Otterden Barnsfield Road

This  blog of Jerome Nicholas Vlieland started with this letter.
Found in the Rijksarchief in Den Haag Netherlands.
Charles James asking for help in 1905.
At the archives they asked if we could be of any help as we have the same name .
And that is how it started .
Now we know Jerome Nicholas was born in Rotterdam in 1796.
We know his father and mother and his brothers ans sisters.
We know his children and grandchildren ,greatgrandchildren ad even his greatgreat grandchildren.
We know his work,his books,the places he lived.
And still we learn more about this family every day .
So everytime we learn something new about a familymember we update and add that part.
The letter


Here is his letter transcribed.

Otterden
Barnfieldroad
Exeter
June 11 1905

Dear Sir
In November 1902 you wrote me in answer of an advert, I put in a Dutch Newspaper
I have, owing to certain circumstances let the matter drop .for the time.
I am now desirious of getting certain information if possible.
A certificate of the birth of my grandfather which would I suppose give the name ,social position place of residence of his father also whether there was a family crest
Certain of my relatives think it was a stork with a snake in its bill.
The following details are all I can give you.
If you consider that with them it is useless to proceed please say so
I state you for giving such advice
If you think it is worthwhile kindly let me now what your charges will be ( inclusive)
I will tell you what I am prepared to do.
My Grandfather was born June 27 1796 his name was Jerome Nicholas Vlieland.
(like the island in the Zuijderzee) shown in maps of Holland
His ancestors supposed to have been de Vlielands
One of his grandchildren , a cousin of mine was christened Janson de Vlieland Vlieland
I do not know where in Holland he was born probably at or in near the Hague or Amsterdam
He came to this country with some other members of his family when probably about 25 years old.
He is said to have come as a “refuge” but why I do not know. personally he seems to have had some kind of hatred of the French
He is said to have had an uncle an officer in the Dutch Navy John Vlieland who was killed fighting by the French.
My Grandfather would have been a well educated man ,as he made his living as a professor of languages and wrote volumes in French German and Italian
I should say he was certainly not a Roman Catholic
I am
Yours faithfully
C.J.Vlieland

This house is or is near Otterden