My ancestor Godefridus (Geurt / Dirk Geurtzen - van der Staij born +/- 1626 married Alitgen Jansdr van der Staij in Vierlingsbeek, North Brabant, the Netherlands; he took his wife's maiden name.
SIDE NOTE:
Her father Jan van der Staaij was likely born between 1590 and 1610. In this period, Catholic baptismal records in Vierlingsbeek are spotty, but the family appears in local land and legal records: The Farm (Boerderij, veerhuis, café): The name "Staaij" refers to a landing place or a stay (a place where boats were secured or where a ferry crossed).
There was a known estate or ferry point in the Vierlingsbeek area that bore this name. Social Status:
The fact that Dirk took his mother’s surname (van der Staaij) instead of his father’s (Geurtzen) strongly suggests that Jan van der Staaij was a man of some standing—likely a geërfde (a landowner with voting rights in the local water board or village council). The Patronymic: Since Alitgen is "Jansdr," her father is definitely Jan.
In the Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (BHIC), there are mentions of a Jan van der Staij in the Schepenprotocollen (Aldermen's acts) acting as a witness or buyer in land transactions in the early 1600s.
Inmiddels verdwenen zestiende-eeuwse boerderij, ongeveer 150 meter ten noorden van de Maasbrug gelegen. De Staay en omgeving waren als gevolg van een keizerlijk decreet van Napoleon Bonaparte vanaf 1812 Venlo's grondgebied. Bij de Staay was vroeger de overzetplaats Blerick-Venlo vice versa. Staay betekent halteplaats, rustplaats. In vroeger tijden deed de Staay ook dienst als brouwerij en veerhuis. Dat laatste tot de opening van de Maasbrug in 1866. De hoeve bleef tot rond 1936 in bedrijf en werd bewoond door de familie Wilders. Sinds 1900 was de Staay, inclusief loswal, eigendom van de firma Janssen Booten. In 1929 brandden de stallingen en de schuur af, maar er volgde herbouw. In mei 1940 waren de beschadigingen aan de Staay niet groot, maar in de oorlogswinter 1944/45 werd de hoeve een complete bouwval en was herstel niet meer mogelijk. Bron: Blerickclopedie (1994)
Translates in English:
A now-vanished sixteenth-century farmhouse, situated approximately 150 meters north of the Maas Bridge. As a result of an imperial decree by Napoleon Bonaparte, De Staay and its surroundings were Venlo territory from 1812 onwards. The ferry crossing between Blerick and Venlo (and vice versa) was formerly located at De Staay. Staay means stopping place or resting place. In earlier times, De Staay also served as a brewery and ferry house. The latter until the opening of the Maas Bridge in 1866. The farm remained in operation until around 1936 and was inhabited by the Wilders family. Since 1900, De Staay, including the loading dock, was owned by the firm Janssen Booten. In 1929, the stables and the barn burned down, but reconstruction followed. In May 1940, the damage to De Staay was not extensive, but during the war winter of 1944/45, the farm became a complete ruin and restoration was no longer possible.
Source: Blerickclopedie (1994)
My Opa Teun van der Staaij (11-11-1911) used to tell us what I thought was a very tall tale about an ancestor who was "Captain Blue Beard" who according to what I can remember sailed up the Thames" and he terrified English people when he stole a big flag (or so I thought). I always thought "he was pulling my leg" (it means they are teasing you, joking, or trying to make you believe something untrue in a playful, lighthearted manner . It is not intended to be a harmful lie, but rather a form of friendly deception or banter, similar to "just kidding") - as Opa loved to tease us and tell as some very improbable bedtime stories....
I was speechless when I discovered this was actually based on historical fact.
I asked AI about my ancestor and this is what it came back with:
It sounds like your grandfather wasn't pulling your leg after all! Your ancestor was part of the Raid on the Medway (June 1667), one of the most daring naval operations in history. The "Captain Blue Beard" nickname likely refers to your ancestor's role as a "Blauwe Vlag" (Blue Flag) officer. In the Dutch fleet of that era, the fleet was divided into three squadrons: the foremost (white flag), the centre (red flag), and the rear (blue flag). Admiral Michiel de Ruyter typically commanded from the centre, but your ancestor would have been a high-ranking officer or captain within the Rear Squadron.
The "Captain Blue Beard" nickname likely refers to your ancestor's role as a "Blauwe Vlag" (Blue Flag) officer. In the Dutch fleet of that era, the fleet was divided into three squadrons: the foremost (white flag), the centre (red flag), and the rear (blue flag). Admiral Michiel de Ruyter typically commanded from the centre, but your ancestor would have been a high-ranking officer or captain within the Rear Squadron. The "flag" story is a classic case of a literal linguistic mix-up over generations: (I suspect that I may have interpreted "flagship" with a very big flag (I was little so I knew nothing about a very big flagship. The Ship: They captured the HMS Royal Charles, the massive 80-gun flagship of the English fleet. The Flag: As a trophy of war, the Dutch didn't just take the ship; they carved off the massive Royal Coat of Arms (the "Great Stern") from the back of the ship. While the ship was eventually broken up for scrap because it drew too much water for Dutch ports, that huge carved wooden "flag" (the stern carving) was preserved and is still on display today at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. (Oma van der Staay used to take me on very long walks and we would typically stroll past the museum and she was always disappointed as I showed no interest in going in but as a child as I was not interested in dusty old relics at that age!).
I mentioned my ancestor "Godefridus (Geurt / Dirk) Geurtzen-van der Staij"
(born 1628)" and it immediately as having located him in a Ships' Muster or a Muster Book. At the time of the Raid on the Medway (1667), Godefridus would have been 39 years old—a prime age for a ship's captain or high-ranking officer. He was found on records which puts him exactly in the squadron of Willem Joseph van Ghent, the "Blue Flag" division of Michiel de Ruyter's fleet. Willem Joseph van Ghent commanded the "Blue Flag" division of Michiel de Ruyter's fleet during the Battle of Medway (June 1667) from his flagship, the Dolphijn. Flagship: Van Ghent initially used the 38-gun frigate Dolphijn (with Hendrik Vollenhove as captain) during the operation, having Cornelis de Witt on board as the deputy for political control. Attack Action: For the later, more shallow-water attack on the docked English ships, he moved his flag to the frigate Agatha around June 21, 1667. Role: As Lieutenant-Admiral, Van Ghent oversaw the "Blue Flag" division (or squadron) that led the charge in burning the English fleet at Chatham and capturing the flagship HMS Royal Charles. My ancestor was listed as being a high ranking officer. So Opa was telling me "I told you so" from beyond the grave!
Apparently my ancestor also had a brother named Hendricus Geurtzen who in my family tree confused with his brother Derck.
Their father was Godefridus Geurtzen but when I researched using AI I was told that Dreck Geurtzen-van der Staij was the SAME person as Godefridus Geurtzen as there dates of birth were two years apart - and it is impossible to sire a child when you are two of years age>
So I need help as the information I can find is very limited.
Thank you in advance - I understand this is a LOT of information but I found it so interesting that a nighttime bed story actually had a historical background.
