VAN LANEN Ancestry
Peter Van Lanen &
Wilhelmina Jansens
Peter VAN LANEN (1817 - 1881) was born on March 12th, 1817, in Boekel, Noord Brabant, Holland. He was the first son of Gerardus VAN LANEN and Johanna Adriaan Giele VANDER HEIJDEN.
Wilhelmina JANSENS (1819 - ?) was born about 1819, in Holland. Her parents are not known at this time.
When Peter and Wilhelmina were married is unknown at this time. Their first child, Cornelius was born in June of 1849. What exactly convinced them to immigrate to the United States is unknown, however, in the year 1848 is it known that Father Theodorus Van Den Broek was visiting the area of Uden/Boekel from his mission at the rapids called "Les Petite Chutes" (Little Chute) in Wisconsin. The history of this visit was captured in "The Story of Father Van den Broek". At the end of this visit, three shiploads of emigrants aboard the ships "America", "Libera" and the "Maria Magdelena" departed to the U.S. with Father Van den Broek to start a "Catholic Colony in the Wilderness". The Libera was the first to land in Boston on may 5th, 1848, followed by the Maria Magdelena landing in New York on May 8th, 1848 and the America landing in Philadelphia. This was the first migration of Dutch settlers to Wisconsin. They were followed by numerous others. The Van Lanen family seems to be a part of the second wave of this migration. Gerardus' (Peter's father) Declaration of Intent lists his arrival in New York in May of 1849, Bernard's states he arrived in July, while Peter and Wilhelmina must have stayed behind until their first child, Cornelius (1849-?) born in June of 1849, was able to travel.
In 1849 Peter, Wilhelmina and their 4 month old son Cornelius immigrated to the United States aboard the ship the "Eliza Dennison" embarking in Rotterdam and arriving at the port of New York on October 29th, 1849. The ship's log listed Peter as a farmer, male, age 33, accompanied by his wife Harmina (Wilhelmina) and son Cornelius.
In the 1850 Census of the United States places the extended Van Lanen family in the city of Green Bay (District #12) Brown County, Wisconsin. The census record identifies the following family members:
Cornelius's absence can be related to the fact that infants were often left off of the census records.
Sometime before the arrival of their next child - Mary (1851- 1921) on November 29th, 1851, Peter and Wilhelmina purchased land for a farm and moved to Bay Settlement (the Town of Scott). They immediately became members of Holy Cross Church, pastored by Father Daems, a Dutch priest who had come from Holland to assist Father Van den Broek. Mary later became a nun (Sister Mary Imaculeta) at Holy Cross, teaching the children and helping in any way she could until her death on November 21st, 1921.
In early 1852, Peter and Wilhelmina had their second son Gerardus (1852-?). About this same time 20 May, 1852, Peter also filed a Letter of Intent to become a Citizen of the United States, with the Brown County Clerk.
Peter and Wilhelmina's third son, Godfrey (1854 - 1939), was born on March 17th, 1854, in the town of Scott. Godfrey married Hannah Hermans (1857-1899) on October 3rd, 1876, and the couple had 10 children. (Godfrey Van Lanen Family History).
Son number four was born on November 20th, 1857 in Scott Township, John Adrian (1857 - 1903) was baptized that same day. John married Julia Van Laanen (1862-1946) on August 19th, 1879, and together they raised nine children (John Adrian Van Lanen Family History).
Peter and Wilhelmina's sixth child was Peter John, (1859-?) born and baptized on 22 May 1859. Peter John's life is a subject for further 1research.
In the census for the year 1860, the Peter Van Lanen family is listed as: Peter Van Lanen, age 53, farmer, born in Holland, with $300.00 worth of land and $100.00 in personal property. Wilhelmina, age 41, born in Holland. Cornelius, age 11, born in Holland. Mary, age 10, born in Wisconsin. Gerardus, age 9, born in Wisconsin. Godfreid, age 8 , born in Wisconsin. (John Adrian, age 3, born in Wisconsin, and finally Peter John, infant, born in Wisconsin.
Thus we see the Peter Van Lanen is growing and prospering in their new homeland. After 11 years they have put down roots and become involved in local events. One event that had long term events at about this time was the Civil War (1861- 1865). Even though Peter was 44 years of age at the time, he was apparently drafted as were many of the early immigrants. While no formal record of Peter's service has yet been found, it was during this time that he was reportedly absent and upon his return (less one arm) he started a general store with the veteran's pension he had received at discharge. Why no records of Peter's service can be found is an area for further research.
Wilhelmina died around 1872, but no official record of her death has been found to date. The 1880 census shows Peter living with his daughter Mary and nephew Gerardus. Mary remained single joining Holy Cross Convent were she taught school and took care of her father until his death on August 14th, 1881 (gravestone).
Memories:
VAN LANEN Ancestry
The VAN LANEN surname originates in the towns of Boekel and Uden, Noord Brabant, Holland and means "from the lanes". The earliest Van Lanen identified to date is Peter VAN LAANEN who was married to Wilhelmina VAN DEN ANKER. This couple had at least one son Gerardus VAN LANEN (1788 - <1870) who married Johanna Adriaan Giele VAN DER HEIJDEN (1790 - <1870). Gerardus and Johanna had at least 7 and possibly as many as 11 children (Gerardus Van Lanen Family History) who immigrated to Green Bay, Brown County Wisconsin in 1849. Of the 7 children who survived the trip to the United States, our direct ancestor was Peter VAN LANEN (1817 - 1881) who was married to Wilhelmina JANSENS (1819 - ?). Peter and Wilhelmina are described above.
VAN DER HEIJDEN Ancestry
The VAN DER HEIJDEN surname originates in Holland, and is the
subject of on-going research. At present the oldest known Vander
Heijden is Adriaan VANDER HEIJDEN (?) who married Anna Maria
PETERS (?). They had at least one daughter Johanna Adriaan Giele VAN DER
HEIJDEN (1790 -1870) who married Gerardus
VAN LANEN (1788-1870) and had at least seven (Gerardus Van Lanen Family
History) and possibly as many as eleven children. The eldest
son of Johanna and Gerardus was Peter VAN LANEN who married Wilhelmina JANSENS this
family is described on the page above.
JANSENS Ancestry
The only known JANSENS is Wilhelmina JANSENS. This surname is a subject for further research.
Wilhelmina JANSENS Mother's Surname is unknown!