Maria Johanna Petit (1794-1876), 4th wife of Philippus Laurentius Hermans (1786-1851)

On 25 May 1848 in Maastricht Maria Joanna Petit, aged 56, married Philippus Laurentius Hermans as his 4th wife. The first proclamation of their marriage was on the 14th. The groom's profession was covering roofs with slate. 
The bride was either born or baptised on 10 November 1794 in Liège in Belgium. Her parents are Nicolaas Petit and Maria Joseph Delbeuke. 

The first proclamation of the marriage of Phlippus Laurentius Hermans
and his 4th wife Maria Joanna Petit was on 14 May 1848 in Maastricht.

After just 3 years of marriage, Philippus Laurentius Hermans died in Maastricht on 2 September 1851 at the age of 65. At the age of 56, Maria Joanna Petit was alone, again. In 1860 she was mentioned in Maastricht as a messenger.

Early 1869, Maria Johanna Petit, widow of Philip Laurens Hermans, was nursed in an insane asylum in Dordrecht. She was placed under guardianship. Maria Johanna Petit died on 28 September 1876 in Dordrecht, aged 81.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant (newspaper), 31 January 1869

Short-lived Marriage ~ Simon van Dijk & Neeltje Baars (II)

Simon van Dijk was born on 1 February 1798, and baptised on the 4th in Klaaswaal, Holland. His parents are an elder Simon van Dijk (1747-1821) and his wife Jannetje Blaak (1759-1838) who were married on 12 may 1782 in Oud-Beijerland, Holland. Simon had several siblings, including a younger brother Herman van Dijk (1799-1883).

At the age of 27, Simon - son of the elder Simon - was married on 29 May 1825 in Oud-Beijerland. His bride was 34-year-old Neeltje Baars. She was born on 3 March 1791, and baptised on the 6th in Oud-Beijerland as the eldest daughter of Arij Baars (1764-1846) and his first wife Neeltje Kraak (1766-1806). As a widower, Arij had remarried Adriana Kraak. Neeltje Kraak had been a daughter of Arie Kraak, while Adriana Kraak was a daughter of Jacob Kraak. Neeltje Baars is an elder half sister of Kornelia Baars (1809-1876).
On 12 March 1826 in Oud-Beijerland Neeltje Baars gave birth to a son Simon. The little boy died on 21 July. Soon, Neeltje Baars was pregnant again. Just 7 months after the previous birth, on 18 October 1826 around 2:00 A.M., Neeltje was delivered of a premature son named Arij who died the same day around noon. A week after the birth, on 25 October, Neeltje Baars died, aged 35. After just 17 months of marriage, Simon van Dijk was a widower.

Birth certificate of Simon, eldest son of Simon Baars

Birth certificate of Arij whose birth resulted in his mother's death

At the age of 33, Simon van Dijk remarried on 27 May 1831 in Oud-Beijerland. His bride was 29-year-old Jorina van den Tol. She was born on 9 June 1801, and baptised on 26 July in Middelharnis. Jorina's parents are Abra(ha)m van den Tol and his wife Maatje Hobes (1767-1839).
Jorina was widow of married Cornelis Langerveld (1788-1830) whom she had married on 22 July 1824 in Middelharnis. They had a daughter named Grietje, born on 4 March 1826 in Oud-Beijerland, and born there on 22 September 1828 was a son named Abraham. Grietje Langerveld married Willem Visser, and died in Oud-Beijerland on 12 November 1904.
With Jorina, Simon van Dijk had a second son named Simon, who was born on 4 May 1833 in Oud-Beijerland. That Simon first married Beatrix van der Linden in 1858. His second wife was Anna Elizabeth Maris (1848-1921) whom he married in 1872. Among his children were another Simon (1859-1932), and a daughter Jorina van Dijk (1864-1937). Simon van Dijk, husband of Anna Elisabeth Maris, died on 8 July 1884 in Oud-Beijerland, aged 51. His widow was found death in her kitchen on 30 March 1921.

De Zuidwillemsvaart (newspaper), 2 april 1921

How I search for ancestors in a structured way

Genealogy is the study and tracing of lines of descent. Ancestry refers to a person's ethnic origin or descent, someone’s "roots" or heritage. A lineage is a line of descent. The persons comprising a line of descent are the ancestors.

By now, I’ve been searching for my ancestors for over 20 years. In the early years, I had to visit different archives at different locations to research my predecessors. Since then, loads of genealogical sources have been copied or transcribed, and made available over the Internet.

When adding or editing ancestors, I use an optional, internal field * to note special features of a person like “short marriage”, “longevity”, an index number in a publication about the family, or an alternative surname when the person was known by more than one surname. In recent years, I’ve developed an additional use for this optional, internal field, or “label”.

Genealogists use the term “Brick Wall” to describe a point in their research where they are unable to move forward with something — a kind of dead end. They break through a “Brick Wall” when they make a new discovery that helps them move past this dead end.

When I get stuck with an ancestor, the so-called “Brick Wall”, I mark that ancestor’s “label” with the word  “BRICK-WALL”.  When - in the future - new sources should become available for the area where that ancestor is living, I could take a new look at that ancestor. Basically, the  “BRICK-WALL”  label means that I’m currently stuck.

Another improvement in the way I research ancestors, also involves the  “label”.  When I’ve found both parents of some person, I decide which one of the parents I will research first, and then I label the other parent as  “TO-DO”.  I do this with every new couple of parents I find, until I hit - and mark - a  “BRICK-WALL”.  Then I can start researching one of the people marked earlier as “TO-DO”. This way, I can also focus on people in a specific area with a specific set of sources, until I’ve finished researching all persons in that area, marked with “TO-DO”.

My genealogy software does have a feature to generate “all ancestors without ancestors”,  but that’s a long list of names with birth years. The main list, including ancestors without surnames, too, currently comprises of 2158 persons. When I generate a list of ancestors without ancestors, but with a surname, then I get a list of 740 people. Using the software, I can try to work on an ancestor with recent birth years, but usually there’s a reason why a fairly recent ancestor is at the top of a branch, like missing sources, or the person was a foundling. With my “TO-DO” system I can easily find ancestors to work on.

* In the Dutch genealogy software program “Aldfaer”, I use an optional, internal field named “Code” for this purpose.

For an explanation of common genealogy terms see: MyHeritage.com.

Longevity ~ Abraham Kits (99)

When Abraham Kits died on May 19, 1845, in Amsterdam, he was 99½ years old. His “obituary”, prepared by his daughter Adriana, described his age as “nearly 100 years old”. From May 1808 until his death Abraham had been living on the Keizersgracht (a canal) in Amsterdam in 5th house, when you come from the Utrechtschestraat.

Opregte Haarlemsche Courant (newspaper), 29-5-1845

When, in early 1846, the municipality of Amsterdam published statistics for the year 1845, Abraham is described as having been 100 years old. Two other people who died in the same year in Amsterdam, Mariane Zadok Salomons and Levie Salomon de Haan, had been even older than Abraham.

Provinciaal Dagblad van Noord-Brabant (newspaper), 13-1-1846

Abraham Kits was born in Utrecht on October 29, 1745, and baptised there on the 31st. He is the eldest son of Otto Kits (1717-1760) and his wife Sophia Strang (1724-1782). After her husband’s death in January 1760, Sophia married Arie Bos, a young man originating from Amersfoort, but then living in Eemnes. Sophia had children from both her marriages, including a son Wilhelmus Kits who married twice. Sophia's burial in the Oosterkerk in Amsterdam was registered on June 7, 1782.

Abraham Kits was a bricklayer, and – from the end of 1789 onwards - a real estate agent in Amsterdam. At the age of 27, in 1773, Abraham married Christina van Leeuwen. Christina was baptised on August 8, 1745, in Amsterdam. Her parents are Wijnand van Leeuwen and Adriana Maas.

Abraham Kits, son of Sophia Strang, married Christina van Leeuwen, daughter of Wijnand van Leeuwen

Abraham Kits and Christina van Leeuwen had 3 daughters and 3 sons, but their 2 eldest daughters were the only ones who had issue:

1. Adriana Kits (picture to the right) was baptised on October 2, 1774, in Amsterdam with witnesses Weijnant van Leeuwen and Haderiana Maas. Adriana Kits married Jan Mattheus Nieuwenkamp (1764-1824) as his second wife. Adriana Kits died on March 20, 1821, in Zwolle. Her youngest son was Jan Kits Nieuwenkamp (1811-1870) who was named after Adriana's youngest brother.
2. Sofia Kits was baptised on October 6, 1776, in Amsterdam with witnesses Sofia Strang and Weijnant van Leeuwen. Sofia Kits married Jan Wimmers in 1801. Her son Abraham Kits Wimmers died childless on May 20, 1863, in Arnhem, at the afe of 36.
3. Henderina Kits was baptised on January 6, 1777, in Amsterdam with witnesses Johannis van Dregt and Henderina van Leeuwen.
4. Pieter Kits was baptised in Amsterdam on June 6, 1779.
5. Wijnand Otto Kits was baptised in Amsterdam on February 18, 1784.
6. Jan Kits was baptised in Amsterdam on November 20, 1785. He was studying theology when he died in Utrecht on June 1, 1807, at the age of 21.

Christina van Leeuwen died on September 1, 1818, in Amsterdam. Her widower Abraham married his second wife Geertruij Willemina Storm on October 29, 1819, in Amsterdam. She was baptised there on March 5, 1764, and born on February 3. At the age of 40, she had married her first husband, a widower, in 1804. She was 55 when she married 74-year-old Abraham. Geertruij Willemina Storm died on January 19, 1843, in Amsterdam, and was buried there on the 24th. Abraham Kits had survived both his wives.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, OpenArch.nl, Archief.Amsterdam, Nederland's Patriciaat 1927 & 1957 (Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie en Heraldiek), De Navorscher 1925 & 1940 (magazines edited by G. Fuldauer).

What happened to Cornelia Gerdina Branderhorst?

Cornelia Gerdina Branderhorst was born on November 3, 1860, in the municipality of Eethen, Genderen en Heesbeen. Her parents are Catharina van Gameren (1819-1888) and Gerrit Branderhorst (1812-1882). Just 4 of her parents' 10 children survived infancy, and Cornelia Gerdina was the youngest daughter.
She was married on April 5, 1879, to Johannes van der Pol. Her eldest brother Dirk Branderhorst was one of the witnesses. The groom, Johannes, born on August 30, 1851, in Wijk. His parents are Dirk van der Pol (1827-1890) and Pieternella van Rijswijk (1830-1903). Cornelia Gerdina and Johannes had a son Dirk in 1879, who lived for 15 days, and a daughter Catharina in 1880, who lived for 16 days. In 1881-1882 the couple lived in Rotterdam.

Apparently, the marriage was not a happy one. First, they agreed on a separation. Cornelia Gerdina, housewife of Johannes van der Pol, had been living in 's-Hertogenbosch before she arrived in Genderen in March 1892. In 1893 she left for Antwerp in Belgium.
Finally, in 1897, 46-year-old Johannes van der Pol, then living in Aalburg, wanted a divorce. Since Cornelia Gerdina's place of residence was unknown, a request for her to appear in court was printed in a newspaper.

Newspaper of December 25, 1897

On April 29, 1898, a divorce was finally pronounced on the grounds of adultery by judgement of the district court in 's-Hertogenbosch. The divorce was registered in the village of Wijk-en-Aalburg on December 12, 1898. The newspaper announcement doesn't mention which of the partners had committed adultery.

Newspaper of August 22, 1898

Within 2 years, Johannes van der Pol, aged 50, died in the village of Wijk-en-Aalburg on December 2, 1901.

Sources: Salha.nl, WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl. You can find more data of Cornelia Gerdina's siblings at GeneaNet.

Stephanus Vollenbroek (1785-1860), pastor in Rijssen

Stephanus Vollenbroek was baptised on 26 October 1785 in Deurningen: “26 Octobris babtizatus Stephanus filius Gerardi et Mariae Vollenbroek, susc. Wilhelmus Vollenbroek et Susanna Volmerinck”. Like his elder siblings, Stephanus was likely born in nearby Dulder, Overijssel, The Netherlands. Stephanus had elder sisters named Euphemia, Agatha and Johanna, and an elder brother named Bernardus. They are children of Gerardus Vollenbroek, and his wife Maria. Gerardus Vollenbroek and Maria Wansing, both originating in Dulder, were married on 26 February 1770 in Deurningen: “26 Feb. conjuncti sunt in facie Ecclesiae Gerardus Vollenbroek et Maria Wansing, Dulderen”. Their marriage was also registered in Oldenzaal.

Stephanus Vollenbroek became a priest on 17 August 1809. He is described as an excellent singer and musician. In 1823 he became pastor in Rijssen in Overijssel.

On 1 January 1853, due to advanced age, Stephanus Vollenbroek was granted a pension “to the sum of 600 guilders, due to 42 years, 11 months and 17 days of service”.

Provinciale Drentsche en Asser Courant, 27-11-1860

Stephanus Vollenbroek died on the 16 November 1860 in Rijssen at the age of 75. He was described as an example of “not only humility, goodness and mildness, but especially tolerance”. On the 20th, around 14:00, his solemn burial took place at the cemetery in nearby Enter.

Sources: Delpher.nl, WieWasWie.nl, VollenbroekVoorouders.nl, Steggink.org.

In 1870 Jan Kits Nieuwenkamp drowned off the Irish coast

On her twelfth Atlantic crossing, the British cargo-passenger steamship “Cambria” departed New York on October 8, 1870, under the command of Captain John Carnighan, carrying a general cargo, a crew of 74, and 105 passengers. Two of those passengers were 59-year-old widower Jan Kits Nieuwenkamp, and his 23-year-old daughter Lobetta Johanna.

Algemeen Handelsblad, 13-11-1870

On October 19, around 11:00 pm, the steamship “Cambria” was sailing in heavy seas when it struck Tor Beg Rock, half a mile north-west of Inishtrahull Island. The vessel immediately commenced to fill with water, thus it became at once evident that a large hole bad been made in the ship. Lifeboats were launched, but the only survivor was a passenger named John M'Gartland. Four lifeboats were found empty at the Giant's Causeway, while the stern of the ship drifted ashore at Islay, Scotland.

Opregte Haarlemsche Courant, 26-10-1870

The drowning of Jan Kits Nieuwenkamp and his daughter wasn't the only disaster that struck his family in the year 1870. On January 21, 1870, in Zutphen, his youngest son Jan junior had died “after a short but intense suffering” at the age of 16. By the end of 1870, only 6 of Jan's 14 children were still alive.

Algemeen Dagblad van Nederland, 31-1-1870

The marriages of Rebecca Heijndrix de Swart in Rotterdam

Rebecca Heijndrix first married Bartholomeus Willems Kerver - also Kurver or Korver - on 10 October 1700 in Rotterdam. Both originated from Rotterdam, and they hadn’t been married before. Bartholomeus is a son of Marijtje Bartelemees Hardewil and her husband Willem Gijsbertse.
Bartholomeus died in 1701; his widow Rebecca had a posthumous daughter named Barta baptised on 16 October 1701 in Rotterdam with witnesses Willem Kerver and Marijtje Hardewil.

Just 1 month after the baptism of her child, Rebecca de Swart had her intention to remarry registered on 20 November in Rotterdam. The groom was François Picaart, a young man born in Leyden, and living in The Hague. The couple were married on 4 December 1701 in Rotterdam.

Rebecca de Swart, widow of François Picaart, had her intention to marry widower Jan Stolk registered on 4 November 1708 in Rotterdam. Jan was living there in the Goudse Wagestraat.
“Rebekka Stolk” - likely Rebecca de Swart, wife of Jan Stolk - was a witness at the baptism of Marijtje, daughter of Jan Jansz. Stolk and his wife Lena on 7 March 1717 in Overschie. At their marriage - and with some of the baptisms - that Jan's wife is named Lena Ariens van Schie.
Rebecca was likely married to Jan Cornelisz "The Younger" Stolk, widower of Maertje Pleunen. That Jan was a son of Cornelis Jansz. Stolckman - also Stollick - who originated in Zevenhuizen, Holland.

On 31 August 1719 in Rotterdam, Rebecka de Swart, Jan Stolck and Seselia Engelen were witnesses at the baptism of Anna, daughter of Hester de Swart and Johannes van Engelen, who were living in the Leeuwestraat.

Jan Stolk, husband of Rebekka de Swart, was buried on 27 January 1752 in Rotterdam. Rebekka de Swart, widow of Jan Stolk, was buried in Rotterdam on 26 May 1758.

Source: StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl. WieWasWie.nl,

Longevity ~ Cornelis Jacobus Mouthaan (91)

Cornelis Jacobus Mouthaan was born on 16 January 1829 in 's-Gravenmoer, Brabant, The Netherlands. His parents are Nicolaas Mouthaan (1799-1877) and his wife Alberdina Prins (1804-1889). The couple had 18 children, but several of them died young.
Nicolaas is a son of Hendrik Mouthaan (1774-1808) and Willemijna Mouthaan (1777-1821) who is a daughter of Nicolaas Mouthaan (1727-1814) and Maria Mouthaan (1737-1807). I don't know how they are all related, but given their common surname and common place of origin, it's likely they are related.

Cornelis Jacobus had jobs both as farmer and shoemaker. At the age of 29, he was married on 14 October 1858 in 's-Gravenmoer. His bride was 65-year-old “cougar” Adriana Oosterhout. She was born on 1 December 1792 and baptised on the 2th as daughter of Cornelis van Oosterhout (1750-1824) and Antonia Boeser (1760-1827). Adriana's grandfather is my ancestor Jacobus Cornelisz. Boeser (1718-1780). Another ancestor of both Adriana and me the 17th-century Adriaan Cornelisz. van Oosterhout.
Adriana van Oosterhout had earlier been married on in 6 July 1817 in 's-Gravenmoer to Hendrik Konings (1776-1857). Adriana died in 's-Gravenmoer on 16 March 1875, aged 82. Cornelis Jacobus Mouthaan was a widower after 16 years of marriage.

Signatures of Adriana van Oosterhout and Cornelis Jacobus Mouthaan in the marriage register.

At the age of 49, Cornelis Jacobus Mouthaan was married secondly on 8 March 1878 in 's-Gravenmoer. His bride, Grieta van Eersel, was 44 years old. She was born on 23 October 1833 in Gravenmoer as daughter of Jochem van Eersel and Adriana van Dongen.
Grieta had been married for just 3 years to Gijsbert Blom (1824-1868). She had a posthumous son Gijsbert Blom (1868-1949), so Cornelis Jacobus acquired a stepson. Gijsbert Blom was married on 8 February 1899 in Waspik to Maria van Pas (1876-1947). They had several children, but the marriage was to end in divorce in 1934.
Grieta van Eersel died on 13 December 1902 in 's-Gravenmoer, aged 69. Cornelis Jacobus Mouthaan was a widower after 24 years of marriage.

The family of Jacobus Mouthaan, his second wife Grieta van Eersel and stepson Gijsbert Blom.

Cornelis Jacobus Mouthaan survived his 2nd wife for 17 years. His brother Sijmen Mouthaan (1826-1911) died at the age of 84. His sister Hendrika Mouthaan (1830-1917) died at the age of 86. Their brother Albert Mouthaan (1836-1919) died at the age of 83. Cornelis Jacobus Mouthaan survived them all, dying at the age of 91, on 7 March 1920 in 's-Gravenmoer.

Sources: RegionaalArchiefTilburg.nl, WieWasWie.nl, BHiC.nl.

Jacob Grandia (1822-68), an orphan 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 24-year old Jacob Grandia. He boarded the ship “Nagasaki” that departed from Rotterdam on 11 April 1847 with 239 passengers on board. Two persons died at sea, and one person was born at sea. Subsequently, on the trip to Iowa, even more people died.

Jacob Grandia was travelling alone, because his siblings had died young, and both his parents had died, too. Jacob was born on 1 September 1822 in 's-Gravendeel, Holland. His parents are Jillis Grandia (1794-1826) and Maria van Bezooijen (1792-1843), daughter of Jacob van Bezooijen (1736-1803) and his wife Geertruij Koomans.
On his father's side Jacob is a descendant of my ancestor Sebastiaen Geraerts Grandia who lived in Brakel in The Netherlands. The family name Grandia most likely originated in Spain. The first Grandia likely arrived in the Low Countries as a soldier in the Spanish army during the Dutch Eighty Years' War with Spain.

Pella, Iowa

On 19 February 1850 in Pella, Jacob married Marie Colyn, daughter of Leendert Colyn. They were blessed with 12 children, and 9 of them survived infancy. Their names are Jillis, Anthonie, Leendert (1853-1917), John, Jacob jr. (1857-1829), Abraham, Maria, Trijntje and Elizabeth (1868-1934).
Jacob was farming on the border of Lake Praire Township, Marion County, and Black Oak Township, in Mahaska County, both in Iowa.
Jacob died at the age of 45 on 19 May 1868, and was buried at “Porter Grove Cemetery” in Harvey, Marion County. His widow Marie survived him for 41 years, and remarried. Her second husband may have been Aart van Zante Sr. (1815-1894), widower of Maria van Zee (1819-1879). Marie died on 21 May 1909. Her birth had been on 29 December 1827 in Heukelum in The Netherlands.
In 1883 Jacob jr. send a letter to a Dutch cousin, mentioning his surviving siblings, and the remarriage of his mother.

Grave of Jacob Grandia jr.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, FindAGrave.com, Dutch Immigrants that followed Scholte, WeRelate.org, Pella Community Memory Database, IAGenWeb.org. Further reading: Grandia Family History, Geni.com.

Hendrik Daniel Boeser (1801-1842) & Johanna Antonia Hössen in Mentok

Painter Daniel Boeser (1757-1812) and his wife Sijchie Paardekooper (1769-1836) were living at the Binneweg street in Rotterdam, when their younger son Hendrik Daniel was born on 21-3-1801. He was baptised on 18 April. Hendrik Daniel had several surviving siblings including Wouter Boeser (1785-1859), Gerrit Boeser (1786-1848), Jan Martinus Boeser (1796-1851) and Johannes Boeser (1799-1872).

Javasche Courant, 22-1-1828

In June 1824 Hendrik Daniel Boeser was already living in Mentok on Bangka Island in Indonesia.
At the age of 26, Hendrik Daniel Boeser was married in Mentok on 12 January 1828. His bride was Johanna Antonia Hössen, daughter of Johannes Hössen and Martha Maria Kleibauker.
Hendrik Daniel was married for just a couple of weeks when his wive's 39-year-old stepmother died on 4 February, followed in the night of 12 February by her 44-year-old husband Johannes Hössen.

Javasche Courant, 15-7-1828

After a 3-day illness with severe fever, 41-year-old Hendrik Daniel Boeser died on 30 November 1842 in Batavia (now Jakarta) in Indonesia. His widow, Johanna Antonia Hössen, returned to The Netherlands in May 1844. She passed away, at the age of 92, on 29 January 1903 in Arnheim.

Javasche Courant, 12-11-1842

Sources: Delpher.nl, WieWasWie.nl.

Short-lived Marriage ~ Johanna Spruijt & Herman van Dijk

Johanna Spruit was born on 23 February 1800, and baptised on the 26th in Willemstad, Brabant, The Netherlands. She is the eldest surviving daughter of Alida (“Aaltje”) de Bruijn (1775-1840) and Pieter Spruijt (±1768-1833).

Heinenoord

Johanna Spruit, aged 21, was married on 16 September 1821 in Westmaas, Holland, to Herman van Dijk. Herman was born on 1 November 1799, and baptised on the 10th in Heinenoord, Holland. His parents are Simon van Dijk (1747-1821) and Jannetje Blaak (1759-1838) who were married on 12 May 1782 in Oud-Beijerland, Holland.
Within 3 months, on 29 December 1821 in Westmaas, Johanna Spruit gave birth to a son Simon. She died on 13 January 1822 in Westmaas, aged 21. Her son Simon died on the 31th, 33 days after his birth. His grandfather, Pieter Spruijt, had Simon's death registered in Dubbeldam on February 1. 

Herman van Dijk was a widower at the age of 22, and remained a widower for nearly 10 years. Finally, on 10 July 1831 in Mijnsheerenland, Herman married 27-year-old Sijgje van der Giessen. She was born on 22 September 1803 and baptised on the 25th in Mijnsheerenland. Her parents are Lijsbeth le Febre and Hendrik van der Giessen (1769-1841).
Herman and Sijgje had a daughter Jannigje who was born on 12 Februrary 1832 in Mijnsheerenland. On 21 december 1833 Sijgje had a stillborn son.
Jannigje van Dijk, aged 19, was married on 20 November 1851. The groom was Arie Brussaard, and they had a large family, including a son Bastiaan Brussaard (1852-1917). Jannigje died at the age of 48, on 4 October 1880 in Oud-Beijerland.

Herman van Dijk died on 9 March 1883 in Oud-Beijerland, aged 83. His widow, Sijgje van der Giessen, died at the age of 87 on 15 January 1891 in Oud-Beijerland.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Families of South Holland ("Klappers"), WestBrabantsArchief.nl, RegionaalArchiefDordrecht.nl.

Lieutenant colonel Johann Wilhelm Schaffner (1766-1847) of Dietz

Johann Wilhelm Schaffner was baptised on 28 January 1766 in Dietz, Nassau, Germany. His parents are Anna Jacobina Bufgen, and her husband August Hieronimus Schaffner who - in 1774 - was a major in the Dutch army.

On 10 August 1825 in Cuijck, Brabant, The Netherlands, Johan Wilhelm Schaffner was married to Anna Catharina Bruns. She was born on 17 April 1805, and baptised in Cuijk on the 21th with witness Anna Catharina Ohl.
The parents of Anna Catharina Bruns are Eva Maria Ohl of Umstadt, Germany, and Johan Friederick Bruns of Lüneburg, Germany. As a widow Eva Maria Ohl was remarried on 24 January 1808 in Cuijck to Dutchman Johannes Jongedijk. Witnesses at the marriage ceremony were Peter Ohl and Georg August Ohl. George August Ohl died on 31 August 1817 in Cuijck. His parents were Georg Hendrik Ohl and Anna Maria Mitgher/Mitcher. This couple also had a son Peter Ohl who was born on 20 August 1749 in Umstadt in Germany.
Eva Maria Ohl, widow of Johannes Jongedijk, died on 22 April 1862 in Cuijck, aged 86.

The only child of Johann Wilhelm Schaffner was Maria Frederika Wilhelmina Schaffner, born on 22 June 1826 in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Brabant, The Netherlands.

Anna Catharina Bruns, aged just 27, died on 8 June 1832 in Arnheim in The Netherlands. Her widower, lieutenant colonel Johan Wilhelm Schaffner, died on 3 May 1847 in Nijmegen at the age of 81. Their only daughter died in 's-Hertogenbosch on 11 May 1866, aged 39.

Provinciale Geldersche En Nijmeegsche Courant, 5-5-1847

Sources: GeldersArchief.nl, WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, NationaalArchief.nl, en.wikipedia.org .

Heddetje Dapper (1853-99) survived her bigamous husband

Jan Fabritius was born on 2 August 1851 in Hoorn. His parents are Pieter Fabritius and Hendrika Klaassen. At the age of 23, Jan Fabritius was married on 14 May 1875 in Hoorn to Heddetje Dapper, aged 21. Heddetje was born 31 January 1853 as daughter of gardener Jacob Dapper and his wife Trijntje Bakker.
Heddetje's children Jacob, Jetje and Pieter all died as babies. Four other children survived toddlerhood: Hedde (twin with Jetje), another Jacob, another Pieter, and a daughter named Johanna Hendrika Catharina.

The marriage of Jan Fabritius and Heddetje Dapper was unhappy, and at some point Jan left his wife. For a couple of years, Jan Fabritius was earning his living as a steward on several ships. On the ship "The City of Amsterdam", Jan had met Mrs. Kersten. He married her in New York in July 1884.
Heddetje Dapper found out about her husband's bigamous wife, and filed a complaint. As a result, Jan Fabritius was convicted of bigamy. He died in August 1885.

Het Nieuws van den Dag, Kleine Courant, 29-10-1884

In the death certificate of Pieter Fabritius, who died in Hoorn on 8 January 1888 at the age of 12, his father Jan, who had died in August 1885, is described as deceased. Heddetje’s son Jacob died at the age of 20 on 16 February 1989 in Nieuwendam, Holland. Their brother Hedde and their only sister survived to adulthood.

Hoornsche Courant, 16-3-1892

Heddetje Dapper, widow of Jan Fabritius, married a second time on 11 March 1892 in Hoorn. The groom was Pieter Mol, aged 39, and was born on 31 May 1852 in Monnickendam as son of Jan Mol and Maritje Hartwigse. Pieter was widower of Eefje Porsius, and had several surviving children from his first marrige.
Heddetje Dapper died, at the age of 45, on 4 March 1899 in Buiksloot, Holland. At the age of 59, Pieter Mol died on 15 October 1911 in Nieuwendam. Heddetje's daughter Johanna Hendrika Catharina Fabritius died in 1959, at the age of 79. Heddetje's son Hedde Fabririus died in 1964. They had both been married.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, WestFriesArchief.nl.

Hendrik Eggelmeijer of Kapelle near Tecklenburg

Hend(e)rik Eggel(en)meijer (also: Eggelmeyer) was born in Kapelle near Tecklenburg in Germany. He was married op 30 April 1782 in Rotterdam. His bride was Gerritje Zeijlmans.
Cornelis Zeijlmans and Niesje van Heijmsberge had a daughter Gerritje baptized on 28 September 1755 in Rotterdam with witnesses Gerrit Boudewijns and Adriaentie van Heijnsbergen. That's likely the baptism of Hendrik's bride. That couple also had a daughter Johanna baptised on 27 June 1747, who likely is the widness at the baptism of Gerritje's 2 eldest daughters. Gerritje and Johanna also had a sister Cornelia who was baptized on 20 August 1752 in Rotterdam, and witnessed the baptisms of Gerritje's children Cornelia and Cornelia.

Tecklenburg

Hendrik Eggelmeijer and Gerritje Zeijlmans had the following children baptised in Rotterdam:

1. Johanna Catriena was baptised on 11 May 1783 with witness Johanna Zeijlmans.
2. Johanna Niesje was baptised on 24 April 1785 with witness Johanna Zeijlman(s).
3. Cornelis was baptised on 11 March 1787 with witnesses Cornelia Z(e)ijlmans and Neeltje de Jong. Cornelis married Antje Allariës in 1807. They had a son Hendrik who died young. Cornelis Eggermeijer, native of Rotterdam, died in Vlissingen on 12 April 1813.
4. Catrina Johanna was baptized on 19 October 1788 in the Zuiderkerk (church). 
5. Cornelia was baptised on 5 December 1790 with witness Cornelia Zeijlmans. Cornelia Eggelmeijer died on 14 May 1807, and was buried on the 17th. 
6. Gerretje was baptised on 9 September 1792 in the Grote Kerk (church). 
7. Gerrit Hendrik was born on 3 December 1793 and baptised on the 15th. He died on 12 May 1794 and was buried in Rotterdam on the 16th. 
8. Hendrika was baptised on 16 October 1796. She married Adriaan van Kleijnputte on 9 June 1830. Hendrika died died – 20 days after giving birth to a death son - in Rotterdam on 6 November 1832, aged 36 years and 28 days. After just 55½ months - on 24 April 1833 in Rotterdam - her widower remarried.

Hendrik Eggelmeijer died on 9 August 1802, leaving 3 young children. He was buried in Rotterdam on the 12th.
Gerritje Zeijlmans, widow of Hendrik Eggelmeijer, died on 2 July 1807, and was buried in Rotterdam on the 6th. She left 2 children, and 1 of them was still a minor. Her daughter Cornelia had passed away 3 weeks before. The 2 remaining children were Cornelis (1787-1813) and Hendrika (1796-1832).

Rotterdam

Sources: www.stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl, WieWasWie.nl.

Teunis Rijkhoek (1816-1882) 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 in the area. Among them were Teunis Rijkhoek (31) and his wife. They boarded the ship "Nagasaki" with captain F.A. Bunnemeijer. Departure from Rotterdam was on 11 April 1847 with 239 passengers on board. Two persons died at sea, and one person was born at sea. Subsequently, on the trip to Iowa, even more people died.

Teunis Rijkhoek was born on 21 February 1816 in 's-Gravendeel, Holland. His parents are Willem Rijkhoek and Pietertje van Ham (1790-1847) who is a male-line descendant of my 18th-century ancestor Jan Willems van Ham. The couple had other sons named Joost, Jan (1820-1907), Frans (1824-1904) and Johannes (1830-1889) Rijkhoek. 

Teunis Rijkhoek was married on 8 September 1838 in Groote Lindt, Holland. His bride Cornelia was born there on 15 August 1818 as daughter of Willem Boer and Janna Hoogerwerf. The marriage  of Teunis and Cornelia remained childless. 

Teunis Rijkhoek died in Pella in June 1882, aged 66.

Pella, Iowa

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Dutch Immigrants that followed Scholte, WeRelate.org, IAGenWeb.org. 

Moritz Marx (1847-1888) & his brother Benjamin

An alliterative name is a name in which the first and last names begin with the same sound, like Moritz Marx. Moritz was born in Cologne (Köln) in Germany on 15 December 1847. His parents are Emanuel Benjamin Marx and Therese Koppel. Therese was born on 4 August 1821 in Solingen, Germany. Her father is Samuel Coppel (1782-1867). Theresa died as a widow, aged 60, on 24 June 1882 in Rotterdam, Holland.

Moritz Marx had a brother Benjamin, born on 22 September 1845 in Cologne, and their youngest brother was named Hermann. Moritz Marx was living in Rotterdam when he became a Dutch citizen on 22 July 1882 at the age of 34. Moritz Marx died at the age of 40 on 16 October 1888 in Rotterdam.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 27-7-1882

In 1890 banker Benjamin Marx started a company with his brother Hermann Marx and Jacob Christoph Kerkhoven, both attorneys, manufacturer Pieter Kerkhoven and lawyer Carel Eduard Havelaar. The factory was named “Rotterdamsche Margarinefabriek”, and was intended to produce alternatives to butter.
Early 1899, Benjamin Marx and Pieter Johannes van Ommeren were owners of a company named “Marx en Co”.

Benjamin Marx had married Antonia Maria Anna Wolff on 11 August 1878. She was born on 4 December 1854 in Mainz, Germany. In 1879 the couple had a son who died as a baby. In 1880 a son Alfred Jacques was born, who reached maturity.
Benjamin died on 13 June 1910 in Rotterdam. His only surviving son was married in May 1911. In the winter of 1930-1931 Benjamin's widow, aged 76, was placed under guardianship at her own request. She died on 12 February 1932 in The Hague.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 8-1-1931

Jacobus Clingh and his 2 wives

Jacobus Clingh was baptised on 11 April 1724 in Nuenen near 's-Hertogenbosch in Brabant, The Netherlands. His parents are Theodorus Clingh and Elizabetha Jacobusd.r Bruijen. Witnesses at Jacobus' baptism were Wilhelmus Froijen and Aldegondis Clingh. His second marriage mentions mentions the "meierij van 's-Hertogenbosch" as the region where he was born.
Jacobus' bride, Catharina Pets (also Pits), was born in Workum in Frisia, The Netherlands. The couple were married on 12 May 1748 in Rotterdam. Katharina acquired consent from her mother. Jacobus had to prove that is father had died.

Marriage of Jacobus Klink and Katharina Pets in 1748 in Rotterdam

Jacobus and Catharina are the parents of Elizabeth Kling who married Nicolaas Sassen (1742-1780). Elizabeth and Nicolaas had a son Reinier baptised on 4 June 1772 in the roman catholic church in Rotterdam with witnesses Reinier Sassen and Catharina Pets. Jacobus Clingh and Elizabeth Sassen were witnesses at the roman catholic baptism on 22 June 1774 in Rotterdam of Jacobus, son of Nicolaas Sassen and Elizabeth Kling. Sadly, Jacobus died at the age of 4, and was buried on 23 October 1778 in Rotterdam. Witnesses at the roman catholic baptism of another son, Theodorus, on 30 December 1775 in Rotterdam, were Jacobus Sassen and Dorothea Cling. Nicolaas Sassen, husband of Elisabeth Klink, was buried on 7 February 1780 in Rotterdam. His widow Elizabeth Kling remarried Bernardus Begon on 15 November 1785 in Rotterdam. Elisabeth Kling, wife of Bernardus Begon, died on 25 April 1791, and was buried on the 29th in Rotterdam.

Catharina, wife of Jacobus Clingh, died on 31 December 1791, and was buried on 3 January 1792 in Rotterdam. As a widower, Jacobus Clingh married a girl named Alida Orisant. She was baptised on 14 July 1765 in Willemstad in Brabant, as daughter of Jan Orizant and Elisabeth in't Velt.
Jacobus Clingh and Maria Zegelaar were witnesses on 28 February 1795 in Rotterdam at the roman catholic baptism of Elisabeth Maria, daughter of Bernardina Zegelaar en Jacobus' grandson Reijnier Sassen. The baby died soon afterwards. Bernardus Begon, widower of Elisabeth Kling, died on 5 August 1795, and was buried on the 8th.

In Well in Gelderland, The Netherlands, Jacobus Kling and Alida Orizont had 3 children baptised named Dirkje Jacoba Johanna, Janna Arnolda and Dirk. Alida Orizont, wife of Jacobus Kling, died on 23 September 1806 in Well at the age of 50. Neighbour Hendrik den Kraay reported the death on 1 November 1806 in Ammerzoden of Jacobus Kling, 82 year old, widower of Alida Orizand. Jacobus left 4 children. His elder grandson Reijnier Sassen Clingh died on 23 April 1813 in Rotterdam, aged 40. 

Jacobus' son Dirk Kling, a farmhand, was baptised on 31 December 1803 in Well, and married Christina van Geffen (1804-1885) in Ammerzoden on 23 September 1833. They had several children. Dirk died on 13 June 1853 in Ammerzoden at the age of 51.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl, GenealogieSassen.nl.

Two Goossens marriages on the same day

Laurent Hubert Goossens (1829-1910) and his wife Sophia Hubertina Goossens (1834-1877) had ten children and seven survived infancy. Their fifth child was Felix August Marie (Félix) Goossens who was born on 8 June 1864 in Venlo. Their sixth child was born there on 20 May 1966 as Maria Florentina Albertina (Maria) Goossens.
Laurent Hubert Goossens is a male-line descendant of Antoon Goossens who died in Venlo on 3 July 1790. His wife Sophia Hubertina is a male-line descendant of Thonis Goossens who lived in Mook. Thus, husband and wife belonged to different families - as far as we known - despite having the same surname.

The couple's eldest son Antoine Emile Hubert Goossens (1860-1926) was director of a light bulb factory, and the first to marry in 1892. On 22 May 1894, in Venlo the siblings Félix and Maria were both married. Maria married Emile Jean Hubert Wolters (1864-1926), and had 6 children. Félix married Emma Elise Alexandrine Hubertine (Emma) Goossens. She was born on 13 February 1872 in Venlo as daughter of August Theodoor Hubert Goossens (1828-1911) and his Belgian wife Marie Louise Eugenie Hubertine Lumaije (1848-1907). Emma belongs to the Goossens family descending from Antoon Goossens. She and Félix have a common grandfather Mathieu Ferdinand Goossens (1791-1869).

Venloosch Weekblad, 26-5-1894

Maria Goossens and Emile Wolters are the parents of 4 sons and 2 daughters who all lived to adulthood. They had descendants in Venlo, Roermond, Den Bosch, Uppsala and Bloomfield. Emile died on 2 February 1926 in Venlo, aged 61. Maria died at the age of 70 on 11 November 1936 in Venlo.

Wedding Wednesday - Hermanus Scheffers and Johanna Smulders

Hermanus Scheffers and Johanna (S)Mulders were married on 12 May 1748 in Rotterdam. Hermanus Scheffers was a young man, born in Xanten in Germany. Johanna was a young maid, born in Drunen in Brabant, The Netherlands. She acquired consent from her mother. The notice of their marriage was on 28 April.

Hermanus Scheffers married Johanna Smulders in 1748 in Rotterdam

Hermanus and Johanna had a daughter Anna Margarita baptised in a Lutheran church in Rotterdam on 13 March 1749. Witnesses were Hendrik Scheffers and Anna Margarita Helders.

The death of Hermanus Scheffers, husband of Johanna Smulders, was registered on 25 February 1779. His body was transported. Johanna Smulders, widow of Hermanus Scheffers, died on 11 March 1799,, and was buried on the 15th in Rotterdam.

Source: StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl.

Robert Sutherland (†1808) in Sprang

Robert Sutherland was born in Dornoch in Scotland around 1725. In Sprang, Brabant, The Netherlands, he married 53-year-old Jenneke Koekman in November 1783, as her third husband.

Robert Sutherland married Jenneke Koekman in 1873 in Sprang

Jenneke Koekman was baptised on 15 October 1730 in Loon op Zand, Brabant, The Netherlands. Her parents are Aart Koekman(s) and Aaltje Bastert.
Jenneke's first marriage was on 23 November 1783 in Sprang to Carel de Rooij (1728-1759). They had 2 surviving sons, Dirk and Arnoldus de Rooij.
Jenneke's second marriage was on 9 May 1762 in Sprang to Dirk Vos (1714-1781), widower of Pieternella van Ammeroij (1713-1756), and father of 6 children. With Jenneke as his second wife, Dirk had 6 more children, named Jacobus, Pieter, Adriaen, Alida, Willem and Johannes Vos.

Robert Sutherland died at the age of 81 in 1808 in Sprang

Robert Sutherland died on 31 May 1808 in Sprang, where he lived, at the age of 81. His death was reported by his stepson Dirk de Rooij. Robert's widow, Jenneke Koekman died on 28 June 1810 in Sprang, aged 79. Jenneke's eldest surviving son, Dirk de Rooij, had been buried in Sprang on 15 February that same year.

Wedding Wednesday ~ Elizabeth Reurs and Frans Joseph Lachert in 1748

On 28 April 1748 in Rotterdam Elizabeth Reurs and Frans Joseph Lachert were married. Frans Joseph Lachert was a young man born in Vienna. Rlizabeth Reurs was a young maid born in Münsterland, the area around the city of Münster in Germany. The notice of marriage was on 14 April.

Frans Joseph Lachert and Elizabeth Reurs married in 1748 in Rotterdam

Elijsabeth “Beehrs”, wife of Frans Lacher, was buried on 22 January 1750 in Rotterdam.

Source: StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl.

The family of Charles Joseph Victor Marie Goossens (1862-1915)

Eugène Nicolaas Hubert Goossens (1827-1903) and his wife Catherine Victorine Honoré (1838-1866) were living in Liège in Belgium where they were married in 1856. Eugène was born in Bree in Belgium as son of the Dutch couple Petrus Jacobus Goossens (1790-1876) and Maria Anna Alexandrina de Borman (1793-1877) who had settled in Bree.

Charles Joseph Victor Marie Goossens was born on 7-12-1862 in Liège in Belgium

Eugène and his wife had two sons: Pierre François Eugène Marie Maurice Goossens (1857-1890) and Charles Joseph Victor Marie Goossens (1862-1915). Charles was married on 22 October 1889 in Liège to Laurence Elise Marie Larroque. She was born on 20 October 1866 in Liège as daughter of Frenchman Mathieu Ernest Larroque (1841-1922) and his wife Joséphine Eugénie Stembert (1829-1915).

Marcel François Ernest Goossens was born on 26-10-1892 in Liège in Belgium

While Charles and Laurence were living in Liège, they had four children: Eugène Charles Ernest, born in 1890, Marcel François Ernest, Jeanne Marie Louise (1894-1917) and Georges Eugène Ernest, born in 1900.
Their second son, Marcel François Ernest, was born on 26 October 1892 in Liège. He married Suzanna Beaumartin on 8 April 1920 in Bordeaux in France. Suzanna was born there on 26 August 1894. The couple had children named Jeanne, Pierre, Arlette and Jean Marie.
Arlette Monique Henriette Georgette Goossens was born on 2 April 1926 in Bordeaux, and died there on 29 October 2021, at the age of 95.

Sources: Kwartierstaat Kaarten Beltman, WieWasWie.nl, acte-deces.fr, OpenArch.nl. More info: GenWiki.nl.

Christiaan Erassemus Hollem of Bornholm married in Rotterdam

Christiaan Erassemus Hol(le)m was a young man, born on the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. W(e)ijntje Snikkers was a young girl, baptised on 25 August 1748 in Dordrecht. Her parents, Jan Snikkers and Jannetje de Roth, were married in 1747. Wijntje had several younger siblings.
Christiaan and Wijntje were married in Rotterdam on 15 March 1772. The notice of their marriage had been on 28 February.

Christian Erassemus Hollem and Wijntje Snikker were married in 1772 in Rotterdam

Christiaan Erassemus Hollem and Wijntje Snikkers are the parents of

1. Erasmus ("Rassemus") Holm was baptised on 25 December 1772 in Rotterdam with witnesses Jan Snikkers and Jannetje de Rot. In 1793 he married Margaretha Laziers who died on 28 August 1843 in Rotterdam, 69½ years old. Erasmus Holm died in Rotterdam on 21 November 1847, aged 75 years and 11 months.
2. Jannetje Holm was baptised on 16 January 1776 in Rotterdam with witnesses Jan Snikkers and Jannetje de Rot. Jannetje died on 8 June 1822 in Rotterdam, aged 56.
3. Johannes Holm was baptised on 19 March 1780 in Rotterdam with witnesses Jannetje de Ro(o)t and Jan Snikkers. Aged 50 years, 2 months and 27 days, "Jan" Holm died on 12 June 1830 in Rotterdam.
4. Christina Holm was baptised on 25 January 1784 in the Zuiderkerk church in Rotterdam with witness Jannetje Rot. Christina Holm married Jurrie Janse Kant on 14 July 1819 in Rotterdam. He originated in Leer in Ostfriesland in Germany. At the age of 42, Christina married 30-year-old Antonius Joannes Sanders on 8 November 1826 in Rotterdam.

On 3 October 1796 in Rotterdam Wijntje de Rot was a witness at the baptism of Cornelia, daughter of Alida Giesestijn and Cornelis Snikkers.
Wijntje Snikkers, widow of Christiaan Hollem, died on 15 April 1817 in Rotterdam, at the age of 70.

Source: StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl, RegionaalArchiefdordrecht.nl.

Alberto Zoppi (1856-1937) in Tilburg

Alberto Zoppi was born on 13 March 1856 in Broglio, Ticino, Switserland. His father, Giacomo Zoppi, had deserted his wife Marianna Tonini in 1867. He left for the USA, and they haven't heard from him since. In The Netherlands Alberto worked as a worked as a chimney sweep.

Alberto Zappi was born in Broglio in Switserland

At the age of 25, on 16 June 1881 in Zwolle, The Netherlands, Alberto Zoppi married 22-year-old Cornelia Vredeveld. She was born on on 1 April 1859 in Zwolle, The Netherlands. Her parents are carpenter Johannes Vredeveld an his wife Alberdiena Rientjes. At the time of her marriage, Cornelia’s mother was being nursed in an asylum for the insane in nearby Deventer.

Alberto's mother-in-law Alberdiena Rientjes was locked up in a mental institution