June 24 1637

On that day, Gijsbrecht Vernaillen, sexton for over half a century, from 1586 to 1637, died in Okegem, where he was buried the next day. The parish priest wrote that he had exercised his job with care and precision ("grootste zorgvuldigheid"). In those troubled times, that must have meant a lot.

Gijsbrecht married Judoca Schoenmaeckers who died in 1632. They became "buitenpoorters" of Aalst in 1595.

They had five children. I descend from three of them. See the post for "December 28 1632".