Variations to Masselink Surname in Historical Documents
Grote Masselink; Grote Masseling
Kleine Masselink; Kline Masseling
Maskelink
Masselinc
Masselinck
Masseling
Masselingh
Masselink
Masselman
Massling
Messelinc
Messelink
Messolinc
1700 BC In what is now Grafschaft Bentheim Princial elders are "buried" after the deceased are solemnly burned and their ashes collected in urns. A simple hill indicated the place where the dead elders were interred and such cemeteries still exist in Grafschaft Bentheim (the ancestral Masselink home) near Getelo and Hardinghausen. A gold cremation cup was found in this area (Gölenkamp) dating back to about 1700 BC.
800 BC Iron Age Climate becomes colder; More rain; People move to higher-level land.
500-600 AD Germanic tribes settle in the area.
In The Netherlands, Saxons occupy the territory south of the Frisians and north of the Franks. In the west it reached as far as the Gooi region, in the south as far as the Lower Rhine. After the conquest of Charlemagne (around the year 800), this area formed the main part of the Bishopric of Utrecht. The local language, although strongly influenced by standard Dutch, is still officially recognized as Dutch Low Saxon.
782-785 Charlemagne returns to Saxony in 782 and institutes a code of law and appoints both Saxon and Frank counts. Laws are draconian on religious issues; For example, the Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae prescribes death to Saxon pagans who refuse to convert to Christianity. This revives an old conflict. That autumn, the Saxon King Widukind returns and leads a new revolt. In response, at Verden in Lower Saxony, Charlemagne is recorded as ordering the execution of 4,500 Saxon prisoners known as the Massacre of Verden (Verdener Blutgericht). These killings trigger three years of renewed bloody warfare (783–785). The war ended with Widukind accepting baptism.
782 Charlemagne enforces the Scholten laws. Each village in Grafschaft Bentheim has a Scholte whose function is to alert the villages when enemy tribes try to invade. They also collect a tenth of the earnings from the farmers to pay for their military protection in addition to ensuring "proper Christian behavior".
799 Werden Abbey. Near what is now the German city of Essen, Saint Luidger establishes a monastery and becomes its first abbot. Many of his family’s properties in Utrecht, Netherlands are gifted to this abbey.
799-1737 Werden Abbey (Abdij) owns extensive landholdings, to include property in eastern Netherlands, some of which sometime after 804 became the original Masselink farms near Vasse and Mander. Vasse is now a population center in the Municipality of Tubbergen, in the Province of Overijssel, NL. This farm becomes known as the 'Masselink Farm' and 'Masselink' becomes our ancestor's permanent surname (last name). Speculation: There is some evidence that the farm's original owner is surnamed 'Masse' or 'Masselman' (Mace-man) who became known by the new surname 'Masselink' (i.e., the name of his farm) after acquiring the Werden and Mander farm leaseholds from the Werden Abbey.
799-1768 Abbey Werden's extensive landholdings in eastern Netherlands also include property which sometime after 804 becomes the other original Masselink farm near Mander. Mander is now a population center in the Municipality of Tubbergen, in the Province of Overijssel, NL. This Masselink probably held a hereditary lijftuct or liebzocht (meaning a land grant usually given as a reward to someone who retired after usually long and distinguished service to the crown) for both the Vasse and the Mander farms.
800-850 The first Grafschaft Bentheim settlements of Hasangen (Hesingen) Vilehem (Wilsum) and Hardthini (Hardingen) are known. As the climate changed and became dryer, the lower lying areas become inhabited.
804 Charlemagne donates thirty hoven (farms) in Twente to the Abbey of Werden to finance the education of priests, including two farms near Ootmarsum: Vasse and Mander. Part of the Charlemagne donated properties became the original Masselink Farms located in Vasse and Mander with land records going back to sometime before 1332. From 877, the abbots of Werden are imperial princes who have a seat in the imperial diets. It is a wealthy abbey with possessions in Westphalia, Frisia (Utrecht) and eastern Saxony. In the 9th century the Werden Monastery had 45 properties in Twente, including: De Lutte (Monninkhof and Elfterheurne), Denekamp, Beuningen, Zenderen, Mander, Rossum, Lemselo, Lonneker, Albergen, Neuenhaus and Nordhorn. These properties were about 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) apart and connected by good roads. A farm (hof) is a well defined property in the capitulare issued during Carolingian times. These farms often had a wooden or stone tower that functioned as the living quarters and a range of farming and trade buildings and depending on the geography, sometimes also a watermill. Around 974, it appears that some inherited farms split one time 2/3 and 1/3 or 3/4 and 1/4 after the death of the original owner. The Abbey, with a territory of 125 square kilometers (about 50 square miles), retains its independence and flourishes until its secularization by Prussia in 1802-1803.
<814 Some speculate that their families came to what is now eastern Netherlands because they were handpicked by Charlemagne sometime before his death in 814 to be model farmers in the region. They were all reported to have had large farms. In fact, the original Masselink farms, in what is now Mander and Vasse in the Netherlands (which in the 800's was part of Charlemagne's Holy Roman Empire and near the border of present day Grafschaft Bentheim), were the largest farms given to the model farmer families. The story goes that around the year 800, some nine families from Charlemagne's Saxony settle in Vasse and Mander area. These nine families all had a suffix added to their surname ending in "link" (if their surname ended in a vowel) or "ink" (if it did not end in a vowel). These suffixed" surnames became the names of the farms which in turn became their new respective farm names. (The suffix "ink" was added to one's surname to denote ownership of a property, e.g., "link" was added to the surname "Masse" to denote the name of his farm, which is "Masselink", meaning the farm belonging to Masse). So, both their farm name and surname of these nine families became: Geerdink (also known as Ensink), Lensink, Masselink, Mastink, Mensink, Teusink, Vrielink, Warmelink and Wigbelink.
All Masselinks probably descended from either the original owner of the pre-1332 Masselink farms in either Mander or Vasse or (and more likely for my Masselink ancestors) from someone who worked on these Masselink farms. As was the custom then, anyone who lived and worked on a farm changed their last name to the name of the farm, which in this case the name of the farm was "Masselink".
890 In the time of Charlemagne, "Hasungrun" (Hesingen), "Wllsehem" (Wilsum), and "Harthini" (Hard Ingen) were established villages in "Tuhiante" (present Bentheim area). From no later than 1407, there is a Masselink farm located in Hardin Ingen (Hardinghausen).
950-1300 Period of steady demographic and economic growth in Western Europe; agricultural production increases markedly, especially between 1050-1250. This represented both extensive and intensive agricultural growth. Most of the increase in grain production came from expanding the acreage under cultivation. The increase in arable acreage under cultivation was the result of both natural and human action. The climate of northern Europe between 950 and 1300 was warmer than in the early Middle Ages, which meant longer growing seasons and the ability to cultivate lands further north and expand the repertoire of crops. Human activity took the form of extensive woodland clearance (i.e., assarting) and draining of marshes for the purpose of making land available for agriculture. This was both encouraged and funded by nobles who granted freedom to serfs willing to establish new villages in woodland clearances. The twelfth and thirteenth centuries marked the period of the greatest deforestation in Western European history. By 1250 there were few trees left in France large enough for ship masts and cathedral beams. New farming practices also resulted in higher crop yields. The most important of these was the shift from a two-field system, in which half the land always lay fallow, to a three-field system of crop rotation. Closer integration of animal husbandry and cereal agriculture led to more efficient manuring (animal and human manure were the main sources of fertilizer). More extensive cultivation of beans and peas, nitrogen-fixing crops, not only improved peasant diets but also helped restore the soil’s fertility. Technology also played a role, especially the widespread use of the heavy plow with an iron coulter which allowed cultivation of the fertile heavy clay lands of northern Europe. The invention of the horse collar and horseshoes also made possible the replacement of oxen with horses for plowing and transport; the latter was especially important in reducing transportation costs for marketing.
By 974, it appears that some inherited farms mentioned in the year 804 above, split one-time 2/3 and 1/3 or 3/4 and 1/4 after the death of the original or descendant owner. Theses owners by inheritance would be
1020 Bentheim is mentioned for the first time in 1020, when Otto von Nordheim became the owner of the castle.
1050 The county of Bentheim was in existence, although little is known of its history before 1115. It's mentioned as a place called "Binithem" in the tithe revenue registers of Werden Abbey. Actually, in these early times, it is not quite correct to refer to the County (Grafschaft) Bentheim as it is known today with its current territorial borders. Essentially, its realm of influence would not have extended much beyond the Castle. The countryside was an underpopulated wasteland consisting of great expanses of heath and impenetrable moor areas. The ecclesiastical structure of the County of Bentheim in the Middle Ages divided the territory into two halves. The northwest part, including Neuenhaus, Veldhausen, Emlichheim and Uelsen, was under the jurisdiction of the Utrecht Diocese, whereas Bentheim, Schüttorf and Nordhorn, were part of the Münster Diocese.
1116 Lothar of Süpplinburg captures Castle Bentheim. The destroyed castle was apparently rebuilt again soon thereafter.
1146-1190 Bentheim Castle comes under an armed conflict in 1146 between Otto of Rheineck and the Bishop of Utrecht regarding ownership rights in the Twente region. During this feud, Otto and his army of knights were defeated near Ootmarsum and brought to Utrecht as prisoners. After a short time, he was released, though he had to accept that his castle was under the feudal tenure of the Utrecht Diocese until 1190.
1176 26 SEP: Otto IV's mother Sophia of Rheineck dies and is buried in Jerusalem. It was through the inheritance and marriage of Sophie that the Bentheim Castle and rule subsequently came into the possession of the Counts of Holland, who called itself after Castle Bentheim from this point on. Sophia, also known as Sophie of Salm, Countess of Bentheim (1120–1176), was a German noblewoman. Her father was Count Otto I of Rheineck, the son of the anti-king Hermann of Salm. Her mother was Gertrud of Northeim. She was married to Dirk VI, Count of Holland. Sophia built new churches in the abbeys of Egmond and Rijnsburg. In 1138, she made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with her husband. During their return journey, they visited the pope in Rome. After her husband's death, she made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella and two more pilgrimages to Jerusalem in 1173 and 1176. During the latter visit, she died in the St. Mary's hospital of the Teutonic Knights in Jerusalem. She was buried in Jerusalem. Count Otto accompanied his mother to Jerusalem and returns to Bentheim after her death in 1176 and becomes an assistant to the Emperor of Germany, Frederick I.
1182 May 23-27 Otto IV is at the Court of the German Emperor in Mainz.
1188 Masselinc farms in existence at Vasse in the municipality of Tubbergen, NL.
1189 Graf (Count) van Bentheim, Otto IV van Holland (1143 - 1209). Otto takes part in the Third Crusade with his brother Floris III. The Third Crusade was from 1189-1192. Floris III was a loyal vassal to Frederick I Barbarossa. He accompanies the emperor on two expeditions to Italy in 1158 and 1176–1178. Frederick thanked him by making Floris part of the imperial nobility.
11 May 1189 German Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) leaves Europe on the Third Crusade with about 15,000 men, including 3,000 knights. In 1189 Floris III "the Crusader", Count of Holland, accompanies Frederick Barbarossa on the third Crusade, of which he was a distinguished leader. Otto IV of Bentheim also takes part in the Third Crusade with his brother Floris III and Flois's son, William I. Floris dies 1 AUG 1190 at Antioch, Turkey of pestilence and was buried there. Two sons of Floris III became Count of Holland: Dirk VII in 1190 and William I in 1203. Otto IV returns from the crusade and dies sometimes around 1207-1208 in Bentheim. After Floris III's death, William remains in the Holy Land until sometime before 1203. The Third Crusade ended with the Treaty of Ramla, whereby Saladin agreed to let Christian pilgrims visit Jerusalem in order to fulfill their vows. Many men from Bentheim followed the Counts of Bentheim in several crusades. Many never saw their homeland again. The Count inherited their property and placed new people on their homesteads. After the signing of the Treaty, the crusaders were allowed to return home.
10 JUN 1190: Before reaching the Holy Land, Frederick I drowns in the Saleph River in present day Turkey. The vast majority of his men turn back in 1190. But 5,000 pressed onward as Barbarossa's son, Frederick VI of Swabia, carries on with the remnants of the German army and arrives in Acre.
1192 Peace was settled in 1192, at which point most of the crusaders of the 3rd Crusade sailed away disappointed they hadn't taken back Jerusalem.
1200 The River Vecht becomes a trade route to the Netherlands and around 1200, the Bentheim territory, to date consisting
largely of the Castle and the estate at Schüttorf, expanded with the purchase of the country court at Uelsen, the area around what is Niedergrafschaft today. Thus, the prerequisite for forming a self-contained territory was established.
12th and 13th century: The Counts of Bentheim make repeated efforts to extend their territory into the adjacent Dutch area by acquiring the offices of the bailiff in Twente and Drenthe, as well as taking over Coevorden as burgraves (military governors). The territorial expansion against the Münster and Osnabrück dioceses was less successful. It is not easy to define the Bentheim territory in the 12th and 13th century, since it was during these times that the Lords began to delineate their territorial borders. It was not until the 14th century that the territory they ruled could legitimately be referred to as a County of the Holy Roman Empire.
1200-1250 Pestilence in Bentheim.
1217 Count Baldwin of Bentheim departs on a crusade and later returns to Bentheim Castle.
abt 1252 Benedikiner Monks leave the Wietmarschen Monestary and move to Weerselo in the Netherlands. The Weeselo Monastery has a rocky relationship with Count Balduin of Bentheim. There were always soldiers and refugees in the monastery. In 1676 the monastery gains legal status under Bishop Bernard von Galen and becomes a rich institution because of the gifts from the German nobility. This lasted until Napoleon conquered the area. From before the year 1601 through the year 1808, a portion of Masselink farm crops in Mander are paid to the Weerselo Monastery (Stift Weerselo) in Overijssel.
1300 Bentheim's influence in the Netherlands is clearly reduced around 1300.
1312 The castle in Uelsen, which until that time formed part of Twente, is now a possession of the Count of Bentheim.
<1332-1777 The Masselink farms in Vasse and Mander in what is now Overijssel in Eastern Netherlands first appear in tax records. The large land holding in Mander and the smaller land holding in Vasse owned by the Catholic Abbey of Werden were put in the name of the first known Masselink sometime before 1332. The larger Masselink farm in Mander is a full inheritance (volgewaard erve), which meant that he and his descendants would retain full ownership of the land in perpetuity as long as the required taxes to the church and government were made or until the family sold the property. The smaller Masselink farm in Vasse was a lijftuct (liebzocht), meaning land given to someone who was retired probably as a result of his service to the Charlemagne in the early 15th century. . The distance between the Mander and Vasse farms is about a mile.
We cannot be certain that we are related by blood to this alleged warrior because as was the custom then, anyone who worked on a farm took as their last name the name of that farm. This makes the genealogy of our ancestors before 1660 extremely difficult. So, while we may owe our last name of Masselink to this speculated warrior, our blood relation probably descends from the peasants who worked on the Masselink farms who took and kept the farm name of Masselink as their own surname. Sometime before 1407, one or more of these Masselinks moved less than 10 miles North into the Grafschaft Bentheim Parishes of Getelo and Uelsen (Hardinghausen is in the Parish of Uelsen) where three unrelated Masselink families eventually resided: the Masselinks in Getelo, the Kleine Masselinks in Hardinghausen (my ancestors), and the Grote Masselink in Hardinghausen. We speculate that we are not related to the Grote Masselinks' because after the split of the Masselink farm that occurred sometime before 1660 in Hardinghausen, the Grote Masselink farm was probably subsequently acquired by an unrelated family who then changed their surname to the farm name of Grote Masselink, as was the custom then. There is also no known record of any intermarriage between the Getelo Masselinks', the Grote Masselinks' and/or the Kleine Masselink's.
1348-1351 Church District in Uelsen comes under the Bistom of Utrecht, Netherlands
1364 There is a road named 'Messelinkweg' located near the town of Varsseveld, NL. A Masselinc Farm is reported to be located in Bocholt, NL.
1380-1386 In 1801, J. D. von Steinen wrote a history of the Westphalia region in Germany entitled: "Fortgesetzte westphälische Geschichte" (Continuing Story of Westphalia). In this book, he quotes official records of Grafschaft Bentheim as stating that between 1380 and 1386 "Verkauf einer Markengerechtigkeit auf dem Gut Masselink" (A common area on the Masselink farm was sold). Further research is required to determine the connection, if any, between the Masselink from Vasse and Mander and the Kleine Masselink of Bentheim, as the Mander farm is some 10 miles south of where the Kleine Masselink's lived in Hardinghausen, Grafschaft Bentheim.
1381 Records at Vasse, Municipality of Tubbergen, NL state Masselinc farms existed since before the year 1188.
1381 Masselinc farm recorded in Getelo (now in Germany) just across the border from Mander, NL.
1384 Masselinc farm recorded in Getelo (now in Germany) just across the border from Mander, NL now named Messolinc.
<1400 Dutch tax records of 1475 state that the Masselink Farm in Mander was already known.
1400 Around 1400 the borders of Grafschaft Bentheim were largely defined, and except for slight changes, the borders still remain much the same today.
1407 Masling (Masselink) Farm first recorded in tax records. The farm was located in Herdinghuesen (Hardinghausen) in the farm community (buerscap) of Havekinnchem in the Parish of Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim in what is now Germany. My ancestors held title to a farm in Hardinghausen until they emigrated to the United States in late 1800's. Hardinghausen is about 10 miles north of Mander and Vasse. Hardinghausen is the home of the Hardi descendants who split off from the community Haftenkamp (date unknown). The Hardinghausen farm was probably raw land when my ancestors arrived to claim their farm leasehold and required extensive woodland clearance (assarting) and draining of marshes to make their land ready for farming. This was both encouraged and funded by nobles who granted freedom to serfs willing to establish new villages in woodland clearances.
1463 The book "Mensch en Land in de Middeleleuwen" by B.H. Slicher van Bath, the erf (inheritable farm) mentions the Masselinck in Hardinghausen. He cites page 156 of volume 4 of Tijd rekenkundig register op het oud-provinciaal archief van Overijssel by J. van Doorninck.
1463 A Masselinck Farm is located by Hardingen, not far from Getelo.
1475 This Masselinck Farm located by Hardingen, not far from Getelo is now known as the Masseling Farm; Tax records state that the Masselink farm was known from before 1440.
1475 Tax records show that the Vasse Masselink Farm paid their taxes in gold
1475 The Masselink Farm in Herdinschuzen (Hardinghausen) in Uelsen Parish, Grafschaft Bentheim is reported in the Dutch tax records (Het Schattingsregister van 1475); The Masselink farm is no longer a part of the farm community (buerscap) of Havekinnchem; The Masselink farm is now listed as the only farm in the farming community of Herdinschuzen (Hardinghausen). From 1407 to 1475, the number of farms that were taxed by the Dutch government of Twente went from 133 to 92 in this part of Grafschaft Bentheim (slot te Lage). We know by individual ancestor name who owned the farm leasehold in Hardinghausen from sometime before 1660 until they emigrated to the United States in late 1800's.
1486 Emperor Friedrich III makes Bentheim a fiefdom and for the first time, Bentheim is officially recognized as an imperial fief.
1517 Oct 31 The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences written by Martin Luther and are widely regarded as the initial catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. On 31 October 1517, Luther posted the ninety-five theses, which he had composed in Latin, on the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg, according to university custom.
1540's Calvinism arrives in the Netherlands. The Protestant theological system of John Calvin develops Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone and emphasizes the grace of God and the doctrine of predestination greatly impacts my ancestors, as religious freedom is one reason they left their farm in Hardinghausen and emigrated to Michigan in the second half of the 1800's.
1544 Arnold II, Count of Bentheim, officially converts to Lutheranism, beginning a slow process of introducing the Reformation in Bentheim and to the other territories he ruled. Church membership is like citizenship. Mass is no longer served. Only communion and baptism are recognized as sacraments. The churches in Uelsen, Veldhausen and Neuhenhaus are also converted.
1568-1648 The Eighty Years' War (or the Dutch War of Independence) began as a revolt of the Seventeen Provinces against the political and religious hegemony of Philip II of Spain, the sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands. After the initial stages, Philip II deployed his armies and regained control over most of the rebelling provinces. However, under the leadership of the exiled William of Orange, the northern provinces continued their resistance and managed to oust the Habsburg armies and, in 1581, established the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. The war continued in other areas, although the heartland of the republic was no longer threatened. The war ended in 1648 with the Peace of Münster, when the Dutch Republic was recognized as an independent country. Bentheim is neutral but still loses much property because the Spanish do not recognize its borders.
1571 The first Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church adopts the Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession as confessional standards
1588 Protestant preachers introduced into Bentheim during the autumn of 1587; The Count of Bentheim and his people accept the Reformed faith
1591 The Parish of Veldhausen reports 40,000 thaler damage caused by Spanish troops
1594 Spanish General Verduzo moves his troops into Uelsen. Farmers flee over the fields toward the fortified House of Esche; There is little food and contagious diseases set in.
1601-1808 The Weerselo Monastery (Stift Weerselo) in Overijssel, Netherlands is also shown as the owner of the Masselink Farm in Mander, Netherlands
1601 The Masselink (spelled in the tax record as MASSELYNCK and MASSELINCK) Farm in Mander is recorded in tax records as arable land. Part of the harvest of the Mander farm is paid as required by the lyftucht (lijftucht) to the Masselink of Vasse
1601 Masselink (spelled Masselman) Vasse Farm pays their taxes and church tithes in crops
1602 Masselink (spelled Masselingh) in Mander farm tax records and spelled 'Masselman' in Vasse farm tax records
1605 Grafschaft Bentheim School System is introduced.
1606 County is split in two lines, Bentheim and Steinfurt
1613 Count Arnold Jobst of Bentheim-Steinfurt creates the Higher Church Council to help administer the spiritual matters of Bentheim and establishes the Reformed Church of Bentheim.
1613-1617 The Bentheim Confession. This 12 Article Confession came out of the Protestant Reformation. It was proposed in March 1613 at the Imperial Court of Bentheim and approved in 1617 in a solemn and extraordinary assembly in the Castle of Bentheim in April 1617.
1618-1648 Thirty Years' War. Troops from Münster, Lüneburg, Hesse and Sweden demand lodging and food. Even though Grafschaft Bentheim was supposedly neutral, the people suffered greatly when the invading troops quartered themselves in their homes and took much of their last belongings. The people are drained and poor. Churches become places of refuge instead of worship. My ancestor's birth, death and marriage that were records recorded at the Uelsen Town Hall were destroyed during the war which is why I cannot trace my ancestors by name from before 1660. The Thirty-Years War in the County coincided with inheritance disputes and a foreign administration by the Prince Bishop of Münster led to a financial crisis. Around 1626, Bentheim was occupied several times and plundered by roaming troops of unpaid soldiers. The following years saw poor harvests. In 1636, there were thousands of plague victims and another epidemic happened in 1664.
1630 and 1632 Grafschaft Bentheim crop failures
1636 Thousands of plague victims. Another epidemic happened in 1664.
1648 The Dutch War of Independence (Eighty Years War) ends with the Peace of Münster in which the Dutch Republic is recognized as an independent country. It is a landmark treaty for the Dutch republic and one of the key events in Dutch history. With it, the United Netherlands finally becomes independent from the Spanish Crown. This treaty was also a part of the Peace of Westphalia which ended both the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War.
Before 1660: Hardinghausen was founded when the descendants of the Hardi family split-off from the Haftenkamp community (Abspliß von Haftenkamp, Häuser der Nachkommen des Hardi). Although the date of the split is unknown, we know it occurred before 1660. Information regarding our specific ancestors before 1660 is unknown. Researching this will be difficult as the official records kept in the local village of Uelsen, Bentheim were destroyed during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).
1660 Masselink Generation One KLEINE MASSELING, Fenne * um (around) 1660 in Hardinghausen, + 1731 in Hardinghausen. KLEINE MASSELING, Harmen * um 1660 in Hardinghausen, + before 1713 in Hardinghausen. HARMEN and FENNE Kleine Masseling (Masseling in German and Masselink in Dutch) are the oldest known named Masselink ancestors. They were born around 1660 in the farming community of Hardinghausen and married in the village of Uelsen in Grafschaft Bentheim sometime before 1693. The names of HARMEN’S and FENNE’S respective siblings and parents are unknown. Also unknown is Fenne’s or Harmen’s surname before marriage, as either one could have been a Kleine Masselink. After Harmen’s death, Fenne marries Jan Bekhuis on 1713 Apr 23 in Uelsen, no known children. Harmen was buried in Uelsen sometime before April 1713 and Fenne was buried in Uelsen in April 1731. They had four children, two of whom were registered with the surname Kleine Masseling: two with the surname Masseling. The prefix "Kleine" in front of their names meant that their original Masselink farm was split in two after one of the ancestral owners of the Masselink farm in Hardinghausen died sometime before 1660 (or they descended from workers on the Vasse or Mander farms in the Netherlands that were divided by inheritance.). The inherited division was seldom equal, and the farm is often split 3/4 and 1/4. The 3/4 portion became known as the Grote (big) farm and the 1/4 portion was known as the Kleine (small) farm and the people living on these two Masselink farms are known as Grote Masselink and Kleine Masselink. All of my known ancestors were Kleine Masselink's until they emigrated to America where their name was shortened to "Masselink", as the term "Kleine" had no meaning after they departed Grafschaft Bentheim and arrived in America. Though all of my known ancestors in Grafschaft Bentheim were heavily influenced by the Dutch culture and spoke a dialect of Dutch at home, they were not Dutch by nationality. Based on what government was in charge, they were either Bentheimer, Hanoverian, French, Prussian, or German.
1664 Plague in Bentheim
1668 Ernst Wilhelm, the Count of Bentheim, returns to the Catholic Church; The people remain Reformed
1693 Masselink Generation Two KLEINE MASSELING, Geerd * um 1693 in Hardinghausen, + date and location unknown, father HARMEN (1660). GEERD marries Swenne WESSELER on 1718 Sep 1 in Uelsen; Ten children born in Hardinghausen with the surname Kleine Masseling: HARMEN (1719), Jenne (1720), Jan (1725), Geerd (1728), Hendrikjen (1730), Fenne (1731), Hendrik (1734), Geerdjen (1738), Derk (1741) and a second Fenne (1743)
1697 A Geerd Grosse-Masselink farm (neubauer) in Hardinghausen is listed in the Osnabruck registry. There is also a B. Masselink farmer (koetter) in Halle-Hasingen. No known relation.
1700 Trade via the Vecht River increases
1701 Peace treaty at Den Haag settles the issue of succession for the Counts of Bentheim.
1719 Masselink Generation Three KLEINE MASSELING (MASSELINK), Harmen * 1/12/1719 in Hardinghausen, + 5/11/1747 in Hardinghausen, father GEERD (1693), HARMEN married Fenne Bargman around 1741 in Uelsen, two children born in Hardinghausen with the surname Kleine Masseling: Swenne (1742) and HENDRIK (1747).
1737 The Masselink farm in Vasse is no longer owned by the Church; It now belongs to the resident owners of the farm.
1747 Masselink Generation Four KLEINE MASSELING, Hendrik * 3/24/1747 in Hardinghausen, + 3/13/1798 in Uelsen, father HARMEN (1719). HENDRIK married Aale Holt (Holthuis) on 5/13/1770 in Uelsen, six children with the surname Kleine Masselink and all but Gerrit and Jan born in Hardinghausen: FENNE (1771), Hendrik (1773), Harmon (1775), Geerd (1783), Jan (1779 in Uelsen), and Gerrit (1786 in Halle). Jan is in the Masselink family tree but is not listed in the German Kleine Masselink registry (because Jan is a an illegitimate child?)
1753 The County of Bentheim is seized by the elector of Hanover. "In 1753, trouble within made them (the Counts of Bentheim) take out a mortgage to the King of Hanover and England." For almost 700 years prior to this, Grafshaft Bentheim was independently ruled by the Counts of Bentheim and that they might have continued thus had it not been for the circumstances of 1753
1756-1763 Seven years War with Prussia.
1769 Tax records show that in 1769 the Hardinghausen community consisted of some 328 ha (about 760 acres) broken into 1 whole farm, three 3/4 farms, one 1/2 farm. and three 1/4 farms. Speculation: Doing the math and allowing for roads and other land uses, a whole farm could have been about 160 acres, a 3/4 farm-about 120 acres, a 1/2 farm-about 80 acres, and a 1/4 farm-about 40 acres. Assuming that farms were not split by inheritance more than once in Hardinghausen, two farms could have remained intact (the whole farm and the half farm) and three farms could have been split into six farms (three (grote?) 3/4 farms and three 1/4 (kleine?) farms). Our Masselink ancestors held title to a Kleine farm in Hardinghausen.
1771 Masselink Generation Five KLEINE MASSELING, Fenne * 3/22/1771 in Hardinghausen, + 11/20/1843 in Hardinghausen, father HENDRIK (1747). FENNE is our only female direct ancestor. FENNE married three times: 1st, Gerrit Kleine Masseling Humberink; No known children. When Gerrit died, FENNE probably inherited his farm. Fenne probably also inherited her father Hendrik's farm when he died. 2nd, To Hendrik Groene 1791 Feb 6 in Uelsen. At the time of the marriage, Hendrick Groene changed his name to Kleine Masselink because FENNE had a land dowry that required the farm to stay in the Kleine Masseling family name, five children born in Hardinghausen with the surname Kleine Masselink: GERRIT HENDRIK (1792), Janna (1794), Aale (1799), Jan (1804), and Hendrikjen (1807). 3rd, To Gerrit Koelman on 9/4/1811 in Uelsen. At the time of the marriage, Gerrit Koelman changed his name to Kleine Masselink because FENNE had a land dowry that required the farm to stay in the Kleine Masselink family name, one child born in Hardinghausen with the surname Kleine Masselink: Hendrika (1812).
1772 Extremely dry year leads to much hunger.
1777 The Masselink Farm in Mander is no longer owned by the Church; It now belongs to the resident owners of the farm.
1787-1789 French revolution.
1789 MAR 4 The U.S. Constitution came into effect in America.
1792 Masselink Generation Six KLEINE MASSELING, Gerrit Hendrik* 1/29/1792 in Hardinghausen, + 12/22/1870 in Hardinghausen, mother Fenne (1771). He married Fenne Walkotten on 12/18/1824 in Uelsen, six children with the surname Kleine Masselink and all born in Hardinghausen: Fenne (1825), Aale (1827), Hendrik (1829), Hendrick Jan (1832), Albert (1837) and Harm (1840). Background: GERRIT HENDRIK is a Colon (full farmer) in Hardinghausen because he probably inherited the two farms previously owned by his grandfather Hendrik and his Great Uncle Jan that his mother FENNE had probably previously inherited. His title would be Colon Kleine Masselink from Hardinghausen. This seems to be an upgrade in status, because this is the first time a Kleine Masselink was referred to as a Colon...probably has the result of joining the two previously mentioned small farms into what was then considered to be a "full farm". A colon was a farmer who originally farmed a part of a larger estate. The word colon is derived from the Latin colonus and such a farm is called a colonat; the family would keep the farm as long as there was an heir, male or female. If a woman inherited the farm and she married, her husband took her name. Their children would all bear the wife's family name. While many had no greater status than a peasant or a serf, this status system evolved with the ownership of farmland and was in use until the late 1800's in that the name itself designated the size of farm and inheritance level. For example, a 4 to 6 horse farm was called a full farm or colon. A half farm had 1 to 3 horses and were Koetter. Those working the land were usually designated Heuerling (hired hand) or Einwohner (inhabitant). These people did not have inheritance rights to the land.
1803 The County of Bentheim is dissolved as a state of the Holy Roman Empire. French troops overrun Bentheim demanding food and lodging.
1803 The end of Werden Abbey. During the secularization in 1803, the abbey and its territory became part of Prussia, but three years later it was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Berg. In 1815 it became Prussian again, as part of the Rhine Province.
1806 French Government takes over Grafschaft Bentheim.
1807-1809 French soldiers build the road from Emlichheim to Neuenhaus.
1808-1844 Although still called the Masselink Farm in Mander, it is actually owned by the Cramer family.
1810 Bentheim annexed by France along with the Kingdom of Holland and many northwest German regions.
1811 Aug 18 Family surnames in the Netherlands and Grafschaft Bentheim became fixed when France under Napoleon occupied and ruled both areas. Napoleon's Surname Act of 1811 decreed that all families were required to have permanent surnames. The family names registered under this decree were often based on a father's name, the area where they lived, or an occupation. My Bentheim ancestors retained their traditional "Kleine Masseling" name under this act. THE SURNAME ACT OF 1811: Extract from a decree of Emperor Napoleon dated 18 August 1811: "Art 6. De familienaam, dien de vader, of, bij ontstentenis van dien, de grootvader van vaderszijde, verklaard heeft, te willen aannemen, of welke hem toegekend zal blijven, zal aan alle kinderen worden gegeven, die gehouden zullen zijn, denzelven te voeren en aan te nemen in de akten; ten dien einde zal de vader, of, bij gebreke van dien, de grootvader, de aanwezig zijnde kinderen en kleinkinderen in zijne opgave vermelden, alsmede derzelver woonplaats; en dezulke onzer onderdanen, die hunnen vader, of bij ontstentenis van denzelven, hunnen grootvader nog in leven hebben, behoeven slechts te verklaren, dat hij nog in leven is, benevens de plaats van zijn verblijf". Translation: The family name which the father (or in his absence the grandfather on the father's side) has declared to want to take, or which shall remain given to him [where a surname was already in use], shall be given to all children that are kept [recognized as legitimate], to bear and to use in documents. To this end, in his declaration the father (or grandfather) must list the extant children and grandchildren, along with their place of residence. And such of our subjects whose father (or grandfather) is still alive need only state that he is still alive, with the name of the place of his residence.
1813 The Netherlands remains part of the French Empire until the autumn of 1813, when Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Leipzig and forced to withdraw his troops from the country.
1814-1816 Gerrit Kleine Masselink (1786 GB 5) is a soldier from Bentheim and is at Waterloo (Age 28)
1815 Jun 18 Battle of Waterloo. Some 600 Bentheimers fight Napoleon under the English commander Wellington.
1815 The Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) puts Bentheim under over-lordship of Hanover. Thus, Bentheim is liberated from France and returns to Hanover and England.
1816 Soldiers from Bentheim return from The Battle of Waterloo.
Between 1820 and 1910 over five million Germans emigrate to the United States, including our Masselink ancestors.
1821 Census taken in Bentheim.
1824 Grade schools in Bentheim teach both Dutch and German.
1828 Masselink farm in Vasse is sold; Name of new owner unknown.
1832 Beginning of the Seceders Movement in the Parish of Uelsen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1834_Dutch_Reformed_Church_split
1832 The land registry Office of the Municipality of Tubbergen (Kadaster gemeente Tubbergen) states that the Masselink farm in Mander was previously sold and contained the following parcels of farmland: Section C numbers 569, 570, 573, 575, 588, 589, 735, 737 (one half), 739, 839 and 859 plus section E number 259. The land Office also stated that the Vasse Masselink Farm consisted of section E, number 451. Based on this information, it appears that these two farms were less than a mile from each other.
1832 Jan Hendrick is the first known Kleine Masselink born outside of Hardinghausen. Additional research is required to determine the connection between Bathorn with Hardinghausen, as all of Jan Hendrick's siblings are believed to have been born in Hardinghausen. KLEINE MASSELING, Hendrick Jan *11 FEB 1832 in Bathorn, Parish of Arkel, Grafschaft Bentheim + 1924 Bentheim Michigan; Father Gerrit Hendrik (1792); Married twice, (1) To Zwaantje (Susan) Klompmaker on 20 JUL 1863, municipality of Westerbork, Province of Drenthe, Netherlands; Two children: Fennegien (Fenne) *1 MAY 1864 in Balinge, Westerbork and Gerrit, * 3 NOV 1866 in Balinge, Westerbork who died and was buried at sea during their voyage to America in 1867. (2) To Whilimina Postma in Michigan, five children born in Bentheim, Michigan: Susan (1877), Albert (1879), Grace (1881), John (1883) and Harm (1888). Jan dropped the 'Kleine' from his surname and changed his surname to Masselink when he immigrated to Michigan. He was our first ancestor to come to America.
1837 The personal union of the United Kingdom and Hanover ended because William IV's heir in the United Kingdom was female (Queen Victoria). Hanover could only be inherited only a male heir. Thus, Hanover passed to William IV's brother, Ernest Augustus, and remained a kingdom until 1866, when it was annexed by Prussia during the Austro-Prussian war. Despite Hanover being expected to defeat Prussia at the Battle of Langensalza, Prussia employed Moltke the Elder's Kesselschlachtorder of battle to instead destroy the Hanoverian army. The city of Hanover became the capital of the Prussian Province of Hanover. After the annexation, the people of Hanover generally opposed the Prussian government
1838 Founding of the First Old Reformed Church. This was done in the Parish of Uelsen at the house of a farmer in Itterbeck named Huisken. As a clergyman was required to found a church, he was assisted by the Reverend Albertus van Raalte of the Netherlands, who later established Holland, Michigan.
1845 Founding of the First Old Reformed Church in Emlichheim.
1846 NOV 17 First band of emigrants from Bentheim left Rotterdam for America under the leadership of Dr. Van Raalte. The trip across the Atlantic was made on an American ship named Southerner. She was commanded by Captain Crosby and 51 days were required to reach New York Harbor. Dr. Van Raalte led his party from New York to Black Lake (Holland), Michigan via Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit. No Masselink's were on this voyage.
1846-1847 Severe crop failures in Grafschaft Bentheim.
1849 Founding of the First Old Reformed Church in Veldhausen.
1865 Emigrant's Guide to the State of Michigan Just prior to the Great Depression in Germany, the Hanover newspaper publishes and distributes this guide without official endorsement; The price of land in Michigan is listed as $1.25 and less per acre.
1866 Grafschaft Bentheim Becomes Part of Prussia. The end of the American Civil War, the desire for economic opportunity, religious freedom, and avoiding the Prussian draft results in a wave of emigrants from Prussia. Hannover annexed by Prussia during the Austro-Prussian war. Despite Hanover being expected to defeat Prussia at the Battle of Langensalza, Prussia employed Moltke the Elder's Kesselschlacht order of battle (Battle of Encirclement) to instead destroy the Hanoverian army. The city of Hanover became the capital of the Prussian Province of Hanover. After the annexation, the people of Hanover generally opposed the Prussian government
1866 Jun 27 The Battle of Langensalza was fought on 27 June 1866 near Bad Langensalza in what now modern Germany is between the Kingdom of Hanover (Hanoverians) and the Prussians. The Hanoverians won the battle but were then surrounded by a larger and reinforced Prussian army, and, unable to link up with their Bavarian allies to the south, they surrendered. This marked the demise of the Hanoverian Army and the annexation of Hanover into the burgeoning kingdom of Prussia as it systematically unified Germany into the modern nation state.
During the Austro-Prussian War (1866), Hanover attempted to maintain a neutral position, along with some other member states of the German Confederation. Hanover's vote in favor of the mobilization of Confederation troops against Prussia on 14 June 1866 prompted Prussia to declare war. The outcome of the war led to the dissolution of Hanover as an independent kingdom and it was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia, becoming the Prussian Province of Hanover. Along with the rest of Prussia, it became part of the German Empire in 1871
Generations Seven and Eight: They departed Grafschaft Bentheim forever for three reasons: Religious freedom, economic opportunity, and to avoid having their children drafted into the Prussian Army. Our direct ancestor Gerrit Hendrick, his father Hendrik, his uncles Hendrik Jan and Harmen, his sisters Fenne, Hendrikjen, Harmina, and Aleida, and his future wife, Etta Poets, all emigrated to Michigan, USA in the second half of the 19th century. After their departure, there were no known people in Grafschaft Bentheim born with the surname Kleine Masselink.
1867 Hendrick Jan (Jan) Kleine Masselink (1832); First Kleine Masselink Brother to Emigrate to Michigan
1871 Unification of Germany; The battlefield successes of Prussia allowed the unification of Germany in 1871 and the crowning of King William I of Prussia as William I, German Emperor
1872-1873 New Prussian Civil laws take effect
1872 Harm Kleine Masselink (1842); Second brother to Emigrate to Michigan
1880-1882 Another new wave of emigration from Bentheim.
1880's The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) appealed to immigrants who wished to preserve their "Dutchness". It captured the bulk of the big immigrant wave of the 1880's because of the decision of the Gereformeerde Kerk to recommend that its members join the CRC and not the Reformed Church of America. The Kleine Masselink emigrants to Michigan identified with the minority German speaking members of the CRC. https://www.swierenga.com/Grafscap_pap.html
1881 Gerrit Hendrik (GH) Kleine Masselink (1858), Hendrik's (1829) son Emigrates to Michigan.
1882 Hendrik Kleine Masselink (1829); Third brother to Emigrate to Michigan with his new wife, four daughters (Fenne, Hendrikjen; Harmina, Aleida) and with son Gerrit Hendrick's fiancée, Etta Poets.
1885 The Grafschaft Bentheim Hardinghausen School closes; Children now attend school year around in Gölenkamp.
1889 Grafschaft Bentheim: Very dry year; Crop failures.
1914-1918 World War I
1939-1945 World War II
Grote Masselink; Grote Masseling
Kleine Masselink; Kline Masseling
Maskelink
Masselinc
Masselinck
Masseling
Masselingh
Masselink
Masselman
Massling
Messelinc
Messelink
Messolinc
1700 BC In what is now Grafschaft Bentheim Princial elders are "buried" after the deceased are solemnly burned and their ashes collected in urns. A simple hill indicated the place where the dead elders were interred and such cemeteries still exist in Grafschaft Bentheim (the ancestral Masselink home) near Getelo and Hardinghausen. A gold cremation cup was found in this area (Gölenkamp) dating back to about 1700 BC.
800 BC Iron Age Climate becomes colder; More rain; People move to higher-level land.
500-600 AD Germanic tribes settle in the area.
In The Netherlands, Saxons occupy the territory south of the Frisians and north of the Franks. In the west it reached as far as the Gooi region, in the south as far as the Lower Rhine. After the conquest of Charlemagne (around the year 800), this area formed the main part of the Bishopric of Utrecht. The local language, although strongly influenced by standard Dutch, is still officially recognized as Dutch Low Saxon.
782-785 Charlemagne returns to Saxony in 782 and institutes a code of law and appoints both Saxon and Frank counts. Laws are draconian on religious issues; For example, the Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae prescribes death to Saxon pagans who refuse to convert to Christianity. This revives an old conflict. That autumn, the Saxon King Widukind returns and leads a new revolt. In response, at Verden in Lower Saxony, Charlemagne is recorded as ordering the execution of 4,500 Saxon prisoners known as the Massacre of Verden (Verdener Blutgericht). These killings trigger three years of renewed bloody warfare (783–785). The war ended with Widukind accepting baptism.
782 Charlemagne enforces the Scholten laws. Each village in Grafschaft Bentheim has a Scholte whose function is to alert the villages when enemy tribes try to invade. They also collect a tenth of the earnings from the farmers to pay for their military protection in addition to ensuring "proper Christian behavior".
799 Werden Abbey. Near what is now the German city of Essen, Saint Luidger establishes a monastery and becomes its first abbot. Many of his family’s properties in Utrecht, Netherlands are gifted to this abbey.
799-1737 Werden Abbey (Abdij) owns extensive landholdings, to include property in eastern Netherlands, some of which sometime after 804 became the original Masselink farms near Vasse and Mander. Vasse is now a population center in the Municipality of Tubbergen, in the Province of Overijssel, NL. This farm becomes known as the 'Masselink Farm' and 'Masselink' becomes our ancestor's permanent surname (last name). Speculation: There is some evidence that the farm's original owner is surnamed 'Masse' or 'Masselman' (Mace-man) who became known by the new surname 'Masselink' (i.e., the name of his farm) after acquiring the Werden and Mander farm leaseholds from the Werden Abbey.
799-1768 Abbey Werden's extensive landholdings in eastern Netherlands also include property which sometime after 804 becomes the other original Masselink farm near Mander. Mander is now a population center in the Municipality of Tubbergen, in the Province of Overijssel, NL. This Masselink probably held a hereditary lijftuct or liebzocht (meaning a land grant usually given as a reward to someone who retired after usually long and distinguished service to the crown) for both the Vasse and the Mander farms.
800-850 The first Grafschaft Bentheim settlements of Hasangen (Hesingen) Vilehem (Wilsum) and Hardthini (Hardingen) are known. As the climate changed and became dryer, the lower lying areas become inhabited.
804 Charlemagne donates thirty hoven (farms) in Twente to the Abbey of Werden to finance the education of priests, including two farms near Ootmarsum: Vasse and Mander. Part of the Charlemagne donated properties became the original Masselink Farms located in Vasse and Mander with land records going back to sometime before 1332. From 877, the abbots of Werden are imperial princes who have a seat in the imperial diets. It is a wealthy abbey with possessions in Westphalia, Frisia (Utrecht) and eastern Saxony. In the 9th century the Werden Monastery had 45 properties in Twente, including: De Lutte (Monninkhof and Elfterheurne), Denekamp, Beuningen, Zenderen, Mander, Rossum, Lemselo, Lonneker, Albergen, Neuenhaus and Nordhorn. These properties were about 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) apart and connected by good roads. A farm (hof) is a well defined property in the capitulare issued during Carolingian times. These farms often had a wooden or stone tower that functioned as the living quarters and a range of farming and trade buildings and depending on the geography, sometimes also a watermill. Around 974, it appears that some inherited farms split one time 2/3 and 1/3 or 3/4 and 1/4 after the death of the original owner. The Abbey, with a territory of 125 square kilometers (about 50 square miles), retains its independence and flourishes until its secularization by Prussia in 1802-1803.
<814 Some speculate that their families came to what is now eastern Netherlands because they were handpicked by Charlemagne sometime before his death in 814 to be model farmers in the region. They were all reported to have had large farms. In fact, the original Masselink farms, in what is now Mander and Vasse in the Netherlands (which in the 800's was part of Charlemagne's Holy Roman Empire and near the border of present day Grafschaft Bentheim), were the largest farms given to the model farmer families. The story goes that around the year 800, some nine families from Charlemagne's Saxony settle in Vasse and Mander area. These nine families all had a suffix added to their surname ending in "link" (if their surname ended in a vowel) or "ink" (if it did not end in a vowel). These suffixed" surnames became the names of the farms which in turn became their new respective farm names. (The suffix "ink" was added to one's surname to denote ownership of a property, e.g., "link" was added to the surname "Masse" to denote the name of his farm, which is "Masselink", meaning the farm belonging to Masse). So, both their farm name and surname of these nine families became: Geerdink (also known as Ensink), Lensink, Masselink, Mastink, Mensink, Teusink, Vrielink, Warmelink and Wigbelink.
All Masselinks probably descended from either the original owner of the pre-1332 Masselink farms in either Mander or Vasse or (and more likely for my Masselink ancestors) from someone who worked on these Masselink farms. As was the custom then, anyone who lived and worked on a farm changed their last name to the name of the farm, which in this case the name of the farm was "Masselink".
890 In the time of Charlemagne, "Hasungrun" (Hesingen), "Wllsehem" (Wilsum), and "Harthini" (Hard Ingen) were established villages in "Tuhiante" (present Bentheim area). From no later than 1407, there is a Masselink farm located in Hardin Ingen (Hardinghausen).
950-1300 Period of steady demographic and economic growth in Western Europe; agricultural production increases markedly, especially between 1050-1250. This represented both extensive and intensive agricultural growth. Most of the increase in grain production came from expanding the acreage under cultivation. The increase in arable acreage under cultivation was the result of both natural and human action. The climate of northern Europe between 950 and 1300 was warmer than in the early Middle Ages, which meant longer growing seasons and the ability to cultivate lands further north and expand the repertoire of crops. Human activity took the form of extensive woodland clearance (i.e., assarting) and draining of marshes for the purpose of making land available for agriculture. This was both encouraged and funded by nobles who granted freedom to serfs willing to establish new villages in woodland clearances. The twelfth and thirteenth centuries marked the period of the greatest deforestation in Western European history. By 1250 there were few trees left in France large enough for ship masts and cathedral beams. New farming practices also resulted in higher crop yields. The most important of these was the shift from a two-field system, in which half the land always lay fallow, to a three-field system of crop rotation. Closer integration of animal husbandry and cereal agriculture led to more efficient manuring (animal and human manure were the main sources of fertilizer). More extensive cultivation of beans and peas, nitrogen-fixing crops, not only improved peasant diets but also helped restore the soil’s fertility. Technology also played a role, especially the widespread use of the heavy plow with an iron coulter which allowed cultivation of the fertile heavy clay lands of northern Europe. The invention of the horse collar and horseshoes also made possible the replacement of oxen with horses for plowing and transport; the latter was especially important in reducing transportation costs for marketing.
By 974, it appears that some inherited farms mentioned in the year 804 above, split one-time 2/3 and 1/3 or 3/4 and 1/4 after the death of the original or descendant owner. Theses owners by inheritance would be
1020 Bentheim is mentioned for the first time in 1020, when Otto von Nordheim became the owner of the castle.
1050 The county of Bentheim was in existence, although little is known of its history before 1115. It's mentioned as a place called "Binithem" in the tithe revenue registers of Werden Abbey. Actually, in these early times, it is not quite correct to refer to the County (Grafschaft) Bentheim as it is known today with its current territorial borders. Essentially, its realm of influence would not have extended much beyond the Castle. The countryside was an underpopulated wasteland consisting of great expanses of heath and impenetrable moor areas. The ecclesiastical structure of the County of Bentheim in the Middle Ages divided the territory into two halves. The northwest part, including Neuenhaus, Veldhausen, Emlichheim and Uelsen, was under the jurisdiction of the Utrecht Diocese, whereas Bentheim, Schüttorf and Nordhorn, were part of the Münster Diocese.
1116 Lothar of Süpplinburg captures Castle Bentheim. The destroyed castle was apparently rebuilt again soon thereafter.
1146-1190 Bentheim Castle comes under an armed conflict in 1146 between Otto of Rheineck and the Bishop of Utrecht regarding ownership rights in the Twente region. During this feud, Otto and his army of knights were defeated near Ootmarsum and brought to Utrecht as prisoners. After a short time, he was released, though he had to accept that his castle was under the feudal tenure of the Utrecht Diocese until 1190.
1176 26 SEP: Otto IV's mother Sophia of Rheineck dies and is buried in Jerusalem. It was through the inheritance and marriage of Sophie that the Bentheim Castle and rule subsequently came into the possession of the Counts of Holland, who called itself after Castle Bentheim from this point on. Sophia, also known as Sophie of Salm, Countess of Bentheim (1120–1176), was a German noblewoman. Her father was Count Otto I of Rheineck, the son of the anti-king Hermann of Salm. Her mother was Gertrud of Northeim. She was married to Dirk VI, Count of Holland. Sophia built new churches in the abbeys of Egmond and Rijnsburg. In 1138, she made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with her husband. During their return journey, they visited the pope in Rome. After her husband's death, she made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella and two more pilgrimages to Jerusalem in 1173 and 1176. During the latter visit, she died in the St. Mary's hospital of the Teutonic Knights in Jerusalem. She was buried in Jerusalem. Count Otto accompanied his mother to Jerusalem and returns to Bentheim after her death in 1176 and becomes an assistant to the Emperor of Germany, Frederick I.
1182 May 23-27 Otto IV is at the Court of the German Emperor in Mainz.
1188 Masselinc farms in existence at Vasse in the municipality of Tubbergen, NL.
1189 Graf (Count) van Bentheim, Otto IV van Holland (1143 - 1209). Otto takes part in the Third Crusade with his brother Floris III. The Third Crusade was from 1189-1192. Floris III was a loyal vassal to Frederick I Barbarossa. He accompanies the emperor on two expeditions to Italy in 1158 and 1176–1178. Frederick thanked him by making Floris part of the imperial nobility.
11 May 1189 German Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) leaves Europe on the Third Crusade with about 15,000 men, including 3,000 knights. In 1189 Floris III "the Crusader", Count of Holland, accompanies Frederick Barbarossa on the third Crusade, of which he was a distinguished leader. Otto IV of Bentheim also takes part in the Third Crusade with his brother Floris III and Flois's son, William I. Floris dies 1 AUG 1190 at Antioch, Turkey of pestilence and was buried there. Two sons of Floris III became Count of Holland: Dirk VII in 1190 and William I in 1203. Otto IV returns from the crusade and dies sometimes around 1207-1208 in Bentheim. After Floris III's death, William remains in the Holy Land until sometime before 1203. The Third Crusade ended with the Treaty of Ramla, whereby Saladin agreed to let Christian pilgrims visit Jerusalem in order to fulfill their vows. Many men from Bentheim followed the Counts of Bentheim in several crusades. Many never saw their homeland again. The Count inherited their property and placed new people on their homesteads. After the signing of the Treaty, the crusaders were allowed to return home.
10 JUN 1190: Before reaching the Holy Land, Frederick I drowns in the Saleph River in present day Turkey. The vast majority of his men turn back in 1190. But 5,000 pressed onward as Barbarossa's son, Frederick VI of Swabia, carries on with the remnants of the German army and arrives in Acre.
1192 Peace was settled in 1192, at which point most of the crusaders of the 3rd Crusade sailed away disappointed they hadn't taken back Jerusalem.
1200 The River Vecht becomes a trade route to the Netherlands and around 1200, the Bentheim territory, to date consisting
largely of the Castle and the estate at Schüttorf, expanded with the purchase of the country court at Uelsen, the area around what is Niedergrafschaft today. Thus, the prerequisite for forming a self-contained territory was established.
12th and 13th century: The Counts of Bentheim make repeated efforts to extend their territory into the adjacent Dutch area by acquiring the offices of the bailiff in Twente and Drenthe, as well as taking over Coevorden as burgraves (military governors). The territorial expansion against the Münster and Osnabrück dioceses was less successful. It is not easy to define the Bentheim territory in the 12th and 13th century, since it was during these times that the Lords began to delineate their territorial borders. It was not until the 14th century that the territory they ruled could legitimately be referred to as a County of the Holy Roman Empire.
1200-1250 Pestilence in Bentheim.
1217 Count Baldwin of Bentheim departs on a crusade and later returns to Bentheim Castle.
abt 1252 Benedikiner Monks leave the Wietmarschen Monestary and move to Weerselo in the Netherlands. The Weeselo Monastery has a rocky relationship with Count Balduin of Bentheim. There were always soldiers and refugees in the monastery. In 1676 the monastery gains legal status under Bishop Bernard von Galen and becomes a rich institution because of the gifts from the German nobility. This lasted until Napoleon conquered the area. From before the year 1601 through the year 1808, a portion of Masselink farm crops in Mander are paid to the Weerselo Monastery (Stift Weerselo) in Overijssel.
1300 Bentheim's influence in the Netherlands is clearly reduced around 1300.
1312 The castle in Uelsen, which until that time formed part of Twente, is now a possession of the Count of Bentheim.
<1332-1777 The Masselink farms in Vasse and Mander in what is now Overijssel in Eastern Netherlands first appear in tax records. The large land holding in Mander and the smaller land holding in Vasse owned by the Catholic Abbey of Werden were put in the name of the first known Masselink sometime before 1332. The larger Masselink farm in Mander is a full inheritance (volgewaard erve), which meant that he and his descendants would retain full ownership of the land in perpetuity as long as the required taxes to the church and government were made or until the family sold the property. The smaller Masselink farm in Vasse was a lijftuct (liebzocht), meaning land given to someone who was retired probably as a result of his service to the Charlemagne in the early 15th century. . The distance between the Mander and Vasse farms is about a mile.
We cannot be certain that we are related by blood to this alleged warrior because as was the custom then, anyone who worked on a farm took as their last name the name of that farm. This makes the genealogy of our ancestors before 1660 extremely difficult. So, while we may owe our last name of Masselink to this speculated warrior, our blood relation probably descends from the peasants who worked on the Masselink farms who took and kept the farm name of Masselink as their own surname. Sometime before 1407, one or more of these Masselinks moved less than 10 miles North into the Grafschaft Bentheim Parishes of Getelo and Uelsen (Hardinghausen is in the Parish of Uelsen) where three unrelated Masselink families eventually resided: the Masselinks in Getelo, the Kleine Masselinks in Hardinghausen (my ancestors), and the Grote Masselink in Hardinghausen. We speculate that we are not related to the Grote Masselinks' because after the split of the Masselink farm that occurred sometime before 1660 in Hardinghausen, the Grote Masselink farm was probably subsequently acquired by an unrelated family who then changed their surname to the farm name of Grote Masselink, as was the custom then. There is also no known record of any intermarriage between the Getelo Masselinks', the Grote Masselinks' and/or the Kleine Masselink's.
1348-1351 Church District in Uelsen comes under the Bistom of Utrecht, Netherlands
1364 There is a road named 'Messelinkweg' located near the town of Varsseveld, NL. A Masselinc Farm is reported to be located in Bocholt, NL.
1380-1386 In 1801, J. D. von Steinen wrote a history of the Westphalia region in Germany entitled: "Fortgesetzte westphälische Geschichte" (Continuing Story of Westphalia). In this book, he quotes official records of Grafschaft Bentheim as stating that between 1380 and 1386 "Verkauf einer Markengerechtigkeit auf dem Gut Masselink" (A common area on the Masselink farm was sold). Further research is required to determine the connection, if any, between the Masselink from Vasse and Mander and the Kleine Masselink of Bentheim, as the Mander farm is some 10 miles south of where the Kleine Masselink's lived in Hardinghausen, Grafschaft Bentheim.
1381 Records at Vasse, Municipality of Tubbergen, NL state Masselinc farms existed since before the year 1188.
1381 Masselinc farm recorded in Getelo (now in Germany) just across the border from Mander, NL.
1384 Masselinc farm recorded in Getelo (now in Germany) just across the border from Mander, NL now named Messolinc.
<1400 Dutch tax records of 1475 state that the Masselink Farm in Mander was already known.
1400 Around 1400 the borders of Grafschaft Bentheim were largely defined, and except for slight changes, the borders still remain much the same today.
1407 Masling (Masselink) Farm first recorded in tax records. The farm was located in Herdinghuesen (Hardinghausen) in the farm community (buerscap) of Havekinnchem in the Parish of Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim in what is now Germany. My ancestors held title to a farm in Hardinghausen until they emigrated to the United States in late 1800's. Hardinghausen is about 10 miles north of Mander and Vasse. Hardinghausen is the home of the Hardi descendants who split off from the community Haftenkamp (date unknown). The Hardinghausen farm was probably raw land when my ancestors arrived to claim their farm leasehold and required extensive woodland clearance (assarting) and draining of marshes to make their land ready for farming. This was both encouraged and funded by nobles who granted freedom to serfs willing to establish new villages in woodland clearances.
1463 The book "Mensch en Land in de Middeleleuwen" by B.H. Slicher van Bath, the erf (inheritable farm) mentions the Masselinck in Hardinghausen. He cites page 156 of volume 4 of Tijd rekenkundig register op het oud-provinciaal archief van Overijssel by J. van Doorninck.
1463 A Masselinck Farm is located by Hardingen, not far from Getelo.
1475 This Masselinck Farm located by Hardingen, not far from Getelo is now known as the Masseling Farm; Tax records state that the Masselink farm was known from before 1440.
1475 Tax records show that the Vasse Masselink Farm paid their taxes in gold
1475 The Masselink Farm in Herdinschuzen (Hardinghausen) in Uelsen Parish, Grafschaft Bentheim is reported in the Dutch tax records (Het Schattingsregister van 1475); The Masselink farm is no longer a part of the farm community (buerscap) of Havekinnchem; The Masselink farm is now listed as the only farm in the farming community of Herdinschuzen (Hardinghausen). From 1407 to 1475, the number of farms that were taxed by the Dutch government of Twente went from 133 to 92 in this part of Grafschaft Bentheim (slot te Lage). We know by individual ancestor name who owned the farm leasehold in Hardinghausen from sometime before 1660 until they emigrated to the United States in late 1800's.
1486 Emperor Friedrich III makes Bentheim a fiefdom and for the first time, Bentheim is officially recognized as an imperial fief.
1517 Oct 31 The Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences written by Martin Luther and are widely regarded as the initial catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. On 31 October 1517, Luther posted the ninety-five theses, which he had composed in Latin, on the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg, according to university custom.
1540's Calvinism arrives in the Netherlands. The Protestant theological system of John Calvin develops Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone and emphasizes the grace of God and the doctrine of predestination greatly impacts my ancestors, as religious freedom is one reason they left their farm in Hardinghausen and emigrated to Michigan in the second half of the 1800's.
1544 Arnold II, Count of Bentheim, officially converts to Lutheranism, beginning a slow process of introducing the Reformation in Bentheim and to the other territories he ruled. Church membership is like citizenship. Mass is no longer served. Only communion and baptism are recognized as sacraments. The churches in Uelsen, Veldhausen and Neuhenhaus are also converted.
1568-1648 The Eighty Years' War (or the Dutch War of Independence) began as a revolt of the Seventeen Provinces against the political and religious hegemony of Philip II of Spain, the sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands. After the initial stages, Philip II deployed his armies and regained control over most of the rebelling provinces. However, under the leadership of the exiled William of Orange, the northern provinces continued their resistance and managed to oust the Habsburg armies and, in 1581, established the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. The war continued in other areas, although the heartland of the republic was no longer threatened. The war ended in 1648 with the Peace of Münster, when the Dutch Republic was recognized as an independent country. Bentheim is neutral but still loses much property because the Spanish do not recognize its borders.
1571 The first Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church adopts the Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession as confessional standards
1588 Protestant preachers introduced into Bentheim during the autumn of 1587; The Count of Bentheim and his people accept the Reformed faith
1591 The Parish of Veldhausen reports 40,000 thaler damage caused by Spanish troops
1594 Spanish General Verduzo moves his troops into Uelsen. Farmers flee over the fields toward the fortified House of Esche; There is little food and contagious diseases set in.
1601-1808 The Weerselo Monastery (Stift Weerselo) in Overijssel, Netherlands is also shown as the owner of the Masselink Farm in Mander, Netherlands
1601 The Masselink (spelled in the tax record as MASSELYNCK and MASSELINCK) Farm in Mander is recorded in tax records as arable land. Part of the harvest of the Mander farm is paid as required by the lyftucht (lijftucht) to the Masselink of Vasse
1601 Masselink (spelled Masselman) Vasse Farm pays their taxes and church tithes in crops
1602 Masselink (spelled Masselingh) in Mander farm tax records and spelled 'Masselman' in Vasse farm tax records
1605 Grafschaft Bentheim School System is introduced.
1606 County is split in two lines, Bentheim and Steinfurt
1613 Count Arnold Jobst of Bentheim-Steinfurt creates the Higher Church Council to help administer the spiritual matters of Bentheim and establishes the Reformed Church of Bentheim.
1613-1617 The Bentheim Confession. This 12 Article Confession came out of the Protestant Reformation. It was proposed in March 1613 at the Imperial Court of Bentheim and approved in 1617 in a solemn and extraordinary assembly in the Castle of Bentheim in April 1617.
1618-1648 Thirty Years' War. Troops from Münster, Lüneburg, Hesse and Sweden demand lodging and food. Even though Grafschaft Bentheim was supposedly neutral, the people suffered greatly when the invading troops quartered themselves in their homes and took much of their last belongings. The people are drained and poor. Churches become places of refuge instead of worship. My ancestor's birth, death and marriage that were records recorded at the Uelsen Town Hall were destroyed during the war which is why I cannot trace my ancestors by name from before 1660. The Thirty-Years War in the County coincided with inheritance disputes and a foreign administration by the Prince Bishop of Münster led to a financial crisis. Around 1626, Bentheim was occupied several times and plundered by roaming troops of unpaid soldiers. The following years saw poor harvests. In 1636, there were thousands of plague victims and another epidemic happened in 1664.
1630 and 1632 Grafschaft Bentheim crop failures
1636 Thousands of plague victims. Another epidemic happened in 1664.
1648 The Dutch War of Independence (Eighty Years War) ends with the Peace of Münster in which the Dutch Republic is recognized as an independent country. It is a landmark treaty for the Dutch republic and one of the key events in Dutch history. With it, the United Netherlands finally becomes independent from the Spanish Crown. This treaty was also a part of the Peace of Westphalia which ended both the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War.
Before 1660: Hardinghausen was founded when the descendants of the Hardi family split-off from the Haftenkamp community (Abspliß von Haftenkamp, Häuser der Nachkommen des Hardi). Although the date of the split is unknown, we know it occurred before 1660. Information regarding our specific ancestors before 1660 is unknown. Researching this will be difficult as the official records kept in the local village of Uelsen, Bentheim were destroyed during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).
1660 Masselink Generation One KLEINE MASSELING, Fenne * um (around) 1660 in Hardinghausen, + 1731 in Hardinghausen. KLEINE MASSELING, Harmen * um 1660 in Hardinghausen, + before 1713 in Hardinghausen. HARMEN and FENNE Kleine Masseling (Masseling in German and Masselink in Dutch) are the oldest known named Masselink ancestors. They were born around 1660 in the farming community of Hardinghausen and married in the village of Uelsen in Grafschaft Bentheim sometime before 1693. The names of HARMEN’S and FENNE’S respective siblings and parents are unknown. Also unknown is Fenne’s or Harmen’s surname before marriage, as either one could have been a Kleine Masselink. After Harmen’s death, Fenne marries Jan Bekhuis on 1713 Apr 23 in Uelsen, no known children. Harmen was buried in Uelsen sometime before April 1713 and Fenne was buried in Uelsen in April 1731. They had four children, two of whom were registered with the surname Kleine Masseling: two with the surname Masseling. The prefix "Kleine" in front of their names meant that their original Masselink farm was split in two after one of the ancestral owners of the Masselink farm in Hardinghausen died sometime before 1660 (or they descended from workers on the Vasse or Mander farms in the Netherlands that were divided by inheritance.). The inherited division was seldom equal, and the farm is often split 3/4 and 1/4. The 3/4 portion became known as the Grote (big) farm and the 1/4 portion was known as the Kleine (small) farm and the people living on these two Masselink farms are known as Grote Masselink and Kleine Masselink. All of my known ancestors were Kleine Masselink's until they emigrated to America where their name was shortened to "Masselink", as the term "Kleine" had no meaning after they departed Grafschaft Bentheim and arrived in America. Though all of my known ancestors in Grafschaft Bentheim were heavily influenced by the Dutch culture and spoke a dialect of Dutch at home, they were not Dutch by nationality. Based on what government was in charge, they were either Bentheimer, Hanoverian, French, Prussian, or German.
1664 Plague in Bentheim
1668 Ernst Wilhelm, the Count of Bentheim, returns to the Catholic Church; The people remain Reformed
1693 Masselink Generation Two KLEINE MASSELING, Geerd * um 1693 in Hardinghausen, + date and location unknown, father HARMEN (1660). GEERD marries Swenne WESSELER on 1718 Sep 1 in Uelsen; Ten children born in Hardinghausen with the surname Kleine Masseling: HARMEN (1719), Jenne (1720), Jan (1725), Geerd (1728), Hendrikjen (1730), Fenne (1731), Hendrik (1734), Geerdjen (1738), Derk (1741) and a second Fenne (1743)
1697 A Geerd Grosse-Masselink farm (neubauer) in Hardinghausen is listed in the Osnabruck registry. There is also a B. Masselink farmer (koetter) in Halle-Hasingen. No known relation.
1700 Trade via the Vecht River increases
1701 Peace treaty at Den Haag settles the issue of succession for the Counts of Bentheim.
1719 Masselink Generation Three KLEINE MASSELING (MASSELINK), Harmen * 1/12/1719 in Hardinghausen, + 5/11/1747 in Hardinghausen, father GEERD (1693), HARMEN married Fenne Bargman around 1741 in Uelsen, two children born in Hardinghausen with the surname Kleine Masseling: Swenne (1742) and HENDRIK (1747).
1737 The Masselink farm in Vasse is no longer owned by the Church; It now belongs to the resident owners of the farm.
1747 Masselink Generation Four KLEINE MASSELING, Hendrik * 3/24/1747 in Hardinghausen, + 3/13/1798 in Uelsen, father HARMEN (1719). HENDRIK married Aale Holt (Holthuis) on 5/13/1770 in Uelsen, six children with the surname Kleine Masselink and all but Gerrit and Jan born in Hardinghausen: FENNE (1771), Hendrik (1773), Harmon (1775), Geerd (1783), Jan (1779 in Uelsen), and Gerrit (1786 in Halle). Jan is in the Masselink family tree but is not listed in the German Kleine Masselink registry (because Jan is a an illegitimate child?)
1753 The County of Bentheim is seized by the elector of Hanover. "In 1753, trouble within made them (the Counts of Bentheim) take out a mortgage to the King of Hanover and England." For almost 700 years prior to this, Grafshaft Bentheim was independently ruled by the Counts of Bentheim and that they might have continued thus had it not been for the circumstances of 1753
1756-1763 Seven years War with Prussia.
1769 Tax records show that in 1769 the Hardinghausen community consisted of some 328 ha (about 760 acres) broken into 1 whole farm, three 3/4 farms, one 1/2 farm. and three 1/4 farms. Speculation: Doing the math and allowing for roads and other land uses, a whole farm could have been about 160 acres, a 3/4 farm-about 120 acres, a 1/2 farm-about 80 acres, and a 1/4 farm-about 40 acres. Assuming that farms were not split by inheritance more than once in Hardinghausen, two farms could have remained intact (the whole farm and the half farm) and three farms could have been split into six farms (three (grote?) 3/4 farms and three 1/4 (kleine?) farms). Our Masselink ancestors held title to a Kleine farm in Hardinghausen.
1771 Masselink Generation Five KLEINE MASSELING, Fenne * 3/22/1771 in Hardinghausen, + 11/20/1843 in Hardinghausen, father HENDRIK (1747). FENNE is our only female direct ancestor. FENNE married three times: 1st, Gerrit Kleine Masseling Humberink; No known children. When Gerrit died, FENNE probably inherited his farm. Fenne probably also inherited her father Hendrik's farm when he died. 2nd, To Hendrik Groene 1791 Feb 6 in Uelsen. At the time of the marriage, Hendrick Groene changed his name to Kleine Masselink because FENNE had a land dowry that required the farm to stay in the Kleine Masseling family name, five children born in Hardinghausen with the surname Kleine Masselink: GERRIT HENDRIK (1792), Janna (1794), Aale (1799), Jan (1804), and Hendrikjen (1807). 3rd, To Gerrit Koelman on 9/4/1811 in Uelsen. At the time of the marriage, Gerrit Koelman changed his name to Kleine Masselink because FENNE had a land dowry that required the farm to stay in the Kleine Masselink family name, one child born in Hardinghausen with the surname Kleine Masselink: Hendrika (1812).
1772 Extremely dry year leads to much hunger.
1777 The Masselink Farm in Mander is no longer owned by the Church; It now belongs to the resident owners of the farm.
1787-1789 French revolution.
1789 MAR 4 The U.S. Constitution came into effect in America.
1792 Masselink Generation Six KLEINE MASSELING, Gerrit Hendrik* 1/29/1792 in Hardinghausen, + 12/22/1870 in Hardinghausen, mother Fenne (1771). He married Fenne Walkotten on 12/18/1824 in Uelsen, six children with the surname Kleine Masselink and all born in Hardinghausen: Fenne (1825), Aale (1827), Hendrik (1829), Hendrick Jan (1832), Albert (1837) and Harm (1840). Background: GERRIT HENDRIK is a Colon (full farmer) in Hardinghausen because he probably inherited the two farms previously owned by his grandfather Hendrik and his Great Uncle Jan that his mother FENNE had probably previously inherited. His title would be Colon Kleine Masselink from Hardinghausen. This seems to be an upgrade in status, because this is the first time a Kleine Masselink was referred to as a Colon...probably has the result of joining the two previously mentioned small farms into what was then considered to be a "full farm". A colon was a farmer who originally farmed a part of a larger estate. The word colon is derived from the Latin colonus and such a farm is called a colonat; the family would keep the farm as long as there was an heir, male or female. If a woman inherited the farm and she married, her husband took her name. Their children would all bear the wife's family name. While many had no greater status than a peasant or a serf, this status system evolved with the ownership of farmland and was in use until the late 1800's in that the name itself designated the size of farm and inheritance level. For example, a 4 to 6 horse farm was called a full farm or colon. A half farm had 1 to 3 horses and were Koetter. Those working the land were usually designated Heuerling (hired hand) or Einwohner (inhabitant). These people did not have inheritance rights to the land.
1803 The County of Bentheim is dissolved as a state of the Holy Roman Empire. French troops overrun Bentheim demanding food and lodging.
1803 The end of Werden Abbey. During the secularization in 1803, the abbey and its territory became part of Prussia, but three years later it was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Berg. In 1815 it became Prussian again, as part of the Rhine Province.
1806 French Government takes over Grafschaft Bentheim.
1807-1809 French soldiers build the road from Emlichheim to Neuenhaus.
1808-1844 Although still called the Masselink Farm in Mander, it is actually owned by the Cramer family.
1810 Bentheim annexed by France along with the Kingdom of Holland and many northwest German regions.
1811 Aug 18 Family surnames in the Netherlands and Grafschaft Bentheim became fixed when France under Napoleon occupied and ruled both areas. Napoleon's Surname Act of 1811 decreed that all families were required to have permanent surnames. The family names registered under this decree were often based on a father's name, the area where they lived, or an occupation. My Bentheim ancestors retained their traditional "Kleine Masseling" name under this act. THE SURNAME ACT OF 1811: Extract from a decree of Emperor Napoleon dated 18 August 1811: "Art 6. De familienaam, dien de vader, of, bij ontstentenis van dien, de grootvader van vaderszijde, verklaard heeft, te willen aannemen, of welke hem toegekend zal blijven, zal aan alle kinderen worden gegeven, die gehouden zullen zijn, denzelven te voeren en aan te nemen in de akten; ten dien einde zal de vader, of, bij gebreke van dien, de grootvader, de aanwezig zijnde kinderen en kleinkinderen in zijne opgave vermelden, alsmede derzelver woonplaats; en dezulke onzer onderdanen, die hunnen vader, of bij ontstentenis van denzelven, hunnen grootvader nog in leven hebben, behoeven slechts te verklaren, dat hij nog in leven is, benevens de plaats van zijn verblijf". Translation: The family name which the father (or in his absence the grandfather on the father's side) has declared to want to take, or which shall remain given to him [where a surname was already in use], shall be given to all children that are kept [recognized as legitimate], to bear and to use in documents. To this end, in his declaration the father (or grandfather) must list the extant children and grandchildren, along with their place of residence. And such of our subjects whose father (or grandfather) is still alive need only state that he is still alive, with the name of the place of his residence.
1813 The Netherlands remains part of the French Empire until the autumn of 1813, when Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Leipzig and forced to withdraw his troops from the country.
1814-1816 Gerrit Kleine Masselink (1786 GB 5) is a soldier from Bentheim and is at Waterloo (Age 28)
1815 Jun 18 Battle of Waterloo. Some 600 Bentheimers fight Napoleon under the English commander Wellington.
1815 The Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) puts Bentheim under over-lordship of Hanover. Thus, Bentheim is liberated from France and returns to Hanover and England.
1816 Soldiers from Bentheim return from The Battle of Waterloo.
Between 1820 and 1910 over five million Germans emigrate to the United States, including our Masselink ancestors.
1821 Census taken in Bentheim.
1824 Grade schools in Bentheim teach both Dutch and German.
1828 Masselink farm in Vasse is sold; Name of new owner unknown.
1832 Beginning of the Seceders Movement in the Parish of Uelsen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1834_Dutch_Reformed_Church_split
1832 The land registry Office of the Municipality of Tubbergen (Kadaster gemeente Tubbergen) states that the Masselink farm in Mander was previously sold and contained the following parcels of farmland: Section C numbers 569, 570, 573, 575, 588, 589, 735, 737 (one half), 739, 839 and 859 plus section E number 259. The land Office also stated that the Vasse Masselink Farm consisted of section E, number 451. Based on this information, it appears that these two farms were less than a mile from each other.
1832 Jan Hendrick is the first known Kleine Masselink born outside of Hardinghausen. Additional research is required to determine the connection between Bathorn with Hardinghausen, as all of Jan Hendrick's siblings are believed to have been born in Hardinghausen. KLEINE MASSELING, Hendrick Jan *11 FEB 1832 in Bathorn, Parish of Arkel, Grafschaft Bentheim + 1924 Bentheim Michigan; Father Gerrit Hendrik (1792); Married twice, (1) To Zwaantje (Susan) Klompmaker on 20 JUL 1863, municipality of Westerbork, Province of Drenthe, Netherlands; Two children: Fennegien (Fenne) *1 MAY 1864 in Balinge, Westerbork and Gerrit, * 3 NOV 1866 in Balinge, Westerbork who died and was buried at sea during their voyage to America in 1867. (2) To Whilimina Postma in Michigan, five children born in Bentheim, Michigan: Susan (1877), Albert (1879), Grace (1881), John (1883) and Harm (1888). Jan dropped the 'Kleine' from his surname and changed his surname to Masselink when he immigrated to Michigan. He was our first ancestor to come to America.
1837 The personal union of the United Kingdom and Hanover ended because William IV's heir in the United Kingdom was female (Queen Victoria). Hanover could only be inherited only a male heir. Thus, Hanover passed to William IV's brother, Ernest Augustus, and remained a kingdom until 1866, when it was annexed by Prussia during the Austro-Prussian war. Despite Hanover being expected to defeat Prussia at the Battle of Langensalza, Prussia employed Moltke the Elder's Kesselschlachtorder of battle to instead destroy the Hanoverian army. The city of Hanover became the capital of the Prussian Province of Hanover. After the annexation, the people of Hanover generally opposed the Prussian government
1838 Founding of the First Old Reformed Church. This was done in the Parish of Uelsen at the house of a farmer in Itterbeck named Huisken. As a clergyman was required to found a church, he was assisted by the Reverend Albertus van Raalte of the Netherlands, who later established Holland, Michigan.
1845 Founding of the First Old Reformed Church in Emlichheim.
1846 NOV 17 First band of emigrants from Bentheim left Rotterdam for America under the leadership of Dr. Van Raalte. The trip across the Atlantic was made on an American ship named Southerner. She was commanded by Captain Crosby and 51 days were required to reach New York Harbor. Dr. Van Raalte led his party from New York to Black Lake (Holland), Michigan via Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit. No Masselink's were on this voyage.
1846-1847 Severe crop failures in Grafschaft Bentheim.
1849 Founding of the First Old Reformed Church in Veldhausen.
1865 Emigrant's Guide to the State of Michigan Just prior to the Great Depression in Germany, the Hanover newspaper publishes and distributes this guide without official endorsement; The price of land in Michigan is listed as $1.25 and less per acre.
1866 Grafschaft Bentheim Becomes Part of Prussia. The end of the American Civil War, the desire for economic opportunity, religious freedom, and avoiding the Prussian draft results in a wave of emigrants from Prussia. Hannover annexed by Prussia during the Austro-Prussian war. Despite Hanover being expected to defeat Prussia at the Battle of Langensalza, Prussia employed Moltke the Elder's Kesselschlacht order of battle (Battle of Encirclement) to instead destroy the Hanoverian army. The city of Hanover became the capital of the Prussian Province of Hanover. After the annexation, the people of Hanover generally opposed the Prussian government
1866 Jun 27 The Battle of Langensalza was fought on 27 June 1866 near Bad Langensalza in what now modern Germany is between the Kingdom of Hanover (Hanoverians) and the Prussians. The Hanoverians won the battle but were then surrounded by a larger and reinforced Prussian army, and, unable to link up with their Bavarian allies to the south, they surrendered. This marked the demise of the Hanoverian Army and the annexation of Hanover into the burgeoning kingdom of Prussia as it systematically unified Germany into the modern nation state.
During the Austro-Prussian War (1866), Hanover attempted to maintain a neutral position, along with some other member states of the German Confederation. Hanover's vote in favor of the mobilization of Confederation troops against Prussia on 14 June 1866 prompted Prussia to declare war. The outcome of the war led to the dissolution of Hanover as an independent kingdom and it was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia, becoming the Prussian Province of Hanover. Along with the rest of Prussia, it became part of the German Empire in 1871
Generations Seven and Eight: They departed Grafschaft Bentheim forever for three reasons: Religious freedom, economic opportunity, and to avoid having their children drafted into the Prussian Army. Our direct ancestor Gerrit Hendrick, his father Hendrik, his uncles Hendrik Jan and Harmen, his sisters Fenne, Hendrikjen, Harmina, and Aleida, and his future wife, Etta Poets, all emigrated to Michigan, USA in the second half of the 19th century. After their departure, there were no known people in Grafschaft Bentheim born with the surname Kleine Masselink.
1867 Hendrick Jan (Jan) Kleine Masselink (1832); First Kleine Masselink Brother to Emigrate to Michigan
1871 Unification of Germany; The battlefield successes of Prussia allowed the unification of Germany in 1871 and the crowning of King William I of Prussia as William I, German Emperor
1872-1873 New Prussian Civil laws take effect
1872 Harm Kleine Masselink (1842); Second brother to Emigrate to Michigan
1880-1882 Another new wave of emigration from Bentheim.
1880's The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) appealed to immigrants who wished to preserve their "Dutchness". It captured the bulk of the big immigrant wave of the 1880's because of the decision of the Gereformeerde Kerk to recommend that its members join the CRC and not the Reformed Church of America. The Kleine Masselink emigrants to Michigan identified with the minority German speaking members of the CRC. https://www.swierenga.com/Grafscap_pap.html
1881 Gerrit Hendrik (GH) Kleine Masselink (1858), Hendrik's (1829) son Emigrates to Michigan.
1882 Hendrik Kleine Masselink (1829); Third brother to Emigrate to Michigan with his new wife, four daughters (Fenne, Hendrikjen; Harmina, Aleida) and with son Gerrit Hendrick's fiancée, Etta Poets.
1885 The Grafschaft Bentheim Hardinghausen School closes; Children now attend school year around in Gölenkamp.
1889 Grafschaft Bentheim: Very dry year; Crop failures.
1914-1918 World War I
1939-1945 World War II