The Hendrik Spijkerman and Jantje Kats Family

Oferit de

(Written by Peggy Lynn Parker Throckmorton Ash 2nd Great Granddaughter of Hendrik and Jantje Spijkerman)

Hendrick’s Early Years

Hendrik Spijkerman was the third child and first son born to Roelof Goossens Spijkerman and Hilligjen Hendriks Lubbers. He was named after his mother’s father Hendrik Frens Lubbers. Hendrik was born on 7 October 1824 at 9:00a.m.on Streek Schut, Wyk B, No. 471. His oldest sister was Lubbechien named after her mother’s mother, she was 7 years old when he was born. She was born in Ruinen, Drenthe, Netherlands. Hendrik’s next sister, Janna, was named after her father’s mother, she was 4 years old when he was born. By then the family had moved to Het Schut, Drenthe, Netherlands and that is where Hendrik was also born.

Jantje’s Early Years

Jantje Kats was born the ninth of eleven children born to Jan Hendriks Kats and Janna Gerards Koster. She was born at 10:00a.m. on 12 January 1830 at the home of her parents. She was born in Hoogeveen, Drenthe, Netherlands along with the rest of her siblings and the generations that had come before her. Her father was 43 years old when she was born and his occupation was a schipper. Their address was Streek het Hollandsche Veld, Wyk A, No. 746. When Jantje was thirteen years old her father died on 24 February 1843. That summer her younger sister, Aaltje, also died on 10 June 1843 at the age of ten. The next summer, her older brother Gerard died at the age of nineteen. Having already lost several children the family was well acquainted with death, but no doubt struggled without their father to provide for them. Jantje must have been deeply affected because she was probably the only living unmarried child left at home. She must have had to grow up fast and probably felt very lonely at times.

Marriage

Hendrik and Jantje were married 16 February 1850 in Hoogeveen. Hendrik was 25 years old and Jantje was 20 years old. Hendrik’s occupation at the time of his marriage was a laborer, Jantje was a dressmaker. Hendrik’s mother had died two years previously, so both were missing a parent at the wedding. The newlyweds settled in Hoogeveen.

A Couple Becomes a Family

Two years after their wedding Hendrik and Jantje welcomed a baby son to their family. The naming of Dutch children is steeped in tradition. The first children are named after the father’s parents first, and then the mother’s parents. However, if the mother’s parents died first, their names may be used first in honor of the deceased. Because Jantje’s father had already passed away, this first son was named in honor of him. He was named Jan. Jan was born 20 July 1850.

Another son joined the family two-and-a-half years later. Following tradition he was named Roelof after Hendricks father. Roelof was born 27 April 1853. Three years later the family of boys welcomed a little sister to the family. She was named in honor of Hendrik’s deceased mother, Hilligje. Hilligje was born 13 April 1856, the only child born in Zuidwolde instead of Hoogeveen. Sadly this sweet little sister died at the age of three on 17 June 1859. Six weeks later the family’s grief turned to happiness when a third brother joined the family. He was named Hendrik, after his father.

Finally, two-and-a-half years later, another sister joined this family of boys. She was named Janna, after her mother’s mother. What fun Jantje must have had dressing a little girl but it wasn’t to last long. Five months later a double tragedy struck. First, their only girl, sweet baby Janna, died on 10 June 1962, just shy of 5 months of age. Next, the youngest son, Hendrick died at the age of two-and-a-half years on 27 June 1862. Of five children only the two oldest boys, Jan and Roelof , remained.

How devastated this poor family must have been, but they forged on. One year later on 6 June 1863 joy returned to the family with the birth of a third daughter. She was named after her deceased sister and her father’s mother, Hilligje. This darling little girl brightened their lives for two years before she joined her two sisters in the grave. She died 28 August 1865. She was the last daughter born to Hendrick and Jantje. Daughters were not meant to be a part of their family.

The following summer, at the age of 36, Jantje gave birth to a fourth son. He was named after his deceased brother and his father, Hendrik. Hendrik was born on 27 July 1866. By the time this Hendrik was born his only remaining siblings were two older brothers. Jan was sixteen and Roelof was thirteen.

On 31 January 1869 Grandpa Roelof Goossens Spijkeerman died at the age of 78, having lived a good long life. When little Hendrick Jr. was five years old another brother joined the family. He was named Hilbert and was born on 1 April 1872. Little Hilbert was with the family only 3 months before he departed this life. He died on 4 July 1872. Eight children were born to Hendrik and Jantje but only three lived beyond toddlerhood.

The following February the last grandparent departed the family. Janna Gerards Koster Kats died on 24 February 1873 at the age of 81. She also lived a good long life. Although both Hendrik and Jantje lost a parent at a young age they both had a parent that lived a good long life and provided grandparents for their children. They also shared in the family’s grief and joy.

Immigration to America

Not much is known about the next ten years. Family stories indicate that the family immigrated to America to avoid having their youngest son, Hendrik, serve in the military. It was said that Hendrik was about sixteen when they immigrated which would be sometime in 1882. It is thought that the whole family came together even though Jan and Roelof would have been in their early thirties. No immigration records have been found yet to complete the story. Cemetery records have been found stating that Roelof died in Vogel Center, Missaukee, Michigan on 22 August 1881. This would indicate that either Roelof came earlier or the family came earlier than originally thought. Since they are not on the 1880 census, they probably came in 1881 to avoid a draft of sixteen year olds. Upon arriving in America, Roelof died and now only two sons remained, Jan and Hendrik. They both americanized their names to become John and Henry. The family settled in the Dutch community of Vogel Center, Missaukee, Michigan.

Henry was the first brother that we know of to marry. At the age of twenty he married seventeen year old Willemina Cornelia van den Boogaard on 11 December 1866. Henry went on to raise eleven children to adulthood.

Father Hendrik died after spending at least 27 years in America. He was 74 years old when he died on 3 June 1899. He was buried in the Vogel Center Cemetery.

John finally married at the age of 55. He married 58 year old Jannetje D. Rykson in1905. They had no children.

Mother Jantje died 22 November 1907 at the age of 77. She was buried in the Falmouth Cemetery.

[If you liked this history or have more information please contact the submitter. The submitter can send you a nice copy of this history via email.]