Birth certificate of Albert Melessen

The BMD database of the province Groningen on the website Alle Groningers has the birth certificate of my great-grandfather, Albert Melessen.

According to this certificate, Albert was born on den vierentwintigsten der maand Januari dezes jaars, des avonds te acht uur (the 24th of the month January of this year [1886], in the evening at eight hours), in Lutjegast, municipality Grootegast, province Groningen. The parents were Jakob Melessen, farmer, and Attje Bansema, who live in Midwolde. The father was absent, and the registration was done by Jan Lammerts Bansema, 63, farmer. Jan declared that the birth took place in his house.

Jan Lammerts Bansema was Albert's maternal grandfather. Apparently Albert's mother, Attje Bansema, was staying with her parents when she gave birth to Albert. Albert's father was unable to do the registration because of he was absent - presumably home at his farm.

According to family lore, Albert was born in Lutjegast while his mother visited relatives (confirmed by this certificate), while his parents lived in Grootegast (not correct, they lived in the municipality Midwolde). Apparently, it always bothered Albert that he was born in Lutjegast as the people from the region looked down on Lutjegast. I don't know if there was any truth in that. Besides, he lived most of his adult life in Amsterdam, the capital, where most people had never heard of villages like Lutjegast, Grootegast or Midwolde (and probably looked down on all people from Groningen anyway).

Files: Albert Melessen, Jakob Melessen, Attje Bansema, Jan Lammerts Bansema.