Divorce and longevity for Johanna Schenk in Gouda

Gouda

Johanna Schenk was born in Gouda, Holland, on 18 January 1853. His parents are Dirk Schenk (1822-1872) and his first wife Maria Elselina van Omme (1824-1862) who were living at the Naaijerstraat in Gouda. Johanna had several siblings, but only Jacoba Maria Elselina (1850-1905) and Cornelis seem to have survived infancy. Cornelis, the youngest, was born in Gouda on 14 August 1856. Their mother Maria Elselina died in Gouda on 11 January 1862, just before Johanna's 11th birthday, while Cornelis was 5 years old.
Dirk Schenk married his second wife on 20 May 1863 in Gouda. She was born there on 23 April 1829 as Margaretha Cornelia, daughter of Hendrik Johannes Verblaauw and Lucretia Vermeulen. Dirk and Margaretha Cornelia had some additional children, but they all died young. Dirk Schenk died in Gouda on 3 February 1872, when his Johanna was 19 years old.

Unmarried Jacoba Maria Elselina Schenk brought 3 babies to their grave in Gouda the period 1875-1881. Her younger brother Cornelis married Catharina Dingena van Vliet (1860-1931) on 18 August 1880 in Gouda, and fathered children with his wife.
Their younger sister Johanna Schenk moved to Amsterdam where she gave birth to a son Leonardus on 16 October 1876. The baby likely died young. Another son, Jacobus Leonardus, was born in Amsterdam on 2 January 1878 around 13:00. Early 1884, Johanna was nursed for 93 days in the Binnengasthuis hospital in Amsterdam. On 18 June of that year, around 18:00, in Amsterdam Johanna Schenk gave birth to a daughter Johanna Helena.
Johanna Schenk married Leonardus Smal on 4 August 1886 in her hometown Gouda. The couple also acknowledged that Johanna Helena is their daughter. Thus, the girl's surname was changed from Schenk to Smal. Johanna's son Jacobus Leonardus Schenk had moved with her to Rotterdam, too.
Leonardus Smal was born on 10 July 1845. In the 1850s he had lived in an orphanage in Amersfoort. In 1882 in Amsterdam, Leonardus suffered severe burns to his back, arm and head when a kerosene lamp fell over.

Johannes Boeser (1799-1872) married Maria Sutherland (1793-1842)

Daniel Boeser (1757-1812) and his wife Sijgje Paardekooper (1769-1836) had a younger son Johannes, born on 19 May 1799, and baptised in Rotterdam on 9 June. Johannes had several surviving siblings including Wouter Boeser (1785-1859), Gerrit Boeser (1786-1848), Jan Martinus Boeser (1796-1851) and Hendrik Daniel Boeser (1801-1842).
At the age of 13, in 1812, Johannes lost his father Daniel. He had been a painter, and his first 6 children were born in Beverwijk, although Daniel originated in Dirksland. By 1812, Johannes' elder brother Gerrit had already married his first wife.
Johannes Boeser had a height of about 149½ cm. His face was oval with a round chin. His eyes were blue, and his hair and eyebrows had a light brown colour. By profession he was a dyer of textiles.

Description of Johannes Boeser in 1818

On 10 August 1825 blue-eyed Johannes Boeser, aged 26, married 32-year-old Maria Sutherland. Maria was born on 23 July 1793 in Leeuwarden in the North of The Netherlands, and baptised there on 9 August. Her parents are Elizabeth Lieuwes and corporal Willem Sutherland (“Sutterland”) who wasn't in The Netherlands at the time of his daughter's marriage. After Maria's birth, her parents were married on 3 November 1793 in Leeuwarden.

Johannes Boeser and Maria Sutherland had the following children:

1. Daniel Hendrik and his twin sister were born in Rotterdam on 8-6-1826. Daniel Hendrik earned a living making cigars. On 30-6-1854 in Hoorn he married Cornelia Hegeman (1832-1894). The marriage ended in a divorce on 17-6-1863 in Amsterdam. Cornelia married widower Jan Hendrik Schophuijs on 9-9-1864. At the age of 49, Daniel Hendrik Boezer died on 25 February 1876 around 8:00 AM in Gouda.
2. Sijchie Cornelia Boeser and her twin brother were born on 8-6-1826 in Rotterdam. She died there on 3-7-1826.
3. Elizabeth was born on 12-11-1828 in Rotterdam. She married there on 28-6-1854. The groom was Frans van Vugt, illegitimate son of Klazina van Vugt. They had issue. Elizabeth Boeser died in Rotterdam on 29-3-1909 at the age of 80. Her widower, Frans van Vugt, died at the age of 92 on 3-2-1917 in Rotterdam.
4. Sijtje Maria was born on 23-7-1831, and died on 8-12-1832, both in Rotterdam.
5. Willem Boeser was born on 14-12-1833 in Rotterdam. He died there on 16 September 1846 at the age of 12 years, 9 months and 8 days.
6. Sijchie Cornelia Maria was born on 8-12-1836, and died on 29-5-1860, both in Rotterdam.

Maria Sutherland died on 13 October 1842 in Rotterdam at the age of 49 years, 2 months and 20 days. Johannes Boeser survived her for 30 years. He died on 29 December 1872 in Rotterdam at the age of 73 years and 7 months.

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

Brigg and Bastin sisters

Two sisters, Olga (15) and Irene (8½) Bastin, died in a war accident on 13 October 1944 in Heerlen, The Netherlands. They were buried on the seventeenth. 

Veritas, 17-1-1944

The father of Olga and Irene is Johannes Franciscus Hubertus (“Jean”) Bastin. He was born on 9 September 1896 in Mheer, Limburg, The Netherlands, as illegitimate son of Gertrudis Bastin (1871-1943). His birth was registered by Elisabeth Schreurs (1849-1925), Gertrudis' mother.
Olga and Irene's mothers are Jean's subsequent wives, the sisters Hubertine Elise Marianne Brigg (1893-1930) and Elise Hubertina Joanna Brigg (1901-1949). They are the two surviving daughters of Bernardus Brigg (1862-1922) and his wife Maria Joanna Hubertina (“Marie”) Duchateau (1865-1965). Marie and Bernardus and married on 26 January 1893 in Amsterdam. Although Marie Duchateau died at the age of 100, her daughter Hubertina died at the early age of 36, while the other, Elise, died at the age of 48.

Limburger Koerier, 20-5-1930

After the deaths of his daughters Olga Jeanne Augusta Gertrude and Irene Maria Elise Ernestine in 1944, Jean had 4 remaining children: Yvon (by his first wife), Roger, Cyrille and Gaston.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, AlleLimburgers.nl, Rijckheyt.nl, Archieven.nl, Archief.Amsterdam.

Cornelis Pieter Hultgren married the same wife twice

Cornelis Pieter Hultgren was born on May 20, 1885, in Amsterdam as Cornelis Pieter van Gigh, illegitimate son of Kaatje van Gigh (1857-1911), daughter of Marcus van Gigh (1810-1883) and his wife Sara Cohen (1821-1896).
Kaatje van Gigh was hospitalised from December 6, 1894 until March 11, 1895. One child is mentioned in the register.

On March 30, 1904, in Rotterdam Kaatje van Gigh (46) married Sven Adolf Hultgren (47). At their wedding they acknowledged to be the parents of Kaatje's 18-year-old son Cornelis Pieter, although it is unlikely that Sven Adolf really was the boy’s natural father.
Sven Adolf Hultgren was born on August 18, 1856, in Karlshamm in Southern Sweden. His parents are Gustaf Adolf Hultgren and Helena Jonsson. Sven Adolf was a seafaring man, and at some point he disappeared from the lives of Kaatje and her son Cornelis Pieter.
Kaatje van Gigh was nursed in an insane asylum in Leyden in 1906 from December 10 until December 18. Kaatje was again admitted to the insane asylum in Leyden in 1908 from June 25 to July 6. Kaatje van Gigh died on August 5, 1911, in Poortugaal, Holland.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 8-6-1929

In Schoten, Holland, on July 12, 1911, Cornelis Pieter Hultgren had married Vrouwtje Dapper. Vrouwtje was born on August 4, 1886, in Bovenkarspel, Holland. Her parents are Martje Evenhuis (1843-1905) and her husband Jacob Dapper (1849-1915).
After 5 years of marriage, Cornelis Pieter Hultgren and Vrouwtje Dapper had a daughter Cornelia Petronella Hultgren, born on November 27, 1916, in Amsterdam.

After nearly 18 years of marriage, the couple was divorced on July 8, 1929, in Haarlem.
The next year, on October 15, 1930, in Haarlem, Cornelis Pieter Hultgren and Vrouwtje Dapper were remarried. This second marriage ended in divorce – after 12 years of additional marriage - on December 19, 1952.

Cornelis Pieter Hultgren and Vrouwtje Dapper were remarried on October 15, 1930, in Haarlem

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

Julius Zevenbergen (1861-1948) in Iowa

Julius Zevenbergen was born on 3 March 1861 in Barendrecht, Holland, as Jillis Koedood, the illegitimate son of 23-year-old Ida Koedood. Ida was born in Rhoon, Holland, on 20 December 1827 as Ida Cornelia, daughter of Jillis Koedood (1804-1850) and his wife Pietertje van 't Hof. Hence, Ida had named her son after her father.

Jillis was born on 3-3-1861 in Barendrecht as illegitimate son of Ida Koedood.

Ida Koedood, aged 25, was married on 28 May 1863 in Barendrecht to Pieter Zevenbergen, aged 26. They claimed Jillis was their son, and thus he acquired the surname Zevenbergen. It is, however, not likely that Ida's spouse was also the natural father of Jillis.
Pieter Zevenbergen was born on 26 January 1837 in Charlois (now part of Rotterdam). His parents are Arij Zevenbergen (1797-1851) and Pleuntje Lems (1799-1874).
Within her marriage Ida Koedood was 9 more times pregnant. In 1877 there was a stillborn son. Two other children died before the age of 2. Arie (1864-1928), Pietertje (1865-1919), Pleun (1867-1943), Lena (1872-1918) and Pieter (1880-1963) all survived, and remained in The Netherlands. Another son, Jan Zevenbergen (1869-1958), was to follow his brother Jilles to the USA.

On 13 May 1886 in Barendrecht, at the age of 25, Jilles Zevenbergen married Adriaantje de Zeeuw. She was born in nearby Heerjansdam on 5 April 1863. Her parents are the late Jan de Zeeuw (1828-1881) and his wife Aagje Hartman.
Jilles’ eldest son, Arie Zevenbergen, was born on 22 November 1892 in Barendrecht.

Jilles traveled to the USA with his wife and son and took the name “Julius”. His son Ike was born on 21 January 1897 in Middelburg, Sioux County, Iowa, USA. His daughter Agnes Edith was born there on 24 February 1899. They had a total of 10 children. In 1914 the family moved to the vicinity of Ocheyedan, Osceola County, Iowa.

On 15 February 1922 Julius’ daughter Agnes Edith married Tunis Bras, born on 25 January 1895 in South Holland, Cook County, Illinois, as son of Arie Bras (1865-1959) who originated in Almkerk, Brabant, The Netherlands. Tunis' mother was Helena (“Helen”) van der Heijden (1868-1944). Mrs. Helen Bras was killed in the afternoon of March 28, 1944, when the car driven by her husband, Arie Bras, was struck by the southbound Dixie Limited on the C&EI crossing one and a half miles south of Kinney's Corner.
Julius’ son Ike married Jannetje Sara (“Jennie”) Monster (1904-2006). She was a daughter of Dina Hendrina (“Dena”) Verhoek (1879-1968) and her husband Arie Monster (1877-1948). Arie is a male-line descendant of an earlier Arie Monster who lived around 1700 in Sint Anthoniepolder, Holland.

Julius' wife, Adriaantje de Zeeuw, died in Ocheyedan on 28 March 1925, aged 62.
Julius Zevenbergen died at the Hull Hospital, Saturday evening, 24 April 1948, at the age of 87 years. He had been in good health - until a few weeks ago when he was taken to the hospital for an emergency operation, from which he never recovered.

Julius had a son of the same name, born on 25 September 1903 in Middleburg, Sioux County, Iowa. With his wife Ethel Runia (1910-2005), Julius jr. had 2 children. He died on 2 December 2002 in Harris, Osceola County, Iowa, aged 99.

De Volksvriend, 30-10-1947

Julius' younger brother John Zevenbergen had followed him to the USA in 1920.

Sources: FindAGrave.com (Julius Zevenbergen), FindAGrave.com (Tunis Bras), WieWasWie.nl, StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl, Delpher.nl.

Marinus, a Murderous Madman in the Kootkar family

This blog post is about a 14-month-old baby that was murdered by her mad uncle. The grandparents of the baby are workman Jan Kootkar (26) and Hendrika Maria van Gasteren (25) who were married on 4 March 1859 in Culemborg in The Netherlands.

Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant, 23-3-1899

Jan Kootkar was born on 14 December 1832 in Culemborg as son of Hermanus Kootkar (1809-1890) en first wife Jannigje Bron. Jan's great-grandfather is Hermanus Kootkar of Meppen in Germany.
Jan's bride, Hendrika Maria, was born on 12 January 1834 in Culemborg as daughter of Johannes van Gasteren and Helena Ladrak. On 25 March 1851 in Culemborg, at the age of just 17, Hendrika Maria had given birth to an illegitimate son named Willem Johannes. Upon his mother's marriage, Willem Johannes was officially acknowledged by Jan Kootkar as his lawful son, although it is unlikely that he actually was his biological son.
Jan Kootkar and his wife had several children born in Culemborg, including sons Hermanus, born on 19 March 1861, Johannes, born on 16 February 1868, and Marinus, born on 20 January 1673. Jan Kootkar died on 12 January 1875 in Beusichem near Culemborg, when Marinus was 1 year old.
Jan's widow, Hendrika Maria van Gasteren, married 62-year-old agrarian Dirk van Heevelingen on 15 December 1876 in Culemborg. He was a childless widower. At the age of 3, Marinus had acquired a stepfather., and, at the age of 7, Marinus acquired a stepsister Willemina van Heevelingen (1880-1917).
Dirk van Heevelingen died on 11 March 1889 in Culemborg, aged 74. At that time, Marinus was 16 year old. Early 1897, 24-year-old Marinus Kootkar moved to Rotterdam.

For a while businessman Marinus Kootkar was living in Rotterdam

In Culemborg on 12 March 1897 Johannes Kootkar married Johanna Catharina Gudde. She was born on 12 February 1876 in Loosdrecht, Holland, as daughter of Willem Gudde (1823-1884) and Elizabeth Zevenboom (1835-1900). On 16 January 1898 in 's-Hertogenbosch their eldest child, Elisabeth, was born.

Longevity ~ Sija (90) & Helena Josina (93) Bax

In Dordrecht, Holland, on 26 May 1820, Jacoba van Efferen (1798-1863) gave birth to a son whom she named Gerrit. Jacoba is a daughter of Gerrit van Efferen and Jacoba van Dalen, so she named her son after her father. Earlier, on 29 January 1819, Jacoba had given birth to a girl named Martina. She was named after Martijntje Vijfwijk, wife of Bernardus Stam, and mother of Jacob Bernardus Stam.
Jacob Bernardus Stam married Jacoba van Efferen on 13 September 1820 in Dordrecht, and the children Martijntje and Gerrit were legitimized. 

At the age of 23, Gerrit Stam married 24-year-old Sija Bax in Dordrecht on 31 May 1843. Sija was born on 31 October 1818 in Dordrecht. Her parents are Johannes Bax (1794-1833) and Elisabeth Littig (†1866). Sija was named after her grandmonther Sijgje van Wingerden (†1801), wife of Andries Littig (also Lieddig) who was born in Knopshof in Germany

Among other siblings, Sija Bax had 2 younger sisters: Helena Jozina, born on 22 January 1824 in Dordrecht, and Elisabeth Johanna, born there on 8 July 1827. On 31 May 1843 in Dordrecht those 2 sisters were married to 2 brothers, Adrianus and Jan Willem 't Hart.
At the age of 26, Jan Willem 't Hart (1832-1895) married Elisabeth Johanna 't Hart, aged 31, and they had 3 children. Elisabeth Johanna died there on 12 March 1907, aged 79.

Family Card featuring Adrianus 't Hart and Helena Jozina Bax

Adrianus 't Hart was born on 13 June 1836 in Gorinchem, Holland. At the age of 22, he married 34-year-old Helena Jozina Bax. They had a son, who died at the age of 3, and a surving daughter Cornelia Elizabeth, named after her two grandmothers. In Dordrecht Adrianus worked as sigarmaker. Later, the couple moved to Nieuw-Lekkerland, Holland. At the age of 29, their only daughter married Jacob Breedveld. They had surving children named Soetje Helena Jozina and Pieter Adrianus Breedveld.

The marriage of Sija Bax and Gerrit Stam seems to have remained childless. Gerrit died on 6 June 1873 in Dordrecht, aged 53. Sija died there on 22 April 1909, aged 90.

Adrianus 't Hart died on 12 December 1892 in Nieuw-Lekkerland. Helena Jozina died there on 29 January 1917, aged 93.

De Standaard, 30-12-1892

Sources: RegionaalArchiefDordrecht.nl, WieWaswie.nl.

The illegitimate children of Margrieta de Groot (1804-66)

Margrieta de Groot was born on 29 September 1804 and baptised on 7 October in Streefkerk. Her parents are Willem de Groot (1764-1827) and his second wife Marrigje Potuit (1774-1842). Her father had 2 surviving children from his first marriage: Aart (1789-1854) and Ingje (1792-1849). Margrieta addionally had 3 younger siblings who grew to adulthood: Adriana (1810-1866), Cornelis (1812-1858) and Willemijntje (1815-1900).

Margrieta’s father died on 21 Febraury 1827 in Streefkerk, aged 62. On 22 December 1829 in Streefkerk Margrieta gave birth to an illegitimate son whom she named Willem after her father. Four years later, on 2 October 1832 in Streefkerk, Margrieta gave birth to another illegitimate son whom she named Daam after both a brother who had died young, and her paternal grandfather Daam Potuit.

On 23 December 1837 in Streefkerk Margrieta, aged 33, married Jan Eikelboom, aged 30. Jan was born on 16 September 1807 and baptised on 4 October in Alblasserdam. His parents are Willem Eijkelenboom (1758-1842) and Theuntje Brandwijk (1777-1823). With Jan Margrieta had 2 daughters who both died at the age of 1. Jan and his eldest daughter Teuntje both died on 17 September 1839 in Streefkerk. His younger daughter Marrigje died there on 11 January 1841. Margrieta’s mother, Marrigje Potuit, died on 12 April 1842 in Streefkerk, aged 67.

On 6 November 1841 in Streefkerk Margrieta, aged 37, married Leendert Groenendijk. He was born on 10 February 1798 and baptized on the 18th in Streefkerk. His parents are Klaas Groenedijk and Ariaantje de Haan. Leendert was widower of Johanna Hooijbouw (1780-1838) and had a daughter Adriaantje Groenendijk (1820-1887).
Leendert and Margarieta had 4 sons named Klaas and one son named Leendert but they all died before the age of 2.

On 14 October 1850 in Streefkerk Margrieta’s eldest son Willem de Groot died, aged 20. Her only surviving child was her second son Daam de Groot. Daam was married on 19 January 1867 in Streefkerk to Meintje Kwakernaak (1833-1911), a daughter of Wouter Kwakernaak and Martijntje Bouwman. Of their children the daughters Margrietha Adriana and Willemijntje survived to adulthood.

Daam de Groot did military service from 1854 to 1859.

Teacher Leendert Bras (1828-69) in Haarlemmermeer

Leendert Bras was born on 22 March 22 1828 in De Werken in Brabant, southeast of Gorinchem in Holland. His parents are Leendert Bras (1793-1862) and Sijke van Drunen (1797-1874). Among Leendert's siblings were Bastiaan Bras (1819-1898) and Adriaan Bras (1830-1881). Their father worked as a workman, miller and innkeeper.

In Utrecht on 17 July 1850, at the age of 22, Leendert Bras did exams to become a teacher. He acquired a 4th rank as teacher on 29 April 1851. He was working as an assistant teacher in Utrecht, when he acquired his 2nd rank as teacher on 6 April 1853 at the age of 25. In the autumn of 1854 Leendert Bras was appointed as a teacher in a specialized Day and Boarding School for boys in Zuilen, west of Utrecht.

On July 17, 1850, Leendert Bras did his exam to become a teacher

Leendert Bras had been married on17 May 1852 in De Werken to Jannigje Pruissen. Jannigje was born on 28 December 1828 in De Werken. Her parents are Jan Pruissen and Hasia van Dijk. Leendert Bras and his wife were to have 11 children but 3 of them died young.
At first they lived in De Werken, but around 1860 they moved to Haarlemmermeer, a polder, consisting of land reclaimed from water. First, a 61 kilometres long canal had been dug around the lake to carry the water drainage and traffic. All of the pumping was done by steam mills, an innovation contrasting with the historic Dutch practice of draining polders using windmills. The first church was built in 1855. By 1860 Haarlemmermeer's population was 7237 people.
Leendert's father had died on 5 Janaury 1862 in Almkerk in Brabant. His mother remained in Almkerk until her death on 16 January 1874. Leendert died at the early age of 40 on February 14, 1869, in Haarlemmermeer. Six months later his widow, Jannigje Pruissen, gave birth to her last child, a daughter named Govertje after her brother Govert who had died the year before. Jannigje survived her husband for 26 years and died in Haarlemmermeer on 12 December 1895, aged 66.
Their daughter Anna was married in 1880, and had a son in 1881. On 9 May 1902 Anna and her husband and son left the Haarlemmermeer for the USA.

Revisited - Barend Verkerk (1823-1905) and family

Recently I wrote about the marriage of Barend Verkerk (1823-1905) and his first cousin Aartje Verkerk who were both illegitimate children. Barend was a little man with a height of around 121 cm. His face and chin were rounded, and his mouth was small. His eyes were blue, his eyebrows were blond, and his head was bald. Because Barend was so small, he did not have to do military service.
His height was not the only striking thing about Barend. Before Barend’s birth, the name Barend was not in use in the Verkerk family of Ammerstol and Bergambacht. Thus, it’s likely Barend was named after his unknown father.

What we do know is that Barend Verkerk was born on 28 June 1823 in Ammerstol as an illegitimate son of Geertje Verkerk (1793-1842) who had been widowed since 31 July 1818. You can find a small family tree of Geertje’s parents and grandparents in my previous blog post about Barend’s marriage.
We don’t know what Barend’s mother Geertje looked like, but she had 3 brothers who were described when they were conscripted for military service, and they all had brown eyes with black eyebrows and black hair:

• Pieter Verkerk (1781-1855) had a height of around 150 cm. He was round-faced with a broad forehead, a small nose and a rounded chin. His eyes were brown and his hair and eyebrows were black. 
• Arij Verkerk (1784-1834) had a height of around 136 cm. He was narrow-faced with a flat forehead, a small nose and a rounded chin. His eyes were brown and his hair and eyebrows were black. He had rings in his ears.
• Jan Verkerk (1799-1849) had a height of around 141 cm. His face was oval-shaped with a high forehead, big nose, and rounded chin. His eyes were brown and his hair and eyebrows were black. His skin was pockmarked.

At the WieWasWie.nl website I found one man with the Christian name Barend who was living in Ammerstol at the time of Barent's birth: Barend Zaanen. Barend Zaanen was born on 27 November and baptized on 3 December 1797 in Ammerstol. His parents are Anna Verschoor (1778-1809) and Willem Saanen (1772-1811). Barend’s great-grandfather is my ancestor Willem Saan.
At the age of 25, Barend Zaanen was married on 26 July 1823 in Ammerstol to 22-year-old Maria Verkerk who was heavily pregnant at the time. On 11 August 1823 in Ammerstol, Maria gave birth to a daughter named Aartje. Aartje may have been named after Maria’s father Arij Verkerk who had died in 1812.
Maybe Barend Zaanen got 2 women pregnant in the winter of 1822-23: Geertje Verkerk (aged 30, who named her illegitimate son Barend) and Maria Verkerk (22) whom he married.

  Description of Barend Zaanen in 1823  

  Description of Barend Verkerk in 1850  

Barend Zaanen had a height of around 170 cm. His nose was small, he had a rounded chin, his eyes were brown and his eyebrows and hair were dark brown. He had rings in his ears. People with brown eyes and a dark hair color can get a blond and blue-eyed child if both parents have some - more or less distant - ancestors with blond hair and blue eye. So, the difference in eye and hair coloring between Barend Zaanen and Barend Verkerk does not exclude a familial relation. What both men did have in common is a rounded face and a small nose. Barend Verkerk was around 18 cm smaller than Barend Zaanen, whose height was equal to that of Barend's shortest uncle, Arij Verkerk.

Longevity ~ Pieter Verkerk (103)

Pieter Verkerk was born on 2 March 1857 in Bergambacht, Holland. He was the 3rd of 5 children of Barend Verkerk (1823-1905) and Aartje Verkerk (1821-1862) who were first cousins. At the age of 5, Pieter lost his mother. At the age of 8, Pieter gained a stepmother, Johanna van Eijl (1824-1868). Pieter lost his elder brother Jan (18) when he was 15. Like his father, Pieter was exempted from military service due to his short height.

On 28 Febraury 1885 in Ammerstol, Holland, Pieter Verkerk married Arigje de Vries. Arigje was born on 28 September 1863 in Bergambacht. At the time, her mother, Jacoba Looren de Jong (1941-1926), was still unmarried. Eight months later, when Jacoba married Adriaan de Vries (1841-1928) on 28 May 1864 in Ammerstol, Adriaan acknowledged Arigje as being his daughter, and gave her his surname. Thus, Adriaan de Vries was Arigje's legal father, but that doesn't mean he was also her biological father. Arigje may have been named after her mother's father Arie Looren de Jong. Both her uncles Willem (1838-1931) and Huijbert (1843-1924) Looren de Jong had a daughter named Arigje, too. 
On 3 August 1885 in Ammerstol, Pieter Verkerk and Arigje de Vries had a son Jan, but sadly he died on 30 September.  

De Volkskrant (newspaper), 10-5-1960

At some point in time, the couple moved to Germany. There, Pieter Verkerk created and repaired fishing nets for a living. His wife Arigje died in Germany.
After World War II, Pieter Verkerk returned to The Netherlands. He met his niece for the first time, and stayed with her in Hoorn. At the age of 103, Pieter Verkerk died in Hoorn on 7 May 1960. He was buried on the 11th.

Pieter Verkerk died at the age of 103

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl.

Married Cousins - Barend (1823-1905) & Aartje (1821-1862) Verkerk

On 7 June 1850 in Ammerstol, Holland, two cousins, Barend Verkerk and Aartje Verkerk, were married. Besides being cousins, they were both illegitimate children, too. Both their mothers had died before they were married, so they had to show their death certificates to be allowed to marry. And that's how I know who their mothers were.

Barend and Aartje Verkerk had 5 children:

1. Geertje (1851-1934) married (1) Leendert van de Werken, and (2) Hugo Walraad.
2. Jan (1853-1872).
3. Pieter (1857-1960) married Arigje de Vries, and died at the age of 103.
4. Gerrit Verkerk (1859-1943) married Aagje Aaldijk (1861-1931), daughter of Klaas Aaldijk (1826-1897) and Neeltje Boers (1829-1903). Aagje is a paternal descendant of my ancestor Adrianus Aaldijk (182-1873).
5. Barend Verkerk (1861-1896) married Arigje Kooij (1866-1913) and they are the parents of Gerrigje Verkerk who travelled to Australia.

Barend Verkerk was born on 28 June 1823 in Ammerstol as an illegitimate son of 30-year-old Geertje Verkerk (1793-1842), while she was in-between 2 marriages. Geertje's 1st marriage with Jakobus de Bruijn (1780-1818) had been childless. She was 2ndly married on 5 December 1824 in Ammerstol to Jan de Jong (1779-1836). With Jan, Geertje had 4 more children: Adriana, Neeltje (twice) and Aart de Jong. 
Barend Verkerk was a little man with a height of around 121 cm. His face and chin were rounded, and his mouth was small. His eyes were blue, his eyebrows were blond, and his head was bald. Because Barend was so small, he did not have to do military service.

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.

Maria Nagtegaal (1793-1823) had an illegitimate son

Jacob Nagtegaal (1746-1804) was a widower and living in Melissant, when he married Jacomijntje Visbeen (1764-1842) on 27 January 1793 in Dirksland. Ten months later, on 1 November 1793 Jacomijntje Visbeen gave birth to twin daughters Maria and Dingena. They were baptized in Dirksland on the 10th with widnesses Willemijntje Visbeen (mother's sister) and Ariaantje den Heek. Jacob had a daughter Arendje (1778-1822) from his first marriage. He subsequently had 3 sons named Jacob (1798-1848), Dingeman (1800-1849) and Leendert (1802-1845). When Jacob’s death was registered on 13 December 1804 in Melissant, his twin daughters were 11 years old.

Twins Maria and Dingena Nagtegaal were baptized in Dirksland on 10-11-1793.

Maria Nagtegaal (also: Nachtegaal) was 22 years old and unmarried, when she gave birth on 8 October 1816 in Dirksland to a son named Pieter. None of Maria’s brothers or uncles were named Pieter, so she may have named her son after his unknown father.

Description of Pieter Nagtegaal (1816-48)

Maria Nagtegaal, aged 29, died on 30 October 1823 in Goedereede when her son was just 7 years old. Maria’s twin sister, Dingena, remained unmarried, too, and died on 15 May 1825, aged 31. Maria’s mother, Jacomijntje Visbeen, died on 9 October 1842 in Melissant, aged 77. By 1850 all of Maria’s siblings had died, too, all before the age of 50.

Maria’s son Pieter was married on 13 May 1837 in Melissant. The documents presented at his marriage mention his maternal grandparents. Pieter had blue eyes and blonde hair, and a broad nose. Pieter’s bride was Cornelia Palingdood (1814-1898). She was born on 16 January 1814 in Dirksland, and her parents are Beschier Palingdood (1779-1833) and his wife Plonia van Gilst.
Pieter was to have children named Maria, Beschier, Jacob, Plona and Jacomina. His son Jacob Nagtegaal (1842-1909) had a son named Pieter Nagtegaal who was to reach the age of 96. Maria’s son Pieter died on 18 October 1848 in Melissant, 32 years old. Cornelia Palingdood remained a widow for 49 years, and died on 30 June 1898 in Melissant, aged 84.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, Districtklappers Zuid-Holland.

4 children born before their parents' marriage

Hermanus Blekton (also Blackstone, Blikton, Blextoon, Blaxstone) is a son of Jan Blekton (†1802) and Willemijna van der Weijden (1754-1800). This family name has an English ring to it. Additionally, its many variations are an indication of a foreign origin. The family can be traced back to one Isack Blekston whose burial in Dordrecht was registered on 8-1-1704.

Hermanus was married on 18-1-1832 in Dordrecht to Neeltje Meijer. Neeltje was baptized in Dordrecht on 5-8-1796. Her parents are Abraham Meijer (†1812) and Adriana Romijn (†1808). Remarkably, upon their marriage Hermanus and Neeltje acknowledged to be the parents of 4 (!) children: Jan, registered in 1823, Abraham in 1825, Willem in 1828 and Adrianus in 1830. Willem died in December 1832. Adrianus died aged 4. Within their marriage 3 additional children were born: Jannetje, another Willem and Maria Adriana.

Dordrechtsche Courant (newspaper), 15-8-1850

Neeltje Meijer died on 21-7-1850 in Dordrecht. Hermanus Blekton died there on 18-5-1864.

Geertrui Papenvelt (1803-54) of Emden, Germany

Dutch translation of Geertruid's baptismal record

Geertrui Papenvelt was born on 12 June 1803 and baptized on the 16th in Emden, Germany. Her parents are Gerrit Papenvelt and Maria Noteboom. Her brother Jozef was born on 25 May 1805 and baptized there on the 30th.
Gerrit Papevelt died on 29 June 1817 in Emden. His death was registered in Dordrecht, Holland, on 22 November 1819. As a widow Geertrui’s mother lived in ‘s-Gravendeel, Holland. Maria Noteboom died there as Gerrit's widow on 9 August 1852, aged 74. Her parents are Joost Noteboom (†1787) and Jannigje Korsse de Jong (†1795).

Earlier, on 20 July 1826 in Vlaardingen, Holland, a woman named Teuntje Verboom had died as widow of Gerrit van Papenvelt. They had been married on 6 November 1796 in Vlaardingen, and they had had a son Arij Papevelt (1797-1854). Teuntje Verboom (1763-1826) was widow of Maarten Bos(ch). Gerrit Papenvelt was widower of Trijntje Noorthoek. This first marriage had taken place on 6 May 1791 in Vlaardingen, and the surviving children of Gerrit's first marriage were Johannis (1791-), Teunis (1793-1843) and Peije (1794-1813).
Did Gerrit Papenvelt move to Emden, Germany, to be able to contract a bigamous marriage to Maria Noteboom, or did Gerrit and Maria just pretend to be married, while living in Germany?

Longevity ~ Daatje de Sterke (94) in Dordrecht

Daatje de Sterke was born on Sunday December 14, 1834, around 1 o'clock in the afternoon in Werkendam in The Netherlands. Her parents are Pieter de Sterke (1794-1888) and his 29-year-old second wife Adriana de Vries (1806-1881). Adriana had been an illegitimate daughter of Jannigje de Vries, abandoned wife of Cornelis van Aalst. Daatje's paternal grandparents are my ancestors Pieter de Sterke (1765-1842) and Adriana Knikman (1766-1804).

Jacob Vrolijk was a blacksmith

Daatje de Sterke was first married on 16 May 1855 in Dordrecht to blacksmith Jacob Vrolijk. Jacob was born on 27 August 1834 in Dordrecht. His parents are blacksmith Jacobus Vrolijk and his wife Sija van der Koog. This Sija is named after her grandmother Sija Brand (±1758-1803) who married Willem van der Koog (1734-1809). As a result, Sija van der Koog is a descendant of both my ancestors Jacobus van der Koogh (1710-1793) and Jillis Jacobsen Brand.
Upon their marriage Daatje de Sterke and Jacob Vrolijk acknowledged to be the parents of a daughter named Hendrika, born in 1854 in Dordrecht, although it's unlikely that Jacob really was the girl's father, because little Hendrika was not named after any of her official grandparents.
In 1857-58 Daatje gave birth to a daughter Sija and a son Pieter Jacobus, who both died young. Her husband, Jacob Vrolijk, died in Dordrecht on 19 October 1859,  aged 25, while Daatje was pregnant again. When the boy was born on 13 May 1860, he was named after his father.

Signatures of Jacob Vrolijk
and Daatje de Sterke

As a widow Daatje de Sterke gave birth to a daughter named Catharina on 11 April 1863 around 8:30 in Dordrecht. This girl died on 18 June. On 5 December 1864 around 22:00 in Dordrecht Daatje gave birth to a son named Andries Anthonie. In both cases these births were reported at the civil registry office by the midwife.

Nearly two years later, on 19 September 1866, Daatje de Sterke (31) was married to Anthoon van Leeuwen (28). They acknowledged to be the parents of Andries Anthonie. Antoon was born on 21 December 1837 in Dordrecht. His parents are Adrianus van Leeuwen and Johanna Margrita Keldermans.
During her second marriage, Daatje de Sterke had 4 children who died young, but a son named Pieter and the youngest, Hendrika, survived infancy. Daatje's eldest daughter, Hendrika Vrolijk, died at the age of 18 on 4 March 1873 in Dordrecht. In the summer of 1883 Daatje de Sterke moved to Rotterdam with her children Andries Anthonie, Pieter and Hendrika.
Of Daatje's 4 surviving children Pieter van Leeuwen (1866-1959) was the first to marry in 1887. Andries Anthonie van Leeuwen married in 1888. Jacob Vrolijk, a supervisor in the navy, was married in 1891. The last to marry was Daatje's youngest daughter Hendrika van Leeuwen who was married on 26-10-1898 in Rotterdam to Johannes George Vrolijk. The groom and the bride's half-siblings all descend from the couple Johannes George Vrolijk (±1782-1833) and Maaike Kraan (±1782-1857).

De Maasbode (newspaper), 13-3-1929

In Dordrecht on 6 June 1894 Anthoon van Leeuwen died, aged 56. This time Daatje de Sterke was a widow for nearly 35 years. Daatje died on 10 March 1929 in Rotterdam, 94 years, 2 months, 2 weeks and 3 days old. Her son Pieter van Leeuwen would reach the age of 92 years. Another son, Andries Anthonie van Leeuwen, died on 29 January 1959 in Rotterdam, 94 years, 1 month and 25 days old.

Longevity ~ Kniertje Verschoor (90) in Heinenoord, Holland

Kniertje Verschoor was 90 years and 5 months old, when she died on 22 August 1893 in Heinenoord, South-Holland, The Netherlands. Kniertje was born there on 20 March 1803 as a younger daughter of Gerrit Verschoor, whose ancestors originated in Charlois (now part of the city of Rotterdam), and Lijntje Weda, who originated in nearby West-IJsselmonde. 

Heinenoord

On 23 December 1824 around 13:00 in Heinenoord Kniertje Verschoor gave birth to an illegitimate son she named Leendert. The baby may have been named after its unknown father. The next day the midwife, 64-year-old Ida Bouwens, reported the birth to the authorities. At the age of 1, the baby died in Heinenoord on 23 April 1826. 

At the age of 26, Kniertje Verschoor was married on 23 September 1829 in Heinenoord. Her groom was Arij Dekker (1801-1882), son of another Arij Dekker (1765-1812) and his wife Jannigje, a daughter of Mozes Vollaart. As a married woman Kniertje had 10 additional children: Lijntje, Jannigje (1833-71), Gerritje (1835-59), 2 sons named Arij, Gerrit (1838-39), Geertrui, and 2 daughters named Magdalena. Their younger son Arij Verschoor (1839-1921) married and had issue, too. 

Sources: Index to the Families of South Holland, WieWasWie.nl.

Jacob and Pieter van Ham both married a single mom with a toddler

On October 14, 1861, in Dubbeldam, Holland, Grietje van Ham (1841-1913) gave birth to a daughter and named her Barbara. Grietje was a daughter of Arie van Ham (1804-1877) and Maaike Bakker (1805-1880). She was born on June 25, 1841, in Wieldrecht, Holland. Clearly, Barbara wasn't named after her grandmother, but she may have been named after her great-aunt Barbara Bakker (±1810-1874). She may also have been named after a family member of her unknown father. 

Single mom Grietje van Ham married Jacob van Ham (1840-1912) on May 2, 1867, in Dubbeldam. The bride and groom are both great-grandchildren of my ancestor Harmen Jansz van Ham (±1745-1804). When they married, they claimed 5-year-old Barbara van Ham as their common child, although it's unlikely that Jacob had fathered Barbera. Jacob's parents were Pieter van Ham (1799-1878) and Neeltje de Vos (1812-1879).

During the period 1868-1875 Jacob and Grietje van Ham had 5 children, Pieter, Arij, Neeltje, Maaike (all named after their grandparents) and Jakob jr., who died young:

• Barbara van Ham (1861-1915) married Jacob van Balderen and gave birth to a living daughter Cornelia and a death boy. 
• Arij van Ham (1869-1936) was married on July 29, 1897, in Dubbeldam to Elizabeth Kooiman, when he claimed to be the father of her 3-year-old illegitimate son Pieter.
• Pieter van Ham (1868-1932) married Lijntje Bothof (1871-1941) and worked in a factory in Apeldoorn, Gelre, The Netherlands. 
• Neeltje van Ham (1870-1954) married Jacob Timmers and had several children of whom Hendrik and Cornelis Timmers are known to have reached the age of consent. Their youngest surviving child, Maaike van Ham, was married to Gerrit Lugthart and gave birth in Dubbeldam to several children of whom Jannigje, Jakob and Sophia are known to have reached the age of consent.

The church of Dubbeldam, Holland

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.