Family History is back on my agenda (for now). I've been doing some digging, both on the Internet and in my files. One thing I do have is what appears to be an original copy (is that a contradiction?) of the decree that gave rise to the surname Fredanus van Gelder. It is dated 21 November 1885 and has certainly seen better days. It was obviously folded in quarters for some time and a rusty paperclip was used on it (see the bottom left edge). I have scanned the various pieces and merged them electronically so you can download the image and print out your own copy if you want one.One thing I have noticed is that the names we have attributed to our Dutch ancestors are not always accurate. The name Machiel has been variously quoted to me as Michael, Michiel etc. As you can see Louis Machiel was the son of Machiel van Gelder and Sara Fredanus. I wonder what drove the decision to have the new surname?
Anyway, I'm searching for more on the Fredanus van Gelder side but I'm not having much luck so far. If anybody has any facts, please pass them along.
Footnote: I am lucky to work in a global organisation. One of my Dutch colleagues has done a translation of what he tells me is the very formal Old Dutch. I was impressed with how accurate my own translation was.
Uittreksel
Birth certificate
uit het geboorte register van den burgelijke stand.
From the Civil Registry of Birth
Louis Machiel zoon van Machiel van Gelder en Sara Fredanus geboren 11-1-1869
Louis Machiel son of Machiel van Gelder and Sara Fredanus born January 11th 1869
Ter zijde staat: Volgens afschrift van het koninklijk besluit in dato 30 oktober 1885 no 28, is aan Louis Machiel van Gelder toegestaan dat hij bij zijn geslachtsnaam dien van Fredanus voege, met dien gevolge, dat hij met zijne wettige nakomelingen voortaan dien naam zal dragen van: Fredanus van Gelder.
Aside stands: In accordance with the Royal Decree dated October, 30th 1885 no 28, permission is given to Louis Machiel van Gelder to add Fredanus to his surname, as a consequence , he and all his descendants will bear the name Fredanus van Gelder.
zie bijvoegsel folie 39. Amsterdam 18 november 1800 vijf en tachtig,
See supplement folio 39 Amsterdam November, 18th 1885
Getekend,
Signed,
Signed,
4 comments:
Cool - Mom & Michael have a framed copy in their house.... I remember Grandma (I think) saying that apparently Sara Fredanus had done some heroic act for the family and that was why it had been decided to keep her surname from then on in. Apparently before that the tradition was to use the wife's maiden name so in our case we would have been Marquard van Gelder... Not too sure how accurate my info is - but I am pretty sure I heard it from Grandma
So if the tradition was to use the wife's maiden name it would have ended up being Fredanus van Gelder anyway? So what did an heroic act have to do with it all? My experience so far is that family history has much more fiction than fact... but very hard to proove the fact.
The framed copy of the decree... is that an original? I don't recall. Or was it a photocopy? This one is the original document and is very badly damaged.
Our copy is a photocopy (not very good) showing the same damage. Your scanned one looks much better. M says to say he has kided various people that according to familt tradition Emma's name is Emma Caitlin Keppel-Smith Fredanus van Gelder. Says that Aunt Marge brought the copies back after a visit to Gelderland
Did Aunt Marge bring back the "original" I have? It has nothing on it to indicate it is anything other than a copy made in about 1885. See the printed text on the bottom right ([21 November]1800 and 85). She can't have been there in 1885 of course and since Louis was born in 1869 I think that the decision to adopt the Fredanus van Gelder name was taken at some time after his birth, probably in 1885. The document refers to an original dated 3 days earlier on 18 November 1885. I wonder if this is the copy they kept to prove the new name?
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