by G. C. Helbers, 1961

translated from the Dutch by Karin G. Constant, Dr. B. Schoone-Strijk
and Annet Rozema, for Diana R. Dunn, State College, PA USA

A lucky coincidence put in my hands a letter from 100 years ago, when people from Drente tried to find greater freedom of worship and a better existence through emigration. The letter was addressed "To the Reverend Sir, the Sir H. Vos, in Assen, Drente, in the Netherlands of Holland." The addressee, Mr. H. Vos, was attorney at the provincial court, councilor of Assen 1833-1864, alderman 1850-1857, 1860-1864, and 1884/1885. The recipient had apparently given the letter to someone else, as he thought the announcements were important and interesting, because he wrote on it "Private for reading." The letter was written 25 April 1848 from "Holland, Ottawa [county], Michigan," by J.W. Nijzing.

Who was this writer, who, with a fair hand, wrote 3 narrow pages? My examinations of archives brought the following to light. In Beilen, married 7 May 1831, Jan Willems Nijzing, born there 23 June, 1810, farmhand, son of Willem Nijzing and Hillegien Jans Tiemens of Ruinen, with Grietje Jans Vredeveld, baptized Beilen 16 September 1810, daughter of Jan Barteldszn Vredeveld and Jantje Jans. In Beilen, in the hamlet Heiken were born their children mentioned hereafter: (1) 21 October 1831 Jantje, witness Barteld Jans Vredeveld, farmer there; (2) Willem, born 22 February 1834, the father is then farmer; (3) Jan, born 19 March 1836. The family then departs to Hoogersmilde, where on 2 May 1838 (4) Hilligje has been born. The father appears to be farmhand again. On 1 October 1840 has been born (5) Jannes, then the father proved to be farmer once more. An up and down of farmhand, farmer, farmhand, farmer undoubtedly a poor living .

As appears from a list of emigrants from Drente, he was christian non conformist (separated from the church). The family departed 17 May 1847 with a ship [Mississippi] from Hellevoetsluis [Rotterdam] and arrived 5 July following, so after almost two and a half months in the New World and well in Baltimore, from where the family settled down in the neighborhood of Holland, Michigan.

Nijzing writes: "Sir!

After given promise, I feel impelled to write to you my journey and my present state of life. Your Reverend is aware of my departing my country in the year 1847. The care of God Almighty accompanied me and my family and made me arrive in the land of my desire. Now I am in one of the United States of North America, and am over 2500 hours away from my native country. However, I wish to write to your Eminence and also to receive back your writings. Well, then I will communicate upon this time to your Eminence my last and my present state of affairs.

The Departure by boat

On 17 May we were in Hellevoetsluis [Rotterdam port at that time] and the 18th we went as far as the North Sea, where the wind was against us, and thus we could not come to the mouth of the sea.. After having been anchored for some days, it was Whit [Pentecostal] Sunday. Then we went into the North Sea. On Whit [Pentecostal] Monday, we saw the coasts of France and England, and before long we went into the big sea.

Crossing and storm on the sea

Yes, Sir, many of our folks said that such a big ship as ours could not be moved, but unfortunately, when the wind rose and the sea became tempestuous, indeed the formidable waves could wobble the big body [of the ship] and well in such a manner that the scoffers and swearers from terrors began to call to Him, who has made the sea with all that is in it.

What is in it [namely in the sea], I have seen a little bit. Yes fishes as big and formidable that I had to say to myself, fear inspiring are your works, o God. We saw fishes who spouted the water even six feet high in the air. Our ship met a ship from Bremen that had been whaling, and had not been in Bremen for 25 months. It came close to us, and it was very calm, and the sailors came with a rower and brought the captain on board to us because they were acquainted with each other.

[Remarkable that Nijzing tells further nothing about his companions.] And further regards to our trip, it was quite prosperous. [Of earlier ships, typhus took half of those on board. Every day, one to 200 persons died.]

The arrival in North America

On 5 July [sic], we arrived in Baltimore. After I and my family had a good look at the village, we left the town, and departed with the steamwagen [train?] to Zoendelvied (Seaville). This town and its beauty and magnificence attracted our attention, and we were treated very friendly.

Illness

After being there for two days, we departed with the steamboat to New York, and the next day with the steamboat to Albany, where I was sick for 8 days, and my wife and children were completely at a loss, what to do with me.

Help and cordiality

This was noticed, and the reverend Dr. Wijhoff (Rev. M. Wijkoff was vicar in Albany), who at once procured a physician for me and asked my wife if we had means of support and becoming aware that we owned little money, he got a shop for us and gave us the freedom to fetch all that we needed. Notable is the goodwill of the Americans against the newly arrived 'Hollanders."

[Remarkable is Nyzingh's utterance of indignation about the treatment he experienced in his native country. Even the Americans found that disgraceful. Also, he expresses himself about the clothing of gentlemen, saying the farmers resembled "European townspeople" From his letter appears clearly, that especially too that in his case the social circumstances were the cause of emigration, and not only the religious ones. (Helbers)]

And after 8 days, we departed with the canalboat to Buffalo. And during the trip we saw so many ships with flour and grain, just like the ships on the Smilde with peat. When we met folks in a boat, then they said, "those are Hollanders," and then one threw this and the other that. Yes, they threw my wife a nice ham in her lap, and called, "Welcome Hollanders." Yes, Sir, the friendly treatment towards the Dutch you would not believe it. And when we tell how we were treated sometimes in Holland, then they detested that. I am joyful that I brought my family here.

Of Settlement, Earnings and Prices

Our oldest daughter [ = Jantje, 17 years of age] earns a dollar in a weeks time, and Willem [ = 14 years of age] 5 dollars in a month time and lives with a judge. Our children, says Sir and Judge Kollar, are capital in America, and this is true, because a day laborer earns between 6 and 8 shillings. There are Hollenders too who get 20 dollars a month, but a dollar is only 100 American cents.

And the necessities of life are cheap. I bought 1 swine with 3 inches of fat for 4 dollars. The fine wheat flour 2, and so pro rata. And there are rivers abounding in fishes. There are many deer and wild turkeys. I also make use of rabbits, smaller than with you, and partridges bigger.

The beginning of prosperity in the promised land

Our table is better laid than in Smilde. I do not own a house, but there is certainly a possibility for it. I rent my house, and that is not expensive. If your Eminence should see us, you would not recognize us, for the Americans are dressed like gentlemen, but it is no miracle, because there are no taxes, and the land needs no dung, and [has] incredible beautiful fruits.

Yes, the farmers resemble much European city-people, and they let the cattle stay outside in wintertime, and have a lot more of them. But they have so many articles of profit. They tap the sugar sap out of the trees, and make the best sugar from that. There are many silver and copper and iron mines, and is a profitable product.

The horses are beautiful and clean, and are often used for pleasure, either under the saddle or for carriages, and very many gray horses, and they are well taken care of. At 5 o'clock they go out riding in the summer, and then the work is done.

Visit to Holland, Michigan

Last summer, I was in the Dutch colony. There it was too full of trees for me, and also the Dutch cannot easily give a dollar daily to a laborer. Then he says, that is too much, and the Americans say for him who works has money to lighten and to make the labor agreeable.

Gardener and coachman

I am with a physician, where our Jan (12 years old) also lives, and I tend his horses, and work a little in the garden, and drive him sometimes to different destinations, and then I get 4 dollar a week and have a good living now.

No better bargain than the ice cream (?), the quart one can buy for 6 shillings. I have not yet seen a windmill. The mills go all with waterpower. Yes, even turne work and other factories. My wife enjoys the American life, and is stout and fat.

Business (inheritance) and friend

Sir, write to me one day how you deal with my belongings, and how my family copes with the account of the public notary. The Dutch agent [he meant representative] has sent me the copy of the execution of the mortgage of L.O. Gratema.

And let me know who, and if some more from your canton have moved to America, and how Jan Knol is. [After investigation, his friend Jan Knol appeared to be Jan Hendriksz Knol, born Beilen, laborer, 30 years of age on July 4, 1928, married Wiggertien Roelofs, born in Havelte, 26 years of age, also living at Smilde]

And let me know everything that is something out of the ordinary, and write me explicitly, otherwise I have no use for it.

The heading address, you should send to A.C. van Raalte [this famous reverend had arrived in America in November the year before], although I live in Otsego. However, if your Honor wants the letter to go directly to me, and then you write Holland, Ottawa, State of Michigan.
Friendly greetings from us,
Your friend J.W. Nijzing in Otsego
To Sir Hendrik Vos, in Assen

So this sign of life finishes.

* Notes:

This translation represents a blending of the efforts of three translators, keeping to the original as closely as possible in order to reflect the true vocabulary, sentence structure, etc.

"Een Levensteken Uit 1848 van een naar Noord-Amerika geemigreerde Drent," Nieuwe Drentse Volksalmanak. Vol. 79, 1961, pgs. 162-168.