My grandfather’s father, Adriaan Zuijdweg (later called Adrian Zuidweg), was born in Goes, the Netherlands, on 3 January 1871. He was the oldest of three children. On 17 September 1872, Lucas was born. Then, on 23 December, 1873, Johanna Geertruida Maria was born. The children were barely a year apart in age. I find it interesting that their mother Jennie had a child every year for three years and then no more children. I wonder if she had a health problem after delivering Johanna.
Adriaan immigrated to the United States in 1893, but Johanna did not immigrate until 1904. She came to Kalamazoo, no doubt following her brother there. Lucas did not emigrate from Goes. Instead, on 4 April 1894, at the age of 21, he passed away. At the time of his death he was listed as a “laborer” in Goes; however, my grandfather’s story about his Uncle Lucas was different. Note that Lucas died not long after his older brother left the Netherlands.
Grandpa said that he was a sailor and, in a tragic accident, fell on the anchor of his ship and was killed.
It seems to me that Grandpa’s information has the stamp of authenticity, especially since Lucas did die at such a young age. But why was he listed as a laborer at the time of his death? Is that a term used for sailors? Maybe if he was hired as a sailor, but not part of the Navy?
I found a website with a photograph of a Dutch “Coast Defence” ship. This photo might be a ship called Piet Hein in 1894, the year of Lucas’ death. Would a ship this big have an anchor that would have killed Lucas? Or would it have been a smaller boat? Click through to the website if you like.
Hard to imagine a ship this big in this harbor!! Photo of Goes harbor.
The Family Kalamazoo 
Another mystery. What about the Merchant Marine?
Falling on an anchor could mean various things. He could have been standing on a huge anchor, fallen from it or on it and was hurt somehow — a fractured skull? A small anchor could pierce a person, but a small anchor would mean a small boat.
I don’t know if they had merchant marines in Holland. Or were you referring to my father’s uncle? So maybe a big ship and he got hurt in the vicinity of the anchor? OTOH, the harbor in Goes looks small. I will add a photo.
An idea came to me early this a.m. Ships carry tenders and other little boats that would have small sharp anchors.
Luanne, I love this photo of Lucas. Sometimes people in the old photos seem too distant for me to relate to, but this one touched. The photo is lighter and than many, and he has such distinct features – both his facial features and his expression. Perhaps it’s knowing how few years he lived and wondering if he knew any joy or romance before his tragic accident.
Like the commenter above, my though on reading was a head injury – depending on where a skull strikes during a fall, it’s often fatal.
He looks like a naive young kid, I think. So sad knowing his fate. He must have gotten a head injury. When grandpa told me, I imagined him skewered!
Did you find any reference to sailors as laborers in the Netherlands? It does not seem like a term one would use in the US to refer to a sailor. Or perhaps he was not in the navy but rather worked on a commercial ship?
I can’t figure out how to research something like this. It’s so random. But I do wonder if it was just a job hired by a ship owner.
Good luck—it does seem to be a tough one. Any time a search leads me across the ocean I know it’s going to be hard!
What an unusual story! I wonder if the statement “fell on the anchor” might possibly have meant something else and shouldn’t be taken literally.
Grandpa acted like he knew what happened. I was the dummy who didn’t ask more questions! What a shame.
Another possibility to consider is that he may have been a stevedore. Interesting, but sad story. Hope you find all of the answers to your questions.
OK, I have to go look up stevedore. Be right back! Oh, like a longshoreman! Boy, I bet a stevedore like that wouldn’t make the kind of money the longshoremen make today :). Just saw that on the news recently . . . . That’s very possible. That would make him a laborer, explain why he was in Goes, and put him in proximity to an anchor in a smaller boat.
I liked the picture as well. I often think of all the injuries people had back then that couldn’t be healed. Death was just one of the many hard things. Amputations were fairly common and there was little dental or cosmetic surgery. People in the US are blessed to have so many options.
Adrienne, such a good point. Yes, there were so many accidents that were traumatic to the body. Here is one I wrote about a long time ago (my favorite story 🙂 so humor me): https://thefamilykalamazoo.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/a-family-horror-story/
Yes, so many of us are so blessed today in this country!
What an interesting story! The Goes harbor is so beautiful.
All the photos I see of Goes make it look so picturesque. I hope I get to see it someday.
I agree with Sheryl — “fell on the anchor” seems like something that maybe got mis-repeated. I wonder if “laborer” meant something like able-bodied seaman means today. What an interesting story!
It is possible that Grandpa made a mistake. I have found other mistakes he has made. However, he also remembered correctly a lot of things, and he would have heard this directly from his dad about his dad’s younger brother. I guess this means more research is needed!!!
The photo of the harbor at Goes reminds me of the early part of the film “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. The part where Griet goes to work as a laundress in the household of an artist. If you haven’t seen the movie I recommend it.
Loved that movie–and the book even more! Isn’t this photo beautiful? I was lucky to find it on Wikpedia! I so want to visit Goes someday!
Luanne, that would be a dream come true for you and it would be fabulous to see the photos and read your reactions. I’m sure you’ll have much to be happy and maybe even a few tears as well.
I think the dockworker/laborer suggestion is prob. the correct assumption. I see the fishing boats here in Long Beach moored against the docks, with workers hauling fish to the market. I guess the only question would be is if one of the crew would haul the load to market or if the market purchased off the boat and took the fish from there. If the later is correct, he easily could have been picking up loads of fish off the boat as a laborer. Anchors were probably laying on the deck in those small fishing boats, not needed when moored against a dock, and exposed on the deck, Anchors have had spear like tips forever to dig into the seabead, making a fall on one if angled correctly, deadly.
[…] I do feel bad that the family had this hardship and wonder how it affected the children, especially Johannes, Grandpa’s grandfather. Although his father Adriaan couldn’t get him to America, apparently his son Adriaan did so. But in the meantime Johannes’ other son Lucas was killed at age 21 in Goes by “falling on an anchor.” I wrote about him in A Sailor’s Death. […]