Joucke Taeckles

Oene SYBERENS, the father of Acke, was a "huisman" (renter of a farm or possibly manager of someone elses household?) in Folsgare in 1640. Acke grew up in Folsgare, Joucke in Westhem. In 1660, Joucke was a farmer in Wolsum and later "huisman" in Jousterp by Tjerkwerd. 21 Feb 1668 Joucke became legal guardian over 5 children of his deceased brother Ebe Taeckles. In addition, he was guardian over other orphans.

Joucke died around 1691. Acke assumed responsibility for her half-orphaned granddaughter (lost one of her parents). Her name was Sijke TJAMCKES (18 years old at that time). Acke died 11 Nov 1693 at Jousterp.

Joucke's first son Taeckle JOUCKES died in 1695 (he was 40). It seems that he was not married because the will specified that his sister Trijntje and 3 brothers each got 1/4 of his estate.

Trijntje married Age BAUCKES (b1660, from Longerhouw). In 1690, Age became legal guardian of Sijke TJAMCKES. In 1700, ... Age and Trijntje had 2 children; Bauke and Tetje. Age died in 1710.

Riemer married Berber GERLOFS of Longerhouw 27 Jan 1684. They lived in Hieslum. Riemer was a dairy farmer. Berber died between 1689 and 1694. Their children were:

On 1 Apr 1690 Riemer became legal guardian of Sijke TJAMCKES, then 18 years old. On 5 Aug 1694 he (Riemer) married Acke FEYTIS van Idsegahuizum. She had worked for Claas JACOBS of Burgwerd before they were married. On 24 Apr 1698 they were both baptized in the Hervormde Kerk in Tjerkwerd. They lived in Dedgum. Riemer and Acke had a daughter Acke, baptized 15 Nov 1696. On 5 Oct 1709 Riemer became legal guardian over Bauke and Tetje Ages, children of his sister Trijntje at the death of Age BAUCKES. Riemer died in 1711.

Page 66 of the book mentioned below has an English section entitled: "The Biographies of Joucke Taeckles and Acke Oenes" which included the following:

During the second half of the 17th century, on an old Frisian farm in Joustrep near Tjerkwerd, lived Joucke Taeckles and Acke Oenes. Their livestock consisted of 15 cows, 4 3-year old cows, 6 heifers, a 2-year old mare, 2 sheep, a "wintersing" and 5 hens, collectively valued at 685 gold guldens and 14 stuivers. A gold gulden was converted into 1.4 "caroli" guldens or 28 stuivers (nickels).

Probably Joucke rented about 50 acres of land, a medium sized dairy farm in those days. At grass-cutting time Joucke must have made use of day laborers, also called "mieren". He probably did the other work himself or later on with the help of his sons.

Acke Oenes kept busy with caring for the children, keeping house and preparing meals. Other tasks included making butter and cheese. Already at a young age, daughters Saak and Trijntje must have taken over some of the housekeeping chores from mother Acke. Later on she taught them the finer points of butter and cheese making. This was done in the "middlehuis" (a room between the living quarters and the stables).

It was the custom in those days to have on hand a good supply of meat for the family's use. Many farmers did their own butchering. The meat, often sides of bacon, was hung high in the chimney where it would be dried and smoked.

The following is an imaginary account of the reflections of Acke Oenes:

Sitting in the dusk near the cozy crackling fireplace, Acke lets her thoughts run free. She is getting old and needs more rest. It is 1693 and already some years since Joucke passed away. He died sure in his faith, and in the hope of being reunited with his loved ones at the resurrection on the last day.

She cannot help thinking back on her childhood years. Growing up on her parents' farm in Folsgare she had a carefree youth. That was where she had gotten to know Joucke. Relatives of Joucke lived on a neighboring farm in Wolsum. Now and then he would come from Westhem to visit them. That was how Acke and Joucke met. Sort of like an older brother, he would stick up for Acke when her brother, Murck, teased her. Sometimes the 3 of them would go flowerpicking together. They also liked jumping over ditches.

As she grew up to be a young woman, she noticed that Joucke looked at her with different eyes. At first this confused her, but then she realized that Joucke was falling in love with her. Her own feelings began to deepen and change. More and more she longed to see him when he had not been over for awhile.

When she was 22 years old, Acke married Joucke. He was almost 30. They went to live in Wolsum, where Joucke became a farmer. A few years later they moved to Joustrep near Tjerkwerd. She and Joucke had 7 children (see above). Taeckle had not married; his health was poor and he died. Also Oene and Saak were no longer alive. Sijke was 18 years old when Saak passed away. Her father, Tjamcke Sybrens, had passed away before that. Coping with the loss of her husband and children had been very difficult for Acke. Good thing Ybe still lives at home. He is a great support to her. Since Joucke's death he has been keeping the farm going. In Acke's opinion he is a good farmer, with a heart for his work. Next year he will probably marry Mencke CLAESES. Acke approves of her as future daughter-in-law, but on the other hand dreads to give up being the one in charge.

Acke is also very pleased to have the help of her granddaughter, Sijke, who has been living with her these last 2 years. They do many things together and that is very "gezellig". Acke puts some more logs on the fire and continues to daydream.

As clearly as if it were yesterday she remembers the flood that followed the storm and tidal wave in Dec 1665. The winter weather had just started and it was bitterly cold. Fortunately the men and animals of their "terp" had been spared, also from the pestilence that broke out shortly thereafter and which claimed the lives of many around them. Some of the victims Acke had known very well. She still shivers thinking back on all that misery.

Also during that time the Netherlands was being threatened by neighboring countries like England and France. Louis XIV with his army of 140,000 men tried to cross the Rhine, but luckily was stopped for awhile by a small army of brave, fighting Frisians. At the same time the (German) Bishop of Munster was attacking the eastern borders of the Netherlands. The situation became tense when troops from Cologne and Munster occupied the cities of Overijssel and reached the Frisian borders. To protect Friesland, prince William III sent an army led by Hans Willem Baron van Aylva.

The Frisians joined Aylva's army en masse. Acke still feels proud when she thinks of how bravely they resisted the Bishop's troops. How they succeeded in freeing first Blokzijl, then Vollenhove and ultimately the Kuinderschans from their beseigers, driving their enemies back.

This all happened in 1672. Ybe had just turned 2 years old. As the threat of attack was still there, all men aged 18 through 60 were ordered on Jan 25 1673 to be in possession of a gun and to practice daily. Joucke also obeyed this command, and practiced every day with the other men in the area. By then he was almost 53 years old and Taeckle not quite 18. Fortunately Taeckle could take his father's place on the farm in case Joucke should be called up for duty.

In any case it was winter, and freezing, and there was practically nothing to do in the fields. Acke remembers whe was glad when Joucke would return home safely. He was not a fighter and dreaded the thought of having to kill other people. Luckily it never got to that point, because in the beginning of October of that year the enemy troops drew back to Zwolle, Zutphen and Arnhem. Great was the joy, also in Joucke and Acke's family, when the danger was gone.

Together with many others they went to the church in Tjerkwerd to thank God. He had answered their many fervent prayers. That is how Acke sees it. The church and spiritual life that was beginning to fade now revives again. Many people, also in their family life, long for a personal relationship with God, and seek to live in accordance with his laws. Since more and more people have been learning to read and write, the Bible is not a closed book any longer. Also some of her children have learned to read and write in school.

In 1685 the reverend Jacobus ECOMA, almost 30 years of age then, arrived in Tjerkwerd. He was a great support to Acke, especially during Joucke's sickness and after his death. Looking back, Acke is thankful for the many good years she had with Joucke and the children.

2 pics of PoO, later KoE Wm III 1650-1702 52yo (d/l)

Notes from GD:
Joucke was 68yo (Acke 58, son Ybe just 18) when Prince Wm of Orange (later KoE Wm III) embarked on his famous 'invasion' of England, sparking the 'Glorious Revolution. He left the sheltered harbor at Hellevoetsluis on xx 1 Nov 1688 (new cal, still -10d or 11/22 in UK, -11d after 2/28/1700). It was a massive force, 500 ships [20 rows 25 deep from Dover to Calais p6], 20k army, 20k navy ... They initially headed NW for Harwich, thinking to land in Yorkshire, but westerly winds were so favorable they instead headed W for the Devon coast, arriving at Torbay 11/13 (11/3), laying off the coast for 2 days, disembarking 11/5-7. Close advisors were Scot-born chaplain Gilbert BURNET, prv sec'y Constantijn HUYGENS Jr (older bro of scientist Christian) and Hans Willem BENTINCK (later 1 D Portland). Landing at Braxton (Brixton), they moved over bad roads to nearby Paignton, then Exeter (where Wm waited 12d for English support), then NE via Oxford (by 11/21 aka 12/1), Henley, Windsor to London. KoE James II's 1st attempt at flight was 12/11 (12/21), and the next day peers loyal to him had set up a provisional govt or Convention in London, as the Dutch army made its way there, hearing James had fled to France. They reached Henley 12/14, noting the beauty of the landscape in gorgeous weather between there and Windsor (pic p19 of Windsor from NW) ... This must've been a momentous event for Dutch citizens, making them extremely proud of their ldr 'stadtholder' Wm [Prince] of Orange [ggson of Dutch hero Wm the Silent], and their country.

Dates:
- cf TaeckleG for earlier dates
- 1669 Rembrandt dies
- May 1670 KoE Chas II signs Treaty of Dover w/France (KoF 1c), hard to explain by geopolitical interest, perhaps an act of family solidarity? Committed Chas to 1) war w/TDR 2) become RCC at some point
- 1670 Spinoza's 'Tractatus theolico-politicus' pub'd (lived in Amst)
- 1672 3rd Anglo-Dutch War begins, disastrous for TDR, France invades, Wm III made ldr in crisis, de WITT bros lynched, Wm promises to 'die in the last ditch' and orders opening of dikes, a drastic step (from 1650-72 no stadholder [barred], so Holland's merchant-oriented ldr Johan de Witt effectively TDR's ldr)
- 15 Aug 1672 P Wm prints Chas' offer to betray TDR and get a sub-kingship, more than any other Eur. ldr he understood the pwr of PR (via printing press), 5 days later de WITT and bro were k. by a mob at The Hague, so 21yo Wm now 'head of affairs in TDR'
- 1673 English Parliament insists on penal laws for non-Anglicans and passes Test Act ('precip'd a pol. crisis lasting 15yrs, only resolved by Rev of 1688' p24); also that year, James is observed refusing to take Anglican communion on Easter Sunday (uh oh)
- anti-RCCism was rampant in England, tho RCCers were only 2%, they were concentrated in ldrshp (court and Lords); Englishment remembered RCC attempts to k. the monarch e.g. the 1571 Ridolfi Plot, 1580s Throckmorton and Babington ass. attempts, 5 Nov 1605 Gunpowder Plot in which Guy FAWKES et al nearly blew up Parliament, and 1619 when the 'Winter King' of Bohemia, Frederick the Elector Palatine, and his wife, James I's dau Eliz, were driven into exile by the forces of the RCC HRE Ferdinand II (many English wanted to go to war to restore them), also widely believed that RCC was behind 1666 fire i.e. the RCC attempt to 'extirpate the Protestant religion and old English liberty and [replace it w/] Popery and slavery', and now RCC France was just across the channel.
- Aug 1673 Spain (-> Spanish Netherlands) joins Dutch side, push French back
- Feb 1674 English (allied w/France) make peace w/TDR i.e. [2nd] Treaty of Westminster
- Jun 1674 TDR has forced French forces off most of their land, exc 2 frontier forts
- Apr 1675 Wm catches smallpox, but survives (unlike his dad, mom and wife)
- 4 Nov 1677 27yo Wm III m. 15yo Mary, dau of James [II], strictly for pol. reasons (she's 2nd in line to English throne)
- 1675 John Churchill meets 14yo Sarah Jennings and is smitten (later m. her); she later became very close to Princess Anne (QoE 1702-14) til their 1709 falling out
- 19 Apr 1678 Chas II sends bro James and John CHURCHILL to The Binnenhof (blt 1249), The Hague, to negotiate alliance w/TDR (ldr Wm [III]) v. France (both John and Wm 27yo); Jul 1678 Louis makes peace w/TDR in Treaty of Nijmegen
- Jun 1679 Covenanters revolt brks out in Scotland, so Chas II sends D of Monmouth to suppress it, which he did at Bothwell Bridge on 6/22
- Aug 1679 judged to be the 1st 2-party elections in English history
- 1681 Chas II closes Parliament, and begins proceedings to eject Whigs from pwr, rewrite charters, and replace Whig w/Tory ldrs (i.e. to 'rig' democracy in his favor); 1681-5 have been called 'the Tory Reaction' (mostly successful)
- 1682 Shaftesbury flees to TDR, d. there Jan 1683; James gets his ally Wm PENN (Quaker) granted a charter in PA; Louis XIV moves from Louvre in Paris to 'what had once been a hunting lodge in Versailles'
- Jun 1683 Rye House Plot to ass. Chas is exposed, Lord Wm RUSSELL and Algernon SIDNEY executed (E of Essex committed suicide in Tower); also Princess Anne m. Prince Geo of Denmark, bro to KoD, an ally of France
- 1683 K John Sobieski of Poland leads army that breaks Turk siege of [HRE's] Vienna (w/help from many European pwrs, exc. [conspicuously] France)
- Sep 1683 John LOCKE flees to TDR, but had already in London written '2 Treatises' to refute Robt FILMER, but not pub'd til Nov 1689, often thot to justify Glorious Rev (LOCKE had been a quiet MD)
- Dec 1684 tho thwarted by Halifax in eliminating colonial assemblies in VA and Jamaica, James did manage to install RCC Thomas DONGAN as NY Gov and create the Dominion of New England, which dismissed the assemblies of MA, NH, RI and CT [later NY, NJ], replacing them w/Gov. Sir Edm ANDROS, who'd earlier been driven out of NY. Had this policy not been reversed after the 1688 Rev., it would've 'vastly altered American politics'
- Mo 2 Feb 1685 Chas II suffers a stroke while shaving, d. Fr 6 Feb 54yo, bro James II t/o
- May 1685 armed rebellion by Duke of Argyll in Scotland, ldr of Covenanters, easily defeated, beheaded a few days later
- Jun 1685 armed rebellion by Duke of Monmouth in SW England, John Churchill sent to stop him, which he did at 7/5 Battle of Sedgemoor (near Glastonbury) 'turned out to be the last battle fought on English soil', executed in London 7/15, led to 'Bloody Assizes' i.e. court sessions in which 300 alleged supporters were exec. and 1200 sold as slaves in Barbados
- 8 Oct 1685 Louis XIV revokes the Edict of Nantes (enacted 1598 by his Huguenot -> RCC gdad Henry IV 'Paris is worth a mass', this news shook England, he'd been dis'ing Hug.'s since 1660, but now ~100k fled France to Amsterdam, London, Berlin); also in 1685 Louis annexes principality of Orange, angering Wm [III] (he thot James should've done more to prevent that)
- 1685 Wm [III] allies w/Brandenburg (18C grt pwr Prussia), bending it toward his anti-French alliance (117, 130, but 'Grt Elector' was old and sick)
- 20 Nov 1685 after disputes re RCCers army ofcrs, James prorogues Parliament; 'it would not sit again during his reign'; his new strategy was appealing to RCCers and Dissenters against Anglicans, always pol. unrealistic due to demographics
- Jul 1686 Wm arranges anti-French alliance 'League of Augsburg' incl. HRE (Leopold I), various German states, Sweden and Spain (this angers James II)
- Sep 1686 by this date Tyrconnel had purged most Protestants from Irish ldrshp, 'many Protestants sent their movable possessions over to England'; also this month Viscount Mordaunt visits Wm, urges him to invade England ('not yet, but possibly if ...')
- Feb 1687 Wm sends Dijkveld on a recon. mission to England (and meets w/king)
- Mar 1687 James II issues Declaration of Tolerance (for RCCers and Dissenters), likely Wm PENN helped craft it, effectively removing Anglican 'spiritual monopoly; attendance at CoE svcs sharply declined after [that]' (tho James seriously underestimated the coming Prot backlash)
- ? 1687 HRE Leopold I's armies drive Turks out of Hungary, occupy Budapest and threaten Belgrade, means new forces available to oppose Louis XIV in west
- late 1687 James II begins attempt to 'pack parliament' w/his own people, 'easily the most important factor in provoking the Rev'; also Aug/Sep Louis XIV imposes tariffs on Dutch, swinging merchants to Wm's side i.e. to intervene against France
- Oct 1687 Wm's Scot spy James JOHNSTON settles in England, sends secret updates (other spies were Wm CARSTARES and Sir James DALRYMPLE)
- Nov 1687 Court announces Q Mary Beatrice 'of Modena' is pregnant (many believe its a scam)
- Jan 1688 Wm circ's pamphlets favoring pro-Test Act, but anti-penal laws (reassuring both Anglicans and Dissenters i.e. seeking their support for him as king; this in response to [Monmouth supporter] James STEWART's persistent efforts to get him to oppose both)
- late Apr 1688 2 Brit admirals (Edw RUSSELL, Arthur HERBERT) visit TDR, deliver (secret, dangerous) ltr from Danby to Wm (at Het Loo), and urge him to invade England; he says yes (by end of Sep), he'll prepare, but wants an 'invite' from leading men
- We 9 May 1688 'Grt Elector' Frederick Wm of Brandenburg dies (Wm III's uncle), days later Wm writes to successor Frederick III, suddenly possible for TDR to hire soldiers (to protect TDR from France)
- Fr 1 Jun 1688 (against Sunderland's rec) James II brings 'libel' action against 7 CoE bishops who cross him, but they're cheered by London crowds en route to Tower
- Su 3 Jun 1688 AB Max HEINRICH of Cologne dies, meaning Louis XIV would try to install his man, Cardinal Wilhelm Egon von Fuerstenberg, over opposition of HRE and Pope -> war
- We 20 Jun 1688 Queen Mary Beatrice gives birth to James Francis Edward, PoW
- Jun 1688 Sunderland 'converts' to RCC (a firm Protestant, but consumate 'trimmer')
- Mo 9 Jul (Jun 29 in London) Trial of 7 bishops begins, next morning verdict is 'not guilty' (a slap in James' face, but VERY popular decision, HUGE celebrations, 'an incompetent despotism is a contradiction in terms ... popular acceptance, so necessary for a stable regime in early modern England, had been dangerously eroded ... the subtle tissue of deference [to Royal authority] was now fatally pierced')
- Tu 10 Jul (6/30 in London) Shrewsbury circle meets, 'Immortal Seven' ltr inviting Wm over
- Mo 16 Jul 1688 Adm Arthur HERBERT delivers ltr to Wm at The Hague
- 'at some point in the summer [of 1688], Louis XIV decided to go to war [in E]'
- Tu 14 Aug (8/4) John CHURCHILL writes ltr to Wm, no doubt he knew Wm's plans
- Mo 10 Sep 1688 French troops enter the Rhineland at Bonn, Brandenburg defenders @ Cologne
- Su 16 Sep 1688 (9/6), D of Berwick, cmdr at Portsmouth, orders captains to accept Irish RCCers, 6 refuse and are dismissed (confirms fears of many ofcrs, key 'now or never' prod for Wm)
- Th 27 Sep 1688 Wm hears of French troops tied down at Philippsburg, far S of TDR; same day James II rcv's notice Wm will sail in 1wk (apparently his 1st inkling); the next day John EVELYN's diary reports 'the Court is in the utmost consternation' (i.e. panic, fear, disorder)
- Mo 1 Oct (9/21) James II 'in blind panic' promises to seat only Protestants and retain Test Acts, but 1wk later cancelled the election and announced the coming invasion, 'tho some false pretences re Liberty, Property and Religion, contrived w/Art and Subtlety may be given out'
- We 10 Oct 1688 Wm pub's his 'Declaration' i.e. his intents for English liberty
- Sa 13 Oct 1688 James II meets w/Anglican bishops, complies w/all their wishes, angering RCCers and Dissenters
- Sa 20 Oct 1688 Wm's fleet puts out to sea
- Sunderland undergoes a startling transformation in the course of 3wks, from boldness to timidity, from blind courage to wide-eyed terror (as James 'caves')
- We 24 Oct 1688 Wm's 2nd Declaration issued
- Su 28 Oct Sunderland is dismissed, after having lost his nerve
- Tu 30 Oct 1688 Wm's fleet sets sail (toward NE England), but strong opposing storm that evening, so all returned to port w/400 lost horses
- Su 11 Nov 1688 finally a favorable wind, they lv, sail past Dover into English Channel 11/13 (English ships penned in by tides), a noreaster sent them to pass Isle of Wight 11/14, to Torbay in SW landing 11/5 [TDR new cal 11/15], Guy Fawkes Day !?
- date? fortunately, winds prevented the fleets from meeting' (tho many Brits likely would NOT have fought Wm, some may've)
- Mo 12 Nov James' troops fire on London rioters, killing several
- Sa 17 Nov James lvs London for Windsor, arriving Salisbury w/troops 19 Nov (Wm was at Exeter, tho some had moved E to Axminster); also 11/17 the prominent Tory Sir Edw SEYMOUR defects to Wm, notable since til then most deserters had been Whigs, it was he who suggested a signed 'association' list so they'd be committed (to 'our religion, laws and liberties'), else 'a rope of sand'
- Mo 19 Nov the Tory E of Bath desserts to Wm, 6 days later John CHURCHILL's bro Capt. Geo does, sailed into Plymouth harbor and 'came out for Wm', ending the threat of opposition W of Wm; Wm headed E from Exeter 11/19, reaching Axminster 11/22, Crewkerne, just E of Chard, 11/26
- Th 22 Nov James holds a council of war, some say attack, others retreat to London; 'normally aggressive and healthy James is now plagued by nosebleeds' (HPB?), court in confusion, all thinking of self, ignoring king, he doesn't know whom to trust; that night CHURCHILL, Grafton and Col. BERKELEY dine w/king til midnight, then have conference w/o king w/Prince Geo of Denmark, then ride off to Wm w/400 ofcrs
- Sa 24 Nov James dines w/[bro-in-law] Prince George of Denmark and the D of Ormond, long the Lord Lt of Ireland, and afterward (like above) both rode off to join Wm
- by late Nov as many towns announced for Wm (w/o fighting) the overall impression was that 'the nation was rising against James II'
- Mo 26 Nov James heads back to London
- Tu 27 Nov James meets w/Lords, sends Halifax, Nottingham, Godolphin to negotiate w/Wm
- Th 6 Dec 1688 James II asks 4 CoE bishops to condemn Wm's invasion, they refuse
- Sa 8 Dec H-N-G finally meet w/Wm at Hungerford
- Mo 10 Dec Wm sets out stern conditions for peace e.g. James' army must lv London; that night James snuck out of Whitehall Palace (threw Great Seal into the Thames) and rode E (w/2 RCCers) to find a boat to take them to France (as he'd done as a 14yo 40ya)
- We 12 Dec anti-Papist rioting in London; people fear James' army, but its actually dispersing (this threatened Wm's anti-French coalition, which included RCCers)
- Fr 14 Dec Wm reaches Windsor (having decided to bring his army to London after hearing that James was gone)
- Su 16 Dec James is brought back to London, his escape attempt foiled
- Tu 18 Dec at 1am 12/18 James is awakened and told of Wm's order for him to lv London, which he does later that day, heading upriver to Rochester by barge; also 12/18 Wm rides via carriage into London, welcomed by cheering crowds, dest. Whitehall
- Th 20 Dec Wm summons Lords, tells them he'll handle military affairs while they t/o civil admin of govt and the calling of elections to Parliament
- Sa 22 Dec after a few days deliberations, James decides to lv England (he feared dying in the Tower), so on this night he slips out back door (left unguarded by Wm) to board a boat for France, arriving there 12/25/88 (new cal 1/4/89)
- Tu 22 Jan 1689 Parliament meets after Jan elections
- Tu 12 Feb 1689 both houses agree to declaration, its read to Wm/Mary, and they're crowned the next day (a rainy Ash Wed. at 10:30am, 2/13 in England, 2/23 in Europe)
- Fr 15 Feb 1689 (unbeknownst to Wm) James left Palace of St Germain for Ireland, where Tyrconnel's mostly RCC army held pwr (i.e. to plot Wm's overthrow)
- We 8 May 1689 England declares war on France
- Su 12 May 1689 [anti-France] Grand Alliance signed at The Hague w/TDR, HRE (Leopold)
- 20 Aug (8/30) 1689 England cuts off trade w/France
- 24 Aug (9/3) 1689 Treaty between England - TDR signed [so now 3 in Grd Alliance]
- 1689-91 rel. settlement, but w/continuing 3-way Tory-Whig-King partisan feuds
- 1689-97 War of League of Augsburg (War of English Succession) ends w/Treaty of Rijswijk
- cf YbeJ for later dates