Aldegonde Bauters was baptised as daughter of Frans Bauters and Joanna De Bock in Sint-Maria-Horebeke on January 30, 1692 (8). She had at least three brothers: Adriaen Bauters (1684-1746, married with Anne Schaepcooman), Joannes Bauters (born 1686) and Pieter Bauters (born 1689) (9). It is possible that also Abraham Bauters, husband of Livijne van der Straeten, and mentioned as son of Frans, belonged to the same family (10). Both he and a certain Maria Francisca Bauters are registered as respectively godfather and godmother of two of the children of Adriaen Bauters (son of Frans) and Anne Schaepcooman in the village of Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke (now part of the community of Horebeke) (11).

In 1719 Aldegonde Bauters married with Judocus (or Joos) van der Straeten (also Vander Straeten) in Sint-Maria-Horebeke (12). Joos was the son of David van der Straeten (son of Lieven) and Janneken Gossije (daughter of Pieter), and brother of Cathelijne, Livijne, Marie, and Adriaene van der Straeten. Abraham Bauters, who was probably the brother of Aldegonde, married into the same family by becoming the husband of Livijne van der Straeten, sister of Joos (13).

Joos van der Straeten and Aldegonde Bauters lived next door to Joos' mother Janneken Gossije on 't velt den Esschenborre (Esschenborre-field) in the hamlet Cauwenberghe, part of Sint-Maria-Horebeke (14). Joos' father, David van der Straeten, had probably died already in 1717 or 1718 (15). As his widow Janneken Gossije was left with 6 bunder and 49 roeden or about 7.5 hectare (16) of taxable land in the hamlet Cauwenberghe (17), she donated one dagwand or about 0.3 hectare of land, next door to her dwelling, to her son Joos as a wedding present in 1719 (18). On this one dagwand, a modest house was built, comprised of a kitchen, a bedroom, an attic, and a barn. By 1722 Joos and Aldegonde possessed three spinning wheels, one weaving loom and some stock of flax on the attic, proof that they were producing flax linen at their home. A cow and some corn standing on the field were the main agricultural items belonging to this young family. Abraham Bauters, brother of Aldegonde, and his wife Livijne van der Straeten, sister of Joos, also lived in the hamlet Cauwenberghe (19).

Joos van der Straeten died in Sint-Maria-Horebeke on August 27, 1722, leaving his widow of thirty a son, Pieter Frans, probably born in the beginning of 1720, and an unborn baby in her womb. In the beginning of 1723, Aldegonde bore a baby-girl, named Marie Fran�oise van der Straeten. The legacy of Joos van der Straeten, dated April 21, 1723, was estimated at 590 ponden parisis and 7 schellingen, of which half belonged to Aldegonde Bauters, and of which the other half was due to the two children (20).

After the Wedding

After their marriage on July 10, 1723 (21), Joannes De Ruyver and Aldegonde Bauters moved to her house in the hamlet Cauwenberghe in Sint-Maria-Horebeke (22). This wedding was probably convenient for the three parties involved. First, a new husband could facilitate Aldegonde Bauters' task of feeding two little children. Second, Joannes De Ruyver could move into a ready-built house, become supervisor of his predecessor's legacy, and be promoted to the master of a house instead of a servant at his older brother's brewery. Third, the family van der Straeten lost with the death of Joos van der Straeten, their only male heir. As Joos' dwelling was built next to his parents' house, it can be presumed that in time he would take over the agricultural estate of the family, while looking after his widowed mother. With Joos' decease in 1722, the next heir became his two years old son Pieter Frans. The family van der Straeten, and particularly the widow Janneken Gossije, could therefor only gain with a remarriage of Aldegonde Bauters, the mother of the family heir. It gave a new economic backbone to the family, especially as Joannes De Ruyver was from a relatively wealthy descent (23). Last, there seemed to be a genealogical relationship between Joannes De Ruyver and Aldegonde Bauters. Their wedding registration at the Catholic church of Sint-Maria-Horebeke mentions them as relatives in the third degree. This kinship forced them to apply for and receive a dispensation from the Catholic Cardinal of Mechelen (a Flemish city) in order to be allowed to marry (24).

Until now, no blood link has been found between Joannes De Ruyver and Aldegonde Bauters to explain their relationship in the third degree. The only eventual link runs through the godfather of Joannes De Ruyver, Joannes Baptista Coppens (25). A certain Jan Coppens is found back as the father of Pieter Coppens, who married (probably before 1720) Cathelijne van der Straeten, sister of Joos and thus sister-in-law of Aldegonde Bauters (26). But whether such a relationship was catalogued as third degree in the beginning of the 18th century is questionable.

Joannes De Ruyver and Aldegonde Bauters had five children:

Philippus De Ruyver, baptised in Sint-Maria-Horebeke on February 6, 1725. Godfather was Joannes Bauters (brother of Aldegonde) and Judoca Moreels (mother of Joannes De Ruyver) (27).

Josephus De Ruyver, baptised in Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke on March 2, 1728. He was the godchild of Josephus De Ruyver (brother of Joannes) and Maria Francisca Bauters (probably sister of Aldegonde) (28). It is not clear why Josephus was baptised in the church of Sint-Kornelis instead of Sint-Maria-Horebeke. There is no reason to believe that his parents moved to Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke (29). The history of Josephus De Ruyver can be found in following chapter.

Joannes Baptista De Ruyver, baptised in Sint-Maria-Horebeke on December 4, 1729. Fransciscus Bauters (probably Aldegonde's father) was his godfather; Joanna Vanderstraete his godmother (30).

Josepha De Ruyver, baptised in Sint-Maria-Horebeke on September 1, 1732 (31). Her godfather was Adrianus Bauters (brother of Aldegonde), and her godmother was Adriana Taelman (daughter of Cathelijne van der Straeten, sister of Joos and sister-in-law of Aldegonde Bauters, born from Cathelijne's marriage with her first husband Steven Taelman) (32). Josepha De Ruyver probably married with Joannes (Baptista) De Backer in Sint-Maria-Horebeke on March 10, 1754 (33).

Joanna Catherina, baptised in Sint-Maria-Horebeke on April 11, 1735. She was the godchild of Jacobus Verstraeten and Judoca Verstraeten (34). She probably married with Franciscus Eeckhaut in Sint-Maria-Horebeke on March 5, 1757, and died on October 26, 1793 in Sint-Denijs-Boekel (35).

A count of craftsmen in Sint-Maria-Horebeke, dated May 5, 1738, mentioned the family of Joannes De Ruyver as having "six young children" (36). As Aldegonde Bauters had two children from her marriage with her first husband, Joos van der Straeten, one child from her first or second marriage must have died by 1738.

It is known that Joseph, Josepha and Joanna Catherina lived longer than 1738. Joannes Baptista started paying taxes in the Cauwenberghe hamlet of Sint-Maria-Horebeke after his father Joannes died in 1773, indicating that he inherited land there from his father (37). Pieter Frans van der Straeten was still alive in 1764, as he is mentioned in the legacy of his unmarried aunt, Adriaene van der Straeten, daughter of David and Janneken Gossije (38).

Unlike her brother, Marie Fran�oise van der Straeten was not mentioned in this legacy, indicating that she had passed away by 1764. Still, there are good reasons to believe that she was still alive in 1738. In land tax papers of Sint-Maria-Horebeke for the years 1739, 1744 and 1746, Frans van der Straeten appears in the hamlet Cauwenberghe as son of Joos, followed by a mentioning of Jacobus van der Straeten, son of David (39). As David van der Straeten only had one son, namely Joos, above mentioned Jacobus is therefor nobody else but Joos. As, however, Joos van der Straeten died in 1722, the taxes levied were to be paid on the remainder of his legacy, belonging to his daughter Marie Fran�oise.

In the land tax register for 1748 the legacy of Jacobus van der Straeten is not mentioned anymore. The probable reason for that is the marriage of Maria Francesca De Ruyver (alias Marie Fran�oise van der Straeten, but named after her step-father Joannes De Ruyver) with Joannes Vuye in 1747, as mentioned in the parish registers of Sint-Maria-Horebeke (40). Maria Francesca De Ruyver, as wife of Joannes Vuye, died in Sint-Maria-Horebeke in October 13, 1757 (41), which explains why she is absent in the legacy of her Aunt Adriaene van der Straeten in 1764 (under condition that Marie Fran�oise died childless. Otherwise, her children would have been mentioned in the legacy of her aunt) (42).

However, is there any reason to believe that the priest of Sint-Maria-Horebeke mistakenly wrote down the name De Ruyver instead of van der Straeten? There might well be. Another document, legalized by the aldermen of Sint-Cornelis-Horebeke, seemingly makes the same mistake (43). It concerns the legacy of Marie Louise de Temmerman, who died in Sint-Cornelis-Horebeke on October 25, 1751, as wife of Pieter Frans De Ruyver, son of Jan, and as mother of one baby-girl, called Louise, born on the same October 25, 1751. One of two guardians for this baby-girl, appointed by the aldermen, is "'s hauders vader" (the father of the widower), namely Jan De Ruyver, son of Adriaen. Apparently, we are dealing here with Adriaen De Ruyver, Joannes De Ruyver and his step-son Pieter Frans van der Straeten, son of Joos. Further genealogical investigation should determine the validity of this assertion.

This leaves us to believe that the first born child of Joannes De Ruyver and Aldegonde Bauters, namely Philippus De Ruyver, had died by 1738. The absence of Philippus De Ruyver in the parish or legal documents of Sint-Maria and Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke are a further indication, though his death certificate has not yet been found.

Joannes Remarries

On May 10, 1748, Aldegonde Bauters passed away in Sint-Maria-Horebeke (44). No legacy has been found yet. Her husband, Joannes De Ruyver, probably still had four of their children under his roof: Josephus (20 years), Joannes Baptista (19 years), Josepha (16 years) and Joanna Catherina (13 years). On July 4, 1750, at the age of 60, he married with Maria Van den Abeele in the church of Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke (45).

Maria Van den Abeele was probably the daughter of Joannes Van den Abeele and the widow of Alexander Schiettecatte, son of Pieter Schiettecatte (46). Alexander Schiettecatte and Maria Van den Abeele lived in Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke on an estate of 1 dagwand 37 roeden or about 4200m2, called den houck. At Alexander's death, Maria had one child still alive by him. As this child later died without any heirs, Maria Van den Abeele inherited from her child the legacy it received from Alexander Schiettecatte (47).

From the marriage of Joannes De Ruyver and Maria Van den Abeele no children were born. Together, they purchased some major pieces of the legacy of Alexander Schiettecatte: a piece of land of 150 roeden or about 5760m2 (bought by Maria when she was still widow), and one of 67,5 roeden or about 2075m2, all in Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke. This resulted in the full ownership of the family estate (1 dagwand 37 roeden or about 4200m2). They also acquired 1 dagwand 36 roeden or about 4180m2 on Blijssehaert, 106,5 roeden or about 3286m2 on Dekens Veldt, and 35 roeden or about 1085m2 on Dessens Velt, all three located in Sint-Maria-Horebeke (48). Joannes De Ruyver continued to live in the hamlet Cauwenberghe in Sint-Maria-Horebeke, as the land tax register proves (49). Probably, he remained in the house that was built by Aldegonde Bauters and her first husband Joos van der Straeten. On April 28, 1770 Maria Van den Abeele probably died there (50). The description of her legacy, dated July 6, 1770, gives a good idea of the property of her and her husband Joannes De Ruyver (51).

Joannes' house in Cauwenberghe was comprised of a kitchen, a room, an attic, a barn and an oven. Maria's house den houck in Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke was similar: a kitchen, two rooms (one of which was for the cow(s)), a barn (including the pig's stable) and an oven. However, the estimated worth of these buildings were somewhat different: 62 ponden 19 schellingen 4 denieren groote courant in the case of Joannes; 24 ponden 3 schellingen 4 denieren groote courant in the case of Maria. One of these houses, probably the one of Maria in Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke, was rented out to Joseph De Ruyver (52). It is known that Joannes De Ruyver had a son called Joseph who lived in Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke, probably on the corner (corner in old-Dutch is houck) of the Doelenstraete and Haeghouck, according to several land tax documents (53).

The legacy of Maria Van den Abeele also mentions four pieces of land in the village of Velzeke (now part of the city of Zottegem) that had been acquired by Joannes De Ruyver and his first wife Aldegonde Bauters: a field called den paschemaeren, a small wood, and two pieces of land called, respectively, Perveldt and Reckvelt (54). It is not clear why this land was bought. Velzeke and Sint-Maria-Horebeke are far from neighbouring villages.

Apart from land and two houses, in 1770 Joannes De Ruyver and Maria Van den Abeele held bonds for a total amount of 268.5 ponden groote courant (or 3223 ponden parisis), resulting in a total interest of about 160 ponden parisis a year. Among the debtors were Philips and Albert Schiettecatte, probably relatives of Maria's first husband. Some of the land of Joannes and Maria was leased out. Among the tenants were Frans and Caerel De Ruyver, probably two nephews of Joannes (55).

As Maria Van den Abeele left this world without any children alive, her inheritance went to the children of her brothers and sisters. Joannes De Ruyver struck a deal with them as follows: Maria's house "den houck" in Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke (land and buildings), a piece of land in Sint-Maria-Horebeke and two pieces of land which belonged originally to Maria passed to Maria's nieces and nephews. Furthermore, Joannes handed to them a cash amount of 200 ponden groote courant (2400 ponden parisis). In exchange, the heirs renounced any further claim to the marital community of property of Joannes and Maria (56).

In comparison with his parents, Joannes clearly owned or worked less land. The land tax registers in Sint-Maria-Horebeke, the village where he lived from his first marriage on, do not mention more than 2 bunder 3,5 dagwand or about 3.5 hectare (57). Through his second wife, he got the usage of another 3 dagwand (0.92 hectare) or so in Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke. From his parents, he inherited about 3 dagwand (0.92 hectare) in Sint-Blasius-Boekel (58), and with his first wife he bought 4 pieces of land in Velzeke, of which the surface is not known. Still, the land owned or used by Joannes was probably somewhere around 5 bunders or about 6.15 hectare, which is about 1/3 of the land worked by his father in his home-village, Sint-Blasius-Boekel.

The legacy of Maria van den Abeele (59) also shows that farming was not the main business of Joannes De Ruyver; he had two cows, a calf, six hens and a cock, but no horses or farmer's tools to work the land. In view of his age (80 in 1770), maybe Joannes had passed these tools to his sons. In 1671, at age 81, however, his great-grandfather Frans De Ruyver was still actively running a large farming business (60). Also in contrast to his ancestors, Joannes is not known to have exercised a public office or function. From her estate description of 1770, Maria Van den Abeele appears to have been a spinner and a seamstress. More important, however, is the fact that Joannes De Ruyver and his second wife succeeded in building up enough wealth to generate a sufficient income from rent and interest.

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