Professionally, I mean. I don't remember the details. I loved his wine and remember how ceremoniously he always served it when there was a crowd of relatives. He'd bring out a big tray with a lot of glasses and serve all the adults, and then he'd go back and get a trayful of little glasses with about an inch of wine for the children. We had to sit down and behave while we drank it. Grandpa died working in his garden at the age of 88 from a stroke."
Grandma's family was rich, her father was a millionaire (in guilders). One of her pictures as a young girl showed her wearing 8 rings. Mom said she had a great deal of jewelery, most of which she gave to her daughters as they were growing up, and all of which is lost except one diamond filagree brooch which she gave Aunt Anna for caring for her when she was sick. Irene, Anna's only daughter inherited it.
I always felt that I was Grandma's favorite grandchild. She used to give me little things which I still have. She'd sit and listen to me practice the piano(!!) with the sweetest smile on her face. I'd sit up very straight and really try to sound like something. I was about nine. I knew she hated noise and confusion, so I tried to be quiet when she was around. Some of the cousins remember her as being cross a lot of the time, and Norma (June's sis) says about all she can recall of her is she was always saying "Sssbtt". She wasn't very well for a long time. (Editor says no wonder, she'd had twelve children)
I remember the funeral. Mom said later that after her funeral one of Grandma's children happened to say that he or she had always seretly felt like her favorite child. Each one of the others there promptly spoke up and said "No, I was her favorite!" Mom said she knew she was. She must have been quite a mother. I was very fond of her."
Translation of an original document from Dutch:
"On November 5, 1875 in the villeage of Broek op Langedi jk came to us
in person Gerit Schaap 23, farmer, living in Velson and Antje Slotemaker, 20, without
profession living in Broek p Langedi jk, with the intention to declare their planned
marriage. After putting this official document in order and reading it to the declarers
(appearers), we signed the same."
J. van Bommel (magistrate)
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