Tijdstip: 03:00:00
Gerritje Geerlings led a singularly eventful life. She was about three and a half years old at the time of the Phoenix tragedy, and afterwards said all she remembered of the disaster was that she saw a great light in the boat, and that her fifteen year old sister Hendrikje, who was herself lost, had lifted her into the life-boat.
Having lost all their earthly belongings, Gerritje who was rather a pretty child was taken by an American family where she staid for several years. Having no children of their own, this American family, very wealthy, loved the girl whom they called Ida, but the parents refused to give her up. The American family wanted to set-tie in California, and offered a large sum of money for Ida. When this failed, the American lady requested Gerritje's (Ida's) mother to call on her at her room in the hotel where they were staying, and to bring Ida with her. When Ida and her mother arrived at the hotel, the lady took Ida to her room, changed her clothes, took her to a carriage standing ready near the window, and left to take a boat for some place in Michigan, whence they intended to go to California. The mother alarmed at the long delay of Ida's return, went upstairs and found the room locked. The door was broken open by the authorities, and the room found vacant. However, the lady was intercepted in time arid forced to give up the girl. Ida only remembered later on that she was brought home in charge of the constable. The lady returned to her home in Marshall, Michigan, brokenhearted.
In 1864 Gerritje married Berend van der Las from Eibergen, a minister of the Seceded Community. In 1874 this family moved to Holland, Iowa. They had nine children together.
Hij is getrouwd met Gerritje Geerlings.
Zij zijn getrouwd in het jaar 1864 te Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA), hij was toen 39 jaar oud.
Kind(eren):
grootouders
ouders
broers/zussen
kinderen
Berend van der Las | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1864 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gerritje Geerlings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
De getoonde gegevens hebben geen bronnen.