Elk, Jefferson and adjoining counties with Belgians in 1850/1860 adapted from:”Development in extractive communities: Ridgway and St. Marys” by William Charles Conrad

St. Mary’s was founded in 1842 by Catholic settlers from Bavaria. A committee from Baltimore and Philadelphia representing a small group of German Catholics from those communities was chosen to go westward in search of uncultivated lands for the establishment of  a colony and purchased 36,000 acres of land.Two families were included in the first installment, fifteen persons in all, including the committee. Their route was laid out to Columbia, Pennsylvania  by railroad; thence by canal to Freeport; thence by the overland route to the place of destination. The clearing and the work in general progressed slowly. In the fall of the year 1842, Father Alexander, from Baltimore, came to the colony by invitation. This gentleman, a man of great learning and experience, and a lover of rural life, became so convinced that the community plan would not work, that the settlement was bound to break up, and the labor and money already spent in the undertaking lost. He, therefore, after consultation with the colonists, went back to Baltimore, and laid his plans before Col. Mathias Benzinger. In 1843, Elk County was created. Late in the fall of that same year, Col. Benzinger came to the colony, and after examination concluded to buy the lands. With John Esbach, another merchant in Baltimore, they acquired the 36,000 acres and purchased 26,000 acres more. Benzinger engaged Ignatius Garner as agent and general director of the colony, and early in the year 1845 Mr. Garner went to Europe with Belgian born Rev. Louis Cartuyvels and came back in July with a good number of substantial settlers[3]. In 1850, Elk was still less populated than the counties south of the plateau, but it’s in Elk and Jefferson counties we find most of the Belgian emigrants. With 72 immigrants in Elk and 17 in Jefferson counties, they are almost all of the Belgian people found in the Pennsylvania Plateaus[4].  

 

Mathias Benzinger

Col. Mathias Benzinger, a venerable and respected citizen died yesterday (Death15 Jul 1874 ) at his late residence, No 219 Madison avenue, Baltimore, in his seventy-fifth year, He had been sick a long time. Col. Benzinger was born in Forchheim, Grand Duchy of Baden, of an old an noble family of that country. He is best and will be longest known for having purchased a large tract of wild land in Elk county, Pennsylvania, which he settled with immigrants brought over from Europe. It is now a flourishing township, known as Benzinger, and St. Mary's city in the township is quite a large place, the centre of the trade of that section. He acquired considerable wealth as a contractor under the general government, and in the cities of Baltimore and Washington. He was closely identified with the erection of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, and with the founding of several benevolent institutions and was a director in several institutions of a business character. He leaves a number of descendants. Newspaper: Baltimore Sun from Historical Newspapers at GenealogyBank.com

Ignatius Garner

Ignatius Garner (1816-1899), a German immigrant from Schwerghouse, Alsace-Lorraine, France, was among the early settlers of St. Marys, Elk County. He arrived in the United States circa 1832, and lived in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and New York. In the early 1840s he came to Philadelphia, where he was active in that city's German Catholic community. Seeking greater religious freedom, a group of German Catholics, drawing members from Baltimore and Philadelphia, settled in St. Marys in 1842. Garner, a lawyer, arrived there in 1845 employed as a land agent for the Baltimore-based firm of Benzinger and Eschbach, which had bought the land from the Fox Land Company in 1843. Living in St. Marys until his death, Garner, in addition to his duties as a land agent, also served as the town's first postmaster, its mayor, and an Elk County auditor. He also was an organist, organ builder, musician, church designer, surveyor, and attorney.

Death Living

Althought VanderStraeten-Ponthoz[5] speaks in his report to the Belgian government on the emigration to the States of a lot of Belgians in St Mary’s: “In May 1845, St Mary’s counted 90 families; 17 Belgian families came from Michigan there where they had begun their first establishment. The last reports are very favorable; all inhabitants seem satisfied”, only one family is listed in the 1850 census and I found no trace of other ones: 

	Dwelling & family n°		First & Last name		Age	Sex	Occupation	Real Estate	Birth	Remarks
	12	12	Adolphus	Stockman	65	M	Farmer	1000	Germany
	12	12	Catherine	Stockman	66	F			Germany
	12	12	John	Stockman	24	M	Laborer		Germany
	12	12	Amelia	Stockman	22	F			Belgium	(1)
	70	71	Bonaventura	Cortuyvels	30	M	Farmer	350	Belgium	(2)
	70	72	Lewis	Cortuyvells	39	M	Farmer	2000	Belgium	(3)
	70	73	Mary	Miller	24	F			Germany
	70	74	Anthony	Kortevill	24	M	Laborer		Germany
	70	75	Adolphus	Winterkamp	22	M	Laborer		Germany
	70	76	Theodore	Fleuring	19	M	Laborer		Germany
	88	89	Charles	Van Ersel	39	M	none	1000	Belgium	(4) at Joseph Luhr boarding house
	89	90	Dominicus	Redant	46	M	Farmer	150	Belgium	(5)
	89	91	Rosa	Redant	59	F			Belgium
	89	92	Mary	Redant	25	F			Belgium
	89	93	Francis (M)	Redant	23	M	Laborer		Belgium
	89	94	Paulina	Redant	17	F			Belgium

(1) Amelia (Redant) Stockman, born 10 July 1826 in Alst, Belgium, was married to Johan Henrich Stockman on November 21, 1847 at St Mary’s.

(2) Benoît Bonaventure Eugène Cartuyvels, born St Trond, Belgium in 1815, a younger brother of Jean Louis Ursmare Cartuyvels.

(3) Jean Louis Ursmare Cartuyvels came in America in 1841, arriving at New York on board the Ontario on March 8 with other clergymen and having for destination Baltimore. He was born at Saint-Trond, Belgium, on April 20, 1811. A Redemptorist, he joined the secular clergy in 1845. He died in Chicago on July 5, 1874.
After leaving the St. Mary’s settlement, when the attempt of colonisation by Belgians failed, he went to Illinois where, from 1855, he tried the same thing with more success, but it’s another story. By chance, we know more of the first Belgian settlers at St Marys as in 1850 Cartuyvels published in French and in Belgium a pamphlet intituled “at the Belgian emigrants – St Marys colony, Elk county, in the Pennsylvania State (northern America)”. In that pamphlet were reproduced newspaper articles, testimonies of various authorities and excerpts of letters from the Belgian settlers at St Marys.

(4) Charles-Gerard-François Van Eersel: born in Antwerp, April 14th, 1811, died at St Mary 's, on August 3rd, 1851. Arrived at the United States in 1849, he went to St Mary 's in July, 1849 and bought lands. He gives a very optimistic information and description of the colony.. He was married with Sidonie Marie Rosalie Baesen and had four children. All remained in Belgium after his death in 1851.  He was a Doctor of Law, member of the heraldic Council, knight of l 'Ordre de Leopold, acquired in 1840, recognition of nobility and concession of the title of Knight transmissible in order of masculine primogeniture.

(5) Dominique Redant. In 1850, he is for 5 years in the colony on which he gives many interesting details. Dominique Redant and his family were first settled in Michigan, where they had constructed a farm and equipped, endowed with stock, etc. But the family being attained by fever, Redant was nearly ruined and left Michigan for St Mary 's in 1845.

At the Belgian emigrants,  St Marys colony  Elk county,  in the Pennsylvania State  (northern America)

A letter written by Dominique Redant was published in the Cartuyvels pamphlet published in Belgium to entice people to emigrate at St Mary’s:

 

For Mr. Roch. Marschals, Oostdorp near Alost, 

                                                                                                                St Mary’s, April 8, 1850

 Dear brother,
 I will tell you this time about the situation of the colony of St Mary’s, where we always are in good health and where we grow in prosperity day after day. We hope that the Belgians, who on the other side of the sea, lives in the misery, or those whose fortune goes decreasing every day, will finally understand that in America alone they can find happiness; here a man of goodwill, courage and energy not only can acquire in a few years an easy life, but even an immense fortune. America is a large country and a country which becomes increasingly more flourishing. What is beautiful here is that we are all American citizens, with the perfect equality not in theory but in practice; it is not even asked if one is rich or poor. Oh' I would like that my voice would be powerful enough to be understood by all the Belgians; it would stay in Belgium only the families having enough fortune to ask for nothing more … since five years that I am in the colony, I have not still meet any beggar: we does not see any in this rich country, this beautiful America.
The Belgian colony whose Mr. DeHam is the director goes as well as possible for the little of time of its existence. The Belgian government could not help its poor any more effectively. All these people will become happy here.
We now have in the colony 4 churches and 4 priests; 2 Benedictines fathers, who are in St Mary’s; the priest of Kersey, 4 miles of St Mary’s. A father of St Mary’s will say the mass at Léopoldsbourg in the colony of Mr. DeHam, and Abbot C(artuyvels) directs the vault of  New-Brabant, which is 4 miles of St Mary’s. It is this worthy priest who blessed the vault of the Belgians; it sang the first Mass there.  One could not attend these ceremonies and to hear this first mass without pouring tears of joy and gratitude towards our Creator, who covers us so well with his protection. - The Belgian colony is located close to the river Clarion, 8 miles of St Mary’s.
Dear brother, I will say now some words of the colony in general. It contains approximately 80000 acres of ground, the half of it is sold; the other half belongs to Mrs. Benzinger, Eschbach and Abbot Cartuyvels - This colony is in the most flourishing state; founded in 1844, it counts already 400 families, of which I saw the list in our Burgomaster. I believe that there is few places in America which were so populated in so little time… All the population is catholic… The first years we had to suffer here; we had the colony to found and most of the colonists were very poor; but the ground is so fertile that after the first three years each one of us was out of misery. I know people who arrived here with 500 frank (100$) , have 50 acres of ground now, a house, cattle sheds, cows and pigs; but they worked for these!
The ground is very fertile. Those which have only 25 acres and which cleared 12 of them can live well. To cut the trees and to burn them is the first and also most painful work.
I could however advise everybody not to come to St Mary’s without being owner of an amount of money quite enough to buy and pay the ground, to settle and provide for the needs of life during one year and half: but when you have this money, you can be certain of living at ease in a short time and even becoming rich… The ground is sold for now from 3 to 5 $ per acre.
The iron factories could be established here with much advantage. The iron ore is so heavy in St Mary’s that one hundred pounds of ore contain 75 pounds of iron; then we have coal mines in all the colony; coal, iron and lime are here immediately under the good ground, so that we can cultivate it and use minerals at the same time. Those which would have a certain amount of money and which would have necessary knowledge for the manufacture of iron would become very rich here. The town of Bellefonte, 70 miles from here, is very rich by its iron factories, and, according to the people knowing this art, one would manufacture in St Mary’s iron 35 per cent cheaper than in Bellefonte.
I write all this to you so that you can make known the state of the colony to our compatriots. The emigrants have a good opportunity now: Abbot C(artuyvels) must already be in Belgium; it will be able to give you verbally all the desirable information. It must be in Saint-Trond near his mother, where probably he will stay during the little of time that he will remain in Belgium.
There are still lands to sell in our colony, and I do not know a place where a family, having still some means, could thrive more. I do not speak to you about the fishing nor the hunting: they are useless things; it would be to even wish that we have less deers.
                                                                                                                                            

  I remain with love, Your brother,     
                                                                                                                                                                            

   Dominique Redant.

 

In the same book,  excerpts of letters sent by Chevalier (Knight) Van-Eersel to Madame V(an).E(ersel) in Brussels deal with the Belgians already at St Mary’s and with the new colony of Victor DeHam. He wrote:

July 1849:  “My dear S(idonie)…. the day after our arrival(at St Mary’s) we dined with the priest; after dinner we went to see the Sisters of the Catholic School; after that, we went see about 20 farmers, one of them a Belgian in the colony from it’s begin, at we found all those people very happy… they are the owners of 50 to 100 acres of land, those  who never had anything.
August 1849: … Mr L(ouis Cartuyvels?) will maybe go to Wisconsin to be the founder of a colony. He wants to take me as a company, but I’m not happy with that. This country is full of Catholics, very fertile, healthy, air of a big purity and the children are strong and never ill… I’d rather stay here…
September 1849: … Yesterday we went to the Clarion, … three miles from St Mary’s, but colonization work his way to that so favorable a place; it’s the intended place for the colony of the poor coming from Flanders … Abbot Cartuyvels will be back from Belgium next spring…
January 1850: …I bought 500 acres of the best possible piece of land… in a month from now, Mr C. and I will be at New-Brabant and MM. DeHam will be at New Flanders, 12 miles from one place to the other, but it’s nothing with our horses and sleds…
March 1850: … I received the best news from the DeHam colony. Seven houses are already built and the parcels of land assigned to the families. His colony is going well.

But  the project of  settling in St Mary’s never occurred. Chevalier Van Eersel, sick, wrote his last will on July 21, 1851 and died at St. Mary's, August 3 of the same year  in the house of Charles Luhr of apoplexy. He is listed as being buried in the St Mary’s catholic cemetery. Ignatius Garner administered the estate.

Another comment from the History of St Mary’s:  “In the convent may be found some valuable paintings, among which a few, by Sister Mary, are prized very highly. The "Christ on the Cross," by Von Beck[6] (born at Antwerp in 1598, and a student of Rubens), brought from Belgium in 1849 by Baron Charles Van Ersal, is now in possession of Ignatius Garner. In 1882 he shipped it to Munich, to be restored. A certificate by Dr. Carl Foerster, art expert and president of antiquarian society of Bavaria, dated December 10, 1882, shows the painting to be one of Von Hoeck's. He also bears testimony to the work of restoration, and terms it a fine, well-preserved and undoubted original, which bears the truthful characteristics of the Rubens school”.

1849 Elk County: Leopoldsburg, New Flanders, the future settlement of Belgian paupers.

The project of sending Belgian paupers in St Mary’s began in 1848, when Joseph Beleke was sent in Belgium and Germany to attract people at the St Mary’s settlement. He wrote a letter to Charles Rogier, the new Minister of the Interior who inherited the colonisation project written by Mr De Theux[7]

7 July 1848

Respected Sir,

I arrived some weeks ago, from the United States of  N. A. with dispatches for Berlin and with letters to the Chevalier Clemson, chargé d’affaire in Brussels. However, the principal object of my mission is to request the European governments, to send their emigrants to St Mary’s Colony, in Elk County, Pennsylvania, and thus, by limited efforts, extend far and wide, the flourishing settlement.

…

 

From there, the writing of the original document is only partly visible. Almost all the papers related to this project of emigration and in the archives of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some in original, some in copy sent from the Ministry of the Interior have been spoiled by water and often, the last third of each page is unreadable, the ink being washed off. The general meaning of the letter is yet still understandable. And the interesting part with the offer of Mathias Benzinger is almost unspoiled:

 

Although, in small lots, the land sell for $ 4-20 Dollars, according to its distance from the town, the proprietors, very desirous to name a settlement of the pious, industrious and good Belgians, they have legally authorized me, to offer to this government 10,000 - 50,000 acres of the best land, at the very low prize of  2 dollars per acre; and at the same time, they oblige themselves to provide the Belgian settlers with churches, schools and clergymen.

I take the liberty to say, on my own accord should this government allow 4 dollars per acre, I believe the proprietors would not only forward 100 Belgian families from New York to St Mary's Colony; but also build a town of 100 blockhouses with good churches and schools, provide Belgian clergymen and teachers and give a sufficient quantity of land for the future support of the school and churches, and, in addition to this, I think, theproprietors would also clear, for every family, 3 - 4 acres of land, saw them with rye and wheat and plant for them corn and potatoes.

I think, it would be advisable, to send the Belgians in different parties, at different times, in order that those who have arrived at the colony, may be employed for those who are to follow; in this manner would the money

sent by the government, chiefly come into the hand……… emigrants. After, in the manner co……

families have been well settled, the government may send any number of poor families without additional aid. Although by such improvements the value of land would rise, the proprietors will now sell any number of acres, which the government may now wish to buy for any after period, at 1 1/4 dollars per acre, which is the prize of the American government.

…

With Sentiments of high regard, I'm Your Excellency, humble servant

C. J. Beleke

Professor of (German) St Mary

Thomas Green Clemson

Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 1, 1807, Thomas Green Clemson studied chemistry at La Sorbonne, Paris. On November 13, 1838, at the age of 31, Clemson married Anna Maria Calhoun, daughter of John C. Calhoun the noted Senator from South Carolina and 7th Vice President of the United States. With knowledge of both French and German, he served as U.S. charge d'affaires to Belgium from 1844 to 1851. After Calhoun's death, his wife inherited part of the Fort Hill plantation near Pendleton, South Carolina. Fifty-four-year-old Clemson, enlisted in the Confederacy and was assigned to the Army of the Trans-Mississippi Department. After Anna's death in 1875, Thomas Green Clemson inherited Fort Hill and lived there until his death. He died on April 6, 1888 and is buried in St. Paul's Episcopal churchyard in Pendleton, South Carolina. Portrait of Thomas Green Clemson painted in Belgium. Family tradition attributes the work to Eugene DeBlock, although its style more closely resembles that of Joseph Eeckhout. Oil on canvas. Fort Hill Collection, Clemson University

Professor Caspar Jordan Beleke was a professor of the German Language at the St Mary’s College at Emmitsburg, Frederick County, Maryland. He wrote a book on the “Grammar of the German Language” in Philadelphia in 1840, reprints still published today. He also was a Professor in the University of the City of New York, and moved to Chicago about 1864 and in 1871 headed a classical school. Official U.S. Passport. In part: "I, the Undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States of America, hereby request all whom it may concern, to permit safely and freely to pass Casper I. Beleke a Citizen of the United States, and in case of need to give him all lawful Aid and Protection...." Beleké is described as being 39 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches tall, with broad and high forehead, blue eyes, nose without any striking mark, small mouth, round chin, fair hair, fair complexion and round face. He has signed his passport: "C.J. Beleké". On the fourth blank page is the embarkation stamp in German, issued near Berlin on May 22, 1848. Document found on the Gallery of History web site

Rogier concluded on August 3, 1848 with Beleke a provisional agreement for the acquisition of 10,000 acres of land. l'une des clauses de la convention portait que l'acquisition ne serait définitive que lorsque la fertilité, la bonne situation des terres et la salubrité de la colonie auraient été reconnues. One of the clauses of the agreement was that the acquisition would not be final until the fertility of the land the right situation and the safety of the colony would have been recognized.  It would be, for the government, a sum of 20,000 $ ( or 100 000 franks ) to disburse. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constant d’Hoffschmidt, has some reservations: he founds that the proposal was expensive and was not to solve the problem of pauperism. He doubted that the colon has the strength and courage to overcome the difficulties that always arise each year. He also doubted that the people they have to send in Pennsylvania will fulfill these conditions. He concluded that it would be better to go through a private company that would be responsible for executing this contract rather than having the direct responsibility of the government.

Checks should be made ​​by 1 October 1848. The on-site investigation at St. Mary was entrusted to Auguste Moxhet: Consul General of Belgium in New York and Victor DeHam Head office for Flanders at the Department of the Interior in Brussels.

Victor De Ham né à Annecy en France le 8 février 1805 était chef de bureau au Ministère de l'Intérieur à Bruxelles.Victor DeHam was commissioned in 1848 by the Minister, accompanied by Auguste Moxhet[8] already in New York, to visit and study the colony of Saint Mary the Belgian Government wanted to buy the land. Leur rapport était terminé dans les délais exigés par la convention, soit le 1er octobre 1848. Victor DeHam embarked on the “Hibernia”, en route to Boston where he arrived on September 8, 1848.

On October 1, with no news from the investigators, Baron D'Hoppschmidt, in agreement with the landowners: (Eschbach,  Renzinger, and William A. Stokes[9] at Sainte Mary) postponed the decision for the 1^st of April 1849.

On October 10, 1848, returning to New York, Moxhet and DeHam sent their reports. Si Moxhet était nettement pessimiste et mettait en doute la fertilité du sol, De Ham présenta la chose de façon tout à fait favorable. If Moxhet was clearly pessimistic and questioned soil fertility, DeHam presented the thing quite favorably. The Belgian Government, after consulting the Advisory Committee for the affairs of Flanders, abandoned the contract with the owners of  St Mary’s.

On 27 July 1849, the Minister of the Interior, Charles Rogier notified the owners of the colony of Saint Mary, that the Government was giving up the idea of a contract with them but, impressed by the interest shown by Victor DeHam for the establishment of a colony, he proposed a new contract: Victor DeHam will resume business on his own account, will leave his post at the Ministry of Interior and agree to go with his family in the new colony.

A new agreement was signed with De Ham. Il prit l'engagement, en juillet 1849, de s'établir à Sainte-Marie avec sa famille et d'y recevoir annuellement des Flandres 50 émigrants pendant trois années consécutives. It took commitment, in July 1849, De Ham having to move to St. Mary's with his family and receive annually 50 emigrants from Flanders for three consecutive years.  The Belgian Government would pay travel expenses up to Philadelphia, grant compensation to De Ham and would advance a sum for the establishment of the colony, repayable by settlers in a given period.

As explained in a letter from DeHam to the Redemptorist Michael Heilig in July 1849, the project was advancing slowly but was shifted from the Belgian government to DeHam responsibility

 

After various phases and difficulties, this project seems about to be arrested on the following basis ... Our government, fearing the expense that would have resulted in the emigration of thousands of individuals and also weary by the very unfavourable report from the commissioner who had assisted me in visiting the St Mary’s colony, was ready to abandon the enterprise, when as a result of the confidence that Providence has deigned to inspire my character, he consented, or at least seems willing very soon, to personally give me the means necessary to test on a small scale, that settlement enterprise. .. I’ll buy a large amount of land two miles of St. Mary, in a fertile and well located place. I commit myself to leave before the winter and take with me 50 people divided into family of 4 to 5 individuals. The Government will pay the passage. From their arrival in New York, I’ll take care of their fate, carry them to St Mary’s, and put at the disposal of the head of each family 25 acres of land, the materials they need to build a loghouse, a cow, a pig, sowing, some furniture, agricultural implements, finally I’ll give them sustenance until the next harvest.

The settlers will reimburse me, half in working day,  two per week, half of food or money, when their position would be consolidated enough that they can do it with ease. In addition I’ll receive each year for 6 or 8 years, at least fifty other settlers to whom I’ll give the same assistance.

This number may be increased by people enjoying a few resources, determined to settle in the colony and following my example and my advice.

... This is also all I’ll can do with the very limited resources which I will have. For the religious needs of the colony, I have to ask you to kindly consent for a priest of your order, knowing Flemish, being specially engaged in the service of our future Church of St. Mary, where all the settlers will go on Sunday to attend services and take religious instruction.^[10]

... The difficulties I will have to overcome are great, I fear for the first year that depression, weariness, nostalgia will sometimes seize our settlers, but encouraged by the consoling word of God, held together by the religious bond, for the community of religion, morals and goals, I hope with great confidence they’ll cross without too much difficulty this first crisis.

 

In another letter, after the contract was signed, DeHam asked for missionaries and for a priest to accompany them on their trip to New York. Given the precarious situation of Father Heilig and challenge he faced concerning his authority on the American missions, he would not get them.

 

Rev. Fr Michael Heilig

Fr. Michael Heilig was born on September 7, 1808, in Winterbach in the Danube district of the Kingdom of Wurtemberg. Through frequent association with Redemptorists who had established themselves in Freiburg, he felt attracted very early on to the Redemptorist Order by the writings of St Alphonsus Ligouri. In October, 1831, the twenty-three year old student travelled to Vienna and began his Novitiate. There he professed his vows on August 14, 1833. In April, 1834, he travelled from Vienna to Belgium. Then, in September he went to St. Trond, Belgium, and there he taught Humanities, knowledge of which he had acquired to a preeminent degree. When the newly acquired monastery at Wittem, Belgium, was furnished in 1836, he settled. On April 2 of the same year he was ordained a priest in Metz. In 1848 he became Provincial of the Belgian Province, to which Holland, England, and North America also belonged.  In the following year, having been named Consultor General to Fr. Trapanese, he travelled to Italy, where he remained until April 3, 1850. In latter years he went to posts in Germany and Holland were he died in 1887.

The contract between Victor DeHam and the Belgian government.

Mr. Charles Rogier, Minister of the Interior, wishing to encourage an attempt of emigration and colonization of Flemish indigents in Pennsylvania, United States of North America; And Mr Victor DeHam, head of Office in the Ministry of the Interior residing at Uccle, being resolved to devote to the carrying of such an undertaking his special knowledge, personal services and those of his family;

It was agreed between them that: Mr Victor DeHam undertakes to fulfil the following conditions:

 

A. Settle with his family to St. Mary, Elk County, Pennsylvania, where he will annually establish and for three consecutive years, from 1849, fifty inhabitants of Flanders, divided into families of four or five people and each of them comprising at least one adult in the prime of age. At the time of boarding in Antwerp, emigrants shall be valid, healthy and well. They will be provided with certificates of good character and have not suffered criminal convictions or corrections.
If, during these three years the emigrants would have faithfully fulfilled their obligations to the Sr DeHam, obligations which are specified below, he agrees to receive and to establish at St Mary’s, during each of the next five years, a minimum of fifty poor either  sent directly by the Belgian Government, or, with it’s approval, by municipalities in Flanders.

 

As a result of the foregoing commitment,

B. Mr DeHam is responsible for:

1. the costs of travel and food for the emigrants from Philadelphia or New York to St. Mary.
2. to provide each householder a lot of wooded land twenty-five acres from which he’ll reserves on twenty acres, as they will be felled by the emigrants, trees other than maple, whose diameter is at least one and a half feet.
3. to provide each family head, scrap metal, nails, doors, frames, windows, shingles, boards, bricks, lime, necessary for the construction of a log house twenty feet in front and sixteen in deep.
4. to provide each householder with furniture and agricultural implements listed in the attached appendix[11], a cow and a pig.
5. to provide to each head of family sowing seed needed for three acres of land.
6. to provide the settlers the necessary food needed until harvest time following their arrival.

Immigrants will be required to reimburse the advances made by Mr DeHam in implementing the commitments given in No. 1 to 6 inclusive.

This reimbursement will be, (1)as to the cost of transportation and food from New York to St. Mary, of the amount stated by Mr DeHam, (2)about the twenty-five acres of land at two dollars per acre for the immigrants arriving in 1849 and fifteen cents more per year for those who will be sent to St. Mary in performance of this contract in subsequent years, and for (3-6)other objects at the price prevailing in the community.
The settlers will clear themselves from Mr DeHam, half in days work on a basis of two days per week valued at two francs per day, half in cash or in grain at market value. Will only be accepted at a price of two francs per day, only adults, robust and healthy. Repayment of the part due in cash or food will take place annually per quarter starting in the third year after the time of the arrival of the emigrant Ste Marie.

C. Mr DeHam undertakes to ensure at all times the welfare of emigrants, to assist them with its advice to facilitate their relations with the inhabitants of the country, to protect them with is influence.

D. Mr DeHam agrees to make every effort to build a church or chapel in the middle of the colony and to this end he commit himself to freely furnish a place and timber necessary for the construction of a church or chapel and a wooden parsonage. The remainder of the cost will be covered by registrations in Belgium and the United States.

E. Mr DeHam agrees to take with the Redemptorist order or any other religious community, arrangements for a priest, speaking Flemish, to be permanently attached to the service of the church of the colony. He also commit himself to provide to the needs of the Church and the priest a grant of two hundred and fifty acres of land.

F. Mr DeHam waives the position he held at the Ministry of Interior and any compensation other than that designated below. His treatment will cease running the month following the date of his departure for the United States.

 

For its part, the Minister shall:

 

A. give free passage, including food, from Antwerp to Philadelphia or New York for three consecutive years from 1849, for fifty colonists per year, divided into families of four to five people.

B. put at the disposal of Mr DeHam fifty five thousand franks, payable as follow, namely, fifteen thousand francs in the fortnight of the signing of this contract, fifteen thousand franks at the time of departure of the first fifty emigrants, fifteen thousand francs when a letter from the local authority at St Mary’s announced and certified the Consul General of Belgium in New York of the arrival at St. Mary of these emigrants, and the remaining ten thousand francs in the month of January 1850.

In addition, if the result of the investigation that the Minister of the Interior reserves to make on the spot in the summer of 1850, that this beginning of emigration provides satisfactory results, a further subsidy fifteen thousand francs will be immediately available to Mr DeHam.

From the amounts pre-mentioned, twenty-five thousand francs will be granted to Mr DeHam as travel allowance and as an incentive bonus for the implementation of this attempt at colonization of Flemish farmers, the surplus will be refunded by Sr DeHam annually by quarters, from the year 1854.

Mr DeHam will affect as to guarantee his repayment a formal act including his establishments, homes, farms and outbuildings at Ste Marie, a mechanical sawmill, a flour mill and finally an area of ​​four thousand acres of land.

Every three months, Sr DeHam will send to the Minister of the Interior an Account of its operations.

 

Made in good faith and on the twenty 8 July eighteen hundred and forty nine. The Minister of the Interior Ch Rogier , V. DeHam .

 

Approved to be annexed to Our Order of August 4, 1849, Leopold               For the King, the Minister of the Interior Ch Rogier

What was really asked from DeHam ? I’ll try here to put how much it will cost him ( With 1 $ for 5 Franks ):

From New York to the settlement: 12 $ x 50	$ 600
To take care of families of 4 to 5 people, to say, 10 to 12 families. Beaulieu in his note estimated those costs at about $400 per family the first year, I’ll take that for granted and covering the point B. of the contract, it’s also what he wrote to Father Heilig. Note: DeHam will also have to find that sum for the following years when new settlers will be sent to him.	$ 4800
Buy land, four thousand acres, as a guarantee for the loan of money by the government. It seems the land was sold at about $ 2 per acre as proposed by Beleke. A little more perhaps as Victor DeHam wrote having bought 2000 acres at the begin of 1850 for 4,932$50c. A 1854 note in the files says they were bought at 2,25 $ So, for the 4000 acres I assume they were bought, adding the fees, at (rounded):	$ 10000
It is also spoken of building a mechanical sawmill, a flour mill (6,000 – 7,000 franks, estimation 1853)	$ 1200

What will be given/loaned to DeHam ?

In 1849, to start the project: 30,000 Franks before departing and 15,000 more when at St Mary’s	$ 9000
At the begin of 1850: 10,000 Franks	$ 2000
In the summer of 1850: 15,000 Franks	$ 3000
Total 75,000 franks	$ 14000
In 1851, 15,000 Franks if the things are going well	$ 3000

How will he reimburse himself and the Belgian government ?

Each of the 2000 acres will be paid by annuities of $1000 as I deduct from the letters exchanged between DeHam and other peoples.  The first annuity for the first 2000 acres was surely paid in 1849 when DeHam went to settle at New Flanders. When the emigrants reached New Flanders, a house was already built and occupied by DeHam family. As the emigrants settled in January 1850, I’ll put all the first expenses in that year, knowing that already a good part was spent in 1849 for DeHam house and bringing the settlers on the spot. The scheme bellow I built following the terms of the contract:

1849	first annuity for 2000 acres	Expenses: $ 1000	Left:
1850	second annuity for 2000 acres first annuity for 2000 more acres settling and taking care of the families of 50 settlers for one year a sawmill	$ 1000 $ 1000 $ 4800 $ 1200	$ 5000
1851	third annuity for 2000 acres second annuity for 2000 more acres settling and taking care of the families of 50 more settlers for one year but $ 3000 coming from the Belgian government	$ 1000 $ 1000 $ 4800	$ 4200
1852	Last (fourth) annuity for 2000 acres third annuity for 2000 more acres settling and taking care of the families of 50 more settlers for one year	$ 1000 $ 1000 $ 4800	-$ 5600
1853	Last (fourth) annuity for 2000 more acres	$ 1000	-$ 6600
1854 1858	DeHam will begin to reimburse by quarters $ 12000 of the $ 17000 loaned from the Belgian government	4 x $ 3000	- $ 18600

That’s the theory, rather my theory as I’m missing a lot of elements to ascertain such a scheme. In 1851, the Belgian government would have to send to DeHam the $ 3000 promised and send anew 50 settlers. More, if DeHam was to fulfill the points B1 to B6 of the contract for the new settlers, he would be left in debts after paying the annuities for the land as soon as 1852. And for the following years, DeHam would have to find a lot of means of income to be able to face the expenses theoretically involved by that contract.  Where would he able to find such money ? It is said: the settlers will begin to pay back DeHam… but it’s theory!

And the settlers?
Only speaking of those first settlers, as poor people, those families will begin with nothing except an imposed debt: transport from Philadelphia to St Mary’s, furniture for one year estimated at $400, 25 acres of land for $50.  With the unexpected, to say about $500.
They can pay back DeHam by working 2 days per week: 100 days per year at 2 franks, to say about a virtual $40 per year from the first year. If they can sell their crops, anew $40 per year beginning in 1853.  They would be in debt with DeHam for 10 years at least.  
A last word: 25 acres per family and 4000 acres bought, so about 160 families are expected coming, to say: 600 to 800 people in 8 years. A better explanation that the “guarantee” asked by the government and more fitting with the basic scheme of sending paupers.

On board the Lorena.

The September 8, 50 emigrants boarded the Lorena at Antwerp for New York. Les accompagnent, un chirurgien de l'armée, le Dr Reiss alors que Victor DeHam et sa famille s'embarquent au Havre, sur le steamer Hermann à destination de Southampton. Accompanying them, an army surgeon, Dr. Reiss while Victor DeHam and his family sailed to Le Havre on the steamer Hermann to Southampton. No trace of  the arrival of DeHam and his family in America but a letter from Bonaventure Cartuyvels to Ignatius Garner dated Philadelphia September 19 said “Mr DeHam went the day before yesterday (17 September) with his family for the colony. He will arrive in 4 or 5 days and propose to ask you to stay at your house while awaiting its own house to be ready”.  Les notes conservées aux AMAE ne sont pas très claires à ce sujet, mais il semble que DeHam ai précédé les colons aux Etats-Unis.At the end of October, he already was lodging in St Mary’s, waiting for his house to be ready.

The departure of the colonists was commented in the Belgian newspapers: "Sans vouloir attribuer à l'émigration une portée trop grande comme moyen de soulager le paupérisme dans les Flandres, le gouvernement s'est décidé à encourager un essai d'émigration aux Etats-Unis. M. de Ham, chef de bureau au ministère de l'intérieur, qui s'est rendu l'année dernière en Amérique, pour y étudier la question de l'émigration et qui va s'y fixer avec sa famille, est appelé à diriger cet essai, qui se fait d'ailleurs sur une échelle fort restreinte. C'est à Sainte-Marie, dans la Pensylvanie, que les émigrants flamands vont se rendre. La similitude du climat et de la culture, le bas prix des vivres et des aliments, paraissent offrir des garanties sérieuses pour le succès de l'entreprise. "Without attributed to the overly high emigration as a means of relieving pauperism in Flanders, the government has decided to encourage testing emigration to the United States. Mr. DeHam, head office in the Ministry of Interior, who visited America last year, to study the question of emigration and will fix his family there is called to conduct this test, which is also on a very limited scale. It is at Saint Mary’s, in Pennsylvania, the Flemish emigrants will travel. Similarity in climate and culture, food and cheap food seem to offer strong guarantees for the success of the company. Un premier transport de cinquante à soixante émigrants flamands va s'effectuer par le navire Lorena, qui met à voile aujourd'hui même. A first shipment of fifty to sixty Flemish emigrants will be made ​​by the ship Lorena, who is sailing today. Le gouvernement a pris toutes les précautions nécessaires pour que les émigrants fussent soignés convenablement pendant la traversée. The government has taken all necessary precautions to ensure that the emigrants were properly cared for during the voyage. M. Stevens, secrétaire général du ministère de l'intérieur, s'est rendu jeudi à Anvers, pour assister à l'embarquement des colons et s'assurer par lui-même de l'accomplissement des mesures prescrites. Mr. Stevens, general secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, visited Antwerp on Thursday to attend to the boarding settlers and ensure by himself the fulfillment of all requirements. Un médecin de la marine de l'Etat, le docteur Reiss, accompagne l'expédition jusqu'à destination. A Navy doctor of the State, Dr. Reiss, is accompanying the shipment to destination.”

Dr Reiss report and the book[12] he wrote following that trip to New-York, gives a good relationship of that trip who took three months, a very lengthy one, twice the time usually devoted for such a trip. Reiss report, as the reports coming from DeHam, is in bad shape, for the same reason to say part of the ink having been washed away.  I have combined them to put a story as accurate as possible. Never in his book, Dr Reiss spoke of the Flemish immigrants, only of the “German” immigrants as on board the Lorena was also a group of  about 180 of them.

...-…

 

An unexpected circumstance forced me to embark in Antwerp to New York aboard a ship that had nearly 200 steerage passengers, almost all German emigrants.  Maybe I will not be giving a succinct account of the life and adventures of the sea, and the host is made in America with emigrants. Our ship belonged to the port of New York. The captain, the first mate and the carpenter were white foam. The second lieutenant and the rest of the crew were black or mulatto legitimately free or fugitive slaves, some of the islands of Haiti. The company of the first cabin consisted of a German forester and his lady, a remarkable Hungarian born singer, a young Belgian sculptor and narrator.

The inhabitants of the decks formed a variety of groups. There were few families of a certain ease, miners who went to the coal and iron mines of Pennsylvania and Ohio, butchers, brewers, manufacturers of leather gloves. Other families, composed of poor farmers had left Württemberg through a government relief. But the great mass of emigrants consisted of young people of both sexes who met there, mostly by chance. Beside the young student and committed dealer we saw workers from different states, and simple daily farmers. Many of these young people were political refugees, veterans of Baden and Rhenish Bavaria. The girls were usually servants, known in America by siblings. Some couples who were household together, however, were not married before leaving, because the wedding formalities are much less expensive in America. There was therefore profit reuse.

Headed September 8, 1849 from Antwerp, the next day we were in the harbor of Vlissingen. A change of wind came and we have to stop here, and our forced stay lasted until the 16 of the same month. Difficulties inseparable from the trip began for emigrants. Distribution of food and cooking, these are grave and serious causes of unrest and suffering. Note that many families were burdened with children of a very young age, and were hearing no response to meet their urgent needs. Imagine tender mothers in tears unable to care for these little cherished beings. I was the only one able to act as an interpreter between the officers, crew and emigrants. I was always helpful, but as it was impossible to give everyone what he wanted, it was the interpreter was soon suspected of bias.

Baggages, in the rush of loading, were unfortunately not arranged in order. So it was a challenge to find amongst the boxes and bags without number, the right number and mark of any passenger claiming for provision of choice put in reserve, before it was spoiled. It is not just that, but the place in the kitchen is very small. Children certainly need to be provided first, but we not always finds enough selfless among young people willing to abuse power. There were quarrels and endless complaints. At sea a new cause of suffering was the result from irregular distribution or lack of fresh water, because without water there is no way to cook.

To avenge those alleged injustices, some stupid people attacked the ship, cutting main ropes, and thus put the salvation of all in danger. An active surveillance was established, and a severe speech was required, who brought new murmurs against the interpreter. [Reiss also went to visit Flessingue and Middleburg with other cabin passengers].

Back to the ship, we learned the news of a birth on board. For the poor woman who gave birth, the headwind that kept us there was therefore a fortunate circumstance. The day after the child was taken to Flushing to be baptized. As parents were Lutherans, Calvinists priests as well as Catholic priests rose major objections, and the poor little boy was tossed in religion before being tossed at sea.

The16 in the morning a favorable breeze allowed the ship to sail and in the evening we saw Calais. The sea became rough, so most of the passengers were seasick and few women were seen on the deck or in the kitchen, the men were forced to momentarily take on housekeeping.

On the 18, a frightening calamity threatened us. Members of the family of the glove manufacturer were with a very weak constitution. Having spent some time in Antwerp where cholera prevailed, they had won the disposition to cholera and roll of the ship was breaking them in the symptoms of plague, next to seasickness symptoms. From the four individuals, three were healed, the fourth died in a short time. It was a deaf and dumb boy aged 11. Fortunately that evil extended no further.

The twenty in the morning, the breeze was strong, the sea was rough and the ship's masts strained considerably. Suddenly the main mast broke with a crash, yards and sails falling on deck, pulleys flying in all directions. Terror seized the passengers arriving in crowds on the bridge. The captain hastened to give orders to clear the bridge, and to repair the damage. This accident, however, alone, was not likely to stop our race and make us lose the benefits of a good breeze. But alas! the worn structure of the ship, strained by the sea, no longer held together and water was leaking by the side walls, it filled the hold, wetting the bed of the passengers, this new problem was exasperating them.

Finally, the captain said that we needed to seek a port of refuge. To understand the gravity of this disastrous measure, we have only just to share some of its consequences for emigrants. Poor passengers, most of them, they were afraid at those unexpected charges of being forced for an unknown time in a the port of refuge, they feared the entire exhaustion of the small funds reserved for their first needs when arriving in America. Then with the winter months approaching and instead of a short crossing, they now would expect a long and arduous journey. When finally arriving in America they will find the channels made of ice, and the price of railways increased because of the winter. Also those poor people had great difficulty to accept the reality of the fact and convince themselves that they were actually heading to Ireland or England. Finally convinced in their mind they anger erupted with violence and reproaches were not spared in the conduct of masters and owners of bad vessels. Baden and Bavarian refugees formed a circle on  the bridge around their speakers. They discussed with warmth and energy to a variety of measures and resolutions, which were only leading to nothing. Contracts passage were carefully examined and read and reread all the paragraphs dealing with the passage: money to be paid in advance, the need to be on board on time or lose its way, due obedience to officers, etc.., but they tried in vain on a paragraph on any potential compensation.

On the 24th, we were in sight of Ushant island [île d’Ouessant in French]. On the 25th, a furious storm swamped the ship and threatened to tear her in pieces. Finally, the 27 in the evening, with good weather and a beautiful moonlight, we dropped anchor in the harbor of Plymouth.

In Plymouth, technical committees said that the ship will not be condemned, but will be able continue his journey after his frame had been reinforced by a series of iron joints. Migrants were housed at the expense of land owners, who also undertake to replace the food consumed during the repair of the building.  The cabin passengers could keep their board accommodation. This circumstance gaves us almost immediately the opportunity to enjoy our black crew, a little left to itself by the frequent absences of officers on board.  These men were all good sailors, young and strong constitution. They were well treated and well fed. However, they began to give a lot of hassle and trouble, by their quarrels and battles.  Remarkably, benefits and privileges enjoyed by the young second lieutenant, mulatto race, was the main cause of these grievances. Instead of being happy, relieved by the consideration that you just gave to the officer of their race, they were offended, claiming that this man is a black like them, nor should they be in any order or way be treated better. It is true that the lieutenant was defended by the most reasonable of them. Furious battles resulted. With these disorders subsided as much as possible; our audience was eagerly sought by young emigrants, for their correspondence with their families. Simple peasant knew how expressing their feelings in noble letters addressed to their fathers and mothers with consolations and touching and warm protestations of devotion. It was even more striking read the responses from the poor abandoned parents. Their fervent wishes for the happiness of their children, were mingled with bitter expressions of regret and pain that tore reading the hearts of the poor children for hours and drowned their eyes in tears. The least unhappy with the responses received some small relief money.

Plymouth by William Gibbons (1858-1892)

Plymouth contains bankers, merchants and ship-owners. But the business of this port is not very significant. Rather it is a port of refuge and an intermediate station for steamers between Cork and London.

As we finished our worth as much as possible forced stay in this beautiful country carpenters, blacksmiths, caulkers worked diligently to make the ship fit to resume sea. The first half of October was so spent. They began to make preparations for departure. New food and fuel were loaded and our emigrants returned to the ship. These passengers were treated very well by the popular classes with which they were connected. Young refugees boasted of their success with the fairer sex. German girls had learned a little English. All had also benefited from phenomenaly cheap fruit and excellent sea fish, whom sale was accidentally difficult because of the imminence of cholera. Finally on October 19 in the morning we made our farewells to Plymouth and with a heavy heart, we headed back to the distant west.

On board, good understanding was very short lived. The lack of foresight and, perhaps, the lack of willingness of the captain to take to heart the interests of the steerage passengers had much to do. As the sun began to set very early, emigrants demanded the lighting of the steerage, which they were entitled. But the time and duration of the lighting were not expressed in the contract, there some quibble. So 200 people, women and little children where kept in the dark, which prevented them from doing anything. Also from time to time it was the steerage resounded with the accent of rage, cries of light, uttered in unison by 200 people and shaking the decks.

November 5, officers noticed on the deck an individual they believed to view for the first time. Arrested, the passenger assured coming with us from Antwerp. Indeed he was right, he only embarked secretly and had always kept in the shade.  As .S. laws severely punish the captains for introducing undeclared emigrants on the boarding list, our new acquaintance was therefore added as a postscript on the list, and obliged to help the sailors for the payment of passage. This discovery completely accidental, gave rise for a few days, to violent quarrels among the Germans, who insisted assign it to a traitor denunciation.

On November 8, we saw the Azores Islands. It was a great joy for emigrants, because one of them was carrying a letter, in which a friend told him coming to New York ten days after seeing the Azores. Speed of ships, variability of wind etc., none of all these little elements entered in the calculation of these thoughtless people, so they were convinced that the captain should lead them in ten days from the Azores to New York. The hope of our passengers was cruelly disappointed, because we still had forty-two days at sea before us.

The sufferings of the emigrants became really incredible. First the ship, despite its repair was in very poor condition. Beddings in the steerage were constantly wet. The food began to spoil and became scarce. The fuel to keep the fire in the kitchen was exhausted and, in despair, walls and furniture were breaked and demolished to get firewood. But what is most distressing was the scourge of vermin, which had seized the steerage.

Among the passengers was the wife of a French worker, with three children. The woman, who initially consented, because of her pregnancy, to stay back, had suddenly decided to join her husband who shipped to Antwerp for America. She arrived in Antwerp, but her husband had left the day before. So she took her children to move with us. After leaving Plymouth, this woman was soon unable, because of seasickness and because of her advanced pregnancy to do anything for her or her children. Its German neighbors not understanding her language and being quite busy with themselves, were, it is true, somewhat to his rescue. But soon we noticed the dedication and tireless work of the eldest child, a little girl of eleven years. At the distribution of food and water, as well as the kitchen, when all was eager disorder and discord, the ranks opened spontaneously when this weak little creature approached. We willingly gave her more than her share, and this general benevolence towards her never wavered until the end of the trip.

December 13, our captain hailed a U.S. ship and bought supplies and fuel, as well as for the cabin decks. Finally on December 18th we saw land from the mast. The next morning, the pilot came on board. The passengers were all on deck. All eyes were directed to crazy heights that saw the horizon. But breeze was low, we advanced slowly. In the afternoon the steamer tug were in an annoying way all around us, finally, after much debate, one of them got down to the ship. Three cheers hailed this happy event, and the sun was just lying, as we entered the middle of the merchant fleet, which in serried ranks, along the docks of New York.

...-…"(Indépendance)"

Le Lorena arriva à New-York le 19 décembre. The Lorena arrived in New York on December 19. Le docteur (chirurgien-major) Reiss , qui devait accompagner les colons jusqu'à destination, les quitta à Philadelphie et revint à New York le 26 décembre. The doctor (surgeon) Reiss, who was to accompany the settlers to their destination went to Philadelphia but returned to New York on 26 December. Le consul général Moxhet dut l'inviter à rejoindre les émigrants pour les conduire à Sainte-Marie et lui avança même l'argent pour le faire. Consul General Moxhet invited him to join back the emigrants and go with them to Saint Mary’s and even advanced him money to do so. Reiss repartit pour la colonie le lendemain. Reiss returned to the colony the following day.  A medical report was sent in Belgium. I suppose a first one was sent when the ship was put in repairs at Plymouth as this one is covering the events from that place, but I found no trace of it. Like the other papers, this one was also partially washed but this one very heavily and a lot of information is missing but, thanks to Reiss, more understandable after having read the tale in his book.

Mr. the Minister

According to the dispatch of August 29, 1849, the undersigned is pleased to announce the arrival of the Flemish convoy to New York, December 19, 1849 and transmits concise account of the journey of  the Lorena from October 19, the day off from Plymouth (England).

Here [...] on account of the duration of the voyage, first [succession] of calm, fog and winds, the [...] disrepair state of the ship, which did not allow [...] the desired amount of sails, when the breeze was good but a little strong, then after the wind had ripped off a few sails, the absolute lack of the means to progress in the absence of steam.  With no canvas on board to repair the torn sails, we used bags potatoes, and with compelling needs, many farm bags owned by Mr. DeHam.

The iron joins from Plymouth had given way. The ship caulked joints disjointed anew and new water has flowed more and more on the steerage passengers. Their bedding and belongings are rotten, and [parts of the ship] worked so loose.. we had to reinforce them by strong support girders Fortunately we had not to bear up against storm. A very disturbing consequence [...] general shortage [...] oil light [...]

The food shipped to Antwerp for [...] nearly consumed in a month. Here's why:
1) meat and butter [...]
2) The farinaceous [...] would have sufficed, but some potatoes [...]
Cooked peas do not [...] remained biscuit, rice, barley, that could not alone suffice.
Therefore, the captain was [compelled] to start too quickly the provisions purchased [...] against all odds, we still had two months [...] the vermin came.  On December 13, we met a ship from Boston. Captain hailed her and he bought a quantity of meat and biscuit.

The cabin and the crew both suffered from the vermin like the emigrants and the last two weeks of the trip threatened to give me a serious gastritis. These evils were joined by a strong lack of fuel in the kitchen. Weak women and children had to settle for days on biscuit, which caused many cries and tears and leading to breaking the wooden bed, walls and [...] passengers all arrived here [... ]

[...] the trip an outbreak of diarrhea announced by [...] and accompanied by colic [...] and [...] in the legs was a concern but it yielded to bismuth and dry heat.
[...] frequent catarrhal inflammation [...]result of moisture of the steerage. [...] Syphilitic infections, including serious enough [...] following the departure of Plymouth
[...] injuries and bruises due to falling body [...] took place.
[...] giving births.
[...]Flemish child Dobbels, 10 years old, is suffering from serious ulcers, due to illness of the tibia bone [...] parents had hidden that until the last days of the crossing when the child was taken with severe pain which were fortunately countered by poultices opiates. A large part of families Coucke and Verbecke were weakened by scrofula.
I take the liberty, Sir, to annex to this report, a note containing the project of regulation, having to make less painful the stay on board for steerage passengers.
Accept Sir, the expression of the deepest respect from your humble servant ,                                     Dr. Reiss

The consul added: ... the general health of these migrants is satisfactory, despite the privations and hardships they had to endure for such a long journey. There has not been a single case of death, which is quite rare. They all came up to New York, took their leave on the 23 current, heading towards their destination along with Dr. Reiss.

The passengers of the Lorena.

Two sources give the names of the Belgian emigrants sent to New Flanders by the Lorena. In 1852, a report by Mr De Man d’Attenrode titled: House of Representatives. Account, to the use of extraordinary credit of 1,000,000 francs open to the Department of the Interior by the Act of June 21, 1849 who was comprising the DeHam essay of colonization at New Flanders as well as the one attempted at Kansas City, Missouri and some people sent to New Brabant, near St Mary’s by Louis Cartuyvels. The other source is the Lorena manifest. The de Man D’Attenrode paper is printed paper and the names are not always very accurate, some differs considerably from the ship manifest and as we can see from 1850 census.
Note: two other people on the Lorena were listed as Belgians: Bernard de Groot (maybe de Greef) and Jos Wamberg tailors from Antwerp.

from De Man d’Attenrode					Lorena manifest				In the 1850 Elk census
N°	Name			Living at	N°	Name
01	Houcke	Charles	44	Waecken	85	Coucke	Charles	44	Charles	Cauke
02	Houcke	Françoise	44	Waecken	86	Coucke	Françoise	44	Francisco	Cauke
03	Houcke	Soo	19	Waecken	87	Coucke	Ivo	19	Eve	Cauke
04	Houcke	Léonard	11	Waecken	88	Coucke	Leonard	11	Leo	Cauke
05	Houcke	Philomène	6	Waecken	89	Coucke	Philomène	6	Philomena	Cauke
06	de Mey	Léon	35	Waecken	90	De Mey	Leo	35	Leo	Demey
07	de Mey	Sophie	30	Waecken	91	De Mey	Sophie	30	Sophia	Demey
08	Ghyselem	Charles	27	Waecken	92	Ghyselen	Charles	27	Carl	Hazle/Ghyselem
09	Ghyselem	Ange	26	Waecken	93	Ghyselen	Ange	26	Luce/Ange	Hazle/Ghyselem
10	Verheust	Bernard	36	Waecken	94	Verheust	Bernard	36	No further trace
11	Dobbels	Frédérick	54	Waecken	95	Dobbels	Frederick	54	Frederick	Dobbels
12	Vanhaverbeck	Ch.	47	Waecken	96	Vanhaverbecke	Charles	47	Charles	Vanhaverbeke
13	Mortier	Amélie	48	Waecken	97	Vanhaverbecke	Amelie	48	Amelia	Vanhaverbeke
14	Vanhaverbeek	Constant	21	Waecken	98	Vanhaverbecke	Constant	21	Constant	Vanhaverbeke
15	Vanhaverbeek	Henriette	19	Waecken	99	Vanhaverbecke	Henriette	19	Harriett	Vanhaverbeke
16	Vanhaverbeek	Marie-Thérèse	17	Waecken	100	Vanhaverbecke	Marie	17	Listed in the 1860 census
17	Vanhaverbeek	Cordule	15	Waecken	101	Vanhaverbecke	Cordule	15	Cordeela	Vanhaverbeke
18	Vanhaverbeek	Marie-Louise	12	Waecken	102	Vanhaverbecke	Louise	11	Marie	Vanhaverbeke
19	Vanhaverbeek	Ferdinand	10	Waecken	103	Vanhaverbecke	Ferdinand	10	Fernand	Vanhaverbeke
20	Vanhaverbeek	Philomène	5	Waecken	104	Vanhaverbecke	Philomène	5	Philomena	Vanhaverbeke
21	Ventaer	Charles	44	Waecken	105	Vintaer	Charles	44	Charles	Vintaer
22	Dobbels	Pierre	45	Waecken	106	Dobbels	Pierre	45	Petrus	Dobbels
23	Dobbels	Julie	38	Waecken	107	Dobbels	Julie	38	Julia	Dobbels
24	Dobbels	Eugénie	16	Waecken	108	Dobbels	Eugénie	16	Eugenie	Dobbels
25	Dobbels	Françoise	14	Waecken	109	Dobbels	Francois	14	Francis	Dobbels
26	Dobbels	Jean	12	Waecken	110	Dobbels	Jean	11	John	Dobbels
27	Dobbels	Marie-Louise	9	Waecken	111	Dobbels	Marie	9	Louisa	Dobbels
28	Dobbels	Henri	8	Waecken	112	Dobbels	Henry	7	Henry	Dobbels
29	Dobbels	Sophie	6	Waecken	113	Dobbels	Sophie	5	Sophia	Dobbels
30	Dobbels	Constant	17½	Waecken	114	Dobbels	Constant	1/2	Constantine	Dobbels
31	D'hoene	Salomon	41	Waecken	115	D’hane	Salomon	41	Solomon	Dhaenens
32	De Tamder	Gilles	44	Waecken	116	De Cauwer	Gilles	44	Gillis	DeCawere
33	Oesselaer	Jacques	58	Waecken	117	Osselar	Jacques	58	Jacob	Osselaire
34	Oesselaer	Thérèse	50	Waecken	118	Osselar	Mary	50	Mary	Osselaire
35	Oesselaer	Bernard	28	Waecken	119	Osselar	Bernard	28	Bernhart	Osler
36	Oesselaer	Jean	20	Waecken	120	Osselar	Jean	20	John	Osselaire
37	Oesselaer	Rosalie	18	Waecken	121	Osselar	Rosalie	18	Rosella	Osler
38	Verotaen	Bernard	20	Waecken	122	Verstaen	Bernard	26	Bernard	Ferstain
39	Vandenbroeck	Frédérick	21	Waecken	123	Vandenbroek	Fréderic	21	Frederick	Vandebrocke
40	Verbeeck	Charles	50	Meulebeke	124	Verbeeke	Charles	50	Charles	Ferbeke
41	Verbeeck	Eulalie	45	Meulebeke	125	Verbeeke	Eulalie	45	Rosalie	Ferbeke
42	Verbeeck	Adolphe	20	Meulebeke	126	Verbeeke	Adolphe	20	Adolphus	Ferbeke
43	Verbeeck	Gustave	17	Meulebeke	127	Verbeeke	Gustave	17	Gustave	Ferbeke
44	Verbeeck	Mathilde	15	Meulebeke	128	Verbeeke	Mathilde	15	Matilda	Ferbeke
45	Verbeeck	Mélanie	13½	Meulebeke	129	Verbeeke	Melanie	13	Melanie	Ferbeke
46	Verbeeck	Henri	12½	Meulebeke	130	Verbeeke	Henri	12	Henry	Ferbeke
47	Verbeeck	Adélia-Marie	4 m	Meulebeke	134	Verbeeke	Adelia	1/3	?
48	Verbeeck	Victor	7½	Meulebeke	131	Verbeeke	Victor	7	Victor	Ferbeke
49	Verbeeck	Félix	5	Meulebeke	133	Verbeeke	Felix	5	Felix	Ferbeke
50	Bonte	François	52	Engemunster	135	Baert	François	52	Francis	Bonte
51	Bonte	Colette	51	Engemunster	136	Baert	Colette	55	Collette	Bonte
52	Baert	Joseph	45	Waereghem	137	Baert	Joseph	45	Joseph	Bard
53	Baert	Julie	13	Waereghem	138	Baert	Julie	13	Rosella	Bard
54	Baert	Frédérick	9	Waereghem	139	Baert	Fréderic	9	Frederick	Bard
55	Baert	Ursule	5	Waereghem	140	Baert	Ursela	5	Eslau	Bard
56	Baert	Joh. Batiste	4	Plasschendael	141	Baert	Jean Baptiste	3	?
57	Van Peteghem	Louis	26	Plasschendael	142	Van Peteghem	Louis	24	Luce	Vompetecam
58	Van Peteghem	Mélanie	24	Plasschendael	143	Van Peteghem	Melanie	24	Molle	Vompetecam
59	de Mey	Jean	33	Plasschendael	132	De Mey	Jean	33	No further trace

 

Karel Denis, a Belgian living in the States, gives an explanation why so much people were from Wakken:”That 39 of the 59 were from Wakken may be explained for the fact that in the spring of 1849 Charles Vintaer from Wakken, together with A. Duvivier from Zwevezele had sent petitions to Minister Rogier and J. F. Tousaint, representative from Tielt, ‘on behalf of many residents’ to obtain free transportation to America”.

In the same issue of “Flemish American Heritage”[13], Theodore V. Cook, a descent of the Coucke [1-5] family add: “I corresponded with people in Wakken who were kind enough to forward additional information to me from their town records. Their archives show that this group had originally planned to immigrate to Brazil but that did not materialize”.

Actual map and actual spelling of the location of the emigrant’s villages in Belgium (Michelin)

De Man D’Attenrode

De Man D'Attenrode Jean, Marie, Joseph, born in 1801 in Brussels, died in 1879 at Hoeilaart. Catholic. Elected by the borough of Saint-Nicolas from 1833 to 1835 and that of Louvain from 1836 to 1863. He contributed to the writing and the success of the petition in 1829 addressed to the Dutchs, in favor of freedom of education. This manifestation of public opinion became general, and was one of the acts who prepared the fall of the Dutch government in Belgium. Secretary of the Chamber during the sessions of 1843 to 1847, he was part of the Standing Committee on Finance and its Accounting for several years. When, in 1848 and 1849, the Parliament gave three million to the Department of the Interior because of the contingencies of the political and industrial crisis of the era, the difficult task to verify the use of these funds was entrusted to him.

Karel Denys, born in Roeselare, Belgium, 25 July 1920, joined the international missionary institute of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) at Scheut-Brussels in 1938. He was ordained a priest in 1944 and left for Peking, China, in 1947. The dangerous political situation in China caused him to be sent to the USA in 1948 where he served in parishes in northern Virginia, Philadelphia and central Louisiana. He became pastor of our Lady of Sorrows, the “Belgian Church” in Detroit in 1973. Father Denys was involved in the ethnic activities of the Flemish-American community in greater Detroit and waseditor of the “Gazette van Detroit” – known as the ‘only Belgian Newspaper in America’ – from 1982 to 1996. He also was a co-founder of the Genealogical Society of Flemish Americans. Karel presently resides at the headquarters of the CICM at Missionhurst in Arlington, Virginia where he is archivist of the American province.

1850 Elk County. Leopoldsburg, New Flanders, first year of the settlement of Belgian paupers.

In January 1850, the Consul General Moxhet received a certificate from the head of St. Mary Burgess noting the arrival of immigrants and a request to pay to DeHam:

- 10,000 franks (2,000 $) due, under the contract with the Government in January 1850.

- 15,000 franks (3,000 $), after sending a formal notice of the arrival of the emigrants to their destination. But before paying those 15,000 franks, the Minister asked the guarantee provided by the contract, by a formal act, on its establishment.

 

From the terms of the contract, DeHam was sent to America with $6,000 but curiously he was already with pending payment of about $ 2,000 ($ 1,834 86 c. exactly ) in January  so, DeHam demanded an advance of $ 1,000 as a deposit. Theoretically, the only expense he would have endured would be the purchase of land but it seems only 2,000 acres were already bought with a first annuity of  $ 1,000. I can only suppose of other expenses already done and paid to justify his lack of money so soon after his arrival: his house was already built, and surely paid. His expenses for traveling with his family, and the expenses occurred for the travel and food for the emigrants from Philadelphia were also spent.  And surely food and material were already bought for the settlers as Van Eersel wrote in March “7 houses are already built”.

 

When Moxhet advanced him the money on February 1, Moxhet was worried that DeHam had not even signed a contract with the owners. DeHam passed a purchase contract on 18 February for 2,000 acres. These lands purchased for $ 4,932 and 50 c. were payable in four[14] payments, including an initial payment of $ 1000 scheduled for April 1. After discussion, the warranty who would have covered the houses, farms and outbuildings, a mechanical sawmill and a flour mill and four thousand acres of land, was reduced to a simple guarantee on the land. What also worried Moxhet was that the mortgage on the land would only be valid when the land would be paid in full.

 

The $ 1,834 86 c. were finally paid when the mortgage on the land was passed. But as DeHam had already received $ 1,000 as an advance from Moxhet, only the net  was paid, to say $ 834 88 c. Nevertheless, aware of the financial difficulties of DeHam, the Minister of the Interior authorized the above scheduled payments  in full, while regretting the privilege of sellers, who preserved their rights on 4000 acres of land until the full payment of the purchased land. Moxhet in March was ordered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to pay the last 15,000 fr ($ 3,000) to DeHam.

 

Despite those financial difficulties, De Ham was optimistic about the future of the colony. As proof, he sent this letter to Belgium, responding to some critics regarding his colony:

 

New Flanders, Pennsylvania, United States of North America, 22 March 1850.

To the headmaster of the “Journal of Literary History” at Liege.

 

Sir,

In the delivery nr 190, p. 505, of your estimable journal, it has been said a few words concerningthe  St. Mary Catholic colony, located in the State of Pennsylvania, North America. In this article, meant for the  Belgian families who would be willing to emigrate to be fixed in Ste-Marie or near, your readers are informed that the Redemptorists have left the residence and  it appears that the inhabitants of this locality are now deprived of any spiritual help, which constitute a fundamental objection against the choice of Ste-Marie, as the center of Flemish emigration. Also, I feel it my duty to let you know, for many Belgian families who feel inclined to follow the example of the sixty Flemish settlers who settled here recently that the Benedictines have immediately replaced the Redemptorists and three priests currently serve Ste-Marie and the neighboring colony of New Flanders.

I think I can afford to add to the tranquility of the  Catholics who decide to join us, as driven by a desire to protect and grow the Catholic colonies of St. Mary and New Flanders, the Bishop at Pittsburgh was willing to take an interest in the association who founded the first

Let me add a few words about the Flemish emigrants which had been entrusted to my care. Set for two and a half months, the number of sixty to New Flanders, about three leagues from Ste-Marie, Flemish settlers there have been a chapel quia was inaugurated on the 10th of this month by two baptisms and where divine service was the same day was celebrated with all the pomp that included our means. The inauguration was marked also by the solemn blessing of the land and houses, which took place in repeated noise bursts of musketry. We also celebrated the feast of St. Joseph, patron of Belgium and of our new parish. The colony of New Flanders is made as to the spiritual.

As the details and especially the correction above may attract a number of Belgian families, You would oblige me, Sir, by kindly insert this in  your closest issues.

                                               Accept, I pray you, the expression of my highest consideration.

                                                                                                                                             V. Ham, Director of the colony of New Flanders

 

The second public news coming from the arrival of the settlers are found in the Louis Cartuyvels book. A letter from Charles Wintaer [21][15] to Mr S. Wintaer, directeur de la linière at Helleme(Hellemmes, Frances) near Ryssel (Lille, France)

 

                                                                                                                                                             New Flanders, April 1, 1850

Dear brothers and sisters

For this occasion I will let you know after a long and arduous journey that we finally arrived on December 12 in New York, where Mr. Constant DeHam son of our manager came to congratulate and regale us with tobacco, pipes and whiskey. We spent 3 days in New York, where we were treated the American way. Lunch is served at the table as dinner, except that the one given in the morning is with coffee.
On December 31 we arrived at St Mary’s, where a good dinner was waiting for us, and we went there on January 4 at New Flanders 8 miles off St Mary’s. We found a house for Mr. DeHam and for us all. The upper part of the house is a temporarily church. Dear brothers, you can not conceive how it is possible to make such a house of God in the midst of virgin timber and away from home, it is so beautiful you would think made by artists. We have said from the beginning the Mass ... Mr Abbot C[artuyvels] despite a distance of 12 miles, came to say Mass here.
I can not tell you what piety reigned when sang for the first time the great mass and he blesses us, and the whole colony. I was moved to tears. At the opening of the chapel two Belgians children were baptized Mr. Gilis Vancoovere[32], Me DeHam, Mr and Miss Felicia Constant DeHam were Godfathers. Saint Joseph is the patron of our colony, that day Mr C[artuyvels] came and sang Mass, probably the last he says here until his return to Belgium.
As for the emigrants, we must praise them that they have worked with courage and energy at their homes. Now everyone is busy clearing its 10 bonniers[16] of soil, so that we have enough food for the Belgians who will come.... Those who say they can not work be silent, because I am fully convinced now that those who takes the begging bag(sic) does it by laziness. My brothers and sisters, we are happy, and if you ever have the chance to thank for us Mr the Minister, Mr Vandenberghe and Mr Toussaint, we would be much obliged ...

Now a word from our Director Mr DeHam. When we were still in New York, he came to us to load us with kindnesses, he is still doing that, so when there is something to do for him, it seems that his commandments are prayers and in a wink he is obeyed by all the colonists.
As for food, everything is here as in Belgium, except, however, that meat costs only 3 cents per pound. We shot three deer in one day ... the dog of a worker Sainte-Marie had also killed a man ... kept the skin to noous and abandoned the rest.
If you could commit Augustus to come here, there would be good business, the wood is plentiful and salary very high ... The country is rugged ... he looks like around Ronse, and it seems that the flax grows here, according to Mr Redant from Aalst, which lives in St Mary’s ...

A pair of boots costing us 21 franks ($ 4) here.
                                                                                                                                                                       Your brother Ch.Wintaer

 

The official report from DeHam, reproduced below, is the second in a series of reports DeHam was supposed to send quarterly to the Minister of the Interior. The first, which should be dated March or April, did not find. The same for those following this one. The next one still only available at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs archives is dated January 1853. Like the other papers from the New Flanders file, this one is heavily stained and eaten by humidity, the ink washed away. Nevertheless, like the report of Dr Reiss concerning the passage on board the Lorena, the general meaning of the report is understandable. I have left the 8 pages of that report as they were written.

 

..... July 1, 1850 Minister ......, I have the honor to address you in accordance with one of the requirements of the contract of July 28, 1849 my second Quarterly Report this year on the state of the New Flanders colony. The spirit of resolution with which the colony had undertaken the difficult work of clearing a heavily wooded ground, is supported by most of the emigrants and took even as a new energy nearing the time of sowing. Here, Sir, the results that have been obtained from 1 March. Each family is cultivating two to three acres, more or less following the courage displayed by each. Sowing consist primarily in potato                                                             1	[..]  35 acres [..] I only have [..]  such a great [..] to fill that [..] in part, subsistence [..] second expedition of emigrants. In addition, twelve other acres, cleared, will receive in the fall winter seeds. The colony having [..]  its seeding work [..] will spend time till [..] next, to expand the [..] clearings. Our fields have generally the most beautiful appearance, given the hurry and the little care given to [..] culture. Campaign is green under our [happy] eyes                                                          2
[..] plantations [..] on sowing [..] buckwheat, corn [..] vegetation [..] the emigrants till [..] the weather has been very favorable unless some setback that can strike unexpectedly any farmer, we can hope satisfactory crops. Each family is provided with a house, its furnishings, its instruments of culture. I’m going this week to buy a herd for the settlers. They continue to regularly receive the provisions I am committed providing to them until the time of harvest. In addition, I use from time to time at my own work, able-bodied men and pay their days at the rate of American wages. This money, spreading some ease in colony, is generally used in buying clothes.                                                             3	[..] The confort[..] family [..] the following circumstances [..] this number to 41. During a [..] in last month of April, [..] Oesselaere, from Beernem, engaged himself in an assault against one of my son, my wife and him were nearly murdered, these people threatened to put to fire everywhere around the colony. Although these scenes of violence must be credited partly to the drunkenness state of all members this family, with the exception [..] sick, when I was back, I resolved to expulse them and Inform the authorities of the threats against us. Despite the repentance since testified more than one time by the perpetrators, I refused to take them back, first because                                                                 4
[..] heals [..] because the [..] both the selling [..] they maufactured [..] had completely [..] clearing their land would be able to support themselves. In expelling them, I gave them by humanity, some food for some days. Wages, earned by the son and the eldest daughter, from Americans will preserve the parents from misery. In addition, families Van Peteghem and Baert, composed of seven people, and 4 singles, to say Verheust, Vandenbroeke and the brothers Ghyselhem, have open they ears to the suggestions of some interested American owners surroundings us and one by one they have left New Flanders despite the contracts that bound them. Their recruiters promised them a house all prepared, 50 acres of land, food and high wages. I’m learning that                                                                     5	[..] [..] [..] [..] defectors [..] feeling [..] regret the colony where [..] paternally treated. Some are already asking to be [..] again. These defections caught me short of about $ 500 owed to me by these emigrants. The courage of the colonists remains generally good, but all are not endowed with equal energy, it is that their habit of begging is giving all continuous work hard to follow. The presence of a Flemish priest at New Flanders would be of the greater good. It would be very useful and despite all our efforts, we cannot [make up for] what we lack.                                                         6
[..] we have from time [..] satisfaction of receiving [..] comes to fulfill the [..] but the difference [..] prevents him to preach. the number of people of the colony will reach a hundred, a minister will becomes indispensable. The health status of the colony is still very satisfactory. Health shine on all faces. I hope, Sir that you will not read those lines without interest or satisfaction and you’ll recognize that although of the limited time  since its beginning (six months) the colony of New Flanders has done great work and not without happiness through the hardship of beginning a pioneer life. May this state of thing to continue. May the next crops meet our expectations and provide each                                                                 7	settler [..] This is [..] a [..] [..] mainly [..] and [..] have well [..]      Sincerely [..]                                                                           8

part of Map of District n° 4, 1878 Elk County, Pennsylvania
Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA

It was said in the contract that “In addition, if the result of the investigation that the Minister of the Interior reserves to make on the spot in the summer of 1850, that this beginning of emigration provides satisfactory results, a further subsidy, fifteen thousand francs, will be immediately available to Mr DeHam”.

 

In June, DeHam already requested the help of the Government and compensation for "various losses he experienced" that he estimated at 15,000 fr. In that letter, DeHam gave the sense that if this compensation was not paid, he would not be able to accommodate a second group of emigrants that year. Following that letter, the Minister of the Interior, as it was agreed in the contract, wanted to know how the installation of the colony was going on before sending a second series of 50 migrants. So, the report sent in July by DeHam had not yet reached Brussels when the Minister of the Interior asked the Foreign Office to send a representative to inspect the U.S. Colony and inform him of the actual situation of the institution and the attached settlers.

 

A letter from Bonaventure Cartuyvels to Ignatius Garner dated May 2, 1850 gives a hint at the loses maybe experienced by DeHam  : “A few days ago, two Americans came to the house of M. Scham, and said to him that this mountain of pine trees and a part of what he cleared wasn't divided with him, that Stokes sold this in time; Mr. Dekam told them that the first person who dared to touch a tree would be shot; to which they responded that there was justice in that!” So, all the

 

The Minister of the Interior, in response to requests for reimbursement of DeHam, states that if the report from the Belgian authorities in the States was favorable, it will be necessary to make available to DeHam the additional subsidy of 15,000 fr under the original contract and immediately available to DeHam, would be a sum of 5000 francs which will be given to him in 3 payments 15 days apart. A first payment of 1,500 francs. and the next two of 1,750 fr.

 

Mr Henry Bosch Spencer, the Chargé d'Affaires in the United States since March, was appointed to go to St. Mary's in August. But his request to visit the colony would receive a late response from DeHam, due, it is said, to the lack of regular postal service with Ste Marie.

 

Without news from Bosch, and following the report sent by DeHam, Rogier and d’Hoffschmidt paid for the crossing of eleven passengers on board the ship “Denise”, They had to replace the fourteen colonists that had deserted the settlement.  I found no trace of that ship and, as far as I have been able to check,  no new names in the 1860 census suggest any new Belgian people in the Elk county area came in 1850.  Maybe those people were those sent to the projected  New Brabant colony initiated by Lewis Cartuyvels.

 

Bosch will only go to St. Mary on October 15, for a 5-day visit. During his visit, Bosch gave 500 fr. To DeHam and on his return wrote a favorable report, also not kept in the New Flanders file. The additional 15,000 fr under the contract may eventually be paid. By September, pressed by the time, the Minister of the Interior asked by the intermediary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and from Moxhet to DeHam if he could accommodate a second convoy of emigrants. The response of DeHam not kept in the New Flanders file was sent on 5 October but the 1850 settlers were never sent to New Flanders.

 

The Elk County 1850 census outside St. Mary’s.

 

The part of the 1850 Elk County census outside St. Mary’s list all the New Flanders settlers in Jones and Benzinger township, and only them. No other Belgians  were to be found in Elk County. That census, taken in the middle of the first year of the arrival of the Belgian settlers, is very interesting and gives some information concerning the state of the colony.

 

Some statistics at first: Elk county population in the 1850 census was 3,584 people a rather scarcely populated county. Only 235 people lived in Jones township, a vast area north of St Mary’s. The weird thing in this census is that he was begin in August, and after visiting about 30 houses in Jones township, the census taker resumed  his task only in October.

 

The housing of the Flemish settlers: Chevalier Van Eersel wrote in March 1850: ”Seven houses are already built and the parcels of land assigned to the families”.  From the census we can see eight families: Bard, Vompetecam, Demey, Ferbeke, Vanhaverbeke, Cauke, Bonte and Dobbels. Also a list of single men, eight are listed, all living with DeHam family. Those are rather intriguing, the contract being specific as sending only families.

 

The “real estate” also gives some information. Each family listed in October is with 75 $ of real estate but not the two (Bard & Vanpetecam) listed in August. Those $ 75 was it something the census taker either forgot for those two families or either where they not yet in possession of their track of land in August, I cannot say. From the contract, we have to remember that each family would receive 25 acres of land evaluated at  $ 2 per acre, but of a not improved land and for an imposed price. More intriguing is the real estate declared/estimated for DeHam. $ 3,000 for 4,000 acres is too few. Too few even for 2,000 acres at $ 2,00 and, as we have seen, the price per acre was rather around $ 2,50 than $ 2,00.

More: The 1850 agricultural census list only three Belgian people: Victor DeHam with 40 acres of improved land and 460 acres of unimproved land, Louis Cartuyvels with 100 acres of improved land and 280 acres of unimproved land and Dominicus Redant with 4 acres of improved land and 46 acres of improved land. For Victor DeHam, 500 acres is also far from the expected 4,000 acres.

 

The changes in people: born, dead and vanished.  

Charles Vintaer in the Cartuyvels book wrote: “two Belgians children were baptized”.  From the 1850 census, those children would be Marie Demey and Melissa Van Peteghem, the only two children listed born Pennsylvania. As to the deaths, nothing is in the documents I was able to find. But, comparing the ship manifest with the census, some people are missing.

Two single men are missing: Bernard Verheust [10], 36 y.o., Jean De Mey [59] , 33 y.o., no further trace of them.

Two little children are missing: Adelia Marie Verbeeck [47], 4 m. o.,  John Baptiste Baert [56], 4 y.o., no further trace of them.

A young woman missing: Marie Therese Vanhaverbeek [16], 17 y.o., not listed in the census but she married Frederick Brooks [39]  in 1852 and lived till 1915.

 

The Osselaer (Ossler) family: The report sent by DeHam is more understandable concerning the Oesselaere family; Expelled from the colony Bernard and Rosalie went to work at the Joseph Ketzmeeker (Hetznecker, Hedsnicker) sawmill, and the parents with the third son Jean went to St Mary’s were the father resumed his trade as wooden shoemaker. In August, the brothers Charles and Ange Ghyselem [08] [09] were also working for Joseph Ketzmeeker but are also listed in October living with the DeHam family.

 

Line n°	Dwelling & family n°		First & Last name			Age	Sex	Occupation	Real Estate		Birth	Remarks [ ] place on the Lorena
Census : M432-776 Division Jones Enumerated 6 Aug 1850 Page : 310b
7	26	26	Joseph	Ketzmeeker		32	F	Sawyer	200		Germany
8	26	26	Catherine	Ketzmeeker		23	M				Germany
9	26	26	Michael	Widart		21	M	Laborer			Germany
10	26	26	Casper	Deppe		31	M	Laborer			Germany
11	26	26	Carl	Hazle		27	M	Laborer			Belgium	[08]
12	26	26	Luce	Hazle		25	M	Laborer			Belgium	[09]
13	26	26	Bernhart	Osler		28	M	Laborer			Belgium	[35]
14	26	26	Rosella	Osler		17	F				Belgium	[37]
22	29	29	Joseph	Bard		42	M	Laborer			Belgium	cannot read/write [52]
23	29	29	Rosella	Bard		15	F				Belgium	[53]
24	29	29	Frederick	Bard		13	M				Belgium	[54]
25	29	29	Eslau	Bard		7	F				Belgium	[55]
26	30	30	Luce	Vompetecam		26	M	Laborer			Belgium	cannot read/write [57]
27	30	30	Molle	Vompetecam		23	F				Belgium	cannot read/write [58]
28	30	30	Melissa	Vompetecam		3/12	F				Pennsylvania
29	30	30	Frederick	Fondenbrook		21	M	Laborer			Belgium	cannot read/write [39]
Census : M432-776 Division Jones Enumerated 2 Oct 1850 (!) Page : 311a-311b
15	38	38	Victor	DeHam		45	M	Farmer	3000		Belgium
16	38	38	Caroline	DeHam		46	F				East Indies
17	38	38	Constantine	DeHam		20	M	none			Belgium
18	38	38	Alfred	DeHam		19	M	none			Belgium
19	38	38	Felicia	DeHam		18	F				Belgium
20	38	38	Matilda	DeHam		8	F				Belgium	at. school
21	38	38	Joseph	DeHam		3	M				Belgium
22	38	38	Bernard	Ferstain		21	M	Laborer			Belgium	cannot read/write [38]
23	38	38	Solomon	Dhaenens (?)		35	M	Laborer			Belgium	cannot read/write [31]
24	38	38	Frederick	Dobbels		59	M	Laborer			Belgium	cannot read/write [11]
25	38	38	Ange	Ghyselen		26	M	Laborer			Belgium	[09]
26	38	38	Charles	Ghyselen		28	M	Laborer			Belgium	[08]
27	38	38	Frederick	Vandebrocke		22	M	Laborer			Belgium	cannot read/write [39]
28	38	38	Gillis	DeCawere		42	M	Laborer			Belgium	cannot read/write [32]
29	38	38	Charles	Vintaer		44	M	Laborer			Belgium	[21]
30	39	39	Leo	Demey		34	M	Farmer	75		Belgium	[06]
31	39	39	Sophia	Demey		33	F				Belgium	[07]
32	39	39	Marie	Demey		4/12	F				Pennsylvania
33	40	40	Charles	Ferbeke		49	M	Farmer	75		Belgium	[40]
34	40	40	Rosalie	Ferbeke		44	F				Belgium	[41]
35	40	40	Adolphus	Ferbeke		20	M	Laborer			Belgium	[42]
36	40	40	Gustave	Ferbeke		18	M	Laborer			Belgium	[43]
37	40	40	Matilda	Ferbeke		16	F				Belgium	at. school [44]
38	40	40	Melanie	Ferbeke		14	F				Belgium	at. school [45]
39	40	40	Henry	Ferbeke		13	M				Belgium	at. school [46]
40	40	40	Victor	Ferbeke		8	M				Belgium	at. school [48]
41	40	40	Felix	Ferbeke		6	M				Belgium	at. school [49]
42			line 42 not completed
1	41	41	Charles	Vanhaverbeke		47	M	Farmer	75		Belgium	cannot read/write [12]
2	41	41	Amelia	Vanhaverbeke		47	F				Belgium	cannot read/write [13]
3	41	41	Constant	Vanhaverbeke		24	M	Laborer			Belgium	cannot read/write [14]
4	41	41	Harriett	Vanhaverbeke		21	F				Belgium	cannot read/write [15]
5	41	41	Cordeela	Vanhaverbeke		17	F				Belgium	at. school [17]
6	41	41	Marie	Vanhaverbeke		12	F				Belgium	at. school [18]
7	41	41	Fernand	Vanhaverbeke		9	(M)				Belgium	at. school [19]
8	41	41	Philomena	Vanhaverbeke		5	F				Belgium	at. school [20]
9	42	42	Charles	Cauke		45	M	Farmer	75		Belgium	cannot read/write [01]
10	42	42	Francisco	Cauke		46	F				Belgium	cannot read/write [02]
11	42	42	Eve	Cauke		20	F				Belgium	cannot read/write [03]
12	42	42	Leo	Cauke		12	M				Belgium	at. school [04]
13	42	42	Philomena	Cauke		7	F				Belgium	at. school [05]
14	43	43	Francis	Bonte		52		Farmer	75		Belgium	[50]
15	43	43	Collette	Bonte		52					Belgium	[51]
16	44	44	Petrus	Dobbels		58		Farmer	75		Belgium	cannot read/write [22]
17	44	44	Julia	Dobbels		63					Belgium	[23]
18	44	44	Eugenie	Dobbels		16	F				Belgium	at. school [24]
19	44	44	Francis	Dobbels		14	M				Belgium	at. school [25]
20	44	44	Louisa	Dobbels		9					Belgium	at. school [27]
21	44	44	John	Dobbels		12					Belgium	at. school [26]
22	44	44	Henry	Dobbels		7					Belgium	[28]
23	44	44	Sophia	Dobbels		5					Belgium	[29]
24	44	44	Constantine	Dobbels		1	M				Belgium	[30]
Census : M432-776 Division Benzinger Enumerated 2 Oct 1850 Page : 349a
2	225	232	Jacob	Osselaire	60	M	Wooden Shoemaker				Belgium	[33]
3	225	232	Mary	Osselaire	50	F					Belgium	[34]
4	225	232	John	Osselaire	23	M	none				Belgium	[36]

1851 Elk County. Leopoldsburg, New Flanders, second year of the settlement of Belgian paupers.

Following the theoretical scheme I’m putting on the contract, DeHam would have reached the end of 1850 with $ 5,000 but when Bosch visited the settlement in August 1850, nothing was left.  And although DeHam received from the Belgian government all the money promised to him for that year, he was yet destitute at the end of the year 1850.

In March 1851, in a letter not kept in the New Flanders file (so I do not know the content) the settlers complained about the attitude of DeHam to them. It would have been very interesting to know about those complains. I can only assume, as DeHam was left without money, it was stating that DeHam was unable or was not willing to help them anymore. But, those obligations, following the contract, now that the settlers were there for more than one year, did not exist anymore. I suppose it’s at that time that the colons began to leave the settlement. They surely left without money and Victor Deham was unable to pay them for any labor.

Victor DeHam, with the arrival of new settlers cancelled, still had to pay the annuities for the 4,000 acres of land. Following the records, in April 1851, a sum of 4000 fr ($ 750) was advanced to DeHam so that he can deal with its most pressing obligations. While some money, provided by the contract, was made ​​available to DeHam, a new letter was sent from Bosch to the Minister of Foreign Affairs stating that a Mr Broekerhoft, merchant and owner at Bel(le)fonts had written to him a letter “in which he giveconnaissance de la fâcheuse position financière de knowledge of the bad financial position ofMr DeHam, directeur de la Colonie belge de New Flanders. Mr DeHam, director of the Belgian Colony of New Flanders.” From that letter, not very understandable as stained and washed like the other papers, it seems that DeHam went to Belgium in 1851 with propositions to collect founds for the New Flanders colony, but those propositions were not followed. Bosch in his letter is defending DeHam “I do not hesitate to say, [..] Mr DeHam a fait en fort peu de temps [..] Mr DeHam made ​​in a very short time [..] beaucoup plus qu'on ne pouvait attendre de lui [..] a lot more than we could expect from him avec les faibles ressources qui lui ont été allouées with the limited resources that have been allocated et que, s'il avait même connu le pays et ses and that, if he even knew the country and its [..] ts, avant de s'engager, il n'aurait [..], before embarking, he would [..] s entrepris une tâche aussi pénible. [..] undertaken a task too difficult…” . According to the letter of Bruckehoff ,  DeHam was exposed for $ 1200 to $ 1500 and its creditors were growing impatient. Prosecutions would even have made ​​against him and the Government should take steps to stop them.

The Minister of the Interior can only note that the reports previously sent by Mr Bosch were far from predicting outcomes as deplorable as those written in his last report and that it was no longer possible to send money to Mr DeHam, the funds allocated to the project by the government being all exhausted. It is time, he said, to try to recover what can be done of  the advances made to Mr DeHam and make use of the mortgage on the property of St. Mary, which was passed on April 4, 1850 between Mr DeHam and Mr Moxhet. DeHam debts to the state where totalling 45,000 fr.  ($ 9,000) including the supplementary grants paid in several parts in 1850. The Foreign Minister then engaged Moxhet to recover these amounts, but Moxhet noted that the mortgage security can not be implemented, because the land having not been paid in full. DeHam was not the legally owner of those land, and therefore can not do anything.

The very partial informations found for that year attest of the intention of DeHam to search other means to attire new settlers and find new sponsors. He was ready to add in his colony, paupers and beggars confined in workhouses. DeHam made contact with the minister of Justice Teisch and with the governor of the Flemish provinces as stated in this letter[17] written to the minister of Justice: "They lack indeed a guide and a supporter who can find a job for them. I could put them to work where I live, as Belgian labourers and foremost upright, honest and hard working farmers. At this moment I could use four farmers. If you department could send me four adults of young age, with decent morality and used to rural work and if they could pay for the cost of transport to the colony of New Flanders, I commit myself to paying their salaries of 3 $ a month or 16 francs with food and housing on top of that and raise this salary bit by bit. If they behave in a satisfying way during a period of four years I will help them to obtain the means to establish themselves on their own". 

DeHam estimated the cost of the crossing at 150 francs (30 $) and the transport inland at 60 francs (12 $). But the governor of Antwerp declined the proposition as such people "cannot be found among people incarcerated in beggar workhouses".  Only one people according to the archives was sent to DeHam: the council of Ypres paid 210 francs for a Louis Rubrecht, the sum would be handed over to the emigrant from the captain of the ship upon their arrival in New York. His arrival in New York  in confirmed on board Ashburton, arrival in New York on October 1, 1851. He is listed as 33 y.o. and was with some other Belgians but I find no further trace of any of them.

The problem of the DeHam settlement was mentioned in the Belgian Parliament in May 1854. It gives some information concerning the DeHam colony:
 A Mr de Haerne[18] said: Gentlemen, I had the honor of seeing Mr. DeHam returning from his first trip, and he told me he was not without hope of success, but it lacked a lot, that he was not very happy with his Company in the moral and religious matters. A German priest who was at St Mary’s at his arrival, having had to leave for other States of America, the population had dropped. Mr. DeHam has even made a call to the clergy of the country, and he hoped to be supported. I told Mr. DeHam, who has experience of the facts, that everything is in the organization of the association.

A Mr Osy[19] said:  as Honourable Mr. Haerne just told you. A dreamer, who was an official in the Ministry of Interior, seeing the opportunity of a lot of money, proposed to the Minister of Interior to organize emigration to America. He asked the Minister of the Interior to give him an advance, and if I remember correctly, he got 70.000 fr. It was agreed to indemnify the official position he gave up, he would be paid 25,000 francs. He would have therefore only 45.000 fr. to repay. This amount must be repaid to the government within ... and a number of Belgians were to be transported every year as emigrants in America. I want to know, like the honorable M. de Haerne, how much Belgians emigrated to America and if  those 45,000. fr. (Because it is a matter that goes back four or five years) were paid to the State, and finally what‘s left of this colony of Sainte-Marie. Gentlemen, I also had a visit from the one who has made this enterprise. He came to me to ask the government to seek for new subsidies. I told him that I was opposed to the government intervention in the case of  mingling with individuals, and not only  I would not ask for it new subsidies, but if it was a question of according it, I was determined to oppose it.

 A Mr. Brixhe[20] said “Gentlemen, we asked earlier, information on the alleged Belgian town of Sainte-Marie in Pennsylvania I have the honor to say a few words about what I saw there three years ago from this day [November 1850]. First the town of Sainte-Marie is exclusively German. Mr DeHam established his colony under the name of New Flanders, 9 miles north of St Mary’s. He undertook some clearings and at the time of the visit I have made, funds by the government were absorbed and were only represented by a 20^th acres of ground, poorly cleared, and an hydraulic sawmill worth 6.000 to 7.000 fr. Seven or eight Flemings were still on the scene, the others having dispersed to be better able to provide for their subsistence.

The charge d'affaires Bosch recalls that during his stay at St. Mary in 1851, he was able to see that the choice of the settlers was very unhappy and that those lazy Flemish beggars, for whom DeHam had kindness and paternal attentions, have been disappointing.  

 

1852 and 1853 Elk County. Leopoldsburg, New Flanders, the end of the settlement of Belgian paupers.

 

For the years 1852 and 1853, the documents are few but are confirming the end of hopes for colonization at St Mary. What could have been an incident with the defection of some settlers will, instead, be the first thing that will drop the final project and the bankruptcy of DeHam. At least this is DeHam point of view.

 

So, all the settlers were gone, without paying the sums specified in the contract for land and equipment initially provided. DeHam states that otherwise he would have been able to repay in 1854, the advances the Belgian Government had made. On the other hand,  as I already said, I wonder how the settlers would have found money to pay back DeHam. Helping him to improve the settlement would not have brought them money.

 

DeHam wrote in February 1852 to Benzinger and  Eschback, owners of the land:

I think it my duty to inform you that nothwistanding various misfortunes which happened to me since I settled at New Flanders, I have succeded so far as to have a sawmill in good order and a farm of nearly sixty acres cleared. In two or three weeks my mill will enter in operation, so as that I will be able in a couple years to meet my engagements toward you; Under such circumstances, gentlemen, relying on your kindness, I trust that my efforts will be acceptable to you. I should have been exceedingly happy to perform sooner every stipulations of my contract; but you will be pleased to attribute the delay to causes stronger than my good will.

 

The response put an end to the project:

We regret to learn that you are felling timber on the lands, for the purchase whereof you contracted with us. We have, in consideration of the difficulties you have encountered and from compassion with the misfortunes of your deserving family, consented not to press you more, unless compelled by circumstances, for the payments you owe us: but we cannot, having a proper regard for our own interests, consent to the lessening of our security, especially now, since the time is near at hand, when timber will become valuable and will be our main security. We have therefore felt ourselves constrained to require you to fell no timber, except for the purpose of fuel for your family and for the purpose of constructing such buildings as you may permanently locate on the lands you have contracted to purchase from us.

We have also directed Mr Garner  take the necessary steps to prevent any further felling of timber, except for the purposes above mentioned, until you have paid for the lands.

 

So, all means of ever paying his debts being cut off,  Deham also went away, trying to find some means to earn a living. In October, the Consul General in New York, Henry Mali, asked DeHam of its location. The penniless DeHam replied “Pittsburgh”, where he settled and taught piano for sustenance.

 

DeHam also wrote to Ignatius Garner on October 17, 1852:

I regret very much needing to leave Saint Mary's without saying goodbye; I deplored even more the loss that you made in person ____, your sister in Buffalo. When I saw her this past year, I….condolences on loss of sister. You know that I left for Pittsburg, in order to endeavor to earn there by my fingers (hands), my daily bread and that of my wife and my daughters. I succeeded in having 12 students and I hope that with the grace of God, before the end of the month, to have 15-20. Moreover, I have the promise of an organ for Easter. I have therefore resolved, despite my great pecuniary (financial) difficulties to bring my family, except the two younger ones, who will continue to survey the saw mill. The beginning will be hard because I must procure a new [mobilier] and that we are living, God knows, for 3 months, because you know the habit of paying professors by quarters, a thing which annoys me infinitely, my dear Garner, ____ the privations of a watch to regulation the time of my lessons. It is rare to find here some clocks in the apartments, which means I must give my lessons at random. See, I beg you, if you perceive take on yourself to leave me the joy of that which I delivered to you and if you think _____ to my only uprightness, for the restitution of 25 dollars that you had the generosity to loan me. I can only reimburse you in five months. I don't want to bother you too much on this subject but you are doing me a great service. Remember me

 

Allegheny city
The City of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, from an 1871 engraving.. Allegheny was annexed by the City of Pittsburgh in 1907.
The view is looking north from Mount Washington.

 

 

In a letter dated January 1853 DeHam  point the people responsible of the failure of his attempt of colonization. It is may be the last written report on the situation of the colony of New Flanders. I have reproduced the more readable passages and keeping some sense. The rest is in very poor condition or missing, corroded by moisture.

 

Its no longer exists, [...] of the 59 settlers, there is only [...] an old [...] usually begging [...] owning [...] only 10 acres.  Under the law of Pennsylvania, if in debt, the debtor may retain $ 300 value of real or personal estate, only the surplus is perceptible. This provision did not take long to be known by the settlers [...] were all my debtors because of their travel expenses, purchase of their furniture, their tools [...] provided to the settlers.

[...] Despite the indolence [...] nomads who constantly seeks to change places. We have not to be sorry for the first settlers of New Flanders. [...] are perfectly capable (?) and, if due to their low energy, there are few who are able to state ownership, compared to their situation in Belgium, their current situation is very prosperous.  The worker lives happily [...]  failure which emigrants committed to devote to me two days a week ... payment of their [...] of my house [...]

I left New Flanders to ask from a civilized life some livelihood for myself and my family.  I left my eldest son, who is responsible for the operation of a sawmill whose products are intended to wipe out the  debts that weigh on this company [...] was misled about the nature and morality of emigrants who have been entrusted to me, everything, even my sincerity and my kindness for them conspired to ruin me [...]

 

DeHam come with the scheme of giving him more funds to buy the land, the development of railroad in the area would increase its value and he would be able, when having latter sold the land at a higher price, to pay back the Belgian government. And, at last, protest of his goodwill in working to settle those people at St Mary’s.Monsieur Constant Van Goethem [...]

 

J'ai l'honneur de recevoir votre lettre du 26 octobre courant I have the honor to receive your letter of 26 October currentet ne puis que vous remercier de l'intérêt que vous voulez and can only thank you for your interest in me. Je vous prie de m'excuser si I apologize if j'ai mis quelque retard à y répondre, I put some delay in responding, a[ une indis] position assez grave, qui a duré quelques jours, m'en rather serious ailment, which lasted a few days, prevented me to respond.
 [...] dater des payements dû sur les terres que j'ai achetées dans[...]date of payments due on the land I bought in this County to satisfy my contract with the Belgian Government [are exactly] [...] ctement celles que vous indiquez dans votre lettre. those you specify in your letter. Sur le On [...] payement, exigible en avril 1850, quatre cents dollars ont [...] Payment, due in April 1850, four hundred dollars [...]. C'est le seul, intérêts et principal, qui ait été faitis is the only principal and interest, which has been […] Benzinger and Eschbach sued  me, a few months ago, [...], but according to the unanimous opinion of the legal profession, I [ have nothing to ] before the date of the last [ payment ] which is due only in April 1855. Tout ce qu'ils All they [were able to exige ] was forbid me to decrease the value [...] in sending trees to the sawmill, and I do not know [...]

si donc vous pouviez déterminer le Gouvernement [...] So if you could determine the Government [...] me fournir les moyens de satisfaire les anciens [...] provide me with the means to satisfy the old [...] priétaires, non seulement le Gouvernement [...] owners, not only the Government [...] rien de sa créance, mais moi-même je [...] nothing of his claim, but even I [...] retirer quelque chose et ainsi réparer un [...] remove something and so repair [...] pertes que j'ai essuyées dans cette m [...] I wiped losses in the m [...] Il est nécessaire que je vous [...] It is necessary that I [...]
qu'indépendamment des sommes [...] regardless of money [...] et de l'hypothèque du Gouvernement [...] mortgage and the Government of [...] grêvé d'une obligation de 5000 D [...] strike a bond of 5000 $ [...]

 [...]I undertook this [...] avec un grand courage et [...] with great courage and [...] oiture et d'honnêteté à [...]and honesty [...] id [...] l serait bien malheureux [...] t would be unfortunate [...] après avoir sacrifié dans ce but une position [...] after having sacrificed to this end, my position [...] rable et assurée, conquise par 19 années de [...] honourable and assured, after 19 years [...] ices intelligents auprès du Ministère de l'In [...]smart service with the Ministry of Interior [...] eur je ne voyais pour perspective de mes [...] I saw only forperspective
[...] jours et ceux de ma femme qu'un [...] days, and those of my wife a [...] ement absolu. [...] absolute.
J'ai l'honneur d'être, Monsieur le Vice I have the honor to be, Mr. Vice Con[...] nsul avec la plus respectueuse considérationsul with the most respectful consideration,             Votre très humble serviteur Your humble servant,        V. V. DeHam DeHam

 

Following this letter, and to confirm the scheme proposed by DeHam, Mali reports that if the land was bough (at 1,25 $) and reached the value of $ 5 per acre after construction of the railway project for the region, the government would be able to be repaid:  Land could be sell for about 100,000 fr. [$ 20,000] and compensate the 55,000 fr. [$ 11,000 ] invested in this attempt at colonization and 32,700 fr. [ $ 6,500 ] more or less (principal and interest) paid to the landowners, leaving a certain amount to DeHam .

 

After the DeHam proposal to buy the land, the case appears to be stalled. No reaction followed. As already stated by the Minister of the Interior, the credit allocated to that business was exhausted. In addition, the political opposition in Belgium was aroused by sending poor’s and beggars in the United States, and discussing the desirability of an active role for the government in encouraging emigration,. the DeHam experiment must surely have weighed negatively on the desire to invest further in this project which has completely failed anyway. In the meantime, the 1850 project  to send settlers to Missouri and other attemps to South America have also miserably failed, and Belgium was ​​pined by the U.S. authorities for its emigration policy of paupers and beggars.

 

To a question that has been asked concerning the DeHam settlement, the Consul of Belgium in New York reports, in October 1854:  it is impossible, unless we go there, to bring a clear opinion on the situation of Belgian colonists of New Flanders. Mr DeHam saying they progress, others on the contrary, says they have stopped growing crops for factory work. What is certain is that Mr DeHam left the game and lives in Pittsburgh from the product of his lessons.

 

Similarly, the question of whether the value of the land was real and ifs a lot of expense would be necessary to retrieve the lost money, he replied that the gains will only occur in the future, the United States experiencing severe financial crisis. The present value of land purchased at  $ 1.25being currently $ 0.87, and there is more than $ 6,000 payable to the vendors.

 

In February 55, a report said  that squatters were occupying part of the land purchased by DeHam, and assessing Dehamr rights before proceeding with the purchase of land would be a long process.

 

A final letter from Garner to the Consul in Philadelphia, provides another opinion on DeHam and how things were done in St Mary’s. This, unlike the other elements of this case which rather involved the selection of settlers, highlights the shortcomings of DeHam as administrator and express the opinion that DeHam, knowing neither the country nor the people had little chance of success.

 

St Mary June 25, 1855

Mr S Eat (Mange?)

Consul of Belgium, Philadelphia Pa

 

Sir,

 

Your letter of October 12, begging me to give you an account of the causes of the fall, as far as I know, of the DeHam colony at St Mary, Elk County, Penn. reached me.

 

The reason for the fall of the said Colony may be expressed in a few words: maladministration from beginning to end. I think much of Mr DeHam as an individual, but he did not have the capacity to conduct such a colony. I have no doubt that if a person would have been at the helm who knew how to go to a new country, and govern things, it would now be in a flourishing condition. As evidence, the colony of St. Mary who had no financial aid, and the settlers were generally poor, is in a state of prosperity. Even the Belgian colonists of Mr DeHam are doing very well since they act by themselves, and not few of them have acquired property either here or in the vicinity.

 

I do not know of course about the monetary resources of Mr DeHam or the scope of the contract. I often heard him complain, you could be excused in part, but how do I know he had, he would have succeed. He had a beautiful piece of land, as good as another in this country. This was a big mistake coming here as they did in winter, without making the necessary preparations, a year was thus lost. It is not necessary that I make mention of every detail, and in fact, it is a rather difficult thing for me, but as I said at the beginning: mismanagement was the cause of the fall of Mr DeHam colony in Elk County, Pa

 

It will always be nice to me to give you information as much as I can do.

Respectfully your

GARNER

 

On several occasions, information on the progress of the case were required from the Consul General of Belgium. About once a year or every two years. Copies of these applications have been retained to AMAE, but it seems that nothing have been done to require an answer. It was only in 1864 that a response was sent to Belgium. In short Mali in is letter said: it is time to finish with this unfortunate affair and forget it. This letter is also the last of the New Flanders file.

 

New York September 27, 1864

To His Excellency Charles Rogier Foreign Minister in Brussels

 

Mr. the Minister,

I just received the letter you did me the honor to write the 3^rd current and I hasten to reply.

 

The purpose of this letter which recall several others from the Department on the same issue is what are the chances for the Government to recover its claim against Mr DeHam in respect of advances made to him for the establishment of Flanders in New Pennsylvania, to arrive at the settlement of this expenditure.

 

I can give in this regard nothing than mere opinion, and that is what has always caused me trouble all the time that the Department has done me the honor to speak to me about this case was unfortunately too out of my reach that I have ever been able to monitor the progress and check results from a serious way.

 

The government debt was secured by a mortgage or hypothec on ​​land purchased by Mr DeHam, but he was dispossessed, lack of payment of the price. The mortgage is so extinguished by the fact of that resolution. The pledge was already irrevocably lost, the rest from the date of the first embarrassment of Dr. DeHam dating back to the year of his arrival, as I said in my letter of October 4, 1854 I have always considered final this regard.

 

It was at this time that most of to facilitate, through a show of hands, a resale which he offered to share the profits with the government, and it is for this purpose that you were addressing me November 6 the same year the powers that I have never had to use the position of Mr DeHam have changed in the meantime, as I had the honor to announce to you in my letter of 6 February 1855 I also considered definitive on this point, except a reserve obviously too vain to put that into account.

 

So all this time there was serious merits of the claim, ie, the business of New Flanders had died without remedy. Remains the personal obligation of Mr. DeHam. But already in my aforementioned report of 4 October 1854, I had the honor to inform you that having completely left the game he had retired to Pittsburgh where he lived product of his lessons. Since I spoke to him several times to enlighten me as to the outcome of the case on his personal position, and though he is still, I must say, eager to answer all he appeared to be in his power, I never learned from this match anything other than printing. This impression is he is ruined without resource. It is even twice recently sent to me to ask for support in attempts I considered desperate and I had to dissuade him.

 

But, I repeat, all that I can provide as to the fate of the government and mortgage rights originally acquired by Mr. DeHam as its present and future solvency is only an opinion based on his own statements and assessments that I found in the correspondence of the Consul General in the United States that seems to have everything planned from the outset what happened. I've never checked by myself or places or in the pleadings, I have not even done anything checked by lawyers or the condition of the premises or the residence of Mr DeHam. All this was done to add opinions opinions, and I was led to a great expense in a case which I had the moral conviction that there was nothing to remove.

 

But it remains to procure evidence in form for the settlement of the expenditure budget. It can only result in two judgments, one on a personal action against Mr. DeHam in Pittsburg (or rather in front of Allegheny Pittsburg) to which he oppose his insolvency, the other on a real action in Ridgway, chief instead of Elk County in which the owners of New Flanders oppose the resolution of Mr. DeHam rights. As all this will only be for the form, it will cost probably less than a hundred dollars. I think this final procedure could not be better led by the Minister of the King in Washington that I transmettrais the record of this case which I found myself as a responsible way accidental, by the deposit of Archives of the Archives Consulate General Consulate in New York.

 

I am with respect, Sir, your very humble and obedient servant

Consul General in New York Henry W Mali

 

From that time, what became of New Flanders? American sources give us the answer:

 

DeHam Victor, Professor of Music at the Pittsburg Female College, was accidentally shot dead by his servant, Peter Bauer at Castle Shannn, near Pittsburg, on Monday night. Ham and his servant started out to hunt thieves on the premises, and, after separating mistook for each other for thieves and fired, with fatal effect to Ham. He was 77 years of age.

Source: Chester Daily Times * 1879-09-03

InAb 1849 erwarb die belgische Regierung auf Initiative Charles Rogiers in Pennsylavania zunächst 10.000 Acres Land (über 4.000 Hektar) und stellte über 200.000 Francs bereit, um dorthin die Auswandung verarmter Bauern aus dem überbevölkerten Westflandern zu fördern. 1849 on the initiative of the Belgian government land would be acquired to settle in America impoverished farmers from the overpopulated western Flanders. Angelockt vom Versprechen auf pro Familie 25 Acres Land (10 Hektar), einen von der belgischen Regierung finanzierten Transport von Antwerpen über New York und Philadelphia nach St. Marys sowie eine bessere Zukunft in den USA gründeten die ersten vor allem aus Dentergem stammenden sechzig flämischen Siedler unter Professor Victor De Ham (1805–1879) im Juli 1850 acht Kilometer nördlich von St. Marys entfernt die Stadt Leopoldsburg . Lured by the promise of 25 acres of land for each family, about sixty Flemish settlers under Victor DeHam came to the New Flanders settlement, eight miles north of the town of St. Marys. Die belgischen Kolonien waren jedoch inzwischen durch Bodenspekulationen finanziell ruiniert und ihre Siedler weitergezogen. The Belgian colony, however, was soon financially ruined by land speculation and their settlers scattered in other places in Elk and neighboring Jefferson and Clearfield counties. Many of the original immigrants also moved to the Brookville area. The place was deserted and it wasn’t until 1888 that construction of a lumber mill took place where the Belgian emigrants once settled. The place was soon renamed the town “Glen Hazel” as it is known today.

 

An aerial view of Glen Hazel looking south towards St. Marys http://www.jonestownship.com/history/glen_hazel(1).htm

The “History of the counties of McKean, Elk, and Forest, Pennsylvania”[21]  written in 1890, gives an epilogue to the DeHam settlement:

New Flanders was once the settlement of a colony sent here by the Belgian government. One Victor DeHam conceived the idea of colonization in Elk county, and in 1846 he obtained a number of Belgian colonists by contract, and, with DeHam as leader, New Flanders was founded. But DeHam had not carefully computed the cost of such an experiment, and in a brief period his money gave out, and the colonists, abandoning the enterprise, went to work elsewhere. Many descendants of these Belgians are still living in the county and are leading citizens. One old house, built in 1857, is all that remains of the old city of New Flanders. But the town is now full of life, and its enterprises are backed by men of large means. Around on every side is a deep forest of valuable timber, and here, on these bottom lands in and around New Flanders, the mills will be built to do the cutting. Here are tine railroad and water privileges, and elegant locations for factories. It is a very pleasantly located village, consisting of two hotels, several stores, a meat market and other industries. It is about two miles from Ketner by wagon road, on the road from St. Mary's to Rasselas, and on the recently completed Johnsonburg & Clermont Railroad. At or near the old settlement is the new one of Olen Hazel. The name and wonderful growth of this little town came from the fact that the firm of B. F. Hazleton & Co. have lately built a large saw mill there, and are building miles of railroad,' peeling large quantities of bark, putting in logs and other numerous work, giving employment to a large number of workingmen who are the backbone of any lively business town. At this point the Johnsonburg & Erie Railroads separate. The station on the Erie is called Ketner, and was the post-office for Glen Hazel until recently. The town has several stores, restaurants, markets, boarding houses, etc. The post-office was established in July, 1889, with Mr. Watson in charge.

 Brussels, New Brabant, Elk County.

Cartuyvels was back in the United States at the end of 1850, arriving December 21 on board Koophandel. With him Belgians from the St-Trond area, 10 of them benefactors of an individual subside of 120 frank (24 $) accorded by the Belgian government to go to St Mary’s. Those passengers are listed as born Germany but I assume they are passengers 88 through 100 of the ship list:

Koophandel passengers                                                                         Beneficiaries of subside             
88           Vilaerts                  Louis              30       bootmaker            Velaers            from Gorssum
89           Huberts                  Henri              31                                       Hubert            from Tongres
90           Huberts                  Claire             31
91           Vaelerts                 Pierre              33                                       Velaers            from Gorssum
92           Scheren                  Jean                28
93           Vanbrabant          Jean                22       farmer                    Vanbrabant   from St-Trond
94           Buysmans             Arnold            34       miller                      Buysmans      from St-Trond
95           Radino                   Jean                26       mason                    Radino            from St-Trond
96           Willems                  Pierre              27       cooper
97           Smets                     Liebert           29       cooper                    Smets              from St-Trond
98           Vanderstegen       Jean                22       farmer                    Vanderstegen                from St-Trond
99           Bradenbeck          Frederick       32       farmer                   
100         Huber                     Elisabeth       22       farmer

I can only link 8 passengers with the benefactors of subside. The two others I cannot link as the names are far different from those on the ship list are: those are Groven from St-Trond and Paffenraed from Tongres. And from those having as destination St Mary’s, I can only find in the 1860 census of Ridgway, Elk county: Valies and  in Benezette, Elk county: VanBrabant

 

Cartuyvels wanted to settle them in his colony around his property of Roselay. He bought it from William A. Stokes, the former partner of Benzinger and Eschbach. In the spring of the year 1848 William A. Stokes, a lawyer from Philadelphia, came to St. Mary's with his family on the 4th of July, in the same year, with the intention of making his residence in the colony. He commenced to clear the Roselay farm, about four miles east of St. Mary's, and to build a mansion on it. His wife, being in delicate health when he came here, died about a year after their arrival, so he sold out in the fall of 1849 and returned to Philadelphia. Rev. J. L. Y. Cartuyvels became his successor in partnership, and finished the clearing and building of the Roselay farm. If Rosely road still exists today and is the continuation of Brusseles Street, nothing is left of Rosaley

It’s all I know of that colony. But the project was surely dropped when Louis Ursmare Cartuyvels left St Mary’, and went to Illinois. In 1855 he was in Kankakee County, Illinois had charge of the town of Kankakee, and of the missions of St. George, Manteno and L'Erable. In 1860, he was in Henry county, Illinois. His brother Bonaventure also left the colony and went back to Belgium in 1854 with his family, selling all his properties to Louis Cartuyvels. Some years latter, J. L. U. Cartuyvels sold all his properties in Elk County. In 1855, Adolphe Poncelet, Belgian Consul in Chicago, sent a report in Belgium concerning the Belgian settlements in the surrounding States, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri ….   he wrote: "Abbe Cartuyvels, founder of the colony of Saint Mary’s in Pennsylvania, who lives for four months on the prairie of Illinois where he have the missions of Menteno, Petites Iles, Kankakee and Erable said he regretted not to have known sooner this country, because it would not have kept a colony in the forests of Pennsylvania, where after 6-7 years of work, the emigrant was still in a state of suffering and deprivation almost as large as upon his arrival and during this time he had to work like a negro(sic) in order to clear a few acres of land".

 

Roseley and New Brabant, from Cartuyvels pamphlet

The Deham family.

Sister Eulalia (Felicie)  DeHam 1858-1902 Saint Xavier Cemetery, Latrobe, Westmoreland Co, PA  (find a grave)

 

 (Bernard) Victor DeHam was born in Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France February 8, 1805. He  was married in Ghent, Belgium, on

February 8, 1827 Caroline Elizabeth Wappers Melis, born January 11, 1804, East Indies. Her father was a Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion, Councilman of Finance and Director General of Customs for the Dutch East Indies.

 

His oldest children (Louisa?,  Sara?, Elisa) stood in Belgium. With them went the other children:

Constant Louis Victor, born August 14, 1829, death Colon, Panama March 13, 1885
Alfred, born September 4, 1830, death New Orleans on November 14, 1899
Felicie, born April 16, 1832, death  Pittsburgh April 5, 1902, was a nun with the Sisters of Mercy at the Convent of St Xavier
Mathilde Emmerence, born November 25, 1841, death Pittsburgh in 1877
Joseph Francis (Ernest?) born November 9, 1846

In  Pittsburgh a last chid was born to them: Maria, born October 13, 1852.

Caroline Elizabeth Wappers died at Allegheny on March 27, 1857 and Victor DeHam was married a second time in 1870 when 65 y.o. with Frances Margaret Riddell, a young woman 18 y.o. born Pennsylvania in 1852 and the daughter of a Baptist Minister. They had three children: Bernard Victor, Leo, and Guy Theodore before his death in 1879. Victor Deham wrote a Declaration of Intent on November 24, 1850 but he was only Naturalized on October 8, 1864. A long delay as usually the Naturalization was granted between 2 and 4 years after the Declaration.

 

The settlers, passengers of the Lorena

 

01-05 Charles (Karl) Coucke, born 15 November 1804, Wakken, death 27 September 1876, St Mary’s, Elk Co, PA; married Françoise (Frances) DeMeulemeester, born 3 June 1804Machelen, East Flanders, who died 12 June 1897 St Mary’s, Elk Co, PA.
Children:
Ivo, born Wakken, West Vlaanderen 22 March 1830, died 10 February 1927 at St Mary’s, Elk Co. PA;
Leonard Bernard, born Wakken, West Vlaanderen July 1837, died 17 November 1917, Washington City, WDC;
Mary Philomena, born 5 March 1846, died 3 May 1933, St Mary’s, Elk Co, PA, married Peter Walter Struble

 

 

06-07 Leo Demi, born 1815, died Sept. 10, 1892, aged 77 years in Glen Richey, Clearfield Co., PA. and wife Sophie Milmiester, born 1816, Antwerp, death June 12, 1894 Glen Richey, Clearfield Co., PA. They lived in Bell, Clearfield Co, Pennsylvania in 1860 a labourer, 48 y.o., with wife Sophie Milmiester, 44 y.o. and children: Mary 11, Frederic 10, MacRaden? 8, Lewis 6 (1856-1930), Clara 4, Ella 2, all born Pennsylvania. In 1870 and 1880 lived in Lawrence, Clearfield Co. PA..  In 1870 the children listed were: Clara 12 y.o., Ella 10 y.o., Emma 8 y.o. and Ada 6 y.o.

Leo and Sophie Demi Ancestry

08-09 Charles 28 y.o. and Ange 26 y.o. (G)hyselem are listed in the 1850 census, living with Victor DeHam family but also a Carl 27 y.o. and Luce 25 y.o. Hazle are listed in the 1850 census laborers at Joseph Ketzmecker family. Carl and Leu Hisalem are listed in the 1860 census and Louis Hisland in the 1870 census.

Louis Hislem is listed a last time in the 1880 census, 50 y.o. with wife Theresa born New York from French parents and an adopted child, Anna 14 y.o., born Pennsylvania from unknown parents. It seems he was the only and last man living in the area of the New Flanders settlement.

10 Bernard Verheust not listed in the 1850 census, nor in more recent ones.

Constantine (Vanhoverbeke) Overbeck & Angeline Lavon Ancestry

11 François Dobbles listed in the 1850 census but no more information found.

12-20 Charles Vanoverbech (Overbeck) (born about 1803, died Brookville October 7, 1882 and his wife Amelie (Emily Mortier)  born about 1803, died Brookville June 1889.
Children:
Constantine (1825-    ) Henriette (1830-    ) Mary (1831-1915) Cordule (1834-    ) Louise Maria (1838- 1896  ) Ferdinand (1839-    ) Philomena (1844-    )
Harriett (Henriette) married Bernard Verstine [ 38 ] in 1851.
The family Lived in Brookville, Jefferson Co. PA in 1860, 72 y.o, with Maria 22 and Ferdinand 18. A Charles Double 1 y.o. born Pennsylvania is listed with them. They also went to Rose, Jefferson Co (1880 census).
St Mary cemetery Brookville
Overbeck Frank  Van                         The stone appears to read Frank VanOverbeck.
Overbeck John H                             Sep 4 1876 Apr 26 1887     The stone was illegible, so the information was confirmed in                                                                                 "Tombstone Hopping". Son of F.V. and M. Overbeck
Overbeck Margaret                            Jul 13 1840  Feb 23 1901                 Wife of Frank Oberbeck

21 Charles Vintaer

22-30 Joseph Peter Doubles (born Tielt, West Vlanderen, on july 20 1793, died November 1899) and Julia Dhugelaere (born Gent, Oost Vlanderen, on May 15, 1813; died  November 1899).
Children: Eugenie (1834-1918)  Frank (1837-1890) John (1838-1900) Mary Louisa(1841-1918) Henry (1845-1929) Sophia (1847-1915)  Constantine (1850-1906) Joseph (1855-1911).
John Doubles (26) born September 7, 1839, died October 4 1900 is buried in the Brookville cemetery. In the 1860 census he was a sawyer at Bernard and Henriette Verstine sawmill at Brookville like Mary Dewilder as domestic, John Double (26) and Solomon D’Hoene (Dunn) (31) as sawyers. He latter married Mary DeVilder
Henry Doubles married Lydia Sadler.

31 Solomon Dunn lived in Brookville, Jefferson Co. PA in October 1860

32 Gillis De Gaber died, a single on October 1879 at Bensinger, elk Co. PA, 80 y.o; killed on Rail Road and a resident since 15 years

33-37 Jacobus Osselaere born about 1785 Waaken, West Flanders; died Brookville, Jefferson Co., PA married to Therese
children Bernard Oesselaere born around 1822, death Brookville, Jefferson Co, PA; married Melanie Verbeck (45) at Brookville on April 27, 1857; death Brookville, August 23, 1885;
Jean Osselaere (1827-    ); Rosalie (1829- May 11, 1912, Brookville) married Adolph Verbecke (42) at St Mary’s, Elk Co., PA on December 14, 1856

38 Bernard Verstine born May 1828, lived in Detroit Michigan in 1900, died 28 January 1911.

In February 1851,he was married to Harriet Van Overbeck and later moved to Brookville in September 1851. Married anew in Ontario on 21 February 1893, Canada, Melissa (Harding) Vasbinder born about 1848 in Pennsylvania

BERNARD VERSTINE[22] was one of the strong and resolute men to whom success comes as a natural prerogative, and within the course of a long and signally useful life he showed his mastery of expedients and circumstances by overcoming obstacles that obtruded in his path and by making his way forward to the goal of definite independence and prosperity. He was significantly the architect of his own fortunes and fortunate it was that Brookville and Jefferson county represented the stage of his earnest and resourceful efforts, for he contributed much to civic and material progress, stood an exponent of the most loyal and liberal citizenship and ordered his life upon a high plane of personal integrity and honor, so that he was accorded by his fellow mwn the fullest measure of confidence and good will. Coming from his native land to America when a young man, he entered fully into the spirit of its institutions and typified the best in American citizenship. He was long one of the prominent and influential citizens of Jefferson county and a tribute to his memory consistently finds place in this history of the county.
Bernard Verstine was born at Zute, Belgium, on the 9th of May, 1829, and passed the closing period of his life in the city of Detroit, Mich., where his death occurred on the 28th of January, 1911, his remains being brought back to his old home in Pennsylvania for interment in beautiful Brookville cemetery.
Reared to manhood in Belgium, where he received good educational advantages, Mr. Verstine set forth to establish a home in the United States. His equipment was honesty of purpose, industrious habits, an alert mentality and a determination that recognized no bounds, so that he was well fortified, even though his financial resources were of most meager order at the initiation of his independent career. On the 1st of September, 1849, about eight months prior to attaining his legal majority, Mr. Verstine, accompanied by a companion, Victor DeHam, embarked on a sailing vessel for America, the land of promise. they landed at Philadelphia on the 24th of December, 1849, after a protracted and stormy voyage across the merciless sea, and within a short time thereafter Mr. Verstine located at a place then known as New Flanders, near the present city of St. Marys, Elk county, there having been at the time a flourishing Belgian colony at that place, as the name New Flanders implied. After finding employment for a time in clearing land, Mr. Verstine began seriously to consult ways and means for advancing himself, and ere long he showed his wisdom by taking unto himself a companion.
In February, 1851, was solemnized his marriage to Harriet Van Overbeck, who likewise was born in Belgium and who accompanied her parents, Charles and Amelia Van Overbeck, from their native land to America. Mr. and Mrs. Van Overbeck eventually became citizens of Brookville, where they were known and honored for their sterling character and where they passed the closing years of their lives; his death occurred in 1882 and she passed away in June, 1889.
In September, 1851, a few months after his marriage, Bernard Verstine came with his young wife to Brookville, and here his first work was that of carrying brick in the erection of the old “Union Hotel.” Later he labored lustily in the lumber woods of this section, and was finally enabled to engage in lumbering in an independent way, in Clearfield county, his timber having been sawed in the mill then operated at Brookville by the late Judge Philip Taylor. He eventually formed a partnership with Judge Taylor, and they came into control of large and valuable timber tracts in Jefferson county, in the development of which they realized substantial profits. Mr. Verstine also acquired a tract of timber and operated a sawmill at Five-mile Run, and in this connection he carried forward his operations in partnership with a man named Delworth, of Pittsburgh. In continuing his successful lumbering enterprises Mr. Verstine became interested in the firm of Carrier, Verstine & Klein, in which his associates were C.M. Carrier and Bernard Klein. They operated a large sawmill known as the North Fork mill, and Mr. Verstine continued his active association with the business until 1891, when he removed to Detroit, Mich., in which State he had accumulated important financial interests, the same demanding his personal supervision. He sold his business interests in Jefferson county to his sons at the time of his removal to Michigan, and, as before noted, passed the remainder of his life in the beautiful city of Detroit, though he continued to make frequent visits to his old home in Brookville.
Mr. Verstine entered loyally into all community affairs during the long years of his residence at Brookville and did much to further the advancement of the fine little county seat, including the erection of several fine buildings. In early years he was an active and valued member of the Brookville Guards, a well disciplined military organization. He was one of the organizers of the Brookville Water Company, in July, 1883, was a member of its first board of directors, but the following year sold his stock in the company. In 1879 he was one of the organizers of the old Brookville Fair Association and took an active part in its development, as did he also in all other matters pertaining to the community welfare and progress. His political allegiance was given to the Democratic party and though he had no ambition for public office or the activities of the political arena, he served with special earnestness and efficiency as a member of the borough council.
Mr. Verstine began his career without financial resources or other fortuitous aid and by his energy, good judgment and well ordered endeavors he acquired a substantial fortune. He stood “foursquare to every wind that blows” and his name and memory shall be held in lasting honor in the county and village that long represented his home. He was kindly, generous and considerate in all things, made his life count for good in its every relation, and thus justified his being in an emphatic and benignant way.
Mr. and Mrs. Verstine became the parents of six children: Mary T. is the wife of George T. Sandt, of Brookville; Caroline became the wife of Dr. William H. Mahneske, and both were residents of Pittsburgh at the time of their deaths, Dr. Mahneske having been a graduate of Heidelberg University, Germany, and a representative physician and surgeon of Pittsburgh at the time of his demise; Henry, who has charge of his father’s estate in Detroit, wedded Rebecca Heihold; Frank L., of Brookville, is mentioned in succeeding paragraphs; Charles E. married Alice Kerstetter and lives at Detroit, where he is retired from active business; Malcolm died in Detroit, in 1913, and his remains rest beside those of his father in Brookville.

39 Frederick Brooks born May 29, 1829, Antwerp, died November 18, 1912 at Brookville, married in 1852 Mary Maria Vanoverbeck ( born Apr 1832, died Brookville April 26, 1915) (16) resided in Winslow, Clover and Rose, all in Jefferson County.
Children: Louise(?) Susan (1852-1938) Joseph(1858-1952) Frank (1863-    ) Albert (1866-1911)  John (1870-1952) George (1873-    ) Caroline (1876-1887)

Holy Cross Church, Williamsville, Elk County, PA, built in 1855

The first corpse interred in Holy Cross Cemetery was that of Andreas Verbeck in 1856. He had been fifteen years on age and was drowned in the Wilcox sawmill pond. The body was first buried in the Verbeck field, opposite the F. J. Brechtel farm, and later removed to the new Holy Cross Cemetery. His parents were former residents of the abandoned Belgium settlement of New Flanders, near present Glen Hazel. Information from a scrapbook at the Elk County Historical Society in Ridgway, PA.

40-49 Charles Verbeke born 8 January 1799 at Meulebeke, West Flanders, death 1910, Brookville, Jefferson Co., PA.
Married to Eugenia Horions (1795-1840) in Waaken, West Flanders on May 12, 1823.
From that first marriage came at New Flanders Adolphe (1830-1910) Gustavus (1833-    ) Mathilde-Lucia (1834-    ) Emilie-Melanie (1836-    ) and Henry (1839-1855).
Married to Rosalia Lefevere  born 1829 in Kuurne, died May 11, 1912 at Brookville, Jefferson Co, PA.
Children Victor (1842-    ), Felix (1843-1880)  and Adilia Maria (1849-    ). Two more children born in Belgium Udoxia (1845) and Leopoldus (1846) died at an early age in Belgium.

St Mary catholic cemetery Brookville:

Verbeck          Elizabeth                               1837            1914                                                   

Verbeck          Felix                                        Company C, 211th Pennsylvania Infantry

Verbeck          George           H                     1868            1937                                                   

Verbeck          Lewis              A                      1873            1911                                                   

Verbecke        Adolph                                   1830            1910                                                   

Verbecke        Rosalie                                   1830            1912                                           

Adolph Verbecke 1830-1910 married Rosalie Osselaer 1830-1912 they are buried in the St Marys Catholic Cemetery Brookville Jefferson County.  Gustavus Verbeck enlisted 8^th Infantry  Co I on April 24, 1861.

50-51 Bonte: no information, no trace of them

52-56 Baert: 1910 census: Ursula Bart, 66 y.o., born Belgium-Flemish, emigrated 1850, seamstress at St Joseph Convent, St Mary’s, Elk Co. PA In 1860 his daughter Julie [ 53 ]  is married  to Joseph Feldbauer and his second daughter Ursule [ 53 ] a servant in farm.
Ursula id found as seamstress in the St Joseph Convent at St Mary’s, 1910 censuys

57-58 Van Peteghem Louis and Melanie. In the 1880census at Heath, Allegan Co, Michigan a Carol Vanpetechem 55 y.o. with wife Malinda 53 y.o. with children born Pennsylvania: Louis 23 yo, Victor 21 yo, William 19 y.o.  and born Michigan Emma 13 y.o. and Flora 9 yo

59 John Demay 1860 census: 40 y.o. labourer in Mahoning, Armstrong Co, Pennsylvania

The Belgians of the Allegheny’s Pennsylvania in the 1860 census.

 

In the 1860 census, most of the  emigrants from New Flanders are listed, but some more than in the 1850 census are already missing:
[ 05 ] Philomene Houcke, 6 y.o. in 1850, no information found
[ 17 ] and [ 20 ] Cordule and Philomene Vanhaverbeeck respectively 15 y.o. and 5 y. o. in 1850, no information found

[ 22 ] and [ 24 ] Pierre Dobbels and Eugenie, his daughter, respectively 45 y.o and 16 y.o. in 1850, no information found

[ 32 ] Gilles De Tamder or De Cauwer, 44 y.o. in 1850, but the mortality  Census of 1880 list a Gillis De Gaber, 80 y. o. , residing for 15 years in Benzinger, Elk County, a single, killed on railroad in October 1880

[ 36 ] Jean Osselaer 20 y.o. in 1850, no information found

[ 39 ] Frederick Vandenbroek 21 y.o. not in the 1860 census but appears in subsequent censuses

[ 44 ] and [ 48 ] Mathilde Verbeeck 15 y;o. and Victor 7 y.o. Victor is listed in the  mortality census of Jones Township in 1860: 17 y.o. died October 1859, drowning

[ 50 -51 ] Bart / Bonte family: no trace

[ 52 ]  Joseph Baert,  and  [ 54 ] Frederick, his son

[ 57 – 58 ]  maybe in Michigan in 1880

Elk county 1860 census

Benzinger

 

Record & line no		Dwelling & family n°		Last & First name		Age	Sex	Occupation	Real & Pers.Estate		Birth	Remarks
143	4	962	967	John	Stockman	36	M	Farmer	1500	600	Prussia
143	5	962	967	Amelia	Stockman	30	F				Belgium	(1)
143	6	962	967	Charles	Stockman	9	M				Pennsylvania
143	7	962	967	Adolph	Stockman	7	M				Pennsylvania
143	8	962	967	Frank	Stockman	5	M				Pennsylvania
143	9	962	967	Mary	Stockman	3	F				Pennsylvania
143	10	962	967	Cathe	Stockman	1	F				Pennsylvania
(1) Amelia Redant, daughter of Dominicus redant, see Elk County before 1850
Benezette

 

74	1	521	525	John	VanBrabant	31	M	Day laborer		250	France	(1)
74	2	521	525	Rosa	VanBrabant	30	F				Belgium	(1)
(1) Belgium striked out and France added . See Brussels, New Brabant, Elk County
Jones

 

56	26	394	398	Chas	Verbeck	60	M	Farmer	500	200	Belgium	[ 40 ]
56	27	394	398	Rosalie	Verbeck	55	F				Belgium	[ 41 ]
56	28	394	398	Gustavus	Verbeck	26	M	Day laborer			Belgium	[ 43 ]
56	29	394	398	Felix	Verbeck	16	M				Belgium	[ 49 ]
56	30	394	398	Fred	Doubles	72	M				Belgium	[ 11 ] (1)
56	31	395	399	Leu	Hisalem	34	M	Farmer	700	150	Belgium	[ 09 ] (2)
56	32	395	399	Theresa	Hisalem	24	F				Germany
56	33	395	399	Carl	Hisalem	29	M	Farmer	700	200	Belgium	[ 08 ]
57	27	400	404	Simon	Warner	25	M	Day laborer			New York
57	28	400	404	Jeanette	Warner	21	F				Belgium	(3)
57	29	400	404	Child	Warner	1/12	M				Pennsylvania
(1) listed as “pauper” (2) married during the year (3) Jeannette Wills, born December 1837, arrival 1855 ?, married during the year, living at the farm of Simon Warner parents.
Ridgway

 

106	9	711	716	Peter	Valies	40	M	Day Laborer		200	Belgium	(1)
110	26	743	746	Louis	Valers	32	M	Day laborer			Belgium	(1)
110	27	743	746	Mary	Valers	22	F				Bavaria
110	28	743	746	Teresa	Echer	15	F				Bavaria
110	29	743	746	Anna	Echer	2	F				Pennsylvania
110	30	743	746	Josephine	Echer	1/12	F				Pennsylvania
120	16	810	813	Jos	Feldbauer	35		Farmer	600	100	Bavaria
120	17	810	813	Rosana	Feldbauer	24	F				Belgium	[ 53 ] (2)
120	18	810	813	Michel	Feldbauer	1					Pennsylvania
120	19	810	813	Jos	Feldbauer	3/12					Pennsylvania
(1) See Brussels , New Brabant, Elk County (2) Rosina Bart, born 15 November 1832, died 13 April 1934 St Mary’s
St Mary’s

 

49	3	348	352	Dommikus	Redant	58	M	Farmer	1500	50	Belgium	(1)
49	4	348	352	Rose	Redant	66	F				Belgium	(1)
49	5	348	352	Francis	Redant	30	M	Farmer			Belgium	(1)
(1)  see Elk County before 1850

Jefferson county 1860 census

Brookville

 

6	29	43	43	Theodore	Guns	40	M	Labourer	100	25	Belgium	(1)
6	30	43	43	Cates	Guns	26	F				Belgium	(1)
6	31	43	43	John	Guns	5	M				Pennsylvania
6	32	43	43	Catherine	Guns	4	F				Pennsylvania
6	33	43	43	Joseph	Guns	1	M				Pennsylvania
6	34	44	44	Joseph	Goon	32	M	Labourer	100	25	Belgium	(1)
6	35	44	44	Jutila	Goon	28	F				Belgium	(1)
6	36	44	44	Frederick	Goon	3	M				Pennsylvania
6	37	44	44	Theodore	Goon	1	M				Pennsylvania
9	1	64	64	Daniel	Long	23	M	Blacksmith	700	200	Pennsylvania
9	2	64	64	Mary Lousia	Long	19	F				Belgium	[ 27 ]
12	20	85	85	Charles	De Sadler	37	M	Butcher	300	200	Belgium	(1)
12	21	85	85	Cena	De Sadler	38	F				Belgium	(1)
12	22	85	85	Lydia	De Sadler	13	F				Belgium	(1)
12	23	85	85	Peter	De Sadler	7	M				Pennsylvania
12	24	85	85	Mary	De Sadler	11	F				Pennsylvania
12	25	85	85	Charles	De Sadler	2	M				Pennsylvania
14	12	95	95	Teresa	Davelda	16	F	Domestic			Belgium	(1)
15	23	105	105	Bernardes	Osselaire	35	M	Painter	500	70	Belgium	[ 35 ]
15	24	105	105	Melinda	Osselaire	23	F				Belgium	[ 45 ]
15	25	105	105	Jacob	Osselaire	1	M				Pennsylvania
15	26	105	105	Catherine	Osselaire	2/12	F				Pennsylvania
15	27	106	106	Jacobus	Osselaire	74	M			300	Belgium	[ 33 ]
15	28	106	106	Teresia	Osselaire	66	F				Belgium	[ 34 ]
19	22	132	132	Constantine	Sponse	40	M	Coal digger		100	Belgium
19	23	132	132	Matilda	Sponse	40	F				Holland
19	24	132	132	Elizabeth	Hickman	18	F				Holland
19	25	132	132	George	Sponse	12	M				Holland
19	26	132	132	Cassy	Sponse	13	F				Pennsylvania
19	27	133	133	Frank	Double	23	M	Teamster		180	Belgium	[ 25 ]
19	28	133	133	Sarah	Double	18	F				Pennsylvania	(2)
19	29	133	133	Elizabeth	McCullough	19	F				Pennsylvania
22	13	154	154	Fanny	Leaves	46	F			25	Belgium	(1)
22	14	154	154	Clementine	Leaves	20	F				Belgium
22	15	154	154	Constantine	Leaves	13	M				Connecticut
22	16	154	154	Theodore	Leaves	10	M				Pennsylvania
27	4	190	190	John	Wullenschneider	33	M	Labourer		75	Bavaria
27	5	190	190	Maria	Wullenschneider	30	F				Belgium	?
27	6	190	190	Maria	Wullenschneider	10	F				Pennsylvania
27	7	190	190	Clementine	Wullenschneider	8	F				Pennsylvania
27	8	190	190	Margareth	Wullenschneider	6	F				Pennsylvania
27	9	190	190	John	Wullenschneider	4	M				Pennsylvania
31	21	223	223	Israel B	Smith	25	M	Miller	300	500	Belgium	(1)
31	22	223	223	Terresia	Smith	21	F				Germany
31	23	223	223	Gertrut	Smith	2	F				Pennsylvania
31	24	223	223	Augustus	Smith	2/12	M				Pennsylvania
32	19	234	234	Peter	Milder	46	M	Labourer	800	100	Belgium	(1)
32	20	234	234	Rose	Milder	38	F				Belgium
32	21	234	234	Frank	Milder	16	M				Belgium
32	22	234	234	Anthony	Milder	11	M				Pennsylvania
32	23	234	234	Daniel	Milder	8	M				Pennsylvania
32	24	234	234	Jacob	Milder	4	M				Pennsylvania
32	25	234	234	Mary M	Milder	5/12	F				Pennsylvania
33	6	240	240	Bernard	Faustain	30	M	Sawmill Boss	1000	400	Belgium	[ 38 ]
33	7	240	240	Harriette	Faustain	30	F				Belgium	[ 15 ]
33	8	240	240	Mary	Faustain	7	F				Pennsylvania
33	9	240	240	Caroline	Faustain	6	F				Pennsylvania
33	10	240	240	Helwig	Faustain	4	M				Pennsylvania
33	11	240	240	Frank	Faustain	2	M				Pennsylvania
33	12	240	240	Mary D	Dewilder	18	F	Domestic			Belgium	?
33	13	240	240	Francis M	Whiteman	18	F	Sawyer			New York
33	14	240	240	Albert	Noble	21	M	Sawyer			New York
33	15	240	240	John	Double	20	M	Sawyer			Belgium	[ 26 ]
33	16	240	240	Isaiah	Davis	23	M	Sawyer			Pennsylvania
33	17	240	240	Christian	Flick	17	M	Sawyer			Pennsylvania
33	18	240	240	Solomon	Dunn	40	M	Sawyer			Belgium	[ 31 ]
33	19	241	241	Charles	Overbeck	60	M	Labourer	200	50	Belgium	[ 12 ]
33	20	241	241	Emly	Overbeck	60	F				Belgium	[ 13 ]
33	21	241	241	Maria L	Overbeck	22	F				Belgium	[ 18 ]
33	22	241	241	Ferdenand	Overbeck	18	M	Labourer			Belgium	[ 19 ]
33	23	241	241	Charles	Double	1	M				Pennsylvania
34	8	245	245	Julian	Doubles	47	F		200	50	Belgium	[ 23 ]
34	9	245	245	Henry	Doubles	15	M				Belgium	[ 28 ]
34	10	245	245	Sophia	Doubles	13	F				Belgium	[ 29 ]
34	11	245	245	Constantine	Doubles	11	M				Belgium	[ 30 ]
34	12	245	245	Joseph	Doubles	5	M				Pennsylvania
34	13	246	246	Constantine	Overbeck	36	M	Labourer	200	50	Belgium	[ 14 ]
34	14	246	246	Angeline	Overbeck	40	F				Belgium	(3)
34	15	246	246	Charles	Overbeck	7	M				Pennsylvania
34	16	246	246	Ferdinand	Overbeck	5	M				Pennsylvania
34	17	246	246	John	Overbeck	2	M				Pennsylvania
34	18	246	246	Bernarga	Overbeck	3/12	M				Pennsylvania
(1) see Belgians in Jefferson County 1850 (2) Sarah Johanna Long, married during the year (3) Lavon or Lievens, widow of Donatius Devilder or Deveelder,  see Belgians in Jefferson County 1850
Eldred

 

139	14	46	46	Arsula	Bird	15	F				Belgium	[ 55 ](1)
139	27	50	50	Jacob	Minewizer	37		farmer	1000	656	Bavaria
139	28	50	50	Scholastica	Minewizer	43	F				Belgium	(2)
139	29	50	50	Catherine	Engle	16					Belgium
139	30	50	50	Joseph	Minewizer	16		farm hand			Bavaria
139	31	50	50	Paul	Engle	12					Pennsylvania
139	32	50	50	Anna	Minewizer	8					Pennsylvania
139	33	50	50	Mary M	Minewizer	6					Pennsylvania
139	34	50	50	Peter	Minewizer	4					Pennsylvania
139	35	50	50	Michael	Minewizer	1					Pennsylvania
139	36	51	51	George	Singer	23	M	farmer	300	150	Bavaria
139	37	51	51	Francisca	Singer	20	F				Belgium	(3)
139	38	51	51	Mary	Singer	1	F				Pennsylvania
139	39	51	51	Jacob	Singer	14	M				Pennsylvania
(1) servant,  at Michael Woods farm (2) widow of Benedict Engel, see Belgians in Jefferson County 1850 (3) Francisca Philomena “Frances” Engel, daughter of Benedict Engel and Scholastica Van Mulders
Knox   see also Eldred and Brookville, those two families are twice enumerated

 

197	1	1411	1396	Constantine	Overbeck	38	M	Herreman ?	150	25	Belgium	[ 14 ]
197	2	1411	1396	Angeline	Overbeck	41	F				Belgium	(1)
197	3	1411	1396	Charles	Overbeck	8	F				Pennsylvania
197	4	1411	1396	?(Ferdinand)	Overbeck	6	F				Pennsylvania
197	5	1411	1396	John	Overbeck	3	M				Pennsylvania
197	6	1411	1396	Bernard	Overbeck	6/12	M				Pennsylvania
197	28	1418	1401	Barney	Osler	31	M				Belgium	[ 35 ]
197	29	1418	1401	Melanna	Osler	22	F				Belgium	[ 45 ]
197	30	1418	1401	Jacob O	Osler	2	M				Pennsylvania
197	31	1418	1401	Catharine	Osler	5/12	F				Pennsylvania
(1) Angeline Lievens, see Belgians in Jefferson County 1850
Pine Creek

 

107	38	46	46	Peter	Smith	33	M	farmer	1000	493	Belgium	(1)
107	39	46	46	Elizabeth	Smith	25	F				Pennsylvania
107	40	46	46	Mary C	Smith	1	F				Pennsylvania
108	1	46	46	Rose	Smith	58	F				Belgium	(1)
108	2	46	46	Delphiny	Smith	17	F				Belgium	(1)
108	3	47	47	John	Smith	34	M	laborer		100	Belgium	(1)
108	4	47	47	Margaret	Smith	24	F				Ireland
108	5	48	48	Albert	Smith	23	M		1000	50	Belgium	(1)
108	6	48	48	Mary	Smith	24	F				Pennsylvania
(1) Dominicus Desmet and Rosalie (Van Gundy), see Belgians in Jefferson County 1850
Punxsutawney

 

121

32

876

876

Charles

Wender

50

M

Belgium

(1)

 

96	26	237	237	Barry	Kline	35	M	Sawyer			Belgium	(2)
(1) at Robert Bouch house, Public house, no other information found (2) at William Smith house, lumberman, no other information found

Clearfield County 1860 census

Bell

 

327	19	2211	2173	Leo	Demi	45	M	Laborer			Belgium	[ 06 ]
327	20	2211	2173	Sophia	Demi	44	F				Belgium	[ 07 ]
327	21	2211	2173	Mary	Demi	11	F				Pennsylvania
327	22	2211	2173	Frederic	Demi	10	M				Pennsylvania
327	23	2211	2173	Makaden	Demi	8	M				Pennsylvania
327	24	2211	2173	Lewis	Demi	6	M				Pennsylvania
327	25	2211	2173	Clara	Demi	4	F				Pennsylvania
327	26	2211	2173	Ella	Demi	2	F				Pennsylvania
Covington

 

25	25	180	169	Erastus	Lambert	46	M	Carpenter		75	Belgium			(1)
25	26	180	169	Mary	Lambert	43	F				Belgium			(1)
25	27	180	169	Charles	Lambert	19	M	Ass Carpenter			France
(1) a letter from Bona(venture) Cartuyvels June 24, 1855 to Ignatius Garner gives more information   ( Garner papers ):   You have probably learned of my arrival at St-Trond, (Belgium) the passage was happily made; embarked at New York April 21 on the North Star, we re-embarked at Le Havre, May 2 at noon; I found my entire family to be perfect health; they join with me in recalling themselves to your good remembrance. I learned that you had the misfortune to lose your youngest child, I hope that this didn't affect Madame too much and that she is doing much better now. The present, my dear Garner, serves in order to introduce you both to Mr. E. Lambert and his family, who intend to establish themselves at St Mary's; if you recommend him particularly, he only speaks French and by consequence would find himself very annoyed without you in order to begin his business; he intends to become involved in agriculture, and would want to buy some acres of land; but also he would desire to have a beginning, that's to say, 3 or 4 deforested arpents (~ acre); couldn't you please find him this? Finally, my dear Garner, I count a lot on your continued goodwill, in this case here, I am infinitely obliged. I miss the time in order to discuss more details, I will write you in 15 days or 3 weeks in order to give you a longer description of my stay here and of my travel and also to ask you some details of St Mary’s. In waiting, I beg you to agree to the assurance of my friendship.
Fox

 

44	10	274	285	Adolphus	Verbec	30	M	Sawyer			Belgium	[ 42 ]
44	10	274	285	Rosalie	Verbec	27	F				Belgium	[ 37 ]
44	10	274	285	Charles	Verbec	8	M				Pennsylvania
44	10	274	285	Mary	Verbec	1	F				Pennsylvania

 

McKean County 1860 census

Keating
174		5			1309			1272		Carl	Mumputugan		34		M			Laborer		300	Belgium			?
174		6			1309			1272		Melony	Mumputugan		32		F						Belgium
174		7			1309			1272		Philissa	Mumputugan		10		F						Pennsylvania
174		8			1309			1272		Mary	Mumputugan		5		F						Pennsylvania
174		9			1309			1272		Louis	Mumputugan		3		M						Pennsylvania
174		10			1309			1272		Victor	Mumputugan		9/12		M						Pennsylvania
Liberty
11			22			76		76		John B		Jasper		66		M	Gardener					Belgium	(1)
(1) at Wm P Wilcox farm
Sergeant
218	1			1616			1557		Peter		Wilts		46		M			Farmer	1605	310	Belgium			?
218	2			1616			1557		Theresa		Wilts		45		F						Belgium
218	3			1616			1557		Emely		Wilts		15		F						Belgium
218	4			1616			1557		Chas		Wilts		13		M						Belgium
218	5			1616			1557		Philip		Wilts		10		M						Belgium
218	6			1616			1557		Joseph		Wilts		7		M						Belgium
218	7			1616			1557		Mary		Wilts		4		F						Pennsylvania
218	8			1616			1557		Leonard		Wilts		1		M						Pennsylvania
218	20			1619			1560		Carl		Cook		60		M			Farmer	800	100	Belgium			[ 01 ]
218	21			1619			1560		Francesco		Cook		56		F						Belgium			[ 02 ]
218	22			1619			1560		Leonard		Cook		21		M			Laborer		50	Belgium			[ 04 ]
218	23			1619			1560		Mary P		Cook		18		F						Belgium
218	24			1620			1561		Evo		Cook		26		M			Laborer		50	Belgium			[ 03 ]
218	25			1620			1561		Mary		Cook		20		F						New York
218	26			1620			1561		Jesauk		Cook		2		M						Pennsylvania

Centre County 1860 census

Benner

 

227

7

1599

1641

Lewis

Cartuyvals

29

M

Farm laborer

Belgium

 

France added, at Joseph Rephart farm.

 

A L. Cartuyvels on board Europa, arrival Boston  29 November 1850, with Aristide Antoine Brixhe who visited the DeHam colony.

Not a brother of Jean Louis Ursmare Cartuyvels and Benoit Bonaventure Eugene Cartuyvels, it seems, but surely related to them.

 

 The Belgians of the Allegheny’s Pennsylvania in the Civil War

 

Cartuyvels Louis

Enlisted as a Sergeant on 17 October 1861.  in Company G, 51st Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania. Promoted to Full Quartermaster Sergeant on 9 Mar 1865. Mustered Out Company G, 51st Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania on 27 Jul 1865 at Alexandria, VA. From his pension card, he asked for a pension in March 1881 in Illinois, died December 28, 1895.

Married to Anna Sullivan, born Ireland. His widow asked for a pension on June 12, 1893 in Ohio but for another man, her former husband it seems. In January 1896 she asked for another pension, in Illinois, no certificate given, and at an unknown time, they went to live in Springfield, Illinois.

Israel Smith

De Smet Desire as Israel D. Smith
enlisted as Sergeant, Co. B, 211th Infantry on September 6, 1864 for one year. Died at Hampton, VA, on Dec. 24, 1864 buried in National Cemetery, Sec. D, row 11 grave 29. He died at US General Hospital, Fort Monroe of “Phthisis Pulmonalis”. He contacted typhoid fever while the Regiment was encamped on the lowlands near the James River, effect of a very severe cold received on picket duty at defense of Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, on about October 2, 1864. He left a wife and three children: Augustus, born March 15, 1860; Laura born October 10, 1861 and Mary born October 24, 1863. He was married on October 22, 1856 to Theresa Marx born 1838 in Baden, at Clarion, Clarion County, and was a resident of Brookville at the date of his enlistment. Theres(si)a was granted a pension for her and her children till she married Frank Doubles on April 7, 1871.   When Frank Doudles died on April 15, 1890, she asked anew to be the beneficiary of a pension being “very poor and dependent on her own labor for a support”. The pension was granted by the Congress in 1891.  She died February 28, 1915, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Dobbles Frank (François)
Second husband of Theresia Marx, enlisted as Private, Co H 57^th Regiment Militia Infantry on July 3, 1863, mustered out on August 17, 1863. The regiment was organized at Pittsburg July 3, 1863. Duty in Pennsylvania during Lee's invasion and draft disturbances. Mustered out August 17, 1863.  Burial: April 17, 1891, Beulah Cemetery, Winslow Twp., Pa

Frank Devilder

Devilder Frank

enlisted during the Civil War under the alias of Frank Smith. He died on August 18, 1883 at Mill Creek, Clarion Co, Pennsylvania.  Buried Miola Cemetery, Clarion Co. Married to Amelia Frantz in 1872. His widow Amelia Frantz died on August 9, 1919. Enlisted February 25, 1864, Co. H, 155 Pa Infantry, transferred to Co D, 191^st reg. Pennsylvania volunteers on June 2, 1865, mustered out with Co. on June 28, 1865.

 

Van Overbeek Frank(lin)

Private 8^th Infantry, Company K. Enlisted Brookville, Jefferson County April 24, 1861 (3 months' service)

Birth: Jun., 1840, Belgium Death: unknown, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, USA

Frank is the husband of Margaret.

Her husband immigrated from Belgium in 1850 and married her around 1862.
They had 12 children, 9 still living in 1900. Emma, Harriet, Carilise, Rebecca, Mary E,Darona A, Maggie, Dolores, Jerome & Charles
In 1910 he is widowed (she died in 1907)and living in Winslow with his daughter Margaret.
He died sometime between 1910-1920.
Burial: Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery Original  Brookville Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, USA

 

Voegtly Cemetery Pittsburgh, Allegheny County

Verbeck Gustavus       

Private 8^th Infantry, Company I                                                     . Enlisted Brookville, Jefferson County April 24, 1861 (3 months' service)

Mustered in April 24, 1861, Mustered out of service July 29, 1861

 

Verbeck Felix                               

Company C, 211th Pennsylvania Infantry organized at Pittsburg September 16, 1864. Enlisted September 3, 1864, mustered out with company June 2 1865. Buried St Mary’s cemetery, Brookville death  June 16, 1874

 

Cook Leonard , enlisted 12 March 1862 in Mc Gregor, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania in the 16^th Infantry US Army, Co A (2^nd battalion) and was discharged on 12 March 1865 by expiration of service at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.
Leonard Cook married Mary L. born in Pennsylvania from Baden parentage and had 6 children. Before 1881 he left Pennsylvania and moved to Washington D.C., a clerk working for the government in the “Watch and Patent Office”. Leonard completed a pension file for invalid in April 1891, and died Nov. 24, 1917 in Washington D.C.