If you’re stuck and can’t find your ancestor’s parents, try researching the siblings and other relatives.
Here are some suggestions to identify possible siblings:
- Baptismal records and marriage records often name the witnesses. Witnesses were typically close family members, such as siblings.
- Court records sometimes show several people buying or selling land together. These were often siblings.
- Collateral succession tax records may show your brick wall ancestor inheriting from a sibling, aunt, or uncle.
Once you have identified siblings, you can research them. Perhaps their records will mention their parents.
The children of Gerrit Jan Kastein. Courtesey of Ruth Lindegarde.
About Yvette Hoitink
Wow, what a resemblance between all of them. This reminds me of my husband’s maternal ancestor. His name was Venelkassen, changed to Veneklase. When I asked a first cousin what her daughter looked like since we went to the same church and I might have known her, the cousin replied “She looks like a Veneklase”. Over the years I have come to know what this means. One characteristic is the narrow face and almost pointed chin like these people.