Introduction

Jan Beyster married Maria Hannaert in Leiden in 1709. The parents of Jan Beyster are still not known. Nevertheless, we have strong indications , which we will detail below, that his parents are Tieleman Byster and Marijtje Franse. The first time we see a Beyster on the wedding rolls of the Leiden town-hall is on 17 September 1667, when Tieleman Byster born in Kempen (Germany), occupation weaver, married Maria (Marijtje) Franse, born in Leiden. His witness was an acquaintance; her witness was her mother Annetje Symons. Then, on 29 October 1683 a Johannes (Jan) Byster (Bijsters), born in Hüls (Germany), occupation weaver, married Petronella Claes(sen), born in Maasijk. Witness for Johannes was his uncle Tieleman Byster. The church wedding was in Leiden in  the RC church in the Jorissteeg on 14 November 1683. On 5 February 1701 Gerrit Beyster, born in 't Land van Gulick, occupation weaver, married Anna Jacobs, born in Leiden. Witness for Gerrit Beyster was his brother Johannes, witness for Anna was her mother Annetje Reyniers. The church wedding was also in the church in the Jorissteeg, on 5 February 1701.

Leiden, 1675 by Christiaan Hagen

Looking at the aforementioned places where Tieleman, Johannes and Gerrit were born, one can conclude that they originated from the same region. Kempen and Hüls are two villages located close together near the German city of Krefeld. The description 't Land van Gulick is the Dutch name for the Duchy of Gulick, the region where these two villages were situated at that time.

The region in Germany where the Beijster family originates from. The city at the left side is Venlo in the Netherlands, at the right side the city of Krefeld in Germany. In between the villages of Kempen where Tieleman Bister is born and Hüls where his nephew Johannes is from.

Now, we return to our Jan Beyster and Maria Hanard. When they marry, witness for Jan is his cousin Johannes. The only Johannes to be considered is Johannes Beyster born in Hüls. The first child of Jan Beyster and Maria Hanard, born in 1710 is called Tileman. Given the fact that it was a common practice at that time to give the first child the name of the grandfather when it was a boy or grandmother when it was a girl, it is quite likely that Jan's father is a Tileman. Secondly, the witness at the wedding of Jan and Maria is his cousin Johannes, but when this Johannes married, his witness is his uncle Tileman.
One may conclude that the parents of Jan Beyster are Tileman Beyster and Maria Franse.
Second conclusion: the Beyster's are from Germany.

This leads us to the name Beyster. The Roman Catholic parish register of Leiden shows us different spellings of the name Beyster: Beyster, Byster, Bysters and so on. But also, though seldom, the spelling Bister. This could be the original German name. It is a common name in that part of Germany and means "nut brown/nussbraun". In the Dutch language at that time the letters "i" and "y" were interchangeable. Given the fact that the ordinary man was hardly able to read and write and never had the opportunity to see his own name written, all these variants could occur when he gave his name to the priest or registration officer.

Leiden, the canal Oude Rijn (left) and Jorissteeg (right). Here lived and worked the Beyster's in the 17th and 18th century.

Genealogy

I. Jan Beyster. Born circa 1680 in Leiden, cloth-weaver, lived Koenesteegh. Married on 3 Aug 1709 in Leiden Maria Hannaert (also spelled Hanna and Hannard), born in Leiden, lived Koenesteegh when she married. Witness for Jan was Johannes Byster, his cousin. Witness for Maria was Grietje Hanna, her stepsister. The grandfather of Maria Hannaert was weaver Michiel Hannaert from Brussels. Children of this marriage: 1. Tieleman Beyster, see II.1 2. Josephus Michael Beyster, see II.2 3. Michael Jan Beyster, see II.3

Entry of the marriage of Jan Beijster en Maria Hanna at the Leiden bench of magistrates, August 3, 1709

Children:

II.1 Tieleman Beyster  Baptized (RC) in Leiden 30 Aug 1710, Godfather Joannes Wesbus and Godmother Catharina Hanard (mother's sister).

II.2 Josephus Michael Beyster.  Baptized in Leiden 20 Mar 1712. Godfather Joannes Beyster and Godmother Gertrudis Hanard. Died after 1781. Occupation skirt-weaver, he lived Marendorpse Agtergraft. Married in Leiden 10 Jul 1751 Dirkje van der Schilp. Witness for Josephus was Michael Beyster his brother. Witness for Dirkje was Anna van der Aar, her stepmother. Dirkje was widow of Johannes Hanaert and lived Verwerstraet Leiden.
II.3 Michael Jan Beyster Baptized in Leiden 23 Oct 1714. Godfather Joannes Hanart and Godmother Maria Bijster. Died after 1781. Married in Leiden on 30 Apr 1763 Maria Franken, born in Leiden, died before 1781. Witness for Michael was Joseph Beyster his brother, witness for Maria was Catharina Wesbus, her mother. This was the second marriage of Michael Beyster. 

Children of this marriage:

1. Johannes Beyster, see III.1
2. Petrus Beyster, see III.2
3. Dorothea Beyster, see III.3
4. Catharina Beyster, see III.4

The first marriage of Michael was with Maria Blijhie (Blei or Blije). Children of this marriage were Maria, baptized on 31 Aug 1737, Godfather Joannes Beyster and Godmother Maria Hannaert (grandparents) and Gertruda, baptized on 6 May 1740, Godfather Laurens Anart (a cousin of father), and Godmother Grittie Raymaker.
Michael married a third time with Marijtje or Maria de Bie, born in Leiden. This marriage in Leiden was on 19 May 1781, witness for Michael was Joost (= Josephus) Beyster his brother and witness for Marijtje was Maria Pleuderse her mother. The church wedding was in the church in the Kuipersteeg on  the same day.

Signatures under the last will of Michael Jan Beyster, 1781. Michael made his will after the death of  Maria Franken and before his marriage with Maria de Bie.  He had one son, Johannes.

1. Pieter Joseph Johannes Beyster, see IV.1
2. Michael Beyster, see IV.2
3. Johannes Beyster, see IV.3
4. Maria Joanna Beyster, see IV.4
5. Johanna Elisabeth Beyster, see IV.5
6. Catharina Beyster, see IV.6
   
7. Alida Beyster, see IV.7
8. Hendrins Beyster, see IV.8
   

 III.2 Petrus Beyster. Baptized in Leiden 8 Jun 1766, died Leiden 25 Oct 1766.
 III.3 Dorothea Beyster. Baptized in Leiden 28 Jul 1768, died Leiden 3 Mar 1770
 III.4 Catharina Beyster. Baptized 5 Oct 1774 in Leiden, died before 1781.

Information on Dutch refugees in France during the period 1787-1795 Introduction In his book Bataven! Dutch Refugees in France 1787-1795, Dutch historian Joost Rosendaal presents information about several hundred individuals.  One of them is Jan Beyster.  In order to have a proper understanding of the information provided about Beyster, a short introduction to the political situation in the Dutch Republic at that time is provided. In the period around 1780, many people were becoming dissatisfied with the existing political system in the Republic. This system consisted primarily of an oligarchy of wealthy families and the Prince of Orange, who also was leader of the army. This group and their followers are referred to as Orangists. A liberal movement, called Patriots arose and took power in several cities, including Leiden. The Patriots, Jan Beyster was one of them, were inspired by the American War of Independence and the French Democratic movements. By September, 1786 the uprising grew into a limited civil war. In September 1787, the King of Prussia decided to intervene to support the Orangists.  His army attacked Utrecht in September and chased the Patriots out of the city. In October, he besieged the city of Amsterdam, which capitulated.  Many of the Patriots left the country and fled to France. Description and Personal Information about Jan Beyster Born: 1764 Religion: Roman Catholic Occupation: Carpenter from 1788 until 1790 Appearance: 5 foot, 4 thumbs, black hair, black eyes, normal nose, small mouth, peaky chin, high forehead, long face with small pock marks. Places he visited on his travels to France: Leiden, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Leiden, Rotterdam, Leiden, Antwerp, Mechelen, Sint Omaars, St. Julianus hostel in Mechelen, Antwerp, Brussels, Dunkirk, Gravelines, back to the Republic in 1793. Beyster's Activities and Travels Beyster was a member of a liberal group called Exercitie Genootschap Leiden (a drill society that drafted the celebrated Programme which proposed transforming the United Provinces into a unitary democratic Republic).  He left Leiden in September 1787 to defend Utrecht against the Prussian army.  After the capitulation of Utrecht he joined a group of armed Patriots that marched to Amsterdam to defend this city. The group was, in turn, defeated by the Prussians and Jan returned to Leiden. In Leiden he was captured by the Orangists, mistreated and prosecuted. He decided to go in exile and made a plan with three friends to travel to France.  It was arranged that a ship in Delft, a city south of Leiden, would transport them to Breda, in order for them to travel from there to France. Unfortunately the ship departed without them and the men decided to travel to Rotterdam. Near Rotterdam, in a small town named Overschie, they were siezed and imprisoned in a building called Oranje Sociëteit. The next day the Dike-Reeve of Schieland, a local administrator, conveyed the men to Rotterdam, where they were put into jail for seven weeks. After their release, they returned to Leiden. At this point, Jan Beyster was absolutely convinced that he should escape to France. The second attempt to flee was more successful.  Beyster travelled via Antwerp and Mechelen (Belgium).  He arrived in Saint-Omar (France) in April 1788. There he discovered that the payments for refugees, provided by the French authorities, had already been served out. He left Saint-Omar in May for Belgium, probably Antwerp, but became ill during the trip. Beyster stayed in Saint Julianus hostel in Mechelen for several weeks and after recovery, arrived in Antwerp in November, 1788. In February, 1790 he returned to France via Brussels, arriving in Dunkirk. There he found work, one of his employers being a man named Blok.  Jan was employed as a carpenter both in Dunkirk and Gravelines.  In these towns there were hundreds of Dutch refugees. One of the Dutch refugees that Jan had contact with was Philippe de Bosson, a citizen of Zevenbergen. On the first of December, 1793, he returned to the Leiden in the Republic, apparently because of the high prices of food in France. The hostel Saint Julianus in Mechelen, Belgium

IV.1 Pieter Joseph Johannes Beyster. Born Gravelines (Fr.) 15 Jun 1792, died Zevenbergen 7 Mar 1866. Occupation ship-carpenter. Married in Roosendaal on 1 Sep 1822 Johanna van den Wijngaard, baptized Roosendaal 1 Jan 1800, died Zevenbergen 21 Dec 1885, daughter of Johannes van den Wijngaart, boatman, and Johanna Appels. Children of this marriage: Johanna Catharina Beyster, see V.1 Maria Jacoba Beyster, see V.2 Anna Maria Beyster, see V.3 Helena Hendrina Beyster, see V.4 Johanna (Adriana) Beyster, see V.5 Pieternella Johanna Beyster, see V.6 Johannes Beyster, see V.7 Catharina Maria Beyster, see V.8

Johanna van den Wijngaard, circa 1880

When Pieter married in Roosendaal in 1822 the mayor of the city of Gravelines in France issued a birth certificate that says:

‘From the rolls of birth, marriages and death of the city of Gravelines for the year seventeen hundred ninety two has been summarized the following: Birth June, fifteenth, seventeen hundred ninety two has been baptized by our priest who has signed, Pierre Jozeph Jean, born the day before, legitimate son of Jean Beyster, laborer in the tobacco factory & of Maria Poeleyn .......... Godfather and Godmother have been Jozeph Neudin, master bricklayer in this town & Jeanne Volkert, Dutch, refugee in this town, who have signed with us, Jozeph Neuding, Johanna Volkert & Baudart priest of Gravelines.’

 

Signatures of Pieter Beyster and Johanna van den Wijngaart on their marriage certificate in Roosendaal.

The family arrived from Oudenbosch to Zevenbergen in 1837 and first lived Havenkant A160. Afterward, in 1850 the family lived at Kalishoek 679. Between 1860-1870, at Slikgat C126.

This picture from 1900 shows the street, called Zuidhaven, where Pieter Beyster and Johanna van de Wijngaard lived for about 20 years since they arrived at Zevenbergen. They lived in one of the houses at the right side.

This picture from around 1968 shows the backside of these houses.  As can seen, these houses were situated near the canal. At  around 1970 the canal  has been filled up and the houses demolished. In 2020 the canal was re-excavated and now water is flowing again.  Johannes (John) Beyster is born at number 160 on May 27, 1839.

The death certificate of Pieter, registration date 7 Mar 1866, nr. 32, contains the following: 

‘registration by Johannes Beyster, age 26 years, ship-carpenter in Zevenbergen, son of the deceased and Pieter Hendrik Willem van Santen, age 32 years, clerk, declare that the death occurred at address Slikgat C126 on March 7, 1866 at 11 o'clock in the morning of Pieter Beyster, age 73 years, ship-carpenter, born in Gravelien and living in Zevenbergen, husband of Johanna van den Wijngaard living in Zevenbergen, son of Johannes Beyster and Maria Polijns, both deceased.’ 

1. Maria Beyster, born Rotterdam, 12 Oct 1827, died Rotterdam 20 Mar 1901.
2. Catharina Beyster, born Antwerpen, 28 Dec 1829, died Rotterdam 18 Jun 1906. Married Rotterdam 1 Jun 1859 Carolus Haagberg.
3. Johannes Beyster, born Rotterdam, 26 Nov 1830, died Rotterdam 22 Feb 1831.
4. Johannes Beyster, born Oudenbosch, 25 May 1832.
   
5. Petrus Josephus Johannes Beyster, born Etten en Leur, 20 Aug 1835.
6. Maria Johanna Beyster, born Zevenbergen at address A303, on 3 Feb 1838, died Rotterdam 8 Nov 1839.
7. Gerardus Beyster, Rotterdam 1 Jun 1841, died Rotterdam 23 Aug 1842.
   

In 1828 the family left Rotterdam for Antwerp, father Michael first and on August 19, mother Hendrina later. In 1830 the family returned back to Rotterdam, not for long. They moved from Rotterdam to Oudenbosch, then to Etten en Leur and then to Zevenbergen in 1836. After a tour of more than 10 years, the family finally returned to Rotterdam.   

IV.3 Johannes Beyster. Baptised Leiden 8 Jan 1797, died Rotterdam 6 Jan 1874. He married Rotterdam 10 Sep 1828 Petronella Wamsteker, she died Rotterdam 24 Jun 1875.
IV.4 Maria Joanna Beyster. Baptized Leiden 21 Jan 1800.
IV.5 Johanna Elisabeth Beyster. Born Aalsmeer/Kudelstaart circa 1803. Died Rotterdam 1 Oct 1872. She married Johannes Vos, Rotterdam 4 Aug 1830.
IV.6 Catharina Beyster. Born IJsselmonde 9 Aug 1809, died Delfshaven 19 Dec 1882. She married Hendricus Knell.
IV.7 Alida Beyster. Born IJsselmonde 12-12-1813. Died Delfshaven 22-3-1870. She married Theodorus van Loosen, born Grieth (Germany).
IV.8 Hendrina Beyster. Born IJsselmonde 12 Jan 1806, died Rotterdam 23 Aug 1873. She had a relation with Hermanus Bernardus Vos.

1. Johanna Adriana Maas
2. Adriana Maas
3. Pieternella Maas

1. Johannes Adrianus Schraven. Born Ginneken en Bavel 14-5-1872, died 26-11-1873.
2. Johanna Petronella Schraven. Born Ginneken en Bavel 1-1-1876, died Tilburg 8-9-1974, married  Ginneken en Bavel 21-5-1913 Josephus Claassen. In 1924 Johanna sends two letters to her uncle Johannes (John) in Detroit.
3. Petronella Johanna Schraven. Born 1-6-1868, died Breda 25-8-1957, married Cornelis Kools.

1. Dingena Beyster
2. Petrus Josephus Johannes Beyster, born 14-7-1862, died Zevenbergen in house Zuidhaven A 178 on 21-4-1863
3. Petrus Josephus Johannes Beyster
4. Johannes Beyster, born Zevenbergen 24-9-1864, died Zevenbergen in house Zuidhaven A 178 on 20-11-1867
5. Cornelis Beyster
6. Johannes Beyster
7. Johanna Maria Beyster
8. Theodorus Beyster
9. Henrietta Josephina Beyster
10. Lewis Henry Beyster
11. Henry Edward Beyster
12. Pieternella Louise Beyster

The house in the middle with the green door and white front is the Matthee residence,  bought by two brothers Matthee in 1837. Hendrica Matthee was born here. On the right hand side the house where Jan Beyster and Hendrica lived after their marriage. They left for America from this house.

V.8 Catharina Maria Beyster. Born Zevenbergen 21 Sep 1842. Married Zevenbergen  5 Feb 1864 Jacobus Reynaarts, born Etten-Leur 22 Oct 1841, shoemaker, son of Adriaan Reynaarts and Jacomijna Lips. Catharina was needle-woman when she married.
Children of this marriage:

1. Wilhelmina Johanna Maria Reynaarts, born Zevenbergen 21 Jan 1865.