Extinct – Utrecht (City and Province)

Introduction

In the central part of the Netherlands with the province and especially the city of Utrecht, there have always been many reports from both Van Dorssen and Dorsten (and that was also often mixed up). The first (known) reports concerned the old Utrecht family (as they were already called around 1430) Van Dorssen (Dorsghen, Dorsken, Dorschen) that already occurred around 1300 with several members in the episcopal administration (Registrum Guidonis) and at the end of the 13th century acquired property in the Borg van Amstel (Nigtevegt, Loosdrecht, Vreeland), an area administered by the bishop of Utrecht. In the following centuries there were many reports, several of which were loose reports or small branches, and later in time more and more related to one of the extinct family trees or a known family tree described here (especially Amersfoort, Jutphaas and Neuenhaus). Persons with many diverse professions and functions, from a mayor to various clergy and professions.

General

The question is where that name came from so long ago (see also Background – Origin Name). According to the family tree of Jutphaas (see the website Piet van Dorssen, which also describes the other Van Dorssen tribe, branches and references) it came from a place Dorssen near Vreeland, but there is a good chance that it was also derived from the place Dorsten. The diocese of Utrecht fell under the archdiocese of Cologne until 1559 and Dorsten already had an important role in this and many clergy came from there (and also many students at the universities before 1400). It existed long before the year 1000 and was granted city rights around 1250. The name was observed in various places between 1200 and 1500 in Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and the Netherlands among traders (especially Hanseatic cities) and clergy, and thus also many reports in Utrecht. In the 15th century there were already reports about the old Utrecht Van Dorssen family (which was already mentioned in the episcopal administration around 1300).

From 1550 (when the DTB archives gradually started) more than three-quarters of the registrations in Utrecht concerned the name Van Dorsten. These regularly included burgesses (new citizens) who came from the town of Dorsten (as in many other large cities in the Netherlands) and then used this name for one or two generations. In the mid-18th century, a considerable branch from the Neuenhaus family tree also came via Arnhem to Utrecht. The quarter of all reports that Van Dorssen did use were or name variants (of Van Dorsten, but that of course also happened the other way around), linked to the family tree in Vreeland (and / or the old Utrecht family Van Dorssen) or a considerable part of the only other larger branch here that is also described (progenitor Rokus Jeurriaenssz). It is also striking that if a Van Dorssen migrated to another place, it sometimes became Van Dorsten and vice versa. This of course has everything to do with the phonetic fixation at the time. However, the other Van Dorssen family tree in Amersfoort has also been traced back to Van Dorsten’s descent.

The pedigrees of the old Utrecht family in combination with Vreeland and another strain of stock father Rokus are described separately below. All other separate mentions and small branches are listed under Sources and Do You Know. You may assume that a large part of this also belongs to one of the well-known (extinct or not) family trees, but it will be difficult to find the connection.

Vreeland (ancestor Tieleman)

In Utrecht there was an old Utrecht family Van Dorssen (Dorschen / Dorsken / Dorsghen) with various observations in the 13th to 16th century, but the mutual family relationships are difficult to determine. There are, however, the following leads and observations (which must almost certainly belong to this family):

• From 1285 to 1317 the first reports in Utrecht and the surrounding area with Nicolaas, Hugo, Henric and Vrederic.
• Between 1402 and 1426 (with references to 1447) the reports of mayor Tyman / Tideman and son writer Willem (1426-1438), who was beheaded in 1438 and his father was outlawed.
• Around 1465 reports about Herman van Dorschen whose 3 daughters are then adults (so he about 50).
• Mid 15th century the adult brothers Gijsbert and Hugo (same as Hubert?) Of father Jan, all in Nigtevegt. Gijsbert has a daughter and Hugo a son Goude. This is all related to the Buurkerk in Utrecht. Hubert has a son Claes who has been abroad for a while.
• Around 1490 father Hubert has just died and son Claes is abroad, concerning land in Nigtevegt.
• At the beginning of the 16th century, many reports about a (prosperous) Willem van Dorsten in Amersfoort and surroundings (origin Zutphen) and a (prosperous) Willem van Dorschen in Utrecht and surroundings (including a brother Jacob, sister Cornelia, wife Jutje de Beer and two daughters), where at first it was suspected that these were the same, but they seem to be two completely different ones. From 1507 to 1525 the brothers Jacob and Willem were (married) members of the militia guild in Utrecht.
• At the beginning of the 16th century a number of reports of clergy from the Van Dorssen family in the Utrecht region: Hubert in Linschoten (1523 and 1525), Arnold (philosopher, scribe, canon St. Marie) died in 1535 and Ernst (canon St. Marie, brother ?, had already died) with epitaphs in St. Marie.
• In 1558 there is a feudal lord Jan van Kronenburg (near Loenen).
• Tieleman van Dorsten (ancestor Vreeland) was born at the end of the 16th century. This became a decent family tree that existed for more than 200 years in the vicinity of Vreeland and Loenen, with fanning out to Amsterdam and the Dutch East Indies. The family was quite wealthy and also had a family crest.
• More about this can be found on the website of Piet van Dorssen.

Utrecht (ancestor Rokus)

A large branch in Utrecht starts with Rokus (Rocus, Rochus) Jeurriaenssz who was married in Utrecht on April 29, 1627 to Annechjen Jans (together 4 children) and on November 9, 1634 with Annichjen Hendriks (still 5 children). At the first marriage he is a soldier under Capteyn Boshuijsen and in 1643 he is mentioned in a statement of guilt. The marriage was found on the basis of patronymics, but it must be.
There are also the following leads and observations:

• There are not many options for the father’s name. On April 21, 1627 a Jurien Aerntsoon van Dorsten married Jannichien Bartholomees Jacobsn van Rhenensdochter. If this is the father, it can of course only be the remarriage (almost at the same time as Rokus). They both come from Utrecht, but the marriage is also mentioned in the alderman’s marriages in Leiden (reason unknown). Searched for children in both places, but found nothing. He remarries again on May 2, 1635 to Brechtgen Cornelis.
• On November 6, 1625 Annichen Jorriaens van Dorsen married Lucas Harmsen. This almost must be a sister.
• The 1643 declaration of guilt also mentions brother-in-law Jan Jacobs Ladoes. He was married on December 26, 1629 to Sybilla Jans (from Arnhem). The question then is whether Sybilla is a sister of Rokus or Annechjen Jans a sister of Jan Jacobs Ladoes. Nothing to find.
• Rokus has 4 children from his first marriage, of whom only Daniel (1631) appears to have taken care of descendants. With the second wife he has 5 children, of which 3 daughters are regularly referred to later and a son, Hendrik (1645), also took care of a family.
• Various Van Dorstens are mentioned around 1600, but none of them seem to be a father or brother:
  • Jan Dirck Reynierszoon van Dorsten married in 1603.
  • Dirck Janszn van Dorsten married in 1593, 1606 and 1608 (really comes from the Sticht van Ceulen).
  • Gonda Hans van Dorstumsdochter married in 1599.
  • Jan Hermans van Dorsten married in 1610 (from Botterstraat).
  • Jan Hillebrant van Dorsten married in 1619 (from Botterstraat).
  • Wynant Jacobszoon (father Jacob Jans) van Dorsten married in 1615 with various references until 1665.
  • The famous canon Johan van Dorsten van St Mariën was born at the end of the 16th century.
  • Henrick Henricksoon van Dorsten (Dosten, Dorstum) gets married for the first time in 1606 and remarries twice.
• In the family tree of Rokus Jeurieaenssz there are several options that may have served for posterity. Such as a number of marriages of sons (including The Hague) and men who were registered with the VOC or Napoleon’s army. After 1811, branches use Van Dorssen (Daniel 1754) and Van Dorsten (Johannes 1766).

Sources and Do You Know

There are several interesting references that cannot simply be related to a well-known family tree:

• Around 1600 various reports from various Van Dorstens in Montfoort.
• In the period 1635 to 1682 there are many references to the Sijdelaecken buyers father Jan Dircks and son Dirck Jan Dircks (married to Helena Rubbens) van Dorsten. A prosperous family and he was also frequently abroad. No connection has yet been found with the sijdelaeckenkopers Van Dorsten in Dordrecht, nor with the Jan Dircks and Dirck Jans around 1600 in Utrecht (perhaps the Jan Dircks who became a citizen of Utrecht in 1613 is the father). There is, however, a relationship with Leiden (references). It is remarkable that in 1653 there is a reference with six children (sons Johannes and Henrick) and in 1658 four children (born in the period 1630-1650), whose births, however, cannot be found.
• Various references from 1615 to 1665 to the ebbenwercker Wynant (Wynalt, Wyndel) Jacobszoon van Dorsten and family members.
• Many references to the influential Canon Johan van Dorsten (St. Mariën) from 1629 to 1667. He is also mentioned in references in Leiden. He was probably born at the end of the 16th century and died in 1640. Sister Sara married to Vlissingen. There is a niece or aunt Tanneke (also Anna or Constantia) who was born around 1585 in Nieuwkoop. Further relationships cannot be determined.
• Jockef (nickname?) Had a son Willem who, based on the birth data and location, is the only option for a Willem who lived and married in Utrecht as a soldier. Willem van Dorste marries Stijntje Jacobs van Leersum. This Willem led a rather dissolute life (the related reference calls him Van Dorssen), could not have children with Stijntje and regularly made Anthonia Dom van Schaijk pregnant (according to an attestation dated October 17, 1743). This Anthonia Dom has reported (at least) eight children who have been deprived and is eventually married to Willem in 1760 (RC / NH marriage).
• The aforementioned Stijntje Jacobs van Leersum is very interesting (thanks to Hilbrand de Bruijn for the research)! She is married to Willem van Dorste (or Dorssen in a deed). Her sister Pieternel (Petronella) Jacobs van Leersum married Johannes van Dorsten on June 22, 1709. Then Johannes and Willem must almost be family too. On the same day her cousin Pieternel (Petronella) Pieters van Leersum also married Johannes van Rossum. The latter have had 7 children, the former probably none. But the children’s names are again related to Johannes van Dorsten! In the archives this led to a lot of confusion. Incidentally, there is also an Anthonia van Dorssen who marries in Utrecht (1751) and subsequently names herself as mother Van Rossum. Perhaps there is more to this after all.
• Johan Jansen (Hans) had two sons (Tijmen and Abraham) in 1643 and 1645 who moved on to Amsterdam (Abraham married there with Tijmen as a witness). Abraham had several children there, including four sons who got married. But it seems their children have not been able to continue the sex. The origin of father Hans cannot yet be determined. The question is how coincidental it is that at approximately the same time there are also brothers Tieleman and Abraham in Vreeland. Could be family after all.
• In the 17th century there are several Van Dorstens with the patronymic Henricksen. The question is whether this concerns the father or perhaps an ancestor and therefore more family name. The mutual relationships have not yet been determined and there are no further descendants (if not indicated now):
  • Hendrick Henricksen van Dorsten marries Gerrichgen Joost Jacobsson daughter in 1606, with Aeltken Lamberts in 1626 and has children with Berber Hermens in 1629 and 1633.
  • A daughter named Van Dorsten has been traced back to Gerrit Hendricksen, who married Aeltgen Jansz in 1623, on the basis of patronymics.
  • Trijntgen Henrick van Dorstendochter married in 1624 with Clemens Franck Janszoonzoon.
  • Joost Henricksen van Dorsten married Antonette Stevens Moerbeij in 1629 and had seven children from 1628 to 1640, including three sons Henrick, Johannes and Mattheus.
  • Jan Hendrickszen van Dorsten marries Cunera Jans in 1632 and remarries in 1655 to Lijsbeth Theunis. He takes care of a small branch of four generations (until the 2nd half of the 18th century).
  • Dirck Henricksoon van Dorsten married Jannichgen Dircx van Seventer in 1653.
  • Hendrick van Dorsten married Elisabeth van Cuylenburgh in 1683 and had a son Jan.
• Johannes was born around 1640 and in 1671 married Aeltje Gijsberts (his niece). Son Gijsbert was born in 1672 and son Johannes in 1678. Furthermore, probably no children and he died around 1679. Based on that year of birth, the only option for the well-known names as father is Dirck Jan Dircks, see above. Son Johannes is probably the one who marries Pieternel van Leersum (see Willem’s description earlier)! Son Gijsbert marries Cornelia van Watervliet and goes to live in Leiden. They have one son who has two daughters.
• A Johannes van Dorsten marries Elsje Jans van Mulbach in 1667 and has several children. Given the children’s names, his father will probably also be Johannes (Jan) or Henrick. No follow-up found.
• Hermen Jansz and Lijsebeth Ariensz had two children in Vianen in the early 18th century, but no further relationship or continuation was found.
• Matthijs also has an interesting small branch. He was born around 1680, married in 1705, but he has no children with that woman. He marries again in 1744 (then is about sixty) and then has 5 more children.
• And some thirty separate church reports between 1600 and 1800 (so {yet} not related to one of the known family trees or branches), of which about a third of death dates and two-thirds of marriages. It usually concerns Dorsten and at the marriages many people seem to really come from the town of Dorsten.