Verboort, Johannes

Other Events:

• Immigration: 8 May 1848, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA; on the Libra from Rotterdam Line 25
• Letter: 23 Nov 1897; Letter to John Smits recalling the voyage on the Libera to the US.

Notes:

Immigration:
passenger #25

Letter:
The next letter is from John Verboort to John Smits. John Verboort was a successful emigrant. John Smits lived in Venlo, Holland and maintained a frequent correspondence with emigrants. The letter gives a good impression of the journey from Holland to America and the first years after arriving. The letter is published in the book 'Dutch Immigrant Memoirs and Related writings' from Henry S. Lucas.
Verboort, Washington County

Oregon, November 23, 1897
Dear friend John Smith,
Your honored letter, written the 17th instant, was received today.
With pleasure I shall, in so as I shall be able to comply with your request, furnish you an account of our journey to Ameri-ca, our arrival in this country, etc. Although I recall those events clearly, much escapes my memory. Should you, however, be able to obtain a better or fuller account from other persons you will please me by improving my statements.
We left Volkel (commune of Uden) on March 9, 1848, to underta-ke our journey to America. Our trunks and baggage were brought to Vechel by wagon gratis, I believe, by a friend named Hendrik Rombouts. From Vechel we traveled by canal to 's-Herto-genbosch from which place our boat was pulled to Rotterdam where on March 10 we boarded a small three master, the Libera.
We were thirteen families, all Hollanders. Father Godhart was our leader. The captain and sailors of our ship also were Hollanders. I have forgotten the exact number of emigrants on board the Libera, but it was about 80 persons. The following are the names of the heads of these families: Jan Klaassen, from Grave; Martinus Verkuilen, from Uden; Hein Groens, from Volkel; Niklaas Dennison, from Volkel; Antoon Verkampen, from Uden; Antoon Verwijst, from Uden (a member of this family at present is a Franciscan Father at Ashland, Wisconsin); Mr. Denkboom, from Amsterdam; Albert van den Berg, from Cuyk; Ebben, from Mill; Johannes Tillemans and fiancee, from Boekel; Jan Verboort, from Volkel; and two youths reckoned as belonging to the Verkampen family.
We spent several days at Rotterdam, on board the Libera in order to purchase food and other necessaries, for in those days each passenger had to buy his own provisions, and the captain was not allowed to accept any passenger who had not complied with prescribed regulations.
Everything was carefully weighed, a number was put on each passenger's gag or package which the captain put under lock so that later, according to the ship's rules a fixed daily porti-on could be doled out. Passengers were not permitted to use as much of their provisions as they wished but only as much as the captain allowed, in accordance with the rules. A small amount of drinking water was potioned out each day. The passen-gers, however, did not have to provide their own drinking water; this the shipping company brought on board at Rotterdam.
When everything was in readiness, the Libera left Rotter-dam. At first our boat was drawn [by another boat], later it was pulled by horses to Hellevoetsluis. There were at the moment of our departure from Rotterdam two other ships with emigrants ready to leave for America. About these ships I know little, so I shall write nothing about them. Ours was the first of the three to depart, it also was the first to arrive at its destination.
We encountered our first storm in the English Channel. The captain, as a measure of precaution, took refuge for three days in an English harbor. I believe it was the Isle of Wight. Later we had other serious storms, the worst being, if I recall accurately, on Easter Sunday [April 11]. It lasted three days and blew so violently that the hatches were closed and only a small space was allowed the passengers to go on deck when necessary. Sails were furled, but accidents could not be prevented. Just before the storm struck we could count about fifty ships around us. But as soon as the storm began to blow not a single ship could be seen any more. Except for this storm nothing noteworthy happened on our voyage which was tedious but, considering the time and circumstances, tolera-ble.
After a voyage of 52 days we arrived safely at the dock in Boston on Friday, May 5. The next day we left by train, in boxcars, for Buffalo. Three of the thirteen families stayed in Boston: Denkboom, who did not want to travel further, Antoon Verkampen, and Antoon Verwijst who did not have the money to travel farther. Dennissen stayed in Buffalo because his wife was sick and died. We sailed from Buffalo to Mackinaw Island where we stayed three days until we could get a sailing ship for Green Bay. From there we proceeded up the Fox River by scow or flatboat propelled by six men who used poles. This took two entire days. From Kaukama we were brought in two wagons, drawn by six oxen, to Little Chute where we arrived on 22 May. There we rested and laid plans for the future.
While staying at Little Chute someone of our group heard about the area where the present Hollandtown is situated. I believe this was Father Godhart. We decided to investigate the place and learn if it suited us. Led by Father Godhart, Ver-kuilen, Van den Berg, Ebben, and Verboort went to see it. The aged Driek van der Hey and his large family of whom three were married-Cornelius van der Hey, Johannes Arts and Hendrikus Hoevenaars- accompanied them. The last two persons named were married to Driek's daughters. They had made the journey to America in another ship and had joined us later. These were the first families to settle at Hollandtown. Driek van der Hey may be regarded as being one of the first settlers of this important community. Venkens and Vleugels followed, but they did not belong to the first settlers. Hollandtown is, in the full sense of the word, the first place where, so far as I know, only Hollanders settled in 1848. When we arrived in this area, it is true, Little Chute, Freedom and Bay Settlement had already been founded, but not exclusively by Hollanders.
The above named persons founded Hollandtown in the midst of the woods during the opening days of June. A shanty three miles distant was our nearest house. There was no other such building within a radius of five miles. During the first years we lacked everything except firewood. Poverty was our normal lot, not only among those of us who had no money, but also among those who had a little. These latter, like the others lived, too far from stores to be able to buy anything. But in spite of all hardships our people were happy. I do not recall there ever were quarrels or dissension's of any importance. During the first summer none of us had houses, but we lived in tents made of branches which protected us against the heat of the sun, but could not keep out the rain.
No one had a stove perhaps Father Godhart. We had to get along as well as we could with some pan or kettle we had brought with us from the Netherlands. In such things we had to prepare our scanty food over open fires or under ashes. Bread was baked in ashes or among hot stones. It usually was poor in quality, for we lacked all skill and knowledge to prepare food in this way. Whenever any of the women was so successful in backing bread that the dough would not entirely stick to a tree when thrown against it she would be praised by her neighbors and would have to show then how she accomplished this feat.
With this I shall close. On the 24th Albert and his wife arrived, and in good health. Their journey ended well, and we greet you friendly and wish you and yours all good fortune and blessing.
Ever at your service,
I remain, yours,
John Verboort.