(I) The Broersmas in my line come from the municipality of Wonseradeel, which is in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. The map to the right is of Wonseradeel, from an atlas of Friesland by Jacob Kuyper around 1868. This area of the Netherlands didn't change very much, so the map probably hadn't changed from the previous couple hundred years. The earliest ancestor that I have been able to trace in my direct paternal line is Broer Pijtters, who was born sometime around 1670 (and that is just an educated guess). He was a schoolmaster in the town of Schettens from August of 1694 to June of 1702. Then he moved to Wons and became a schoolmaster there. On 7 August 1698 he was married to Urseltje Pijtters in Schettens. Here is some info that I found on him from De Schoolmeesters van Wonseradeel.Zijn opvolger als schoolmeester te Schettens was mr. Broer Pijtters, die hier omstreeks Augustus 1694 in dienst trad. Hij ontving steeds 50 gld. per jaar, benevens iets voor kerkschoonmaken en seder 1697 per jaar 10 gld. uit de z.g. Oortjesgelden. In Augustus 1698 is hij hier getrouwd met Urseltje Pijtters, ook van Schettens; hun zoon Pijtter werd 28 Juli 1700 gedoopt, doch is jong gestorven. In Juni 1702 vertrok het echtpaar naar Wons, waar hij ook schoolmeester was.
This is a picture of the church in Schettens, where they were married in 1698. From his marriage I have been able to find 5 children that were baptized:
1. Grietje Broers bapt: 18 JUN 1699 in Schettens, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
2. Pieter Broers bapt: 28 JUL 1700 in Schettens, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
3. Pieter Broers bapt: 2 JUL 1702 in Wons, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
4. Allert Broers bapt: 2 NOV 1704 in Wons, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
5. Marten Broers bapt: 2 APR 1706 in Wons, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
(II) Allert Broers Broersma and his brother Pieter are the first in the family line that have the documented last name of Broersma. He first married Jeltje Reyners on 13 May 1728 in Wons. She most likely died and he married second Sjoukjen Willams Heineman on 14 april 1732 also in Wons. On their marriage record is says that Allert was a schoolmaster in the town of Dedgum.
In 1749 there was an assessment of wealth for tax purposes, and Allert is found in that index known as the Quotisatie. It is in this index where his last name is documented as Broersma.
Quotisatiekohieren 1749
mr. A. Broersma, Wonseradeel
Plaats: Dedgum
Omschrijving: tamelijk welgesteld
Gezin volw: 3 en kind: 1
Aanslag: 41-17-0
Verhoging:
Vermogen: 2000
Bron: Wonseradeel, fol. 93
From his marriage with Sjoukjen Willams Heineman he has at least 4 children:
1. Broer Allerts Broersma b: ABT 1735 in Dedgum, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
2. Grietje Allerts Broersma bapt: 22 JUL 1736 in Dedgum, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
3. Willem Allerts Broersma bapt: 7 JUN 1739 in Dedgum, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
4. Hendrik Allerts Broersma b: in Dedgum, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
(III) Broer Allerts Broersma was born around 1735 in Dedgum and died at the age of 90 on 4 April 1825 in Exmorra. It was a guess that his parents were Allert and Sjoukjen, until I was able to see a scan of his death record, and it mentions his parents names.
From what I have been able to find, it looks like Broer was married twice. First to Trijntje Klases on 17 May 1761 in Dedgum. Then second to Hinke Piers on 9 June 1765 in Exmorra or Allingawier. He was also following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and was a schoolmaster in Allingawier. He had 1 child from his first marriage:
1. Allert Broers Broersma b: 17 AUG 1763 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
From his second marriage he had at least 2 children:
2. Pier Broers Broersma b: 3 MAR 1766 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
3. Grietje Broers Broersma b: 19 DEC 1770 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
In 1811, while the French were occupying the Netherlands, every family had to register a family name. Broer Allerts was registered in Allingawier along with his sons and grandchildren through Pier. It also gives their ages: Allert 47, Pier 45; (children through Pier) Broer 23, Sjerp 14, Henne 9, Pier 6, Oukjen 17, Grietje 20.
(IV) Pier Broers Broersma was born in 1766 and lived to the age of 71 and died on 22 May 1837 in Exmorra. It appears that he did not follow his predecessors, and most likely was farmer. He married Grestke Sjerps Haitsma on 7 October 1787 in Allingawier. Together they had 6 children:
1. Broer Piers Broersma b: 5 JUL 1788 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
2. Grietje Piers Broersma b: ABT 1791 in Exmorra, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
3. Aukjen Piers Broersma b: ABT 1794 in Exmorra, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
4. Sjerp Piers Broersma b: ABT 1797 in Exmorra, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
5. Hinne Piers Broersma b: ABT 1802 in Exmorra, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
6. Pier Piers Broersma b: ABT 1805 in Exmorra, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
(V) Sjerp Piers Broersma was born around 1797. I have not been able to find a specific date for his birth, but he died on 20 June 1855. His death record says that he was born in Exmorra and lived in Piaam when he died. He married Trijntje Tjerks van 't Zet on 20 April 1822. At the bottom of their marriage record there is a great grouping of signatures from the family on the left column.
From his marriage he had 8 chilren, all born in Allingawier:
1. Tjerk Sjerps Broersma b: 7 MAR 1825 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
2. Gretske Sjerps Broersma b: 14 AUG 1826 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
3. Pier Sjerps Broersma b: 11 JUN 1829 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
4. Jelle Sjerps Broersma b: 11 JUN 1829 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
5. Pier Sjerps Broersma b: 25 SEP 1830 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
6. Jelle Sjerps Broersma b: 25 JAN 1834 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
7. Broer Sjerps Broersma b: 31 OCT 1836 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
8. Sjoerdtje Sjerps Broersma b: 2 DEC 1838 in Allingawier, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
(VI) Tjerk Sjerps Broersma was born in 1825 and died when he was 50 on 21 March 1875 in Idsegahuizum. He married Dieuwke Sipkes Seekles on 19 May 1855, 1 month before his father passed away. Tjerk was living in Piaam at the time of their marriage. Together they had 7 children:
1. Sjerp Broersma b: 31 DEC 1856 in Piaam, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
2. Sipke Broersma b: 14 AUG 1859 in Idsegahuizum, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
3. Trijntje Broersma b: 28 MAR 1862 in Idsegahuizum, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
4. Taeke Broersma b: 1 JUL 1864 in Idsegahuizum, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
5. Jetze Broersma b: 13 JUL 1865 in Piaam, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
6. Pier Broersma b: 14 FEB 1869 in Piaam, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
7. Antje Broersma b: 18 MAY 1873 in Idsegahuizum, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
Here is a picture of the church in Piaam, the village where Jetze and his children were baptized.
(VII) Jetze Broersma was born in 1865, and died at the age of 89 on 21 May 1955 in Sneek. He was married to Luitske van Gunst on 11 October 1890 in Makkum. It's always nice to find lots of records about someone you're researching, but having a picture is even better. Jetze is the oldest Broersma relative that I have a picture of. This is their family portrait, taken around 1910 or so.
They had 7 children together:
1. Tjerk “Jack” Broersma b: 24 FEB 1891 in Piaam, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
2. Ynskje Broersma b: 12 APR 1893 in Piaam, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
3. Thys Broersma b: 17 SEP 1895 in Piaam, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
4. Dieuwke Broersma b: 6 APR 1898 in Piaam, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
5. Laas “Lawrence” Broersma b: 4 FEB 1901 in Piaam, Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands
6. Pier “Peter” Broersma b: 28 MAY 1903 in Sneek, Friesland, Netherlands
7. Unnamed Broersma b: 25 MAR 1906 in Sneek, Friesland, Netherlands
(VIII) Laas “Lawrence” Broersma was born in 1901 and came over to the United States in 1920 on the S.S Noordam. According to the immigration record he was a Barber in the Netherlands, and was heading to Iowa. He continued to live in Iowa for a few years and then was married the sister of his brother Thys' wife. Lawrence and Grace Gertrude Wichers were married on Easter Sunday, 4 April 1926 in Ireton, Iowa. Even though they were poor and lived through the depression in the 1930s, they had a large family. This family portrait was taken around 1951.
Lawrence lived for 84 years and died on 14 December 1985 in Lynden, Washington. He and his wife had 12 children:
1. Lloyd Julian Broersma b: 3 FEB 1927 in Ireton, Sioux Co, IA
2. Marvin Anthony Broersma b: 19 SEP 1928 in Ireton, Sioux Co, IA
3. Marjory Louise Broersma b: 20 AUG 1930 in Ireton, Sioux Co, IA
4. Gerrit John Broersma b: 18 FEB 1932 in Ruthton, Pipestone Co, MN
5. Robert Lawrence Broersma b: 14 JUL 1933 in Ruthton, Pipestone Co, MN
6. Elsie Jean Broersma b: 18 NOV 1934 in Ruthton, Pipestone Co, MN
7. Joyce Harriet Broersma b: 26 AUG 1936 in Ruthton, Pipestone Co, MN
8. Theodore Gerald Broersma b: 18 FEB 1938 in Ruthton, Pipestone Co, MN
9. Benjamin Broersma b: ABT 1939 in Washington
10. Benjamin Perry Broersma b: 19 APR 1941 in Washington
11. Harold Dennis Broersma b: 3 Jun 1942 in Lynden, Whatcom Co, WA
12. Dorothy Marie Broersma b: 8 DEC 1943 in Lynden, Whatcom Co, WA
13. Kenneth Duane Broersma b: 3 NOV 1950 in Lynden, Whatcom Co, WA
Here are a few good posts that have some more detailed family history and stories:
Lawrence & Grace Broersma's History
The Letter that Started It All
The SS Noordam
