Many people who lived in villages created records in the bigger towns in the area.
They may have worked in the bigger town, and created employment records. They may have gone to a notary in the bigger town to have a will or prenuptial agreement drawn up. They may have had business with someone in the bigger town, which could have created transport records or contracts, found in the court or notarial records. The court in the bigger town may have had the higher jurisdiction, and may be where appeals or more serious cases were heard. The larger town may have had a prison, where criminals from the whole region were locked up.
Many of my mother’s ancestors lived in small villages around Breda like Princenhage and Teteringen. I found several of them in Breda records.
Breda in 1932. Credits: Topotijdreis (public domain)
About Yvette Hoitink
