Mae and Carl Van Wagenen examine the Groote Bybel
The Great Bible was passed down from father to son through succeeding generations as follows:
Within this very large tome are four loose pages, written mostly in old Dutch, and upon which are recorded five generations of births, marriages and deaths. The translated pages read as follows:
"The following is concerning the age of myself, Jacob
Aertsen, and also my wife, Sara Pels; also our marriage day
and the birthdays of my sons and daughters."
1652, Feb. 14th, I was born (old style).
1659, July 3rd, my wife was born.
1677, Feb. 2 5th, I was married to my wife.
1678, Sept. 10th, was born our first daughter Annatje about 2 o’clock A.M.
1679, Oct. 15th, between Wednesday and Thursday about midnight our first son Aerdt was born.
1681, April 12th, about 1 hour before sunrise on Tuesday our second son Evert was born.
1682, Nov. 2, our 3rd son Gerrit was born about 7 o’clock in the morning.
1685, April 11, was born our second daughter, Rebecca, about 10 in the evening.
1686, Sept, 1, was born our third daughter Gertje, about 10 in the evening.
1688, April 4, was born our 4th daughter Jannetje about 7 A.M.
1689, April 10, was born our 5th daughter Jannetje about 11 in the morning.
1691, Feb 5, was born our 4th son, Gerrit about midnight.
1692, Nov. 19, between Saturday and Sunday about midnight was born our 5th son Symon.
1695, Jan. 5, our 6th son Jacob was born about 9 in the A.M.
1696, Dec. 28, our 7th son Benjamin was born about 7 P.M.
1699, Feb. 4th, our 8th son Abraham was born between one and two o’clock in the A.M.
1701, Dec. 1, our 6th daughter Sara was born between one andtwo in the morning.
1703, Aug. 14th and 15th our 9th son Isaac about 12 o’clock at night.
1709, Nov. 17th, my son struck on his head by a limb or branch which was torn by me from another and died on the 19th on Saturday about an hour and a half before sunset and on Tuesday was buried here.
1743, Sept 24: with this is the birthday of me, Johannis Van Wagenen.
1752, Dec 2 : with this the birthday of my wife Rebecka Van Wagenen.
1773, Sept 30: with this is our wedding day.
1774, Sept 23: Is my son Jacob Aerse born around 10 o’clock at night.
1776, Nov 8 : Is my second son born around 10 o’clock at night and is named Johannis Aerse Van Wagenen.
1779, Jan 10 : Is my first daughter born around 5 o’clock in the morning and is named Elizabeth.
1781, May 8 : Is my third son born around 8 o’clock at night and is named Samuel.
1783, Dec 21 : Is my second daughter born around 10 o’clock in the morning and is named Sara.
1784, Feb 12 : Is my son Jacob Aerse dead.
1786, Sept 7 : Is my fourth son born around 1 o’clock in the afternoon and is named Benjamin.
1789, Sept 7 : Is my third daughter born around 11 o’clock at night and is named Rebecka.
1791, Sept 11: Is my fourth daughter born around 5 o’clock in the afternoon and is named Jannitie.
1792, June 21: Is my daughter Sara dead, around 6 o’clock in the evening.
1793, Dec 8 : Is my sixth son born around 10 o’clock at night and is named Abraham.
1802, Sept 15: Is my son Abraham dead around 2 o’clock after midnight.
1814, Mar 26 : Is my son Samuel dead.
1827, July 13: Then is Samuel born about 6 o’clock in the afternoon.
1828, Dec 12 : Then is John Debois born about 7 o’clock in morning.
1830, Sept 3 : Then was born Rebecca Jane.
1835, Feb 13 : Then was born Benjamin Van Keuren.
1836, Sept 8 : Then died Benjamin VanKeuren.
1707, Oct 29 : This is the birthday of Jacob A. Van Wagenen.
1708, Sept 20: This is the birthday of my wife Sara Freer.
1730, Apr 10 : This is my wedding day.
1731, Dec 17 : Is my first daughter born about 8 o’clock at night and is named Marya.
1733, June 14: Is my second daughter born and is named Rebecka.
1737, Jan 14 : Is my first son born about 7 o’clock in the morning and is named Benjamin.
1740, Dec 5 : Is my third daughter born about 12 at night and is named Yannetie.
1743, Sept 24: Is my second son born about 1 o’clock in the morning and is named Johannis.
1747, Apr 25 : Is my third son born about 4 o’clock in the morning and is named Jacob.
1748, Aug 7 : Is my fourth son born about 2 o’clock in the afternoon and is named Jacob.
1751, July 22: Is my son Benjamin dead.
1775, Dec 6 : Is my father Jacob A. Van Wagenen dead.
1778, Nov 10 : Is my mother Sara Van Wagenen dead.
1821, Oct 30 : Is my father Johannis Van Wagenen dyed. Aged 78 years, months, and 6 days.
Source: Carl S. Van Wagenen