John Doremus

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Andries Doremus was born about 1766.

Notes:

Family tradition asserts that the Doremus family were originally from France, in which case the name may be a corruption of "de Heims", signifying that they came from that ancient town, or since they were of French origin, the name may be derived from "ore'mus", meaning prayer.

Cornelis d'Oremus, bachelor from Breskens was betrothed to Janneke Joris van Elsland, spinster from Groede, at de Groed April 21, 1675. They were married on record (or certificate) from here at Arnemuyden on May 12, 1675. Attest: Franciscus van Roosbeke, minister in that place.

Arnemuyden, where Cornelis Doremus and Jannetje Joris were married is a short distance east of Middleburg. It dates back to the thirteenth century, but has undergone so many vicissitudes by fire and war that it had only about 1500 inhabitants (circa 1897) whose principle occupation was fishing.

Breskens and Groede, the respective places of residence of Cornelis Doremus and Jannetje Joris, are in the northern part of the Province of Laan, which lies next south of the isalnd of Welcheren, of which Middleburg is the capital. Groede had about 12, 500 inhabitants around 1897. Breskens was smaller.
The Province of Laan is the most southwesterly of Holland and is next north of Belgium. The proximity of Breskens to Belgium might easily account for a migration from the latter country, or from France.

Middleburg is a famous town, the chief city of the Province of Zeeland, situated on the island of Walcheren, in the southwestern part of Holland.

A careful examination of the baptismal records led to the inference that Cornelis Doremus was the son of Hendrick Doremus and that he came to America before September 1684, the date of baptism of his son, Thomas at Bergen, New Jersey. Jannetje Joris was evidently the daughter of Joris Matthyssen and the sister of Matthys Joris.

The first settler in the area and his children were all called "Doremus" with very little variation in the spelling. Their two sons, Cornelis and Johannes were both born in Middleburg, Holland. Although folklore had it that a third son died on the voyage and was buried at sea.

Source: "The Doremus Family in America 1687-1987", Revised Edition, based on "The Doremus Family History in America", by William Nelson (1897), Revised, Edited and Supplemented by Edith Whicraft, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, 1990.

Cornelis married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]