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The Hofstee Family History

The idea to begin a family record originated early in 1970 after a visit to Canada by Ali (Adriana)
Hofstee (b. 1903). She told some anecdotes about her father and grandfather that whetted our
appetite for family history. Aagje Hofstee (b. 1899) supplied some additional information.
Attempts to have a friend do some additional research in the Netherlands led to dead end.

This way it remained until 1977 when a friend of John Hofstee (b. 1935) brought some
information back from Ter Aar. This information led to research in Alphen aan den Rijn. A
search in Alphen aan den Rijn brought us to about 1775. The oldest records pointed to
Woubrugge as the origin of the family.

The discovery of the records of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints made research
much easier and also allowed us to go further back. A search of the Woubrugge records brought
us back to about 1712. However since the Woubrugge records go no further back we came to a
standstill. In 1982 we became aware of an index to births and marriages in the province of
Zuid-Holland. A search of this index led us to Bleiswijk, where we found information from
before 1700. Even though the records of Bleiswijk for the period around 1700 is not very clear,
we were able to find a notation that the family may have come from Zoetermeer. A search of
Zoetermeer was not very productive at first. There were no Hofstee's to be found. However
from all the info we had by now collected on the Hofstee's in Woubrugge and Bleiswijk we knew
the names of several members of the family. By a careful search through the records of baptisms
in Zoetermeer we were able to find all the children. Before long we were back to about 1645.
From there we were able to find out that our family originated in Hazerswoude. In the 1990's we
discovered the head tax of 1623 and this gave us the earliest information available on our family.

For the most part our early forebears and their relatives were poor and were involved in the peat
(turf) industry. Wherever there were artificial lakes created by the digging of peat you are sure to
find some of the Hofstee family there. The Hofstee's are also known as Hofstede, van der
Hofstee, van Hofstee and even Hofsteede.

The head tax of Rijnland of 1622 revealed that Louris Joosten and Pietergen Joosten lived at the
Achterweg in Hazerswoude. They had seven children. Joost was not listed among the children
as he was already married at that time.

children:
1. Joost, b. abt 1592.
2. Jannetje, b. abt 1595.
3. Pleuntje, b. abt 1598.
4. Jacob, b. abt 1601.
5. Anneke, b. abt 1604. She married in Hazerswoude on 23 December 1629 with Dirk Jacobs.
6. Jan, b. abt 1608.
7. Beatrix, b. abt 1610. She married in Hazerswoude in 1636 with Cornelis Ariens and in 1645
with Willem Elborts.
8. Cors, b. abt 1613.

Joost was first married with Marijtje Leenderts. Nothing is known about
Marijtje. She died before 1646 as Joost remarried in that year with Grietje (Gerritje) Commerts
of Rotterdam. The marriage took place in Hazerswoude on 31 September 1646. Grietje was
buried in Hazerswoude on 29 December 1679. Joost was buried in Hazerswoude on 19 February
1674. Joost and Marijtje lived on the Achterweg in 1622 (two children, Jan and Abraham).

children (all from first marriage):
1. Jan, b. abt 1618.
2. Abram, b. abt 1620.
3. Jannetje, c. Hazerswoude 27 February 1623. She married on 10 March 1652 in Benthuizen
with Willem Pieters Jongeburgh.
4. Annetje, c. Hazerswoude 4 October 1626. She married in Benthuizen on 9 November 1653
with Jan Ijsbrants.
children: Grietje, Benthuizen 11-5-1659
Aechje, Benthuizen 29-5-1662
Jannetje, Benthuizen 7-3-1666

Abram Joosten Hofstee died before 14 June 1658 probably in Zoetermeer.
On 14 June 1658 Michiel Willems, widower of Neeltje Claas marries with Barbara Arents,
widow of Abraham Joosten. Abram married in Hazerswoude on 23 August 1643 with Barber
Ariens or Arents from Blommedael. She is probably the daughter of Ary Maartens Buytewech.

children all baptized at Zoetermeer NHK.
1. Cornelis, c. 13 November 1644. Witnesses at baptism were Jan
Joosten, Aart Jansen, Aeltje Ariens (*wife of Aart Jansen)
2. Maarten, c. 20 January 1647. Witness to baptism was Trijntje Claes.
3. Leendert, c. 13 January 1649. Witness to baptism was Jannetje Joosten.
4. Maartje, c. 22 September 1652. Witness to baptism was Annetje Joosten.

Cornelis Abrahams Hofstede was baptized at Zoetermeer on
13 November 1644. He died before 1698, probably in Zoetermeer. At baptism of one of his
children he was listed as Cornelis Abrahams de Roo. On 6 February 1666 he married in
Zoetermeer with Maartje Cornelis van der Schilde. Maartje was christened in Zoetermeer
on 28 January 1646, daughter of Cornelis Pieters van der Schilde and Trijntje Jans. Maartje died
in Bleiswijk on 19 December 1721. In 1669 this Hofstede family lived on the Voorwegh, in
1680 on the Vlamingstraat and in 1684 on the Voorwegh again.

children all christened in Zoetermeer:
1. Abraham, c. 7 November 1666. The witnesses were Jan and
Barbertje.
2. Pieter, c. 1 September 1669. The witnesses were Cornelis Pieters
and Neeltje Jans.
3. Maartje, c. 28 August 1672. Witness to her baptism was Claes Jans (van Hilversum). She was
buried on 25 November 1755 in Hillegersberg. She married on 13 February 1695 in
Zoetermeer with Jacob Arents van der Bak from Zoetermeer.
They had five children, Trijntje, Marijtje, Arij, Cornelia, and Neeltje.
4. Neeltje, c. 22 December 1675. Witnesses to her baptism were Cornelis Pieters and Trijntje
Jans. Neeltje was buried in Hillegersberg on 25 November 1754. She married in Bleiswijk
on 29 November 1703 with Joris Jans van Leeuwen. Joris and Neeltje had at least three
children, Lijsbeth, Trijntje and Pieter. The baptismal records of Bleiswijk from 1705 to 1716
are practically illegible.
5. Cornelis, c. 26 May 1680. Witnesses to his baptism are Cornelis
Pieters van der Schilde and Geertje Cornelis van der Schilde.
6. Maarten, c. 1 October 1684. Witnesses to his baptism are Symon
Maartens Slootweg and Annetje Floris.

Maarten Cornelisse Hofstede, born in Zoetermeer, was buried on
10 November 1739 in Woubrugge. Maarten married four times. All the children are from his
first marriage with Ariaantje Cornelis Bon. Ariaantje died before 12 June 1722. She was the
daughter of Cornelis Cornelis Bon and Neeltje Pieters Craan (information from a weeskamer
record). Maarten's second marriage took place in Woubrugge on 12 July 1722 with Neeltje
Pieters Stouthandel, christened in Zevenhoven on 25 September 1678, daughter of Pieter Pieters
Stouthandel and Aaltje Jans. He married in Woubrugge after 14 September 1727 (with
attestation from Purmerend) with Dievertje Gijsberts de Vries who was buried in Woubrugge on
23 April 1735. Dievertje was born in Harlingen. On the 18 March 1736 he married in Haarlem
with Hendrina Harmeling (Hendrikje Harmelingen) who was christened in Haarlem on
26 January 1696, daughter of Barent Harmlingh and Machtelt Jans. Hendrikje died in
Woubrugge on 12 February 1750. In 1708 Maarten Cornelis Hofstede and his brother-in-law
Cornelis Dircks Ridder jointly buy a property in Woubrugge for 4820 gulden. In an inventory of
the estate of Ariaantje Bon we find that she owned together with her husband Maarten a house,
barn and yard with a peat field and its water, situated on the Vroonlantse Polder. She also owned
another peat field elsewhere. The possessions and income were valued at 200 gulden and the
house and land at 1150 gulden. Debts and obligations on the boat were 100 gulden and other
debts on the estate were valued at 200 gulden. Yet when Maarten dies in 1739 his widow
Hendrina Harmeling has him buried at the expense of the church. Where did all his wealth go in
17 years? There was always a rumor in our family that a lawyer in the 1800's absconded with the
family money, perhaps it wasn't 100 years ago but 200 years ago.

children:
1. Maartje, b. abt 1708. She died the 19 September 1781. On 25 November 1734 she married
with Leendert van der Tang.
2. Cornelis, b. abt 1712.
3. Jan, c. Woubrugge 17 June 1714. Witness at baptism was Antje Cornelis Bon, wife of
Cornelis Dirks Ridder.
4. Neeltje, c. Woubrugge 13 September 1716. She died before 12 June 1722. Witnesses at
baptism was Cornelia Cornelis Craan, wife of Pieter Cornelis Bon.
5. Abraham, c. Woubrugge 1 May 1718. Witness at baptism was Maria Abrams Hofstee.
Abraham married in Woubrugge with Marijtje Jans van Dalen on 4 May 1740. Marijtje
Jans was buried in Woubrugge on 27 March 1744. On 12 October 1741 Abraham registered
the birth/burial of a still-born child. Abraham sailed for the Dutch East Indies on
23 March 1746.
6. Pieter, c. Woubrugge 26 December 1720. Witness at baptism was Cornelia Cornelis Craan.
He died young.
7. Pieter, c. Woubrugge 9 November 1721. Witness was Cornelia Cornelis Craan. Pieter died
before 12 June 1722.

Cornelis Maartens Hofstede was buried in Woubrugge on
27 November 1766. On 18 July 1734 Cornelis married in Hoogmade with Teuntje Jans Mous.
The marriage took place in Hoogmade as there was no minister in Woubrugge at the time.
Teuntje was probably born in Woubrugge, daughter of Jan Cornelis Mous and Baartje Jacobs
Houweling. Teuntje died in Kalslagen, NH, on 25 May 1791.

children:
1. Ariaantje, c. Hoogmade 24 October 1734. Witness to baptism was Maartje Merse Hofstede.
Ariaantje married on 13 November 1767 with Cornelis Monen.
2. Maarten, c. Woubrugge 10 March 1737. Witness to baptism
was Hendrikje Harmelings.
3. Baartje, c. Woubrugge 12 March 1741. Witness to baptism was Neeltje Mous. Baartje
married on 22 May 1767 with Teunis Jans van Ieperen.
4. Maartje, c. Woubrugge 12 March 1741. Witness to baptims was Maartje Merse Hofstede.
Maartje died in Ter Aar 13 October 1820. She married on 30 November 1764 with Johannis
van der Tang.
5. Jan, c. Woubrugge 1 November 1744. Witness to baptism was Aagje
Mous.
6. Jacob, c. Woubrugge 10 September 1747. Witness to baptism was
Aagje Mous.
7. Abraham, c. Woubrugge 15 February 1750. Witness to baptism was Maartje Merse Hofstede.
Abraham died in Kalslagen on 4 October 1810. He married in Woubrugge on
21 September 1777 with Grietje van der Stool. He remarried in Kalslagen on 16 October 1808
with Elisabeth Koene.

Jan Hofstede was baptized in Woubrugge on 1 November 1744. He died on
26 March 1795 (probably at sea). He was a soldier on board the cutter Panther. Registration of
death was made on 31 January 1818 at 's-Gravenhage. On 25 April 1766 Jan married in
Woubrugge with Antje van der Tang. Antje was christened on 24 October 1745 in Woubrugge,
daughter of Zacharias van der Tang and Trijntje Willems Endhoven. Antje died in Woubrugge
on 27 September 1775. This family was poor as most burial and marriage registrations indicated
that they belonged to the class of 'onvermogend' (without wealth).

children all christened Woubrugge:
1. Teuntje, c. 2 November 1766. Witness to baptism was Ariaantje Hofstee. It is possible that
this Teuntje was buried on 22 June 1795, with the fee paid by a 'weesvader'.
2. Trijntje, c. 6 March 1768. Witness to baptism was Aagje van der Tang. Trijntje died in
Koudekerk /ad Rijn on 18 October 1810.
3. Cornelia, c. 10 September 1769. She died on 26 February 1841. Witness to baptism was
Maartje Hofstede.
4. Zacharias, c. 11 August 1771. He died on 4 September 1771. Witness to baptism was
Cornelia van der Tang.
5. Zacharias, c. 2 August 1772. Witness to baptism was Cornelia
van der Tang.
6. Baartje, c. 24 April 1774. Witness to baptism was Baartje Hofstede. Baartje died on
7 March 1776.
7. Jan, c. 1 October 1775. Witness to baptism was Maartje Hofstede. Jan died on
17 November 1775.

On 23 May 1779 in Woubrugge Jan married for the second time. This time he married Neeltje
van der Hidde. Neeltje was christened on 26 October 1749 in Woubrugge. She was daughter of
Jan van der Hidde and Niesje Leliveldt. Neeltje died in Woubrugge on 8 June 1780.

child:
1. Jannetje, c. 7 May 1789. Witness was Marijtje van der Hidde. Jannetje married in Schiedam
on 1-3-1818 with Gillis Kloos, born Vlaardingen 5 April 1778. Jannetje died in Schiedam
on 4 November 1845.

Zacharias Hofste(d)e was christened in Woubrugge on
2 August 1772. The census and civic register of Alphen a/d Rijn show the date of birth as
4 August 1775. However, the death registration in 1842 indicates an age of 70. The baptismal
record of Woubrugge gives the baptismal date as 2 August 1772. Zacharias was a labourer and
farmer. He died on 30 September 1842 in Alphen a/d Rijn. He married in Alphen a/d Rijn on
19 April 1807 with Elisabeth Wezelenburg, born in Alphen a/d Rijn on 14 June 1778, daughter
of Jacob Wezelenburg and Magteltje van Wieringen. Elisabeth died in Alphen on 29 May 1836.
The family lived at Gouwsluis 113 and 100.

children all born Alphen:
1. Jacob, b. 17 September 1807. He died 4 August 1815. Witness to his baptism was Geertje
Wezelenburg.
2. Antje, b. 11 November 1808. Witness to her baptism was Jannetje Hofstede. Antje died on
6 February 1884. She married on 5 November 1837 with Cornelis Spruytenburg.
They had 3 children.
3. Magteltje, b. 4 November 1811. Witness to her baptism was Antje Wezelenburg. She died on
30 July 1886. On 23 October 1839 she married Klaas Roest. They had 4 children.
4. Trijntje, b. 25 August 1813. Witness to her baptism was Kornelia Hofstede. Trijntje died on
16 August 1814.
5. Jan, b. 15 October 1814. Witness to baptism was Kornelia Hofstede.
6. Jacob, b. 4 August 1816. Witness to baptism was Geertje
Wezelenburg.
7. Hendrik, b. 19 May 1818. He died on 17 July 1819.
8. Trijntje, b. 4 April 1820. She married on 30 October 1846 with Thomas Spruit.
9. Hendrik, b. 30 July 1821. He died on 12 October 1823.

Jan Hofstede was born in Alphen a/d Rijn on 15 October 1814. He died
there on 5 March 1856. Jan's occupation is listed as without in 1840, labourer in 1843 and 1851
and 'schepenjager' (tow horse driver) in 1855/56. Jan married for the first time on 30 December
1840 in Alphen a/d Rijn with Lena Tuinenburg. Lena was born in Aarlanderveen on
22 December 1819. She died in Alphen on 4 May 1848. She was daughter of Jan Tuinenburg
and Lena van Wijngaarden. The family lived at Gouwsluis 101a.

children:
1. Zacharias, b. 13 May 1841. Zacharias died in Banda, Netherlands East Indies on 21 June 1870
about six months before he was supposed to return to the Netherlands.
2. Elisabeth, b. 19 June 1842. She married in Ter Aar on 11 May 1866 with Gerrit Boekensteijn.
3. Antje, b. 22 March 1844. She married in Ter Aar on 5 October 1865 with Gerrit Lammens.
Antje has an illegitimate child on 8 August 1865. This child died on 13 August 1865.
4. Lena, b. 7 February 1846.

Jan married again on 15 August 1851 with Elisabeth Vermeulen, widow of Jasper van Willigen.
Elisabeth was born 7 February 1822 in Boskoop, daughter of Jan Vermeulen and Marrigje
Hoogendoorn. Elisabeth died in Ter Aar on 19 November 1882. After Jan's death
Elisabeth married for the third time with Jacob van Eyk. The widow E. Vermeulen lived at
Steekt 79. She and Jacob moved to Ter Aar in June 1865. Children Lena and Jacob moved to
Ter Aar with them.

children:
1. Jan, b. 30 April 1853. He died in Alphen on 7 May 1860.
2. Jacob, b. 8 December 1855.

Jacob Hofstee was born in Alphen on 8 December 1855. He died in Berkel en
Rodenrijs on 30 October 1934. He married in Ter Aar on 8 June 1883 with Aagje Pijper. Aagje
was born on 5 January 1863 in Ter Aar, daughter of Arie Pijper and Helena Elisabeth Willems.
Aagje died in Berkel en Rodenrijs on 17 November 1949. Jacob was a house boy and gardener
at an estate. The family was very poor and Jacob was black from undernourishment. In 1903 the
family suffered in a typhoid outbreak. In Ter Aar the family owned their own house but it was on
leased land. The owner warned Jacob he wanted the land and during one night Jacob dismantled
his whole house and moved it elsewhere. Jacob was a market gardener several times but didn't
persist because he didn't want to get further into debt. In 1926 at age 71 he became the
watchman at the lift bridge at the corner of the Rodenrijseweg and Klapwijkseweg in Berkel.
He had to raise the bridge for barges and boats taking their wares to market. In July 1934 he
became ill with stomach problems and his son Jan took over his job.

children all born Ter Aar except Aagje:
1. Jan, b. 22 September 1884.
2. Helena Elizabeth, b. 18 November 1885. She died in Leiden on 14 May 1959. She married on
16 September 1904 in Ter Aar with Jan van der Haven.
3. Antje, b. 22 April 1889. She died on 12 July 1889.
4. Antje Elizabeth, b. 18 November 1890. She died in Rotterdam on 27 November 1964. She
married in Ter Aar in October1912 with Aart Molenaar.
5. Arie, b. 2 August 1893. He died in Ter Aar on 20 April 1903.
6. Jacob Pieter, b. 22 December 1896. He died in Ter Aar on 22 February 1903.
7. Aagje, b. Nieuwveen 2 March 1899. She died in Spijkenisse on1 January 1981. She married
in Berkel on 22 August 1923 with Jan Kijzerwaard.
8. Adriana Pieternella Jacoba (Ali), b. 3 June 1903. She died in Spijkenisse on 12 January 1984.
She was a mid-wife and home-care worker.

Jan Hofstee was born on 22 September 1884. He died on 21 March 1947 in
Berkel en Rodenrijs, probably from lung cancer. Jan married on 25 February 1910 at Berkel en
Rodenrijs with Jannetje van Gijzen. Jannetje was born in Zuidland on 17 March 1888, daughter
of Pieter van Gijzen and Kaatje Hagestein. Jannetje made two trips to Canada to see her son and
his family. She died on 1 March 1965 in Dordrecht. Jan was a market gardening labourer until
he replaced his father as bridge watchman. Jannetje was an accomplished seamstress. The
family lived on the Zuidersingel when first married but later bought their own house on the
Vogelaarstraat in Berkel.

child:
1. Jacob, b. Berkel en Rodenrijs 9 April 1911.

Jacob Hofstee was born in Berkel en Rodenrijs on 9 April 1911. He
attended the 'School met den Bijbel' and was a very good student but his parents would not allow
him to continue on with his education. At age 12 he went to work. At age 19 he bought his
own trucking business. He continued this business until he left for Canada in 1951. On
22 November 1933 Jacob married Adriaantje Spiering. Adriaantje was born on
November 15, 1912 in Schiebroek, daughter of Arie Spiering and Alida van Doorn. Jacob and
Adriaantje made plans after the second world war to move to Australia but plans fell through.
However the opportunity arose to go to Canada and on 14 April 1951 the family left Rotterdam
for Canada. After landing in Quebec City, the family went by train to Chatham, Ontario. After a
few months of living outside of Merlin (a town near Chatham), the family moved to Aylmer
South, Shedden, Sparta and finally to St. Thomas, all in 2 years time. Jacob had several different
jobs (gravedigger, maker of Coke coolers, etc.) until he got a job driving truck for National
Grocers. He remained with National Grocers until his retirement in 1976. The last few years he
worked in the warehouse in London, Ontario. Jake as he was called by his friends and
co-workers was always known for his pipe. He eventually gave up his pipe (on doctor's orders).
Adriaantje was seamstress and to help out in difficult times she cleaned houses for other people.
Adriaantje died on 23 May 1970 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. On 1 February 1975
Jake remarried with Jean Park (nee Croxford). On 2 November 1987 Jake died from a heart
attack. His widow Jean lived in the house at 32 Barwick Street, St. Thomas for several years.
Jake's grandson lived in the house for a while. All the children are from the first marriage.

children all born in Berkel en Rodenrijs:
1. Jan, b. 6 October 1935. He married on 2 May 1959 in St. Thomas with Beatrix de Blieck.
2. Arie, b. 30 November 1938. He married on 30 July 1960 in St. Thomas with Doris Jean Holt.
3. Jacob, b. 21 February 1944. He married on 31 July 1976 in Sudbury with Denise Leblanc.
They are now divorced.
4. Anthonie, b. 5 July 1945. He married on 20 March 1971 with Anna Maria Neef

The Hofstee family has been published in Gens Nostra (January 1988, etc.), in a book entitled
"The Hofstee/Hofstede Family, an 0annotated genealogy" and in "Lustrumboek van de
Zuidhollandse Vereniging voor Genealogie Ons Voorgeslacht 1946-1996". The
Hofstee/Hofstede book is available for search at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City and
at the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie.