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.

Short-lived Marriage ~ Adriaantje Heijltje Koomans (1813-42)

Adriaantje Heijltje (“Adriaantje”) Koomans was born on 29 June 1813 in Willemstad, Brabant, The Netherlands, as the eldest daughter of Nicolaas Koomans (±1753-1829) and his fourth wife Catharine ("Kaatje") Timmers (±1786-1846). ;Adriaantje's surviving full siblings were Heiltje Adriaantje (1816-1901), Maaijke (1818-1887) and Nicolaas (1822-1869). Their eldest half-sibling was Pieter Koomans (1779-1846). Another half-sibling with another mother was Jacobus Koomans (1797-1874). In 1917 he married Anna Margaretha Wonders (1797-1860). Their eldest daughter Maaike Francisca Koomans was born on 16 April 1818 in Delfshaven near Rotterdam.

At the age of 23, Adriaantje Koomans was married on 26-5-1837 in Willemstad to Auke (“Omke”) Tolk. He was born on 4 September 1802 in Jisp in Holland, as son of Jacob Tolk (1778-1835) and his wife Jannetje Bakker. Auke had - among others - a younger sibling named Jacob, born on 29 January 1817 in Medemblik, Holland. At the age of 25, Jacob was married on 29 June 1842 in Delft, Holland, to 24-year-old Maaike Francina Koomans, Adriaantje's half-niece. Jacob Tolk jr. worked as a pharmacist and lived in Amsterdam. He had a son named Jacobus Tolk (1848-1928).

Opregte Haarlemsche Courant, 17-3-1838: Birth of a daughter.

In 1840 Auke was living in Leiden and working as a grocer. Meanwhile, his wife Adriaantje gave birth to the following children:

1. Catharina Johanna Francina was born on 10 March 1838 around 11:00 in Medemblik. She was married in 1859 in Utrecht to Thomas Karel Jacobus Kraat. As a widow she was remarried in 1872 in Breda to Boudewijn Jacobus Couvee. She died on 8 May 1913 in Arnhem, aged 75. She had issue.
   
2. Johanna Hillegonda was born on 2 March 1840 in Leiden. She died on 28 July 1855 in Bergen op Zoom, Brabant, The Netherlands, aged 15.
   
3. Nicolaas Jacob was born on 29 March 1842 in Leiden. He died on 4 November 1902 in Apeldoorn, aged 60.
   

Leydse Courant, 10-6-1842: Obituary of Adriaantje Heiltje Koomans.

Two months after the birth of her youngest child, Adriaantje Heiltje Koomans died on 4 June 1842 in Leiden, aged just 28. Her widower Auke Tolk survived her by one and a half year, dying on 14 February 1844 in Leiden, aged 41. Their orphaned children were probably taken in by their maternal aunt Heiltje Adriaantje Koomans (1816-1901) who lived in Bergen op Zoom. At the time of the first marriage of the couple's eldest daughter Catharina, Nicolaas Koomans (1822-1869) was her guardian.

Magdalena Lauf (±1803-1881) in Limburg, The Netherlands

Johan Adolf (“Johannes”) Laufs/Lauff and his wife Anna Elisabeth Hanser/Hanssen/Hensen originated in Germany. Anna Elisabeth Henssen, aged 66, wife of Jan Adolf  “Loef”, died on November 3, 1828, in Melick near Herckenbosch in Limburg. Her parents were Frans Hansen and Maria Gertrudis.
Johannes Lauf and Anna Elisabeth Hansen are the parents of

• Likely Theresia Lauf who was born in Nieuwenhagen around 1794. She married Willem Swachöfer (±1802-1875), another German, and had children named Bastiaan and Catharina. Theresia Lauf died in Venray, Limburg, The Netherlands, on April 5, 1874, aged 67.
• Johan Lauf was baptised on June 20, 1805, in Paderborn, Germany. He married Anna Maria Hülskens and had issue. Johan died, aged 87, on November 11, 1891, in Venray, Limburg.
• Thobias Lauf was born around 1797 in Wesel, Germany. He died in Nederweert, Limburg, The Netherlands, on January 30, 1826.
• Magdalena Lauf(f) was born around 1803 in Nieuwenhagen and married Jacob Swakhoven (see below).
• Julienne Lauf was born around 1810 in Krefeld, Germany. She was married in 1842 in Delft to Werner Stranz, born around 1789 in Allrath, Germany. His parents are Peter Stranz and Margaretha Wehres. Julienne Lauf died on Janaury 20, 1886, in Rotterdam, aged 73. Her daughter Maria Theresia Stranz was to reach the age of 90. 

Jacob Swakhoven (possibly Swachöfer) was born on September 25, 1805, and originated in Germany, too; his place of birth is described as “Harteveld”. Jacob Swakhoven’s occupation was scissors sharpener. Jacob married Magdalena Lauf, daughter of Johan Adolf Lauf and Anna Elisabeth Hansen. Among their children are Johannes Tobias (born in 1825), Geertrui, Theresia Maria (born in 1826) and Gerard (born in 1844). 
Their daughter Geertrui Swakhoven was born on April 29, 1831, in Horst, Limburg. Geertrui married Petrus Maassen on June 10, 1850, in Venray. Petrus was born on July 5, 1828, in Berlicum, Brabant, The Netherlands, and he was living in Schaijk, Brabant. His parents are Pieter Maassen and Petronella van Hynsbergen.
Geertrui Swakhoven and Petrus Maassen are the parents of Theodoor Maassen (1852-1908) who is an ancestor of Theo Maassen, a Dutch comedian and actor.

Death of Magdalena Lauf

Jacob Swakhoven died on March 21, 1872, in Venray. His widow, Magdalena Lauf, died on February 3, 1881, in Venray, aged 77. Petrus Maassen died on June 25, 1883, in Blerick, close to Venlo. His widow, Geertrui Swakhoven, died that same year on December 29 in Venlo, aged 52.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, RooyNet.nl, CBG.nl. See also: GenealogieOnline.nl.
 

Surname Saturday - Van Bodigem

The Van Bodigem surname had a number of different spelling variations like Bodegom, Bodighem or Bodechum. The ancestor of this family is Jacob Govertszn. van Bodighem who lived in the 15th century, and originated in Antwerp in Belgium. Van Bodighem is a toponym, a surname derived from a place name - in this case in Belgium.
When Jacob van Bodighem travelled north, he settled in Emelisse on the island Noord-Beveland. This village was drowned in a flood in 1520. Long before that happened, Jacob had moved to Delft in Holland.

Delft around 1536

Jacob was married to Neltge, daughter of Gerrit Waellincxensz van der Seijst. They had two sons named Willem and Jacob ( †1512). Willem married Maria, a daughter of Johan van Hogerwoert and Margrieta van der Poel. They had several children, including sons Frans and Rochus. Frans married Maria van Seijst and they had 6 children before she died on xxviiij september 1532 in Delft. Frans was mentioned as a brewer, and as a care taker of an old men's house and an orphanage. Frans was buried on 12 April 1560 in Delft.

Frans' son Johan van Bodighem (1514-1581) was a bailiff, first of of Delfland, later of Strijen. Johan was steward of Holland around 1560. He owned some houses both in Delft and The Hague. He was married to Margaretha, a daughter of Dirck Godschalcks and Dignum Goudt. 
Their son François van Bodegom had an illegitimate son Frans with an unknown woman and also three surviving children with his wife. This situation resulted in 1622 in a quarrel over his possessions, but Frans was allowed to keep the land he had received. Frans lived in Spijkenisse and Hekelingen and had a son Jan, who had a son Willem, who had a daughter Ariaantje who married Arie Abrahams Crooswijk. They were living in Klaaswaal, Holland.

Sources: Nederlandsche Leeuw 1968 (mr. G. van Niekerken ), Genealogisch Tijdschrift voor Midden- en West- Noord- Brabant 1990.

My 7th blogiversary !

On 17 January 2013 I published my 1st post for this blog, so today is my 7th blogiversary !

In those years January and August 2018 were the months with the most posts (5), followed by July and October 2018, November 2017 and January 2014 (4). The 6th year, 2018, was the year with the most blog posts: 39. In 2019 I wrote ...

The most common surnames among my known ancestors are Van Driel, Oerlemans, Spruijt, Brand and Bos. On this blog the most common surnames in my posts are Bos and De Jong, the surnames of my parents.
My favourite posts of my own ancestors are:

1. Arie de Sterke (1796-1892) fought in Russia & at Waterloo
2. Thomas Brullee's Whaling Expeditions of 1687 and 1712
3. Bos is a common name in The Netherlands

My ancestors with the most children are Cornelis Bos (1813-1888) and Otto van Driel (1756-1832): both had 17 children with 2 wives. In the 17th century Arij Peijnsz. Hogerwaert and his wife Trijntje Willems had 16 children together. 
The couple Gerrit Korver and Neeltjen Bloet (±1640-1727) were married for over 66 years. When my ancestor Jan Pieterse Vasen died on 11-8-1702 in Ottoland, Holland, he was "around 100 years old and had been blind for 3 or 4 years".

To celebrate this 7-year milestone I've compiled a list of genealogy tips & tricks articles. 

Tips & Tricks

• Dutch Genealogy Research Tips
• Links to Dutch Sources on FamilySearch by E. Hennekam
• Dutch Naming Traditions by Y. Hoitink
• How to Find Your Dutch Ancestor’s Occupation by Y. Hoitink
• The Netherlands Links at Cindi's List
• Add an image to your blog post
• Sources for images to illustrate your Dutch family tree by Y. Hoitink
• Find European Ancestors on the Internet by K. Schrober
• Checklist for starting Research in the Country of Origin by Y. Hoitink
• Check for improbable dates
• Check the women's ages
• Mind the Chronology of a Population Register by Y. Hoitink
• Was your ancestor married more than once?
• When a website uses small characters
• Find relevant genealogy results by using Google & Yahoo Search Commands
• Blogging Tips for Newbies and Veterans by J. Goins
• Tips for finding Brick-Wall Ancestors by Family Tree Magazine
• DNA and Inheritance explained by M. McDermott

Soldier Arie Koomans (1789-1812)

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

Strijen

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

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

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

Note 1: Arie's army number was 2728.

Sources: Archieven.nl, WieWasWie.nl.

Dutchman Frans Slierkamp disappeared in Indonesia ~ Mariner Monday

Gouda, Holland

Frans Slierkamp was baptized on August 5, 1759, in Gouda, Holland. The witness at his baptism was his aunt Marrighie Willems Rietvelt. Frans' parents are Gijsbert Slierekamp, who was born in Utrecht, and his wife Pieternella Booij. She's a daughter of my ancestors Abraham Booij and Neeltje Snoeij (1696-1755) who were living in Gouderak, Holland. Frans Slierkamp was his parent's eldest surviving son, and he was named after his paternal grandfather. Additionally, Frans had had an uncle named Frans Slierekamp, born in 1714, who had boarded a ship for Indonesia in 1735, and nothing of him had ever since been heard.

Frans boarded the new ship "Regt door Zee" as a sailor before it departed from Goeree in Holland on November 11, 1787, for its maiden voyage. The ship was owned by the Chamber of Delft, part of the Dutch East India Company (V.O.C.). It contained 176 sailors, 77 soldiers, 14 artisans and 3 passengers. The captain was Dirk Varkevisser. A long-distance voyage was hard on the health of a sailing ship’s crew. During the first 2-3 months of the voyage newcomers aboard usually developed scurvy due to a vitamin C deficiency.
In April 1788 the ship arrived on the 4th at Cape of Good Hoop in South-Africa, and departed on the 30th with fresh supplies. The ship arrived in Batavia (nowadays Jakarta) in Indonesia on August 20th.
When it was time for his return voyage, Frans Slierkamp didn't turn up. He had disappeared like his uncle.

Salery and expences of Frans Slierkamp

Sources: FamilySearch.org, HetUtrechtsArchief.nl, GaHetNa.nl, VOCSite.nl, Resources.Huygens.KNAW.nl.

Short-lived Marriage ~ Pieter Koomans & Adriana Moerkerken

Pieter Koomans was baptized on October 25, 1750, in Strijen, Holland, as eldest child of Andreas Koomans (1722-1807) and his wife Jannigje Bestebreurtje (1725-1789). After the births of his siblings Gerrit and Geertruij his mother additionally gave birth to twins twice.

Pieter married his first wife, Jannigje Bezemer, on September 4, 1785, in Strijen. Her parents were Arij Bezemer (†1806) and Annigje Havelaar (†1803). Pieter Koomans and his first wife had 8 children. Most of their children died young. Their son Arij Koomans, born on April 2, 1789, in Strijen, was enlisted as a soldier in the 9th artillery regiment of Napoleon's army. Arij died on October 28, 1812, in Douai, France. The only one of their children to marry was their daughter Jannigje Koomans (1790-1831). Jannigje Bezemer's death was registered on May 25, 1798, in Strijen.

Pieter Koomans married his second wife, Adriana Moerkerken, on January 12, 1800, in Strijen. Their only child, a son Andreas Koomans, was born on November 18, 1800, in Strijen. Pieter Koomans died on May 12, 1802, in Strijen, at the age of 51. On the 17th his brother Johannes Koomans (1762-1827) paid ƒ15,- for Pieter's burial. After a marriage of just 16 months Adriana Moerkerken was a widow.

Als weduwnaar is Pieter Koomans op 26-12-1799 in Strijen hertrouwd met Adriana Moerkerken.

Pieter Koomans drowned in 1864

Skipper Johannes Josephes Killian was living in Rotterdam and working as a skipper at a Dutch Ship named "Koning Willem III". He made a declaration that on September 3, 1864, around 23:00, he was sailing at sea at 52° north latitude and 3° east longitude, when purser Pieter Koomans, aged 24, fell overboard and drowned. He drowned in the North Sea.

Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant, 10-9-1863

Pieter Koomans was born on September 9, 1839, around 03:00 in Delft, as a younger son of Jacobus Koomans (1797-1874) and Anna Margaretha Wonders (1797-1860). His grandfather was Nicolaas Koomans (±1752-1829).
Pieter Koomans had two elder brothers: Hendrik Anthoon Koomans (1827-1861), who died childless, aged 33, and schoolteacher Nicolaas Koomans (1882-1910) who was married and had children, including professor Nicolaas Koomans (1879-1845).

Sources: Delft Archive, West-Brabant Archive, Delpher Newspapers, Huygens Knaw Resources. 

Kundertje Dijksman: teenage pregnancy & divorce in Delft, Holland

Friedrich Wilhelm Austmann was born in Soest in Germany. In The Netherlands he met Dirkje van Meel (1791-1873) and they were married in Zegwaard, Holland, on August 30, 1822. One of their children was Wilhelmina Frederika Austmann (1826-1908). On March 30, 1853, in Delft, Holland, she was married to Arij Dijksman (1829-1870) who belongs to a Dijksman family that originates in Hillegersberg, now part of Rotterdam, Holland.
Arij Dijksman and his wife had several sons who died in infancy, but their 3 daughters did survive. This post is about their third daughter, Kundertje Dijksman, who was born in Delft on March 8, 1866, around 23:00. Kundertje was aged 4 when her father died.

Delftsche Courant, March 18, 1883

One week after her 17th birthday Kundertje Dijksman - likely visibly pregnant - was engaged to be married to 19-year-old bargeman's mate Hendrik Martinus Cornelis de Raad. He was born in Delft on February 2, 1864, as the eldest son of Adriana Johanna Muller and her husband Evert de Raad (1834-1877). He had lost his father at the age of 13.

Kundertje's marriage took place on March 28, 1883, in Delft. Within two months her eldest daughter, Hendrica Martina Cornelia de Raad, was born on May 17 in Delft. Another daughter, Wilhelmina Frederika, was born there on January 21, 1885. By then Kundertje's marriage was probably already failing, for no more children were born. The marriage was dissolved by a court in The Hague on June 30, 1891. Kundertje was 25 years old and already divorced.

Delftsche Courant, October 16, 1891

Hendrik Martinus Cornelis de Raad was subsequently married to and divorced from Alberdina Akkerman, born in Groningen. In 1899 in The Hague he married his third and final wife, Pieternella de Winden. With her he had at least 7 more children. 

Pleuntje, Neeltje & Maria Vree in Delft

Earlier I blogged about ceramist Cornelis van den Abeele (†1731) and his brother Johannes. Cornelis’ wife was Maria Jans Vree (†1728). At the baptism on October 21, 1710, in Delft, of one of their children named Marija van den Abeele, one of the witnesses was Maria's sister Pleuntje Vree. Pleuntje Vree also witnessed the baptism of 3 children of Jan Pietersz. van Dalen and Neeltje Jans Vree.

The Old Church in Delft

Pleuntje, Neeltje and Maria Vree were daughters of Jan Vree (†1680) and his wife Lijsbeth Oosthoeck (†1726). Jan Vree had died in November 1680, and Lijsbeth’s mother had married Cornelis Ariens Spanjersberch on October, 7, 1685, in Delft. As a widow Lijsbeth Oosthoeck owned some real-estate at the corner of the Turfmarkt and the Gasthuijssteeg in Delft. She survived her 2nd husband, too, and was buried on 10-7-1726 near the Old Church in Delft.

Pleuntje Vree was baptized as “Aplonia” on December 24, 1662, in Delft. There Pleuntje had been married, on June 6, 1688, to plate painter Franck Pietersz. van Dalen who was living at the Nieuwe Langedijk. Franck was a son of Pieter Rutten van Dalen and Pieternelle Vranke Voorstadt who were married on February 2, 1663, in nearby Schipluiden. Franck was baptized on March 3, 1665, in Delft with witnesses Ruth Janse van Dalen and Claasge Arijens (who were likely his paternal grandparents). Pleuntje's sister Neeltje's husband Jan van Dalen was another son of Pieter Vree and Pieternelle Voorstadt. 

Johannis and Cornelis van den Abeele and Delft pottery

Blue and white pottery, also known as “Delft Blue”,  had been made in and around Delft, Holland, from the 16th century onwards. Delftware became popular and was widely exported in Europe. It even reached China and Japan. The most highly-regarded period of production was about 1640-1740. Besides plates and vases, Delft potters also made tiles in vast numbers. 

The brothers Johannes and Cornelis van den Abeele were ceramists, creating pottery in Delft, Holland. They were sons of Corstiaan Jansz van Abeelen and his wife Trijntje Pouwels. In 1692 they were living within the city of Delft in a street named “Achterom”. 

The banns for the marriage of Johannis van den Abeele & Annetge Hendrix Dorree on July 21, 1692, in Delft

The Old Church in Delft

Johannes van den Abeele was baptized on February 3, 1664, in Delft. He had elder brothers Winant and Pouwels and an elder sister named Geertruijt. On September 6, 1692, Johannes was married to Anna Hendrix Dorrée. Anna was baptized on December 21, 1670, in Delft as daughter of Hendrick Stoffelsen Dorrée and Tryntien van de Winckel. In the period 1693-98 Anna gave birth to 4 daughters named Trintie, Geertruij, Jacoba and Elsie.

Cornelis van den Abeele’s intention to marry was published on December 12,1693. His intended bride Maria Jans Vree, who was living just outside the city walls of Delft in an area named Vrijenban. She was a daughter of Jan Vree (†1680)  and Lijsbeth Oosthoeck (†1726). In the period 1694-1716 Maria Jans Vree gave birth to 9 children named Korsteijaen, Jan, Wijnant, Paulus, Elijsabeth, Trintie, Marija, Adriaan and Lijsbet. Two of these children were buried near the New Church of Delft in July 1712 and November 1716.  

Cornelis van den Abeele, a brother of Johannis, married Maria Jansz Vree on December 27, 1693, in Delft

Maria Vree, wife of Cornelis van den Abeelen, living in the Gasthuijslaan, was buried on May 31, 1728, near the Old Church in Delft. At the time one child and a grandchild were still alive. Cornelis van den Abeelen was buried near the Old Chruch Delft on Feburary 5, 1731.

Sources: Collectie-Delft.nl, Histoire de la faïence de Delft.

Plate Painter Claas Jansz Olij(f) in Delft

Claas Jansz. Olij was a plate painter who lived at the Rietvelt street in Delft. Blue and white pottery, also known as “Delft Blue”,  had been made in and around Delft, Holland, from the 16th century onwards. Delftware became popular and was widely exported in Europe. It even reached China and Japan. The most highly-regarded period of production was about 1640-1740. Besides plates and vases, Delft potters also made tiles in vast numbers. 

Claas Jansz. Olij married Magdaleentge Pieters van der Meer on November 13, 1695, in Delft. She was the widow of Niclaes Jansz. van der Heul. They had married in Delft on February 24, 1669. At the time, Niclaes had been a widower of Pieternelle Huijbrechts van Claveren whom he had married in Delft on July 8, 1663. She had been buried in November 1668. 

A “Delft Blue” tile featuring
the New Church of Delft.

Niclaes van der Heul had been living near the New Church of Delft, while working as a fuller in the cloth manufacturing business. Magdaleentge and Niclaes had 3 sons named Jan baptized in Delft in 1670, 1675 and 1683, so the elder boys had likely died young. They had some additional children, but many of them died young, too. Niclaes was last mentioned in May 1684. 

Claes, described as “Nicolaes Jansz. Olijff”, was buried on October 4, 1705, near the New Church of Delft. Magdalena van der Meer, widow of “Klaes van Olijven”, was buried on January 217, 1725, near the New Church of Delft. 

Sources: Collectie-Delft.nl, Histoire de la faïence de Delft.

Bastiaan van den Engel returned from Argentina

Steamship "Zaandam"

In January 1889 Bastiaan van den Engel (29), his wife Hermina Jacoba Peters (27) and their children Jan (6), Antonia (5), Hendrik (4), Klaas (3) and Adriana Alida (1) arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They had travelled with the steamship "Zaandam". It had been build in 1882 in Rotterdam with deadweight of 3.063 gross tons and a service speed of 11 knots. It could carry 50 first class passengers, 424 third class passengers and 51 crew members.

The “Long Depression”, a worldwide economic recession, had had devastating effects on the Argentine economy, resulting in a revolution around the time the Van Engel family arrived in Argentina. 
Bastiaan van den Engel en Hermina Peters (“Vrouw van den Engel”) were among the 30 persons who collaborated in sending a letter to a newspaper, outlining the problems the Dutch immigrants faced in Argentina. Most of the emigrants couldn’t get a proper job, and thus weren’t able to feed their families. People with debts were even whipped into forced labor. From august 1891 onwards Dutch Newspapers reported about those problems. 

In Rosario in Argentina a new daughter named Antonia was born on 28 August 1890 or 1891 (sources differ), so their elder daughter Antonia must have died after their arrival in Argentina. Early 1892 the whole family was back in Holland, when a daughter Adriana was born on 25 February 1892 in Delft, Holland. More children were to follow.

Bastiaan van den Engel lived in Delft with his wife and children.

Bastiaan van den Engel was born on 27-5-1859 in Hoogvliet, Holland. His parents were Jan van den Engel (1837-1907) and Antonia Maastricht. Bastiaan was married at age 22 on 1-2-1882 in Delft, Holland. His bride was Hermina (Hermina Jacoba) Peters, aged 20, born on 29-3-1861 in Nijmegen, Gelderland. She was an illegitimate daughter of Alijda Mechelina Peters. Hermina Peters died on 16-9-1933 in Delft, aged 72. Bastiaan van den Engel died on 14-11-1939 in Rijswijk at the age of 80.

Mariner Monday – Arij Jans Verduijn (1694-1728)

Arij Janse Verduijn was a captain of the Dutch East India Company (V.O.C.) who transported goods from Batavia (nowadays Jakarta in Indonesia) to Holland. His parents were Jan Ariense Verduijn (†1736) and Maertje Pieters van Pavie (1660-1744). They had him baptised in Delfshaven near Rotterdam on September 10, 1694. Sponsors were Jan's brother Egbert Ariense Verduijn and his first wife.

Cape of Good Hope in South Africa

At the age of 17, on May 10, 1712, Arij Verduijn boarded the ship “Wassenaar” as a soldier. The ship departed from the island of Goeree in Holland, containing 138 sailors, 18 soldiers and a stowaway. For young Arij it may have been a reassurance that fellow townsman Jacob Verduijn was the ship’s captain.
A long-distance voyage was hard on the health of a sailing ship’s crew. During the first 2-3 months of the voyage newcomers aboard usually developed scurvy due to a lack of vitamin C. A prolonged calm could occur around the Equator, resulting in a trip of over 30 weeks. The ship “Wassenaar” took over half a year to reach the Cape of Good Hope, a rocky headland in South Africa that had been settled by the Dutch in 1652.

The ship with Arij Verduijn on board stayed for 24 days at the Cape before continuing its voyage to Batavia in Indonesia. Arij’s return voyage was with the ship “Voorburg”, sailing from Ceylon to Texel, where it arrived on September 13, 1714. In December Arij boarded ship again. This time he was third mate of Master Jakob van der Poel at a ship named “Nederhoven” with a tonnage of 600. The ship boarded the Cape in May 1715, and arrived in Batavia on July, 28. Arij returned with the ship “Voorburg”, arriving in Goeree on July 8, 1716. He had designated his parents as the beneficiaries of his salary. 

Voyage	Schip's name	Chamber	Job	Departure	Cape of Good Hope	Arrival
Outbound	Wassenaar	Delft	soldier	10-5-1712	19-11-1712 tot 13-12-1712	18-2-1713
Return	Voorburg	Amsterdam		1-3-1714	13-4-1714 tot 10-6-1714	13-9-1714
Outbound	Nederhoven	Delft	3rd mate	23-12-1714	30-4-1715 tot 24-5-1715	28-7-1715
Return	Voorburg	Delft		30-10-1715	11-1-1716 tot 1-4-1716	8-7-1716
Outbound	Den Dam	Delft	skipper	24-5-1723	7-9-1723 tot 24-9-1723	18-12-1723
Return	Den Dam	Delft	skipper	24-10-1725	22-1-1726 tot 28-2-1726	28-6-1726
Outbound	Alblasserdam	Delft	skipper	4-4-1727	5-8-1727 tot 22-8-1727	25-10-1727

Arij Jans Verduijn was married to Jacoba Borstius on November 5, 1719, in Rotterdam. She was baptised in Rotterdam on June 22, 1698, as posthumous daughter of Jacobus Borstius and Wijna van Riel. Her mother was married a second time in January 1699 to Abraham Hovendaal and had additional children.

The baptism of the eldest child of Arij and Jacoba, Jan, was on August 4, 1720, in Delfshaven. Sponsors were Arij’s sisters Jannetje and Ariaantje Verduijn. When their daughter Wijna was baptised on October 3, 1723, in Delfshaven, Arij Jans Verduijn was at sea.
On May 24, 1723, Arij Jans Verduijn had boarded the ship “Den Dam” as its captain. The ship had been build in 1716 in Delfshaven and had a tonnage of 600. His crew consisted of 104 seafarers and 47 soldiers. They visited the Cape of Good Hoop in September, arriving in Batavia on December 18. Boarding on October 24, 1725, Arij returned with his ship to Goeree in Holland, arriving on June 18, 1726. For this voyage, Arij had designated his wife, Jacoba Borstius, as the beneficiary of his salary.