Ferdinand Houtenbrink (1850 - 1923)

Born 27 Jan 1850 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Ancestors

Husband of Amelia (Frank) Houtenbrink — married [date unknown] in London, England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 11 Sep 1923 at age 73 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

Biography

Appeared to have been married at least 4 times. In Rotterdam, in London in Detroit and in Boston. Listed as Cigar Maker in 1886,1887,1888,1889 and 1891 in the Troy, New York City Directory.

Witness to Ferdinand's birth were Martinus Stolk, porter, age 52, living Halstraat 369 and Willem Fijnenbeeck, porter, age 56.

His first Wife: Margaita Sapelli: they had 3 children. He left Rotterdam on October 20, 1873, with his wife and 2 children. They went to Hambur g. On April 4, 1875, Ferdinand went back to Rotterdam with his parents, br others and sisters (without his wife and children). He left Rotterdam on April 26, 1878 and went alone to London. In London a child was born to Millie Frank Houtenbrink and Ferdinand on March 18, 1880. They lived at 48 Settles St., Mile End. This was in the East-End. That building no longer exists- over half the street was rebuilt since the war, possibly after being flattened by German bombers in the Blit z, or as the result of slum clearance while the rest seems to have been built in 1890. The number 48 is now in a terrace which was built in 1890. The area is now a maze of little streets full of small clothing businesses run by Indians and Bangladeshis, whose restaurants and culture pervade the area. A mosque was recently built just 100 yards from one end of Settles St. The East-End has always been, and still is , the poorest part of London. For that reason and because it is right next to the Port of London, it has always been the first home of successive waves of immigrants. Immigrated to USA in 1882

Sources

Names and year given on birth certificate for son Ferdinand Houtenbrink, giving Amelia as the mother.

1900 census: Pg. #3, Enumeration district 1363, Line 337: White male, born Jan 1850; age 50; widow; born Holland; father, born Holland; year of immigration to U.S: 1882 18 years in U.S.; Occupation: cigar maker; Employed; read? yes write?yes; speak English?yes; rented house; Widower

• Houtenbrink, Ferdinand (6), in 1920 Boston census, owned a house in Boston and Eva lived with him as his wife. He was 69 and working in a factory as a cigar maker. 1920 Census: Vol 111; ED: 287; Sheet 15, line 21; age 69

1923 Massachusetts Death Records revealed Ferdinand died of pneumonia on September 11, 1923 at age 73 years, 7 months and 16 days. Ashes placed in urn in Forest Hills Crematory in Boston. (There are several brass Houtenbrink urns on the same shelve).