GENEALOGY OF FENNE MASSELINK FREEMAN; Generation 8
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE AND HARMEN 1660-1731
KLEINE MASSELINK GEERD 1693-1743
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1719-1771
KLEINE MASSELINK HENDRIK 1747-1790
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE 1771-1843M
KLEINE MASSELINK GERRIT HENDRIK 1792-1870
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1841-1923 (Masselink in the USA)
MASSELINK FENNE FREEMAN (FREIMAN) 1875-1959
Mother: Gesje (Grace) Benierman Kleine Masselink (Masselink in USA)
Siblings: Eight Masselink children born and raised on the family farm in Oakland, Allegan County, Michigan: Gerrit (1872), Berend. (1873), Fenne (Fanny) (1875), Jan (John) (1877), Hendrick Jan (Henry) (1879), Berend Hendrik (Benjamin Henry or Bennie) (1881), Jantje (Jenny) (1884) and Hendrikje (Hattie) (1888); All attended the small rural school located next to the family farm for their early education; Their desire and drive for an education is quite remarkable; Two become teachers, one a college president, two dentists and two medical doctors. All from one poor immigrant family.
Spouse: John Freeman (1871-1950)
Six FREEMAN Children: Siena (Sena, Senie); Gracie; Harry; Harvey; Jennie; Robert
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE AND HARMEN 1660-1731
KLEINE MASSELINK GEERD 1693-1743
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1719-1771
KLEINE MASSELINK HENDRIK 1747-1790
KLEINE MASSELINK FENNE 1771-1843M
KLEINE MASSELINK GERRIT HENDRIK 1792-1870
KLEINE MASSELINK HARMEN 1841-1923 (Masselink in the USA)
MASSELINK FENNE FREEMAN (FREIMAN) 1875-1959
Mother: Gesje (Grace) Benierman Kleine Masselink (Masselink in USA)
Siblings: Eight Masselink children born and raised on the family farm in Oakland, Allegan County, Michigan: Gerrit (1872), Berend. (1873), Fenne (Fanny) (1875), Jan (John) (1877), Hendrick Jan (Henry) (1879), Berend Hendrik (Benjamin Henry or Bennie) (1881), Jantje (Jenny) (1884) and Hendrikje (Hattie) (1888); All attended the small rural school located next to the family farm for their early education; Their desire and drive for an education is quite remarkable; Two become teachers, one a college president, two dentists and two medical doctors. All from one poor immigrant family.
Spouse: John Freeman (1871-1950)
Six FREEMAN Children: Siena (Sena, Senie); Gracie; Harry; Harvey; Jennie; Robert
1872 APR 19 - 29 Parents Harmen and Gesje Kleine Masselink emigrate on the steam/sail ship ‘Scandinavian of Montreal from Liverpool, England on 19 Apr 1872 and arrive in Quebec, Canada on 29 Apr 1872
1872 MAY Parents Harmen and Gesje arrive in Detroit, Michigan; Travel documents state that their religion is alt ref (Old Reformed AKA Christian Reformed in the USA); Respective occupations: Artisan (skilled manual worker) and housewife
1872 MAY 06 Parents Harmen and Gesje arrive at the home of Harm's brother, Hendrik Jan in Oakland, Overisel Township, Allegan County, Michigan; Harm and his 6 month pregnant wife walk the last 7 miles to Jan's home. They stay with brother Jan for about 6 months.
1872 JUL 3 Brother Gerrit born
abt NOV 1872 Parents Harmen and Gesje buy 20 acres from brother Jan for $325 and live in the cabin Harm builds of logs hewed from a virgin forest; They struggle to overcome hardships and live there for about a year
Winter 1872-1873+ Father Harmen sells farm back to his brother Jan and to Geert Freiman (now Freeman) for $400 and buys a 50 acre farm from Jan Scholten for $875; Farm is entirely covered with primeval forest which intercepts the cold of winter; Father Harmen erects a house on this farm and family moves in when about a half of it is finished; No neighbors in sight because of the trees and woods; During these years Harmen works as a carpenter for a large part of the time and contracted to have 20 acres cleared for $20; After the entire farm is cleared, buys an additional 10 acres from Henry Boerman for $90
1873 Jun 13 Brother Berend Hendrik (Benjamin H.) born; Later attends Burnips High School
1875 Fenne born
1877 Brother Jan (John) born
1878 Parents transfer their church membership from the Christian Reformed Church in Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim, Germany to the Christian Reformed Church in Overisel, Michigan
1878 Jul Father becomes an American citizen
1879 Brother Hendrick Jan (Henry) born
1881 Brother Berend Hendrik (Benjamin Henry or Bennie) born
1881 Cousin Gerrit Hendrik (son of Harm's brother Hendrik) emigrates to Michigan
1882 Uncle Hendrik and four of Hendrik's daughters (Gerrit's cousins) emigrate to Michigan
1884 Sister Jantje (Jenny) born
1886 Father builds a barn and later a hog pen and a chicken coop
1888 Sister Hendrikje (Hattie) born
1893 Nov 8 Fenne at 18 marries John Freeman in Oakland, Allegan, Michigan; In addition to farming, John is an insurance salesman and serves on the local school board, church consistory and Salem Township governing board
1895 Father owns a 60 acre farm in Overisel, Ottawa County, Michigan (See Map in File)
1900 Fenne and John live in Salem Township; Allegan, Michigan with their children and John's parents
1903 Dec 02 Father Harm's children were grown and wanted an education, so the farm is sold to John Weaver for $4,000; Parents then bought a house in Drenthe, Ottawa County, Michigan from R Lanting for $500
1904 Feb 23 Parents move to their house in Drenthe
1910 Fenne and John continue to live in Salem Township; Allegan, Michigan with their children and John's parents
1917 AUG 11 Mother Gesje (Grace) dies
1923 Father Harm dies in Zeeland, Michigan; Harm and his wife are both buried in the Zeeland City Cemetery, 144 E Lincoln Ave, Zeeland, Michigan; Their greatest reward comes through the realization that their children responded to their teachings
1950 Fenne's husband John dies and is buried in Bentheim Cemetery, Allegan County, MI
1959 Fenne dies and is buried in Bentheim Cemetery, Allegan County, Michigan
1872 MAY Parents Harmen and Gesje arrive in Detroit, Michigan; Travel documents state that their religion is alt ref (Old Reformed AKA Christian Reformed in the USA); Respective occupations: Artisan (skilled manual worker) and housewife
1872 MAY 06 Parents Harmen and Gesje arrive at the home of Harm's brother, Hendrik Jan in Oakland, Overisel Township, Allegan County, Michigan; Harm and his 6 month pregnant wife walk the last 7 miles to Jan's home. They stay with brother Jan for about 6 months.
1872 JUL 3 Brother Gerrit born
abt NOV 1872 Parents Harmen and Gesje buy 20 acres from brother Jan for $325 and live in the cabin Harm builds of logs hewed from a virgin forest; They struggle to overcome hardships and live there for about a year
Winter 1872-1873+ Father Harmen sells farm back to his brother Jan and to Geert Freiman (now Freeman) for $400 and buys a 50 acre farm from Jan Scholten for $875; Farm is entirely covered with primeval forest which intercepts the cold of winter; Father Harmen erects a house on this farm and family moves in when about a half of it is finished; No neighbors in sight because of the trees and woods; During these years Harmen works as a carpenter for a large part of the time and contracted to have 20 acres cleared for $20; After the entire farm is cleared, buys an additional 10 acres from Henry Boerman for $90
1873 Jun 13 Brother Berend Hendrik (Benjamin H.) born; Later attends Burnips High School
1875 Fenne born
1877 Brother Jan (John) born
1878 Parents transfer their church membership from the Christian Reformed Church in Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim, Germany to the Christian Reformed Church in Overisel, Michigan
1878 Jul Father becomes an American citizen
1879 Brother Hendrick Jan (Henry) born
1881 Brother Berend Hendrik (Benjamin Henry or Bennie) born
1881 Cousin Gerrit Hendrik (son of Harm's brother Hendrik) emigrates to Michigan
1882 Uncle Hendrik and four of Hendrik's daughters (Gerrit's cousins) emigrate to Michigan
1884 Sister Jantje (Jenny) born
1886 Father builds a barn and later a hog pen and a chicken coop
1888 Sister Hendrikje (Hattie) born
1893 Nov 8 Fenne at 18 marries John Freeman in Oakland, Allegan, Michigan; In addition to farming, John is an insurance salesman and serves on the local school board, church consistory and Salem Township governing board
1895 Father owns a 60 acre farm in Overisel, Ottawa County, Michigan (See Map in File)
1900 Fenne and John live in Salem Township; Allegan, Michigan with their children and John's parents
1903 Dec 02 Father Harm's children were grown and wanted an education, so the farm is sold to John Weaver for $4,000; Parents then bought a house in Drenthe, Ottawa County, Michigan from R Lanting for $500
1904 Feb 23 Parents move to their house in Drenthe
1910 Fenne and John continue to live in Salem Township; Allegan, Michigan with their children and John's parents
1917 AUG 11 Mother Gesje (Grace) dies
1923 Father Harm dies in Zeeland, Michigan; Harm and his wife are both buried in the Zeeland City Cemetery, 144 E Lincoln Ave, Zeeland, Michigan; Their greatest reward comes through the realization that their children responded to their teachings
1950 Fenne's husband John dies and is buried in Bentheim Cemetery, Allegan County, MI
1959 Fenne dies and is buried in Bentheim Cemetery, Allegan County, Michigan
Fenne (Fanny) is named after paternal ancestor; Married in 1893 and manages a large 3 generation farm comprised of their 6 children, her husband's parents (Harm and Zwen (Susan) Freeman) and a nephew (Harm Wiers); Is as a "most loving mother"; Maintains a large garden and orchard; Cans and preserves many of the provisions required by the large family; An excellent seamstress; Known for her intelligence, kindness and patience