This week we are looking at a rare type of map, showing the graves in the churchyard of Wons in 1831. Wons is a small village in the west of the province of Friesland.
J.C. Salverda, map of graves in the Wons churchyard, 1831. Credits: Fries Museum (public domain)
This map was probably created as a result of the 1829 law forbidding burials in churches or the built-up area of a town. The law required each town with a population over 1000 to designate a cemetery outside the town proper. The map shows the locations of the graves around the church, and gives a list of names of owners of the graves. It is rare to find a map like this.
- The teacher, 1
- Durk Joukes Visser, 2
- The minister, 3
- De Blocq van Scheltinga, 4
- Wijbe Martens Tilstra, 5
- The Church, 6
- The deacons, 7, 8
- Johannes Politiek, 9
- Wijbe Martens Tilstra, 10
- Broer Jan Abbema’s heirs, 11
- Douwe C. Bangma, 12
- Hans D. van der Meer, 13
- The Church, 14
- Johan B. van Abbema, 15
- Douwe C. Bangma, 16
- Douwe C. Bangma, 17
- Saapke H. van der Meer, 18
- The deacons, 19
- Saapke H van der Meer, 20, 21
- The deacons, 22
- The church and deacons, 23
- The deacons, 24
- Rimmert H Schaafsma, 25
- De Blocq van Scheltinga, 26
- Rients Lieuwes Bangma, 27
- Jouke Annes Wiersma, 28
- Widow Wijpke J Terpstra, 29
- Tjerk Wijpkes Terpstra, 30
- Wijbe Kornelis de Boer, 31
- Kornelis H Kamstra, 32
- Douwe C Bangma, 33
- Widow Otte K Reinsma, 34
- Anabaptist Church of Makkum, 35
- Jan H Elgesma and associates, 36
- Bauke S. van der Meer, 37
- Widow Jan R Weerstra, 38
- Widow Marten F Weerstra, 39
- Broer J Abbema’s heirs, 40
- Freerk Martens Weersta, 41
Graves in the church:
- Saake H van der Meer, a
- Douwe C. Bangma, c
- Broer Jan Abbema’s heirs, f
Family graveson the churchyard:
- Romm: and Reindert S B[…], bb
- Johannes S. Politiek, d
- Durk Joukes Visser, g
- Bauke [N? U?] Tijmstra and associates, ii
House […]
- Deacons in [minister’s garden?], e
- Deacons […] no. 24, 25, h
About Yvette Hoitink
Very cool map!