Johannes had a joyfull youth with his parents in Oude Bildtzijl and with his grandfather Johannes Pieters on the farm "Overzicht".

Neeltje had to help and work at an early age on the farm "Eelsma", the parental farm north of Sexbierum. Her father had died young, in 1853, when Neeltje was 5. Neeltje was also instructed in all kinds of for girls usefull skills. In 1858 she made a "letterdoek" (26x28 cm), in which the initials of grandparents, parents, as well as brothers and sisters are included. For more about such embroideries see merklappen.

Johannes and Neeltje married 1873 in Sexbierum (where Neeltje lived). They became temporarily farmers on "Overzicht" under Oude Bildtzijl, where he succeeded his grandfather Johannes Pieters. Overzicht would, however, go to aunt Ytje Hoogland (who in 1857 had married Gerben de Jong). A photo of "Overzicht" with Ytje can be found with Johannes Pieters.

Summer 1878 Neeltje got ill, she stayed in bed, was weak and feeble (see the diary of her mother Nynke de Jong). It were taxing times, Johannes and Neeltje had to find for themselves a new farm.

Neeltje   and   Johannes

On 25 September 1878 the news came that they could move to a farm in Oosternijkerk. Because Johannes was clever and had proven to be a good farmer, "Berghuizen" was offered to him (owner Baron van Walderen Rengers). It was a large farm: the main one with 38 pm, a "stjelp" with 11 pm and some further land, a total of 250 pm. In this fall, they still got winter grains sown in. The family moved on 12 May thereafter.

On first of February 1879, "Johannes was not very quick", as father Johannes wrote in his diary. And Neeltje wrote a letter saying she could not come to her family in Sexbierum. Moreover, mid Mai they would move from Oude Bildtzijl to Oosternijkerk.

Johannes continued to be sickly, in March he again spat up blood. Then his brother Jentje came to help on the farm. But Johannes died on 15 October 1880 (on tbc). On 11 December daughter Johanna was born.

Children:
1874 Johannes (gifted artist, of feeble health, +1891, tbc?); 1876 Trijntje (Nynke) Gelfske Hoogland (x Klaas de Boer); 1880 Johanna J Hoogland (x Gerlof Miedema).

The farm suffered, in spite of much help, financial losses. The landlord, Baron Rengers, then decided to split the farm in two, the main one and the stjelp.
Neeltje now also became sickly (also tbc), ze was supported by her mother Nynke de Jong Schuiling. Neeltje died on 31 December 1885. She left a debt....

The two young daughters were then raised by their childless uncle and aunt Auke Lettinga and Dirkje de Jong in Sexbierum.

Back to ancestry JJH & NDdJ.