Boonah, August 21, 1999
That's how we came.... may be?
Episode 9.


A difficult one for me and fairly recent as well, so expect incongruous or at least scattered things here.

I also realise that I tend to address these things more and more to my sons (in my mind), but still feel that it may be interesting to others.

This episode has to do mainly with the Stempher side of the family, but also with some Hofman and I may get confusing as I was sometimes confused, so take it as you see it for yourself.

Stempher:



There seems to be little history past the Stempher-Kronenberg couple.
(note 14.03.00: See Frits Stempher in the 'HELP' via the main index please)
Anyone can see the documents I have in my possession. Briefly it shows that Richard and Eddie's grandparents are :
Andries Cornelis Stempher, 10th child of Arend Stempher and Agnieta Kronenberg.

Arend Stempher was born in March 1872 in the city of Deventer in Holland and was the son of Gerrit Stempher and Maria Antonia Nieuwkerck

Agnieta Kronenberg was born 30 October 1873 in Hellendoorn, Holland, the daughter of Jan Kronenberg and Berendina Overink.

They were married 25th October 1894.

Their first child arrived 26th October 1894!!!!! Berendina Agnieta in Deventer. No time to spare (hehehe).
Further children born were (all in Kampen):
Gerrit
Jan
Maria Antonia
Jan
Johanna Maria
Jan
Margje
Arend
Andries Cornelis
Johan Fredrik Christiaan		 02.10.1896
25.03.1898
08.01.1900
03.10.1901
13.09.1904
06.12.1907
22.04.1910
25.02.1912
17.03.1914
24.10.1916		 (no date of death known to me.)
Died 05.05.1900 in Kampen.
Died 03.12.1903 in Kampen
(no date of death known to me).
(no date of death known to me).
(no date of death known to me).
(no date of death known to me).
(no date of death known to me).
Died 02.05.1985 (Loving Opa to my children).
Died 18.10.1941

(note 14.03.00: See Frits Stempher in the 'HELP' via the main index please re above table.)


So far I have been unable to go back further as far as facts are concerned, but generally speaking some forebears came from what is now France, Normandy in particular.
I have to admit that much "proof" seems to go against it as far as my research is concerned, but that has happened before. E.g: Roman soldiers were required to be a minimum 5' 7", yet both Stemphers and Hofmans seem to be rather less tall, keeping in mind the general increase in size since, but more of that later if I can remember. (ask if I forget! To do with life style!)

The further 'un"proof"' comes from the fact that I have tried to find the name Stempher in the capital cities of both Belgium and France, but then I realised that the name may have been given AFTER the Napolion Coda, when people were required to have a "name".

(note 14.03.00: I got information from a relative that the name Stempher occurs 'in stone' on an ancient mill near the southern French/Swiss border. An indication that the name means 'stamper' or (copper) 'slager'. ('koperslager' or 'coppersmith')

Yet... the abundance of red hair in the families points I believe, to a link with the Normans!
In my regressions that was rather clear. No rape was involved, but rather ... not sure how to put it..willingness? They, the Normans, were powerful and big!
The name Adriaens I think refers to the Roman Hadri(a)an(us), a Roman leader in the past in that area. You may note that even now in 'Kampers dialect' the 'H' is deleted! The post 's' on Adriaans means "from" or "son of".
This could mean that there was even earlier a 'connection' with the Roman occupation, still remembered at the time of the name-giving.

But first, a bit more about the Hofman side, in case it becomes muddled in my mind...
In the next episode.
More later...

Dick.

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