July 5 1694

On July 5th 1694 Joos De Vidts died at Pamel. He was born at Pamel on April 20 1627 and had ten children with Maria Van der Kelen (Pamel February 15 1625 - Pamel October 7 1676). At this point in time, we know his forebears up to his great-grandfather, and then the family fades into the mists of history.

Joos became a meisenier in Grimbergen on April 8 1669 - a copy of the letter confirming this has survived until now, although there is some confusion about the precise date. He was a well to do tenant farmer (pachter) working about 23 dagwand, which is roughly 6 hectares - and he even had a maid. But at least one third of his children died young.

Just one line in history :

* Petrus (1655 - 1726) son of Joos and Maria, married Catharina Van Nieuwenhove (1663 - 1743) ;
* Judocus (1703 - 1750) son of Petrus and Catharina, married Catharina Theresia Van Cauwelaert (1729 - 1805) ;
* Petrus Joannes (1749 - 1793) son of Joos and Catharina, married Carolina Van der Straeten (ca 1753 - 1801) ;
* Joannes Franciscus (1784 - 1839) son of Petrus and Carolina, married Maria Elisabeth Van Lierde (1790 - 1838) ;
* Joannes (1811 - 1881) son of Joannes Franciscus married Maria Elisabeth Van der Sleyen (1811 -1860) ;
* Felix (1853 - 1940) son of Joannes and Maria Elisabeth married Blondina Muylaert (1849 - 1942) ;
* Maria Antonia (1885 - 1949) daughter of Felix and Blondina, married Joannes Franciscus Neukermans (1886 - 1961) and went to live in Okegem.
* My mother Margaretha Felicitas Neukermans (1914 - 2000) was their daughter.



A second line, restarting with Joannes and Maria Elisabeth Van der Sleyen :

* Antonia (1840 - ?) daughter of Joannes and Maria Elisabeth, married Ludovicus De Schepper (1833 - ?) from Meerbeke ;
* Joanna Maria De Schepper (1864 - 1926) daughter of Antonia and Louis, married Petrus Joannes Ravijst (1861 -1944) from Nieuwenhove ;
* Rosalia Maria (1892 - 1973) daughter of Petrus Joannes and Joanna Maria (also Leontine), married Pieter Jozef Timmermans (1886 - 1953) from Meerbeke.
* My father Petrus Joannes Timmermans (1913 - 1980) was their son.