Aaltje Cornelis
For a long time, the birth of Aaltje Cornelis, wife of Wobbe Popkes, could not be found in the archives, until the baptism of Aeltie, daughter of Cornelis Wijgers, was discovered in the baptismal register of the municipality of Wijnjeterp, Duurswoude, and Bakkeveen (July 13, 1704). It was likely that she was the correct Aaltje, especially since in the previously found membership book of Zuiderdrachten (1740), not far below the name of her husband (Wobbe Popkes and his wife), the name Kornelis Wygers was also mentioned.
However, the name of Aaltje’s mother was still unknown. Through a search for the baptisms of any other children of Cornelis Wijgers, his baptism and that of his wife Ybeltje Hilles were also found. They were baptized later in life during their confession of faith (1701). Their marriage was also discovered.
Yet my search was not yet complete because the name of Aaltje’s mother was Ybeltje, and the first-born daughter of Aaltje and Wobbe, according to earlier research, was named Wijdstke. Perhaps another daughter was born to her, named after her.
This led me to an earlier discovered Ebeltje Wobbes, married to Hendriks Jacobs. She fits perfectly into the picture. Not only, like her younger sister Wijdstke (named after Wobbes’ mother), is she from Drachten, but both were also married in Midwolde, where their parents lived at the time. The names of their children also match.
An interesting detail is that a daughter of Ebeltje and Hendrik (Geertjen Hindriks) was then the first wife of her cousin Pieter Popkes (Snip).
Since the marriage of Wobbe and Aaltje, and the baptism of their children Ebeltje, Wijdstke, and Popke, could not be found, I searched in the marriage and baptismal records of Drachten. However, I did not find them. It turned out that these records were hardly maintained between 1722 and 1740 (due to the “carelessness” of the minister Drs. Duirsma).
This also leaves open the possibility that there may have been more children (Cornelis Wobbes?) born to Wobbe and Aaltje.
Facts around Wobbe Popkes and Aaltje Cornelis:
- 1703 Baptism of Wobbe Popkes, son of Popke Popkes and Wijtske Wobbes in Doezum.
- 1704 Baptism of Aaltje Cornelis, daughter of Cornelis Wijgers and Ybeltje Hilles in Opsterland.
- 1740 Wobbe Popkes and Aaltje Cornelis live in (Zuider)Drachten.
- 1742 Certificate of Transfer for Wobbe and Aaltje: Drachten –> Lucaswolde.
- 1747 Wobbe and Aaltje live in or near Midwolde (baptism of son Jan).
- 1748 Marriage of daughter Wijdske in Midwolde (from Drachten).
- 1749 Marriage of daughter Ebeltje in Midwolde (from Drachten).
- 1752 Certificate of Transfer for Wobbe and Aaltje: Leek (Midwolde) –> Tolbert.
- 1754 Marriage of son Popke in Grootegast (from Tolbert).
- 1756 Certificate of Transfer for Wobbe and Aaltje: Tolbert –> Doezum.
Since the Church Book of Drachten from 1722 to 1740 is hardly/not kept, the timeline, as I see it, is approximately:
- 1725 Marriage of Wobbe Popkes and Aaltje Cornelis. Wobbe is 22 years old and Aaltje is 21 years old.
- 1726 Birth of Popke Wobbes (1st son). At his marriage, he is 28 years old, 3 years younger than his wife Grietjen (born 1723).
- 1728 Birth of Ebeltje Wobbes (1st daughter). At her marriage, she is 19 years old. Her oldest child was born in 1773. She is then 43 years old.
- 1730 Birth of Wijdstke Wobbes (2nd daughter). At her marriage, she is 18 years old. Her oldest child was born in 1771. She is then 41 years old.
Are there any more sons, for example, a Cornelis Wobbes born? This would be a possible 2nd son, who was born before 1742 and died after 1747 when Jan Wobbes was born. Jan is named after a brother of Wobbe and would be a 3rd son. Up until 1740, there may well have been more children born in Drachten. This also applies to Aris Wobbes, who could have been born around 1739.
Text by Paul Snip.
