My third great grandparents, Marinus “Martin” Kornoelje and Hendrina “Anna” Hoek, were married in 1832 in Ouwerkerk, Zeeland, the southernmost province in The Netherlands. Over the next 17 years, Anna would give birth to 15 children (2 sets of twins). Sadly, only five children would survive to adulthood, four sons and one daughter. As was common in those days, many of the children would be given the “same name” as a previously deceased sibling.
Two daughters were named SARA MARIA after their maternal grandmother. The first Sara Maria was a twin. She lived to one year five months. Her twin, Cornelius, was named after his paternal grandfather, and he lived to be 81. The second Sara Maria survived to adulthood and lived to age 91.
The second “same name” was JOHANNA. Three daughters were named Johanna after their paternal grandmother. All three died at a young age–Johanna #1 at 7 months, Johanna #2 at 3 weeks, and Johanna #3 at 2 months. After Johanna #3 died, they did use the name Johannes for a son. He survived and lived to age 75.
Three sons had the “same name” of GABRIEL, after their maternal grandfather. Gabriel #1 lived to 7 months and Gabriel #2 lived to 1 year 10 months. Gabriel #3 was their youngest child and he survived and lived to age 74.
The last “same name” was MARTINA, presumably after the father Martinus. Martina #1 lived to one month and Martina #2 lived to two months.
Martin and Anna also lost a daughter named Neeltje at age 8 months and a son named Hubrecht at 2 years 11 months. Son Pieter survived and lived to age 76.
Martin and Anna Kornoelje and their five adult children immigrated to Michigan in the 1860s. I am descended from their son Johannes.
I cannot even begin to imagine the pain these parents went through losing ten children, particularly my 3rd great grandmother. She is the hero of all my grandmothers. Her five surviving children would give her 34 grandchildren. Martin died in 1882 at the age of 72. Anna died 13 years later in 1895 at the age of 85.
Ancestors Across the Ages 