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,

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.

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.

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.

The 4 marriages of Cornelis Kootkar (1842-1914)

The Cornelis Kootkar in this story was born on 5 April 1842 in Schalkwijk, south of Utrecht. His parents are Aaltje van Amerongen (1803-1851) and Arie Kootkar (1811-1890), and his grandparents are Hendrika de Jong and Johannis Kootkar (1785-1816). Cornelis' great-grandfather is Hermanus Kootkar of Meppen in Germany.
Cornelis' father Arie, when widowed for 8 months, remarried Heiltje Tukker (1809-1885). Arie Kootkar also survived his second wife, and died on 6 December 1890 in Schalkwijk, aged 79.
Cornelis Kootkar was 9 years old when his mother died, and 10 years old when he acquired a stepmother. His younger brother Hendrikus died at the age of 16 in 1862. Their half-sister Gerdina Kootkar remained unmarried, and died at the age of 46 in 1899.

At the age of 26, on 22 April 1868 in Utrecht Cornelis Kootkar married his first wife, 20-year-old Antoinetta Louisa Maria Vreeswijk. Antoinetta was born in Utrecht on 23-10-1847 as daughter of Gloudi Vreeswijk and Wilhelmina Tieson. Just two months after the marriage, Antoinetta gave birth to a son. In 1871 a daughter was born, but the baby died that same year.

At the request of Antoinetta, a divorce was registered on 12 December 1875 in Rotterdam, and on 18 February 1876 in Zutphen in Gelderland. At that time the residence of Cornelis Kootkar was unknown. His estranged wife was living in Doesburg in Gelderland.

Zutphensche Courant, 26-2-1876: the 1st divorce

On 18 September 1878 in Rotterdam  Cornelis Kootkar (36) married Gommaria Maria Johanna Mathot (27). She was born in Middelburg on 2-11-1850 as daughter of Bernardus Adrianus Mathot en Julia Catharina Bourdeau. At the age of 19, Gommaria had married Jacobus Johannes Baljé, who originated in Vlissingen. Gommaria's divorce had been registered on 11-10-1876 in Middelburg. In 1872 her only child had lived for only 4 weeks.
Gommaria died in Rotterdam on 14 May 1883, aged 31.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marriage Impediments

A couple that wants to marry should make known their intention of contraction marriage several weeks before the date set for their marriage. That way time is left for objections to be made - if there are reasons why the marriage cannot take place.
This article is about under what circumstances a marriage is forbidden by the Catholic Church; some reasons are in themselves sufficient to invalidate it altogether, others do not absolutely prevent the possibility of marriage, but render it undesirable and harmful.

Nullifying impediments of marriage are: 

• Lack of proper age;
• Certain physical defects, like impotency;
• The bond of a previous marriage; exceptions are the dissolution of a non-consummated marriage by Papal dispensation, or dissolution of marriage of two persons not baptized at the time the marriage occurred;
• Holy Orders;
• Solemn vows;
• Abduction;  if a man compels a woman to marry him, threatening to kill her in case of refusal, or to do her some very serious injury, their marriage is not valid; her consent is extorted by force, and is not given voluntarily;
• Crime, like causing the death of a partner by mutual cooperation, either physical or moral;
• Blood relationship to all in the direct line, and to the third degree in the collateral line;
• Affinity or relationship through marriage to all in the direct line, and to the second degree in the collateral line;
• Mistaken identity, when there is a mistake as to one of the contracting parties;
• Spiritual relationship, which exists between a baptized person, and the one who baptized him, or stood for him in Baptism;
• Legal adoption; wherever it is an impediment under the civil law. 

The family of Heiltje Adriaantje Koomans & Pieter Christian Eichholz

Heijltje Adriaantje (“Heijltje”) Koomans was born on 2 August 1816 in Willemstad, Brabant, The Netherlands, as a daughter of Nicolaas Koomans (±1753-1829) and his fourth wife Catharine ("Kaatje") Timmers (±1786-1846). She had full siblings Adriaantje Heijltje (1813-1842), Maaijke (1818-1887) and Nicolaas Koomans (1822-1869). When Heiltje was 12 years old, her father died. 

Heijltje Koomans was married on 13 January 1853 in Bergen op Zoom in Brabant to 38-year-old soldier Pieter Christian Eichholz. He was born in Bremen, Germany, as son of Margaretha Elizabeth Bohlsmann and Pieter Christian Eichholz senior, who had retired with the rank of captain and was living in 's-Hertogenbosch in Brabant.
They are the parents of

1. Peter Christian Nicolaas was born on 11 Aug. 1853 in 's-Hertogenbosch in Brabant. In 1878 in Zierikzee he married Levina Maria Bal (1854-1927). He died on 27 May 1892 in Rotterdam, aged 38. They had issue.
2. Maria Katharina Magaretha was born on 7 Dec. 1854 in Terneuzen in Zeeland. 
3. Margaretha Elisabeth was born on 28 July 1846 in Bergen op Zoom. 
4. Nicolaas Johan Willem was born on 9 Nov. 1857 in Bergen op Zoom. He died in Ermelo on 22 Apr. 1928, aged 70. 
5. Johan Arnold was born on 16 Dec. 1860 in Bergen op Zoom, and died there on 9 Mar. 1862, aged 1. 

Pieter Christian Eichholz, aged 61, died in Willemstad on 9 March 1875 around 11:00 in the morning. His youngest surviving son was 17 at the time. His widow was 58.

Their eldest daughter Maria Katharina Margaretha, aged 24, was married on 17 September 1879 in Willemstad. The groom, Dirk Johannes Middelbeek, was born in Amsterdam in the first two months of the year 1852. His parents are Catharina Johanna Wernink and Dirk Johannes Middelbeek senior who both originated in Amsterdam. 

At the age of 25, the second daughter Margaretha Elisabeth was married on 10 March 1882 in Willemstad. The groom was her brother-in-law Johan Frederik Wilhelm Sara Middelbeek. He was born in Amsterdam on 29 July 1856. 

Het nieuw van den dag, klein courant, 13-3-1882:
Margaretha Elisabeth Eicholz married Johan Frederik Wilhelm Middelbeek

2 Sutherland sisters married 2 brothers

Anna Sutherland was born on 15-12-1819 in 's-Gravendeel, Holland, as a younger daughter of tailor Angus Sutherland (±1772-1833) and his wife Adriana Kraak (1784-1833). Anna was named after her maternal grandmother Annetje van Inslagen, wife of Jan Kraak.
Anna had elder surviving brothers George Christiaan (1812-1889), Jan (1814-1886) and Gerardus Sutherland (1818-1902). Her next sibling was a brother Hendrik Sutherland (1821-1893). Their youngest sibling was born on 10-3-1828 in 's-Gravendeel and named Dingena.

On 28-4-1849 in 's-Gravendeel Anna Sutherland (29) was married to workman Joost Rijkhoek (25). He was born in 's-Gravendeel on 29-7-1823 as the eldest son of Leendert Rijkhoek (1792-1852) and Susann Sint Nicolaas (1796-1880). Joost was named after his paternal grandfather, another Joost Rijkhoek (†1798) who was the husband of Annigje Klejnjan (1762-1825). Joost Rijkhoek and Anna Sutherland named their Adriana, Leendert, Susuanna, August, Annigje, George Christiaan, Leonardus and Hendrik.

On  9-5-1857 in 's-Gravendeel - 8 years after the marriage of Anna and Joost - their siblings Dingena Sutherland (29) and Jan Rijkhoek (21) were married. This couple had 4 children named Adriana, Leendert, August and Joost. Remarkably, both couples had a son named August instead of Angus. Also, both brides were older than their grooms.
Jan Rijkhoek was born  on 17-11-1835 in 's-Gravendeel as one of the youngest siblings of Joost. Jan had a length of just 152 cm.  His eyes were blauw and his eyebrows and hair were brown. His face was oval chaped, his forehead was low, and his chin was round.

A description of Jan Rijkhoek

Dingena Sutherland died on 30-3-1878 in Dordrecht, aged 50. Her widower Jan Rijkhoek (59) was married secondly on 20-12-1894 in Dordrecht to Cornelia Maria Walgers (51). The couple Anna Sutherland and Joost Rijkhoek both died in Dordrecht in 1895: Anna on 23 January, Joost on 24 April. Jan Rijkhoek died on 10 November 1914 in Dordrecht. His widow, Cornelia Maria Walgers, died in 1918.

Latin Terms - Copulatio & Matrimonium

When doing genealogical research, you may - once in a while - stumble upon some words of Latin. For centuries, the church provided for baptisms and burials, and Latin has been the standard for the Roman Catholic liturgy since the 6th century. In the "Latin Term" Series I try to explain some Latin Terms that can be found in genealogical documents.

The Latin word “proclamation” denotes the “announcement of a proposed marriage”. A related Latin term is “matrimonium contrahunt” which means “getting married”. The related word “matrimonio” is Italian for “marriage”. 

The Latin term “copulatio” is used to denote a “marriage ceremony”. The corresponding verb is “copulare”, which means “to join together”. The term was used in catholic churches when a man and a women were married. Nowadays in English the meaning of the verb “to copulate” is somewhat different, but that word originates from the same Latin term.

After the marriage ceremony the couple are “coniuges”, i.e. “spouses”, and one spouse is a “coniunx”.

Latin	English
coniuges	spouses
copulare	to join together
copulatio	marriage ceremony
copulationis	of marriage
copulati sunt	they were married, joined
copulatus	married, joined
copulavit	he married (performed a wedding)
matrimonium	marriage
matrimonium contrahunt	getting married
per subsequens matrimonium legitimatus	legitimized by subsequent marriage
proclamation	announcement (of a proposed marriage)

See also: bhic.nl, FamilySearch.org/wiki.

2 couples married in the English Church in Dordrecht in 1728

“On the 4th of Julii 1728 the banns of marriage publish’d between Anthony Knogh, widr., and Katherin van Pelt, j.dr., both living in this town, and also between Thomas Wadeley, widowr. living at Rotterdam, and Elizabet Payne, widow to Richard Banks, living in this town, and that for the first time, the 11th dito for the 2nd time, and on the 18th for the 3rd time, and the two first were then married by our minister in the morning service, immediately after sermon. On the 1st of August the two last, viz. Thom. Wadely and Elisabeth Payne were married.”

Elizabeth Paine was the widow of Richard Pense and she was born in England. At the time of her marriage she was living just outside of one of the city gates of Dordrecht. Thomas Wadeley was widower of Mary Smith whom he had married on 24 October 1724 in Rotterdam in the English Episcopal Church. They couple were married on 1 August 1728 in the English Church in Dordrecht.

Widower Thomas Watleij married widow Elzabeth Paine on 1 August 1728.

Catharina van Pelt was assisted by her aunt, and had received permission from her guardian Hendrik van Pelt. Anthonij Knogh was a widower. He was baptized on 10 March 1698 in Dordrecht. His parents are Pieter Knoch and Pieternella de Jager.
Anthonij Knogh and Catharina van Pelt had 3 children, named Pieternella Elisabeth (baptized on 26 February 1734, buried on 20 May 1734), Pieter (baptized on 12 October 1735) and Paulus (baptized on 8 May 1737). One of the children of Anthonij Knogh was buried on 7 July 1736.

Wedding Wednesday ~ Jacoba Johanna Naaktgeboren

In Zwijndrecht on Thursday 23 December 1926 Jacoba Johanna Naaktgeboren (22) and Cornelis Stok (23) were married. Cornelis was born in Zwijndrecht. His parents are Corstiaan Stok (1864-1943) and Antonia Vorster (1868-1948). Jacoba Johanna was born in The Hague. Her parents are Adrianus Naaktgeboren (1862-1950) and Johanna de Rooij (1873-1947). Johanna is a daugher of Willem Marinus de Rooij (1853-1933) and Christina Jacoba Faassen (1854-1936), who descends from my ancestor Lodewijk Faassen (1746-1816).

Cornelis Stok & Jacoba Johanna Naaktgeboren

Harmen Hilgeman was born in Lengerich in Germany - Wedding Wednesday

Johan Harmen Hilgeman was born in Lengerich near Tecklenburg in Germany. He was married in Linschoten, Utrecht, The Netherlands, on October 24, 1802, to Henrica Nout, born in Linschoten, but at the time living in Wulverhorst near Houten to the south of Utrecht City. They had several children.

Tecklenburg

Their daughter Catharina Hillegeman was married, aged 23, on March 13, 1828, in Barwoutswaarder to Coenraad Hendrik Bardelmeijer (27), born in Lienen near Tecklenburg in Germany. He was as son of Coenraad Hendrik Bardelmeijer snr. and Christina Gessie. Catharina died on March 4, 1829, aged 24.

Sources: wiewaswie.nl & Brouwer's Utrecht Genealogy.

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.

Wedding Wednesday ~ Joost Zijderveld & Cornelia de Rijke

Joost Zijderveld & Cornelia de Rijke

The given name Joost was common in the Zijderveld family in Holland. The Joost in this post was born on September 28, 1893, in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, as second son of Jan Zijderveld (1864-1935) and his wife Adriana van Namen (1865-1930). He was named after his grandfather - also my great-great-grandfather - Joost Zijderveld (1822-1893). He had two elder and two younger siblings: Willempje Cornelia, Anthonie, Jan and Gijsbertus.

Joost was married on October 11, 1928, in Zwijndrecht. His bride was 33-year-old Cornelia de Rijke. She was born on May 12, 1895, in Zwijndrecht. Her parents were Pietertje van Ammelrooij (1867-1950) and Marinus de Rijke (1866-1945) who was born in Oosterland in Zeeland. Joost and Cornelia had no (surviving) children.

Cornelia had been ill for a long time before she died in March 1960 in Zwijndrecht. Her burial in Zwijndrecht was on April 1. Near the end of his life, her widower Joost Zijderveld lived in a retirement home in Sprang-Capelle in Brabant where he died on August 1, 1975. Like his wife, Joost was buried in Zwijndrecht. 

Sources: RegionaalArchiefDordrecht.nl, WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl.

The 11-month-marriage of Niesje Kleinjan (1861-1887)

Niesje Kleinjan was born in Rhoon in Holland on October 21, 1861, as the second surviving daughter of Jan Kleinjan (1825-1903) and Maria van Leeuwen (1835-1870). Niesje was also the first daughter to marry. On February 23, 1886, Niesje became engaged to Bastiaan Klapwijk.

Rotterdamsch Niewsblad, 27-2-1886

Bastiaan Klapwijk was born postumously on March 25, 1860, in Charlois - now part of Rotterdam - in Holland. His father, Simon Klapwijk, had died on October 19, 1859, in Charlois, aged 49. His mother, Lijdia Vermaat (1837-1919), had been widowed at the age of 22. On August 29, 1860, Lijdia had married her second husband, Dirk Vermaat. She had additional children named Dirk Roodenburg Vermaat and Neeltje Elisabeth Vermaat.

In Charlois on March 10, 1886, Bastiaan Klapwijk and Niesje Kleinjan were married. After a marriage of nearly 11 months, Niesje gave birth to a dead girl on January 29, 1887, in Charlois. The next week, on February 5, 1887, Niesje died.

Rotterdamsch Niewsblad, 10-2-1887

Bastiaan Klapwijk married his second wife, Maartje Kluifhoofd (1868-1920), on May 13, 1891, in Charlois. They had two children named Dirk Klapwijk and Wilhelmina Klapwijk. A widower again, Bastiaan Klapwijk died on December 3, 1933, in Rotterdam, aged 73.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, Stadsarchief.Rotterdam.nl/.

Married for just a few weeks: Johannis Brouwer (1770-1802)

Johannis Brouwer was baptized on April 15, 1770, in Alblasserdam, Holland. Witnesses at his baptism were Isaac de Ridder and Jannetje Heukelman. His parents are Wouter Brouwer (1740-1825) and Maria Heukelman. His paternal grandparents are my ancestors Andries Brouwer (1711-1770) and Dilliaantje Spruijt (1717-1807). Johannes grew up with his elder siblings Lijsje Brouwer (1765-1847) and Andries Brouwer (1766-1847).

On April 16, 1802, in Alblasserdam, a notice of marriage was registered for Johannis Brouwer (32) and Anna van de Graaf (33). Anne had been baptized on April 9, 1769, in nearby Oud-Alblas. Her parents were Jillis van de Graaf and Grietje Harwig. After her father's death, Anna's mother had married Cornelis Prins on March 7, 1777, and Jan Zaanen on September 7, 1780. Grietje Harwig died around 1782, while Anna was still a teenager. Anna de Graaf and Johannis Brouwer were married on May 3.

Johannis Brouwer was married in 1802 in Alblasserdam

Just 19 days after their marriage, on May 22, Johannis Brouwer was buried in Alblasserdam, leaving Anna a widow. Like him, Johannes' siblings remained childless, so on February 19, 1848, in Dordrecht, Holland, the inheritance of his last surviving sibling Andries was distributed among their cousins, nephews and nieces, including my ancestor Anna Keesmaat (1778-1850), widow of Gerrit Stolk (1778-1846).

Anna van de Graaf remained a widow for 12 years. Finally, on June 9, 1814, in nearby Papendrecht Anna (45) married Wijnand Otto (35). He was baptized on February 2, 1779, in Papendrecht, and his parents were Jan Otto and Sijgje Muijen. Likely due to the bride’s age, this marriage remained childless too. Anna van de Graaf died on September 16, 1831, in Papendrecht, aged 62. Her widower Wijnand Otto died on July 26, 1845, aged 66.

Sources: G. Gouweneel’s Alblasserdam CD, Families of South Holland CD ("Klappers"), WieWasWie.nl.

Married for 4 days: Adriana Petronella Koomans

On July 26, 1866, in Abcoude-Baambrugge in Holland, Adriana Petronella Koomans was married to Cornelis Wouter Hoogendijk. She was born on November 24, 1842, in the township of Fijnaart and Heijningen in Brabant, The Netherlands. Her parents were dr. Willem Koomans (1818-1917) and his first wife, Aagje Fontijn. Spouse Cornelis Wouter Hoogendijk was born on October 22, 1840, around 22:00 in Zwammerdam in Holland. His parents were Adrianus Hoogendijk and Neeltje Anna van Rossen.

Opregte Haarlemsche Courant (newspaper), 27-7-1866

Just 4 after their marriage, on July 30, 1866, Cornelis Wouter Hoogendijk died around 02:00 in house number 49 at the market of Zuphen, Gelre, The Netherlands.

Opregte Haarlemsche Courant (newspaper), 7-8-1866

Wedding Wednesday - Willem Blom & Lijsbeth van der Vlist were married in 1776

Willem Blom originated from Lienen in the County of Tecklenburg in Germany. He was married in Kockengen, Utrecht, The Netherlands on September 1, 1776, to Elisabeth (Lijsbet) van der Vlist. She was born in Benschop, Utrecht. Both partners lived in Kockengen, and approximately a year after their marriage Elisabeth gave birth to a son named Hendrik. 

Elisabeth van der Vlist, widow of Willem Blom, and living in Kockengen, witnessed in Harmelen, Utrecht, the baptisms of Nicolaas (6-2-1791), Claas (13-5-1792), Claasje (7-12-1795), Willem (16-7-1797) and Leendert (3-7-1803). They were all children of Jan van der Flist (Vlist) and Claartje de Haan.

Elizabeth van der Vlist, widow of Willem Blom, died on November 2, 1813, in Kockengen, aged 75. Hendrik Blom, son of Willem Blom and Lijsbet van der Vlist, died on October 2, 1819, also in Kockengen, aged 42. 

Kockengen, Utrecht, The Netherlands