Alberdiena Rientjes (1830-1902) was locked up in a mental institution

Carpenter Johannes Vredeveld (30) and Alberdiena Rientjes (27) were married on 12 May 1858 in Zwolle, Overijssel, The Netherlands. Johannes had a brother Jochem Vredeveld, born on 18 December 1824 in Zwolle. Their parents are Cornelia Pattel and Johannes Vredeveld sr. Jochem had married Willemina Dispo on 28 August 1845 in Zwolle. Willemina was born on 28-12-1820 in Steenwijk, Overijssel, is a daughter of Lammegien Hovenier and Piet Dispo. This couple had another daughter Anna Dispo, born in Steenwijk op 12 December 1817. Anna married carpenter Johannes Vredeveld as his first wife on 3 May 1849 in Zwolle. Johannes Vredeveld was born there on 16 December 1827, so the bride was the groom's senior by 10 years. At the age of 39 Anna Dispo died on 27 May 1856 in Zwolle. Johannes Vredeveld and his first wife had been married for 7 years.

Johannes' second wife, Alberdiena Rientjes, is a daughter of Antonie Rientjes and Hermiena van (H)Ulsen. Alberdina was born on 15 August 1830 in Zwolle. Her paternal grandparents are Jan Rientjes and Hermiena Theunissen.

Alberdiena has experienced 7 pregnancies:

1. Cornelia was born on 1-4-1859 in Zwolle. She married Italian Alberto Zoppi in 1881 in Zwolle. Cornelia Vredeveld died in Tilburg on 31-1-1946, aged 86.
2. Antonia Wilhelmina was born on 31-12-1860 in Zwolle, and died there on 22-4-1871, aged 10.
3. A son was stillborn in Zwolle on 15-2-1863.
4. Johanna Maria (I) was born on 7-1-1864 in Zwolle, and died there on 28-12-1864.
5. Albertus Johannes was born on 17-10-1865 in Zwolle. On 1-6-1892 in Leiden, Holland, he married Regina Adriana Maria Casparie (1862-1939) and had several children. At the age of 85, Albertus Johannes died in Utrecht on 5-1-1951.
6. Johanna Maria (II) was born on 15-5-1868 in Zwolle. She married Theodorus Kuijpers in 1898 in Rosmalen, Brabant, The Netherlands. At the age of 73, Johanna Maria died on 4-3-1942 in Vugt, Brabant.
7. Antonius Johannes was born on 24-5-1871 in Zwolle. At the age of 68, he died on 2-1-1940 in Nijmegen, Gelderland, The Netherlands.

In 1881, at the time of her eldest daughter's marriage, Alberdiena Rientjes was being nursed in an asylum for the insane in nearby Deventer.

Alberdiena Rientjes was locked up in a mental institution

At the age of 55, carpenter Johannes Vredeveld died on 5 July 1883 in Zwolle. His widow Alberdiena Rientjes died, aged 71, on 10 April 1902 around 18:00 in Deventer. One of the declarants was the accountant of the insane asylum, so Alberdiena was still locked up when she died.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, CollectieOverijssel.nl, RegionaalArchiefTilburg.nl.

Maria Johanna Petit (1794-1876), 4th wife of Philippus Laurentius Hermans (1786-1851)

On 25 May 1848 in Maastricht Maria Joanna Petit, aged 56, married Philippus Laurentius Hermans as his 4th wife. The first proclamation of their marriage was on the 14th. The groom's profession was covering roofs with slate. 
The bride was either born or baptised on 10 November 1794 in Liège in Belgium. Her parents are Nicolaas Petit and Maria Joseph Delbeuke. 

The first proclamation of the marriage of Phlippus Laurentius Hermans
and his 4th wife Maria Joanna Petit was on 14 May 1848 in Maastricht.

After just 3 years of marriage, Philippus Laurentius Hermans died in Maastricht on 2 September 1851 at the age of 65. At the age of 56, Maria Joanna Petit was alone, again. In 1860 she was mentioned in Maastricht as a messenger.

Early 1869, Maria Johanna Petit, widow of Philip Laurens Hermans, was nursed in an insane asylum in Dordrecht. She was placed under guardianship. Maria Johanna Petit died on 28 September 1876 in Dordrecht, aged 81.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant (newspaper), 31 January 1869

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.

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.

Cornelis de Quaasteniet (1862-1942) married 2 sisters

Carpenter Cornelis de Quaatsteniet was born in Ridderkerk, Holland, on 1 February 1862 as the eldest son of Adrianus de Quaatsteniet (1831-1914) and Johanna de Haan (1831-1906). Cornelis had siblings named Clasina (1856-1901), Leendert (1864-1895), Aart (1867-1890), Maria (1870-1939) and Johannes (1874-1938).

Cornelis de Quaatsteniet

At the age of 24, on 1 February 1886 in Rotterdam, Cornelis married Johanna Verkaik. She was born in Stolwijk, Holland, on 10 September 1862. Her parents are Pieter Verkaik (1835-1921) and Lena Buitelaar (1833-1918). Johanna's maternal grandparents are Klaas Middelkoop (1769-1820) and Lena Uittenbroek (1784-1843).
Johanna gave birth to 5 children named Adrianus (1887-1966), Pieter (1888-1911), Lena (1891-1916), Aart (1892-1892) and Johanna (1894-1971).
On 30 Augustus 1895 in Rotterdam, at the age of just 32, Johanna Verkaik died.

After 7 years as a widower, Cornelis remarried on 17 December 1902. His new bride was a younger sister of his first wife, 36-year-old Neeltje Verkaik. They needed a dispensation to get married. They had a daughter legalized, Cornelia, born on 13 January 1898 in Rotterdam.

Neeltje Verkaik was born on 10 April 1866 in Stolwijk. While married, Neeltje gave birth to another daughter named Neeltje (1904-1980), too. Neeltje Verkaik died on 6 September 1907 in Rotterdam, aged 41. Her elder daughter Cornelia died on 20 May 1992, aged 94.

Cornelis de Quaatsteniet survived his second wife for nearly 35 years. He died in psychiatric hospital “Maasoord” in Poortugaal on 1 July 1942 around 22:30.

Sources: www.kwaasteniet.eu, WieWasWie.nl, StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl, Postcard Poortugaal.

Madness Monday ~ Edmund Frowein (1813-90) was locked up

Edmund Frowein was baptized on December 19, 1813, in Zevenaar in The Netherlands. His father, trader Frederik Frowein, was born in Zevenaar around 1784. His mother, Anna Dorothea Frederica Ronstorff, was born in Düsseldorf in Germany. The notice of marriage for Edmund’s parents was registered on February 7, 1813, in Zevenaar. Subsequently the wedding ceremony took place in Düsseldorf.

Edmund’s younger brothers Wilhelm and Julius Frowein were baptized in Zevenaar on March 16, 1815, and June 30, 1816, respectively. Wilhelm and Julius were married in Nijkerk, The Netherlands, in 1843-44 to 2 sisters, Dina and Carolina Marcus, daughters of Jacob Marcus and Elisabeth Jacobs. Wilhelm and Julius both had children. Edmund, however, remained a bachelor.

Arnhemsche Courant, 11-1-1845

Edmund was described as “innocent” and locked up in a lunatic asylum in Deventer, The Netherlands. The Law Court in Arnhem established a guardianship for Edmund on January 6, 1845. His administrator was his father.

Madness Monday - Elisabeth Maria Comans was locked up in 1785

Markus Harting (1715-93), husband of Maria Godefrida Comans*, had his sister-in-law, the widowed Elisabeth Maria Bogaart-Comans, locked up for 6 years in the 2nd class of the lunatic asylum in Dordrecht, South Holland.
Markus Harting paid ƒ130 for her upkeep, an additional ƒ10 for bed linen, and agreed to pay additional bills. Elisabeth Maria was taken in on November 10, 1785. She was finally able to leave the asylum on November 4, 1791.

On September 17, 1732, in the St. Lambertus Church in Wouw, Brabant, The Netherlands, Govert Quintijn Comans was married to Willemina Pieternella Kien. Govert Quintijn was born in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, and he was a soldier. Elisabeth Maria Comans was the couple's eldest child; she was born on March 29, 1733, in Bergen op Zoom. She was married to Johannes Bogaart on June 28, 1755, in Leiden, Holland.

* Markus Harting and his wife were parents of Amarentia Wilhelmina Harting (1756-1801). This "Ammetje" Harting was married on 18-7-1779 in The Hague to Jan Pieter (1751-1836), Count of Suchtelen, and a militair engineer:

Sources: "Register van geconfineerden in het Stads Krankzinnig en Beterhuis binnen Dordregt voor wie kostgeld wordt betaald 1761-1804 door E. van Dooremalen", www.dordrechtmonumenteel.nl/, http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/, De Navorscher, 1891.

Madness Monday - Joannes Abeel, "an alleged lunatic", was baptized on April 8, 1722 in Albany

Joannes (John), eldest son of Christoffel Abeel and Margarita Bries, was baptised in Albany on April 8, 1722, and was described in 1872 by J. Munsell in his "Contributions for the genealogies of the first settlers of the ancient county of Albany from 1630 to 1800" as "an alleged lunatic": 

In 1899 H. Whittmore gave additional detail about Joannes' life in his book "The Abeel and allied families": 

Joannes wasn't mad at all. In 1748 John settled in Minden, a short distance from Fort Plain. He erected a stone dwelling upon a knoll directly above the flats. He first married the daughter of a Seneca chief in an Indian ceremony and had a son, later chief Corn Plant (Ki On-Twog-Ky). On September 22, 1759, Joannes married Mary Knouts and had additional issue.  
Joannes was taken prisoner by Indians in October 1780 and expected immediate death, but when chief Corn Plant addressed him as father, his safety was secured. Soon Joannes was able to return to his white family. 

Madness Monday - Death by Beard

A 16th century Austrian, Hans Steininger, was famous for having the world's longest beard - and for dying because of it. Hans was proud of his nearly 1.4 m. long beard. He used to keep his beard rolled up in a leather pouch, but failed to do so one day in 1567. 
A fire broke out in his town that day, and in his haste to evacuate, Hans forgot to roll up his beard. He  accidentally stepped on his beard, lost balance and stumbled. Apparently, he fell down the stairs and broke his neck. 

See also: www.forteantimes.com, science.howstuffworks.com, books.google.nl.

Madness Monday - The longest beard

Hans Nilsen Langseth was nicknamed "King Whiskers" for holding the record for the world's longest beard, 18 feet and 6 inches long. He used to roll it up and tuck it into his coat or vest, which hid much of it. 

This is a portrait of Hans Nilsen Langseth, aged 68.
Mr. Langseth is seated in an ornate chair with
his beard draped over his shoulder and down again.

Mr. Langseth was born on July 14, 1846, in Norway to Nils Olsen Langseth and Marthe Gulbrandsen Overholtet. Like at least 3 of his brothers, Mr. Langset made his way to the USA. With his wife Anne Benson he had 6 children. 
Mr. Langseth spent much of his life as a farmer. For a while, however, he traveled with a circus show, exhibiting his beard to the public, but he soon tired of people yanking his whiskers to see if they were real.

Hans (to the right) with his children Pete, John, Emma, Martin and Nels. 

When Mr. Langseth passed away on November 10, 1927, one of his children - to the displeasure of his other siblings - cut his father's beard. It is preserved in the Smithsonian at Washingon, D.C. 

See also: HansLangseth.com, The World's Longest Beards, GuinnessWorldRecords.com.