Meet our Members: Carolina Millin

+24 votes
987 views

Hi everyone!

Meet_our_Members_Photos-43.jpgIt's time to get to know another one of our wonderful WikiTreers. This week's member is Carolina Millin.

Carolina has been a Wiki Genealogist since February of 2019. She's participates in our Notables and Huguenots projects as well as our WikiTree Challenge.

What are some of the surnames you are researching?

Ohnimus, Spruit, Millin, Seager and my own surname Dagevos

What are some of the locations you are researching? 

Germany, Dutch East Indies, England, Scotland, South Africa, USA.

When and how did you get interested in genealogy and family history?

When I was a young girl I rode on my bicycle to school (as all Dutchies do) with my friend Quirine. I was telling her the story about my father, looking for his mother who stayed behind in the Dutch East Indies after he was repatriated to The Netherlands after WW2. My friend asked me, why don’t you look for her. It was the beginning of a journey through time. After many years of research by my father, his brother, his sister and myself, I finally found her son from her second marriage. It was 2 years after she died.

Who's your favorite ancestor and why?

My favourite ancestor is my grandmother Cornelia Erna (Spruit) Djaruman (1915-1996). She was a beautiful, elegant lady. My middle name, Erna is also her middle name.

The history behind her is a tragic story.

When World War II broke out, my grandparents were separated as my grandfather became a prisoner of war and was forced to work for the Burma railway line. My grandmother and the four children had to go in one of the Japanese camps in the Dutch East Indies. The story goes that a Japanese colonel fell in love with my grandmother and told her that her husband had passed away.

My grandmother and the children escaped from the camp and towards the end of the war she fell in love with Raden Djaruman. When my grandfather came back from the war he discovered that his wife had remarried and they decided to divorce. My father and his two brothers left Indonesia together with my grandfather and his new wife to The Netherlands. My grandmother sent letters and parcels to The Netherlands but unfortunately my step grandmother didn’t acknowledge them and did not bring them forward to her stepchildren.

My father has never seen his mother again, only on a television broadcast by Polygon in the fifties where he saw her coming out from a plane in New York with her husband. (I am still trying to find this broadcast by Poligon. Up till now no luck.)

My father, his youngest brother Lewis Frans Dagevos and his sister Melania (Dagevos) Baeten (1935-2015) tried everything in their power to find their mother, but didn’t succeed.

It was eventually me who found the second born son of my grandmother and her second husband in 1998. Too late, as she passed away two years before. But the foundation was laid for my interest in genealogy.

(Interview continues in comments)

WikiTree profile: Carolina Millin
in The Tree House by Eowyn Walker G2G Astronaut (2.4m points)

Tell us about a brick wall you want to break down. 

My greatest brick wall is about my grandmother Irmgard (Ohnimus) Ykema. I don’t know her father. The story goes that it was a married dentist in Karlsruhe (year 1911/1912). My great grandmother Lina Irma (Ohnimus) Korevaar (1895-1981) gave birth to my grandmother in July 1912. She came from the area Karlsruhe. Later in life her parents lived in Bieleveld in a large villa with an elevator. The story goes they were the founders or owners of Anker sewing machine factory (no source found). Every now and then I research possibilities with no busting through yet. However, I have tested my DNA and maybe one day this will give clarity. I would appreciate any help and have to admit that I have difficulty in looking for free German sources in Bielefeld, Langen and Karlsruhe.

If you could pick one person in history to be related to, who would it be and why? 

No doubt. That would be Michelangelo Buonarroti. Born 500 years ago in Tuscany, Italy. The beautiful province where I spent many holidays. I saw Michelangelo’s famous work, David, the Pietà and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (last two both in Rome) and so many more. I was fortunate enough to have business in Tuscany and lived in Italy for one year. Can you imagine to live in his time and meet him?

What are some of your interests outside of genealogy? 

I love cooking, photography, Jabula, our Rhodesian Ridgeback from South Africa and our recent addition, a little puppy, Sausage, a miniature Dachshund. My work is published on Cucina Carolina on Facebook and Instagram. My most recent addiction is knitting, which works very well under the coronavirus pandemic.

How long have you been on WikiTree and what do you spend the most time doing?

I have been on WikiTree for many years however since 2018, after early retirement, I have a lot of time to spend. I am in the possession of documentation regarding my family Dagevos and Ykema. There are hundreds of pages with history and photos which I am working through. I recently participated in the Spring Clean-a-Thon 2021.

If you could improve one thing about WikiTree, what would it be? 

I love WikiTree. Because it is free, easy accessible, the surprise to look forward to each week’s connection and the friendly assistance of many Wonderful Wikitreers like Pam Cormac who made photos of the tombstones and church in South Africa which my spouse’s great grandfather Frank Seager (abt.1858-1914) donated. 

Since I am Dutch I would like to see that I don’t have to click “no” on middle name after I have added a Dutch or South African profile. The Dutch name convention doesn’t have a middle name. A lot of people don’t know this and fill in this middle name as most Dutch people do have a second and/or third name.

What is an example of how WikiTree has helped you with your genealogy?

There is a very good network on WikiTree and it is very user friendly. Last year I was contacted by someone outside WikiTree. She had googled me and sent me an email on the WikiTree profile of my great grandfather. Her parents had found a painting of my great grandfather Bauke Ykema and I could have it. Can you imagine my excitement?

Any tips for someone just starting out on WikiTree?

To be precise on sources. Be informative. Make time to find information on WikiTree as there is very helpful and detailed information. And if you can’t find it, reach out in G2G as there are so many friendly WikiTreers who love to assist.

Thank you Eowyn for sharing my profile and story as Member of the Week.

I appreciate your dedication to Wikitree and its members.
You are very dedicated to Wikitree. Although you came across many challenges, your persistance has come out to be tops

Well done!!
Thank you sweetheart!

Sometimes not easy for you as I spend a lot of time on the challenges. But you support me all the way

6 Answers

+10 votes
Congratulations for being nominated as Member of the week, Carolina.

The story with your grandmother is really very tragic. You can see what people can do when they have dishonest intentions.
Good luck with the further research of your family.
by Dieter Lewerenz G2G Astronaut (3.1m points)
Thank you Dieter I appreciate your comment. !

Yes, it is a tragic story. My father is now 85 years and tells me he still misses his Mum. It makes him sad.
+5 votes
Congratulations, Carolina, on being named member of the week, and thank you for all you do, for our tree.  What fascinating family stories you have.
by Mark Weinheimer G2G Astronaut (1.2m points)
Hi Mark,

Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it.

They are indeed fascinating stories.

I love Wikitree as it gives the opportunity to find out even more fascinating stories and including sources.
+7 votes
Carolina, congratulations for being selected “Meet our Members” this week. I especially liked your answer about Michelangelo.
by Alexis Nelson G2G6 Pilot (837k points)
Thank you Alexis!

Much appreciated.
+6 votes

Hi Carolina, I was so excited to find your interview today, thank you for sharing your journey with us. My heart breaks for your grandmother..that is a tragic story! I really hope that the video finds you soon. And that painting!!! Wow, I can just imagine the excitement heart

by Pam Cormac Smith G2G6 Mach 6 (67.8k points)
Hi Pam,

Yes, with the help of Wikitree it makes the world a smaller and better place.
+3 votes

What an absolutely fascinating story! Thank you for sharing it with everyone.  laugh

by Frances Piercy-Reins G2G6 Mach 8 (86.1k points)
Thank you Frances!

It is a pleasure.
+3 votes
Congratulations Carolina. Thank you for sharing!
by Astrid Spaargaren G2G6 Pilot (278k points)
Thank you Astrid!

It’s a pleasure.

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