Before having a closer look at the localities our ancestors came from, let us pinpoint NEDERLAND on the continent of
EUROPE.
.
We can now have a closer look at our home country itself
NEDERLAND.
But more, in particular, we want to get in touch with the North of course, with
FRYSLÂN, GRONINGEN and DRENTHE.
Let us now look at certain localities in Fryslân, with first a focus on my home village
IRNSUM (JIRNSUM): the very center of Fryslân, as a matter of fact!
We will find Boekema's as well in Workum and Bolsward to the West, in Fryslân, as in Leek and Beilen to the East in Drenthe, and in Groningen. It is noteworthy that until the late 1800, they were mostly farmers or farmhands.
As for the Boekema's in Fryslân, the ancestral farm, for the branches of Warga and Wijtgaard was in Warga. However, in the Middle Ages, there was a Bockama "state" nearby Sneek and a Buccama "state" in Swichum, nearby Warga. In the 15th century there were also Bockema's farming in Rinsumageest which is not on this map, but which is to the norht of Oudkerk and Veenwouden.
THE SURROUNDINGS OF WARGA.
Wartena is not mentioned on this map, but it is just East of Warga, in the municipality of Idaarderadeel. Boekema's "migrated" from here to the South-West, but also to the North-East (Tietjerk and beyond). Was this the road they traveled towards Groningen?
TOLBERT AND SURROUNDINGS.
On this map, notice Suawoude in the West. Warga is a little bit further to the West. Tolbert is completely to the East.
Dr. Egbert. J. Boekema wrote me this interesting note about his grand-grandfather:Wolter Boekema, my grand-grandfather, lived in Zevenhuizen where he was farmer. This area was mostly moor and heather in the 18th century and was reclaimed much later than the area around Grootegast and possibly he and his ancestors thus came from an other area.(e-mail from 20 Febr 1998. Zevenhuizen, like Tolbert, is in the municipality of Leek ).
Egbert mentioned also that ca 1811, the Boekema's were mainly found in the municipalities of Leek, Marum, Grootegast, Oldekerk and Groningen.
Let us, therefore, take a look at the
City of GRONINGEN AND SURROUNDINGS.
By following the blue borderline, it is easy to notice how in this area, the Provinces of Fryslân, Groningen and Drenthe are in touch with each other. This makes us understand also why we find Boekema's all throughout this area.
Let we finish this geographical tour by showing the municipalities in Fryslân like they were for centuries, and how they are now. For centuries there were 30 "grietenijen" or municipalities, with 11 cities (hence the "tour of the eleven cities", on skates, bike and so on). "Op zijn elf en dertigen" is also an saying meaning that it takes quite some time to pass into action. To pass certain laws, it took the consent of all the municipalities and cities, and that of course could take quite some time in years gone by.