Wolterman Genealogy - Week 14

My husband’s 3rd great-grandfather was also named Johannes Woerdehoff. He was born to Franziskus Henricus and Catherine Margaretha (Bickmann) on 10 March 1775 in Hegensdorf, Westphalia, Germany. Located in a wooded and hilly area in northwestern Germany, this village may also be referred to as Hegensdorf, Paderborn, Nordrhein-Wesfalen. Paderborn indicates the administrative district that Hegensdorf is located in, and Nordrhein-Westfalen refers to the state. Hegensdorf is one of the oldest villages in the district, and was first mentioned in a document in 975. The local Catholic church is St. Vitus, which dates back to at least 1353.

St. Vitus Catholic Church

In the 1800s, the average population in the village was 450. About 100 of those residents left in that century to head to America and other locations. Included in that number were Conrad Woerdehoff, whom I wrote about last week, and his wife and children.

On 24 November 1808, Johannes married Anna Maria Isabella Josepha Ruether in Hegensdorf. They had the following children: Johannes Conradus (Conrad) born 1810; Vitrus Everhardus born 1812; Johann Herman Aloysius born 1816; and Anna Maria Christina Theresia born 1820.

Having lived his entire life in Hegensdorf, Johannes died at the age of 53 on 7 May 1828. His youngest child was only 8 years old at the time. His wife Anna Maria died 13 April 1835 at the age of 48.