Notes for Geertje Hendricksen: Geertje Hendricksen was the grand-daughter of one Hendrick Hendricksz. He was an Anabaptist prophet in the 1500's and was involved in the famous "naked runners" on February 11, 1535. The following is a summary of this account. (CS)
They lived in Amsterdam during the time when all Anabaptists were ordered out of the town by the local Schout after weapons were found in one of their houses. This holding of weapons was not to be tolerated by the local officials as they did not want any trouble. Jan van Geel, a leader of the Anabaptists at the time, was plotting an all-out assault. One evening as the Anabaptists were holding a secret meeting at the home of a wool merchant, Hendrick Hendricksz, a 'prophet' went into a fit and cried, "I have seen God and heaven and hell, and the day of judgement come, and you are all judged for eternity, not even worthy of hell but only the lowest depths!" His followers cries, "Heavenly father, have mercy!" Mercy was granted at once. Hendrick Hendricksz said," The father will overlook you, your sins forgiven, if you are a child of God."
After some more prayers and preaching the prophet remembered the Garden of Eden, tore off his clothes and threw them into the fire, and told his followers to do the same. They did, men and women. The smell of burning brought down the owner of the house. The 'prophet' told her to remove her clothes. She could not refuse, apparently. The ecstatic group then went out of the house, running and shouting, "Woe!, Woe! The wrath of God!"
Those who came to their doorways or happened to be on the Dam were rewarded with a memorable sight. There were seven men and five women, and the Schout knew just what to do with them. They were all immediately arrested. The women got off lightly, but the men were beheaded on February 25, 1535. Their heads were exhibited on spikes at a tollgate on the IJ. The unfortunate owner of the house was hanged in her own doorway. Source: "Archives of The Netherlands: Amsterdam Yearbook: 1400-1600".
More About Geertje Hendricksen and Johannes Casparius Davidus Steynmets I: Marriage: Abt. 1607, Schiedam, South Holland.
Children of Geertje Hendricksen and Johannes Casparius Davidus Steynmets I are:
+Casparus Johannes Steynmets II, b. 11 January 1610, Schiedam, South Holland, Netherlands46, 47, d. 1702, Ahaysmus, Bergen Co., New Jersey.
Geertje Hendricksen (b. Abt. 1596, d. 1636)
Notes for Geertje Hendricksen: