Jan Hendrik grew up in a family of some status and affluence (the family armorial crest is shown at left�) and his father had his own stockbroking company which it seems his elder brother worked in as he is also shown as a stockbroker in one of the Household Registers (a Dutch form of census).
By the age of 24 Jan turns up in a deprived area of the London docks (Wapping), getting married in 1851 to a 23 year old widow, Charlotte Crawford n�e Vardey, with a 2 year old son. His occupation on his marriage certificate is shown as "Licensed Victualler" a probable euphemism as his bride's step father, William Johnson, with whom she was living at 83 St George Street shortly before her marriage in 1851, is described in that year's census as a "Beer Seller". The business probably passed, through Charlotte's mother Diana when she re-married, from her father who was also recorded as a Licensed Victualler. No doubt Jan was assisting in the family business, perhaps serving in one of the many beer shops scattered around the London Docks and where he may have met Charlotte on arrival from Amsterdam.
The mystery is, of course, why did he arrive and settle in such environs, a world removed from the exclusive district of his Dutch city. Was he just looking for adventure well away from the respectability of his Dutch burgher family? Or perhaps he was passing through on some Dutch business or other, fell in love with Charlotte and stayed on.
By the time of the birth of his son Alfred Edward in 1855 Jan had become a cab proprietor and was living at 10 Wellclose Square, still in Whitechapel, Stepney. It was an occupation he still had when Alfred Edward married in 1873.
The census of 1861 shows the family now living at 4 Hill Street and that of 1871 in 24 St George's Street, all in St George in the East district.
In only another 8 years after that census Jan Hendrick would be dead at the relatively young age of 51.
Birth certificate Jan Hendrik Vorstius
Jan Hendrik, b. Amsterdam 7 September 1827
Son of Thomas Vorstius, aged 38, occupation Stockbroker and of Helena van Veldhuijsen
Living at Keizersgracht near the Reguliersgracht nr. 743, district 3.
Registered by the father.
Marriage Certificate of John Henry and Charlotte
John Henry Vorstius, of full age, bachelor, Licensed Victualler, of St John of Wapping, father Thomas Vorstius, Stockbroker.
Married 3 June 1851 to:-
Charlotte Crawford, of full age, widow, St John of Wapping, father Samuel Vardey, Licensed Victualler.
Death Certificate of John Henry Vorstius
September 1879 in Whitechapel
Census 7 April 1861 - 4 Hill Street Whitechapel
Head: John Henry Vorstius Age: 33 Coachman
Census 2 April 1871 - 224 St George's Street Whitechapel
Head: John Henry Vorstius Age: 43 Cab Proprieter
� Notes on Armorial Crest.
Source:
Repertorium Familiewapens van Bekende Nederlandse Geslachten, volume 2, by Koninklijk Nederlandsch Genootschap voor Geslacht-en Wapenkunde, Den Hague/Rotterdam 2001
Description:
Wapen, gedeeld
I. - in goud een reiger van natuurlijke kleur;
II. - in blauw een zwart anker; Helmteken: de reiger van het schild. Dekkleden blauw, gevoerd van goud.
Coat of Arms, shared
I. - in gold a heron of natural colour;
II. - in blue a black anchor; helmet sign: the heron of the shield. Cover cloth blue, made of gold.
(to Descendant Listing)
Charlotte Vardey (1828 - ?)
Charlotte, who married John Henry Vorstius in June 1851, was a widow of only a few months with the married name of Crawfurd and 23 years old. We know that even though the age is shown "Of full age" on the marriage certificate, meaning over 21, because we have the 1851 census return of 83 St Georges Street, Wapping in Stepney, the same year when she later re-married, where she was living with her re-married mother. As Charlotte gives her father's name as Vardey on the marriage certificate and the census shows her as Daughter in the household where the Head has the name Johnson, we can surmise that her mother, Diana Johnson, had also been widowed. Charlotte also later gives Vardey as her maiden name on the birth certificate of her son Alfred Edward. The mother's husband, William Johnson, Beer Seller, is in the same trade as her first husband, Samuel Vardey, who was a Licensed Victualler.
Also residing at that same address in the spring of 1851 are Charlotte's two-year old son, John Crawfurd and her sister Clara Maria who was later to be a witness at her marriage in June.
Mormon LDS records show the baptism details of six of the children of John Henry and Charlotte in the Parish Church of St John, Wapping, Stepney.
(to Descendant Listing)
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30 November 2003