Flemish Carpenter in New France — Joseph Vandendaigue

B. about 1653 in Brussels, Spanish Netherlands
M. 18 Apr 1678 in Quebec City, New France
Wife: Marie-Louise Chalifour
D. 10 Jan 1725 in Charlesbourg, New France

Many American colonies included many foreigners, but New France settlers rarely came from a country other than France. So when Belgian Joseph Vandendaigue settled along the St. Lawrence, he must have been quite an outsider. Nonetheless, he seemed to adapt well to his new home. 

Joseph was born in Brussels in about 1653, which was then a part of the Spanish Netherlands. Ethnically, it was in the heart of Flanders, and Joseph’s family had the Dutch name of Van Den Dyck. His father’s name was Josse or Joseph and his mother was Madeleine Dubois, but nothing else is known of them.

Brussels in the 17th century.

Joseph had at least a basic education and learned the trade of carpentry. In 1672, war broke out between the Netherlands and several other countries, and by 1675, France had control of Brussels. But a contract signed by Joseph on May 21, 1671 shows that he was gone by that time working as a carpenter for Jesuits in New France. Once in Canada, Joseph changed his name to Vandendaigue, and he settled in Beauport, a district in the Quebec City area. 

Once in New France, Joseph's name was translated into Vandendaigue, and he settled in Beauport, a district in the Quebec City area. On April 18, 1678, he married Marie-Louise Chalifour. She brought a large dowry of £2,500 into the marriage, which included land and a house. Later that year, she gave birth to a baby girl. They had six daughters and one son born between 1678 and 1693; two of the girls died as infants.

Joseph’s signature.

The rest of Joseph’s life was spent applying his carpentry skills to the construction of homes; it’s likely that he made interior woodwork and cabinetry rather than framework construction. In July 1715, when he was in his early 60s, he received custody of his oldest daughter’s children after they were orphaned. The five grandchildren ranged in age from 2 to 15.

Jospeh died in Charlesbourg, New France on January 10, 1725. His wife Marie-Louise lived another ten years, passing away in 1735. Both are buried at Saint-Charles Borromée Cemetery in Charlesbourg.

Children:
1. Jaquette Vandendaigue — B. 27 Dec 1678, Quebec City, New France; D. 24 Apr 1714, Quebec City, New France; M. Pierre Boutillet (~1676-1715), 5 Oct 1699, Beauport, New France

2. Marie-Anne Vandendaigue — B. 12 Jan 1680, Quebec City, New France; D. 31 Mar 1752, Montreal, New France; M. (1) Antoine Bourg Lachapelle (~1662-1729), 26 Nov 1696, Beauport, New France; (2) Pierre Thibault Leveilé (1688-1747), 6 Oct 1732, St-Laurent, New France

3. Claude Vandendaigue — B. 2 May 1682, Quebec City, New France; D. 10 Mar 1752, St-François-de-Sale, Ile Jésus, New France; M. Marie Brideault (1691-?), 5 Nov 1708, Beauport, New France

4. Jeanne Vandendaigue — B. Mar 1684, Quebec City, New France; D. 11 Sep 1684, Quebec City, New France

5. Marie-Charlotte Vandendaigue — B. 29 Jun 1685, Beauport, New France; D. 8 Oct 1727, Montreal, New France; M. Jean-Baptiste Dugas (~1670-1758), 9 Jan 1708, Beauport, New France

6. Louise Vandendaigue — B. 23 Mar 1687, Beauport, New France; D. Oct 1725, Montreal, New France; M. (1) Jacques Gervais (~1677-1708), 17 Nov 1704, Beauport, New France; (2) Jean Étienne Boutin (1684-?), 14 Nov 1712, Beauport, New France; (3) François Lefebvre (1679-1727), 17 Jan 1718, La Pairie, New France

7. Marguerite Vandendaigue — B. 7 Apr 1693, Beauport, New France; D. 1693, Beauport, New France

Sources:
Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française (website)
Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
Find-A-Grave

The Migration of a Huguenot — Bourgon Broucard

B. about 1638 in Mouscron, Flanders (now a part of Belgium)
M. (1) 1 Dec 1663 in Mannheim, Germany
Wife: Marie du May
M. (2) 18 Dec 1666 in Mannheim, Germany
Wife: Catherine Lefevre
D. before 3 Mar 1703 in (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey

Bourgon Broucard lived at a time when Protestants who were French sought safety in parts of Europe, and he ultimately found it in America. He was born in the town of Mouscron, in what is now Belgium, in about 1638. The name "Broucard" has been spelled several ways, and Bourgon's father is now believed to be have been named Louis Brouquart.

Bourgon was a French Huguenot, meaning he followed Calvinism rather than the Catholic religion. In the 17th century, Huguenots were persecuted by Catholic authorities in the area where Bourgon lived. Around 1664, a king in a section of Germany invited French Huguenots to settle on some of his empty land. Broucard was one who took up the offer, and he resettled in Mannheim, Germany. There he married first Marie du May on December 1, 1663. It is believed she had one child and then she died. On December 18, 1666, Bourgon married 18 year-old Catherine Lefevre. Between 1667 and 1672, they had three daughters born in Mannheim.

Mannheim was a remarkable place for its time — a planned city that offered refuge for victims of persecution in other parts of Europe. It was first built in about 1600, constructed as a fortress, and after it was destroyed by wars later in the century, it was rebuilt by Charles I Louis. The people whom he offered sanctuary provided the labor to turn it into a profitable trading town. If viewed from above, the fortress was in the form of two overlapping stars. 

Diagram of Mannheim in the 17th century. 

Bourgon decided not to stay permanently in Mannheim, and in about 1672, the family moved to Amsterdam, Holland, where a son was born in 1675 and died as an infant. Within a year, they sailed for America. By the following year, Bourgon and his family lived in Brooklyn where he owned about 23 acres and two cows. In 1684, they were in Bushwick, and 1692, bought a large estate in what is now Long Island City, Queens. Bourgon built a house that stood for over 200 years before it was torn down by sometime around 1900. In 1702, Bourgon purchased two thousand acres in Somerset County, New Jersey with his son-in-law John Covert; the land was bounded on the north by the Raritan and Millstone Rivers.

It was said that Bourgon was a “man of towering stature, of noble mind and some military experience.” In 1720, he died in New Jersey, and it is believed he was buried in a cemetery near the junction of those two rivers. By the time he died, the name “Broucard” had been converted into “Brogaw” in some records, and in other records into “Broka” which was later spelled “Brokaw.” That form of the name was handed down the male line to newsman, Tom Brokaw. Bourgon was also the ancestor of Humphrey Bogart.

Children by Marie du May:
1. Marie Broucard – B. before 28 Jan 1665, Mannheim, Germany; D. about 1666, (probably) Mannheim, Germany

Children by Catherine Lefevre:
1. Jannetje Broucard – B. before 16 Nov 1667, Mannheim, Germany; D. about Sep 1723, Raritan, New Jersey; M. Jan Teunissen Covert (1651-?), 1689, Newtown, New York

2. Marie Broucard – B. before 1 Apr 1670, Mannheim, Germany; D. after Sep 1723, Raritan, New Jersey; M. (1) Myndert Wiltsee (1672-?), 14 Nov 1694, New York, New York; (2) Andreas Thomas Bird (1673-?), about 1700, Newtown, New York

3. Catalina Broucard – B. before 16 May 1672, Mannheim, Germany; D. before 14 Mar 1686

4. Isaac Broucard – B. before 2 Mar 1675, Amsterdam, Netherlands; D. before 7 Aug 1676

5. Isaac Broucard – B. before 7 Aug 1676, Brooklyn, New York; D. before 14 Mar 1757, Newtown, New York; M. Hilletje Bas (~1680-?), 3 Apr 1699

6. Jacob Broucard – B. about 1678, Flatbush, New York; M. Gertie Van Middleswart

7. Jan Brokaw – B. before 14 Nov 1680, Flatbush, New York; D. 16 Oct 1740, Raritan, New Jersey; M. Sarah Janse Van Middleswart (~1685-?), about 1704, Somerset County, New Jersey

8. Peter Broucard – B. about 1682, Bushwick, New York; D. 16 Feb 1758, Bound Brook, New Jersey; M. Judith Van Nest (1685-?)

9. Abraham Broucard – B. about 1684, Bushwick, New York; D. before 9 Sep 1747, Millstone, New Jersey; M. Marietje Davids (1692-1733)

10. Catharina Broucard – B. 14 Mar 1686, New York; D. after 1730, Somerset County, New Jersey; M. Pieter Hoff (1678-~1756), 1704, Kingston, New York

Sources:
Long-Overdue Brokaw/Bragaw Additions & Corrections: The European Origins of the Bourgon Broucard and Catherine Le Fevre, Perry Streeter, 2010
Our Brokaw-Brogaw heritage, Elsie E. Foster, 1967
"Historic Houses Being Razed to Make Way for the March of Improvement," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 2 Aug 1903
WikiTree
The Bragaw Family Web Site 
The German Huguenot Museum (website) 
Mannheim Baroque Palace (website) 

Mustard Maker in Gouda — Jan Pauwelsz Van Aersdalen

B. about 1600 in (probably) Nukerke, East Flanders¹
M. (1) before 24 Jun 1624 in (probably) Nukerke, East Flanders²
Wife: Geertje Phillipsdr Haelters
M. (2) 20 Aug 1652 in Haastrecht, Netherlands³
Wife: Margarieta Phillipsdr
D. 12 Jan 1654 in Gouda, Netherlands¹

During the 17th century, a man often had to be resourceful in order to support his family. And when Jan Pauwelsz Van Aersdalen set himself up in a new home in the Netherlands, he took on the interesting profession of mustard maker.

Jan's family had lived for generations in Nukerke, East Flanders (now part of Belgium), and he was said to have been born there in about 1600 to Pauwel Pauwelsz Van Aersdaele and Fiermijne Haelters.¹ On November 12, 1624, Jan married Geertje Phillipsdr Haelters in Nukerke.² They had at least seven children born between 1625 and 1638. During the early years of his marriage, Jan made a living as a carpet weaver.³

Sometime between 1638 and 1642, Jan and his family left Nukerke, settling in Gouda, Netherlands.⁴ This was an era of turmoil between Catholics and Protestants, and during times of conflict, many people sought safer places to live. We know that Jan was a Protestant because on July 20, 1642, he was confirmed as a member of the Reformed Dutch Church in Gouda.⁴ On November 24th, Jan purchased a house, and on April 8, 1650, he bought an adjacent house as well.⁴ The two houses were later consolidated, and they still stand today at No. 26 Naaierstraat.

Jan's house in Gouda.

When Jan moved to Gouda, he became a “mustard grinder” or mustard maker.⁴ This was work he could do right in his home. To make mustard, seeds were crushed into powder by hand, then was mixed with vinegar to be used as a seasoning.⁵ Often mustard makers sold their product in a public market or door-to-door, but it isn't known if this was true for Jan.

Mustard seed. (source: Dsaikia2015, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jan's wife Geertje died in October 1651,³ and he married Margarieta Phillipsdr on August 20, 1652 in Haastrecht, Netherlands.³ Their marriage was short because Jan passed away on January 12, 1654.¹ He was buried at Gouda Algemene Begraafplaats (cemetery). Because Jan’s son Simon migrated to New Netherland, he has many American descendants, including Georgia O’Keeffe and James Spader.

Children (all by Geertje Phillipsdr Haelters):
1. Philippus Jansz Van Arsdalen — B. bef 24 Jun 1624, Nukerke, East Flanders³

2. Joannes Van Arsdalen — B. before 22 Mar 1626, (probably) Nukerke, East Flanders³

3. Simon Jansen Van Arsdalen — B. before 27 Feb 1627, Nukerke, East Flanders;³ D. Oct 1710, Flatlands, New York;³ M. (1) Marritje Baltus (1630-1655), 19 Apr 1650, Amsterdam, Netherlands;³ (2) Pieterje Claese Van Schouw (~1640-?), 1658, Flatlands, New Netherlands³

4. Pieter Van Arsdelen — B. about 1630, (probably) Nukerke, East Flanders³

5. Egida Van Arsdalen — B. before 10 Apr 1633, (probably) Nukerke, East Flanders³

6. Joanna Van Arsdalen — B. before 4 Dec 1635, (probably) Nukerke, East Flanders³

7. Joost Van Arsdalen — B. before 2 Oct 1638, (probably) Nukerke, East Flanders³

Sources:
1    Find-a-Grave listing of Jan Paulwelsz Van Aersdalen
2    Marriage date is based on baptism of oldest known child
3    “Remembering Sijmon Jansz,” Charles R. Vanorsdale, The Vanguard, Vol. VI, No. 1, July 2003
4    “Jan Pauwelsz Van Aersdalen’s houses in Gouda,” Charles R. Vanorsdale, The Vanguard, Vol. V, No. 1, July 2002
5    How Mustard is Made (website)