In previous posts we gave examples of marriages. Some of these marriages took place prior to 1811 and were recorded in church books or parish registers. Other marriages took place in the 19th or 20th century and were recorded in the civil registers. Unfortunately not all of these couples lived happily ever after… some even got a divorce. Brandina Hendriks was one of them.
Chronological overview
A lot happened in Brandina’s life. We have put her most import life events in chronological order. [All records are available in the database of Gelders Archief.]
15 March 1866, Ede, birth record
Mees Hendriks, 27 years old, laborer, living in Ede, declares that his wife Gijsbertje Methorst gave birth to a baby in their house in Ede on 14 March. The girl’s name is Brandina.
12 March 1892, Ede, marriage record
- Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel, 20 years old, farmer, born in Amersfoort, living in Stoutenburg, minor son of the late Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel (wheelwright by life) and of the late Teunisje Wulven
- Brandina Hendriks, 25 years old, born and living in Ede, adult daughter of Mees Hendriks (farmer) and of Gijsbertje Methorst (both living in Ede)
The marriage record is already a treasure for genealogists. In the marriage supplements are extracts of the following civil records:
- birth records of the groom and the bride
- death records of the groom’s father and the groom’s mother
- also, death records of the groom’s paternal grandparents (Willem Schimmel and Neeltje Mastenbroek)
- and finally, death records of the groom’s maternal grandparents (Gerrit Wulven van Hoevelaken and Aaltje Dekker)
There is a note on the front of the marriage record. It says that the District Court in Arnhem passed judgement on 31 January 1901 and decided to dissolve the marriage. The civil registrar of Ede recorded this judgement on 20 May 1901.
30 December 1892, Ede, birth record
Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel, 21 years old, farmer, living in Ede, declares that his wife Brandina Hendriks, 26 years old, gave birth to a baby in their house in Esveld on 29 December. The boy’s names are Cornelis Wouterus.
25 July 1894, Ede, birth record
Mees Hendriks, 54 years old, laborer, living in Ede, declares that Brandina Hendriks, wife of Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel, a merchant in Ede, gave birth to a baby in his house on 24 July. The boy’s name is Mees.
A short text in the margin of this record says that Mees Hendriks registered the birth of this child, because its father was absent.
11 May 1896, Barneveld, birth record
Alberta Berendina Hendrika Naber, 31 years old, midwife, living in Barneveld, declares that Brandina Hendriks, maidservant, living in Ede, gave birth to a baby in her house in Garderbroek on 9 May. The girl’s name is Brandina.
A short text in the margin of this record says that Brandina Hendriks was the wife of Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel, farmer, living in Ede, who was absent and was therefore not present to register the birth.
5 September 1898, Barneveld, birth record
Albertus Barendina Hendrika Naber, 33 years old, midwife, living in Barneveld, declares that Brandina Hendriks, maidservant in Barneveld, living in Ede, gave birth to a baby in her house in Garderbroek on 3 September. The girl’s name is Maria.
A short text in the margin of this record says that Brandina Hendriks was the wife of Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel, farmer, living in Ede, who was absent and was therefore not present to register the birth.
31 January 1901, Arnhem, court decision
The District Court in Arnhem hears the allegations of Brandina Hendriks, living in Wekerom, against her husband Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel, farmer, formerly living in Ede, his current whereabout unknown.
Brandina says that:
- she married Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel in Ede on 12 March 1892
- they had two children together, named Cornelis Wouterus and Melis [sic!]
- her husband left her in June 1894
- he never returned to their house in Ede
- she has not seen him for more than five years
She therefore requests the dissolution of the marriage on the grounds of malicious abandonment. The opposing party did not appear in court and therefore the judge considers the facts to be proven and rules to grant the claim.
2 May 1901, Arnhem, court decision final
The clerk of the court announces that no appeal has been lodged and thus the court decision becomes final.
13 May 1901, Ede, registration of the divorce
Brandina Hendriks, 35 years old, living in Ede, shows the civil registrar of the municipality of Ede the court decision and the certificate of the the clerk. The civil registrar records the court decision and make a note in the margin of the original marriage record.
From this moment on Brandina is legally divorced.
29 August 1901, Barneveld, birth record
Alberta Berendina Hendrika Naber, 37 years old, midwife, living in Barneveld, declares that Brandina Hendriks, since 31 January 1901 legally divorced wife of Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel, gave birth to a baby in her house in Garderbroek on 29 August. The girl’s name is Gijsje.
One of the witnesses of this registration is Melis van Wenkop, 43 years old, day laborer, living in Barneveld.
27 March 1903, Barneveld, marriage record
- Melis van Wenkop, widower of Dirkje van de Geest, 44 years old, day laborer, born and living in Barneveld, adult son of the late Cornelis van Wenkop and the late Willempje van den Berg
- Brandina Hendriks, legally divorced wife of Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel, 37 years old, born in Ede and living in Barneveld, adult daughter of the late Mees Hendriks and of Gijsbertje Methorst, who is living in Ede
8 December 1903, Barneveld, birth record
Melis van Wenkop, 45 years old, day laborer, living in Barneveld, declares that his wife Brandina Hendriks gave birth to a baby in their house in Garderbroek on 7 December. The girl’s name is Gerritje.
11 February 1907, Barneveld, birth record
Melis van Wenkop, 48 years old, day laborer, living in Barneveld, declares that his wife Brandina Hendriks gave birth to a baby in their house in Garderbroek on 9 February. The boy’s name is Tijs.
29 June 1927, Apeldoorn, death record
Teunis Wentink, 41 years old, undertaker, and Hendrik Muis, 53 years old, municipal beadle, declare that on 26 June at the age of 61 years died Brandina Hendriks, born in Ede, living in Ugchelen near Apeldoorn, wife of Melis van Wenkop, previously divorced from Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel, daughter of the late Mees Hendriks and the late Gijsbertje Methorst.
Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel
Now that we know more about the life of Brandina Hendriks, it is interesting to look for the man who abandonned her. He married Jansje Struik in Nigtevecht (province of Utrecht) on 26 April 1901. [source]
Remarkable fact 1. At the time of his marriage, he was legally not divorced yet. The registration of his divorce took place on 13 May 1901. Does this mean that – strictly speaking – he was still married and therefore this second marriage would not be legal?
Remarkable fact 2. The marriage record does not mention a previous marriage. In all later civil records Brandina Hendriks was mentioned as “legally divorced wife of”. Why does neither this marriage record nor his death record say that Cornelis Wouterus Schimmel was “legally divorced husband of”? Was there a distinction between the legal positions of men and women?
Tip
When you find a note in the margin of a marriage record that says that the marriage was dissolved by a divorce, try to find more records. For example, the court decision. This might tell you why one of the spouses filed for a divorce. Was it because of “malicious abandonment” or because of adultery, or because of insanity? Although a divorce was (and is) a painful event, records like these definitely give color to the lives of your ancestors.
