Dear Relatives:
Newsletter No. 48; May 2024
Your Cnossen Family Foundation hereby provides you this year’s Annual Newsletter. As In past years, we have again worked with great pleasure to achieve the objectives of our Foundation:
• Stimulating genealogical research related to the Cnossen-Knossen family, and
• Strengthening the contacts within the Cnossen-Knossen family.
This Newsletter is sent by mail to about 600 addresses in the Netherlands and emailed to some 130 relatives in the US and Canada. Every year we receive donations, which are used to cover the operational costs for the websites and Newsletter. In addition, there were sufficient funds to purchase a scanner and thus take the first step in digitizing our archive. We have also expanded the range of items in our Netherlands merchandise shop with caps and polo shirts with the family coat of arms. Our Treasurer has kept track of the finances again this year. The auditor prepared an annual report of our financial records and found that the Foundation is financially sound. Nevertheless, there is not enough money available to continue with professional genealogical research. It would be appreciated if more family members would support the Foundation financially. Then we could work on new leads in the search for our ‘roots’, such as a recently discovered Cnossen scion in Norway and medieval noble Knossens in Germany. Through more donations we could pursue this research. In this Newsletter, Treasurer Age Knossen explains how we plan to finance the digitization and accessibility of our family archive in a new way.
Foundation Board Changes
The composition of the Foundation Board has changed this year. Jelle Cnossen (AAB 5.14.7.2) has stepped down as Chairman. For sixteen years he has led the Foundation Board, culminating in the realization of our second family book and its festive presentations in Bolsward and in Holland, Michigan (U.S.) in 2018. Now it is time for a younger chairman, Clarence Cnossen (AAB 5.11.3.5.1), to take over. He has been a Board Member of the Foundation since 1995 and was previously Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer for many years.
At the last Board Meeting in February 2024, Jelle handed over the Chairman’s gavel to Clarence. Age Knossen (FCN 7.2.9.2) takes over as Treasurer from Clarence. Paul Cnossen (AAB 5.14.4.1.3) will take care of the external communication of the Foundation. Jelle will remain active in the Board, albeit a little more in the background. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to identify a new Secretary. If you are interested in the family history, have good writing skills, and have time in your schedule, we would like to call on you. More information can be obtained from jelle@cnossen.frl.
We wish you enjoy reading this Newsletter #48!
On behalf of the Foundation Board,
Clarence and Jelle
Family Reunion: USA
At the request of many family members, a reunion will take place on August 9, 10 and 11 2024 in Seattle, Washington. This location was not chosen at random: in the northwest of North America live many descendants of Cnossens and Knossens who emigrated from the Netherlands. It is also special that family from other parts of the United States and the Netherlands are interested in attending the reunion. The Reunion Program is nearly finalized. Following is an overview of the Reunion Program:
Friday August 9: Afternoon
Visit the Seattle Harbor area; Take a boat tour; Meet with relatives in an informal atmosphere
Saturday August 10: Full Day
Main event at Lake Sammamish State Park near Issaquah, WA with socializing, presentations and games.
Sunday August 11: 10AM to 2:30PM
Worship Service at Kelsey Creek Church, Bellevue WA followed by
Farewell Lunch in the Church Fellowship Hall.
A number of family members have already indicated that they will attend the Reunion from the Netherlands, in combination with their plans to tour through the northwest of America. The location of the Reunion is very convenient for planning a trip through a beautiful area of North America and Canada. Please visit the Cnossen Family Website (www.cnossen-knossen.com) for more details and registering for attendance at the Reunion.
Gerrit Wiebes Cnossen FCN 6.8, 1881-1956
The notable family member who is the focus of this newsletter is Gerrit Wiebes Cnossen. He built an impressive track record. The history of his parents and brother Pier is also worth mentioning. Gerrit is the eighth child of Wiebe Ages Cnossen (FCN 6) and Grietje Piers Piersma. The couple lived with their eleven children in a farm on the west side of the Lemmerstraatweg in Hommerts. In the village they were called ’the Wiebe-Griet family’. Before they became a couple, Wiebe and Grietje were neighbors across the street. At first, Grietje ’s parents didn’t like the relationship, but she persevered. That wasn’t easy. The story goes that her father Wiebe was a very detailed and precise man.
Jeltewei 228, Hommerts: On horse: Gerrit Wiebes Cnossen, and in front: Wiebe Ages Cnossen and Grietje Piers Piersma.
In 1867 Wiebe and Grietje married and – remarkably enough – started farming on Grietje’s parental farm. Apparently, they found peace because Grietje’s father had a new farm built on one of his lands in Koufurderrige for his eldest grandson Pier Wiebes Cnossen (FCN 6.2).
Back to Gerrit. He was apprenticed to various dairies in Friesland in order to be trained as a director. He also studied dairy production at the National Agricultural School in Groningen. His first job was in Woltersum, Groningen, as director-bookkeeper of the Steam Dairy. Quite a feat at the age of 24! Remarkably, Gerrit even went to Amsterdam to take a course in ‘Italian accounting’. This is an extensive form of cost accounting, which provides a lot of insight into the current situation within a company.
But Gerrit misses Friesland. After a year, Gerrit leaves on good terms from Woltersum and starts working as a representative for the machinery company ‘Het Farmhouse’ of his brother Pier in Koufurderrige. He sells, among other things, McCormick machines and other vehicles. Pier’s son Wiebe takes care of the supply of parts. This Wiebe is still known to many Dutch farmers today because he later became director of the agricultural school in Woerden. The ‘Landbouwhuis’ was later established in Sneek, the name changed to ‘Landustrie’. Pier is not loved by everyone. On his daily bike rides between Koufurderrige and Sneek, it regularly happens that angry farm workers beat him up. They felt that he was taking their work away from them with his machines.
Gerrit was still devoted to bookkeeping and in 1910 he applied for the position of municipal collector at the municipality of Ferwerderadeel in Ferwerd. He then received a message that he and the two others are nominated for appointment to the city council meeting. Because the council members can’t agree on who gets the job, fate has to decide. This turns out to be negative for Gerrit and he writes: “So be it!” Throughout his life, Gerrit has been actively involved in public administration, including as a council member and chairman of the ‘Hommerts-Sneek’ Water Board.
In 1915 Gerrit became a farmer on the farm on the Jeltesleat where his parents and grandparents farmed. He rents it from the deaconry of the Reformed congregation of Gorredijk. He is grateful for this opportunity and writes “To God’s blessing is always, Soli Deo Gloria, Sneek 11 Sept ’15.” In 1916 he married Tjitske Jans van der Gaast.
In May 1925, a remarkable exchange took place within the family. Gerrit moves into his brother Pier’s farm in Koufurderrige, and Pier himself goes to live in Nijland. The farm in Hommerts is taken over by their sister Grietje and her husband Haring Piersma.
Family Data
Births:
Name Date Location Family Code
Toon Alle Bokma 24-02-2023 Amsterdam FCO 7.5.4.1.1.1
Faye Florentine Lian Adriaanse 23-10-2023 Amersfoort FCA3.4.8.2.4.1.1
Annamare Groeneveld 03-01-2024 Sneek FCN 2.4.5.1.1.2.1
Luca Jay Cnossen 23-01-2023 Zeeland, MI AAB 5.7.1.6.1.6.1
Zeke Matthew Cnossen 02-24-2023 Zeeland, MI AAB 5.7.1.6.1.4.2
Froukje Teuntje Cnossen 04-07-2023 Utrecht FCN 6.2.1.3.1.3.1
Gunnar James Cnossen 29-08-2023 The Dalles, OR FCA 3.3.2.7.2.1.2.1
Cruz Duran Cnossen 05-10-2023 Rockford, MI FCN 3.3.4.3.3.1.1
Wihelmina Jolee Cnossen 25-11-2023 Byron Center, MI AAB 5.7.10.1.1.2.2
Joah Dex Cnossen 08-12-2023 Ijsselstein FCO7.5.1.3.2.3.2
Helaina Elise Cnossen 19-02-2024 Pittsburgh, PA AAB 5.7.1.6.1.5.1
Deaths:
Jitske Dieuwke Hofstra 22-1-2023 Grou FCN 7.2.2.2a
Stiena Marie Kool 10-05-2023 Koudekerk FCN 6.2.1.6a
Yde Teakes Bouma 27-05-2023 FcA 3.4.5.5.6a
Ynze Attema 05-06-2023 Bolsward FCN 6.2.6.3a
Aukje Jans De Vries-Cnossen 24-06-2023 Lemmer FCO 7.5.1.2
Hinke Krikke-Gerbrandy 02-08-2023 Gorredijk FCN 6.2.6.4
Baukje Gerbrandy-Terpstra 28-10-2023 Wommels FCN 6.2.6.5a
Anne Wielinga 09-08-2023 Sneek FCA 3.4.5.5.7
Joukje Tammes Dijkstra-Cnossen 15-11-2023 Leeuwarden FCA 3.4.5.5.2
Folkert (Frank) Tolsma 02-12-2023 Lynden, WA AAB 5.14.6.6
Sheryl Tolsma 03-04-2023 Lynden, WA AAB 5.14.6.6a
Riemke Leentje Lefferts-Cnossen 06-12-2023 Harlingen FCN 2.2.5.3
Gerben Marten Gerbrandy 08-12-2023 Nijland FCN 6.2.6.6
Marianne Gerbrandy-Koster 23-12-2023 Workum FCN 6.2.6.7a
Grada Cnossen-Lammers 11-02-2024 Gouda AAB 4.2.1.2b
Jennifer Cnossen 03-01-2024 Lapa, Brazil BDF 5.3.2.3.5.2
Sidney Randall Andringa 12-01-2024 Spring Lake, MI AAB 5.14.2.4.2
William Brent Andringa 14-03-2024 Fenton, MI AAB 5.14.2.4.4
Marcia Rae Cnossen Koster 03-12-2023 Falmouth, MI FCA 3.1.1.1.7
Marriages:
Colton Cnossen & Emme Duranczk 03-08-2022 Glacier Nat’l Park, MT FCN 3.3.4.3.3.1
Katelyn Cnossen & Smith Lonny Duran 26-05-2023 Ribadesella, Spain FCN 3.3.4.3.3.2
Taylor Anne Koole & Dylan Richard Lubbers 20-10-2023 Hudsonville,MI, AAB 5.7.1.6.1.1.1
(Family updates can be sent to secretaris@cnossen.frl)
New Project: Family History on a Digital Archive
The Cnossen Family Foundation has a huge archive. This has been built up over a period of sixty years of research that preceded the compilation and publication of the two family books in 1988 and 2018. These records are, historically speaking, too valuable to let them gather dust and forget. That’s why we want to digitize the records by means of photos and scans. In doing so, we not only record it for the future, but also make the digital records accessible to all family members. In this way, Cnossen-Knossens who live now and in the future can discover where they come from. Especially because of the international spread of our family, it is nice that the archive can be accessed via the internet. Not only does it give a beautiful picture of our family history, our archive is also extremely interesting from a historical point of view. The family history known to us dates back to 1456 and is therefore one of the oldest well-documented family histories in the world.
Above: Oldest depiction of the coat of arms (certificate of 5 June 1456)
All these documents give a “colour” to our family past and make you curious about where you come from. We also want to make more recent documents, such as videos and images of events, widely accessible to family members. With this ambition, we have a huge job ahead of us, in which we are being advised by professional heritage experts. They guide us through issues of historical importance, privacy and the way in which we make our archive accessible. It goes without saying that this project will cost money. We have not yet reached the point where we can present a budget, but the first estimates are in the tens of thousands of euros. In the coming months, we will finalize the project plan, devlop a final budget, and start fundraising. Of course, part of the annual donations from family members will be spent on this. Because this will not be sufficient, we are committed to a new form of fundraising for our Foundation. We will approach a number of companies that are affiliated with members of the Cnossen-Knossen family, with the request of financial support to make the digitization of the family archive a success. If you have any suggestions or interest in supporting this huge project, please let us know.
Community Interest in Family History
‘De Tiid’, the municipal archive of Súdwest-Fryslân, organizes monthly meetings about the rich history of the municipality. These take place in the beautifully restored former town hall of Bolsward. Last year was one of the meetings dedicated to the history of the farms Klein and Groot Cnossens near Bolsward. The speaker that evening was Jelle Cnossen, the former Chairman of our Foundation. He told the more than 40 attendees about the origin of the name Cnossen-Knossen, about what Bolsward looked like when our family lived on the Knossens mounds, about the farms on Knossens mounds and about archaeological research on and near the Knossen mounds. Afterwards, there was an animated Q&A session and Jelle presented a copy of the second Cnossen Family Book.
Cnossen Family Bell rings over De Hommerts for Four Centuries
This year, the church bell with our family coat of arms on it has been hanging in the church tower in Hommerts for 400 years. The bell was sponsored by Johan Wpckes, one of our most famous ancestors. In the first family book, this action is described as follows: ‘Johan Wpckes soon had a prominent position in the village community of Hommerts. In 1610 he was a village judge and collector (of taxes) there and later in life even an assessor (alderman) and deputy of the dikes of Wymbritseradeel. He is also a churchwarden and it is in this position that he helps to ensure that in the year 1624, a new bell is hung in the church of Hommerts. This includes his name and the coat of arms.’
Our Family on Social Media
The Family Foundation is very active on Facebook. Foundation news, anecdotes and special stories about family members are shared. The family in North America especially makes good use of our Facebook page. It is striking that in the past year no less than three family branches have come into contact with the Foundation again, as a result of which, among other things, a very extensive photo collection of early Cnossen emigrants became public.
For a number of months now, the Foundation has also been active on LinkedIn with the Cnossen-Knossen Business Group. This group, which family members can only join upon request, aims to connect family members in a professional manner. In this way, we facilitate, for example, that young family members find internships and that business contacts are made worldwide.
September 2024: Coffee Chat Foundation Cnossen-Knossen
Together with some enthusiastic family members, the Foundation Board wants to organize a pleasant coffee chat in September. The exact date has not yet been set, but as soon as it is known it will be announced via www.cnossen.frl and our Facebook page. It will be an informal afternoon to catch up with (distant) family, also some visitors to the family reunion in the USA will share their memories. Of course, we offer the opportunity to buy Cnossen-Knossen items in the shop. So keep an eye on our website and Facebook page!
A Second Life for the Stones of Lieuwe
In 2020, our Foundation Board member Lieuwe Cnossen (FCN 2.2.9.2) passed away. He lived on the family farm all his life on Lippenwâlde, a hamlet near Hommerts. Lieuwe’s heirs were saddened to find that the farm had to make way for new construction. The demolition company proceeded cautiously, in order to ensure to be able to sell parts of the farm for reuse in the renovation of other farms.
Some of the facing bricks had been cleaned and sold for use in repairing an exterior wall at the farmhouse in Wijckel of Board Member Paul Cnossen (AAB 5.14.4.1.3) and our former Secretary Edith Cnossen-Helsloot. What’s extra special is that Paul and Edith only discovered their origin after purchasing the stones!
A reunion of six Cnossen sisters in Lapa, Brazil made the front page of the local newspaper.
Donations 2024
Can we count on your donation for 2024? Just like last year, the suggested amount is $20 per family per year. A higher or lower contribution is of course also very welcome. It would be appreciated if more family members financially supported the Foundation in order to achieve our goals especially with the new Digitalization Project. You may use “Zelle” for bank-to-bank money transfers from US banks only: The USA Cnossen Family bank account: ABA Number: 072000096; Account Number: 1852507290. Personal checks made out to “Cnossen Family Foundation” can be mailed to Jim Cnossen; 1008Water Lily Ct., Holland MI 49424.
Cnossen – Knossen Family Foundation
President:
- Clarence Cnossen
- Email: voorzitter@cnossen.frl
Treasurer:
- Age Knossen
- Email: penningmeester@cnossen.frl
North America Ambassadors:
- Email: jimcnossen@aol.com
- Email: pamela_cnossen@hotmail.com