Voskuil, Derk Antony

Derk Antony VOSKUIL and Hendrika LANDEWEERD was two of the few survivors of the Phoenix disaster. They probably met during the voyage to the United States.

Photograph

Derk Antony Voskuil

Derk Antony Voskuil was born in Winterswijk on 11 May 1817 as a son of Jan Willem Voskuil and Berendina Tolkamp. He became a member of the Afgescheiden church of Winterswijk on 26 April 1846. Together with a group from his church, he decided to emigrate in 1847. He emigrated together with his brother Hendrik Jan Voskuil and their family. However, they did not travel together on the final leg of their journey, because Derk Antony Voskuil was on the Phoenix when it perished on Lake Michigan while his brother was not.

Hendrika Landeweerd

Hendrika was born in Holten in the province of Overijssel on 12 March 1827 as the daughter of Hendrik Jan Landeweerd and Gerritdina Hakkert.

Her parents had 8 children and were founding members of the Afgescheiden church in Holten. Together with their 8 children, the family emigrated in 1847.

Phoenix disaster

Derk Antony helped to row one of the lifeboats of the Phoenix ashore by using a broom. That’s how he and the other people in the lifeboat got to safety.

Hendrika’s parents and four of her siblings died during the Phoenix disaster, while Hendrika and three of her sisters survived.

Marriage

After the disaster, Derk Antony and Hendrika were married in Cedar Grove, WI, where they lived the rest of their lives. Hendrika died in Cedar Grove on 30 January 1884, Derk Anthony died there on 7 February 1901. They are burried side-by-side on Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Photograph of tombstone

About Yvette Hoitink

Yvette Hoitink, CG®, QG™ is a professional genealogist in the Netherlands. She holds the Certified Genealogist credential from the Board for Certification of Genealogists and has a post-graduate diploma in Family and Local History from the University of Dundee. She has been doing genealogy for over 30 years and helps people from across the world find their ancestors in the Netherlands. Read about Yvette's professional genealogy services.

Comments

  1. Zachary Hendrikse says

    I live in Sheboygan, Wi. Hendrika Landeweerd is my distant grandmother. Is there anything else you know about her and my family from the Netherlands?

    • She’s mine as well. I visited Holten and Winterswijk a couple years ago. There’s not much in Holten, but the young bartender said he went to school with lots of Ladeweerds. I didn’t have time to stay and meet them. Next time.

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