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.

Prolific - The 13 pregnancies of Adriana Aaldijk (1832-74)

Adriana Aaldijk was born on 13 October 1832 in Streefkerk, Holland. She is the youngest daughter of Adrianus Aaldijk (1802-1873) and his wife Maria Schoonderwoerd (1797-1876). Adriana had 3 sisters and 2 brothers.
The first of these siblings to marry, was the eldest daughter Maria Aaldijk (1821-1898) who married Teunis (van) Houweling (1817-1902) on 19 February 1842 in Streefkerk. Maria gave birth to 12 children including a daughter Jannigje Houweling (1857-1936) who was to marry her first cousin.

Extract from the baptismal register of Streefkerk

At the age of 20, Adriana Aaldijk married 25-year-old Arij Brand on 27 September 1852 in Wieldrecht, Holland. The witnesses at their wedding ceremony were the groom's mother and the bride's father.
Arij Brand worked as a labourer. He had a length of 1,72 meter. His face was full, his nose thick and his chin round. His eyes were grey.
Arij Brand was born in Wieldrecht on New Year's Day 1827. His parents are Genis Brand (1802-1844) and Willemijntje Booij (1800-1878). Arij's elder brother Joris died at the age of 18 in 1844, while his younger brother Evert Brand (1835-1917) and 3 of his sisters reached adulthood.

Description of Arij Brand

Barend Bello (1839-1877) and his 3 wives

Blacksmith Barend Bello was born on 13 June 1839 in Oud-Beijerland, Hoeksche Waard, Holland. His parents are Jannetje Versteeg and Arnoldus Adrianus Bello, who was born in Zwolle, The Netherlands, as son of Gesina Elisabeth van Oeveren and an earlier Barend Bello. Arnoldus Adrianus Bello died in Oud-Beijerland on 29 April 1850 when his son Barend was 10 years old. Barend's mother, Jannetje Versteeg (1803-1891), had earlier been married to Pieter van der Steen (1794-1831). They had a daughter Cornelia van der Steen, born on 24 March 1829 in Pernis. Like her mother, Cornelia would marry twice.

Barend was 10 years old when his father died

At the age of 24, Barend Bello married his first wife Anna Diepenhorst on 7 April 1864 in Oud-Beijerland. Anna was born on 16 September 1843 in Numansdorp as daughter of Jan Gijsbert Diepenhorst and Willempje van Driel.
Anna gave birth to a son Adrianus Jan on 22 December 1864 in Klaaswaal. Anna died there on the 31st. The baby died on 20 March 1865 in Oud-Beijerland.

A widower for 5 moths, Barend Bello married his second wife Heiltje Zevenbergen on 19 May 1865 in Strijen. She was born there on 4 April 1843 as daughter of Jannigje van de Nadort (1815-1849) and Jan Zevenbergen (1812-1858). At the age of 15, Heiltje had become an orphan. At the age of 18, on 5 February 1862 in Strijen, Heiltje had given birth to a son Hendrik. On December 19, 1867, the child Hendrik was documented in a notarial deed as son of Heiltje Zevenbergen and Barend Bello. Now Barend officially had a son, although Hendrik was probably not Barend's biological son, since Hendrik was born even before Barend's first marriage.
Heiltje Zevenbergen, 25 year old, died on 20 August 1868 in Klaaswaal. Barend Bello was twice widowed at the age of 29.

Barend Bello was still aged 29 when he married his third wife, 37-year-old Willemtje Snoek on 25 April 1869 in Puttershoek. She was born there on 5 December 1831 as illegitimate daughter of Maartje Snoek. Willempje was recognised and legitimised in 1854 by Willem Hebers/Alebers who had married Maartje Snoek in 1833.
Willempje had married her first husband, widower Arij Verbaas (1823-1868), on 15 April 1854 in Zuidland, Holland. From this first marriage, Willempje had surviving children named Neeltje (1855-1872), Margje (1856-1919), Deumes (1860-1893) and Willem (1862-1880) Verbaas.
With Barend Willempje had issue too, starting with a daughter Jannigje, who lived for 4 days in 1870. Their son Adrianus was born on 28 February 1871 in Mijnsheerenland. Their youngest child, Neeltje Cornelia, was born there on 11 January 1873.
Barend Bello died, at the age of 38, on 15 July 1877 in Klaaswaal. His widow, Willemtje Snoek, married her third husband, Arie Maaten (1841-1926), on 17 September 1879 in Klaaswaal. Willemtje died in Klaaswaal on 27 June 1895, aged 63.

Paternal ancestors of rock star Eddie van Halen in Dordrecht

Eddie van Halen is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists in rock history, and was well known for popularising the tapping guitar technique. He was guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the rock band Van Halen, which he founded with his brother Alex in 1972.
Eddie van Halen was born as Edward Lodewijk van Halen in Amsterdam on 26 January 1955. He died of a stroke in Santa Monica on 6 October 2020, aged 65. He is the son of Eugenia van Beers (1914-2005) and pianist Jan van Halen (1920-1986). The family emigrated the the USA in 1962.
Eddie’s paternal grandparents are butcher Hermanus van Halen (1881-1960) and his wife Jannetje Berg (1883-1958). Eddies's paternal great-grandparents are ship carpenter Hermanus van Halen (1840-1924) and his wife Jacoba Maria Kamermans (1841-1916).

Eddie's paternal great-great-grandparents are Jan van Halen and Hermina Beekman (1814-1888) who both originated in Dordrecht, Holland. They were married there on 25 May 1838. Jan van Halen died on 20 February 1893 in Den Helder, Holland, at the age of 77. Jan was born in Dordrecht on 22 May 1815 as son of an earlier Jan van Halen and his wife Dina Lengton.

Jan van Halen and Dina Lengton were married on 26 May 1798 in Dordrecht.
Jan was assisted by his father Wouter van Halen. His bride was assisted by her mother Elisabeth Blekston.

The elder Jan van Halen was born in De Mijl, and baptised in nearby Dordrecht on 12 January 1772. Jan married Dijna Lengton on 26 May 1798 in Dordrecht. Dijna was baptised on 16 May 1775 in Dordrecht as daughter of Jacobus Lengton and Elisabeth Isaaks Blekston (1749-1819), a member of the Blackstone family in Dordrecht. Dijna died, aged 71, on 4 September 1846 in Dordrecht. Jan van Halen had died there on 21 February 1845, aged 73. Jan's death certificate mentions his parents Wouter van Halen and Johanna de Visser.

Dutch ancestors of author Pearl S. Buck - the Stulting family in Utrecht

Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973) was a writer and novelist. I read her fictionalised biography of Chinese Empress Dowager Cixi. Pearl was born as Pearl Sydenstricker in Hillsboro, West Virginia, to Caroline Maude Stulting and Absalom Sydenstricker, of Dutch and German descent respectively. In October 1892, her parents took their 4-month-old baby to China. The surname Buck derives from Pearl's first husband John Lossing Buck (1890–1975). On the same day in 1935 that Pearl divorced him, she married her publisher Richard J. Walsh.

Pearl's mother, Caroline Maude - “Carie” - Stulting (1857-1921), is a daughter of Hanna Sonnius (1816-1876) and silversmith Hermanus Stulting. They were married on 18 March 1840 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Their eldest children were born in Utrecht, including a daughter Arnolda, born there on 20 September 1846. Later, in the USA, the girl was known as Arnolda Dorothy. More children were to follow, including Pearl's mother.
Hermanus Stulting died on 30 September 1905 in Hillsboro, Pocahontas County, West Verginia. Hermanus was born in Utrecht on 5 October 1816 as son of Cornelis Johannes Stulting and Arnolda Broekman. Arnolda Broekman was born in Amersfoort, east of Utrecht. Hermanus' parents were married in Utrecht on 20 March 1811. Hermanus' grandparents were Hermanus Stulting, Hendrica Lebben, Nicolaas Broekman and Gerritje van der Linden.

Cornelis Johannes Stulting married Arnolda Broekman on 24 March 1811 in Utrecht

In 1847 Cornelis Johannes Stulting travelled to the USA. Cornelis Johannes died on 19 March 1861, aged 71. He was survived by his widow and his namesake son.

Utrechtsche Provinciale en Stads-courant (newspaper), 24-4-1861

Cornelis Johannes Stulting was baptised in Utrecht on 6 January 1790 as son of Hendrika Lebben (1764-1835) and tailor Hermanus Stulting (1763-1832). This couple was married on 14 July 1789 in Utrecht in a Roman Catholic church known as the Catharijnekerk. Another couple with the same surnames, Johannes - “Jan” - Stulting (1767-1846) and Margaretha Lebbe (1775-1857), were married in Utrecht on 20 May 1793. Jan was Hermanus' brother, and Margaretha was Hendrika's sister. Their parents were Cornelis Stulting, Wilhelmina Wasbeek, Jacobus Lebbinck and Agatha Gevel.

Johanna van Diest, first wife of Cornelis Stulting, died without issue early 1753 

Cornelis Stulting and his first wife, Johanna van Diest, had a marriage contract drawn up by a notary on 27 May 1748. The couple were living in Utrecht at the Oude Gracht (old canal) near the Jacobi bridge, a monumental bridge that still stands today. Early 1753, Johanna died without issue.
Cornelis married his second wife, Wilhelmina Wasbeek, on 25 November 1762 in Utrecht. Their prenuptial agreement had been drawn up on the 5th. They had sons named Hermanus, Adrianus (who likely died young) and Johannes (Jan).
Willemina van Wasbeek, widow of Cornelis Schulting, and Maria van Wasbeek, daughters and heirs of their deceased father Adrianus van Wasbeek, appeared before a notary on on November 1, 1782. The burial in Utrecht of Willemina van Wasbeek, widow of Cornelis Stulting, was on 18 December 1791. Willemina was baptised in Utrecht on 14 October 1733 as daughter of Adrianus van Wasbeek and Johanna van den Abeele.

The accidents of William Witvliet (1870-1936)

William Witvliet was born on 22 September 1870 in Vriesland, Ottawa, Michigan, USA. His parents are Lammigje (“Emmely”) Bartels (1837-1921) and Pieter (“Peter”) Witvliet (1830-1897). William's paternal grandparents were Mattheus Witvliet (1801-1873) and his second wife Elizabeth Sandifort.
Among William's siblings was a brother Mattheus (“Matthew”) Witvliet (1861-1938).

At the age of 30, William married Hendrika Krans on 13 June 1901 in Zeeland, Ottawa, Michigan, USA. She was born in June 1877 as daughter of Henry Krans (1837-1922) and Henrietta Hoving (1846-1925).

William Witvliet was operating a saw in a factory, when his right hand was caught in the machine, and badly damaged. An amputation was necessary, and his arm was amputated above the elbow. William was still a young man, and had only been married for 3 months.
Matheus Witvliet, the ironmonger on 8th Street, is his brother.

De Grondwet (newspaper), 26-4-1904

After the amputation of his right arm, William had hardly any means of subsistence. Once in a while he did some temporary police service, or other temporary work.
In January 1929, William Witvliet had an unfortunate fall on the slippery sidewalk, and broke his other arm.

De Grondwet (newspaper), 29-1-1929

Descendants of Scotsman Henry Hope in Rotterdam

Henry Hope was born in Scotland around 1630 as son of an elder Henry Hope and Elizabeth Speir. Henry the younger married Ann Hope, born in 1634 as daughter of Sir John Thomasz. of Craighall and Margaret Murray. Henry Hope was mentioned in Rotterdam in 1664-1678. By 1692 Henry had died, but his widow Ann was still alive in 1694, and living in London.
Henry and Ann Hope had children Archibald, Margaret and Henry. Their son Archibald Hope was born in Rotterdam, and baptised in the Scottish Church on 7 December 1664. Archibald married Anna Claus (1675-1752), and had 7 children, including Henry, Thomas (1704-1779), Adriaan (1709-1781) and Zachary.  Archibald’s burial was registered on 8 April 1743 in Rotterdam.

Zachary Hope and Agatha van Vlierden were married on 24 August 1737 in Rotterdam

Archibald Hope

Zachary Hope and Agatha van Vlierden were married on 21 August 1737 in Rotterdam. The burial of Agatha van Vlierden was registered on 18 September 1747 in Rotterdam. She was survived by 3 minor children. The burial of Zachary Hope, widower of Maria van Vlierden, was registered on 21 March 1770 in Rotterdam. He was survived by 2 minor children, because by then his daughter Lucia had died, too.
Zachary and Agatha had the following children, baptised in either the Scottish Church in Rotterdam, or the English Presbyterian Church in Amsterdam, but all were born in Rotterdam:

1. Archibald was born on 19 May 1739, and died on the 29th.
2. Lucia was born on 4 February 1741, and died on 5 June 1765.
3. Anna was born on 6 January 1743, and died on 1 October 1745.
4. Agatha Maria was born on 30 December 1745. Agatha Maria died unmarried on 5 December 1805, and was buried on the 10th in Rotterdam.
5. Archibald Hope was born on 31 August 1747. He was a merchant in Amsterdam. In 1776-1786 Archibald was director of the Dutch West India Company that was responsible for transporting slaves across the Atlantic Ocean. On 16 January 1774 in Amsterdam, Archibald married Magdelena Antonia van de Poll (1748-1808). In 1815 Archibald Hope was included in the Dutch Nobility. Archibald died in The Hague on 7 July 1821, at the age of 73.

's Gravenhaagsche Courant (newspaper), 11-7-1821

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl, Delpher.nl, nl.wikipedia.org, Nederland's Adelsboek 1914, 1933 & 1942.

Moritz Marx (1847-1888) & his brother Benjamin

Moritz Marx was born in Cologne (Köln) in Germany on 15 December 1847. His parents are Emanuel Benjamin Marx and Therese Koppel. Therese was born on 4 August 1821 in Solingen, Germany. Her father is Samuel Coppel (1782-1867). Theresa died as a widow, aged 60, on 24 June 1882 in Rotterdam, Holland.

An alliterating name is a name in which the first and last names begin with the same sound, like Moritz Marx. Moritz had a brother Benjamin, born on 22 September 1845 in Cologne, and their youngest brother was named Hermann. Moritz Marx was living in Rotterdam when he became a Dutch citizen on 22 July 1882 at the age of 34. Moritz Marx died at the age of 40 on 16 October 1888 in Rotterdam.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 27-7-1882

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

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

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 8-1-1931

Nicolaas Koomans (1753-1829) had 4 wives

When researching the Koomans family I noticed a man named Nicolaas Koomans (1653-1829) who married 4 times, while 3 of his 4 wives had the surname Maris.

Nicolaas Koomans was baptized on February 4, 1752, in the township of Fijnaart and Heijningen in Brabant, The Netherlands. His parents were Pieter Koomans (1712-1770) and Ariaantje Burgers (1726-1777). After his father's death, his mother had married Pieter de Leeuw in 1772. She died 5 years later on November 21, 1777. Ariaantje Burgers was buried in Fijnaart on the 27th.

Nicolaas Koomans married his 1st wife, Francina Maris, on May 3, 1778, in Fijnaart and Heijningen. Francina was baptized on July 1, 1753. Her parents are Jan Maris and Adriana Biert. Francina gave birth to 3 sons: Pieter and Jan (2x). Francina Maris, aged 30, was buried on September 12, 1783.

Nicolaas Koomans married Maaijke Maris on 4-11-1787

Nicolaas Koomans married his 2nd wife and first cousin, Maaijke Maris, on November 4, 1787, in Fijnaart and Heijningen. Maaijke was baptized on August 11, 1765. Her parents are Jacobus Maris and Tanneke Burgers (1734-1783), who is a younger sister of Nicolaas'  mother Ariaantje. Maaijke gave birth to 10 children: Jacobus (3x), Huibert, Ariaantje (2x), Tanneke, Gijsbert and Cornelis (2x). Maaijke Maris, aged 37, was buried on September 11, 1802.