M. (1) about 1613 in Utrecht, Netherlands1
Wife: Anna Van Weerdenburch
M. (2) 31 Mar 1635 in Amsterdam, Netherlands2
Wife: Geeruijt Jacobs Van Drielenburch
D. May 1675 in Amsterdam, Netherlands3
During the 17th century, the Netherlands received many people who relocated from other European nations. One of them was Englishman Joseph Margetts, who worked in Amsterdam for many years as a diamond cutter.
Joseph was said to have been born in about 1593 in London or Northamptonshire, England.1 Nothing is known of his parents or if he had siblings. By about 1613, Joseph left his native country to move to the Netherlands,1 and for the rest of his life he lived among the Dutch. Although it was common for religious dissenters in England to make such a move, there is no evidence that this was the case for Joseph. He didn’t seem to be associated with any Puritan groups, many of whom used the Netherlands as a temporary home before moving to America.
So Joseph’s decision to move may have actually been because he wanted to pursue a career as a diamond cutter. At the time, Amsterdam was considered a center of the diamond cutting industry tied into the Dutch East India Company, which brought the imported gems into Europe from places around the world.4 Another factor in why Amsterdam had a cluster of diamond cutters was that among places in Europe, they were tolerant of Jews, and many of that heritage were gem-cutting artisans4
A gem cutter at work.
During his early years in the Netherlands, Joseph made his home in Utrecht, where he married Anna Van Weerdenburch in about 1613.1 They had nine children born between 1614 and 1635. The family moved to Amsterdam around 1622.5 Anna died there, probably in early 1635, and Joseph then married Geeruijt Jacobs Van Drielenburch on March 31, 1635.2 They had a daughter born in 1639.6
Joseph saw three of his children move to very faraway places. Daughter Catharina married a man named Adrian Hegeman and they migrated to the Dutch colony in North America.1 Oldest son Joris went to the Dutch colony in Brazil in about 1636.1 And both Joris and youngest son Joseph ventured to what is now Jakarta, Indonesia some time during the years 1648 to 1664.1
Back in Amsterdam, Joseph was a member of the English Reformed Church in Amsterdam, and he was listed in their membership lists for every year between 1622 and 1674.7 He died in May 1675, and was buried May 27th at Noorderkerk (North Church), Amsterdam.3
Children (by Anna Van Weerdenburch):
1. Joris Margetts — B. about 1614, Utrecht, Netherlands;1 D. after 15 Aug 1636, (probably) Recife, Brazil8
2. Elisabeth Margetts — B. about 1616, Utrecht, Netherlands;1 M. John Sanders, 19 Sep 1647, Amsterdam, Netherlands9
3. Maria Margetts — B. about 1618, Utrecht, Netherlands1
4. Machtelje Margetts — B. about 1620, Utrecht, Netherlands;1 M. Pieter Pieters, 19 Apr 1648, Sloterdyk, Netherlands10
5. Lambertje Margetts — B. about 1622, Utrecht, Netherlands;1 M. Cornelis Willemse Hospronck, after 27 Aug 164411
6. Catherina Margetts — B. before 4 Feb 1625, Amsterdam, Netherlands;1 D. 1690, New York;1 M. Adrian Hegeman (~1624-1672), 7 Mar 1649, Amsterdam, Netherlands1
7. Anna Margetts — B. before 16 Jan 1628, Amsterdam, Netherlands;1 D. before 23 Feb 163912
8. Joseph Margetts — B. before 20 Jan 1630, Amsterdam, Netherlands;13 D. about 1664, East Indies1
Children (by Geeruijt Jacobs Van Drielenburch):
1. Sara Margetts — B. 1635, Amsterdam, Netherlands14
2. Anne Margetts — B. before 23 Feb 1639, Amsterdam, Netherlands12
Sources:
1 “The Amsterdam Years of Joseph Margetts, Father-in-law of Adriaen Hegeman of New Netherland,” John Blythe Dobson, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 131, 2000
2 Marriage record of Joseph Margetts and Geeruijt Jacobs Van Drielenburch, Amsterdam Marriage Intentions
3 Burial record of Joseph Margetts, Registers of Baptism, Marriage and Burial at Amsterdam
4 The history, Diamant Museum, Amsterdam (website)
5 English Reformed Church, Amsterdam records, 1621-1627, Vol. 2
6 Baptismal record of Sara Margetts, R. B., M., & B.
7 English Reformed Church, Amsterdam records, 1629-1674, Vol. 8-16
8 Joris Margets as a witness to a baptism, 15 Aug 1636, “Doopregister der Hollanders in Brazilië,” Algemeen Nederlandsch Familieblad, 1888, p. 142
9 Marriage record of Johannes Sander and Elisabedt Margit, Amsterdam Marriage Intentions
10 Marriage record of Pieter Pieters and Machteltgen Margits, Amsterdam Marriage Intentions
11 Marriage record of Cornelis Willemse Hospronck and Lambertie Margits, Amsterdam Marriage Intentions
12 Baptismal record of Anne Margetts (younger), R. B., M., & B.
13 Baptismal record of Joseph Margetts, R. B., M., & B.
14 Baptismal record of Sara Margetts, R. B., M., & B.
