History of the Phoenix disaster

In the middle of the nineteenth century a lot of people from the East of Holland emigrated to the US. One of the most popular destinations was Wisconsin. In 1847 a group of those emigrants were on the propellor Phoenix, which would bring them from Buffalo to Sheboygan and beyond. In the early hours of November 21, 1847 the propellor burnt. About 25 people rescued themselves using two lifeboats, while a few other were saved by another ship, the Delaware.


The next chapters will give more information on the disaster itself and the people involved.

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. Yvette ~

    Thanks you for your work on this new (to me) site. In the past I’ve researched on the older site for marriages and births of my families names. Your articles are informative. I will look for them with pleasure.

  2. @Lynn Thank you for your feedback. This site has been around since 1993 but I just gave it a whole new look-and-feel last week and updated the content. Glad to hear you’re enjoying it! All the marriages and other family tree information is still available in the Family Trees section of the site.

  3. Hi Yvette, the site is looking great. Congratulations and thanks for the good work.

  4. Aimee A. (Drown) Harris says

    Researching my Wilterdink, Wilterding family.

  5. Hi Yvette,
    I am a Genealogist in Cape Town, South Africa, with a lot of interesting information regarding the Dutch and Flemish Settlers here as from 1652 – 1900, if you are interested. I am also working in conjunction with ”Huis die Nederlander” in Pinelands, Cape Town.
    Best Regards,
    Cav. Andre Martinaglia

  6. Hallo Yvette
    Ik vroeg me even af met welke boot en anders wanneer deze Winterswijkers vanuit Nederland zijn vertrokken en wanneer ze zijn aangekomen in New York.
    Wil dat graag weten omdat er vanuit Beltrum in die periode ook zes personen zijn geëmigreerd en die ik tot op heden nog niet hebben kunnen traceren. Het gaat om Berendina (of Anna Maria) te Vogt, Gerardus Kip en de fam Huiskes – Hoebink met hun drie kinderen.
    Met name naar te Vogt is al heel veel zoekwerk gedaan, ook de nazaten van een broer en zus die een jaar eerder (juli 1846) naar Amerika waren geëmigreerd hebben deze Berendina te Vogt niet kunnen traceren. Het zou kunnen dat ze met de overtocht is overleden maar dan was dat zeker genoteerd geweest. Maar nu ik dit jaar de krant las over het monument in Winterswijk zou het zo maar kunnen zijn dat zo ook op de Phoenix heeft gezeten. Haar broer en zus die een jaar eerder zijn geëmigreerd zaten in Wisconsin en het is aannemelijk dat Berendina ook die kant op wilde. Als ik weet wanneer de Winterswijkers zijn vertrokken en aangekomen in Amerika en met welke boot zou ik daarmee een aanknopingspunt hebben. Vol verwachting klopt mijn hart. Henk te Bogt Beltrum

  7. Duane DeHart says

    Hi Yvette,
    I am looking for William/Willem de haerdt/dehart (c.1550-1582. He called himself “Prince/Prins William/Willem.” Supposedly escaped religious persecution in France (Huguenot?) and ended up in Holland – Gelderland, possibly from Haart.

    Also looking for his father: Daniel De Couer dehart
    Any help would be appreciated
    Thank you

  8. Karen Garnica says

    My 2nd great grandfather’s brother was a survivor. Harmen Jan Reuselink son of Englebartus Reuselink and Gerritje Wiggers.

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