Diederik ‘Dirk’ Sem

Sem, Diederik: Diederik (Dirk) Sem (he signed his marriage contract with Diderich Sem) is from Bergen (Norway). The marriage certificate and death certificate indicate that he must have been born around 1743-1746. Diederik was baptized Lutheran. Diederik's parents are unknown. The marriage certificate (17 July 1769) states that they have died. However, the baptismal certificate of his daughter Susanna Catharina states that Jacob Sem testified at the ceremony. This may be a brother of Diederik. A Google search for Jacob Sem refers to 'http://www.geni.com/people/Jacob-Sem/6000000016132756403'. This site mentions that in 1737 Jacob Sem was born in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway as the son of Henrich Sem and Catharina Abrahamsdatter. It is not known whether these are the same persons.
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Diederik Sem registered with Catharina Helena Laarbos on 17 July 1769 in Amsterdam and married on 30 July 1769 for the Evangelistic Lutheran Congregation in Amsterdam. The wedding location is unknown, but probably concerns the Oude Lutherse Kerk at Singel 411 in Amsterdam. The following children are known from this marriage (source: Amsterdam City Archives baptismal registers): 1) Willem Jacob, June 12, 1770 2) Harmen, 25 February 1772 (witness: Harmse Sem) 3) Swerus, May 1, 1773 4) Harmen, September 12, 1776 (witness: Harmen Sem) 5) Bastiaan, July 13, 1778 6) Catharina Helena, September 28, 1784 7) Susanna Catharina, 23 October 1787 (witness Jacob Sem)
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Diederik died on September 23, 1811 in his house on Brouwersgracht in Amsterdam. His death is reported by Hermanus (27 years old) and Johannes (25 years old) Sem, cousins ​​of the deceased. His wife and daughter placed the following advertisement in the Haarlemsche Courant of Saturday 28 September 1811 (resources2.kb.nl/010085000/pdf/DDD_010086013.pdf):
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“It has pleased the Superficial God, my beloved Husband, DIRK SEM, alive Old Captain at Sea, in the service of the East Indies. Comp., In the age of more than 65 years, after a severe Illness of a few days, to exchange the Temporary with the Eternal. For more than 42 years I was able to live with him through the bond of Marriage, as I regret with my Daughter this loss, requesting to be spared of Condolences Letters, which would not but increase our sorrow. Amsterdam September 23, 1811 CATHARINA HELENA LAARBOS, Wed. Dirk Sem. '
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Catharina reported Dirk's funeral to the Municipality of Amsterdam on September 26, 1811. The declaration shows that Dirk was dug in the Westerkerk and that Dirk died at the age of 65 and 3/4 years of UNREADABLE.
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Diederik was appointed captain of the ship 'Verwagting' by the United East India Company Chamber of Hoorn in May. Shortly before (March 15, 1787) this ship had been purchased by the VOC for 65,000 guilders and was previously called 'Catharina en Sara Hendrina'. This shovel made two trips to Batavia (Nos. 4570/8282 and 4707/8357). The archives of the VOC show that Diederik made the following trips:
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No. 4570 Departure from Texel: July 14, 1787 Arrival at Batavia: April 9, 1788 Via: Cape of Good Hope (December 8, 1787 to January 9, 1788) Name ship: Expectation Year of construction: 1787 Ship type: Hoeker Built on a shipyard in Hoorn and purchased by the Chamber of Hoorn Use: In use by the VOC from March 15, 1787 until after 1794 Length: 130 feet Load capacity: 300 load (600 tons)
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No. 8262 Departure from Batavia: October 26, 1789 Arrival at Texel: 23 May 1790 Via: Cape of Good Hope (January 7, 1790 to February 17, 1790) Name ship: 1780 Potsdam, 1784 Sparenrijk Built on a shipyard in Amsterdam and rented by the Chamber of Amsterdam Use: in use by the VOC from 1780 to 1794 (SOLD, Batavia) Length: 150 feet Payload: 575 load (1150 tons)
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The name Jacob Sem, originating from Bergen, also appears in the VOC registers around this time. Sources: - http://www.vocsite.nl/index.html; - http://vocopvarenden.nationaalarchief.nl; - J.R. Bruijn, F.S. Gaastra and I. Schöffer. Dutch-Asiatic shipping in the 17th and 18th centuries. Volume II: Outward-bound voyages from The Netherlands to Asia and The Cape (1595-1794). Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, 1979; - J.R. Bruijn, F.S. Gaastra and I. Schöffer. Dutch-Asiatic shipping in the 17th and 18th centuries. Volume III: Homeward-bound voyages from Asia and The Cape to The Netherlands (1595-1794). Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, 1979; - I.G. Dillo. The twilight of the VOC 1783-1795. De Bataafsche Leeuw, Amsterdam, 1992; - Amsterdamse Courant 1787 no. 6, Tuesday May 22 (http://kranten.kb.nl/view/paper/id/ddd%3A010718066%3Ampeg21%3Ap001%...);

Source: https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/stamboom-barry-muijs/I000174.php