Er ist verheiratet mit Maria Margaretha (Maria Grieta) Wester.
Sie haben geheiratet in Slagharen, Hardenberg, Overijssel, Netherlands.
Kind(er):
Faultless family until a battle took place between Johan Hendrik and Jan Barends. They once before had a fight, and Jan Barends was sentenced to imprisonment. Before he had to go to prison in 1863, he came after Johan Hendrik. The son of Johan Hendrik, Johannus Gerhardus Zwake born in 1845 came to his father's defence. This time the victim was Barends. In the year 1864, the mayor decided to set an example, but requested a pardon for father Zwake and his son. The clemency request was rejected for the father, but his eldest son Gerhardus was free. A week later his wife gave birth to a daughter but his wife died a few weeks later. After the death of his mother, the youngest son, the youngest son, the 16 year old Johannes Bernardus Lambertus went to work in Gramsbergen. Johan Hendrik went to prison for one year til 1865. Gerhardus was 19 years old and took care of his sisters. The father had just left for prison, when his daughter 14 year old Willemina died and then his new born daughter Maria Gesina, died within 236 days in Slagharen. After these sad events, Gerhardus went to the town of Dalen. He took his two surving sisters with him, Hendrika en Maria Aleida. In may of 1865, they went back to Slagharen and were reunited with their father. The remaining Zwakes were hardly reunited, when in July the ten year old sister Maria Aleida died.
According to the Population register, Gerhardus departed to Dalen in 1866. In 1875, Gerhardus married Elisabeth Funke in Emmen. Father Jan Hendrik, son Johannes Bernardus Lambertus and the remaining daughter Hendrika immigrated to North America in 1866? Not sure - no proof.