IMMIGRANT RECORDS

IN1RODUCTION 

This section includes a list of all the immigrants from Bentheim that we could find. To be included a person had to be an immigrant who was born in Bentheim or emigrated from there. This includes a number of people born in the Netherlands and elsewhere as well as Bentheimers who first emigrated to the Netherlands. 

A variety of different records where searched in completing this section. These records did not always agree and it was necessary to make many judgement calls. This, combined with the sheer volume of data make it inevitable that they are many errors in this document. No attempt was made to find all the information for every individual. For these reasons the reader is encouraged to search the original records wherever possible. 

FIELD DEFINITIONS 

IMMIGRANT NAMES- The surname at birth is used if known, in order to group siblings. This was the custom in old European church records. Names are spelled based on the records researched. The spelling may vary. If the surname listed is the same as that of the spouse it indicates that we did not know the birthnames and simply listed the man and wife under the married name. If there is an "*" in this column the husband took the wife's name at marriage. 

BORN- The birthdate if known. Many times this was calculated from the age at the time of marriage, emigration, 'census or death. These dates will often be close but not accurate. Sometimes this will be the baptismal date. 

PLACE- Many times the parish is listed because the hamlet in the parish is nQt known for sure. This may be the place they left from, not necessarily the place they were born. The place names for Alte-Pikkardie, Bishofspool, Hardinghausen, Hocklenkamp, Heesterkante, NeuPikkardie, Sieringhoek and Wietmarschen are abbreviated. 

SPOUSE- The name of the first known spouse. If the surname of the spouse is the same as that of the immigrant it indicates we did not know the maiden name. 

IMMIGRATED- This is the date of arrival in North America if known. Otherwise it is the date they left or applied for a passport. Some dates are recorded from naturalization records. These may not be accurate as they are based on the immigrant's memory. A check of the codes in the Ref. column for the individual will clarify any questions.

PLACE OF SETTLEMENT (TO) CODES: 

The immigrants often lived in several places. The places listed here are meant only as a general guide to where this family settled. Abbreviations used are as follows: 

Ca- Canada. CA- Alberta, Canada. CB- British Columbia (Abbortsford), Canada. CO- Ontario, Canada (Toronto area). IH- Dunlap, Iowa. Fl - Florida. II - Illinois. In- Indiana. 11- Indianapolis, Indiana. Ka- Kansas. Ke-Covington, Kentucky. Kl- Louisville, Kentucky. MA- Allegan County, Michigan. Mc- Michigan. MK-Kent County, Michigan. Mu- Muskegon County, Michigan. Mn­Minnesota. MO-Ottawa County, Michigan. MM-Missaukee County, Michigan. MN- Newaygo County, Michigan. Mz-Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Nb - Nebraska. OC- Cleveland, Ohio. OH­Hamilton County, Ohio (Cincinnati). OM-Miami County, Ohio. 00- Ohio. Vi-Amelia County, Virginia. Wa- State of Washington. 

REFERENCE CODES- The three main sources used for the information presented. Codes C, D, E, 1., M, N, P, S, X and Z are American sources. The rest are German records. Some "P" sources are from Europe. 

C -     Cemetary records from the following books: Ottawa County Cemetary Records by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Overijssel Cemetary Records by Amy Jansen. East Saugatuck Cemetary Records by Irene Reidsma. Newaygo County Cemetary Records by the Newaygo County Historical Society. Local Cemetaries recorded by Grace Keeler. Borculo Cemetary Records by Irene Reidsma. 

D -     Allegan, Ottawa, Missaukee and Newaygo County (Michigan) death records. 

E -     Holland, Michigan Evening Sentinel. 

L -     Church anniversary booklets of the First Reformed Church of Zeeland, the Christian Reformed Churches of Luctor (Kansas), Lucas and East Saugatuck (Michigan). 

M -    Allegan, Ottawa, Missaukee and Newaygo County marriage and birth records. 

N -     Naturalization records for Newaygo, Ottawa and Allegan Counties. 

P -     Personnel correspondance with indviduals or published geneologies including the following: Bouman by Mrs. Martin Bouman; Heetderks by Cliff Stevens; Klomparens by Ed Prins; Klompmaker by Fran Kortman; Koops & Lohmulder by Joyce Seaman; Kortman by Fran Kortman; Lemmen by Lloyd Lemmen and Loren Lemmen; Lucas by Lucas family; Poll by Justin Poll; Potgeter; Prins, Oortman by Ed Prins; Speet by Ron Buursma; Zoerhof by Zoerhof family. Individuals consulted include Paul Boerrigter, Jan Boerrigter of Sweikhuizen the Netherlands, Trudie Borst, Leon Branderhorst, Hero Bratt, Rev. G. J. Beuker of Germany, Irene Deters, Jan Deters, Pat Gemmen, Jack Holtvluwer, Clemens Honnigfort of Bonn, Germany, Esther Huizenga, Rhonda Hulst, Harriet Jansen, Goldie Kleinheksel, Dina Klompmaker, Fran Kortman, Gary Kuipers, Stephen Lambers, Diane Lenters, Jesse Lummen, Del Mokma, Emily Mouw, Johanna Oldemulder, Gesine Pastunink, Ed Prins, Irene Reidsma, Gregor Santel of Germany, Joyce Seaman, June Sundin, Ann Steketee, Jean Taylor, Herman Van Faasen, Johanna Voogd, Mrs. Chester Weener, George Westenberg. 

S -     Ships Lists 1847-1856 by Edward Prins.German Immigrants-List of Passenl!ers Bound from Bremen to New York 1847-1867 compiled by­ Gary J. Zimmerman and Marion Wolfert (in three volumes). Germans to America edited by Glazier and Filby (1850-1866) Various passenger lists researched by the authors.

X -     Census records as follows: Allegan, Ottawa, Kent, Newaygo and Missaukee Counties in Michigan. Hamilton and Miami Counties in Ohio. Marion County, Indiana. 

Z -     Dutch in U.S. Censuses 1850-1870 by Dr. Roben Swierenga. 

A -     Altreformiert Church records. These include the original membership records of the church at Emlichheim well as the Uelsen and Laar records from Gemeinde Unterwel!: by Pastor Beuker and 100 Jahre Evangelisch - Altreformierte Gemeinde Laar by Alben Arends. 

G -     The German newspaper "Der Grafschafter".
The yearbook of the Heimatverein Der Grafschaft Bentheim. 

H -     Article in a 1936 edition of the German newspaper Heimabote. 

O -     Emigration records from the Osnabruck (West Germany) State Archives. These fall into two categories. The first is passport applications and the second is reports from the local mayors listing individuals who emigrated during the course of the year. 

R -     Reformiert and Alt-Reformien baptismal and marriage records. 

V -     "Die ersten Amerika-Auswanderer aus dem Flecken Bentheim" by Dr. Heinrich Voort. An anicle in the 1981 yearbook of the Heimatverein Der Grafschaft Bentheim. 

W -    Catholic Church records of Wietmarschen and letters from emigrants in America to relatives in Wietmarschen as supplied by Clemens Honnigfort of Bonn, Germany. 

PARENTS- The name of the parents, if known. An initial is used for the surname of the parent with the same surname as the child. This field can be used to identify siblings.

COMMENTS

             Additional information and comments from the original German emigration records are included here. Abbreviations used here include ch.- children, Cin.- Cincinnati. H.-­immigration date from Heimabote article. PP.- immigration date from Osnabruck records, (N)- Netherlands. 

Aarnink. Gerd-Came with sister 26, father's brother in America. Arens. Geert- Returned to Uelsen 1881. Assink. Derk-Left from. Voorwald. Averes. Jan H. (1849)-Came with father & family.

Bauer. H.- came with wife 2 sons and 1 d. Beckman. H.- came with wife and 2 ch. Bennink. Gerhard- Settled first in Indianapolis.Berens. Hendrik (1839)-Came with wife 48 & ch. 16 & 8. Beneling. H.- came with wife and 3 ch. Bieleveld. Jan- An uncle lives in America. Boerril!:ter. Georl!:e- came on ship Werkendam. Bonkel- Left from Zuidlaren, (N). Borl!:man. Hendrik- Came with wife & 2 ch. Bosh. Bos and Bus( ch) should be compared. Bosman and Busman should be compared, Albert B. came on ship Scholten. Bouwkamp. Jennv- Left from Gross Ringe. Bouman. Andina = Andina Rabbers? Bouwman. Fred­Left from Almelo, (N). Brink. Lokke- Left from Hardinghausen. Broene. Harm pp. 06-29-1865. Brester­also spelled Bresser lived in Ohio first. Brink. Hendrika (1826)- Maybe a TenBrink. Busscher. Jan (1856)­Born Jan Kotman took stepfather's name. Buter. Hendrikje-Death ree. says father Ben Buter. Buter family (1870)- Left from Drenthe (N). Busman. Berend- Second PP. = 08-06-1869. Bultkes- are brothers. Busman. Henrv - settled in Ohio first.

Charlotte. Elise - "in the Stroth". Cramer. Albert- see ship Castor arrived May 4 1881.

            Derks. Hendrik- Came with 3 ch. 4,3 & 1. Diekevers. Zwantien- Left from Laar, died near Toronto.

Dirks- Has relatives in Cin. Drees- Went to NeuBremen Ohio, son-in-law Fuhrman is a minister there. Dusman- Left from Coevorden (N).

Gansford- Came with wife and son. Gebben- moved to the Netherlands in 1869, the children were born there? See ship's list. Gemmen- came on ship Schiedam. Gerritsen. Harm- Seattle area. Gosemeier. Jan- Came with wife, 3 sons & 2 daughters. Gunneman. Gerrit- Ohio until 1867.

Handfeld H- Older brother, 2 uncles and 3 aunts live in Ohio. Handfeld. J.- One older brother, a brother and sister of the father and 2 brothers of the mother live in America. Hasebrock. Gerrit (1807) came with 5 ch. Heek- PP-04-13-1870. Heekman- Jan & Janna are siblings; PP. = 03-20-1860. Heetderks. Hendrik- Death ree. says mother Janna Warmelink. Heetderks came with Al Kunnen. Heilman B.- Came with wife and 2 ch. Heispink-PP 02-12-1867. Hemmeke. Jan H- Family called Tibbe on emigration records. Hensen. F.-Died in Chicago. Hinken. Jacob- Left from Itterbeck. Hinken. Gertien- Left from Alte­Pikkardie. Hindriks. Harm- Married in East Saugatuck. Hockers- Came with 2 sons and 2 d. Hoelsner­Maybe H Holsner 30 on the ship Castor arrived 5-4-1881. Hoffman. Alfred- Left from Nordhorn. Hofmever. Gerrit- Came with son age 5. H02e. H (1819)- Came with father and whole family. H02e. J.­Has relatives in America. Holthaus. H.- Came with wife and 4 children. Hoppejans. B.- A older brother and an uncle live in America. Horsink. Jan- Name changed to Hossink.

Immink Herm- An uncle lives in Indiana.

Jager. J H- From the "History of Neue Ringe" by Dr. Kuhle. Jur2ens. Geor2e- Adopted son of Herm Wiegmink. Jansen. Albert- pp. 06-28-1865. Jeurink. Ide- Census says came 1876, there maybe 2 Ides.

Kalmink. Hermina- Left from Tinholt. H= 07 1866. Kempkers- from Wilsum came on ship Maasdam, perhaps in 1883. Kiewit. Gerd- Has 6 sisters, Herm Kaltman the father's brother lives in Crothersville. PP. = 06-30-70. Kiewit. Derk- PP. = 08-15-69. Kiewit. Herm- PP. = 03-27-69. Klane- Went to Chicago. Kleefman. Gezina- Ch. born 1867 in Drenthe. Klin2e. Gerrit- came on ship Dubbledam. Klompmaker. A- See Aleida Koops. Kloosterman. Heinrich T.- A brother and mother live in U.S. Koch­

Letter from his sister says she married G. Hater in Cin. Konen. H.- Left from Neue Ringe with mother & sister. Konin2. Jan- Came with Henry Theusink. Kortman. Ann.- Left from (N). Kortman. Gesine­Returned 1960. Kortman. Jan- Left from Schuttorf. Knuver. Gerd and Amd- Mother's brother in Cin. PP. 02-16-1847. Koster. G.- Came with whole family, has 2 sisters in America. Kotman. Jan- See Buscher, called Jan Busscher here. Kroll. Hanna- Mother of Fredrika Volkers wife of Albert Volkers. Kuiper. Jan (1862)­Returned to Hoogstede.

Laarman. Jan H.- Wife age 38 and ch. came too. Lampen- First pp. isued 06-10-1868 for Lampen family. Lan2- Uncle Jan lives in America, uncle Geert is paying & going too. Lan2ius. Roelf- Came with wife 05-27-1866 pp. Lasance- See also ship's lists 12-31-1847. Came with wife and 4 ch. Lubbers. Geert­Left from Neue Ringe. Lau2. Willem- came on ship Amsterdam. Lee2e- has relatives in America. Leerkamp-Has two letters from G. Leerkamp in Indiana. Lemmen. Arend- Left from (N) & died at sea. His Dutch ch. came also. Lohmolder. Jan- Left from Neuenhaus. Lubbers. Berend- PP. 06-25-1856. Lucas. Geor2e- Married 4-30-1890 in Bentheim, left from Schonebeek (N), some children Dutch. Lummen-PP. 09-13-1866, may have come later.

Mat Herm- Older br:other has lived in America for 8 years. Martens. Johan- Brother lives in Cin. Meier. Gesien- Returned to Emlich. Mensink. Gerhard-Has 4 unprovided for sisters. Mulder-Family was dldemulders in Bentheim. Mevering. Ferd.- Came with 3 children.

            Niers. Herman- Returned to Bentheim. Nordholt. Bernd-= Nordholt-Schulte. Nordholt. Herman­   Perhaps married Hendrika DeWitt in Grand Haven in 1871.

            Oldemulder. Jan- Graaf. in 1880, went out West. see also Mulder.

Palland. Adoph- Came with wife and family. Palland. Ernest- 3 sisters came too. Pelletie- Came with daughter. Pel- Also married Johanna Grashuis. Probably other Pels came too. In the 1900 he was married to Zwantje born 1861 in Germany. Pieper. Jan and Gerd- 3 brother's and 2 sisters of father live in America. Piers. Geert- Married secondly Zwenne Wolts. Platje- Returned about 1960. Poest. Wilmina­Returned to Golenkamp. Polking. Berend (1839)- Came with wife and sister-in-law. Pot2ieter- some changed name to Potter. Pren2er (1841)- came with wife and 8 ch. Prins. Jan Harm- PP. 01-15-1867.

Rammelkamp- name changed to Rankins. Roelofs. Berend- Sister, whole family came. Raterink. Janna­Recorded 1867 from Gross Ringe in Emlich. Church. Rollin2. Johan (1841)- May have come 04 1867. Rollin 2. Johann- PP. says coming alone. Rolin 2. Herm- PP. 01-21-1867 including wife daughters & sons. Romber2. Friedrich- 3 brothers in U.S., eldest paying the cost. Ronne. Gerhard- Husband lives in Cin.

Santel. H- Brother who lives in Cin. Santel. J.- Brother Gerd lives in Oldenburg, Indiana. Schierbeek. Jan (1861)- Emigration record from Laar recorded at Emlich. Church 05-04-1884. Scherf. Carl­Older brother

Herm is in New York. Schierbeek. William-Left from Coevorden. Schierbeek. Jan (1884)­Left from Emlich. Schievink. Gert- Came with Rammelkamps. Schmidt. J.- Came with sons 14 & 8. Snieders. Gerrit (1841)- Left without consent. Scholten. Jan (1855)-Maybe Jan Hendrik of Scheerhorn. Scholten. Albert- Family went by the wife's name in Germany. Scholten. Walter- Name also written Swartscholten. Schulte. Herman- Parents Schulte-Reimink & Schulte-Neerlage. Schra-Left from Bauerhausen, husband died in Germany. Schroerluke. Johann- Will emigrate with older brother who is free from the military. Schulte. Gerhard- Dunlop, Iowa. Had a letter from sister Anne in America for a year and a half, she married Jan Romberg. Schuurman. Fred. (1833) - called Hagen in Germany. Seg2ers. L,- Parent's name J. Seggers-Borgreve & G. Benierman. Slenk. Gerrit (1824)- PP. says Slenkhues. Snoein2. Jan H-came with 3 grandchildren and 2 d. Sprehe. Casper- A brother lives in Baltimore. Ste22ewentse. Jan- A sister & her husband live in U.S. Stieneker. Hendrik- Whole family came together. May have included younger children. Suiter. a married couple, see also Soltero Suthof. Albert- Sister lives in America.

TenBusch. H- Came with wife and 3 ch. Tien. Harm- Lived in Illinois for a time. Tschaplja. Nancv left from Uelsen. Timmer. Jan- 3 brothers in America. Tukker- Older brother in U.S.; destination is New Orleans for both Jan T.

Vanderkamp. Swenne- Ralph may have died in Ger., came with 8 or more ch. Veddeler. Jan- 1884 census shows Jan V. born Wilsum 1864 wife Jantje Lutten, immigrated 1882. Verbrock- Father 14 years in America, left from Wengsel, PP. = 09-10-66. Vissin2- Came from W. Friesland. Vollink- see ship's list 9-13-1882. Vos. Albert Jan- PP. 03-15-1866. Vos. Johan (1901)- Returned to Neuenhaus. Voss. Maria­Grandpa Sixtus is Oberkontroller, his son is in USA

Walkorte. H- Came with second wife and ch. Walkotten. Hendrikje (1861)- Came with Gese Plesscher. Walkotten. Gertken- See ship Castor 5-4-1881. Weduween. Swenne - widow came with 3 ch. Wever. B. H.- came on ship Montreal. Wever. HJ.- came on ship Pollux. Wever. Herm- See ship Castor 5-4-1881. Wie2mink. Jan H- Came with older brother. Witte, Jan- lived in Cadillac. Windemuller. Evart­

Left from (N). Wolters. Jan H.- came on ship Rotterdam. Woordhuis. Gerhard- Came with second wife Buter. 

Zagers. Stephen- Left from Schoonebeek (N). Zoerhofs who left 1869- PP. 02-19-1869. Zoerhof Janna- mother of Harmptje who married secondly Gaalkens could be Janna Lefers.