Wytze (Wietse) Atsma

Wijtze Atsma, born 7 May 1879, was the youngest son of Antje Atsma. He grew up in the household of the lakes-fisherman Jetze Baukes Schaafsma in the hamlet of Stobbegat near Oudehaske. Stobbegat is now named Vegelinsoord.

Wijtze was aged 14 when his mother died and Jetze was appointed his legal guardian. Jetze was his mother's stepfather and probably also his biological father (the DNA test will confirm this).

He left home in May 1896, just after his 17th birthday, to work as a farm-labourer (Dutch: boerenknecht) in the nearby village of Oosterhaule and later in Legemeer.

Wijtze was conscripted into the army in 1899. The military register does not list his term of service or regiment but it does provide a description: height 1.661 metres, oval face, high forehead, blue eyes, ordinary nose and mouth, round chin, blonde hair and eyebrows, mark on left cheek. He had the same height, features, hair and eye colour as his older brother Yke. The military record also names Jetze Baukes Schaafsma as his legal guardian (Dutch: voogd).

After completing his army service Wijtze took a job as a farm-labourer in Langweer and it was here that he met his future wife Trijntje van der Spoel. They were married on 22 May 1904 in her home village of Nieuwehorne.

Wijtze and Trijntje first settled in Nijehaske (1904-1910), then moved to Akkrum (1910-1913), and later Joure (1913+). They had four children named Zwaantje (born 27 March 1904), Berend (born 31 October 1907), Anne (born 27 November 1909) and Roelof Atsma (born 17 March 1911). The son Berend and daughter Zwaantje were named after her parents, and the sons Anne and Roelof after his brothers.

They celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary in May 1929. Their children posted a notice in the Nieuwsblad van Friesland newspaper to commemorate the event.

Wijtze died on 7 October 1937 at the age of 58 in Joure and is buried in the Joure General Cemetery with his wife.