Voyage to America
- Jacob Derks Kruizenga and Janna Nannenga Kruizenga made their
way to London, England where they would set sail for the New World. This would have been done via one or more smaller vessels probably through Rotterdam. To reach the English harbors, emigrants had to first cross the English Channel to Hull. From there they took a train to London. While this was more inconvenient to do, the poorer classes accepted the extra week of travel and the hardship in communicating with English officials because of the lower fares. About 60% of all unskilled emigrants chose to sail from English ports (London or Liverpool).
- FACTS: during the period 1850-1859, 48% of all Dutch immigrants sailed from Rotterdam, Netherlands. Only a small handful (37 total) sailed out of London (just 2%) - Jacob and Janna being 2 of those 37. 93% of all Dutch arrivals came through New York City and this was the case for Jacob and Janna Kruizenga.
- The couple, with unborn child (Derk), set sail from London, England to New York City via 3rd class steerage aboard the packet ship Devonshire for what would be a 3-4 week trip. View Ship Manifest
- The Devonshire was part of the English Swallowtail line. She weighed 1,150 tons and was triple masted (see picture below).
English packet ship - Devonshire
- "The steerage occupied the whole of the 'tween decks. Single and double and upper and lower berths were arranged all around the sides of the ship. As far as possible, families were placed together and the women passengers given all the privacy possible in the limited space available. The steerage was reached by ladders at the fore and main hatches which were always open except in bad weather, and ventilators through the deck and a windsail or two furnished the fresh air to the steerage. Should weather become stormy and the sea heavy the hatches were closed and the poor emigrants had to make the best of their surroundings until the weather moderated."
- The couple arrived in New York City on 29 June 1857. Jacob declared himself a farmer. Because he was unable to speak English, the passenger manifest improperly recorded his surname as "Kruingzinger" which is close to the way it was pronounced in the low Groningen drawl.
- Landing in 1857, the newlywed couple made their way to
their new life in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Why Grand Rapids? 41 of every 1,000 Groningers chose to emigrate. This is second only to the Zeeland Province. The majority of these emigraters were rural farmers and farmhands. Around 1865 the Netherlands saw an agricultural revolution with new machines that replaced common workers. These misplaced workers often chose to emigrate. Many had money to buy a farm but farms were not available as they were being consolidated into larger farms. Prices went higher. In the Hunsingo area which included Jacob's home town of Uithuizen, most chose to emigrate to West Michigan (66%) - the rest to Chicago. And those in the Fivelingo district which included Stedum and 't Zandt preferred the West Michigan area. So Jacob and Janna followed what they saw and heard in Church. They probably knew others who were emigrating to West Michigan area or heard from friends who had received letters from loved ones overseas. In any case, Jacob and Janna probably wanted to make a new life. And with a baby on the way, what better chance did they have than to make a new home in Grand Rapids among people they already knew?
- A son was born on 5 Nov 1857. They named him Derk after Jacob's father. He passed away some time before the 1860 Census.
- I believe the image below is the 1860 Census record of Jacob and Janna. Being Dutch and speaking Dutch, neither knew English. They could not read, write or speak good English. And one year living in the country did not give them this ability. Thus, it was up to the Census taker to record what they both saw and heard as accurately as possible. Both Jessie and Carrie would have been born in time for this Census: Jessie - Dec. 1858 and Carrie - Feb. 1860 - recorded on the Census as being 1.
 Probable 1860 Census Record | Timeline...
age 27 - arrives in America. 29 June 1857.
age 27 - first son (Derk) is born. 5 Nov 1857. age 28 - first daughter Jobtje (Jessie) is born. 23 Dec. 1858. age 29 - daughter Gerritje (Carrie) is born. 9 Feb 1860. age 31 - daughter Nantje (Nettie) is born. 26 Aug. 1861. age 33 - second son (Derk) is born and dies. 15 July 1863. age 33 - 1st wife Janna Nannenga dies. 26 July 1863. |
Major Events from Jacob Derks' Lifetime
