12th Chapter, Part 1b: The Sweers family A branch of the noble family Sweerts de Landas	First time published on 20th March 2001 Last updaten on 15st October 2007
	By Carsten Berg Høgenhoff and Annette Sweerts
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The Coat-of-Arms of the Landas family, according to Th. Leuridan: Parti émanché d'argent et de gueules de dix pièces (Per pale dancetty of ten argent and gules). These were the arms of Landas, who were seigneurs in the twelfth century. Leuridan gives the same arms to the communities of Landas and Raucourt-au-Bois, Nord. Th. Leuridan used by Brian Timms in "Studies in Heraldry" (http://www.briantimms.com/) where the illustration to the right is found. Landas and Raucourt-au-Bois are villages southeast of Lille, close to the Belgian border in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

The main sources for the information presented on this page are:

• Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas - an eight pages long printed genealogy starting with Amaury VIII, Sire van Landas mentioned 1174 and the 11th of December 1228, presented to me by Mr. Peter Sweers of Germany, October 2001
• De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893, page 58: Geslacht Sweers (Sweers de Landas), presented by Mr. J.E. van Someren Brand:
  • I. a copy of a statement of the Knighthood of the county Zutphen
  • II. a plano paper, on which the genealogy beginning with Gerard Count of Ast (NB: this part is not presented on this web site because of it dubious character. The author himself states that this part must be read with cautiousness. This part presents a family line going all the way back to Count Gerard van Ast (NedLeeuw 1893/56v), a person said to have lived 25 generations prior to Judith Sweers' uncle, the Vice Admiral Isaac Sweers).
• De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 9, 1893, continued from # 8 mentioned above:
  • III. Geslacht Sweers - Genealogie van Isak Sweers zoon van Isak Sweers en Constantia Blommaart - subtitle "Sweerts de Landas": a couple of loose papers, forming 8 pages, which could have been the end papers/fly leafs of a bible, on which the genealogy of Isak Sweers, son of Isak and Constatia Blommaart. (from which the family line leading to Judith Sweers married to Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche is extracted).
    • In our context, three particular pieces of information found in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 9, 1893 seem to underline its trustworthiness (see also 17th generation below):
    • A: It is mentioned that Judith Sweers was married to Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche, and that the couple had moved to Norway. This is not common knowledge in Dutch genealogy circles.
    • B: Two of the couples' children born in Norway are mentioned in NL9; Salomon and Frederik Henrik. The three children born in The Netherlands before they moved are also mentioned; the daughters Johanna, Alida and Catharina.
    • C: It is mentioned that Judith Sweers was brought back to The Netherlands to be buried in her parents' grave in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam after she died. This last piece of information has previously never been mentioned in Norwegian genealogies of the couple. All in all, it seems that A, B and C tell us that the information presented in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 9, 1893 comes from a source very familiar with this material.
• Various original documents from several archives, found by Ms. Annette Sweerts, Amsterdam, 2001

Annette Sweerts has provided a lot of original documentation and secondary documentation, in particular regarding the generations prior to Judith Sweers in the period around 1600.

Primary sources have been archives in Amsterdam (ha), where Annette Sweerts has found original documentation. References (fs) mean the internet-based FamilySearch, and (siec) means investigation performed by SIEC and explained in other ways.

Basis for the previously known Norwegian documentation has been Olaf Jæger's article about Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche (NST 1934). 

Two persons named Isaac Sweers were Judith Sweers' uncle and cousin. The uncle made it to Vice Admiral in the Dutch navy, and he was killed in a sea battle against the British and French fleets in 1673. In a footnote in the Norwegian genealogy "Den vestlandske slegt Sundt" (Christiania (Oslo) 1916) the genealogist S.H. Finne-Grønn wrongly states that the Vice Admiral Isaac Sweers was Judith's father.

According to Annette Sweerts the Sweers family had a coat-of-arms similar to - but with opposite colours - of the one used by a family Sweerts of Brussels. This family was among the seven families who had the responsibility for the Gates of Brussels; the other families were: Steenbooghe, Dirkhuyge, Coudenberghe, Semdendoffin, Rodenbeecke, og Sleens. Annette Sweerts does not know of a connection between the Sweerts de Landas and the Brussels family, but the similarities in the coats-of-arms are interesting. The coat of arms of the Brussels family Sweerts is shown below together with the other gatekeeper's coats-of-arms (bottom left) - and as such it shall look like the Sweerts de Landas coat-of-arms. 

Illustration above: The seven families holding the keys to the gates of Brussels: Steenbooghe, Dirkhuyge, Coudenberghe, Semdendoffin, Rodenbeecke, Sweerts and Sleens. Illustration from Annette Sweerts' private files, possibly from the Belgian genealogy magazine Ons Bestaan (Our Existance) which is no longer being published. The original image comes from the 1656 book Bruxellas Septenaria history of Brussels by Erycius Puteanus' (1574-1646).

Illustration below: The coat of arms of today's Sweerts family. From Annette Sweerts.

The first 12 generations presented below are transcribed from the genealogy of the noble family van Sweerts de Landas, sent to me by Mr. Peter Sweers of Wachtberg, Germany in October, 2001. This seven pages long genealogy is in many ways similar to the genealogy presented in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893, but it differs in some important details. The main differences are:

• De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893 goes too far back in history, all the way back to a Gerard van Ast who is said to have lived eight generations prior to Amoury VIII, Sire van Landas. The "Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas" starts with the knight - or "Ridder" - Amoury VIII, Sire van Landas mentioned in 1st generation below, eight generations later than De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8. Some genealogists bring this lineage all the way back to Charles the Great, king of France, further six generations prior to Gerard van Ast's wife Gesella, but due to the outspoken uncertainty about the generations before Amoury VIII, Sire van Landas from the author himself (De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893), we have chosen not to include these altogether 14 generations here (see http://www.home.zonnet.nl/stapelveld/afst-sweerts.htm where the complete lineage is presented).
• For the next 12 generations, the two genealogies are similar, with one exemption: In generation No eight after Amoury VIII, Sire van Landas, one genealogy presents a "Gerard Sweerts de Weer, born 1341" (NL No 8), while the other mentions a Jan Sweers (Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas). In this last one, no Gerard Sweerts is mentioned among the children of the parents in generation No 8, also a Jan Sweerts, and it may seem possible that the "Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas" is correct. Never the less, I cannot be sure about this without further documentation or confirmation.
• What seems more certain, is the fact that the article in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893 seemingly mixes up some people and marriages . The line presented in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893 is similar to one particular line continued from Dirck Sweerts son Jan Sweerts de Weer - see 11th and 12th generation below. From this point on, the "Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas" continues to be similar with the article in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 9, 1893 where Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche and his wife Judith Sweers are mentioned (see 13th to 17th generation below). The actual mistakes which seem to appear in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893 are presented under generation No 11 below.

I have translated the information from "Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas" into English, but left some parts where I am not so sure about the translation in its original Dutch.

The statement of Knighthood constitutes part I of the 1893 article about the Sweer(t)s van Landas family in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8 1893. The Statement of the Knighthood of the county Zutphen reads:

We, the members of the Knighthood of the county Zutphen, declare with this, that is proven to us:

1. That the lineage Sweerts is an Old and Noble lineage, and comes from the lineage of Landas of the year 1228, which proved to us from papers of the family, as we have seen this also from common acts from that time, that they are often called Knights and Shieldbearers/Squires.
2. That is proved to us from a diploma from emperor Ferdinand III from 30th May 1652, that the lineage Sweerts was acknowledged as an old noble lineage, and declares that the same is admissible in all German and Imperial Knight hoods
3. That are shown to us the letters of acceptation from 33 May 1653, out of which is acknowledged that Jacob Sweerts in the free Government/Public Knighthood of the Frankish department, is been admitted.
4. That is proved to us from several public acts, transports, maagescheyden (?= heritage), matrimonial contract and baptize records, an accurate filiation, made in 1228, beginning with Dirck van Landas, father of Jan Sweerts and going till the year 1650 till Jacob Ferdinand and Maarten Christiaan, both sons of Jacob Sweerts, being a time of sixteen following lineages. Also is proved to us that they are legal, matrimonial and not originated from bastards. In truth's document we have sealed and signed. Actum Zutphen the 12 June 1769. signed by: J.C.M.C.H. van Heeckeren tot Barlham

A.R. van Heeckeren tot Zuyderas

The original is in possession of Jonckeer E.E. Collot d'Escury, major of the Regiment van D'Eneri (?).

The "Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas" starts like this - here in its Dutch original language - where it is explained how the genealogy is based upon original documentation and how the family name is written in several ways:

Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas - Geslacht Lyst van den al ouden Adelyken Huize, SWEERTS of ZWEERTS, ook SWEERTS die WEERTS of SWEERS, og wel ZUERIUS genoemt, gefprooten uit het Geshlachte VAN LANDAS, volgens origineele Brieven, thans noch onder de Familie berustende in dato den 11 December 1228. Dese Geshlacht Lyst is voort het grooste gedeelte opgemaacht uit origineele Contracted, Testamenten, Doopzeelen, Etc.

Knight (Ridder), mentioned with his brothers 1174 and the 11th of December 1228. He is mentioned as the ancestor of the two families Guerrie and Sweerts. He had two children:

• Thomas Sweerts
• Jan Sweers

2nd generation: Jan Sweerts

Knight (Ridder), mentioned the years 1228 and 1229, married to Mitcheld van Altena, daughter of Mr. Boudewyns (Heeren Boudewyns). Jan Sweerts is also called de Weerts in the year 1314. He used the Landas coat-of-arms. They had four children:

• Willem Sweerts
• Robbert Sweerts
• Hendrik Sweerts
• Beatrix Sweerts

3rd generation: Hendrik Sweerts

Married to Benedictina van Hoesbeen, in letter dated 1289. She was the daughter of Mr. van Hiesbeen, and they had three children.

• Jan Sweerts
• Frederick Sweerts
• Jan Sweerts, mentioned 8th March 1314

4th generation: Jan Sweerts

Knight (Ridder), married to Maria van Oudharleem, the Mr. Simons (Heeren Simons) daughter. Five children:

• Dirk Sweerts
• Ryckaert Sweerts
• Hendrik Sweerts
• Lodewyck Sweerts, Canoninck te Luyck.
• Jacob Sweerts

5th generation: Hendrik Sweerts

Mentioned the years 1314 and 1316, married to Jahanna, daughter of Mr. van Goor. Four children:

• Aerent Sweerts, married with Hecren daughter of van Heewwyck
• Geraert Sweerts
• Maria Sweerts, Religious
• Jan Sweerts, member of the government in Brussels

6th generation: Geraert Sweerts

Knight (Ridder), married (I) with Allegunda, daughter of van Gemert and (II) with Jenne daughter of Mr. (Heeren) van Beusechem. Geraert Sweerts mentioned 1316, also named "de Weert" in letter of 8th August 1339. Two children, and he also had one daughter married outside wedlock:

• Margaretha Sweerts, married to Gosewyn de Cock tot Aalrt, his mother was Ryswyck
• Jan Sweerts
• Elizabeth Sweerts, natuurliyke daughter (which I think must mean born outside of wedlock), mentioned 1369, married with Dirk can Bruhese, with whom she had three children: Jan, Govaert, and Sofia.

7th generation: Jan Sweerts

Also called de Weert, mentioned 1339 and 1421 (so it says - there is a long time span between these two years... (Editor's Note)), married with Mr. (Heeren) Hessels daughter van Dongelen. Three children:

• Emanuel Sweerts, mentioned 1369, married with Agnes van Alteren. (Nine generations after them are mentioned in the Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas (Editor's Note))
• Jan Sweerts
• Jan Sweerts, Priester

8th generation: Jan (or Gerard?) Sweerts

(In "Geslacht Sweers (Sweers de Landas)", presented by Mr. J.E. van Someren Brand in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893 called Gerard Sweerts).

Mentioned 1369 and 28th May 1430, married (I) with Catharina van Eyl, daughter of Engelbert and Louise Hoornkens, married (II) with Catharina van der Schaille. He founded a guesthouse in the Oosten Straat in 1394. One child:

• Jan Sweerts

9th generation: Jan Sweerts

Also called de Weert. Schildtknaap, known by letters mentioned 1421, 28th May 1430 and 1441. Married with Albertina van de Water. Four children:

• Henrick die Weert, son of Jan Sweerts, hy is geweest Kamerling van Vrouwe Johanna Hertoginne van Brabant, known from letters of 28th May 1430 and 1441
• Willem Sweerts
• Margareta Sweerts, married with Lauweryns van Backel, called (gezegt) van Cuyck.
• Jan Sweerts, Priester

10th generation: Willem Sweerts

Married with Elisabeth van Eyk, daughter of Mr. (Heeren) Jan and Elisabeth van Kessel. He took the golden crown and thus broke against his oldest brother with his coat-of-arms, and he took the golden crown as being the timer of his mother. Three children:

• Dirck Sweerts
• Goyaert Sweerts
• Catharina Sweerts, mentioned 1497, married with Jacob Crabbe.

11th generation: Dirck Sweerts

Mentioned 28th May 1430, 4th May 1468, 1483 and 1487. Married with Margaretha van Eyk, daughter of Willem. He is buried at Helmont, where his gravestone has been found. Four children.

• Hendrick Sweerts, married Pynappel
• Mr. Philippus Sweerts
• Margareta Sweerts
• Willem Sweerts
• Jan Sweerts (de Weer, born 1464, according to NL8) . It is his descendants whom are presented in the article in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893 (NL8), and where the marriages of some of his descendants are confused with the marriages of some of his brother Philippus Sweerts' descendants. The mistakes seem to be:
  • A: NL8 says that Jan Sweerts de Weer born 1529 - grandson of Jan Sweerts de Weer born 1464 - was married to Lucia van Valkenburg, The "Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas" says he was married to Elisabeth van Hofstad. Both the "Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas" and De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 8, 1893 (NL9) says that Lucia van Valkenberg was married to Jan Sweerts de Weers (born 11529) second cousin Jan Sweers/Sweerts, son of Dirk Sweers (see 14th generation below)
  • B: NL8 says that Jan Sweerts born 1565 was married to Alida van Bronckhorst, while both The "Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas" and NL8 says that she was married to Arnold/Aarnout Sweers born 1574 (see 15th generation below).
  • Conclusion: These two generations (14th and 15th below) seem so well documented that we may conclude that NL8 is wrong in its presentation on this particular point.

12th generation: Mr. Philippus Sweerts

Also called Zuerius, Schildknaap, Doctor in beide de Reghten, married with Maria van Geldrop, Heeren Philips daughter tot Hees en Leenden, en van Juff. Debora van Gherwen, mentioned 4th February 1483, he died 17th April 1515, she died 11th October 1544, both buried in Helmond, where their gravestone with the cot-of-arms of Sweerts abd Geldrop en de vier Quartierentants were found. Four children:

• Mr. Philippus Sweerts, called Zuerius, Knight (Ridder). His grandson Jacob Sweerts married Johanna Lopez de Villanova, daughter of Marten and Sara de Landas, and from this line descends the noble family of Sweerts de Landas, described with another six generations and altogether 44 persons descending Mr. Philippus Sweerts in the Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas.
• Helena Sweerts, Canonnesse at Binderen near Helmont
• Margareta Sweerts, Nun in Brussels
• Johanna Sweers, married with Jan Haupart
• Dirk Sweerts

A comment:
The Dirk Sweers mentioned below is the oldest generation among Judith Sweers' ancestors mentioned in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 9, 1893. However, the Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas follow also this line for another few generations, until Sea Captain Isaac Sweers born 1671. The article in De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 9, 1893 is called "Genealogie van Isak Sweers zoon van Isak Sweers en Constantia Blommaart", and it deals exactly with this particular line which is also mentioned in the Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas.

The Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas presents these following generations as follows:

13th Generation; Dirk Sweerts
Dirk Sweerts born 1508 and, according to The Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas married with Catharina Moreels, daughter of Mr. (Heeren) Jan. One son: Jan Sweers.

NB: One should keep in mind that the "Genealogie van Isak Sweers zoon van Isak Sweers en Constantia Blommaart" (De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 9, 1893) states that Dirk Sweers (without "t") was married 1540 with Catharina van Snovels, daughter of the Mayor of Romundt, but also this article states that Dirk Sweers had one son named Jan Sweers (without "t") married with Lucia van Valkenburg.

14t Generation: Jan Sweerts
Jan Sweerts married to Lucie van Valkenborg. Three children: Arnold Sweers, Hans Sweers and Jan Sweers - and in this generation the family name is spelled without the "t", according to The Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas.

15t Generation: Arnold Sweers
Arnold Sweers, born 1575, married with Alida van Bronkhorst. He died in 1635, nalatende 3 kinderen (three children): Judith Sweers born 1608, Salomon Sweers born 15th June 1611, and (Vice admiral) Isaac Sweers born 1st January 1622, whose son the Sea Captain Isaac Sweers born 3rd December 1671 is also mentioned.

A comment about the 16th Generation: The Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas mentions only three siblings: Judith born 1608, Salomon born 1611 and Isaac born 1622. The "Genealogie van Isak Sweers zoon van Isak Sweers en Constantia Blommaart" (De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 9, 1893) mentions eight siblings: Judith born 1608, Jan born 1609, Salomon born 1611, Jacob born 1614, Abraham born 1617, Catharina born 1619, Isaac born 1622 and finally Benjamin born 1623.

The Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas does not treat this particular line as its main objective, and thus one may possibly expect that it is not necessarily very accurate here. The "Genealogie van Isak Sweers zoon van Isak Sweers en Constantia Blommaart" is, on the other hand, seemingly based upon some old family notes, and it is therefore probably - or possibly - more precise.

As mentioned earlier: the very fact that the "Genealogie van Isak Sweers zoon van Isak Sweers en Constantia Blommaart" mentions Judith Sweers and Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche's moving to Norway, two children born in Norway and that she was brought back to The Netherlands to be buried there (three pieces of information not commonly known in Dutch genealogy circles) underlines the fact that these notes are probably trustworthy and from a source who must be very familiar with the material (see 17th generation).

From here, the information is taken from the "Genealogie van Isak Sweers zoon van Isak Sweers en Constantia Blommaart" (De Nederlandsche Leeuw No 9, 1893):

13th generation: Dirk Sweers

Born in Helmond (?) 1508, married 1540 with Catharina van Snovels, mayor's daughter from Romundt (perhaps Roermond, Limburg, Nederland) (According to The "Genealogie van de Adelyke Familie van Sweerts de Landas" he was married with Catharina Moreels , daughter of Mr. (Heeren) Jan). The names may sound equal - Snovels/Moreels - and perhaps the differences in names are due to transcription mistakes? Or perhaps one is wrong?

Their son:

• Jan Sweers, baptized. 1540

14th generation: Jan Sweers

Born 1540, governor of Nijmegen, married 1570 (NUMAGA 1986 says 1575) with Lucia van Valkenburg. According to R.B. Prud'homme van Reine in NUMAGA 1986, Jan Sweers, son of Dirk Sweers and Catharina Smorels from Romunde, is "the first Sweers from the here discussed branch of the family tree who somewhat rises above anonymity". The "here discussed branch" must mean the branch starting with Dirk Sweers, whose brother Philippus Sweerts is the ancestor of the much more famous - and noble - branch Sweerts de Landas (see 12th generation above).

Their children:

• Aeltje (Alida), born 30th October 1561, dead unmarried at Hoorn, North-Holland 15th October 1638. NUMAGA 1986 says she was born in 1671.
• Catrijna (according to FamilySearch, but she is not mentioned by R.B. Prud'homme van Reine in NUMAGA 1986)
• Jan (also called Hans), born 12th February 1571, dead at Hoorn, North-Holland 7th February 1647, buried at Grote Kerk. NUMAGA 1986 says he was born in 1574.
• Arendt Sweers , born 11th November 1575 in Nijmegen (NUMAGA 1986 offers two possible dates: 21st November and 11th November 1575 [O.S.]).

15th generation: Arent Sweers
Illustration: Arent Sweers and Aeltje van Bronckhorst, unknown artist, images courtesy of Ewoud Linthorst Homan, Paris, France, October 2007. A black and white version of these two paintings appeared in the Dutch genealogical magazine NUMAGA 1986, pages 84-86, and also re-printed in my article about the de Créqui dit la Roche and Sweers families in Norsk Slektshistorisk Tidsskrift (2003) and in Sweers Islands Unveiled (2006). The original 17th century Dutch paintings are today owned by a Canadian branch of the family.

Arent Sweers, born 11th November 1575, dead 2nd February 1635 and buried in Grote Kerk. Governor in Nijmegen, 1628-1635 administrator in "Camer vam Amsterdam" (Chamber of Amsterdam), 1617 Bijde (bailiff) in Nijmegen and 1631 councellor in Nijmegen.

Arent Sweers is also called Aerndt and Aernout in the sources, and his third wife Aeltje van Bronckhorst also Alida. Since their son, vice admiral Isaac Sweers, used the names Arent and Aeltje, these names have been chosen here.

The Remonstrant Movement
Arent Sweers became a follower of the Remonstrant theological movement. Both he and his wife were Calvinists, but in 1610 arose the Romanstrant movement based upon Jacobus Armenius' (dead 1609) manuscript "Remonstrantia" - from latin "remonstrare"; prove, demonstrate. In "Store Norske Leksikon" we read, in translation: Remonstrant; small church society in The Netherlands, so called because of the title of the manuscript where the movement in 1610 formulated their free-spirited understanding of some of the theological questions debated heavily at the time".

In other word, where the Calvinists says that (much in) life is predestined, the Remontrants based their belief upon the free will of every individual. There arose a strong anti-Remonstrant movement, and Arent Sweers who had a strong position in his society found himself in more difficult times when the opposition against the Remonstrant strengthened. For a period from 1618-19 onwards they were denied access to the church. Interestingly enough, we see that the time between the birth dates and dates of baptism of Arent and Aeltje's children in those particular years increase, as opposed to this time span of their elder children who were baptized more rapidly. Possibly, they had problems finding priests willing to perform the baptism of Remonstrant children

His active part in the Remonstrant movement also brought him trouble in his profession. Being a member of the City Council of Nijmegen, he soon found himself among those members who avoided the council boards and came together in private houses. This followed an incident on 19th November 1617, when the conflict between the Remonstrant and the contra-Remonstrants both held sermons in the St., Stevenschruch. A struggle involving stones and short swords arose, and the contra-Remonstrants found they had to leave and hold their sermon elsewhere. Some efforts to bring peace among the groups failed, and for some time the Remonstrant were the most powerful faction. However, by the end of 1618 both religious and worldly affairs in Nijmegen turned in the contra-Remonstrants way. The years following from 1618 until the death of prince Maurtiz in 1625 are very silent about Arent Sweers activities, but sources say that there were complaints that the Remonstrant held secret meeting in open air.

The vast majority of the Remonstrant returned to the public church. We may assume, says R.B. Prud'homme van Reine, that this was also the case with Arent Sweers, although he belonged in 1617/18 to the most fanatic Remonstrant in Nijmegen. By 1625, before price Maurtitz' death in April, there is evidence that the prince was against the election of Arent Sweers for the city council due to his activism a few years earlier. After the prince died and his brother Frederik Henrik who was more in favour of the ex dissidents took office, this changed. So much did his situation change that on 2nd July 1629, upon the death of lieutenant admiral Piet Hein, Arent Sweers was delegated to represent the city of Nijmegen at his burial. Little did Arent Sweers  suspect that his by then seven years old son Isaac would be buried in the same honourable way as Hein half a century later.

Today, the Remonstrant Church in The Netherlands has some 20,000 members according to Store Norske Leksikon. A small society, but still going strong.

Arent Sweers' three marriages
Arent Sweers was married three times: 1st time 15th January 1598 in Arnhem with Christina Tulleken, born in Arnhem (fs), 2nd time 13th May 1600 in Deventer, Overijssel with Judith Coster, dead before 1607, daughter of Assuerus Coster (fs) and Catharina Sprueten (fs).In this marriage probably the son Arent (who may have been the half brother who is a witness in Johannes' wedding? - see 16th Generation below).

The third time Arendt Sweers was married on 5th May 1607 in Deventer, Overijssel with Aeltje van Bronckhorst (a.k.a. Alida), born in Deventer on 10th November 1583, dead in Nijmegen on 6th October 1635, daughter of Willem van Bronckhorst (nl 1893) and Catrijna van Walbeck (fs).

When Arent Sweers was a witness in his son Johannes' wedding with Alida de Vinck on 17th June 1632 (see below), he lived at Rouaanse Kaij in Amsterdam, where ships came with goods to and from Rouen in France. This area of Amsterdam is today called Singel. In his marriage with Aeltje van Bronckhorst, Arent Sweers had the children:

• Judith Sweers, born on 6th June 1608, baptized on 19th June the same year, dead on 3rd December 1638. Married with Cornelis Beeckman, mayor of Nijmegen. One child:
  • Lucia Beeckman, who died on 3rd and was burried on 6th december 1630 in Amsterdam. Married with Jonkheer and infantry major in Nijmegen Charles or Carel Pagniet (or Panier), also a lieutenant-colonel and Lord of Kermestein. There are descendants after this couple.
• Johannes Sweers, born 5th April 1609, dead 1639 and buried in Amsterdam. See his family under 16th Generation below.
• Salomon Sweers, born 15th June 1611, dead 2nd March 1674, buried in Amsterdam. Educated as a merchant, bailiff of the island Texel (North-Holland) (NL) in service for the counts of Holland, later he became an under merchant in India for The East-Indian Company (VOC) where he became ordinaris counselor. For four or five years he was the manager for one of the Dutch offices, but was eventually dismissed from his position after repeated events of private enterprise in conflict with VOC's interests. He returned to The Netherlands in the mid 1640ies. There exist several documents showing that he took care of his niece, Judith Sweers' fiscal interests. For example, on 22nd July 1648 he signed the contract regulating the financial sides of the coming marriage between Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche and Judith, who got married in October that year.
  
  On 29th November 1662, Salomon settled at Keizersgracht in Amsterdam as a merchant and became a "poorter", which means that he had his license to become a merchant. In 1664 he became the manager of the Madhouse in Amsterdam, in 1667 church master at Noorder kerk (North Church).
  


Salomon Sweers' own island in Australia
To the right: Lyn and Tex Battle live and work at Sweers Island, a popular fishing resort in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Here they are in front of the pictures of Salomon's parents on their own wall - second best to having a picture of Salomon Sweers, whom their island is named after. Sweers Island is available by boat or airplane, and is situated at the very southern part of the gulf.

A tiny island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in Northern Australia is named after Salomon Sweers. In 1802, the explorer Matthew Flinders found that in 1644, Abel Janzoon Tasman had mistaken a small island to be part of the mainland - and thus not named this place. Robert Logan Jack's book Northmost Australia, Vol 1 p 62-64 (London, 1921) refers to instructions of 13th January 1644, where the Dutch governor to Batavia (Jakarta) sent Tasman on a 2nd journey towards these new and undiscovered lands. Salomon Sweers was among the advisors who signed these instructions. When Flinders named the island that Tasman had overseen, he turned to the old documents for a name - and chose Sweers. A number of books refer to a Cornelius Sweers as the advisor Flinders referred to, but an investigation of available documents shows that this is not the case. Salomon was the man! See also comments & background in separate article.



Click the image above to go to the Sweers Island site. The initial letter in "Sweers Island" is taken from Salomon Sweers' own signature, in a document dated 22nd July 1648.



The charter vessel "MV Salomon" (above) was added to Sweers Island Fishing Resort's range of charter vessels before the 2008 season. MV Salomon is named after Salomon Sweers, after whom the island was named. Read more here!

Salomon Sweers' three marriages

Image: The castle in Batavia.

Salomon Sweers was married the first time in Batavia (Djakarta), 26 years old, on 16th August 1637 with Catrina Jansdr., born in Hoorn (N.H.), dead in Amsterdam (N.H.) on 16th November 1661. The were no children in this marriage. (She was earlier married with (1) Dirck Jemming, dead before 1637.) The second time, Salomon Sweers was married 51 years old in Amsterdam (N.H.) on 20th October 1662 (act 483-381) with the 31 years old Elisabeth Bickers {GA Amsterdam}, born in Amsterdam (N.H.) on 10th July 1631, baptized in Oude Kerk, dead on 11th October 1666. She was the daughter of Andries Bickers {Ned Leeuw 1999} and Trijn Jansdr Von Tengnagel {Ned Leeuw 1999}. Witnesses: The brother-in-law Jeremias Van Vliedt, and the siblings Alida Bickers og Gerardus Bickers, bailiff of Muiden. Salomon Sweers and Elisabeth Bickers had three children:

• Salomon Sweers, dead unmarried in India
• Catharina, baptized in Amsterdam 16th September 1663. Witnesses were Joachim Irgens and Alida Bickers. Joachim Irgens (van Vestervig) was married to Elisabeth Bickers other sister, Cornelia.
  
• Andries (fs), baptized in Amsterdam 20th January 1666
• Jacob Sweers, born 25th October 1614
• Abraham Sweers, born 6th February 1617
• Catharina Sweers, born in Nijmegen on 9th September 1619, married in Djakarta (in Dutch, Djakarta is known as Batavia) in June 1642 with commissioner Jeremias Van Vliedt. Two sons and one daughter.
• Isak (Isaac) Sweers , born in Nijmegen 1st January 1622. Vise admiral. Married 19th January 1655 with Constantia Blommaarts, born 3rd March 1626, dead 19th March 1694, daughter of Samuel Blommaerts (Blommaart) og Catharina Reynst. Read about the vice admiral Isaac Sweers in a separate article.
• Bemjamin Sweers, born 21 March 1623
  

16th generation: Johannes (Jan, Jean) Sweers

Johannes Sweers, born in Nijmegen, Gelderland 5th April 1609, dead 1639 and buried in Amsterdam. In "de Nederlandsche Leeuw", No. 9, 1893 he is mentioned as Jan Sweers, while he himself signs as Johannes in the wedding contract of 17th June 1632. Olaf Jæger (NST 1934) called him as Jean Sweers.

He was a book keeper in the East-Indian Company when he was married for the first time 23 years old on 17th June 1632 with the 20 years old Alida de Vinck, born and baptized on 1st January 1612 (N.H.).

Alida de Vinck was the daughter of Willem de Vinck (born about 1572 (?), married on 14th Nov. 1601, dead 1629), employed at a lawyers' office and living "in de Cameel" at today's Singel in Amsterdam) and Maria Ophoven (Ophoogen). Maria Ophogen lived at Koningsgracht, in a part of today's Singel where also Aarnout Sweers lived. In addition to the daughter Alida, they also had the daughter Kornelija, baptized on 9th October 1616 in Oude Kerk, Amsterdam.

To the left Johannes Sweers and Alida de Vinck's wedding protocol from Amsterdam. The text is: Johannes Sweers van Nimmegen out 23 jaar geaccordeert met zijn halfbroeder Arent Sweers wonent op de Rouaensekaij en Alida de Vinck van A out 20 jaer geaccordeert met haar moeder Marija Ophoogen wonent op de Coninxgraeft. In translation: "Johannes Sweerts of Nijmegen 23 years old accompanied by his half brother Arent Sweers, living at Rouaensekaij and Aledada de Vinck of Amsterdam 20 years is accompanied by her mother Marija Ophoogen, living at Koningsgracht."

Under the text, we see Johannes Sweers and Alida de Vinck's signatures.

This is an interesting piece of information, and in contradiction to Olaf Jæger (NST 1934) who argues that it was Johannes father Arent who witnessed with Alida de Vinck's mother. The witness was Johannes' half brother Arent! We may believe that Arent was a son from Aarnout Sweers marriage with Judith Coster; see 15th Generation.

When he got married the first time, Johannes Sweers lived in Rapenburg.

Alida de Vinck did not get old. At only 22 years of age she died on 4th January 1634 and was buried in Amsterdam. The married couple had one daughter:

• Judith Sweers , baptized at Amsterdam Nieuwe Kerk 17th April 1633. Witness: Aernout Sweers
  

On 14th February 1636, Johannes Sweers was married for the second time with the 27 years old Maria van der Voorde, born 1609, daughter of Gerard van de Voorde and Maria Du Fossé. Johannes Sweers then lived at Rouaanse Kaij, while Maria van der Voorde lived in the Looijer Bushuijs where they stored gun powder. She had earlier been married on 10th January 1629 with Guillam De Vick, dead before 1636. In the marriage between Johannes Sweers and Maria van der Voorde three children:

• Jan (Johannes) Sweers, baptized 23rd October 1635. Witnesses: Pieter Gaduijts and Marijn du Fossé (?)
  
• Arnout Sweers, baptized 10th January 1636. Witness: Cornelia van de Voorde
  
• One child still unborn at the time of Johannes' death

On 2nd August 1636, Johannes and Maria set up their will, and after his death in 1639, his heritage was divided between Maria and the altogether four children (the unborn one included) on 20th October 1639 with 2900 guilders, 8 stuyvers and 8 cents to each. The unborn child may have been stillborn or died very young, as Maria later had his/her child part of the heritage. This information is from private family archives for the Sweers family deposited at the gemeentearchief in Amsterdam.

17th generation: Judith Sweers

Judith Sweers, born at Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam on 17th April 1633.

On 26th July 1648 the engagement between Jonkheer Assuerus de Créqui dict la Roche, young man from The Hague and Judith Sweers, young daughter from Amsterdam was published at the same time in the Walloon Church at The Hague and in the church in Amsterdam (siec). The Church Records of Amsterdam show that they got married on 1st August 1648 - see copy of wedding certificate. As opposed to what was the case with the wedding certificates of Judith's parents and grandparents, where the newly weds had signed the protocols themselves, we do not find Judith Sweers and Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche's signatures in the protocol.

According to the article in "de Nederlandsche Leeuw", No 9, 1893 Judith Sweers and Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche had five children. In 1893, no descendants of these five were known by the author in The Netherlands, but when he writes about five children in "de Nederlandsche Leeuw", this is according to our previous knowledge from other sources:

• Johanna
• Alida
• Catharina
• Salomon
• Frederik Henrik

It is with interest we make a note of the fact that the two youngest of these were born in Norway, and that the Dutch article of 1893 yet has managed to include these two. This, seemingly, underlines the possibility that the original author of this text had firsthand knowledge of the family.

Further, the article in "de Nederlandsche Leeuw" No 9, 1893 also underlines a correction we have had to make in Olaf Jæger's 1934 article about Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche in Norsk Slektshistorisk Tidsskrift. He writes that Judith Sweers and Ahasverus de Créqui dit la Roche possibly had another four children born in the 1650ies, but discoveries made 2000/2001 show that these four were his brother Jean's children. See more about this in the SIEC Newsletter No 3 2001 (in English) and in the ancestor list (stamtavle) in Chapter 11 (in Norwegian).

According to "de Nederlandsche Leeuw" No 9 1893, Judith Sweers' body was brought to The Netherlands and buried in her parents' grave at Oude Kerk in Amsterdam after shed died approximately 1669.

These Sweers Coat-of-Arms decorate a lead window at the Plantin Moretus Museum in Antwerp, Belgium. Plantin was one of the earliest bookprinters in the Low Lands (Belgium and the Netherlands nowadays), and his daughter Maria was married to Jan I Moerentorf (Moretus in latin) and his grandson Jan II Moerentorrf (Moretus)  was married to Maria de Sweert, daughter of Guilliam (William) de Sweert from the Brussels Lineage [Photo: Annette Sweerts, 2008]

Go to chapter 12.3