July 10 1663

Maria Beeckman, born (baptized) at Okegem on May 19 1603 and married to Judocus Vernaillen, passed away at Okegem on July 10 1663. Her husband came from a line of sextons (koster) and became sexton-schoolmaster after a quarrel with his brother. He also did the maintenance of the tower clock and was alderman at Okegem (schepen) for a couple of years. He passed away at Okegem on September 1 1652.

Both my great-grandfathers in the maternal line descend from this couple.

--- My great-grandfather Felix De Vidts descended from their son Adrianus Vernaillen.

A very short overview : Adrianus fathered Michael (born at Okegem in 1657). Michael was the father of Egidius (Denderleeuw 1691 - Okegem 1759). Egidius's daughter Joanna was born at Impegem in 1725 and died at Pamel in 1791. She married Ferdinandus Van der Sleyen (Pamel 1724 - Pamel 1810). They had a son Michael (Pamel 1758 - Pamel 1827), who fathered Maria Elisabeth Van der Sleyen (Pamel 1811 - Pamel 1860). As stated before, Maria Elisabeth was the mother of my great-grandfather Felix De Vidts.

--- My great-grandfather Hermilianus Neukermans descended from their daughter Livina.

Livina Vernaillen married Niclaas De Mol at Okegem in 1666. Their son Judocus (Okegem 1669 - Okegem 1735) fathered Joannes (Okegem 1699- Okegem 1777) who was the father of Joanna (Okegem 1733 - Okegem 1791). Joanna married Petrus Van der Speeten (Okegem 1733 - Okegem 1786), the father of Cornelius (Okegem 1772 - Okegem 1806). Cornelius's daughter Alexandrina Van der Speeten (Okegem 1795 - Okegem 1831) mothered Catharina Asselman (Okegem 1823 - Okegem 1892) who was the mother of my great-grandfather Hermilianus Neukermans.