Five Generations of the Hettema Family


Here is some information about the descendants of Pieter Hettes Hettema down to the fifth generation, ending with the children of Guy Myron Hettema and their cousins. Its main sources are the contents of a folder full of documents that Florence Hettema Heynen assembled together with the database of Dutch civil registers on the Genlias web site and information collected by Susan Sylstra and Anke Hettema. As a companion to this web page I've prepared a genealogical database for the Hellegers and Hettemas. The former are the family of my mother's mother. It's called Hellegers and Hettema Families. I've also made a family history page, like this one, for the the Hellegers family: Descendants of Thomas Anthony Hellegers. I'd be grateful for corrections and further information about either Hellegers or Hettemas. Although I've not consciously given private personal information about any living person nor made conjectures about the information I've acquired regarding those who are deceased, I'll be happy to correct or remove any erroneous or misleading statements or anything at all that causes offense. You can contact me via this link.

Family Tree

1. The Family of Pieter (Pyter) Hettes Hettema

Pieter (Pyter) Hettes Hettema was baptised in Rauwerd, Friesland, Netherlands on 18 November 1764. He died in Idaarderadeel on 16 April 1824. He was a farmer first in Poppingawier, then in Sybrandaburen, and later in Roordahuizum. He adopted the surname Hettema in 1811 when, during French occupation, all Friesians were required to take them. There is a copy of the name-change certificate below. Here is the database entry for Pyter Hettes Hettema with links to spouses, parents, and children.

Pyter Hettes Hettema married Tjitske Tetmans Harsta on 23 June 1789 in Sybrandaburen, Friesland. She was born in Deersum on 19 October 1755 and died in Roordahuizum on 28 July 1826. She was buried in Roordahuizum. This was her second marriage. Her first, in 1778, was to Albert Sierks of Roordahuizum who died on two days before her marriage to Pyter Hettes Hettema on June 21, 1789. Here is the database entry for Tjitske Tetmans Harstra with links to spouses, parents, and children.

Children

1) Pietje Pieters Hettema was born in Sybrandaburen 6 April 1790 and baptised later She married Johannes Hendriks Oosterhoff in Sybrandaburen in 1808. He was born 28 December 1782 in Noordwolde and baptised on 19 January 1783. He died in Rauwerderhem on 24 September 1846. He was headmaster of a school in Terzool. Pietje had a second marriage to Johannes Bergsma (grandson of Wabe Douwes) who apparently drowned in Oosterhoff during a storm on the Sneekermeer.

They had six children: Hendrik, born 1809; Pieter, born 1812; Albert, born 1814; Tjitske, born 1818; Wiebe, born, 1822; and Ytje, born 1832.

2) Tetman Pieters Hettema was born 3 August 1792 and baptised on the 12th. He died in Jelsum on 26 July 1866. He was married 19 May 1827 in Idaarderadeel to Aukje Sybes Leegsma, who was born 1 January 1800 and baptised on the 19th. She died in Leeuwarderadeel 12 November 1837.

They had four children: Pijter Tetmans Hettema, 1828-1892; Siebe Tetmans Hettema, 1832-????; Kornelis Tetman Hettema, 1834-1913; and Hette Tetmans Hettema, 1836-1920.

Tetman Pieters had a second marriage on 13 June 1839 with Antje Hinnes van der Veen. She was born 1806 in Oenkerk, Tietjerksteradeel, and died 12 October 1856 in Lekkum, Leeuwarderadeel. They had two children: Tjitske Hettema, 1842-1867, and Hinne Hettema, 1839-1906, and Hendrik Hettema, born 1845.

 3) Albertje Pieters Hettema was born 24 December 1794 and baptised 3 January 1795. She died in Rauwerderhem 10 July 1852. She married Sijtze Thomas Dotinga in Rauwerderhem 29 April 1821. He was born in Deersum 6 August 1794, baptised in Deersum, 17 August 1794, and died in Rauwerderhem, 23 December 1850. His occupation was farmer in Deersum and later in Speers. He was son of Thomas Sijtzes Dotinga and Lijsert Tjeerds Sijboltsma. The couple had seven children. 4) Hette Pieters Hettema was born in Sybrandaburen 2 May 1797 and baptised on the 7th. He died in Beetgum 03 August 1882. He was a farmer in Rauwerd, 1822, in Deersum after 1829, in Hallum from 1843 to 1871, and afterwards in Beetgum.
His first marriage was on 27 May 1820 in Rauwerderhem to Grietje Doekes Hellema. She was born 15 July 1798 in Wirdum and died in Hallum on 3 December 1835.

Children:
Pieter, born 1821; Doeke, born 1822; Lijsbert, born 1823; Tjitske & Dieuwke, born 1826; Tetman, born 1828; Tjitze, born 1830; Wieger, born 1833; Tetman, born 1835
The second marriage of Hette Pieters took place on 13 June 1839 in Hallum to Teetske Anskes Fortuin. She was born 21 November 1801 in Jutrijp, Wymbritseradeel, and died 13 April 1859. Anske Hettes (Hettema) was the first-born child of this marriage.
Children:
Anske, born 1840; Feike, born 1842; Tetman, born 1844
Hette Pieters married for the third time on 20 August 1863 to Hendrikje Hettes van Tuinen in St. Anna Parish. She was born on 20 May 1808 and died 5 October 1889.


2. The family of Hette Pieters Hettema

Hette Pieters Hettema was born in Sybrandaburen 2 May 1797 and died in Beetgum 3 August 1882. He was a farmer first in Rauwerd, then Deersum and Hallum and from 1843 to 1871 in Beetgum.

He was a leader of a secessionist sect of strict Calvinists. Some links and a short discussion of the sect and his involvement are given below. He also left a memoir that is mainly about his religious life. A synopsis of the memoir, prepared by Bettie Hutter, is appended as a separate document since it's too long to include on this page. Here's the link: http://delabrede.com/Hettema/BettieHutter.html. There is also a brief description on a site devoted to the history of the secession movement in Hallum.

This site says that Hette Pieters Hettema was known for his leading role in the secession at Hallum and also known for his memoirs, published in 1883. Paraphrasing: "These memoirs describe the history of the Secession from his point of view. In 1839 he remarried and in 1843 he left Hallum and moved to Beetgum. He was first married to Grietje Doekes Hellema, daughter of Doeke Wijgers Hellema, a man who had kept diaries for the better part of his life. Transcriptions of the diaries are available, in Dutch, from an archive in Friesland. In addition, selected entries were published in 1978 as a book entitled Kroniek van een Friese Boer by Doeke Wijgers Hellema. I have made some paraphrased translations of a few of the entries. They are available here: http://delabrede.com/Hettema/KroniekvaneenFrieseBoer.html The Chronicle mentions Hellema's daughter, Grietje, and her husband in several places. Here is a link to library sources of the Chronicle: Kroniek van een Friese boer : de aantekeningen (1821-1856) van Doeke Wijgers Hellema te Wirdum. Hellema's diaries and an autobiography can be found at this site (in Dutch).

Hette Pieters Hettema married Teetske Anskes Fortuin on 13 June 1839 in Hallum. She was born 21 November 1801 in Jutrijp and died 13 April 1859. Anske Hettes Hettema was the first-born child of this marriage.

Children
1) Anske Hettes Hettema was born 16 June 1840 in Hallum and died 7 April 1888 in Passaic, New Jersey. 2) Feike Hettes was born 30 May 1842 in Hallum, and died 30 November 1863 in St. Annaparochie. He did not marry. 3) Tetman Hettes was born 5 February 1844 in St. Annaparochie, and died 1 November 1871 in Giessendam. On 17 October 1867 he married Albertina H.G. Werff in Kampen. He was a preacher in the Christian Reformed Church.


3. The family of Anske Hettes Hettema

Anske Hettes Hettema was born 16 June 1840 in Hallum and died 1888 in Passaic, New Jersey. We have a photostat from a woman who signed herself Edythe of an emigration document giving information about Anske, his wife Sjoukje, and their children. An image of the photostat together with a copy of Edythe's letter and extracts from the photostat appear below.

Anske Hettes Hettema married Sjoukje Meyes Douma 14 November 1868 in Wymbritseradiel. She was born 16 July 1851 in Heeg and she died 1934 in Passaic, New Jersey. For a brief anecdote about Sjoukje, see a note from Florence Heynen, copied below. See also a copy of a condolence sent to Sjoukje Douma when her husband died. Edith Hildebrand said that Sjoukje emigrated with her husband in 1881. They came to Passiac via Ellis Island from Snek in Friesland. Her husband had gone bankrupt running a store. They had to pawn jewelry to pay for passage. He became a landscape gardener in the US, but died shortly after arriving (in the blizzard of 1888). Guy Myron Hettema was five when his father died; his brother Neil was not yet born. Sjoukje cleaned houses to feed her six children. Here is the database entry for Sjoukje Meijes Douma with links to spouses, parents, and children.

Children

1) Taetske, born 28 Sep. 1870 in Beetgum 2) Ytje (Edith), born 10 Feb. 1873 in Mendaldum 3) Hette (Harry), born 4 July 1875 in Mendaldum 4) Feikje, born 17 Mar. 1878 in Menaldum 5) Guy Meyer (Myron), born 11 Dec 1882 in Passaic, New Jersey 6) May, born between 1884 and 1887; died in ca. 1887. 7) Cornelius Anske, born 12 May 1888, in New Jersey


4. The family of Ytje (Edith) Hettema and Lammert Klazes Zijlstra

Ytje (Edith) Hettema was born 10 Feb 1873 and died ca. 1915. In 1898 she married Lammert Klazes Zijlstra in New Jersey. He was born 10 August 1861 in Deinum, Netherlands.

5. Children

1) Grietje Hempenius was born 7 October 1900 and died 25 July 2001. In our family she was known as Aunt Gertie. She married Harry Roosje who was born 14 February 1888 or 89 and died March 1974. They had two sons, Harry and Lambertus. 2) Sadie 3) Nicholas Lambert 4) Anthony Wayne 5) Richard 6) Anna


4. The family of Hette (Harry) Hettema and Kate (last name not known)

Hette (Harry) Hettema was born, 4 July 1875 in Menaldum, Friesland, and died 7 October 1963 in Hawaii. Edith Hettema said that Harry taught his brother Guy the basics of carpentry. He moved to Hawaii and built up a construction business there, mainly working on fortifications. He married and then divorced a woman about whom almost nothing is known and then remarried Tessie Vogel who was born in the Netherlands in January 1877. They had four children: Ausker (Harry II), Theresa, Richard, and Thalia.



4. The family of Guy Hettema and Nellie Hellegers

Guy Myron Hettema was born 11 December 1882 in Passaic, New Jersey, and died 26 April 1969 in Briarcliff, NY. Edith Hettema said that Guy left school after 4th grade though his sisters and brothers begged him not to. He tended cows and then worked in cotton and rubber mills. At 14 he apprenticed to a carpenter. His older brother Harry had taught him the basics of the trade. Guy and his younger brother Neil had a business together for a while, but Neil left to go into the chicken business. Here is the database entry for Guy M. Hettema with links to spouses, parents, and children. The database entry uses the name "Jarry (Guy) Meyer Hettema."

Guy Hettema married Nellie (Petronella) Hellegers 20 September 1906 in Passaic, NJ. She was born 17 July 1880 and died 28 October 1963 in Angola, Indiana. Nellie's parents were Thomas Anthony Hellegers (born in Amsterdam) and Dena DeGroot (born in Zeeland, Netherlands). Here is a link to a list of Hellegers ancestors and family narratives. And here is the database entry for Nellie Hellegers with links to spouses, parents, and children.

5. Children

1) Thomas A. was born 5 August 1907 and died February 1984. He was married 16 September 1932 to Eleanor Odell Van Keuren. The daughter of Albert C. Odell and his wife Inez, she was born 22 April 1910 and died February 1972. Of her marriage to a man named Van Keuren nothing is known. Of Eleanor and Thomas's three children, one survives. Karen (Mrs. Karen Kreutzer) was born 10 March 1945 and died 19 July 1993. Thomas Anthony Hettema Jr. was born 19 July 1942 and died 10 April 1919. After Eleanor died, Thomas married again. His second wife was Susan L. Galloway (1912-1993). She had previously been married to Eleanor's brother, Albert C. Odell, jr. (1911-1987). Susan and Albert had a daughter, Elizabeth. Susan and Tom had no children. Her parents were Clarence T. Galloway and Alice B. Galloway and she was an only child. Tom Hettema attended Tri-State Engineering College, Angola, Indiana, served as a Lieutenant in the Seabees during World War II, and made his living as a construction engineer. 2) Arthur D. was was born 7 February 1909 and died 18 November 2003. He was married to Adeline Hughes on 17 Aug 1937. She was born 23 March 1905 and died 17 January 1990. Like his older brother Tom, Art Hettema attended Tri-State Engineering College and became a construction engineer. In 1943 he joined the Seabees and volunteered to serve in Naval special forces. A a member of an Underwater Demolition Team, he saw action at Iwo Jima and other South Pacific Japanese strongholds and published a short memoir of his experiences which is available online: My Experience With U.D.T. at Luzon and Iwo Jima (self-published, 1985). 3) Edith was born 02 February 1911 and died 2 February 1997. She graduated from the Fifth Avenue School of Nursing and worked in Flower Fifth Avenue, New York, until the outbreak of World War II, when she joined the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps as a Lt. Cmdr. She continued in the PHS and other nursing positions after the war. She was married to Ernest Hildebrand on 3 December 1949 and gave birth to a daughter in 1951. 4) Geraldine was born 14 December 1912 and died 10 August 1998. Like her older sister, she graduated from the Fifth Avenue School of Nursing. She was a surgical nurse at Cornell Medical Center New York Hospital, 1934-1939. In 1937 she married Edwin A. Harris who was born 6 October 1911 and died 27 July 1978. They raised three sons in Mt. Kisco, NY. The eldest, Alan (Edwin Alan, Jr.), was born in 1939 and died 9 June 2012. 5) Florence S. was born 1 February 1915 and died 26 December 1988. On 12 November 1938 she married Fritz Heynen who was born 2 October 1910 and died 5 July 1993. 6) Robert M. was born 23 September 1917 and died 6 February 2004. In 1939 he graduated from Purdue University with a civil engineering degree and joined Turner Construction Company. During World War II he served in the Pacific Theater as a Lt. (j.g.) in the Seabees and he returned to Turner following the war, eventually becoming a vice president. Following retirement from Turner he became an associate professor of Architectural Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. On 15 February 1947 he married Ursula Virginia Lee, who was born 16 February 1921 and died 22 February 2006. Of their six children, five survive. Arthur was born 31 July 1951 and died 1 March 2002.


4. The family of Cornelius (Neil) Anske Hettema and Antje/Addie Nauta

Cornelius Anske Hettema (6th child of Anske and Sjoukje) was born 12 May 1888 in Passaic, New Jersey and died 19 December 1979 in Orlando, FL. His first marriage, on 20 September 1906, was to Addie Nauta (born 10 Aug 1886 in Idzega, Friesland, Netherlands, died 28 Oct. 1963 in Angola, Indiana). Neil had a second marriage to Ratie Stonebrink who was born 26 Dec 1890, died 21 May 1974. They had a daughter Elizabeth (Bettie).

5. Children of Neil and Addie

1) Addie (Marie) 2) Edythe (Edie) 3) Oscar
Born 9 May 1911, died 24 Nov. 2010; married on 15 Oct (year not known) to Alice B. Everington, born 15 Sep 1915, died 7 May 1978. Oscar Hettema worked with his father as a building contractor, served in the Seabees during World War II, and was for many years a city administrator in Tampa and surrounds. He and Alice had two children, Roger and Joan. 		4) Sandra 5) Tice
Born 28 August 1912, died 2 October 1998; married to but separated from Ruth E. Wooley, 15 June 1926 to 25 October 1976. They had two daughters, Eileen and Diane, and a son, Tice, Jr.


Certificate made during the French occupation in 1811 when Friesians were required to adopt surnames

This certificate records the adoption of a surname by Pieter Hettes. It was machine-translated from the Dutch original. A transcription, in Dutch, can be found at this site. For information on Friesian surnames see this site. Typically, a surname was formed by adding a "son of" suffix to the father's given name. The name Hettema thus means "son of Hette."

Certificate No.96

Pieter Hettes, farmer, living at Sybrandaburen, has stated that he adopts the name of Hettema for family name and that he has four children, two sons called Tetman, nineteen years old, and Hette, fourteen years old, and two daughters, Pyttje, twenty years old, and Albertje, seventeen years old.

And this have we given on this thirteenth day of December 1811.

[signed] Pyter Hettes Hettema

Secessionists

Here's some information from the SECESSIONISTS web site about the scessionist movement (archived).

Hallum

    Although the Secession in Hallum became effective on January 7, 1836, the first minutes of the church date from June of that year. Apparently the administration did not have the highest priority at first. The minutes do show the names of the first members though, one of them being farmer Hette Pieters Hettema who is not only known for his leading role in the Secession at Hallum but also known for his memoirs which were published in 1883. These memoirs describe the history, origin and development of the Secession from his point of view. In 1839 he remarried and in 1843 he left Hallum and moved to Beetgum. He was first married to Grietje Doekes Hellema, daughter of Doeke Wijgers Hellema. He had kept a diary for the better part of his life. A selection of this diary was published in 1978 as a book, entitled: "Kroniek van een Friese boer".

    It were turbulent days in Hallum early 1836. In the evening of January 16, a church service was held at the home of Sieds Freerks Sytsma . Slowly but surely a crowd of opponents had gathered around the house and at the end of the sermon all of a sudden the windows were broken and various people forced their way into the house. Furniture was smashed to pieces, books torn apart whereas the crowd outside was  uttering all kinds of threats and insults. After some time the situation cooled down and nobody was (physically) hurt. As this was not the first incident, the Christian Reformed Church in Hallum decided to send a letter to the Governor of the province pointing out the freedom of religion and complaining about lack of protection. The letter -dated March 5, 1836- was signed by 11 Seceders: J.A. Andree, S.F. Sytsma, A.J. Andree, J.H. Friesema, M. F. de Zwart , J.J. Andree, H.F. van Marrum, D. Moorhoff, H.P. Hettema, A.A. Haanstra and H.D. Talsma.

The letter did not have any result and at the end the complaints were neglected.

    The minutes of June 1836 show the following first members of the Christian Reformed Church:

Hette Pieters Hettema (widower of Grietje Doekes Hellema)
Sieds Freerks Sytsma & Abeltje Jans Andree
Harmen Dirks Talsma & Sijke Rinderts Lelia
Anne Arjens Haanstra & Trijntje Wybrens de Groot
Hendrik Feyes van Marum & Janke Feitzes Veenma
Abe Jans Andree & Fokeltje Jans Kas
Pier Johannes Prins  & Antje Jans Faber
Romke Jans Boelens & Rinske Jans Andree
Sytske Hettes Miersma (widow of Pieter Rinses Nieuwsma)
Jan Jans van der Haag & Feikje AEbes Braaksma
Dirk Moorhoff & Hermijntje Jacobs (originally from the city of Haarlem)
Jan Jans Andree
Pieter Folkerts Rinsma
Jantje Gerrits Hofman

    

Source:
    "De Afscheiding van 1834 in Friesland - Deel 1: de classis Wanswerd (Dokkum) van de Afgescheiden kerken" by Dr. J Wesseling.
    Published in 1980 by De Vuurbaak which kindly granted permission to copy above information from the book.

Links for further information of the secessionist movement:

The First Secession of 1834: "In 1834, a number of ministers and members were either expelled or departed from the Dutch Reformed (State) Church. This Church had drifted away from its biblical and confessional basis. It had also adopted a hierarchical form of church government which left no room for the autonomy of the local church. As a result, the Reformed churches of the Netherlands were established and laid claim to being the continuation of the true Reformed church."

The Secession of 1834: "With the advent of the French Revolution and its aftermath, the Dutch Reformed Church fell to a very low level due to a liberalism that regarded Reformed doctrines as being out of date. But some ministers and thousands of middle and lower class members remained faithful to Reformed teaching, and tried to get the Church to live up to its creeds and church order. ... One of the faithful ministers, De Cock, led a secession in 1834 (known as the Afscheiding) when it became impossible to work for reform within the Church. The secession group stated that they would not fellowship with the Dutch Reformed Church until that church returned to the true service of the Lord. The secession group, which became known as the Christian Reformed Church, went back to the standards of the Dutch Reformed Church (i.e. Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dordt, Belgic Confessions) and adopted the Church Order of 1618-19. Other local congregations joined the secession, and they held their first Synod in 1836, and founded their own theological college in Kampen in 1854. Due to persecution, two of the leaders of the secession led their congregations to Iowa and Michigan, and it was from this initial migration that the Christian Reformed Church grew in the U.S.A. (Much of the Sunday School and Catechism instruction material we use is produced by this church.)"

Personal Narrative

Here is a copy of a letter from a woman who signed herself Edythe to Florence Heynen conveying a photostat of an emigration document for Anske Hettema and family. This Edythe was probably the daughter of Guy's brother Neil and thus Florence's Cousin Edythe (Edie).

Tuesday, Nov. 16th

Dear Florence:

I am finally sending you a copy of the papers, in a mailing tube, under separate cover and I hope it arrives OK. I am sorry to be so long about it but it was packed away in a back bedroom, and you know how these things go.

Dad had written on my copy the children's names, you will see it lists all birthdates , they are 1. Mamie Pousma, 2. Edith Sylstra, 3. Uncle Harry, and 4. Anne Snoep.

The copy of the letter is a letter Grandma's stepmother in Holland had written to her, a letter of condolence at the time our Grandfather Hettema died. It is from a lady named Visser, Visjer? and is a very nice letter. Dad had read it to us in the past. The copy of the card at the lower right is an announcement of Grandma's marriage.

I was heartsick to learn that Grandma's papers, books and pictures were thrown out -- I have different memories than Edith, Grandma called me into her room many times and went over all the pictures with me -- one time she gave me a picture of my Mother and told me to keep it always. But as I said before I never saw or knew about these papers until your Mother showed them to my Father in Indiana. Its a shame they were thrown out -- the original copies, but I know these things do happen -- I have lost things too in all my moving around.

I took a fast trip to New Jersey in April of this year for Barbara's wedding -- another of Tice's daughters. .This is the second marriage into the same Polish Catholic family, lovely people -- and the wedding was great! Cousin Gertie was there too and it was so good to see her and visit with her again -- she is a true Hettema! Tice, Jr., Tice's only son is a fine boy, they have bought property in Newfoundland near Tice , and are fixing the house. He is a fine, ambitious, hardworking boy, a boy to be proud of. The girls are doing well too.

Tice's former wife, Ruth, passed away just recently, she had cancer. Tice took over the family plot in Fairlawn, N. J. and he buried Ruth next to our own Mother. They had lived apart, but Ruth had not remarried.

Dad is doing well, he cannot walk, but gets up every day, dresses, reads the paper. He must stay in the wheelchair, but it able to get about. Bettie and Sandy take him for walks and rides in the car -- he loves to get out. His mind is clear now, he was quite anxious to vote for Mr. Ford, and did! I get to Florida several times a year to see him too. He is still in the same nursing home. He is now 88!

Incidentally I am very proud of Jimmy Carter -- I helped in a small way to get him elected and I believe he will be a good president.

Must close now -- hope all are well. My children are all happy and leading productive lives for which I am most thankful. Have my 6th grandchild on the way, via Todd and Cheryl.

Love to all, as always, [signed] Edythe

Relocation Request

Here are the contents of a "Testimonial of change of real place of residence." [This is a babelfish machine translation of: "Getuigschrift van verandering van werkelijke woonplaats".] The form is a request to the King of the Netherlands for permission to relocate. Some of the handwritten entries are indecipherable. The document is a form with spaces for surname, forename, sex, birth date & place, marital status, religion, occupation, etc. Here are the handwritten entries on the form.

Hettema, Anske Hettes
Male
Married, Head of household
born 16 June 1840 in Hallum
Faith: Christ:Geref
Profession: Minkelies (?)
========================
Douma, Sjoukje .... (illeg.)
Female, wife
born 16 July 1851 in Heeg
========================
Hettema, [illegible]
Daughter
born 28 Sept 1870 in ... [illegible]
========================
Hettema, Ytje
Daughter
born 10 Feb 1873 in Beetgum
========================
Hettema, Hette
Son
born 4 July 1875 in Menaldum
========================
Hettema, Feikje
Daughter
born 17 Aug? 1878 in Menaldum

[The document has the following closing.]

Dated 16 May 1881

Signed A. H. Hettema

[seal]

Delivered by the governing board of the municipality sneek, pine by secretary J.W. Bennewitz

Here is an image of part of the photostat

Sjoukje Douma Hettema

Excerpt from a letter by Florence Heynen dated October 19, 1981: "Dear Cousin Seba, I was glad that you mentioned living near the Hettema family in Passaic. I wonder what kind of a neighbor my grandmother, Sadie Douma Hettema was. She lived with us a good deal of the time when I was growing up and she never seemed happy or cheerful and was pessimistic about everything. When I was a child her four daughters had died and perhaps that was why she was so bitter. Her husband died also when she had two children under 5 years of age. Harry Hettema lived in Rochester when I was young and later moved to Honolulu. His children still live there."

Condolance

The following is translated from a photostat of a letter of condolence to Sjoukje Meyes Douma from her mother, the widow of Neye Douma, Heeg, Netherlands.

(Letter of condolence to Grandma from her mother, the widow of Neye Douma, Heeg, Netherlands, written for her by Marie Gerrits Visjer, who later married Thijs Nauta, father-in-law of C. A. Hettema [i.e. Cornelius, brother of Guy Myron])

[On the photostat with the ms is a card from the wedding of Anske and Douma. It reads: "HUVELIJKS-BEKENDMAKING van ANSKE H. HETTEMA van St. Anna EN DJOUKJR M. DOUMA van HEeeg --- EERSTE AFKONDIGING OF ZONDAG 1 NOVEMBER 1868."]

Heeg 3 Aug. 1888

Dear Daughter,

We are by the grace of God in good health and hope you may receive this letter in the same condition, we have received your letter about the sad passing away of your dear husband, as well as the sad news last year of the passing of your dear baby daughter May. And that in that far off strange land, it must surely be a terribly trying time for you.

However, you no doubt will have much comfort from your brother, Cornelius and his family, who no doubt will help you in your future plans, and then the older children are soon able to work and help provide for the family needs also.

We would love to hear more about how your family are doing and also from Cornelius and Trina (Granima's brother and wife) and children.

Now dear Sadie, that is the struggle we have in this life--one passes on here and another there. We are indeed blessed in that we have a Savior in Jesus who has gone to prepare a place for all believers, and I know that must give you some comfort in this tragic time. May God give you what is needed to carry on.

Be sure and give our regards to Cornelius and family and let us hear from both of you soon again.

Yours as ever,
The widow of
Beywon Douma,
as also your friend,
Marie Gerrits Visjea

[Florence Heynen added the following note to this letter:] I had this copy of Great Grandmother Douma's letter in my Hettema file. Edythe Strayer gave me a copy years ago & wondered where the original was. Florence H

Some other links:

Fries Archiefnet Guide to searching archives in Friesland

Families in Hallum in 1830

Autobiography and Diaries of Doeke Wijgers Hellema (in Dutch.

http://users.telenet.be/Annemarie.Bruinsma/FT-Sneek.htm brief history about Sneek with links for further information. Sneek (Snits in the Frisian language) is located amongst the Frisian lakes 125 Km Northwest of Amsterdam. It is so far North that the Winters are harsh and in Summer it has white nights (the sun doesn't fully set).

Map of Friesland


This map shows the greater part of Friesland. Significant locations, particularly with respect to Pieter Hettes Hettema, are underscored in green.

Map of Friesland

This larger map has family locations marked by blue squares. Click map to view full size.

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