Journey to His Past

This hope chest belonged to my husband's maternal grandmother, Leona Dollaway Corcoran, who we called Grandma Lee.  I have it under my wall of family pictures in my 'genealogy room'

Currently, I am storing a few linens in it.  It also makes a great area for genealogy research overload and, occasionally, the top of it is full of files and paper records.  It is a treasure as our family has fond memories of Grandma Lee.

One of the obstacles to researching records of a foreign country can be the language differences.  Once I was ready to research with Netherlands records, I knew I was going to need a little help in this area.  So, I turned to Family Search for help.  It was there that I found dutch genealogy words.

To find these words one needs to go to the Family Search wiki for "Netherlands Language and Languages".  Here you will find Dutch language help for key words, dates, times, and other words.

Here are a few words that will help you get started:

baptism           dopen, doop, gedoopt
birth                 geboren, geboorte
burial               begraven, begraaf
child                 kind
death                overleden, overlijden, gestorven
father               vader
husband          echtgenoot
marriage         huwelijk(en), trouwen, gehuwden, getrouwd
month             maand
mother            moeder
town                stad, gemeente, dorp
wife                 huisvrouw, vrouw, echtgenote
year                 jaar

The Family Search wiki for dutch words has helped me when translating records from Dutch to English.  Eventually, I decided to purchase an English/Dutch Dictionary, which is helpful too.

If you are doing any Netherlands research be sure to check out the Family Search "Netherlands Language and Languages" wiki.

I have traced the VanOeveren or VanOveren surname back to 1596 in the Netherlands.  The VanOeveren's in my husbands family originated in Sint Philipsland, Zeeland, Netherlands. 

Abraham VanOeveren and Neeltje de Bruin immigrated to the United States in 1870.  They eventually settled in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan.

My husband's, Kirk, line is as follows:
Nellie VanOeveren (1896-1994)
Abraham VanOeveren (1865-1943)
Abraham VanOeveren (1832-)  (the immigrant)
Abraham Johannisse vanOeveren (1788-1852)
Johannis vanOeveren (1750-1794)
Abraham Leendertszn vanOeveren (-1775)
Leendert Jansz vanOeveren (1663-1738)
Jan Huybrechtszn vanOeveren

Source:  "World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," [database on-line], Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 March 2011), Entry for Peter Leyndyke; United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.

The above record is the World War I draft registration for my husband's grandfather, Peter Leyndyke.  Peter's birth date was recorded as 4 October 1894, which is an error.  According to his certificate of live birth, his birth date was 5 October 1894.  I only discovered this error a few weeks ago!  Even when Peter was alive I thought his birthday was the 4th.  I guess that is better than the 6th, as his birthday card should have arrived on time, if not early.

Do you have Dutch ancestry?  If so, you will want to be aware of these great resources available online.  I refer to them often when researching Kirk's dutch ancestry.

1.  Genlias:  This website provides birth, marriage, and death records from civil registers in the Netherlands.  This is a broad based database from archives across the Netherlands.  A list of the archives can be found on this site.  For English speaking researchers, be sure to click 'English' in the upper right corner.  To get started searching, click 'Searching in Genlias'.  Help for searching is available under this tab, also.  Good luck!  And don't blame me if you get so involved in your searching you lose track of time.  I have had many two am nights because of this website.

Updated February 2013.  Genlias is no longer available, but a new website has taken its' place:

WieWasWie:  This website has replaced the Genlias website.  At this time (February 2013) there is not an option for English.  I used Google translate to help navigate the site.  This site is a database of Netherlands vital records that are from various record groups in Netherlands.  To get started, enter a name in the Find People blue search box or use the advanced search option.  The participating archives is greater in number than at the old genlias site.  I would recommend this as the starting place for your Dutch research

2.  Yvette's Dutch Genealogy- I have barely touched the surface with the wonderful resources available here.  Yvette, a professional genealogist who works for The National Archives in The Hague, is the genius behind this website.  There is a lot of background information on archives, sources, dutch terms and names, emigration, history, and geography.  The database link will take you to a genealogy page with more information.  There are many links available and every click leads you to more.  There is a Dutch Genealogy Store with a few books about Dutch Genealogy, history and culture.  Yvette provides everything you need and she will even do the research for you, if you choose.  Yvette's website should be included in every Dutch researcher's toolbox.

3. Zeeuwen Gezocht (Zeelanders Wanted)- If your ancestors came from the province of Zeeland, Netherlands, then this searchable database is a must.  For English speaking researchers, click 'English' in the top right corner.    Other information on sources, new data added, frequently asked questions, and tools are available.  The tools section has a translation of dutch words, civil registrar, historical maps of Zeeland from 1816-1970, websites and more.  This is another website adding to my sleep deprivation.  Be sure to take a look.

4.  go Dutch.com-This site has paid and free information.  The section I like is the 'Genealogy Research Section".  You will find "The Basics-A Guide" free online.  This is a very comprehensive guide to researching your Dutch ancestry.  Oh, I almost forgot-it has Dutch recipes, too!

5.  Hear Dutch Here-This website provides dutch pronunciation and spelling help .  You can hear dutch words pronounced or if adventurous, learn to speak Dutch with their lessons.  Historical maps of the Netherlands can be found here too. 

These are my five top go-to websites when researching Dutch ancestry.  Clicking on the red lettering will take you to the website section referred to.  Do you have a favorite website for Dutch ancestry?  Please share it in the comments section.

Bertrand Francis Corcoran was born 7 January 1903 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois to Timothy Francis Corcoran and Helen F. (Schmitt) Corcoran.  He died 21 July 1959 in Elk Rapids, Antrim, Michigan.