Aaltjen Geerts (1809 - 1828)

Born 22 Nov 1809 in Noordlaren, Groningen, Nederland

Died 14 Feb 1828 at age 18 in De Broeken, Haren, Groningen, Nederland

Biography

Aaltien Geerts, born 22 November 1809 and baptized 26 November 1809^[1] in Noordlaren, daughter of Hendrik Geerts and Trientje Sikking. She died 14 February 1828^[2] in De Broeken, Municipality Haren, 18 years old, maid in Glimmen

Death

In February 1828 there was plenty of ice in the Netherlands for skating. Aaltje belonged with a group of 12 young people who went skating on Thursday 14 February in the vicinity of Haren in Groningen. The group returned home in the evening. About 7 o'clock, on the water, called De Broeken, 9 of them skated in a hole, got under the ice and faced death. Two could be saved by 20-year-old Hendrikje Vos. Hendrikje and two others belonged to the rear of the group of skaters and saw it happen. She managed to pull two nearly unconscious victims out of the water. Rescuing a third victim failed because he was too much unconscious to grab her hand. Ultimately, 7 young people drowned. Aaltjen Geerts was one of them^[3]. Hendrikje Vos received a medal for her heroism in August 1828^[4]

Legacy

Aaltien Geerts only leaves her body accessories worth 25 guilders. Her heirs were her parents, Hendrik Geerts, carpenter, and Trientje Sikke (signed Trientje Sikkens), her underaged brothers and sisters Jan, Jacob, Berend, Albertus, Willem and Roelf Geerts and her (adult) brothers Geert and Fokke Geerts (both carpenter ) and sister Berendina Geerts^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth and baptism: Church Registration Groningen, Noordlaren, Inv. 377, Baptisms 1716-1811
2. ↑ Death: Civil Registration Nederland, Groningen, Haren, Deaths 1828, # 6
3. ↑ Leeuwarden courant, 26 February 1828
4. ↑ Nederlandsche Staatscourant, 2 September 1828
5. ↑ Legacy: Memorie van Successie