You may encounter witnesses in several types of records: Baptismal records Church marriage records Aldermen's court marriage records Civil registration records of births, marriages, and deaths Notarial records. When you come across witnesses, ask yourself: would this be the type of event a random person would witness? Or is the person likely to have been a close connection to the person of interest? For example, a notary may have asked a neighbor to witness a will, but the … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Research living people first
4 May 2022 by 4 Comments
When you are just starting researching your family history, focus on the living people first. They have the stories that you won't find in records. The dead will keep! And if you're lucky, they may even be willing to take a DNA test. Start with the oldest generations, but do not forget to capture the stories of the younger generations too. I had been doing genealogy for over ten years when my grandmother asked me if I had ever found out when her aunt died. She had last heard from her more … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Check for records in the nearest bigger town
6 April 2022 by Leave a Comment
Many people who lived in villages created records in the bigger towns in the area. They may have worked in the bigger town, and created employment records. They may have gone to a notary in the bigger town to have a will or prenuptial agreement drawn up. They may have had business with someone in the bigger town, which could have created transport records or contracts, found in the court or notarial records. The court in the bigger town may have had the higher jurisdiction, and may be where … [Read more...]
Quick Tip – Podcast episode about New Netherland and Slavery
16 March 2022 by Leave a Comment
Andrea Mosterman features in episode 324 of the podcast Ben Franklin's World. The episode is called "New Netherland and Slavery." She discusses how the colony of New Netherland took shape, and the ways how the West India Company and private persons used enslaved labor to develop the colony. … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Book about the Dutch violence in Indonesia, 1945-1949
9 March 2022 by 2 Comments
A new study sheds more light on the extreme violence by the Dutch army in the Indonesian war of independence after World War II. The book is available as open access. Beyond the Pale: Dutch Extreme Violence in the Indonesian War of Independence, 1945-1949 … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Online seminar Revisiting Dutch Brazil and Johan Maurits
16 February 2022 by Leave a Comment
On 15 March 2022, the Mauritshuis will organize an online seminar about Dutch Brazil and Johan Maurits. Attendance is free, registration is required. See the Mauritshuis website for details about the program and registration. … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Which baptisms did your ancestor witness?
9 February 2022 by 2 Comments
Baptismal witnesses were often close relatives or friends of the parents of the child. Knowing their associates and relatives can help you prove their identity and parentage. You should look at baptismal witnesses from both sides: Check the people your ancestors chose as baptismal witnesses for their children Check for whom your ancestors acted as baptismal witnesses. Most researchers do the first, since the information is there when they look up all the children. Fewer researchers … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Handout exhibit “Headed for Brooklyn”
26 January 2022 by 1 Comment
The Regionaal Historisch Centrum Vecht en Venen is hosting an exhibition "Headed for Brooklyn with a Packed Suitcase: Four centuries of Dutch-American culture in archival records" at their Breukelen location. They have created an English handout with all the information in the exhibition that you can download from their website. … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Canon of the Netherlands
12 January 2022 by Leave a Comment
Historians have compiled a Canon of the Netherlands; a list of fifty canonical events that everyone who is interested in the history of the Netherlands should know. This list was revised last year. The Canon website has the fifty events with background information, which is available in English. Some of the material for students, such as animations, lesson plans, and suggestions for further reading, is only available in Dutch. … [Read more...]
Quick tip – Find places of origin in bond letters
22 December 2021 by 2 Comments
If you are searching for an ancestor's origins before 1811, it might be worthwhile to check the town registers to see if they submitted a bond letter. This is a certificate given out by their previous place of settlement that indemnifies the new town in case the person becomes poor. The old place of settlement promises to support them. If you find a bond letter, this will tell you where they came from. … [Read more...]
