Tjakke Ulbens (1688-)

Tjakke Ulbens was baptized 30 Dec 1688, 329 years ago, in Oude Pekela, Groningen. He was my 6th great-grandfather, as well as my 6th great-granduncle, I also descend from his sister Grietje.

As I have talked about before, there were hardly any surnames in the north of the Netherlands in those days. Tjakke was the son of Ulben Tammes and Antje Hindriks, so he is Tjakke Ulbens. He married Metje Harmens (so: daughter of Harm) in 1713, but there was no marriage contract, and the registration of the marriage lists only the names, no place of residence, no parents. Tjakke and Metje seem to have had only two children baptized, both seemingly named after his parents: Ulben and Antje.

His sister Grietje shows up in a marriage contract on her husband’s side, but Tjakke and Metje seem to never again appear in the Groningen records. It seems unlikely they moved far away; their daughter Antje married in Nieuwe Pekela (also without a marriage contract, even though it was her husband’s second marriage), and has 6 children baptized there. Did they have many miscarriages? Did Metje die, and Tjakke never remarried? Son Ulben also disappears from the records.

I don’t think I will ever know what happened to Tjakke and his very small family. Maybe somewhere out there are records that will explain their disappearance, but I won’t hold my breath.