Catharina Van Der Werven

1622 - 1702  (80 years)

• Name	Catharina Van Der Werven  [1]
  Birth	1622	Netherlands   [1]
  Gender	Female
  FSID	LT2V-DDV
  Death	1702	Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, United States   [1]
  Burial	1702	Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, United States   [1]
  	Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church Cemetery
  Person ID	I45457	footsteps | Bunker
  Last Modified	30 Jul 2025

  
  

  Family	Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, Reverend ,   b. Abt 1598, Boikirchen, Rhenish, Bavaria d. 9 Sep 1676, Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, United States (Age 78 years)
  Marriage	1643
  Children	+ 1. Anna Polhemus,   b. 1650, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil d. 1732, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States (Age 82 years)  [Father: unknown]  [Mother: unknown] + 2. Maragarita Polhemius,   b. Abt 1649, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil d. 1702, Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, United States (Age 53 years)  [Father: unknown]  [Mother: unknown]
  Family ID	F24948	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	30 Jul 2025

  
  

• Notes

  Catharina and Johannes were married circa 1643 and their first five children were born in Brazil. By 1654, the Dutch administration in Brazil had become inefficient and corrupt. The Portuguese revolted and the Dutch were given three months to depart Brazil or embrace the Roman Catholic faith and become Portuguese citizens. They declined. The Dutch sent 16 ships to Brazil to evacuate the settlers. Catherine and the children left on one and Johannes stayed to depart on the last ship. Catherine and the children were in dire need. On arriving she had approached the Lutheran Church officials and explained what had happened and that without her husband she had no means to provide for herself and family. They doled out small amounts of money and kept her in poverty for a year or more before finally deciding that they would pay her passage so that she and the children could rejoin Johannes in Flatbush. The family was reunited in 1656-1657. Another son, Snebering, was added to the family the following year with two more to follow.

  
  

• Photos

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• Sources

  [S288] Find a Grave Index, "Find a Grave Index", FamilySearch (https://www./ark:/61903/1:1:QK1X-G6H3 : Wed Apr 09 00:22:12 UTC 2025), Entry for Catherine Van Werven Polhemus. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK1X-G6H3