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Welcome to my Genealogy Webpage – my opportunity to share the unique journey I’ve experienced since 2000. I began to wonder about my Ancestry, a topic that my family and I seemed to know very little about. Quite a shame when you think about when you consider how important FAMILY is. I knew of 6 surnames that were direct descendants and I barely made into the 1800’s. Three years later my direct descendants lists now looks like this –

Surnames of Direct Descendants in alphbetical order

Aldertsz – 1709 in Holstein
Andree – 1759 in Prussia (now Germany)
Beckernoff - before 1848
Belissa – before 1772
Bennet – before 1838
Blom - 1842
Bosch - 1806
Bregman – before 1698
Caspersz – before 1730 in Belgium
Christoffelsz - 1748 in Rotterdam, Holland
Claas – before 1693
Cooke – before 1867
Cordill - before 1864
Cramer – before 1662
De Jong x 2 families – before 1712 in Holland
De Hoen – before 1825
De Oude - before 1691 from Holland
De Sielwe – before 1805
De Silva x 2 families
De Zilva
De Zilwa – before 1825
De Vos - before 1698
Douwe - 1742
Ephraums – before 1805 in Holland
Filandersz - before 1760's
Gauder – before 1797 in Sengon
Goodchild – before 1844 in Ireland
Greve – after 1851
Hendricksz - before 1761
Hendriksz – before 1715
Heyman – before 1810
Holsinger - before 1847
Hooper – after 1800
Jacobsz - 1770 in Bavaria
Jansz x 3 families – before 1693
Jansen - 1693
Jones – before 1883
Jooris – before 1652
Kellar – 1770 in Bavaria
Keyzer – before 1839
L’Almont – 1800’s originates from Switzerland
Martheze - 1743
Mayer - before 1838
Melchiors – before 1691
Mendes - 1671
Miller – before 1819
Muckett – before 1844 in England and possibly France
Muller – before 1761
Nagel - before 1797
Overlunde – before 1775 from Holland
Polnitz - 1699
Poulier – before 1691 from Holland
Prigge – 1616 in Germany
Raymond x 2 Families - before 1864
Renaux – before 1847
Reyhardt - before 1797
Scheffer – before 1810 from Sneek, Holland
Schoe – before 1761
Solomons – before 1800
Strobach – before 1766 from Holland
Van Cleef x 2 Families
Van Hoven - 1791
Van Sanden – before 1848
Van Slooten – before 1800
Van Zitter – before 1814
Vanderbent – before 1712
Willemsz - before 1698
Wittebron - before 1765

That stands at 66 very multicultural sir names virtually from every aspect of Ceylon’s / Sri Lanka’s very diverse and interesting history (history of the country is learnt as the journey unfolds). I (with the help of many brilliant genealogist) have been able to trace families back to countries such as Holland, England, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and I would assume by looking at the names there’s a Portuguese, Italian and French flavour apparent as well.

Aside from identifying names, places and dates the greatest feeling of satisfaction comes via learning the life stories of past family members. It has definitely help me to understand myself a little better.

I have had the help of many wonderful people and now with this page I take the opportunity to try and provide people interested in tracing their roots with the resources and knowledge from my trials and errors.

I believe it is a very rewarding project that generations will appreciate when they begin to ponder their own ancestries. With the passing of every day and every family member, vital information is forgotten and lost forever. Not any more ….. The following is a guide, particularly for Sri Lankan Burghers with no Genealogical Background, on how to start building an extensive Family Tree.

1. GETTING STARTED FOR BEGINNERS
a) Do yourself a favor and buy yourself a good Genealogy programme for your computer. This will save mess and confusion and help protect you from loss of information etc. Otherwise, create a system using word and make sure your files are well organized. I myself use Genealogy.com Family Tree Maker Version 9.0 – Brilliant and quite easy to learn.
b) Familiarize and learn how to read and interpret the many styles of Family trees. Some can be confusing at first but with thought they are all pretty easy to follow after a while.
c) Now it is time to start gathering information from family members (and yourself of course) obviously starting with the eldest and most important first. You will often find that there is usually someone in the family that has some form of a family tree somewhere (usually forgotten in boxes, cupboards etc). If you can do this, this lays a great foundation for future missions. As mentioned, I didn’t have much to work with but the more information I found, the more other family members remembered and became more inspired.
d) The greatest tool at this stage is the Internet via Genealogy Websites which help you find and get in touch with distant family members who are sharing the same search and are probably more than happy to provide and trade information, advise and even pictures. E-mail me to find out the best sites to go to, to get yourself started and be alert for the names you are looking for. Please also note that not all you may find may be totally accurate. Cross checking will help you determine legitimacy. A genealogist must be patient and unbearably inquisitive. Good Luck and e-mail me when you are ready to go the next step. Good Luck and Enjoy.
hamish@kingsgrovesports.com.au

Below you will find the simplest and most direct form of my Genealogy and Heritage. Direct descendants from down the generation line. This is an example of just what can be achieved when trying to build a Burgher Genealogy. I have since discovered futher generations to my tree.

1. My Generation

0. Hunter Lindsay Robert Solomons bn 20/12/2006 in Sydney, Australia

1. Hamish Lindsay Solomons bn Sunday 27/08/1972 at 11.32AM in (St Anne's) Colombo, Sri Lanka. Weighing 8 pounds even. Immigrated to Australia in 1973.
Married Grace Wanette Russo on the 31/07/2004 at St Peter Chanel, Sydney, Australia (engaged 28/06/2003 in Sri Lanka)
She was bn 20/11/1971 in Sydney, Australia the daughter of Robert Russo bn in Italy and Anne O'Sullivan bn in Ireland.

2. Parents

2. Harold Lindsay Solomons bn 07/11/1947 in Neboda, Ceylon. School at St. Aloysius College Galle. Is Managing Director of Kingsgrove Sports Centre.
Married Eleanor Frances Cooke on the 15/02/1971 in Ceylon. She was bn 01/11/1950 in Ceylon. Educated at Sacred Heart Convent, Galle.

3. Grandparents

SOLOMONS
3. Mirwil Carlyle Solomons bn Matara, Ceylon and died on 26/11/1989 in Australia aged 71.
Married Barbara Yvonne Goodchild on the ? in Ceylon.
She was bn 31/03/1929 at 11.40pm in De Soysa Lying In Home, Ceylon and died during child birth to 4th child in 1950 in Ceylon. Mirwil 2nd marriage to Buddy Brown bn ? in India.

COOKE
3. William Henry Janze Cooke bn 09/02/1911 in Ceylon and died in 1977 in Ceylon.
Married Winnifred Ellen Caspersz on the ? in Ceylon.
She was bn 02/11/1909 in Ceylon and died in 1997 in Ceylon.

4. Great Grandparents

SOLOMONS
4. William Henry Solomons bn 18 December 1879, Matara, Ceylon and died in 1942, Matara, Ceylon.
Married MIRIAM CONSTANCE KELLAR in St Thomas, Matara, Ceylon.
She was born 28/12/1886.

GOODCHILD (Some new info here)
4. Walter (Sonnie) Edmund Goodchild bn Sunday 21/09/1890 at 2.15AM and Baptised at St Paul's, Kandy (By Rev E.A. Copleston). He was an accountant and ran a rubber estate known as Culloden Estate.
Married Ivy Gladys Gauder 20/07/1928 in Ceylon.
She was born 27/11/1903 at 1.15pm and Baptised in Holy Trinity Church, Kandy.

COOKE
4. Dr John Carl Cooke bn 01/02/1867 died 27/08/1931
Married (2nd Marriage) Eleanor Frances Jansz in Ceylon after 1908

CASPERSZ
4. Cloudesley Henry Caspersz bn 07/09/1865 in Colombo, Ceylon.
Married Clotilda Carolina Holsinger on 12/05/1893 in Colombo, Ceylon.
She was bn 02/06/1874 in Colombo, Ceylon

5. Great Great Grandparents

SOLOMONS
5. Thomas Henry Solomons bn 06/02/1842
Married Harriet Greve.
She died 1870 in Ceylon

KELLAR (New Info)
5. JAMES KELLAR bn 13/07/1832 in Matara, Southern Province, Ceylon and died 02/03/1893
Married AGNES ELIZA POULIER about 1868 in Galle, Sothern Province, Galle, Ceylon.
She was bn 01/10/1843 in Matara, Southern Province, Ceylon.

GOODCHILD (Some new info here)
5. Charles Embleton Goodchild bn 15/05/1853 and Baptised 24/07/1853 at St Paul's, Kandy. (Sponsored by Sgt Major William and Elizabeth Hodkinson) and died at the Nebboda Hospital in 1925.
Married Charlotte Elizabeth Jones on the 06/07/1883? at St Paul's, Kandy and were divorced 23/08/1899 after having 14 children of which 7 died during infancy.

GAUDER
5. George John Gauder
Married Charlotte Jemima Raymond
She was bn 17/09/1864 and died 02/04/1924

COOKE
5. John George Cooke bn 29/09/1840 Married Dorothea Emelia Van Sanden 24/05/1865 Christ Church, Galle Face, Colombo
She was bn 27/08/1848

JANSZ (Parents of Eleanor Frances)
5. William Henry Jansz (Proctor) Married Margaret Harriet Jansz on the 04/10/1865 at All Saints Church, Galle
She was bn 08/11/1843 and died 11/03/1894

CASPERSZ
5. Robert Bernard Caspersz bn 27/03/1839 in Colombo, Ceylon and died 25/01/1915 in Colombo, Ceylon. Believed to be a Printer. In 1870 was Chief Clerk of the Times Newspaper, Colombo.
Married Juliana Sarah Overlunde on the 24/06/1861 at St Lucia's Cathedral, Kotehena, Colombo, Ceylon.
She was bn 07/01/1845 in Colombo, Ceylon and died 05/01/1914 in Colombo, Ceylon.

HOLSINGER
Elias Holsinger
Married Louisa Muller

6. Great x III Grandparents

SOLOMONS
6. Hendrick Thomas Solomons bn early years of the 1800's and died in 1883 in Badulla.
Married Mary Anne Hooper of English Origin.

GOODCHILD (Some new info here)
6. John Thomas Goodchild bn in Ireland, in the parish of St. John Anglican church, Waterford. He lived in Kandy. He was Master Sgt H.M. 37th Regiment. He died in 1860.
Married Elizabeth Muckett of Gosport, England 04/03/1844 in Gosport (English Naval Port), Hampshire, England. She died probably in around 1861 or 62.

KELLAR (New Info)
6. Daniel Kellar
Married Johanna Ephraums

POULIER (New Info)
6. Gerrit Arnont bn 10/06/1808 in Matara, Southern Province, Ceylon.
Married Cresia Arnoldina Jansz bn 1814 in Matara, Southern Province, Ceylon and baptized 29/05/1814.

GAUDER
6. John George Andrew Gauder bn 09/09/1823
Married Emily Louisa Bennet on the 02/09/1857 in Holy Trinity Church, Colombo.
She was bn 05/03/1838

JANSZ (Parents of William Henry)
6. Charles Jansz
Married Sarah L'Amont

JANSZ (Parents of Margaret Harriet)
6. Hendrik Fredrik Jansz bn 06/10/1815 and died 15/09/1903
Married Maria Elizabeth Andree on the 01/12/1842 in Hambantota, Ceylon.
She was bn 03/05/1827 in Galle and died 19/04/1892

RAYMOND (New Info)
6. Arnoldus Raymond bn 06/01/1810 died 10/12/1879
Married (His 3rd Marriage) Elizabeth Petronella Cordill (?Condill?) 17/10/1844 at Dutch Reformed Church, Colombo
She was bn 17/10/1828 (They had 8 children)

CASPERSZ
6. Nicholas Gerard Caspersz bn 1795 in Colombo, Ceylon and Baptised 07/11/1795.
Married Euphemia Maria Keyzer in Dutch Reformed Church, Wolvendaal, Colombo, Ceylon.
She was bn in Ceylon.

OVERLUNDE (New info here)
6. Johannes ANDREAS Overlunde bn 17/10/1807 and died 08/07/1881
Married Rita Luviza Blom.
She was born 09/05/1842.

No further information at this stage on the following families :
GREVE
COOKE
HOLSINGER
MULLER
JONES

7. Great x IV Grandparents

SOLOMONS
7. HENDRICK SOLOMONS bn in Galle, Southern Province, Ceylon and died in Ceylon.
Married ALDINA VAN SLOOTEN 21 December 1788 in Dutch Reformed Church, Colombo, Ceylon (Source: Dutch Reformed Church Regestries, vol 3d/3 pg 205.).
She was born in Galle, Ceylon and died 1831 in Ceylon.

POULIER (New Info)
7. Gerrit Joan Poulier bn 1773 in Galle, Southern Province, Ceylon and died 09/07/1884 in Galle, Southern Province, Ceylon.
He was the Sitting Magistrate, Belligama, Ceylon.
Married Anna Catharine De Vos 30/07/1797 in Dutch Reformed Church, Galle, Southern Province, Ceylon.
She was born 19/09/1781.

JANSZ (Parents of Cresia)
7. Frederick Jansz
Married Arnoldina Van Zitter.

JANSZ (Parents of Hendrik Jansz)
7. Albert Jansz
Married Christina Wilhelmina Scheffer on the 06/08/1810 Dutch Reformed Church, Galle

ANDREE (Parents of Maria Elizabeth Andree)
7. Adolphus Wilhelmus Andree bap. at Galle 08/02/1795 and died 16/04/1866 in Galle
Married Thomasia Dorothea Arnoldina Poulier
She was bn 03/05/1827 in Galle and died 19/04/1892 in Galle.

GAUDER
7. Joseph Gauder
Married Augenita (Agnita - Andree Genealogy) Abigail (Migail) Andree on the 24/05/1821 in the Dutch Reformed Church, Galle, Ceylon.
She was baptised 07/04/1801 in Galle.

RAYMOND (New Info)
7. Jacob Raymond of Geneva, Switzerland, died in Colombo 12/07/1837
Married Henrica Antonia Christoffelsz 12/12/1802 at Dutch Reformed Church, Colombo
She was bn 28/05/1780 and died 30/15/1865

BENNET
7. James Bennet
Married Anna Peternella Mayer

VAN SANDEN 7. George Van Sanden
Married Merciana Beckernoff

CASPERSZ
7. Joan Arnoud Caspersz bn 1754 in Colombo, Ceylon. Baptised 21 July 1754. Clerk of the Sailors in the Dutch East India Co.
Married Sara Regina Strobach on the 15/10/1786 in Dutch Reformed Church, Colombo, Ceylon.
She was born in Colombo, Ceylon.

OVERLUNDE (New)
7. PHILLIP CHRISTOFFEL OVERLUNDE born 04/04/1775 and died 29/03/1861.
Married JOHANNA JACOBA BOSCH in 1806.
Her father came to Ceylon from Holland as Valuator of Jewellery to the Dutch Government.

No further information at this stage on the following families :
GOODCHILD
HOOPER
KELLAR
EPHRAUMS
CORDILL
KEYZER
BLOM

8. Great x V Grandparents

SOLOMONS
It is rumoured that the first Solomons to have made his way to Ceylon from Holland was an Isaac Solomons. Maybe he fits in here or even further down the line. Hopefully we will find out.

POULIER (New Info)
8. Adrian Poulier bn 1752 in Galle, Southern Privince, Ceylon and died in 1784 in Galle, Southern Privince, Ceylon. He was baptized 12/02/1752 and was bookeeeper for the Dutch East Indies Company.
Married Rebecca Christina Belissa 26/07/1772 in Dutch Reformed Church, Wolvendaal, Colombo, Ceylon.
She was born 14/11/1741 in Galle, Southern Privince, Ceylon.

DE VOS (New Info)
8. Pieter De Vos
Married Isabella Martheze

GAUDER
8. Johan Adam Gauder at Sengon, (Wittenberg) living in Ceylon, 1796 (1828)
Married Gertruida Elizabeth Reyhardt in Galle

CHRISTOFFLESZ (New Info 10/02/08)
8. Anthony Christoffelsz bn in Rotterdam, Holland in 1748
Married Florentina Filandersz at the Dutch Reformed Church, Wolvendaal, 11/12. 176?

JANSZ (Parents of Albert)
7. Albert Jansz bn in Onderdam, (Groningen) and died about 1798
Married Catharina Antonia on the 05/09/1790 Dutch Reformed Church, Galle

ANDREE (Parents of Agnita Abigail and also Adolphus Wilhelmus Andree
8. Wilhelm Hendrik Andree
Married Clara Elizabeth Van Hoven

CASPERSZ
8. Arnout Caspersz, Quartermaster/Paymaster in the VOC, born in Colombo, married (1) CAROLINA DE JONGH. She died in Colombo. He married (2) ANNA ELIZABETH CRAMER 10 June 1753 in Dutch Reformed Church,Wolvendaal,Colombo . She was born 1738 in Colombo; died 6 April 1769 in Colombo

OVERLUNDE (New 14.07.06)
8. JOHANNES HENDRIK OVERLINDE, Sergeant and Paymaster in the VOC, was born in Rotenburg,Holland, and died Abt. 1778 in Colombo. He married MARIA DE ZILVA 26 November 1775 in Dutch Reformed Church,Wolvendaal,Colombo. She was born in Colombo, and died Abt. 1801 in Colombo.

STROBACH
8. Johannes Christoffel STROBACH bn in Amsterdam, Holland. Bookeeper in the Dutch East India Co.
Married Catharina De Jong 9 Nov 1766 Dutch Reformed Church, Colombo, Ceylon.
She was born 06/02/1748

No further information at this stage on the following families :
JANSZ
VAN ZITTER
RAYMOND
BENNET
VAN SANDEN
MAYER
BOSCH
MUCKETT

9. Great x VI Grandparents

POULIER (New Info)
9. Arnout Poulier bn 17/02/1726 in Galle, Southern Privince, Ceylon.
2nd Marrige to Leanora Van Cleef in 1747 in Galle, Southern Privince, Ceylon.
She was born 02/04/1730.

BELISSA (New Info)
9. Julius Belissa
Married Cornelia Van Cleef

REYHARDT
9. Christoffel Frederick Reyhardt
Married Elizabeth Nagel

ANDREE (New Info)
9. Frederik Andree was born in Zelle, Prussia (Germany) and arrived in Ceylon in the 1750's.
Married Anna Maria Douwe 21/01/1759 in Dutch Reformed Church, Wolvendaal, Colombo, Ceylon.

CASPERSZ
9. Arnout Caspersz Coach Driver from in Groote Willebroeck, Antwerp, Belgium Married Gertruida ALDERTSZ in Colombo 01/08/1723 She was baptised on 30/03/1710 in Colombo, Ceylon.

CRAMER (New - 14.07.06)
JOHANNES HENDRICK CRAMER, Soldier in the VOC was born in Batavia(Indonesia), and immigrated to Ceylon in 1662/. He died 22 April 1739 in Colombo. He married MARIA DOMINGA WITTEBRON 17 November 1726 in Colombo, daughter of JAN WITTEBRON and KRISTINA. She was born in Colombo,Western Province,(Ceylon) Sri Lanka, and died 16 May 1765 in Colombo,Western Province,(Ceylon) Sri Lanka

DE JONG
9. Huybert DE JONG bn 1712 in Haarlem, Holland and died 26 Jan 1793. Foreman of Ships' Carpenters.
Married Regina PRIGGE 10/04/1740 Dutch Reformed Church, Colombo, Ceylon.
She was born 04/06/1720 and died 05/03/1752. They had 5 Children, Barent bn 1741, Sara bn 1743, Maria bn 1745, Catharina (as above) and Elizabeth bn 1751. Huybert de Jong married 5 times.

No further information at this stage on the following families :
SOLOMONS
DE VOS
MARTHEZE
GAUDER
CHRISTOFFELSZ
CASPERSZ
OVERLINDE
DE ZILVA
STROBACH
VAN SLOOTEN

10. Great x VII Grandparents

POULIER (New Info)
10. Arnout Poulier (Snr) bn 20/04/1696 in Bergen-Op-Zoon, Holland and died 1726 in Galle, Southern Privince, Ceylon. He immigrated to Ceylon in 1714 on the ship - "Shooneval".
Married Cornelia Willemsz in Galle, Southern Privince, Ceylon.

CRAMER (New 14.07.06)
10.AUGUSTUS CRAMER, Sergeant in the VOC, died 1722 in Stockholm,Sweden, as a result of a duel with another Sergeant in his Regiment, that took place outside the City gates, he later died of his wounds. Soldiers of his unit carried his white coffin to a grave in Riskin.

10.WITTEBRON (New 14.07.06)
JAN WITTEBRON married KRISTINA

VAN CLEEF (New Info)
10. Jacobus Van Cleef
Married Louisa De Silva

ALDERTSZ
10. Jan Aldertsz from Holstein. Bookeeper & Merchant in the Dutch East India Co.
Married Christina Jansen from Hangwelle. Christina Jansen was the daughter of Jan Jansz.

de JONG (New info)
10. Jan de Jong bn in Holland.
Married Sara vander Bent.

PRIGGE
10. Jan PRIGGE bn 1673 in Colombo, Ceylon. Baptised 02/02/1673 in Colombo, Ceylon.
Married 23 September 1714 in Colombo, Ceylon.
Antoniea HENDRICKSZ bn 1690 in Colombo, Ceylon.
They had 4 children, Jan bn 1715, Elizabeth bn 1716, Abraham bn abt. 1716 and Regina (See above).

No further information at this stage on the following families :
BELISSA
ANDREE
DOUWE
REYHARDT
NAGEL
... and that is the end of the line for the GAUDER and CASPERSZ.

11. Great x VIII Grandparents

POULIER (New Info)
11. Johan Poulier bn in Holland.
Married Catharina De Oude 01/02/ 1692 in Holland.
They had three Children - Johanna bn 30/11/1692, Hendrik bn 12/04/1694 and Arnout.

WILLEMSZ (New Info)
11. Pieter Willemsz
Married Anna Bregman

JANSZ
11. Jan Jansz from Doesberg
Married Catherina Claas from Cochin. Daughter was Christina Jansen.

PRIGGE
11. Pieter PRIGGE bn 1647 in Hamburg, Germany. Baptised 05/12/1647 in Hanburg, Germany.
Married Francina MENDES September 1671 in Colombo, Ceylon. She was born in Colombo, Ceylon.
They had 3 Children, Pieter bn 1642, Jan (as above) and Hendrik bn 1678.

HENDRICKSZ (New Info)
11. Raynier Hendricksz bn in Bemelen, Holland.
Married Antonia de Silva in 1684 in Ceylon.
She was bn in Kalutara, Ceylon.

No further information at this stage on the following families :
CRAMER
WITTEBRON
VAN CLEEF
DE SILVA
de JONG
vander BENT

12. Great x IX Grandparents

PRIGGE
Heinrich PRIGGE bn 1616 in Hamburg, Germany. Baptised 27/01/1616, St Catherine, Hamburg, Germany.

No further information at this stage on the following families :
POULIER
DE OUDE
WILLAMSZ
BREGMAN
MENDES
JANSZ
CLAAS
HENDRICKSZ
de SILVA

My extra special thanks go to the following for their help and assistance – Jennifer van der Greft, Kyle Joustra, Sandy Austin and Fazli Sammer. Also thanks to Malcolm Jansze, Les Richardson and Neville Overlunde. Sorry if I have missed any others.

Yours in Burgherology,
hamish@kingsgrovesports.com.au