GenealogyBrasser Family
What do WE know?
What can YOU tell US??
We are after information of the Brasser Family around 1200 to 1700.
Firstly, What do WE know?
JOOST BRASSER 1581 - 1653
It appears that the Brassers around the 14th - 15th century were rather prominent
people, especially Joost Brasser who was born in Delft.
In 1596, when he was 15 years old, he moved to Amsterdam, where he lived in “Het
Witte Paard” (The White Horse) at the Herengracht as a trader. In 1602, at the age
of 21, he became one of the founders of the Oost Indische Compagnie, a famous
shipping company that traded with East India, the present Indonesia. This shipping
/ trading company was of such national importance that, even though it was just a
commercial business, centuries later we still learned about this in history
classes at school. It was in business until about 1800 when Napoleon conquered
Europe. Joost also
founded and owned the Groenlandse and Magenlandse Compagnie, a shipping Company which traded with South America.
In 1622, the year his father Dirk died, Joost moved back to Delft, and became the city's treasurer. Seeing his father had just died, he very likely moved into the house of his father, who had been the mayor of Delft. This house is at the Oude Delft, just opposite the Oude Kerk (Old church). It is a beautiful
Building which is used nowadays as the City’s archives.
Joost married Margareta Jacobsd van der Dussen (1585 - ....) in
1603.
After he moved back to Delft, he became the mayor of Delft. Around 1630 he was
also a member of the 'Muiderkring', a select club of intellectuals. They had eight
children: Geertruid (1609), Hugo (1610), Joost, Govert, Adriana, Dirk, Aletta and
Margaretha. In Delft you still find the Brasser Kade (Quay) and Brasser Plein
(Square).
By the way, The Brasser Family Crest appearing at the top of this page, which is
well documented in Dutch archives, was copied from the painting of Joost.
Joost died in Delft in 1653, and is buried in the Niewe Kerk.
ALETTA BRASSER
Aletta, is perhaps less known than her brother Joost, but quite likely she had even 'more to say' than Joost. She spent part of her life in Constantinopel in Turkey as the wife of the first Dutch ambassador to Turkey. It seems that she was Catholic, in secret, and had excellent relations with 'Valida Sultan Kosem', the queen mother of the sultan who (unofficially) decided on most political issues as the governor of her 11 year old sultan's son.
For more information on this remarkable lady, click >>>
Aletta Brasser
HUGO DE GROOT
One famous person who lived at the same time as Joost, was Hugo de Groot.
While Hugo lived in exile in France, it was Joost who wrote him many
letters to keep him informed of political developments in Holland.
All of these letters start with "Dear cousin". So there, apart from Joost
and Hugo being great friends, they were related! These letters can be found at
http://grotius.huygens.knaw.nl/?wicket:interface=:4 or copies can
be obtained by email via the contact of this website.
Seeing that Joost and Hugo were related, and both were members of the
Muiderkring, there is a good chance that Joost may have been involved with
the famous escape by Hugo from Loevenstein Castle!
Do read all about Hugo de Groot, an exceptional great man. Click here>>>
Hugo de Groot
GEERTRUID BRASSER 1609 - 1692
Geertruid was the daughter of Joost Brasser and Margareta van der Dussen.
In 1636 she married Johan van der Chys, who had
become the director of the East India Company (co-founded by Joost
Brasser, his father in law). Both Johan and Geertruid are also buried in
the New Church (De Niewe Kerk).
Now then, what do YOU know?
The family tree from about 1700 onwards is pretty well recorded, but
prior to this there are still lots of 'unknowns'. We know names of four
generations prior Joost Brasser, which can be seen on our
Family tree.
Anything YOU can tell US will be appreciated. A few more details would be
fantastic. This could be emailed to
Harry Brasser at
brasser@ihug.co.nz. Thank you.
BY THE WAY
Just a thought for all you Brassers: Imagine if our predecessors centuries ago had been murderers, criminals, etc., surely we would not like to be blaimed for that, right?
By the same token, now it so happens that our forefathers did things to be proud of, we, centuries later, should not take the credit for that, right?
It is just nice and interesting to know.
Just be proud of them and try to follow in their footsteps.
I am in the process of writing a booklet, primarily for my
grandchildren, so they will know what makes a Brasser 'tick'. It will have
a bit of Dutch history, and more information about the Brassers, how
they were involved with central and municipal government. I am also establishing a data base with all known brassers, especially before 1700. If
this is of interest, or you stumbled on something of interest, then please let us know. Thank you.