Journey to His Past

I have been writing Journey to His Past for less than a year.  I have enjoyed sharing my husband's family with you.  Kirk's ancestry has taken me to states and countries that I haven't researched with my family.  As the new year approaches I thought I would share a few fun things with you.

The Top 3 Blog Posts were:

1. Dutch Naming Tendencies
2. Luijendijk to Luyendyk to Leyn Dyke to Leyndyke
3. Timothy Francis Corcoran and Helen Smith Marriage License.

  

Kirk's, Leyndyke or Luyendyk, heritage is 100% Dutch from his grandfather back.  I find researching his ancestry fascinating.  Today, Christmas Day in the United States, I celebrate his ancestry with a few holiday customs from The Netherlands.

The eve of December 5th is the time that children look forward to in The Netherlands for it is the eve that Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) visits, much like Christmas Eve is for American children.  Don't confuse Sinterklaas and Santa Claus as they are not the same people in the Netherlands.

The children are told that this is the day that Sinterklaas sails from his homeland in Spain.  He travels with his servant, Black Peter, bringing gifts with him.  Presents are put in a bag with a neighbor knocking on a door or window and leaving the bag there.

The children aren't looking for a sleigh and reindeer as Sinterklaas travels on a grey horse going from rooftop to rooftop.

These are just a few highlights of Sinterklaas.  Peter at Peter's Blog does a much better job of explaining it.  Scroll down the page to read the highlights or right click and translate his blog.  

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas or as the Dutch would say Vrolijk Kerstmis.

One of Kirk's all time favorite Christmas gifts as a child was Cape Canaveral Space Launch Play set.   It was the Fort Apache of space.  It was a set up of Cape Canaveral with rockets, trucks, and scientists.  Kirk's dad, Jim, set it up as a replica of Cape Canaveral on a wooden board.  Kirk and his brother, Jim, spent many hours launching rockets, sometimes at each other.  Here is a colored picture of Cape Canaveral.

What is your favorite Christmas gift?

Source:  Michigan, State of. "Death Records 1897-1920." Database. State of Michigan. Seeking Michigan. http://seekingmichigan.org  2009.

The above record is the death certificate for Peter Luyendyk, Kirk's great great grandfather.  I found it at seekingmichigan.org.  The image is a little hard to read, but I was able to glean a lot of information from this record.  

Peter Luyendyk died 13 October 1903 in Gaines Township, Kent, Michigan.  He was a farmer and a widow.  It lists his parents as Jacob Luyendyk and Anna Vanderhal?.

Peter Luyendyk is buried in Blaine Cemetery, Gaines Township, Kent, Michigan.  Unfortunately, there is no gravestone marking his burial place.

Other research I have done shows that  Pieter Luijendijk was born 28 August 1823 in Zuid-Beijerland to Jacob Luijendijk and Anna van der Burg.  The birth date on the death certificate is wrong.  Pieter Luijendijk married Jaapje Maasdam in Zuid-Beijerland, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands on 7 May 1847.  Pieter and Jaapje immigrated to the United States in 1849, settling in Owasco, Cayuga, New York.  Pieter and Jaapje moved to Michigan between 1860-1870.  Jaapje preceded Pieter in death on 11 February 1900.

Mrs. Helen Corcoran, wife of Timothy F. Corcoran, passed away Sunday afternoon at her home, 1000 Lafayette Ave., SE.  Besides her husband she is survived by two sons, Bertrand F. and Howard J., both of Grand Rapids; five grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs Joseph Pfaff and Mrs Lucy Smith, both of Chicago, Ill.  The deceased was a member of the Macabees and the Claudian League.  Funeral Mass will be sung Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock in St. Andrew's Cathedral.  Mrs. Corcoran reposes at the Ronan Funeral Home were (sic) relatives and friends will recite the Rosary Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock. 

 Helen Corcoran, nee Schmitt died 10 April 1949 in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan at the age of 66.    She is buried in Restlawn Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The above pictures are from St. Mary Cemetery in Vergennes Township, near Lowell, Michigan. These were the first cemetery photo's I ever took.  I have learned a lot since then, like not to have my husband or the car in the picture.  I need to return to the cemetery and retake the pictures.

Joseph W. Denny died 22 September 1894 in Kent County, Michigan.  His wife, Adelia DeGan Denny died 5 March 1905 in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan.