New Years resolution

A very happy 2017! Wishing you happiness, good health and lots of interesting discoveries in your genealogy research.

I never have a resolution. I believe that it does not have to be January 1st to start (or stop) things. Any day you decide to give up smoking, start a diary, change jobs or whatever, is a good day. But now, for the very first time ever, I have a New Years resolution!

All of my heritage photo’s are in boxes or in plastic photo sleeve maps. They are safe there, but that’s about it. There is no organisation whatsoever, no names, no dates. This year I am going to sort them, put names and dates and other info on small cards and place them in albums. I think I will be using scrapbook albums for this. These albums are lignin free and this will help preserve the photos.

Immigration – Huguenots

This little corner of the world has seen its fair share of immigration and emigration. If you have ancestors who emigrated from Zeelandic Flanders, there is a possibility that Austrian, Flemish or French blood runs through your veins.

During the 1500’s protestants were prosecuted in most parts of Europe. Many of them fled to the Dutch Republic, where the revolt against the catholic Spaniards was taking place. A lot of Walloon protestants settled in the province of Zeeland.

In Zeelandic Flanders, Walloon churches were established.

King Henry VI signed the Edict of Nantes in 1598 to end the Huguenot Wars. The Edict meant that Hugenots could practise their (protestant) faith in an essentially catholic France without prosecution.

In 1685 the edict was revoked. Protestant school were closed, and churches were demolished. Almost all of the Huguenots left France in the following years.

Huguenots from the French region of Picardie fled to Zeelandic Flanders.

Descendants of the Huguenots still have their French family names (in time some variations have occurred) like:  Dusarduijn (du jardin), Hennequin, Poissonier, Becu, Wattez, Moggré, Provoost (Prouvost), Bodin, Carpentier, du Bois, le Grand, Le Febre, Morel, Cappon, etc.

 

Genealogy is wonderful, but beware…

Genealogy is a wonderful hobby. We are who we are because of our ancestors. Not only do we carry their genes and inherit their traits, we also share a history.

When researching  family history you should keep in mind that it were different times then. Life was hard and most people were poor. There were wars, famines, deadly diseases and high infant mortality. You can stumble upon criminals, bigamist, unmarried mothers, paupers or lunatics. You must try to see their lives and actions in the social and historical context.

Names were often misspelled or changed during time, making it difficult to trace a family (and turning you into a detective at the same time!).

And last but not least, do not copy-paste family trees from the internet. Always check the records. The internet is a great source of information, but people make mistakes. There are a lot of family trees online all containing the same errors.

Tips:

• Keep an open mind
• Include  some history of the place/region your ancestors lived in
• Use name variations in your research
• Always check the records (and cite them)

 

Battle of the Scheldt – part 2

As I wrote before,  Antwerp was liberated on September 4th by the British, who were helped by the Belgian resistance. However, the Allied forces were unable to use the port, because the flanks of the river Scheldt were still occupied by German forces.

The allied armies stopped pushing forward to encircle Zeeland. All resources were directed to Arnhem for Operation Market Garden (September 17th). This gave the German 15th army the opportunity and time to move to Breskens and Terneuzen, and cross the river Scheldt.

A mix of 165 ships (ferryboats, German navy ships, tugs) transported:

• 89.667 soldiers
• 6.690 vehicles
• 5.895 horses
• 658 pieces of artillery
• 2.704 bicycles*

*source: “West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen 1939-1946 Deel 2: Vlucht en bevrijding” – A.B.J. Goossens

 

Old photographs

Do you recognise this? At family gatherings you want to talk passionately about your latest find in the archives, and no-one really cares?

But then one day they clear out the attic and find some old photographs. They can’t remember where they came from or who is in the photographs. But they are printed on cardboard or tin plate, so they must be very old. What to do with them? It would be a shame to throw them out. But wait a minute! Elise is into ancestors and stuff isn’t she? Let’s give them to her!

As so it is that I now have some wonderfully old photographs (and no clue as to the names of the people in them). Some women are in regional costume, and sometimes the photographer’s name and address are printed on the front or back. This way I can try to pinpoint the time and place, but the names are lost forever.

Look at this beautiful picture! Anyone recognise his or her great (great) grandmother?

Battle of the Scheldt – part 1

The British 11th Armoured Division captured Antwerp and its port on September 4h, 1994. To be able to use the port, it was necessary to clear both banks of the river Scheldt which were still controlled by the Germans. All the attention, manpower and supplies were directed to Operation Market Garden and the allied advance was halted at Antwerp.

The allied armies had cut off  the retreating German divisions of the 15th Army  (Armeeoberkommando 15) and the only way to reach German lines was to cross the river Scheldt by ferry at Breskens. The delay at Antwerp made it possible for German troops from France and Belgium to set up defences in Zeeland.

Every day more and more German soldiers made their way to Breskens. With the Canadian First army closing in from the south, and the 1st Polish Armoured regiment from the east, the Germans were trapped at the Breskens pocket.

 

Welcome!

Hi!

My name is Elise. Keen amateur genealogist and family historian. Born and raised in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (Zeelandic Flanders) as were most of my ancestors.

Please join me on my journey to find out more about my ancestors and the history of this beautiful region in the south west of the Netherlands.

“I walk down memory lane because I know that I’ll run into you there.“