Emigrants from Aalten to the US
In the 19th century, thousands of Achterhoekers emigrated to the United States in search of land, freedom and new opportunities. Among them were Evert Jan Duenk and Willemina Rensink from the hamlet of IJzerlo in Aalten. They were among the early European pioneers who settled in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
Evert Jan Duenk was born in Aalten on October 7, 1797, as the son of Hendrik Deunk and Aaltjen Siebelink. He married on 12 July 1818 in Aalten with Joanna Bernardina te Winkel (Bocholt, 1790), daughter of Joan Gerhard te Winkel and Theodora te Beest. They lived on the (Groot) Essink farm in IJzerlo.
Children from the first marriage:
- Derk Jan Duenk (1820–1898), married on 23 July 1847 in Aalten to Johanna Christina Hilbelink (1824–1907), born on the Lensink farm in IJzerlo, daughter of aren’t Jan Hilbelink and Hendrika Hoopman.
- NN Duenk (1820–1820), stillborn twin brother of Derk Jan.
- Gerrit Hendrik Duenk (1825–1883).
- Johanna Engelina Duenk (1828–1829).
On April 25, 1829, Joanna Bernardina died. A year later, on 6 May 1830, Evert Jan remarried in Aalten to Willemina Rensink (1809, born on the Groot Rensink farm in Lintelo on 31 March 1809, daughter of Jan Willem Rensink and Elisabeth Liesen.
Children from the second marriage:
- Johanna Berendina Duenk (1831–1831).
- Johanna Berendina Duenk (1832–1832).
- Jan Willem Duenk (1833–1881).
- Johanna Berendina Duenk (1835–1912); married in 1856 Gerrit Willem Hijink (1835–1901), born on the Blekkink farm in the Woold.
- Aleida Eliezabeth Duenk (1838–1871); married in 1860 Gerhardus Georg Neevel (1827–1889), born in Dinxperlo.
- Evert Jan Duenk (1840–1865).
- Gerrit Jan Duenk (1843–1902).
- Willemina Johanna Duenk (1847–1907).
Emigration
On August 16, 1847, the family left the farm in IJzerlo and emigrated to the United States. However, Evert Jan failed to terminate the lease. He had also sold the cattle and all the things on the farm. He was summoned in the Netherlands for this and convicted in absentia.
Evert Jan and Willemina, with their seven children, departed from Amsterdam, boarded the ship Kath Jackson and arrived in New York City on September 28, 1847. On the list of emigrants from Aalten he is registered as a farmer, less well-off. The family settled in Sheboygan County.
Sheboygan Forward
We found some mentions of Evert Jan Duenk in the Sheboygan Nieuwsbode, “Organ of the Dutch in North America”:
Marital problems
At one point, Evert Jan and Willemina could no longer get along. This is evident from an advertisement that Evert Jan placed in the Sheboygan Nieuwsbode at the beginning of March 1860:
“Naardemaal (because, ed.) WILLEMINA DUENK, my wife, has behaved in such a way that I can no longer live in peace with her, I forbid all persons to house or guarantee her on my account, as I will not pay any debts she incurs after this day. E.J. DUENK.
Gibbsville, March 3, 1860.”
