| Notes |
- From Debbie Patch Wilson
This was the man who wrote the 12 July 1865 letter to Maria Louisa (de Wit)
derochemont.
Here is a transciption of the letter which was probably translated from Dutch.
Amsterdam July 12th 1865
Dearly beloved Nephew and Niece!
You have certainly already thought, that I have not received your letter. Yes,
worthy nephew, but many occupations hindered me from answering Your to me
so dear letter sooner, for I wished so much to write much; for I was so filialy
rejoiced, the Lord our God was so good to me, that, although I have never seen
your face, I nevertheless might receive letters written with own hand from the
children of the brother and sister of my so heartily loved father. O beloved ones, if
you had known that good honest man, you certainly would have loved him too;
life’s adversities & troubles never have disturbed his peace & his greatest
happiness was the welfare of my dear mother (who also from all her children was
heartily beloved) and his children. The Lord had given him eleven children. The
oldest, my sister Maria Elizabeth was married, now widow without children &
without means; the 2nd Agnita Maria Louise, married, both died, have left 7
children; the 3d Carolina Petronella Wilhelmina, married, both died in the Lord as
the former; the 4th is I Carel Peter Wilhelmus (named in honor of our grand father,
as also the former) married; Wynandus Elbertus, the fifth, twice married, has 2
children, Abraham Fortunatus (my father’s name) & Wyndelina Elberta (my
mother’s name). The 6th Henrietta Louisa Elonora has had two husbands & is
widow with 6 children; the 7th Suzetta Henrietta, married, both died, left 4 children.
The 8th Wilhelmus Leonardus, unmarried, went as mate to sea in 1854, nothing
heard of him since. Cornelia Wyndelina Carolina, the 9th died after a lifetime of 20
years. The 10th Jacoba Elizabeth Antonia Johanna, married, has 3 children living,
her husband H van Binnendyk is instructor in a religious school in Vreesland.
Jerard Abraham, the 11th, married has 5 children & sails as mate on a steamboat.
Here is worthy nephew a small short account of my brothers and sisters. There
live also besides children of the brother of our grandfather CPW deRochemont &
our grand-tante J.H. Abraham named but all I have to bear many cares &
adversities, but this is indeed the promises for this world of our great God &
Savior. I have had no opportunity yet, to inquire about your aunt van der Hass,
born de Wit, but as soon as I get some opportunity for it, I will enquire hereafter.
Your wife, my dear niece’s brother de Wit was in Middleburg in the family de
Rochmont….learnd….was the sister of our grandfather Susette Henrietta de Wit,
there died, then….died. I was in the Indies, there I also asked & noticed thereof
not much, but I still have a copy of testament, in case your family has nothing
received, shall I hereafter inform & give notice thereof to you; then I was yet
seaman,--then I was at the nautical seminary, where also my father & uncle
Henry have been.
Have I still written to Aunt de Wit (Aunt Maria), I had then a great desire to go to
Rio Demerarie but could not find an opportunity. O I should have liked so much to
see the dear Sister of my good father in the place where our dear grandparents
are buried, but it was not granted to me, and now it is my good luck, that I can yet
write to her children, it grieves me not to be quick enough to converse in English,
then it would be easier for both of us. I have had from your mother de Wit a letter
in good Hollandish, o could you also, dear niece, write in Hollanish. You have
seen my second sister also has had your name. She was a dear sister, daughter,
mother & wife, her memory remains blessed. I have also received a letter from
your brother B P Shillaber with portraits of his wife & 2 daughters Lizzie & Emma;
it would please me much if you will be so kind, to give him previously the most
heartfelt Thanks, I hope to write him soon, but the time is to crowded with
business; You have seen how many widows & orphans there are of my brothers
& sisters, those all must be from time to time be helped & cared for, a very great
blessing have I received from my faithful God & Father, a very healthy & stout
body and peace for my aim through Jesus Christ, and this is the greatest
treasure. I have been 20 or 25 years ago at Curacao in West Indies & have found
also there the family de Rochemont, of the branch of the brother of the father of
our grandfather, they had the esentcheon of the family, as with which my letter is
sealed, I know not, whether you possess the same, if not, then will I willingly
make one for you & send it to you, it is our french esentcheon of nobility; there
are also several officers de Rochemont in East Indies, descendants of our uncle
Abraham, grand & great grand children. I have found among my papers the
certificate of baptism of your father Maximilian Johannes; shall I send it? And
now, worthy & dearly beloved nephew & niece shall I close, it is two hours after
midnight, , I hope soon again to hear of you & your family & when one of you
comes to Halland & to Amsterdam, so is my residence at Amsterdam in the
Bantammerstraat, merchant in fuel, porcelain & earthenware& beloved ones,
praise to God, that the united states are calmed again; how has my heart beaten
when I read in the newspaper the situation of your country & people, what prayers
have been sent up to God for you! With fear have I read daily the events in the U.
States, now so disunited. But God thanks, he has granted you, God & Jesus
Christ might guard you henceforth. O might it happen that we might see us once!
But if not on this earth, then above there, where Christ sits at the right hand of his
father & where our dear parents, brothers & sisters are, and now worthy &
beloved nephew and niece, great all sisters brothers children and other members
of your family from me & my dear wife, who is with heart & soul addicted to my
dear parents and family, also my brothers & sisters greet all of you, and believe
me to be your loving nephew & friend.
v.
|
- Aft 1865
Set As Default Person 
d. 4 Nov 1858, Workum, Nijefurd, Friesland, Netherlands