and Herman Hendrik Vijgeboom (1763-1822) were married on 23 February 1790 in Rotterdam. They were both grandchildren of Hermann Wiethoff (†1758) and his wife Anna Elisabeth Fiegenbaum (1711-1770) who lived in Ladbergen, Tecklenburg, Germany.

Tecklenburg

Elisabeth was baptised in Rotterdam on 4 November 1761 as the eldest child of Willem Hendrik Vijgeboom (1734-1804) of Ladbergen, and his first wife Catharina Goudtfijn. Elisabeth had younger sisters named Hendrina and Johanna.
In Ladbergen on 1 May 1763, Herman Hendrik Vijgeboom was born or baptised as son of Johann Diederich Fiegenbaum, a younger brother of Willem Hendrik above. His mother was Elisabeth Hurkeweert.

Herman Hendrik and Elisabeth are the parents of

1. Johan Diederik was born on 13 December 1790, and baptized on the 16th in Rotterdam with witness Adriana Kampsteeg. He died on 1 February 1791, and was buried on the 5th in Rotterdam.
2. Willem Henderik was born on 25 December 1791, and baptized on New Year’s Day 1792 in the Zuiderkerk church in Rotterdam with witness Willem Hendrik Vijgeboom. He was married in 1810 to Geertruide allegonda Vermeer who originated in North-Brabant. Willem Hendrik outlived his wife by 4 years, and died on 28 May 1864 in Rotterdam at the age of 75.
3. Anna Catharina Geertruida was born on 6 May 1793, and baptized on the 12th in the Zuiderkerk church in Rotterdam with widness Adolf Vijgenboom. She was 1¾ year old when she died on 14 March 1795 and was buried on the 17th in Rotterdam.
4. Neeltje, born on 31 December 1794, and baptized on 4 January 1795 in Rotterdam with widness Neeltje Vijgenboom. She may have died young, too.
5. Catharina Henderika Herman, born on 5 January 1797, and baptized on the 8 in Rotterdam with widnesses Herman Henderik Kievit and Catharina Viegenbaum. At the age of 18, she was married to Wilhelmus Gerardus Hogendijk on 27-9-1815 in Rotterdam. She died there on 18 May 1817, aged just 20. She had given birth 19 days earlier.
6. Herman Hendrik, baptized on 2 December 1798 in Rotterdam with widness Johanna Francina Steur. He was 1¾ year old when he died in Rotterdam on 12 October 1800.

In the winter of 1790-91 Herman Hendrik and Elisabeth were living in the Zwanestraat opposite a distillery. From early 1792 to early 1797 the couple was living at the Schiedamse Dijk.
Harmen Hendrik Vijgenboom died in Rotterdam on 16 may 1822, aged 59 years and 15 days. His widow, Elisabeth Vijgeboom, died there on 11 Febraury 1827, aged 64.

Rotterdam

Sources: www.stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl, WieWasWie.nl, www.archieven.nl, www.delpher.nl, www.zeeuwengezocht.nl, www.fiegenbaum.org.