The difference between ... Age of Consent & Age of Majority

The Age of Majority

“The age of majority is the legally defined age at which a person is considered an adult, with all the attendant rights and responsibilities of adulthood."

The age of majority is the age defining legal adulthood. At majority, a minor becomes an adult, assuming legal control over their person, actions, and decisions, and ending parental right. Parental control and the duty to support a child legally end at this age. The person can now handle his or her own affairs.
If you did get your parents’ permission to marry, you would become a legal adult, too.

This general age boundary relates mostly to property laws. It includes the right to freely manage and dispose of your goods, buy and sell properties and sign rental contracts. On the other hand, once you reach the age of majority, you can be charged with failure to pay debts, or other contractual obligations.

In Dutch history the age of majority was 25 during the middle ages, except for some regional differences. A boy remained in his father’s guardianship until he was emancipated on attaining maturity. A girl remained in her father's guardianship until she married, at which point she passed into the guardianship of her husband(‘s family).
In the early 19th century the age of majority was 21. The French Napoleonic Code also set a required marital minimum age of 18 years for men, and 15 for women in The Netherlands.
As of 1838 - with the introduction of the Civil Code - the Dutch law stated that the age of majority was 23, and the marital age for women was raised to 16. Usually, from the age of 7 a child would start to contribute to the household. From helping out in the house to labour and farming. Between the ages of 14 and 18, you were considered a fully-fledged worker.
In the early 20th century the age was back to 21. In 1985 the age of majority was set at 18 (or an earlier date in the case of marriage).

Note: Many Ages of License coincide with the Age of Majority to recognise the transition to legal adulthood, but they are nonetheless legally distinct concepts.

The Difference Between ... is a series explaining the differences between two genealogical concepts

The Age of Consent

“The age of consent is defined as the age at which someone is considered by the law to be old enough to agree to have sex with someone else of the age of consent."

Throughout history the Age of Consent has been used with additional meanings, such as the age at which a person becomes competent to consent to marriage, but consent to sexual activity is the modern meaning of the term. Consequently, an adult who engages in sexual activity with a person younger than the age of consent, is unable to legally claim that the sexual activity was consensual, and such sexual activity is considered child sexual abuse.

The eventful life of Maaike van der Giessen

This is the story of Maaike van der Giessen. Her first husband, carpenter Arij Schaaij, divorced her when she was just 23 years old. They had two children, but both had died shortly after birth. The divorce was pronounced on 24 May 1872 at the District Court in Brielle, Holland.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 19-6-1872

Maaike van der Giessen was born on 29 June 1848 in 's-Gravendeel, Holland. Her parents are Maria Bezemer and Arie van der Giessen (1818-1897). Maaike had a sister Maria who married Jacob van't Hof. Maaike, Maria and their father Arie are most likely male-line descendants of my ancestor Teunis Ariens van der Giessen who lived in the 17th century in Mookhoek, south of 's-Gravendeel. 

On September 12, 1868, in 's-Gravendeel Maaike married carpenter Arij Schaaij, son of Wouter Schaaij and Lena Trees. Arij was born in Brielle on November 4, 1835, around 4:30 PM.

Their two children both died as infants:

1. Wouter Schaaij was born on 21-2-1869 in Piershil, Holland, and died on the 27th, 6 days old.
2. Maria Martha Schaaij was born on 24-1-1870 in Piershil, and died in Dubbeldam, Holland, on 9-8-1870, 6½ months old.

This marriage ended in divorce on May 24, 1872, in Brielle. Arij Schaaij, residing in Brielle, Holland, was the plaintiff. Maaike, who was not present at the hearing, was the defendant. She was living in Rotterdam, Holland.

Arij Schaaij married his second wife on September 18, 1874, in Heenvliet. She was Willemina Fokkeliena Meppelder, 22 years old and born in Dordrecht. From his second marriage Arij had children named Lena Fokkelina and Tallegien Schaaij.

Aanvankelijk woonden Emile Joseph Thomas en Maaike van der Giessen in Rotterdam

Maaike was 25 years old when she remarried on October 1, 1873 in Rotterdam to Emile Joseph Thomas. He was born in Vierset-Barse in the province of Liège in Belgium in 1845*. His parents are Antoine Joseph Thomas and Marie Catherine Joseph Colette.

Maaike and Emile had the following children:

Het Nieuws van den Dag
(Kleine Courant), 18-7-1898

1. Antonius Joseph Thomas was born on 19-10-1873 in Rotterdam**. He worked as a stonemason, and was married in Enschede on 19-5-1921 to Henderika Vink (40), widow of Jan Ties Prins. Antonius Joseph died in Oldenzaal on 17-7-1934.
2. Maria Catharina Thomas was born on 12-3-1876 in Rotterdam. She married Henri Willem Eduard Lijbrink (1875-1956) of Nieuwer-Amstel on 28-7-1898 in Amsterdam. By judgement of the Amsterdam District Court of June 3, 1922, Maria's marriage was dissolved by divorce. Her ex later married Grietje Smit.
3. Catharina Josephina Thomas was born in Nijmegen on 24-1-1878. She was married on on 7-5-1902 in Amsterdam to Jan Broere who originated in Capelle aan de IJssel. They had issue. Catharina Josephina died on 20 October 1925 in Amsterdam, aged 47.
4. Emilia Johanna Thomas was born in Zaandam on 5-11-1879. She was still alive in 1891.
5. Henriëtte Jeanette Thomas was born in Papendrecht on 9-1-1881. She married diamond cutter Johannes Krabbenbosch on 24-5-1905 in Amsterdam.

Emile Joseph Thomas died at the age of 84, and was buried in Amsterdam on 16 May 1929.

Notes:
*  Emile Joseph Thomas was born in Vierset-Barse in 1845, either on 22 February 1845 or 3 May.
** The family cards in Amsterdam show the wrong year of birth. I've checked the birth certificate.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl, Archief.Amsterdam, AlleFriezen.nl, Wikipedia.org.

The 1-month marriage of Herman Heinrich Vogelsang (1787-1821)

Herman Heinrich Vogelsang was born on 21 January 1787 in Lengerich, a place in Germany, located just south of Tecklenburg. His parents are tailor Johann Wilhelm Vogelsang and his wife Cathrine Elisabeth Schräer/Schröer. Johan Wilhelm Vogelsang had died on 5 August 1808 in Lengerich. At the eind of 1814, Herman Heinrich moved to the Netherlands.

Herman Heinrich Vogelsang was born in Lengerich on 21 January 1787

On 16 February 1820 in the Almelo district, 33-year-old Herman Heinrich Vogelsang married Berentdina Berentzen, aged 26. The groom was in such dire financial straits that he could not afford the wedding fees.

Herman Heinrich Vogelsang married Berentdina Berentzen on 16 February 1820 in Ambt Almelo

Berentdina Berentzen was born on 10 March 1793 and baptised on the 17th in Holten near Almelo as daughter of Jan Berenzen Groote-boer and Willemina Janzen. This couple was married in Holten on 16 May 1784, and had several children.
Berentdina, a farm girl living in the Almelo district, stated that her father, farmer Jan Berentzen, had lived in Holten, and died there on 28 December 1805.

Berentdina Berentzen was born on 10 March 1793 in Holten

Pieter Strijkijzer (1801-75) was convicted of illegal fishing

Adam Strickeiser - also known as “Strekeijzern” - and Maria Schepens were married on 23 March 1794 in Raamsdonk, Brabant, The Netherlands. According to the marriage register, Strijkijzer was originally from “Berwinke” - Birwinken in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland.
The bride, Maria Schepens, was baptised on 10 June 1764 in Raamsdonk, as the daughter of Anthonij Schepens and Anna Timmermans. Maria was 66 years old when she died on 23 September 1821 in Raamsdonk.

Marriage registration of Adam Strickeiser and Maria Schepens in 1794 in Raamsdonk

Maria Antonis Schepens gave birth to her youngest son Pieter Strijkijzer on 13 November 1801. He was baptised on the 15th in Raamsdonk.

At the age of 27, labourer Pieter Strijkijzer, living in Raamsdonk, was summoned to appear before the court in 's-Hertogenbosch, Brabant. On 24 May 1828 Pieter Strijkijzer and Jan van Laarhoven had been fishing without a permit. They were caught red-handed while Pieter was on leave from military service with the 13th Infantry Division.
The fish caught was confiscated, they were fined ƒ25.-, and had to pay ƒ7.30 in legal costs.

The sad life of Hendrik Vaupell (1840-1910)

Hendrik Vaupell was admitted to an asylum for the insane on 12 May 1865 in Zutphen, The Netherlands. Earlier, he had been living in Deventer. By judgement of the Zutphen District Court of February 15, 1871, Hendrik Vaupell was placed under guardianship for insanity. The guardianship had been requested by his brother-in-law Willem Gelderblom. At that time, Hendrik was still residing in the asylum in Zutphen.

Zutphense Courant (newspaper), 21-2-1871

Hendrik Vaupell was born on 26 December 1840 around 23:30 in Zaltbommel as son of Hendrik Vaupell (1783-1847) and his German wife Aleida Catharina Lubeleij (†1851). She originated in Neuenhaus, just across the border in Germany.

Johann Peter Friedrich Dicke moved to The Netherlands

Johann Peter Friedrich Dicke was born on 20 April 1796 in Wesel in Germany as son of Matthias Dicke and Catharina Kemper. Johann had an elder brother Wilhelm Herman Dicke, who was born in August 1783 in Wesel. Wilhelm - now Willem - married Petronella van Dockum (1780-1860) on 25 November 1812 in Rotterdam. They are the parents of Jacob Matthijs Dicke (1819-1888) and Peter Willem Dicke (1822-1886).

Marketplace in Wesel

In 1815 master carpenter Johann Peter Dicke joined the volunteer hunter detachment established in Wesel. He fully equipped himself at his own expense, and participated in a campaign against France.

Wesel, 30 mei 1823: 

“Dass den hiesige Johann Peter Dicke, geboren am 20. April 1796, bei den in 1815 hier errichteten freiwilligen Jäger-Detachement eingetreten ist, sich auf eigene Kosten vollständig ausgerüstet und den Feldzug gegen Frankreich mitgemacht hat, wird hiermit auf den Grund der rathäusslichen Akten attestiert.”

Matthias Dicke, the father of both Johann and Willem, died in Wesel on 29 October 1818.
By 1823, Johann Peter Friedrich Dicke was 27 years old, and living in Dordrecht, Holland. There, on 17 September 1823, Johann married 32-year-old Diderica Alida van Droogen. She was born in Gorinchem, Holland, but now living in Rotterdam. Her parents and grandparents had all died.

Dordrecht, 17 sept. 1823: 

- Johann Peter Friedrich Dicke, 27 jaar, geboren en onlangs gewoond hebbende te Wesel, thans wonende te Dordrecht, zoon van Matthias Dicke, overleden te Wesel op 29 okt. 1818, en Catharina Kemper, 63 jaar, trouwt met
- Diderica Alida van Drogen, 32 jaar, geboren te Gorinchem en wonende te Rotterdam, dochter van Jacobus van Drogen en Neeltje van den Berg, beiden overleden, en kleindochter van Albertus van Drogen en Dirkje Ladder en Leendert van den Berg en Alida Klein, allen overleden. 

Johann and Diderica had 2 daughters: Mathilda Catharina Dicke (1828-1850) and Diderika Johanna Dicke (1829-1882). In 1861 Diderika Johanna married Rudolph Römer who originated in Orsoy in Germany. They had four children who would later marry.

Longevity ~ Aaltje Brand (94) survived her siblings

Aaltje Brand was born in Enkhuizen, Holland, on 8 March 1832. Her parents are fisherman Bote Brand (1800-1888) and his first wife Geesje Fasol. Bote and his wife married on 1 April 1824 in Enkhuizen. They had more children, including Jan Brand (1830-1923) and Klaas Brand (1839-1933) who both reached the age of 93.
When Aaltje Brand was 15 years old, her mother Geesje Fasol died at the age of 50 on January 21, 1848, in Brielle, Holland. Her father, Bote Brand, remarried on July 31, 1852, in Brielle to Maritje Kramer (1813-1891) who originated from Enkhuizen, too. Bote Brand died in Brielle on April 30, 1888, at the respectable age of 87.

Enkhuizen as painted by C. Springer

At the age of just 20, on 25 March 1852, Aaltje Brand married 20-year-old sailor Jacob van der Schilt. Jacob was born on 9 September 1831 in Brielle as son of Jan van der Schild and his wife Amarensje van der Kraan.
The marriage of Aaltje and Jacob van der Schilt remained childless. For some years a niece lived with Aaltje and her husband. Her name is Aaltje Jacoba van Noord. She was born in Brielle on 22 May 1863 as daughter of steersman Pieter van Noord (1830-1907) and his wife Fijtje Brand (1827-1899), Aaltje's sister. In 1884 Aaltje Jacoba married Johannes Arnoldus Pols, and had issue. Aaltje Jacoba van Noord died in Dordrecht on 28 January 1946, aged 82.

At the age of 77, Jacob van der Schilt died on New Years Day 1909 in Brielle. His widow Aaltje Brand lived for another 18 years. She died in Dordrecht on 20 January 1927 around 11 AM. Aaltje Brand was 94 years and 10 months old.

Aaltje Brand died at the age of 94 on 30 January 1927 in Dordrecht 

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, StreekarchiefVP.nl, WestFriesArchief.nl.

Jan Witvliet (1846-78) and his son Jan Cornelis Witvliet (1872-99)

Jan Cornelis Witvliet was born in Middelharnis, Holland, on 26 March 1872. His parents are Neeltje van Tol and Jan Witvliet. Father Jan was born on 7 February 1846 in Middelharnis as son of Mattheus Witvliet (1821-1884) and his wife Jannetje de Bloeme (1823-1892).
Jan Cornelis had siblings named Mattheus, Adriaantje and Arend Witvliet. These children's father, Jan Witvliet, at the young age of 32, on 21 June 1878 in Rotterdam, when Jan Cornelis was 6 years old. Neeltje van Tol was a widow at the age of 32.

On 25 February 1880 in Rotterdam Neeltje van Tol remarried. The groom was 30-year-old Richard Ernst Sylvester Schneider. He was born on 31 December 1849 in Frankfurt an der Oder in Germany. His parents are Ernst Carl Schneider and Rozalie Emilie Friederike Messer. Thus, 7-year old Jan Cornelis Witvliet and his siblings had a stepfather.

As an adult, Jan Cornelis Witvliet was a stoker, tending the fire for the running of the steam engine of a ship. He married Antje Groenewoud on 27 December 1894 in Rotterdam. The bride was born on 14 December 1866 in Amsterdam as daughter of Johannes Wilhelmus Groenewoud and Lijsje Beth.

Jan Cornelis Witvliet and his wife Antje had a son Richard Ernst Silvester Witvliet, born on 29 March 1896 in Amsterdam. The baby was named after his father's stepfather. Another son, Johannes Wilhelmus Witvliet, was born in Rotterdam on 28 March 1898.

Dutch translation of the death certificate of Jan Cornelis Witvliet as registered on 7 July 1899 in Rotterdam

Jan Cornelis Witvliet died on 24 June 1899, between 12 and 1 o'clock in the morning, on the River Rhine near Mainz in Germany. His stepfather, Richard Ernst Silvester Schneider died, at the age of 53, on 22 November 1903 in Rotterdam. His widow, Antje Groenewoud, died in Amsterdam in August 1941, at the age of 74.
Her eldest son, Richard Ernst Silvester Witvliet, married Maria Margaretha Farber, and emigrated to South-Africa. They had a son named Boudewijn Egbert Richard Witvliet.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl, Archief.Amsterdam website, Delpher.nl.

Longevity ~ Cornelia de Groot (94) in Oud-Alblas

This is a blog post about Cornelia de Groot who outlived her husband by 56 years, and reached the age of 94.
She was born on 30 November 1792, and baptised on 9 December in Oud-Alblas, Holland, with witness Annigje Neef. Cornelia's parents are Meinsje Neef (1756-1845) and her husband Teunis de Groot (1760-1837). This couple had several other children.

Cornelia de Groot was born on 30 November 1792 in Oud-Alblas

Cornelia de Groot was 26 years old and working as a cleaning woman when she married Frederik Boele on 4 December 1819 around 18:00 in Oud-Alblas. Frederik was born on the 22th and baptised on 24 November 1790 in Streefkerk with witness Hendrika Zweere. Frederik father is Jacobus Boel (1739-1792), a son of my ancestor Teunis Boel (1703-1793). Frederik's mother, Ariaantje Zweere (1759-1821), was present at the wedding ceremony, as was Cornelia's father.

Frederik and Cornelia are the parents of

1. Meijncie Boele was born on 5-2-1820 in Papendrecht, Holland. At the age of 48, Meijncie was finally married on 31-7-1868 in Ridderkerk, Holland. The groom was Cornelis Stok (1820-1881), son of Willem Stok and Grietje van den Hoek. Meijncie died in Dordrecht, Holland, on 30-9-1913 around 21:00 at the age of 93.
2. Jacoba Boele was born on 9-9-1821 in Oud-Alblas. She married Adriaan Korteland on 5-6-1847 in Oud-Alblas. Jacoba died there on 12-12-1897, aged 76.
3. Arieaantje Boele was born on 20-1-1824 in Oud-Alblas. She married Teunis de Lange on 5-1-1854 in Oud-Alblas.Arieaantje died on 27-12-1905 in Papendrecht, aged 81.
4. Teuntje Boele was born on 7-6-1826 in Oud-Alblas. She married Willem Kreukniet on 12-10-1850 in Sliedrecht. Teuntje died there on 31-10-1911, aged 85. Her widower, Willem Kreukniet, reached the age of 90. Willem was born on 2-9-1824 in Peursum as son of Arie Kreukniet and Maaike de Keijzer. Willem died on 4-4-1915 in Sliedrecht.
5. Cornelis Boele was born on 2-12-1828 in Oud-Alblas. He first married Lijntje Frederika Kooij in 1855. He remarried Antje Teeuw in 1868. Cornelis died 18-02-1910 in Sliedrecht at the age of 81.

Cornelia de Groot was 94 years old when she died

Susanna van Houten (3) succumbed to measles in 1814

Susanna van Houten was born on 3 March 1811 and baptised on 4 April in Rotterdam. Her parents are Willem van Houten Junior and his first wife Johanna Suzanna Rocques. They were both born in Rotterdam, where they married on January 24, 1802.

Willem van Houten married Jeanne Susanne Rocques on 24 January 1802 in Rotterdam

Willem van Houten Junior was baptised on 4 October 1778 in Rotterdam. His parents are Willem van Houten Senior (1744-1820) and his wife Agnita Urvin/Erven.

Willem's first wife, Jeanne Susanne Rocques, died in Rotterdam on 10 July 1813, aged 35. She was born on 8 August 1778, and baptised in the Walloon church in Rotterdam on the 12th. Her parents are Anne Rabié en Jean Pierre Rocques.

Within a year of the death of Jeanne Susanna, their daughter Susanna died of measles on 20 April 1814 in Rotterdam.

Rotterdamsche Courant (newspaper), 21 april 1814

Willem van Houten Junior remarried in Rotterdam on 28 February 1818. His bride was 20-year-old Marie Sophie Billiau, who was born in Embden, Germany. Her parents, Joseph Billiau and Jeanne Catharine de Cuijper, had settled in Amsterdam. Marie Sophie died, at the age of 40, on 16 July 1839 in Rotterdam.

Louise Susanne Nau (1806-1845), Christiaan Godfried (1807-1869), Johannes Nicolaas (1803-1869), Pieter Jacobus (1809-1859) and Angenita Anna (1812-1884) van Houten reached adulthood and married. They were surviving children from Willem's first marriage to Jeanne Susanna Rocques.
Willem Alexander (1818-1872), Christiaan Frederik (1823-1886), Sophie Louise Agathe (1825-1885), Hendrik Cornelis (1830-1885) and Anna Susanna Maria (1834-1868) van Houten were children from Willem's second marriage to Marie Sophie who reached adulthood and married. Their children Catharina Hermina (1821-1894) and Lodewijk Theodoor van Houten (1832-1871) remained unmarried. Herman van Houten (1827-1871) also married, and later emigrated with his family to Buenos Aires in Argentina.

Algemeen Handelsblad (newspaper), 19-10-1871

Sources: Delpher.nl, StadsArchiefRotterdam.nl, WieWasWie.nl.

Cornelia van Holst (1774-1829) ended up in Antwerp

Cornelia van Holst was baptised on 4 February 1774 in Dordrecht, Holland. Her parents are Hendrik van Holst and Maaike van Vliet. Cornelia's maternal grandfather is Josua van Vliet (1710-1765) who had 3 wives in succession.

In Delft, in the old church, at the age of 25, Cornelia van Holst married Abraham Glimmerveen on 21 July 1799. Abraham was baptised in Delfshaven on 21 July 1773 as son of Quirinus Glimmerveen and Elizabeth van Vijfwijk. Witnesses were Reinier Glimmerveen and Geertrui van Vijfwijk.

The notice of marriage for Abraham Glimmerveen and Cornelia van Holst was in Delft on 6-7-1799.

Abraham Glimmerveen and Cornelia van Holst had the following children:

1. Abraham was baptised on 15-9-1803 in Dordrecht. He was likely buried there on 6-12-1803.
2. Elizabet was baptised on 5-10-1804 in Dordrecht. She was likely buried there on 2-4-1805.
3. Johanna was baptised on 15-4-1806 in Dordrecht. She was buried there on 17-1-1807.
4. Johanna was baptised on 14-10-1807 in Dordrecht. She was likely buried there 27-11-1807.
5. Quirijnis was baptised on 7-5-1809 in Dordrecht. He died there on 27-9-1870, aged 61.

Abraham Glimmerveen died in Delft on 1 July 1811. His widow Cornelia van Holst died, aged 55, in Antwerp, Belgium, on 26 September 1829 due to intermittent comatose fever ("fièvre intermittente comateuse").

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, RegionaalArchiefDordrecht.nl, StadsArchiefDelft.nl, OpenArchieven.nl, FelixArchief.Antwerpen.be. Further reading: Resources.Huygens.knaw.nl.

Latin Term ~ Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in Latin means “For Church and People”. It's a decoration of the Holy See - a papal distinction. It is currently conferred for distinguished service to the Catholic Church by lay people and clergy. The medal was established by Leo XIII on 17 July 1888 to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee. In 1898 it became a permanent papal distinction. Cecilia Hubertine Custers had received this decoration.

Cecilia Hubertine (“Cecile”) Custers was born in Venlo on 12 November 1829 as daughter of merchant Mathias Antonius (“Mathijs Antoon”) Custers (1792-1866) and his wife Johanna Elisabeth Keuller (1795-1878). Johanna Elisabeth endured 12 pregnancies. Cecile was her sixth child. When Cecile's younger brother Johan Hendrik Hubert Custers (1834-1898) died at the age of 63, Cecile was the only survivor of all her siblings. She never married.
Cecile died, aged 84, on 23 February 1914 in Venlo.

Longevity ~ Anna Kamberg (96) in Dordrecht

Anna Kamberg was born in Dordrecht on 22 January 1861 around 20:30 PM. She had a brother, who lived to be 71 years old, 2 brothers who died young, and a number of sisters, including Catharina Kamberg, who lived to be 73 years old. Their parents are Catharina van Leliveld (1831-1905) and Dirk Eduard Kamberg (1831-1918). Anna's great-grandfather, Jan Kamberg, originated from Dalem near Gorinchem.

Anna Kamberg was born on 22 January 1861 in the Marienbornstraat in Dordrecht.

At the age of 27, on 8 February 1888 in Dordrecht, Anna Kamberg married 27-year-old Adrianus Knikman. Adrianus was born on 10 August 1860 in Dordrecht as son of Goverdina Johanna Nelemans (1828-1879) and Adam Knikman (1833-1900).
Adam Knikman is a son of Willemina Tielekind (1803-1856) and Arie Knikman (1807-1871). After fathering 2 sons, Arie was admitted to a mental asylum, and placed under guardianship. He is a son of Hendrika Baks (1769-1840) and Adam Knikman (1775-1849). Adam is a son of my ancestors Arij Janse Knikman (1730-1778) and Maria de Sterke (1730-1806).

Anna gave birth to 8 children: Adam (1888-1895), Dirk Eduard, Adrianus, Catharina (1895-1967), Goverdina Johanna (1897-1970), Anna (1899-1972), Adam (b†1901) and Adam (1902-1967).
On 16 September 1905 in Dordrecht Anna's mother, Catharina van Leliveld died at the age of 74. She was born in Dordrecht on 9 February 1831.
Anna's husband, Adrianus Knikman, died at the age of 56, on 6 December 1916 in Dordrecht. Anna's father, Dirk Eduard Kamberg, died in Dordrecht on 13 March 1918 at the age of 86. He was born in Dordrecht on 14 April 1831.

Edouard Joseph Groteclaes (1831-1893) was naturalised as a Dutch citizen

Edouard Joseph Groteclaes was born on 15 October 1831 in Hombourgh. This Belgian village is located near the borders of both The Netherlands and Germany. His parents are farmer Theodoor Groteclaes and his wife Maria Anna Duijckaerts.
At the age of 28, farmer Edouard Joseph Groteclaes married 39-year-old Maria Gertrud Lucia Scheepers on 23 May 1860 in Itteren, Limburg, The Netherlands. Their daughter Maria Anna Clara Groteclaes was born in Itteren on 15 January 1862. She was just 17 years old, when she married Alexander Hubert Smeets (1852-1941) on 18 November 1879 in Itteren. They had issue.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 25 July 1869: Naturalisation of Edouard Joseph Groteclaes

Born in Belgium, Eduard Joseph Groteclaes was naturalised as a Dutch citizen on 15 July 1869.
Edouard Joseph Groteclaes died, at the age of 61, on 21 January 1893 in Itteren. His widow, 78-year-old Maria Gertrudis Lucia Scheepers, died in Itteren on 3 March 1900, aged 78.
Their daughter Maria Anna Clara Groteclaes was 82 years old when she died in Itteren on 27 December 1944. Her eldest daughter Maria Anna Hubertina Mélanie Smeets (1881-1972) was to reach the age of 91.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl (newspapers), HistorischCentrumLimburg.nl.

Johan Simon Alexander Broertjes (1839-1903) was an illegitimate son

Johannes Simon Alexander Broertjes was born in on 8 August 1839 in The Hague as illegitimate son of cleaning woman IJda Holderman. His surname was changed from Holderman to Broertjes when 44-year-old IJda Holderman married 33-year-old Pieter Broertjes in The Hague on 6 March 1850. At the marriage ceremony the couple acknowledged 10-year-old Johannes Simon Alexander as their son. Until recently, however, Pieter Broertjes had been living in Alkmaar, so it's very unlikely that he was the boy's biological father.
Earlier, IJda Holderman had given birth to another son (in 1845) and a daughter (in 1836), but they had both died as babies. IJda's parents are Pieter Holderman and Alijda Sikkes. IJda died on 23 January 1882 around 20:00 at the age of 76. At the age of 73, Pieter Broertjes died in The Hague around 6:30 A.M. on 14 February 1890. His parents are Gerrit Broertjes and Neeltje Nol.

Johannes Simon Alexander Broertjes and his first wife had a surviving son

Johannes Theodorus Broertjes was born in Rotterdam on 25 May 1874 as the only surviving child of Johannes Simon Alexander Broertjes and his wife Josina Catharina Blekxstoon (a descendant of the Blackstone family in Dordrecht). Josina Catharina Blekxstoon was born on 27 August 1838 in Rotterdam, and died there on 6 May 1893. Her parents are Maria Elixabeth Hek and Johannes Blekxstoon , who is a son of Josina Wielandse and Johannes Adrianus Blekxstoon.
At the age of 34, Johan Simon Alexander Broertjes had married 35-year-old Josina Catharina Blekxstoon on 27 August 1873 in Rotterdam. Josina Catharina died on 6 May 1893 in Rotterdam, aged 54.

Johannes Simon Alexander Broertjes, widower of Josina Catharina Blekxtoon, married Carolina de Knoop

On 2 August 1893 in Rotterdam widower Johan Simon Alexandermarried his second wife, 39-year-old Carolina de Knoop (1854-1931). At the time his son Johannes Theodorus was 19 years old. In his father's opinion, Johannes Theodorus was a spendthrift, as the advertisement below shows: “WARNING. Please do not give MONEY or GOODS to my under-age son J.Th. Broertjes, as I will not PAY for it.”

Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad (newspaper), 14-4-1894

With his second wife Johan Simon Alexander Broertjes had an additional son, Andries, who died as a baby. Their daughter Johanna Maria Broertjes was born on 15 July 1895 in Rotterdam. Johannes Simon Alexander Broertjes died in Rotterdam on 9-12-1903 at the age of 64. His only surving daughter Johanna Maria was to married Matthijs van den Berg in 1918, but died on 25 October 1920 at the age of 25. She left behind a daughter named Macheltje van den Berg.

At the age of 28, on 28 May 1902 in Rotterdam, Johannes Theodorus Broertjes married Johanna ten Westenend. She was born on 27 Septeber 1873 in Nijmegen. Her parents are Anna Kuiten and coachman Petrus ten Westenend. Johanna and Johannes Theodorus had children named Johannes Simon Alexander, Johanna Josina and Johannes Franciscus.
Johannes Theodorus Broertjes died on 16 November 1953 in Renkum, aged 79. His widow, Johanna ten Westenend, died in Zaandam on 13 May 1964.

Arnhemsche Courant (newspaper), 22-5-1947

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, HaagsGemeenteArchief.nl, Archief.Zaanstad.nl, StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl.
For additional information, see also: StamboomDeKnoop.nl.

Two short marriages and a drowning

Michiel Christinus van der Steen was born in Gouda, Holland, on 11 December 1829 as son of Johannes van der Steen, a ropemaker's apprentice, and Teuntje Lourier. Michiel Christinus had siblings Johanna and Johannes.

Gouda

At the age of 23, on 12 October 1853 in Gouda, Michiel Christianus married 27-year-old Maria van Vliet. She was born on 3 January 1826 in Noord-Waddinxveen as daughter of Jacobus van Vliet (†1852) and Margarita Middelkoop (1797-1869). After just 5 months of marriage, Maria van Vliet died on 29 March 1854 in Gouda, aged 28.

The next year, on 9 May, 25-year-old Michiel Christianus remarried in Gouda. His new bride was 27-year-old Catharina Johanna Lansmans. Just 3 months later, on 24 August 1855, Michiel Christianus died at the young age of 25.

The widowed Catharina Johanna Lansmans was born on 12 September 1827 in Gorinchem as daughter of Gerardus Lansmans (†1853) and Dingena (“Digna”) Hitters (†1867). Catharina Johanna was a widow at the age of 27.
At the age of 30, Catharina Johanna married 22-year-old Gijsbertus van Vliet on 17 February 1858 in Gouda. Gijsbertus was born on 25 January 1836 in Gouda as son of Catharina Achten (1811-1849) and bread baker Leendert van Vliet (1812-1846). Gijsbertus had become an orphan at the age of 13.

Gijsbertus van Vliet and Catharina Johanna Lansmans had 5 children:

Leendert Schenk

1. Catharina Dingena was born on 23-9-1860 in Gouda. At the age of 19, she married 24-year-old Cornelis Schenk. He was born on 14-8-1856 as son of Dirk Schenk (1822-1872) and his first wife Maria Elselina van Omme (1824-1862). Cornelis Schenk died on 15-4-1950 in Gouda at the advanced age of 93. Catharina Dingena died on 7-4-1931 in Gouda, aged 70. They had children, including a son Leendert Schenk (photo to the right).
2. Dina was born on 1-2-1864 in Gouda, and died there on the 3rd, 2 days old.
3. Maria was born on 1-2-1864 in Gouda with twin Dina. Maria died in Gouda on 11-3-1864*, 1 month old.
4. Leonardus Gerardus (photo below) was born on 16-2-1865 Gouda. In 1901 in 's-Hertogenbosch, he was convicted of vagrancy. He was send to a reform housing colony for the poor and homeless in Veenhuizen. Leonardus Gerardus died, at the age of 79, on 26-1-1945 in The Hague.
5. Theodora van Vliet was born on 25-3-1870 in Gouda, and died there on 1-5-1877, at the age of 7.

The baptism of Maria Oldecop in 1782 was witnessed by a Russian Grand Duchess

In Amsterdam on Thursday January 20, 1774, Johan Hendrik Frederik Oldecop, 37 years old and living near the Binnen-Amstel, promised to marry 24-year-old Helena Paauw. Her mother, Susanna Alles, had given permission for the marriage. Both the bride and groom were Lutheran, and lived in Amsterdam.
At some point, Johan Hendrik Frederik van Oldecop was appointed consul of the Russian Emperor in Amsterdam.

The couple had several children with notable witnesses at their baptisms:

Prince Alexander Kurakin
(1752-1818)

1. Jan Hendrik was baptised on 27 March 1769 with witnesses Daniel Butler and Maria Hoogstraten. The child Jan Hendrik, who is listed in the baptismal register as Jan Hendrik Fredriksz, is the son of Jan Hendrik Frederik van Oldecop and Helena Paauw.
2. Helena Adelaide was baptised on 3 September 1773 with witnesses Prince Dmitri Alekseyevich Golitsyn (1728–1803), ambassador to Holland, and his wife Gräfin Adelheid Amelie von Schmettau (1748-1806).
3. Michel Daniel was baptised on 14 March 1775 with witnesses Michel, Prince Volkonsky, and Elisabeth, Princess Volkonsky.
4. Iwan was baptised on 13 April 1776 with witness Iwan Czernichew.
5. Benine Alexandrine was baptised on 3 October 1777 with witness Prince Alexander Kourakin (1752-1818). She married Etienne Carignani on 8 January 1801 in Moscow.
6. Helena Catharina Anna was baptised on 30 April 1779 with witnesses Count Gregory Orlov (1734–83) and his wife Ekaterina Zinnovyeva. In 1800 she married Jacobus Heydanus. In March 1848 items from her inheritance were offered for sale.
7. Maria was baptised on 23 October 1780 with witness Grand Duchess Maria Feodorowna of Russia. Maria died young.
8. Maria was baptised on 5 July 1782 with witness Grand Duchess Maria Fedorowna of Russia. At the age of 21, Maria died from measles in 1803 in St. Petersburg.
9. Helena was baptised on 6 August 1783 with witness Prince "Wiasemskoij" (possibly Vyazemsky) and his wife. In 1810 Helena Oldecop married Samuel Rondeau junior. They had issue. Helena died on 25 January 1859 in Amsterdam, aged 75.
10. Paul is mentioned in May 1791.
11. Etienette was born around 1787 in Haarlem. She married widower Johannes Foon, but she survived both him, and their son Jan Hendrik Frederik Foon. As a widow, Etiennette ran a boarding school for girls in Loenen. Etienette was 49 years old when died on 21 March 1836 in Maarsseveen near Utrecht.

Maria Oldecop was baptised on 15 July 1782 in Amsterdam.
The witness was Maria Feodorovna, Grand Duchess of Russia.

Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna (1759-1828) was born as Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg, but changed her name when she converted to the Russian Orthodox Church, and married Paul of Russia as his second wife. She was Empress Consort during her husband's reign, which lasted from 1796 until his assassination in 1801.

Despite an imperial witness, Maria Oldecop died of measles in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1803 at the age of 21.

Amsterdamse Courant (newspaper), 1 December 1803

German tailor Johann Christian Kühnhold (1813-78) lost his only child

At the age of 33, tailor Johann Christian Kühnhold married 22-year-old Alida Geertruida Goudkade in Amsterdam on August 6, 1846. Alida Geertruida was born on July 1, 1824, in Boskoop in South Holland. Her parents are innkeeper Pieter Goudkade and his wife Alida Degenhart. After a marriage of 3.5 years, Alida Geertruida Goudkade died on March 3, 1850, at the age of 25.

Algemeen Handelsblad (newspaper), 7 March 1850

Johann Christian was born on February 22, 1813 in Germany in either Wolfsberg or Wolfsburg as the son of Gottfried Christian Kühnhold. In Amsterdam Johann Christiaan Kühnhold lived  in houses located at the canals named Herengracht (at nº 176), Singel (at nº 120) and Leliegracht (at nº 2).

With his first wife, Alida Geertruida Goudkade, Johann Christian Kühnhold had a daughter Alida Geertruida Kühnhold who died of measles in March 1851, at the age of 3.

Algemeen Handelsblad (newspaper), 10 March 1851

Johann Christian Kühnhold married his second wife, Anna Catharina Wubbenhorst, on December 25, 1851, in Amsterdam. She was born on May 2, 1813, in Zwolle, the daughter of Anna Bloemendaal and Coert Hendrik Wubbenhorst (also Wibbenhorst). Anna Catharina was therefore already over 38 years old at the time of her marriage. Consequently, no children were born from this marriage.

Algemeen Handelsblad (newspaper) 25 December 1851

Johann Christian Kühnhold died on August 5, 1878, in Amsterdam at the age of 65. His widow, Anna Catharina Wubbenhorst, was 77 when she died on December 23, 1890, in Zwolle.

Algemeen Handelsblad (newspaper) 8 August 1878

Sources: Delpher.nl, WieWasWie.nl, Noord-HollandsArchief.nl, Archief.Amsterdam.

Madness Monday - Cornelia Kleijn (1818-1861)

In October 1852 Judith Gerdessen, widow of Adriaan Kleijn, had her daughter Cornelia Kleijn placed under guardianship due to insanity.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant (newspaper), 19-10-1852

At the age of 39, farmer Adriaan Kleijn and Judith Gerdessen, aged 30, were married in Asperen, Holland, on 18 July 1818. Just a couple of months later, on 21 October, their twins Cornelia and Arnolda were born there around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. 

Twins Cornelia and Arnolda Kleijn were born on 21 October 1818 in Asperen

Judith gave birth to a son Arie Kleijn on 21 January 1821 in Asperen. Another daughter, Adriana Maria, was born there on 15 November 1822. Their youngest son, Gijsbert, was born on 17 November 1825 in Asperen. Judith's younger children Adriana Maria, Arie and Gijsbert would all get married. Arie and Gijsbert Kleijn both had an elongated face, and black and brown hair respectively. Arie had a big nose, while Gijsbert had a pointed nose.

The famous major Herman Kessels (1794-1851): measles, a whale and a revolt

In February 1828 two brothers died of measles: 6-year-old Cornelis Augustinus and 2-year-old Arnoldus Lodewijk Kessels. Cornelis Augustinus Kessels was born in Baarle-Nassau on 28 February 1822 around noon. Arnoldus Lodewijk was born on 17 November 1825 in Oostend in Belgium. Both died in Oostend on 10 February 1828.

Opregte Haarlemsche Courant (newspaper), 16 February 1828

Harmanus Kessels and Alida Cornelia Snethlage were married on 15 June 1815 in Amsterdam. Herman Kessels was born on 2 May 1794 in Brussels. Alida Cornelia Snethlage was born on 13 January 1793 in Amsterdam as daughter of Casparus Gerardus Snethlage (1762-1840) and Theresia Elisabeth van Laar (1766-1823).

Alida Cornelia Snethlage gave birth to a son, Henry-Francois, on April 25, 1829, in Paris in France. She gave birth to a daughter, Josephine Desiree, on July 28, 1830, in Antwerp in Belgium. During her marriage, Alida Cornelia endured 12 pregnancies.

Middelburgsche Courtant (newspaper), 16 May 1829

Herman Kessels would become famous for an obscurity unrelated to his military activities. In 1827, fishermen brought a dead whale to the beach in Ostend. Kessels bought the carcass. Carrying the skeleton, containing a 24-person orchestra, Kessels toured Europe and the Royal Courts.
Herman also invented a device that could be used to rescue people from windows on upper floors in the event of fire.