Origins
As I delve into the ancestral roots of my great-grandparents, a fascinating pattern emerges. Five out of eight of them trace their origins back to Zeeland, Netherlands, affectionately known as "Zeelanders." However, upon closer investigation, it becomes evident that they hail specifically from the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen region within Zeeland. This revelation raises an intriguing question: How and why did so many individuals from this corner of the world find their way to Wayne County, NY?
Intriguingly, an article I stumbled upon claims a staggering 25% of Wayne County's residents can trace their heritage to Dutch roots. When most people think of Dutch communities in the United States, they often picture the well-known towns in places like Michigan or Iowa, celebrated for their vibrant tulip festivals and Holland Days. What's even more remarkable is that during the period from 1820 to 1920, when less than 300,000 Dutch people emigrated, Zeelanders embarked on their journey at a rate nearly six times the national average.
So, what compelled these Zeelanders to leave their homeland and venture to Wayne County, NY when strong bonds with family, church, and their native land played a significant role, in discouraging so many from leaving behind what they held dear? Many Dutch did not succumb to the allure of "American fever" that affected many other Western European countries, so why did they?
Over the past two months, I've immersed myself in the fascinating push and pull factors that guided my ancestors on their path to emigration from Zeeland and their eventual settlement in Wayne County. The primary driving forces behind their journey appear to revolve around religion, economics, politics, and social reasons.
One of the standout features that made Zeeland unique was its powerful sense of religious conservatism. This province, primarily Protestant in its faith, carried a reputation for being incredibly traditional and deeply conservative in its values. When you ventured into the towns nestled within the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen region, you'd find a majority of folks dedicated to the Dutch Reformed Church, although some preferred to align themselves with various Calvinist groups.
Zeeland held a special place in the heart of Calvinism, a distinct branch of Protestantism rooted in the teachings of John Calvin. His doctrines left an indelible mark on the religious landscape here. In fact, Zeeland proudly wears the title of the "bible belt" of the Netherlands, a testament to the profound impact of Calvinism on the province's religious identity.
The Zeeland Calvinists were also social and economic conservatives. They voiced strong opposition to contraception, smallpox vaccinations, insurance, loans at interest, and all things artificial, including chemical fertilizers. Not surprisingly, they had some of the highest birth rates in the country, but they also had alarming death rates because of polluted drinking water and the resistance to scientific advances.
Its strict religious views significantly hampered Zeeland's economic development, as well as its overwhelming reliance on agriculture. The region frequently suffered from devastating floods, interpreted by locals as divine punishment, further challenging its agricultural base, which primarily comprised wheat and madder cultivation on its clay soils. The economic situation worsened when cheaper alternatives and synthetic dyes took over the market for madder, a once lucrative dye crop. Modernization and global competition from North American farms worsened the situation, leading to widespread unemployment and an agricultural crisis.
By the 1880s, this crisis had escalated, prompting a peak in Dutch emigration rates as farm laborers, who made up eighty percent of Zeeland emigrants, sought better opportunities and the possibility of farm ownership in America. With the Dutch industrial revolution lagging and a scarcity of factory jobs, emigration emerged as the only viable option for many. Compelled by adverse economic conditions, entire communities, sometimes including local congregations, embarked on journeys to America together, motivated by a desire to maintain their faith and support each other in a familiar language. This collective action reflected both the dire economic circumstances in the Zeeland province of the Netherlands and a deep-rooted commitment to religious and community solidarity, shaping the patterns of emigration and the establishment of Dutch immigrant communities in America.
In investigating where these Zeeland emigrants settled, the Wester Schelde River served as an obvious line - emigrants from the municipalities to the south went primarily to New York and Wisconsin and those to the north chose Michigan. Two-thirds of the emigrants from Zeeuws Vlaanderen settled in New York in areas near the city of Rochester and in Wayne County. These emigrants came from towns such as Breskens, Groede, Cadzand, and Oostburg.
The Dutch immigrants in Wayne County found their haven near Pultneyville, a historic settlement that holds the distinction of being one of the earliest homes to Dutch-born settlers in the United States. Surprisingly, a handful of families had already put down roots in this area even before Van Raalte made his mark by establishing Holland, Michigan. Later, they would branch out to the small hamlets around Pultneyville in places like Williamson, Marion, Sodus, and East Palmyra.
Legend has it that the first settler in Pultneyville was Abraham Peper, a native of Zeeland, whose presence attracted others from his homeland to join him in this promising region. The landscape of Pultneyville, characterized by its exceptionally fertile soil known locally as "muck," closely resembled the agricultural terrain of Zeeland. This muck, renowned for its fertility, proved to be an ideal canvas for cultivating potatoes and a variety of other vegetables. Moreover, the area's climate, shaped by the temperamental influences of Lake Ontario, provided the perfect conditions for nurturing fruit-bearing trees and plants.
The uproar of war prompted Abraham Peper's departure from his homeland. The invasion of the Netherlands by the French in 1795 marked the beginning of a turbulent period, and by 1801, Peper found himself embroiled in an altercation with French soldiers who had taken up residence in his home. According to the family's written account, Peper's confrontation with the soldiers resulted in a trial, but he was eventually acquitted for protecting his own property. However, he received counsel that he should seriously consider leaving the country to safeguard his possessions from potential confiscation by the French authorities.
Heeding this advice, Peper made the hard decision to sell his home. In March 1802, he and his family embarked on a journey across the Atlantic, setting sail for America. Their voyage culminated in their settlement in Wayne County, where they sought refuge and the promise of a new beginning amidst the tranquil landscapes of their new homeland.
Peper corresponded with his friends back in the Netherlands inviting them to join him, at first few took him up on his invitation. However, as time passed, more people joined him. The Dutch settled the Wayne County area in what is called “cluster and chain” immigration. This is when emigrants from one particular place follow others to a particular destination. Over the next several decades, many Zeelanders would follow each other to this region to settle their new homes.
In 1853, a lengthy article in the February issue of De Sheboygan Niewsbode (a Dutch newspaper) written with stories about Wayne County Zeelanders and those living in Sheboygan, Wisconsin described the conditions in and around Wayne county as the most thriving Dutch areas;
“the barns are filled with cattle, and the fields are teeming with crops.” The laborer who had nothing in the Netherlands can become a landowner here. We live here with 800 Hollanders and have plenty of food, because everyone who wants to work can and is able to earn more than he needs to live on, because the wages here are very high. …We have about forty farms in our settlement, many that may be compared to the ones in Zeeland. We have two Dutch stores, a smith, a steam sawmill, two shoemakers, a mason, a carpenter, a Dutch school and two Dutch churches. …And, while eight years ago there was no Dutch spoken here, now you hear almost nothing else.
My Dutch ancestors arrived in various emigration waves, yet they shared a common thread of clustered immigration. Out of my eight great-grandparents, a remarkable five can trace their roots back to Zeeland's heritage.
Katherine Van Lare, my paternal great-grandmother, was born to Jacob Van Lare and Pietranella (Nellie) Bushart. They were both born in Zeeland and immigrated separately with their families to America in 1873. Nellie’s paternal grandfather, uncle and aunt came even earlier arriving in the Fall of 1862.
Peter Derks and Sarah Vergouwe emigrated from Zuidzande, Zeeland, Netherlands in June 1905 bringing with them their 8-month-old son, Abram.
Isaac De Fisher and Sarah Wisse arrived in America from Schoondijke, Zeeland, Netherlands in April 1900. They came to the US with their first four children; ages four and below.
Their destination? The Marion and surrounding areas of Wayne County, NY, where they laid the foundation for their new lives in the land of opportunity. This familial connection adds another layer to our understanding of how our Zeeland roots took root in the fertile soil of Wayne County, NY, shaping the course of our family's history for generations to come. My next blog post further explores their immigration story.
