THEUNIS PETERSE VAN CUYCK marries Engeltje Spruijt in 1725. Apparently there are no children, and Engeltje remarries soon after his death late 1729 or very early 1730. Theunis is a farmer of 44.5 morgen of crop land and meadow, leased from theBalije St Catharine in Utrecht, and 4 plots of meadow leased from the widow Elisabet Maria van Someren. The land is located in Hoge Weide and Lage Weide, north of the city of Utrecht and south of Maarssenbroek. Theunis was the son of Pieter Aertsvan Cuyck and Geertje Dirks Bon, the second marriage for both of spouses. Pieter was a farmer too, and in one document his name features alongside that of one Albert van Bentum, governor of the West Indies Company and mayor of Utrecht in the1680s. There is one most peculiar document from 1672, when Pieter transacts business amidst the panic that ravages the country after the French invasion in April of that year. Theunis and his parents appear to have been illiterate; they signed thedocuments with a cross. However, Engeltje had a signature.
People: Quite a few, including Albert van Bentum and Pieter Aerts van Cuyck. Date: November 15, 1667. Reference: U72a2 act 125. Subject: Statement. Difficult document to read, but Theunis van Cuyck’s father features together with Albert vanBentum, of whom we only know that he was a governor of the West Indies Company and a mayor of Utrecht (in the 1680s), but not where he fits in our tree, if at all. It appears to be a legal statement authorising Peter Arisz van Cuyck and Jan vanden Oever to hand over 10.5 morgen meadow to the widow and heirs of one Bitter van der Marssche, to be affected in front of the court in Nederlangbroek.
People: Pieter Aertss van Cuyck, Johan François van Schagen. Date: May 10, 1672. Reference:U72a5. Subject: Lease. Pieter van Cuyck leases 25 morgen meadow and crop land from Johan François van Schagen, member of the States of Holland, for six years and the sum of Fl 225. It is called Blommenweerd and located in Coten. The usualconditions follow, although not in the usual wording. Pieter signs with a cross. However, the document is a strange one. Take a look at the date: May 10, 1672. The French declare war on April 7 of that year, and soon invade the country, crossingthe border near Emmerich. The country had plenty of notice, but bickering between the regents, and between the regents and prince William of Orange paralysed the government, and the country was ill prepared. Panic rules. In Utrecht the regents arepacking their bags, leaving for Amsterdam or The Hague. The city’s women see this and protest that the regents are fleeing while their men folk were being sent to the front to die. Riots follow and the city’s government collapses. Mob rulefollows. William of Orange pays a visit on his retreat from the river IJssel’s defences, which had proven useless, because the French crossed the Rhine near Elten. Utrecht’s citizens expect him to make a stand, but he retreats to Holland. By theend of May Utrecht begins its own peace negotations with the French, but by the time the negotiator return to the city with the terms, it has already surrendered. The French occupy the city and would not leave for another year. The land Pieterleases is located in Cothen, a town most likely occupied by the French by May 10, or soon afterwards: it lies to the east of Utrecht. Most farmers have already fled, taking with them as much cattle and wares as they could. The French army livesoff the land, and it is merciless. Whole villages are pillaged and burned to the ground. The people who stay behind are massacred, and several of these massacres have since become part of Dutch folklore, the horror genre. The occupied towns aretaxed to the hilt to pay for the French war effort. In this context it is really strange to read a lease contract for land in (probably) occupied territory and signed in a city struck down by panic. There is not a single hint of extraordinarytimes in the document, unless the rent of Fl 225 for 20 hectares of land was low and Pieter van Cuyck had made a good deal. Business as usual, even at the worst of times! At a little over Fl 11 a morgen, the rent does is only Fl 1 or Fl 2 belowthe going rate. That could also have reflected a lower quality of land. Unfortunately, I found no subsequent records to inform us on what happened to the land and the lease.
People: Willem van Zuylen, Pieter Aertss van Cuyck. Date: April 18,1691. Reference: U118a1 act 228. Subject: Lease. This document is written in a very bad hand, so I focused on the relevant information. Pieter extends a lease for 4 viertel land from Willem van Zuijlen acting on behalf of his father’s estate, forsix years and the sum of Fl 70. Pieter signs with a cross. I do not have an idea what a viertel is. It is close to the modern Dutch viertal, which means foursome, i.e. four plots of land, but I may be wrong.
People: Matthijs van Oostrum, Elisabet Reup, Anthoni van Oostrum, Dirkje van Cuyck, Pieter Aertss van Cuyck, Geertje Dirks Bon. Date: August 18, 1699. Reference: U93a37 act 18. Subject: Prenuptial. A difficult hand to read, but the document is a prenuptial agreement between Matthijsvan Oostrum and Dirkje van Cuyck, sister of Theunis van Cuyck. It identifies the parents of both spouses.
People: Pieter Aertss van Cucyk, Geertje Dirx Bon. Date: August 18, 1699. Reference: U93a37 act 17. Subject: Appointment of guardians.Difficult document to read: bad hand. However, Pieter van Cuyck and Geertje Bon appoint each other as guardians (momber and voogd) should the other die first. The agreement is not part of a prenuptial or postnuptial, so may well have been signedafter the two had married. Both are familiar with death: they have both lost a spouse. A document signed on the same day, prenuptial agreement, indicates that the two already had grown up children. Both Pieter and geertje sign with a cross.
People: Peter Aerts van Cuyck, Johanna Peters van Cuyck, Cornelis Aertsz Ruijs. Date: May 6, 1707. Reference: U111a6 act 67. Subject: Prenuptial agreement. Prenuptial agreement between Theunis’ sister Johanna and Cornelis Aertsz Ruijs. Cornelisbrings in Fl 1,000, to be paid from the Fl 1,270 debt he owes his father for the acquistion of cattle and goods. Johanna brings in Fl 400.
People: Pieter Aertss van Cuyck, Petertje Beunt, Jacob Peterse van Cuyck. Date: April 12, 1709. Reference:U113a3 act 257. Subject: Agreement. This document identifes Pieter Aertss’ first wife: Petertje Beunt. Their son Jacob Peterse van Cuyck owes his father Fl 325. However, Jacob’s share in Petertje’s estate does not add up to that. Father and sonagree that Fl 100 is to be deducted from the monies owed him from the estate, and the remaining Fl 225 remains a debt owed to his father. There is no mention of interest.
People: Stephanie van Soestdijk, Johan van Soestdijk, Geertje Bon, Teunisvan Cuyck, Cornelis Ruijs, Johanna van Cuyck, Matthijs van Oostrum, Dirkje van Cuyck, Aart van Cuyck, Jacob van Cuyck, Sophia van Cuyck. Date: April 12, 1718. Reference: U149a2 act 52. Subject: Settlement. Agreement concerning the estate of Sophiavan Cuyck, daughter of Geertje Bon and Pieter van Cuyck. One Stephanie van Soestdijk claims to have received a legitimate portion, which, after an inventory was made by Geertje’s assistants (her children and stepchildren), is conceded, oncondition that Stephanie pays Geertje Fl 150 within 6 months of signing this agreement. Geertje and sons Teunis and Cornelis sign with a cross. The document identifies Aart and Jacob van Cuyck as Geertje’s stepsons.
People: Cornelia Bom as widowof Pieter van Spal, Theunis van Cuyck. Date: January 4, 1719. Reference: U129a5 act 43. Subject: Lease. Theunis van Cuyck leases 4 morgen meadow from Cornelia Bom (his maternal aunt?) for a price of Fl 100 for 3 years. The usual conditions areincluded. It is a simple contract.
People: The heirs of Johanna van Wijnbergen widow of Jacob van der Burgh, Teunis Pieterse van Kuyck. Date: Janaury 9, 1720. Reference: U146a act 371. Subject: Lease. Teunis Pieters van Cuyck leases 6 morgen ofmeadow from the heirs of Johanna van Wijnbergen for 6 years. The rent is Fl 120 a year, plus 100 chicken eggs and 2 pairs of chicken a year. He shall improve the land and not deteriorate it, not cut hay, and pay for repairs; the usual conditions.Johanna van Wijnbergen was the widow Jacob van den Burgh, a fancy couple. Their heirs could afford a better solicitor: in contrast to the previous document, this one is well written and legible.
People: Teunis van Cuyck, Cornelis Aarts Ruijs.Date: January 2, 1720. Reference: U144a7 act 1. Subject: Acknowledgement of debt. Theunis borrows Fl 600 at 3.5% interest from his brother in law Cornelis Aarts Ruijs.
People: Johannes Cyprianus van Ewijck, Theunis van Cuyck. Date: August 2,1721. Reference: U118a5 act 54. Subject: Lease. Theunis van Cuvyk extends the lease of 44.5 morgen land with house, barns, other outbuildings and planting, from Johannes Cijprianus van Ewijck, member of the Utrecht Council, acting as treasurer ofthe Balije of St Catherine. Several members of the Utrecht States also sign the document. A balije is a bailiwick in old Dutch, and a chapter of a military-religous order by the time of signing this document. Hence the presence of members of the Utrecht States. Location: Hoogeweide. The lease is for 6 years and the rent is Fl 600. The usual, minimal conditions follow: maintain the land, keep it from damages, improve it, keep the buildings weather-proof, and no sub-letting. There is oneunusual conditon: at times of war or storm the lease-holder and land-owner will conduct themself like good neighbours.
People: Theunis Peterse van Cuyck, Elisabet Maria van Someren. Date: February 25, 1724. Reference: U139a12 act 31. Subject:Lease. Theunis van Cuyck lease a viertel meadow located in Lageweide from Elisabet Maria van Someren, for 6 years and the sum of Fl 75 plus 6 dubble sheep cheeses a year. Not sure if this is the same viertel that his father had leased in 1691.
People: Theunis Peterse van Cuyck, Johannes Cyprianus van Ewijk, Gerard Maximiliaen Pijnssen van der Aa, Johan Taets van Amerongen, Isaacq Ubingh. Date: November 9, 1726. Reference: U118a6 act 68. Subject: Lease. Theunis van Cuyck again extendsthe lease of 44.5 morgen land with house, barns, other outbuildings and planting, from Johannes Cijprianus van Ewijck, member of the Utrecht Council, acting as treasurer of the Balije of St Catherine. Several members of the Utrecht States alsosign the document, three of whom are named: Gerard Maximiliaen Pijnssen van der Aa, Johan Taets van Amerongen and Isaacq Ubingh. Location: Hoogeweide. The lease is for 6 years and the rent is Fl 600. The usual, minimal conditions follow: maintainthe land, keep it from damages, improve it, keep the buildings weather-proof, and no sub-letting. One unusual conditon: at times of war or storm the lease-holder and land-owner will conduct themself like good neighbours.
People: The Peterse vanCuyck brothers and sisters, Claas Hagenouw, Claas Krijnenbergh. Date: October 6, 1728. Reference: U162a9 act 154. Reference: Statement. Half-brother Aart van Cuyck and his wife Maartje Jans de Vries, living in Leiden, are dead, and there seem tobe no children. His brothers and sisters have inherited, but they do not live near Leiden. Aart and Maartje have already appointed by testament of 1703Claas Hagenouw and Claas Krijnenbergh as their executors, and one Joost Hagenouw should one ofthem fall ill. The brothers and sisters appoint them to liquidate the entire estate, pay debts and taxes, and collect debts, if necessary through the courts. Interesting note: the document does not speak of ‘half-brother or half-sister’, but of‘brother or sister from half the bed’.
People: Johanna van Cuyck, Theunis van Cuyck, Dirkje van Cuyck, Dirk van Cuyck, Jacob van Cuyck. Date: February 28, 1729. Reference: U165a2 act 121. Subject: Last will and testament. Last will and testamentof Theunis’ sister Johanna van Cuyck, by 1729 widow of Cornelis Ruijs. She leaves everything in equal portions to her surviving full brothers and sisters: Dirkje, Dirk and Theunis (called Antonij), exept for FL 150 for her half-brother Jacobs.There are provisions about their children inheriting should any of them die before Johanna. There is no reference at all to any children of Johanna by Cornelis Ruijs. Apparently there were none.
People: Theunis Peterse van Cuyck, EngeltjeHendrikse Spruyt, Philip Willems van Kippersluijs. Date: November 2, 1725. Reference: U100a30 act 99. Subject: Prenuptial. Prenuptial between Engeltje Henderics Spruijt and Theunis Peterse van Cuyck, both legal adults. The marriage is in fullcommunity of property, all properties. And either inherits all from the other, unless there are no children. In that case close friends (family) entitled by law get half the estate, the clothes and small items. Theunis brings in 4 morgen meadowlocated in Laage Weide, his cattle, tools, grain in store and in the field, housewares, etc. Engeltje brings in 600 guilders she inherited from her mother’s father, whose estate had been settled early 1725. She also brings in an additional 100guilders. This document identifies one Philip Willems van Kippersluijs as her halfbrother. He is Engeltje’s assistant.
People: Maria Louven Uythoff, Hendrick Spruyt, Engeltje Spruyt, Theunis Peterse van Cuyck. Date: November 3, 1725. Reference:U100a30 act 101. Subject: Consent. A day after the signing of Engeltje’s prenuptial her mother, Maria Louven Uythoff, signs a document in which she states to consent to the prenuptial as if she had been present, and in which she renounces all herlegal rights to any share in Engeltje’s estate should Engeltje die before Theunis. Maria Louven Uythoff lives at the IJsseldijk in IJsselstein. The prenuptial placed Engeltje in Vleuten, which is much closer to Hooge Weide than to IJsselstein. Thedocument identifies Engeltje’s mother, Maria Louven Uythoff, and her father, Hendrick Spruyt. The previous document had already intimated that Engeltje’s mother had also been married to a Van Kippersluis. In fact that husband was Willem Philipszvan Kippersluis, nephew of one of two Kippersluis ancestresses: Cornelia Jans van Kippersluis.
People: Theunis Peterse van Cuyck, Engeltje Spruyt, Maria Elisabeth van Bergen. Date: April 2, 1729. Reference: U118at act 229. Subject: Lease.Difficult hand to read, but Theunis and Engeltje rent a viertel land in Lage Weide from Maria Elisabeth van Bergen for 6 years and Fl 38. Unusually, the land is leased to both spouses, and both sign the document. Maybe because Theunis was alreadydying and he wanted to make sure that Engeltje would continue the lease after his death; or the land-owner wanted to make sure that she would not soon have to find a new tenant.
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