Cornelis Corse van Smorenburg (1718 – 1789)

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   1. His childhood

Cornelis Corse “Kees” van Smorenburg (≈27 February 1718, Soest, Utrecht) was the youngest of six children.1-3 Unfortunately nothing is known about his level of schooling or education. From legal document he signed later in his life, it is clear that he could write. His parents, Cors van Smorenburg (1665 – ca 1718) and Metje Kuijer (1680 – 1758) were the owners of the very large De Oude Tempel estate at Soest op den Berg (now Soesterberg), Utrecht province, Dutch Republic (then officially known as the Republic of Seven United Netherlands) and they appeared to be fairly well-off.1-5 By the time his mother died, she was survived by the 40 year-old Cornelis, nicknamed “Kees”, and and his 42 year-old brother, Jacob, as well as their younger half-brother Teunis Breunisz (Janssen) (37 years) from their mother’s third relationship.5

Somewhere during the course of his life, Cornelis van Smorenburg became Cornelis Smorenburg without the ‘van‘. His children and their descendants carried the family name “Smorenburg”. Most of his children used the “Smorenburg” version.

   2. His wife

The 39 year-old Kees announced his intent to marriage to the 17 year-old Adriana van Loenen on 4 December 1757 at Zeist, Utrecht province. They wed on 19 December 1757 at Zeist. Adriana was the daughter of Gerrit van Loenen and Maria Hendriks van de Berg. She was christened on 15 December 1740 at Soest, Utrecht province. Together Kees and Adriana had fifteen children, eight sons and seven daughters. Two years after the death of Kees, 51 year-old Adriana tied the knot again to Jacob Verhoef on 8 November 1791 at Zeist. She died 17 years later at the age of 68 years on 18 December 1808 at Zeist.1,2,6

   3. His career

What career Kees van Smorenburg pursued or what means he used to provide for his family are not known. As a land or property owner, he seemed to have been able to lease property as evident on a lease agreement signed in 1760. His parents had lived at De Oude Tempel and Kees, his older brother Jacob, his half-brother, Teunis Breunisz (Janssen) and their young nephew, Cors Gerritse Hagen, the son of their sister, Seijmetie became the heirs of their widowed mother’s estate at her passing in April 1758. On 20 May 1758, the three men bought out Cors Gerritse Hagen from the estate.5 Kees and his family likely continued to live on De Oude Temple estate.“Social status was largely determined by income. After aristocrats, patricians and urban merchants came the affluent middle class, consisting of Protestant ministers, lawyers, physicians, small merchants, industrialists and clerks of large state institutions. Lower status was attributed to farmers, craft and tradesmen, shopkeepers, and government bureaucrats. Below that stood skilled laborers, maids, servants, sailors, and other persons employed in the service industry. At the bottom of the pyramid were the “paupers”: impoverished peasants, many of whom tried their luck in a city as a beggar or day laborer. Workers and laborers were generally paid better than in most of Europe, and enjoyed relatively high living standards, although they also paid higher than normal taxes. Farmers prospered from mainly cash crops needed to support the urban and seafaring population.”7 (also see Dutch Clothing 8-10)Kees van Smorenburg lived during the governance of the first hereditary stadtholders, William IV and William V. William IV was the first stadtholder to be appointed over all seven provinces of the Dutch Republic in an attempt to curb the French threat and coalesce the Dutch nation under one national leader. The last five years of his reign, however, became marked with internal political division as the disparity between the rich and poor grew. His deepening alliance with the business class also didn’t promote a positive standing among the general public.7 After his death in 1751, his son William V, inherited his position as stadtholder. Since he was only three years old, a long regency began until he was able to formally assume his position in 1767. Britain and France were a growing threat to the Republic. The Fourth Anglo-Dutch War of 1780 – 1784, fought mainly at sea, exposed the political and economical decline of the Dutch Republic, when the Dutch were forced to cede colonial territories to Britain. Between 1783 and 1787, internal political conflict mushroomed and a series of republican revolutions against the authoritarian regime of William V followed. The country’s people was divided between the revolutionaries called the Patriots (pro-French) and the royalists/Orangists (pro-British). Although the Orangists were able to defeat the republican forces in 1787 with the aid of Prussia, the Republic finally succumbed to France in 1795. William V was the last stadtholder of the Dutch Republic.11-15One wonders how the political unrest and economical decline in his country affected Kees and his family. What was his opinion on all these concerning developments and the insecurities and fears these created? With whom did he or his sons side …. the Patriots or the Orangists?

The Dutch Republic was also divided with regards to religion. The north and west of the Netherlands had embraced the Protestant Reformation and were Calvinist. The southeast was predominately Roman Catholic, to which the Van Smorenburgs adhered to.16 

   4. His death

Kees died at the age of 70 years on 29 January 1789 at Soest.1,2 Just six years after his death, the over 200 year-old Dutch Republic was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte of France to be replaced by his French-governed Batavian Republic (1795 – 1806).17 Cornelis’s wife, Adriana outlived him with almost 20 years. This is not surprising as Cornelis Smorenburg was 22 years older than his wife.

   5. His children

All the children of Kees and Adriana van Smorenburg were christened in the Roman Catholic Church at Bunnik, except for Lambertus who was christened at Zeist.2 Bunnik is a village surrounded by forests and farmland. Its origin dates back nearly 2000 years to the time of the Roman Empire. The Romans constructed a fort at Fectio (now Vechten) with a harbour on a branch of the Rhine River,18 now called the Kromme Rijn. (During the medieval times, the river naturally closed off and water was no longer flowing.)19,20 By the 4th century, the Romans abandoned the fort, but it continued to develop into a thriving trading centre. Later the Frisians and Franks occupied the area. The training post expanded into a village and by the 8th and 9th century became known as Bunninchem, which later over hundreds of years adapted into Bunnik.18,21,22

5.1 Cornelis

Cornelis “Cors”, their eldest child, was christened on 25 March 1759. He married Hendrikje Pront on 31 January 1786 at Bunnik. She was the daughter of Gijsbertus Pront and Alijdis Franse Bolderwijn. Hendrikje was christened on 13 November 1752 at Soest and died on 9 February 1796 at Soest. Cornelis remained a widower for nine years until his death on 22 January 1805 at Soest. The couple had three children all born at Soest. They were Arnolda “Aartje” (1787 – 1844; who married Arie “Ane van de Berg [1782 – ?]), Alida “Aaltje” (1789 – 1826; who married Johannes “Jan” van den Hoven [1785 – 1853]) and Cornelis (1792 – ?).1,3

5.2 Gerrit

Their second child, Gerrit (≈16 April 1761 – 6 April 1832),1,3 became my husband’s great-great-great-great-grandfather. READ MORE on Gerrit Smorenburg.

5.3 Machteldis

Machteldis “Metje/Mijntje” (≈28 February 1763 – ?) married Jan IJzerman on 16 February 1795 at Bunnik. The couple had a daughter called Alegonda (1796 – ?) who later married Pieter van Leuwen (1887 – ?).1,3

5.4 Jacobus Cornelisz

Jacobus “Jacob/Jaap” was christened on 18 February 1764. At the age of 48 years, he married the 23 year-old Margaretha Cornelisse “Grietje” Ruisch (ca 1789 – 1826) at Langbroek, Utrecht province on 2 June 1812. She was the daughter of Cornelis Ruisch and Grietje de Groot. Jacob and Margaretha had eleven children. The eldest, the fourth child, the fifth and sixth one were born at Langbroek, the others at Sterkenburg (merged with Driebergen in 1857) and the youngest at Maartendijk. The distance between Langbroek and Sterkenburg was 5 km. The children were Cornelis (1813 – 1853), Margaretha (5 May 1814 – 19 August 1814), Hannis (1815 – ?), Gerrit (1816 – 1901), Aaltje (1817 – 10 June 1903, Soest), Jan (≈11 September 1817 – 13 September 1817, Langbroek), Lambertus (1818 – 1842), Jan (4 October 1819 – 16 October 1819), Margrietha (1821 – 1822), Willem (1823 – 1827) and Cornelia (17 March 1825 – 30 April 1825). Six of the children died in infancy or childhood. Jacobus died on 6 August 1829 at Maartensdijk, Utrecht province.1-3

5.5 Adrianus

He was christened on 26 March 1766.1,3 Nothing more is known about his life and likely died young.

5.6 Maria

Maria was born in 1767 (≈23 September 1767). At the age of 30, she got married at Zeist on 20 November 1797 to Willem Uijlenbroek, a shopkeeper and barber. He was born on 11 March 1765 at Bunnik as the son of Gijsbertus Uijlenbroek and Maria Pront. Maria and Willem had two children; Cornelis and Gerrigje. Maria died on 2 February 1829 at Zeist and Willem ten years later in the same town on 21 June 1839.1,3

5.7 Alida

Alida, nicknamed Aaltje, was christened on 9 April 1769. She was married Arie Peek (1758 – 1841) on 10 February 1795 at Bunnik. Together they had five children; Catharina (1795 – 1883), Cornelis (1798 – 1885), Hanna (1801 – 22 January 1863, Driebergen), Adriana (ca 1805 – 1878) and Willemijntje (1807 – 1835). Alida passed away on 19 May 1845 at Sterkenburg.1,3

5.8 Adriana

Adriana/Ariana was christened on 16 December 1770. She was 23 years old when she married Lambertus Bosse on 19 April 1793 at Bunnik.1,3

5.9 Willemijntje

Willemijntje was christened on 10 March 1772 and died, aged 80, on 22 July 1852 at Soest. She married Gerrit Cornelisse van Breukelen, a builder and farmer, on 1 May 1794 at Bunnik. They had ten children. They were Cornelis (1795 – 1829), Mathilda “Metje” (1797 – 1860), Joanna “Hanna” (1799 – 1847), Ariaantje “Jaantje” (1802 – 1834), Christianus “Cors” (1804 – 1845), Jacobus “Jacob/Jaap” (1806 – 1875), Franciscus “Frans” (1809 – 1845), Willem (1811 – 1836), Theunis (1815, died in the same year) and Antonia (1816 – 1883.1-3

5.10 Antonius Cornelisz

Antonius Cornelisz “Teunis” was christened on 27 April 1774. He became a farmer and married Neeltje ‘t Clooster on 24 November 1795. They had a son, Marthinus who was born at Bunnik on 27 October 1801. Antonius married a second time on on 29 October 1818 at Darthuizen to his sister-in-law, 31 year-old Alletta Passierse Baart (1787 – 1859), who worked as a servant. At that time Antonius was 44 years old. They had one son, Cornelis who was born on 30 August 1819 at Amersfoort. Antonius died at the age of about 67 years on 30 April 1841 at Barneveld, Gelderland.1-3

5.11 Hendrica

She  was christened on 10 August 1775. At the age of 24, she married Theodorus “Dirk” van Dijk on 13 April 1799 at Bunnik. They had a daughter, Willemijntje (1803 – ?) who later married Johannes den Bloklander (1800 – ?). Hendrica passed away on 2 July 1807 at Zeist at the age of 32 years.1,3

5.12 Wilhelmus

He was christened on 2 March 1777. The 18 year-old Wilhelmus married Cornelia ‘t Clooster/Klooster on 5 May 1795.1,3 No more information could be found on their life together.

5.13 Cornelis II

He was christened on 13 February 1779, but died before 1791.1,3

5.14 Lambertus

Lambertus/Albertus “Bart” was christened on 30 July 1780. At the age of 25 years, he married 20 year-old Willemijntje Passierse ” Mijntje” Baart (1785 – 1848) on 28 January 1805 at Bunnik. She was born on 3 June 1785, Zeist as the daughter of Paschier Baart and Antje Jacobse van Vulpen and the sister of Alletta Baart, who married Lambertus’ older brother, Antonius. Lambertus died on 15 January 1834 at Sterkenburg, Utrecht and Willemijntje on 15 August 1848. They had nine children. They were Cornelis (≈22 October 1805, Zeist – 18 May 1843, Werkhoven, Utrecht), Willem (≈29 December 1807, Zeist – 25 July 1878, Cothen), Antje (≈19 August 1810, Cothen – 1882), Passier “Sier” (≈20 Augustus 1812, Langbroek – 1884), Jaantje (≈25 March 1815, Langbroek – ?), Jan (≈11 September 1818, Langbroek – 1885), Cornelia “Neeltje” (≈11 August 1820, Sterkenburg – 1883), Jacobus (≈31 January 1823, Sterkeburg – 7 July 1891, Heemskerk) and Willemijntje (≈18 August 1825, Sterkenburg – 1851).1-3

5.15 Cornelia

Cornelia “Neeltje” was christened on 25 November 1781 and later married married Pn Peek.1-3

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  1. Smorenburg Web Site by Martin Smorenburg. https://www.myheritage.nl/site-family-tree-395529131/smorenburg
  2. Gezinsblad Cornelis Corse Smorenburg. http://www.gensdvf.nl/FullRecord.csp
  3. Jan Smorenburg Schipper (van Seijst). http://94.210.208.15/persons/person616.html
  4. Notarissen in de stadt Utrecht 1560 – 1905, archief 34-4, inventarisnummer 1608, 20-05-1758, C.P. van Cuylenborgh, aktenummer 181, Utrecht Archief
  5. Notarissen in de stadt Utrecht 1560 – 1905, archief 34-4, inventarisnummer 1186, 22-02-1721, C.F. Pronckert, aktenummer 127, Utrecht Archief
  6. Beindorff, W.H. Genealogie Beindorff, Been et al. https://www.genealogieonline.nl/genealogie_beindorff_been_et_al/
  7. Dutch Golden Age. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Golden_Age
  8. 1770s Dutch woman’s outfit. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/1770s-dutch-womans-outfit-with-caraco-jacket-found-on-digita_bunka_ac_jp.jpg
  9. Pipe-smoking Dutch man and peasant woman. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0b/86/4b/0b864be40eabc42f0c4a6828354b84b6–th-century-dress-th-century-clothing.jpg
  10. Netherlands baroque costumes. 17th century. http://world4.eu/netherlands-baroque-costumes
  11. William IV, Prince of Orange. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_IV,_Prince_of_Orange
  12. William V, Prince of Orange. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_V,_Prince_of_Orange
  13. Portrait of William V, Prince of Orange.https://za.pinterest.com/pin/292452569523374406
  14. Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Anglo-Dutch_War
  15. Dutch Republic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Republic
  16. History of religion in the Netherlands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_religion_in_the_Netherlands
  17. Batavian Republic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batavian_Republic
  18. Bunnik. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunnik
  19. Zeist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeist
  20. Kromme Rijn. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kromme_Rijn
  21. Bunnik location map. https://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Bunnik
  22. Postillion Hotel, Utrecht, Bunnik. https://images.trvl-media.com/hotels/1000000/530000/525300/525205/525205_53_b.jpg

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