Werkman to Workman Blog

Etje Klaassens was born in 1812 to Klaas Simens and Zwaantje Tobias in Stitswerd. Her brother was Reinder Pieters Berghuis whose daughter, Jantje Reinders Berghuis was the wife of Wrister Drewes Werkman.

Jan Arnold van der Tuuk was born in Bedum in the year 1751. His daughter Geertruida had a daughter, Maria Jurgens Mulder who was the mother of Geert Knol who was married to Lijzabet Werkman.

Pieter Jacobus Werkman and Jantje Kuiper were married in 1906 in Warffum. Pieter Jacobus Werkman was the son of Pieter Werkman and Mentje Berghuis.

Mary Margaret O'Shea died in 1929 in County Kerry, Ireland. She was the daughter of Mary Ahern who was the sister of Michael Ahern my great grandfather on my mothers side.

Patrick Mulvihill died in 1935 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the brother of my great grandmother Margaret Mulvihill and one of four Mulvihill siblings who left Listowel Ireland for the United States in the late 1880's.

Aaltje Hendricks Streelman was born in 1821 in the town of Leens. Her relationship to the Werkman's is tied to the marriage of her niece Anje Vegter to Kornelis Werkman. The Streelman, Vegter and Werkman familes all emigrated to Spring Lake Michigan in the 1880's.

Cornellis Reinders Muis was born in 1812 in Warrfum. He married Grietje Abels Nauta who was the daughter of Abels Hendriks Nauta and Jantje Drewes Werkman.

Pieter Derks Slager died in 1913 in the town of Warrfum. Julia Streelman was his wife. Julia's father was Hendrik Jurriens Streelman whose niece Anje Vegter was the wife of Kornelis Werkman

Martje Cornelis Buikema and Jacob Kornelis Barkema were married in 1844 in the town of Ulrum. Martje was the sister of Bouke Buikema who was married to Derk Freerks Cleveringa. Bouke's daughter Jantje was the wife of Douwe Werkman.

Geert Sipkes Veenstra and Tijtje Freerks Koolma were married in 1873 in Bedum. Their son Auke was the husband of Griet Werkman.

Jacob Wetzema was born in 1840 in Obergum. His aunt was Antje Jans Wetzema wife of Drewes Writsers Werkman.

George Konings, widower of Frederika Twist was remarried on this date in 1869 to Trientje Vos.

Maryke Schafer, siser of Fenje, Maria and Evert Shafer, died on this date in 1830 in Stitswerd. She was only 2 1/2 months old when she died.

Grietje Werkman was born in 1819 to Jacobus Drewes Werkman and Anje Sijmens Berghuis in Rottum. She was the first of nine children born to the couple. She never did marry and she died in Rottum on February 12th 1862.

Evert Schafer was born to Christoffer Gottlieb Schafer and Martje Everts Spijk on this date in 1834 in the town of Stitswerd. He was the brother of my great great grandmother Fenje Schafer Werkman. He passed away on May 17th, 1861 in the town of Kantens. He never did marry.

Abel Reinders Torringa was born in Leens in 1754. He was the grandfather of Gerrtruid Jans Torringa, wife of Pieter Wristers Werkman.

Frederika Christina Twist and George Konings were married in Groningen on this date in 1866. Frederika was the dauhter of Janna Everts Spijk and Jonannes Twist and is related to me through the Spijk family.

Geertruid Jacob Heres was born in 1765 in the town of Saaxumhuizen which is a little village in the province of Groningen. The tie to my ancestors lies with Geertruid's husband Fokke Jacobs Leeuwe and his first wife Aaltje Hendriks. Their son Jacob Fokkes Leeuwe had a daughter that married into the Wetzema family which had their connection to me by the marriage of Antje Jans Wetzema and Drewes Wristers Werkman.

Jan Klaasen Wieringa was born on this date in 1785 in the town of Kloosterburen. Several generations after his birth his family became related to the Spijk's when Frans Klaassen Spijk married Bouwgien Derks Havinga in 1848.

Dievertje Poppes Nannen was born in Bellingwolde in 1802. She was the wife of Haiko Roskens Brouwer. Their son Rosken Brouwer had a daughter, Talle Brouwer who married Jakobus Werkman in 1901.

Arend Zwijnenberg and Maria Stam were married in the in Groningen in 1878. Maria was the daughter of Johannes Christiaan and Anje Everts Spijk. She is related to the Werkman's by the Spijk/Shafer/Werkman of Fenje Shafer Werkman.

In 1898 Iete Werkman and Allina Bouman were married in Groningen. This is not a direct relation to my Werkman's. These Werkman's are connected by the family of Jacob Jans Wierenga and Geetruid Freerks Bruining and several marriages.

On this date in 1814 Klaas Jacobs Knol and Engeltje Edzes Medendorp were married in the town of Kantens. Their son Jan Knol married the sister of Maria Shafer Wieringa and is part of my extended family by marriage.

Pieter Werkman was born in 1852 in Stittswerd to Jakob Jakobs Werkman and Stijntje Pieters Cleverenga. He belongs to the Werkman's not directly related to my ancestors.

Daniel Fredrik Colthof was born in 1828 in Groningen to Daniel Friedrich Colthof and Janna Everts Spijk. Related to the family via the Spijk connection.

Jantje Cleveringa, wife of Douwe Werkman passed away on this date in 1957 at the age of 84 years.

Jacob Werkman, son of Wrister Werkman and Wikje Wielinga was born in 1942. Jacob emigrated to Canada along with his family in 1974.

Evert Wierenga, son of Jacob Jans Wierenga and Maria Schafer was born in the town of Bedum on this date in 1864. He emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1880 and lived in Michigan until his death in 1950.

Pieter Writzers died in Den Andel on this date. He was the brother of Grietje Wristers. The family choose van Dijk as their surname in 1811.

Jacob Berghuis died on this date in 1959 in Muskegon Michigan. He was the son of Pieter Berghuis whose sister Mentje was married to Pieter Jacobus Werkman. Jacob's family emigrated on the same ship, the SS Arnold Bonniger as Drewes Jacobus Werkman in June of 1867.

Froukje De Vries was born in Grijpskerk in 1901 to Willem De Vries and Trijntje van Houten. Froukje married Dirk Werkman in 1922 in Kloosterburen.

Willem Werkman and Grietje Noor were married in 1919 in Kloosterburen. Willem Werkman was the son of Wrister Werkman and Saartje Zijlstra.

Drewes Van Der Maar , son of Marten Van Der Maar and Egbertje Drewes Werkman, died on this date in 1948 in the town of Kloosterburen. He was survived by his wife Antje Boersema.

On this day in 1919, Pieterke Doornbos passed away. She was the wife of Jacob Werkman and the mother of Dirk and Wrister Werkman.

This is a very busy date in our Werkman history with our recorded births on this day. I'll start with Joshua Workman who was born in Largo Florida in 1982 to my brother Dan and his wife Kathy.

Dan delivered Joshua himself, and no he is not a doctor. Just a image specialist at the newspaper who happened to deliver three of his children. Danny and Kathy took Joshua to the local grocery store to weigh him in the produce scale. I've always maintained that Joshua weighed in at two heads of lettuce and one stalk of celery! Happy birthday Joshua!

Anne Geessiena Rap was born in Groningen in 1895 to Haike Rap and Geessien Colthof. Geessien Colthof was daughter of Jan Colthof and Antje Berends van der Schans. Jan Colthof was the son of Daniel Friedrich Colthof and Grietje Beerends Westerhof. Daniel Friedrich Colhof became a widower and in 1816 he was remarried to Janna Evert Spijk. Janna Evert Spijk was the grandmother of my great great grandmother Fenje Shaffer Werkman. I've believed for sometime that children of Daniel Colthof and Janna Everts Spijk emigrated to the United States and settled in Michigan. I'm still working on documenting that belief.

Derk Koch was born on this day in 1869 in the town of Wlidervank to Johan Hendrik Adolph Koch and Geeje Bakker. His brother Adolph was married Janna Wieringa who was the daughter of Jacbob Jans Wieringa and Maria Schafer, sister of Fenje Schafer Werkman. The Wieringa's emigrated to Spring Lake Michigan months before my great great grandparents and lived nearby them for many years. Jenny Rasmusson has a excellent website on this part of the family located at http://www.rasmussonwebworks.com/Genealogy/Rasmusson-p/master_index.htm .

Hans Hendrik Wattenberg was born in Bierum in 1785. His connection to the family is tied to the marriage of Eisse Smit and Grietje Werkman one of my Werkmans. Derk Klaassens Smith, father of Eisse, was married twice. Once to Martha Meinderts Flikkema in 1838 and then to Anje Hendriks Huizinga in 18447. Wattenberg was related by marriage to the Flikkema family. Significant because the Flikkema family had members emigrate to the United States and live in the same town as my ancestors.

On this date in 1941 Willem de Haan was born to Geert de Haan and Tetje Veenstra. Tetje Veenstra was the daughter of yesterdays birthday boy Douwe Veenstra.

On this date in 1814 Jakob Everts Graver (also known as de Graaf) was born in Groningen. Jakob was the brother of Albertje who was married to Kornelis Geerts in 1843, Their daughter Martje married Pieter Vogel in 1871. Their daughter Aaltje Vogel married Willem Werkman, son of Wrister and Saartje Zijlstra, on Aug 28, 1909 in Vries Netherlands.

Freerkje Kornelis was born in the town of Rasquert in 1801. On October 12th 1822 Freerkje was married to Albert Abels Torringa in the town of Winsum. Albert Abels Torringa was the brother of Jan Abels Torringa. Jan Abels Torringa was married to Grietje Derks Cleveringa and in November of 1852 their daughter Geertruid Jans Torringa married Pieter Wristers Werkman who happened to be a cousin of my great great grandfather Reinder. Peter and Greetruid emigrated to the US in May of 1880 and settled in Indiana where Werkman/Workmans have lived ever since. Rick Venderwielen has a excellent site that has information on the Torringa, or Torrenga, ancestors as well as life for the Dutch immigrants living in the Lafayette Indiana community back in the late 1800's. Check out his site at http://vanderwielen.com/ .

On this date in 1851 in the town of Kantens Harriet Jurriens Mulder Knol was married to Elisabeth Harms Moorlag. Harriet Jurriens Mulder Knol was the brother of Geert Knol who was married to Lijzabet Werkman the sister of Reinder Werkman my great great grandfather. Many Knol individuals emigrated to western Michigan and I have strongly suspected that Geert and Lijzabet did so as well but I have not found evidence to support this theory. It would make sense that Lijzabet would join her two brothers, Drewes and Reinder in America but I don't have proof yet.

In 1878 Jan Kiewiet (Kieft) and Grietje Meijer were married in the town of Usequert. In 1893 Jan Kiewiet, now a widower, married once again and this time to Fooitje Kuiper. Fooitje herself was a widow having been married to Freerk Medendorp. Her father Kornelis Pieters Kuiper was the brother of Jan Pieters Kuiper who was married to Jantje Jacobus Werkman. Of course Jantje Jacobus Werkman just happened to be the sister of Lijzabet, Reinder and Drewes Jacobus Werkman.

Jacob Klasen Werkman passed away at the age of 82 in 1860 while living in Warffum. Even though he was born in the same town as my ancestors my research has failed to establish him as one of our Werkmans. As it turns out though, his son Harm Jacobs Werkman was married five times and one of marriages was to Fokeltje Pieters. This was her Patronymic name and in 1811 her family choose a surname of van Dijk. The connection to the two Werkman families occurs because Fokeltje's father was Pieter Wristers, the brother of Grietje Wristers who was the wife of Drewes Kobes Werkman...my great great great great grandfather.

On this day in 1881 Sietse Wiegersma was born to Sietse Wiegersma and Aafke Zijlstra in the town of Leeuwarden which is located in the Friesland province of the the Netherlands. Sietse and his wife Daatje de Graaf had a son Willem Sietse Wiegersma who married Mentje Werkman on July 12th 1928. Mentje was the daughter of Pieter Jacobus Werkman and Jantje Kuiper.

On this day in 1891 Douwe Veenstra was born in the town of Winsum. Douwe was the younger brother of Auke Veenstra. Auke was married to Griet Werkman daughter of Frister Werkman and Hinderkje Velthuis. There is a Veenstra family that lived in the same town of Spring Lake Michigan as my great grandfather but I have not yet made a connection between the Veenstra's of Winsum and Spring Lake.

We have two birth's today involving the Achterhof family, Geertje Derks Acherthof was born in 1779 and Janna Geerts Achtehof was born in Leens in 1796. The Achterhof family is not a direct relation to my line of Werkman's but rather they are connected to us by way of the marriage of Jantje Cleveringa to Douwe Werkman.

I'll explain. Jantje Cleveringa was the great great great granddaughter of Jan Achterhof born about 1700 in Leens. Jan had three sons Jacob Jans, Ties Jans and Hans Jans (no Hans and Frans jokes please). Son Hans Jans is the great great grandfather of Jantje Cleveringa. The other brother Jacob Jans Achterhof is the grandfather of our other bithday girl today Janna Geerts Achterhof. I've traced the Achterhof-Cleveringa family back to the 1700's but it isn't until April 30th of 1904 when Douwe Werkman married Jantje Cleveringa that the families became related. Family names in this line from Jan Achterhof to Jantje Cleveringa include Buikema and Abels.

Frank O'Keefe is my great grandfather and the father of my grandmother Letitia "Sis" O'Keefe Workman. Frank was born in 1878 in St Louis Missouri to Arthur O'Keefe and Sara McNally. Frank married Julia Connor on June 15th 1906 in St Louis and soon moved the family to Chicago where they lived at 725 S. Sacramento which was only a few short blocks away from where my grandfather lived. Frank was a Plasterer and a strong union man.He and Julia had five children and had been married 35 years when Frank passed away on Oct 1st 1941.

Derk Jacobs Helder was born on this date in 1819 in the village of Hornhuizen which is located in Groningen, Netherlands. Derk was the son of Jacob Lamerts Berend Helder and Ijtje Derks Ronda. More importantly, he was the brother of William Helder who was married to Anje Cleveringa. Anje's brother was Derk Freerks Cleveringa whose daughter Jantje Cleveringa married Douwe Werkman, son of Wrister Werkman and Saartje Zijlstra on April 30th 1904 in Kloosterburen. The Helder family had many of it's members emigrate to the United States where they settled in Grand Haven and Grand Rapids Michigan living very close to my great great grandfather Reinder Werkman.

On this day in 1812 in the village of Kantens, Cilia Wijchtman was married to Cornelis Meints van der Tuuk. The Werkman connection here is a little complicated but I'll have a go at it. Cornelis Meints van der Tuuk had a brother Derk who was married to a woman by the name of Grietje Wristers Cleveringa. Grietje was the daughter of Wrizer Freerks Cleveringa and Steintje Pieters Berghuis. Steintje Pieters Berghuis had a brother named Reinder Pieters Berghuis. He and his wife, Anje Roukes had seven children but the special one happened to be Jantje Reinders Berghuis. Jantje's second husband, after the death of her first spouse Jan Willems Polenga, was Wrister Drewes Werkman. Wrister was the brother of my great great great grandfather Jacobus Drewes Werkman.

Fortunately, I have no recorded deaths on this date in our family history. With over 3,200 names in my database and only 365 days in a year I believe that this is some sort of statistical oddity which is to be appreciated.