Bigamist Franz W.J.H.P. Sturm got caught in 1924

Franz Wilhelm Joseph Heinrich Paul Sturm, a 34-year-old engineer of German ancestry, was in 1924 convicted of bigamy by the court in The Hague in The Netherlands.

De Tribune, 19-4-1914

Franz Sturm had first been married, at the age of 22, in 1912 in Germany. With his first wife he fathered 3 children. In World War I, Franz fought in the German army. During the crisis after the war, Franz could not find work, and returned to the Netherlands.
In Dordrecht, he found a job at the office of a shipyard. There Franz met a 22-year-old Dutch girl, whom he married in 1922 in The Hague. With his bigamous wife, Franz had an additional child.
Franz’ Dutch wife was Adriane Johanne Georgine Muller who was born on 12 January 1901 in Rotterdam as daughter of Leendert Muller and Neeltje Maartje van Stigt who both originated in Puttershoek. They were married on 1 March 1922 in The Hague. Their only child was Heinrich Paul Sturm, born on 14 June 1922 in Tiengen.

Franz's first wife, however, couldn’t forget Franz, and tried to find him. The family of his second wife tried to find out more about Franz, too. Both requests for information ended up with the same official who thus noticed the bigamy. That's why Franz was arrested.
Franz confessed to having committed bigamy, and was locked up in a house of detention. At the court a witness testified that Franz' first marriage had been unhappy. His first wife was 10 years his senior, and the spouses had different religions and different social positions. Despite those differencea, his first wife refused a divorce.
On 8 July 1924, Franz Sturm was sentenced to 1 year in prison with deduction of pre-trial detention. His second wife returned to her parents, and her marriage was dissolved.

Algemeen Handelsblad voor Nederlandsch-Indië, 9 July 1924

Franz Sturm was born on April 3, 1890, around 2:00 a.m. at the Voorstraat 543 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. His parents were Franz Wilhelm Joseph Heinrich Sturm (35) and his wife Johanna Maria Amalia Louise Kunde. They also had a daughter Amalia Maria Johanna Louisa Victoria who was born in The Netherlands.

Sources: WieWasWie.nl, Delpher.nl, HaagsGemeenteArchief.nl, Het Utrechts Archief.

Archibald Hamilton (†1741) in Rotterdam

Archibald Hamilton was born in Belfast in Ireland as son of Archibald Hamilton the elder. By 1723 he was living in Rotterdam, Holland. The notice of marriage for Archibald and Elizabeth Rees was on 3 December 1723 in Dordrecht, Holland. Elizabeth lived in Dordrecht near the harbor.

Archibald Hamilton, who originated in Belfast, was married in 1723 in Rotterdam.

On 22 September 1728 in Rotterdam Archibald Hamilton and his wife Elisabeth had a daughter baptized with the name Elisabeth. Archibald Hamilton died in Rotterdam around 20 December 1741 and was buried in Dordrecht. 
Elisabeth Rees, widow of Archibalt Hamilton, was a witness at the baptism of Elisabeth Antonia on 16 May 1748 in Rotterdam. She was a daughter of mr. Johan Gerard Francois Meijners (1720-1772) and Elisabeth Hamilton, Elisabeth's daughter. The couple had been married on 27 July 1746 in Rotterdam. The widow of Archibald Hamilton was buried in Dordrecht around 4 October 1770.

Sources: FamilySearch.org, StadsArchief.Rotterdam.nl, RegionaalArchiefDordrecht.nl.

Surname Saturday - Van Arkel - Brick Wall

Van Arkel is a surname derived from a place name, a toponym. Arkel is a village located in the middle of The Netherlands. In medieval times the area was governed by the Lords of Arkel that are likely my ancestors. Other, common people with the "Van Arkel" surname likely originated in the village of Arkel. 

For example, the image below shows a marriage registration of March 25, 1759, in Zuid-Beijerland, a village also known as "den Hitzert" and located in Holland. The groom is Huijbert van Arkel, a young man born in Arkel. The bride is Bastiaantie int Veld, a young girl born in, and member of the church in Zuid-Beijerland. 

Huibert van Arkel originated in Arkel

My ancestor with the surname Arkel has the first name Barber. She was married to Cornelis van der Giessen and they were living in the Sint Anthoniepolder in Holland. The 18th-century birth, marriage and burial records of the Sint Anthoniepolder no longer exist, so we don't know when Cornelis and Barber were married or how many children they had. 
Barber and Cornelis are likely the parents of

1. Arij van der Giessen (±1752-1827). His parents are mentioned on his death certificate. He was 75 years old. 
2. Cornelia van der Giessen (±1760-1803) who was married around 1782 to Joost Arijensz. Schippers. She was probably a child of Cornelis and Barber, too, for she had children named Barbara, Aris, Cornelia and Ariaantie.
3. Neeltje van der Giessen (±1758-1820) was married around 1785 to Arij Jacobsz. Kleijnendorst. She was likely a child of Cornelis and Barber, too, for she had children named Cornelis, Jacob, Pieter and Barbera.
4. Cornelis Cornelisz. van der Giessen (±1755-1809) is likely one of their children, too, because his patronymic is Cornelis and his eldest daughter was named Barbara like his mother. This Barbara was married to my paternal ancestor Cent Leendertsz. Bos (1787-1869). 
5. Pieter van der Giessen (±1763-1817). His parents are mentioned on his death certificate. He was 54 years old. 

Due to the missing records, and Cornelis van der Giessen being a common name in Holland, I have no clue as to who Cornelis' parents were. Barbara van Arkel, however, likely is a younger daughter of Cornelis Cornelisz. van Erkel and Cornelia Pieters van Roon. This couple was married on 20-10-1710 in Maasdam, a village adjacent to the Sint Anthoniepolder. In the local dialect one could pronounce "Arkel" as "Erkel". For example, the Dutch word for potato, "aardappel", is pronounced in the local dialect as "errepel".

Barend Karssemeijer (1732-1821) from Lengerich in Germany

Barend Karssemeijer was born in Lengerik to the southeast of Tecklenburg in Germany. His wedding registration claims he “had no parents”, so they must both have death at the time. His intention to marry was registered on 21 October 1764 in Breukelen (Utrecht area) in The Netherlands [s:FS/orig]. The intended bride was Jannetje Holling, a young girl who was born and still living in Breukelen. She was assisted by her father Hermannus Holling. The couple was married there on 11 November 1764 [s:FS/orig] in the church.

Barend Carssemeier was married in 1764 in Breukelen.

Barend Karssemeijer and Jannetje Holling were the parents of

1. Anna Karssemeijer. She was baptized on 22 June 1766 in Breukelen [s:FS]. The witness was Jannetje van Kockengen, the maternal grandmother. Anna was still living in Breukelen when she was married there on 27 May 1792 [s:Brouw] to Hendrik de Koning, a young man born in “Grootenvoort” near Hannover in Germany. They had 4 daughters named Jannetje, Hendrikje, Helena Wilhelmina and Bartje.  Anna Karssemeijer died on 24 March 1856 in Breukelen [s:WWW], 89 years old.
2. Hermanus Karssemijer. He was baptized on 20 March 1768 in Breukelen [s:FS]. The witnesses were Johannis Hasselbach and Willemijntjen Holling. Hermanus remained a bachelor. He died on 15 July 1846 in Breukelen [s:WWW], 78 years old.
3. Gerrit Karssemeijer. He may have been born in 1769 [s:Gooij]. He was living in Breukelen when he was married on 16 November 1794 in Breukelen [s:Brouw] to Antonia van Ysendijk, a young girl baptized in Overlangbroek (Utrecht area) on 26 September 1773 as daughter of Jan van IJsendijk. At the time of her marriage Antonia was living in Kockengen (Utrecht area). 
4. Jan Karssemeijer(t). He was baptized on 26 Oct. 1773 in Breukelen [s:FS], and still living there when he was married on 18 February 1798 in Breukelen [s:Brouw] to Marritje Cooijman, a young girl born in Ter Aa (Utrecht area) and living in Breukelen. 
5. Willem Karssemeijer. He was baptized on 28 July 1776 in Breukelen [s:FS]. His godparent was Catharina Hoen. Willem remained a bachelor until he died on 26 October 1849 in Breukelen [s:WWW], 73 years old.

Hermanis Karssemeijer was baptized on 20 March 1768 in Breukelen.