Two short marriages and a drowning

Michiel Christinus van der Steen was born in Gouda, Holland, on 11 December 1829 as son of Johannes van der Steen, a ropemaker's apprentice, and Teuntje Lourier. Michiel Christinus had siblings Johanna and Johannes.

Gouda

At the age of 23, on 12 October 1853 in Gouda, Michiel Christianus married 27-year-old Maria van Vliet. She was born on 3 January 1826 in Noord-Waddinxveen as daughter of Jacobus van Vliet (†1852) and Margarita Middelkoop (1797-1869). After just 5 months of marriage, Maria van Vliet died on 29 March 1854 in Gouda, aged 28.

The next year, on 9 May, 25-year-old Michiel Christianus remarried in Gouda. His new bride was 27-year-old Catharina Johanna Lansmans. Just 3 months later, on 24 August 1855, Michiel Christianus died at the young age of 25.

The widowed Catharina Johanna Lansmans was born on 12 September 1827 in Gorinchem as daughter of Gerardus Lansmans (†1853) and Dingena (“Digna”) Hitters (†1867). Catharina Johanna was a widow at the age of 27.
At the age of 30, Catharina Johanna married 22-year-old Gijsbertus van Vliet on 17 February 1858 in Gouda. Gijsbertus was born on 25 January 1836 in Gouda as son of Catharina Achten (1811-1849) and bread baker Leendert van Vliet (1812-1846). Gijsbertus had become an orphan at the age of 13.

Gijsbertus van Vliet and Catharina Johanna Lansmans had 5 children:

Leendert Schenk

1. Catharina Dingena was born on 23-9-1860 in Gouda. At the age of 19, she married 24-year-old Cornelis Schenk. He was born on 14-8-1856 as son of Dirk Schenk (1822-1872) and his first wife Maria Elselina van Omme (1824-1862). Cornelis Schenk died on 15-4-1950 in Gouda at the advanced age of 93. Catharina Dingena died on 7-4-1931 in Gouda, aged 70. They had children, including a son Leendert Schenk (photo to the right).
2. Dina was born on 1-2-1864 in Gouda, and died there on the 3rd, 2 days old.
3. Maria was born on 1-2-1864 in Gouda with twin Dina. Maria died in Gouda on 11-3-1864*, 1 month old.
4. Leonardus Gerardus (photo below) was born on 16-2-1865 Gouda. In 1901 in 's-Hertogenbosch, he was convicted of vagrancy. He was send to a reform housing colony for the poor and homeless in Veenhuizen. Leonardus Gerardus died, at the age of 79, on 26-1-1945 in The Hague.
5. Theodora van Vliet was born on 25-3-1870 in Gouda, and died there on 1-5-1877, at the age of 7.

Madness Monday - Cornelia Kleijn (1818-1861)

In October 1852 Judith Gerdessen, widow of Adriaan Kleijn, had her daughter Cornelia Kleijn placed under guardianship due to insanity.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant (newspaper), 19-10-1852

At the age of 39, farmer Adriaan Kleijn and Judith Gerdessen, aged 30, were married in Asperen, Holland, on 18 July 1818. Just a couple of months later, on 21 October, their twins Cornelia and Arnolda were born there around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. 

Twins Cornelia and Arnolda Kleijn were born on 21 October 1818 in Asperen

Judith gave birth to a son Arie Kleijn on 21 January 1821 in Asperen. Another daughter, Adriana Maria, was born there on 15 November 1822. Their youngest son, Gijsbert, was born on 17 November 1825 in Asperen. Judith's younger children Adriana Maria, Arie and Gijsbert would all get married. Arie and Gijsbert Kleijn both had an elongated face, and black and brown hair respectively. Arie had a big nose, while Gijsbert had a pointed nose.

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.

Adolph Quist survived his son Adolph

The first Adolph Quist was baptised in Stavenisse (on the island of Tholen in The Netherlands) on 8 January 1708 with witnesses Johannes Boomhouwer, his wife Anna Nijset, Adolph Dupré and Elisabeth Verhorst. Adolph's mother is Anna Sibilla Olivier who originated in Aachen in Germany. She is the second wife of Cornelis Quist, son of Jacob Quist and Rachel Pieters. They lived in the Kempenshofstede polder near Stavenisse. Adolph seems to have been named after one of his mother's German relatives.

Adolph Quist had siblings Rachel, baptised on 29-9-1709 in Stavenisse, Jacobus on 16-10-1712, and Gerhardus 16-5-1717. Their mother Anna Sibilla remarried - as a widow - near the end of 1719. Her second husband was Pieter Denis (also: de Nijs) who was born in the Alsace region near the border of Germany and France. Pieter worked as a barber-surgeon. This couple had additional children: twins Johannes and Maria Esther were baptised in Stavenisse on 3-11-1720, Pieter Gideon on 7-1-1724, and Gerardus Adolphus on 3-2-1726.

At the age of 25, Adolph Quist married his first wife Lauwerina van't Veer on 13 July 1733 in Sint-Maartensdijk. She was baptised in Stavenisse on 30 June 1708 as daughter of Jan Geertsen van't Veer and Maatje Johannes Putoor with witnesses Klaas Pietersen de Vos and Laurijntjen Hendriks. Laurina died, aged 37, on 19 January 1746 in Sint-Maartensdijk on the island of Tholen. In an inventory drawn up on July 18, 1746, four surviving children from her marriage were mentioned: Adolf (10), Anna (8), Maatje (5) and Cornelis (3).

On 1 July 1746 in nearby Sint-Annaland, Adolf Quist, aged 38, registered to marry his second wife Cornelia Tintelaar. She was baptised in Sint-Annaland on 23 November 1707 as daughter of Domus Tintelaar and Geertruijd van Diest with witnesses Willem Tintelaar and Francijntje Josias. Cornelia was a widow who had married her first husband, Jacobus Boliere, on 8 July 1730 in Sint-Annaland. He had died in March 1746.

Sint-Maartensdijk on the island of Tholen in The Netherlands

Adolph's son Adolph the Younger (“Adolf Adolfse”) married Maria Gakeer on 19 March 1760 in Sint-Maartensdijk. Adolf Adolfse was around 24 years old when he married. Adolf died on 28 April 1768 in Sint-Maartensdijk, leaving 3 surviving children. However, on 4 June one of their children died. Their 2 surviving children were Lauwrina Quist (±1762-1808), who married Kornelis Boom, and Izaak Quist (1764-1811), who married Sara Dorst (1773-1825).
Adolf's widow, Maria Gakeer, remarried Marinus van der Made on 27 December 1768 in Sint-Maartensdijk.

Neeltje Aelberts van Driel (1756-1835) married 3 times

Twins Neeltje and Aalbert van Driel ware baptized in Dordrecht on 19 May 1756. Their parents are Aelbert van Driel and his wife Anthonia Broeksmit (1714-1792). Aelbert was born in 's-Gravendeel and his parents are likely my ancestors Jurriaen van Driel and Trijntje van Ham. Aelbert died around 1756. His widow is mentioned on 17 May 1757.
Neeltje's eldest siblings, Krijntje and Jurianus van Driel, survived infancy too. Krijntje married once, Jurianus married twice, while Neeltje was to marry tree times.

View of Dordrecht

Neeltje was first married on 3 August 1783 in Dordrecht to Adrianus Voskamp, a young man, and a baker by profession. He was assisted by his father Barent Voskamp. Adrianus was born on 4 February 1763, and baptised in Dordrecht on the 6th. His mother was Hendrica Venus. Her burial was registered in Dordrecht on 2 June 1767, when Adrianus was 4 year old. His father Barent married his second wife, Jenneke de Koning, on 24 April 1768. Adrianus Voskamp died at the age of 50 on 9 May 1813 in Dordrecht.
On 15 November 1813 Neeltje van Driel, widow of Adrianus Voskamp, sold a house in the Voorstraat in Dordrecht to baker Arij van Asperen.

At the age of 61, on 2 July 1817 in Dordrecht, Neeltje van Driel married 67-year-old widower Jacob Kuiser. Jacob was baptised in Leyden, Holland, on 9 September 1750 with witnesses Marijtje Karelsen and Simon Kuijser. Jacob's parents are Joost Kuijser and Lijsje van Leeuwen. Jacob Kuijser died on 25 August 1827 in Dordrecht, aged 76.
Neeltje van Driel, widow of Adrianus Voskamp, sold Elizabeth Kuijser a house in the Stoofstraat in Dordrecht on 12 March 1828.

Neeltje van Driel married her third husband, Cornelis van der Plank (67), on 26 August 1829 in Dordrecht. Cornelis was widower of Geertruij van der Hoek who had died on 3 July 1826. Cornelis was born on 3 May 1762, and baptised in Dordrecht on the 5th. His parents are Claas van der Plank and Lijsje de Bruin. Lijsje's burial was registered in Dordrecht on 17 May 1769, when Cornelis was just 7 years old.
Neeltje van Driel died in Dordrecht on 25 July 1835 at the age of 79. Her widower Cornelis van der Plank died at the age of 90 on 3 April 1853 in Dordrecht.

Sources: RegionaalArchiefDordrecht.nl, WieWasWie.nl.

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.

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.

John Zevenbergen (1869-1958) followed his brother to the USA in 1920

John was born as Jan on 26 November 1869 in Charlois (now part of Rotterdam). He was a younger son of Pieter Zevenbergen (1837-1913) and Ida Koedood (1837-1911). Two younger siblings died young, but Jilles, Jan and 5 other siblings all reached adulthood. 

Jan Zevenbergen was married on 29 October 1897 in Hoogvliet, Holland, to Susanna Voogt, born on 8 March 1876 in Hoogvliet, Holland. Her parents are Willem Voogt and Jacoba Konijnenburg.
Jan Zevenbergen and his wife Susanna lived in Rotterdam at different locations. They had several children, starting with a twin Jan and Jacoba, born on 21 April 1898 who both died after 5 months. Their other children are summarised in the table below.
Their eldest surviving son Pieter Willem Zevenbergen, born on 14 April 1899 in Rotterdam, was married there on 24-10-1923. That’s the last time anything about Jan’s family was registered in The Netherlands.

The family of Jan Zevenbergen and his wife Susanna

Twins in the Koomans family in Canada

Hubert Coomans (1727-1825) married Maaijke van Bezooijen (±1730-1809) in 's-Gravendeel, Holland. They had several children of whom 5 survived. Their son Arij Koomans (±1771-1818) fathered 11 children, including 3 surviving sons.
One of his descendants is another Arie Koomans (1882-1920) who married 26-year-old Davina Willemina den Hartog on October 16, 1909, in 's-Gravendeel. Arie and Davina Willemina were the parents of series of 3 twins.
On September 2, 1911, their first twin was born. One son was stillborn, the other was named Jan. On January 7, 1914, the twins Dirk and Huigje were born. The third twin was born on February 4, 1916. Those children were named Cornelis and Piet.

Dirk Koomans, his wife Dien, and their 4 eldest children

In 1939 Dirk Koomans married my aunt Gerdien (Dien) de Jong (1919-1999). They had several children before they boarded the ship "Waterman" on June 24, 1952, and emigrated to Canada. Their youngest children were born in Chatham, Ontario. Initially, Dien suffered terribly from homesickness. Meanwhile, Dirk started a company in demolition services, and became very successful at it. He died in 1989.

Passengers

Sources and further reading:

1. WieWasWie.nl.
2. W.H. Koomans, dr. mr. J.C. Maris: Het geslacht Koomans uit Klundert en Fijnaart, Nederlandse Leeuw, 1936.
3. Mr. J. Muller: De familie Koomans uit de Hoeksche Waard, Nederlandse Leeuw, 1942.
4. J. Moermond: De familie Coomans, Goers, Dingemans en Ardonne, Genealogisch Tijdschrift voor Midden- en West-Brabant, 1983.
5. J.W. Zondervan: Korrekties en aanvullingen op de families Coomans, Goers, Dingemans en Ardonne, Genealogisch Tijdschrift voor Midden- en West-Brabant, 1984.
6. StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl.
   
7. Family lore.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Quadruplets in 1642 in Dordrecht

Josijntje Davids and Jan Pietersz. had quadruplets baptized on 8-1-1642 in Dordrecht in Holland. The children were named Susanneke, Pieter, Lydia and David.

Provinciale Geldersche en Nijmeegsche courant (newspaper), 5-5-1937

A fragment of the baptismal book.

Bronnen: Delper.nl, RegionaalArchiefDordrecht.nl.

Neeltje Weeda's 1730 Twins

Neeltje Weeda was baptized on 23 December 1708 in Westmaas, Holland. Her parents are my ancestors Pieter Claessen Weeda and Adriaantje Hendriks van der Giessen. Neeltje's father may have died around 1721, when Neeltje was approximately 12 years old.
Neeltje Weeda was not yet 21 years old when she was married on 23 October 1729 in Westmaas to Willem Wesselse Bongaarts. Willem was born in Neukirchen, located west of Moers in Germany.

On May 29, 1730, Neeltje Weeda gave birth to twins named Wessel and Pieter. They were baptized on June 4 with witnesses Johanna Claas Herman and Hendriksjen van der Waal. Both sons would grow up and marry. Neeltje Weeda and Willem Bongaarts were to have a total of 12 children, although at least 3 of them died young.

Neeltje's elder brother Cornelis Weeda was married in 1731 to Marijgje Tuck, a daughter of my ancestor Crijn Jansz. Tuck. Another brother, Claas Weeda, married twice, and is my ancestor through his daughter Neeltje Weeda (±1736-1809).

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.

Huizer ancestors of emigrant Bastiaan Klap

Laborer Bastiaan Klap (18) traveled in 1889 to Argentina, hoping for an "amelioration" of his existence.

Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 5-11-1903

Bastiaan Klap was born on July 14, 1868, in Kapelle, Zeeland, The Netherlands. He was the eldest surviving son of Willem Klap en Neeltje Christina Huizer who were married on November 2, 1866, in Kapelle. 
Bastiaan's maternal grandparents were Bastiaan Huizer and his first wife, Kaatje Kister. After the death of his first wife, Bastiaan married widow Maria van de Vrie in Kapelle in 1862. Bastiaan died there on January 19, 1882.
Bastiaan Huizer was born in Ridderkerk and subsequently baptized in IJsselmonde on February 6, 1805. He is a son Cornelis Huizer and Neeltje Smit(s) who were married in Ridderkerk on 18 May1794. Bastiaan's father, Cornelis Huizer, had a twin sister Marijtje, and they were both baptized on December 8, 1771, in Ridderkerk. Their parents were Jan Hendrikse Huizer (1732-1795) and his wife Wijntje Cornelisse Erkelens (1732-1795).

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.

3 Otterspoor brothers in Australia

The Australian Anzacs website shows the records for Dutch immigrants in Australia who enlisted as soldiers in World War I. Among them are 3 brothers of the Otterspoor family: Servaas (“John”), Arnoldus (“Harry”) and Franciscus Jacobus (“Frank”). John Otterspoor is listed in 1917 as being an engineer, born in Utrecht, The Netherlands, aged 24 years and 2 months, and married to "Trintje". In fact, John and Arnold were born as twins in Utrecht on 19-11-1892. Their mother was 19-year-old and single Hendrika Johanna van Kesteren. She was born on 7-10-1873 in Amersfoort. Her parents are Arnoldus van Kesteren and Engelina Welling.

Servaas ("John")

Arnoldus ("Harry")

Franciscus Jacobus ("Frank")

Tuesday's Twins - Daniel & Cornelis Bakker

The twins Daniel and Cornelis Bakker were baptized in Sliedrecht on August 24, 1721. Their parents were Pieter Bakker and Neeltje Bisschop. The witnesses at their baptism were Jan (son of Daniel)  Bakker, Kundertje (daughter of Pieter) Visser, Arijen (son of Cornelis) Hofman and Zijchje (daugher of Leendert).

Daniel & Cornelis, sons of Pieter Bakker & Neeltje Bisschop, were baptized on August 24, 1721, in Sliedrecht.

Both Daniel and Cornelis reached the age of maturity. Daniel was buried in Sliedrecht on June 15, 1747. Cornelis was married to Grietje Barents Hovestadt who originated in Werkendam. They had a son Barent Bakker baptized on March 17, 1743, in Sliedrecht. In 1772 in Leyden, Holland, Barent was married to Geertruij (daughter of Teunis) Slijkhuijs who originated in Twello. At the baptism of their daughter Margrieta on September 21, 1774, in Leyden, Cornelis Bakker and Grietje Hovestadt were the witnesses.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Salha.nl, FamilySearch.org.

Longevity: Josina de Bondt (93) in Zwijndrecht

When Josina de Bondt died - during World War II - on November 17, 1943, in Zwijndrecht, Holland, she was 93 years and 4 months old. Josina was born in Zwijndrecht on July 5, 1850, as the 3rd of 8 children of blond, blue-eyed Anthonie (“Thomas”) de Bondt (1822-1891) and his wife Pietertje den Hollander (1823-1915). On May 15, 1852, Josina's next sibling was born and named Joost - like his paternal grandfather.

On October 3, 1872, in Zwijndrecht, Josina was married to Cornelis van Wingerden. Both her parents were present at the ceremony and gave their permission for the marriage. The bride and groom were so poor that they were unable to pay the municipal wedding expenses. Cornelis was born on August 11, 1841, in Zwijndrecht as the eldest son of Klaas van Wingerden (1813-1855) and Jaapje van Wensveen. Cornelis had been exempted from military service. He worked as a workman and gardener.

On February 21, 1873, in Zwijndrecht - just 4½ months after her wedding - Josina gave birth to her eldest child, but the boy lived for just 1 month. Josina's next child, a son named Jacob, was born in Zwijndrecht on August 20, 1876. The next moth, on September 7 in Zwijndrecht Josina's brother Joost de Bondt was married to Cornelis' sister Anna van Wingerden (1855-1926). Cornelis was one of the witnesses at this wedding.

Cornelis van Wingerden and Josina de Bondt were to have 7 more children during the period 1878-1892. Cornelis was assisting his brother-in-law Joost de Bondt on May 21, 1892, in Zwijndrecht, when Joost reported the birth of triplets Cornelis, Arie and Corstiaan on the 20th. Sadly, within 3 days all 3 new-born children had died. Besides the triplets and a stillbirth, Joost de Bondt and Anna van Wingerden had 6 additional children. The children Anthonie, Jaapje, Pietertje, Wiekert Gijsbert and Nicolaas Cornelis would reach the age of majority and marry.

Jacob, the oldest surviving child of Cornelis van Wingerden and Josina de Bondt, was the first to marry in 1904. By 1919 their other children Anthonia, Klaas, Adriana Cornelia, Cornelis, Josina and Maaike were all married, too.
Cornelis van Wingerden died in Zwijndrecht on April 23, 1911. His widow, Josina de Bondt, survived him for 23½ years. Josina may have inherited her strong genes from her mother, Pietertje den Hollander, who had died in Zwijndrecht on February 6, 1915, aged 91 years and 8 months.

A mill in Zwijndrecht with a view at the city of Dordrecht.

One of the common ancestors of Josina and me is whaler Thomas Brullee. Another common ancestor is Joost Cornelisse de Bondt (±1680-1753). 

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, FamilySearch.org, RegionaalArchiefDordrecht.nl.

Mrs Dood of Humboldt had 7 pairs of twins

In July 1878 Mrs. Dood of Humboldt, Iowa, gave birth to her 22th child. Earlier, she had given birth to 7 pairs of twins.

De Volksvriend, Iowa Nieuws, 11-7-1878

Tombstone Tuesday - Pieter de Jong & Willempje Cornelia Zijderveld

My grandparents Pieter [Piet] de Jong (1892-1973) and Willempje Cornelia [Willie] Zijderveld (1892-1976) are buried in the cemetery of 's-Gravendeel on the Hoeksche Waard island: 

My grandparent's tombstone

My grandfather was born in Sprang-Capelle and at the age of 7 he lost his father, leaving the widow and children in very poor circumstances. My grandmother was born in Dordrecht as an only daughter with several brothers and was a bit spoiled.

Twins: Jan & Sijtie Droogendijck were baptized on 27-8-1676

Pieter Huigensz Droogendijck married his wife Maria Jans in February 1666 in Simonshaven in Holland: 

 Pieter Huijge Droogendijck married Maria Jans in February 1666 in Simonshaven.

Their first son, Huijgh, named after Pieter's father, was born soon after their marriage, but he died young. Eight more children were to follow. Among their children was a twin: Jan and Sijtie were baptized on August 27, 1676:

The Twins Jan & Sijtie Droogendijck were baptized on 27-08-1676 in Simonshaven.

Around 1678 the couple moved to nearby Zuidland. Their daughter Lijsbeth was baptized there on October 8, 1679. On December 8, 1700 Lijsbeth married Pieter Geenen who lived in Strompolder in the vicinity of Ouderkerk aan de IJssel. Their granddaughter Neeltje Geenen Bakker was the grandmother of Genis Brand (1802-1844), who was the grandfather of another Genis Brand (1857-1930), who was the grandfather of one of my great-uncles Genis "Geen" Klootwijk (1905-1991) in Wieldrecht.