Earliest Nieland/Nilandt Ancestor (circa 1615)
Generation 1

The earliest Nieland ancestor.

Our earliest ancestors lived in Gemen, near the present day town of Borken in North Rhine-Westphalia. Because Gemen was a very small farming community, it is likely that all individuals with the Nieland surname who lived in or near Gemen in the early 1600s were related to each other in some way or another. At that time, Gemen was a "Herrschaft," which was headed by a noble family that resided in the Gemen "Burg" — a fortified castle surrounded by water that still exists today (see photo). Our ancestors likely worked as merchants, craftsmen or peasant farmers under the dominion of the resident Count — Count Limburg-Styrumb. The only church in Gemen at that time was the chapel in the Burg, so that is where all births, marriages and deaths were recorded. The early records were handwritten in old German script using a mixture of old German and Latin words, with many variations in the spelling of words. Most names were recorded using the Latin form of the names, e.g., Gerardus for Gerhard, Henricus for Heinrich. We find several variations of spelling for the Nieland surname, including Nilandt, Nilandes, Niland or Nilant, and later Nieland. The Church records for the Gemen area exist from 1661 for baptisms and later for marriages.The early marriage records do not always list the names of parents, which makes collecting the individuals together into family groups very difficult. Very few early death records exist. The records from Gemen between 1700 and 1734 are missing, so some names can't be followed.

During the Protestant reformation years, German peasants were required by law to follow the religions faith of their local nobility. In some cases we see entire communities suddenly switch from Catholic to Protestant or vice versa when their local Count or Duke converted to a different religion or a new noble family was installed. In other cases both Catholics and Protestants coexisted in the community and sometimes even shared a single church. It is for that reason that we have had to look at both the Catholic and Protestant church records in searching for our ancestors. The earliest Nieland/Nilandt records for our Nieland line that we have located were found in the Evangelical Church books for Gemen. There are several distinct family groups contained in these records who had some form of the Nieland name. However, with so few early records in existence, we have not yet been able to connect all of the Nieland individuals to our family tree. We list here the information we have found to date so that other genealogists may find information helpful for their research and in the hope that they will send us additional information..

Early Nielands in Gemen who are likely in our Family Tree

We have identified two individuals in the Geman records who could potentially be our earliest (Generation 1) ancestor — Gerhard Nilandt and Heinrich Nilandt, both born about 1615. Our theory is that Gerhard and Heinrich Nilandt were brothers — the sons of an as yet unidentified earlier Nieland ancestor. Both Heinrich and Gerhard are mentioned repeatedly in the early records so we surmise they may have held important positions in Gemen. We hope to find additional information about them in the future.

There were several Nielands of the next generation (Generation 2) in Gemen. In some cases we know their parentage, but in other case we do not have definitive proof. We have attempted to identify all of the Generation 2 Nielands in Gemen and tie them to either Heinrich's or Gerhard's line or to some other Nieland line. The following groupings are based on a variety of records. In some cases we have the actual birth record of the Generation 2 individual. In other cases, we have found the name of the Generation 2 individual's father in his or her marriage record. In a few cases we have assigned Generation 2 individuals to either Heinrich or Gerhard's family group based on the names of their own children's godparents (called "Paten" in German) as it was common at that time for the child's grandparents, uncles and aunts to be present at the baptism.

A. Gerhard Nilandt, c. 1615 (Gen 1) (most likely our ancestor): Gerhard Niland was likely born about 1615 and is referred to in several records as the "Burgermeister" (mayor) of Gemen. We believe Gerhard Nilandt fathered at least four children: He is mentioned in three Generation 2 marriage records. (1) Gerhard Nilandt is named as the father of the bride in the record of the marriage of Margaretha Nilandt to Maximillian Henrich Recke in 1671; (2) Gerhard Nilandt is named as the father of the groom in the record of the marriage of Sabastian Nilandt to Catharina Sommers in 1677; and (3) Gerhard Nilandt is named as the father of the groom in the record of the marriage of Garrieth Nilandt to Elisabeth Tilkes or Tückings in 1679. We also make the assumption that Gerhard Nilandt fathered at least one other child — (4) Berndt Nilandt, born about 1645, who is our direct ancestor. We base this assumption of the names of the individuals who were present at the baptisms of Berndt's own children.

1) Margarita Nilandt (Gen 2), born circa 1651. Margaretha Nilandes, daughter of Gerhard Nilandes, married Maximilian Henrich Recke, son of Michael Recke, on 22 June 1671 in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia. They had at least one child:
a) Charlotta Elisabeth, baptized 27 November 1672 in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia. Godparents were the Honorable Countess Miss Charlotta Seyrumb, Wösch Borckeler, Countess Anna Tilkings and Gerdt Nilandt. Countess Charlotta is probably Charlotte von Limburg-Styrum(b), daughter of Adolf Ernst, Count of Limburg-Sturum(b) and Isabelle, Countess of Vahlen. Charlotte was born in 1651 in Gemen and died 8 September 1699. This family tried to lead their Gemener subjects back to the Catholic faith by letting Capuchin monks from Borken preach in Gemen. Many of the children baptized in these years have Countess Charlotte as a godmother.

2) Greta Nilant (Gen 2) married Wilhelm Lefering/Levering, born about 1658, a son of Rosier Lefering/Levering and Elisabeth von de Walle. Greta and Wilhelm are listed as the parents of one child. The Levering Family or, A Genealogical Account of Wigard Levering and Gerhard Levering, a book published in 1858, lists some translations of very early church records from Gemen. We found the information about Greta Nilant and her family in this source. An added connection to this family may be through Anna van de Wall, who is listed in the source as the maternal aunt of William Lefering/Levering, sister to his mother Elisabeth von de Walle. The child of Greta Nilant and William Lefering/Levering was:
a) Rosier Gerhardt, baptized 15 May 1688 in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia. Godparents were Berndt Nilandt, Everdt Lefering/Levering and Liesabeth Lefering/Levering. We believe Greta Nilant died shortly after this child was born and William Lefering/Levering married Maria Velts. Much research has been done on members of the Levering family, who were very early immigrants to the American colonies, settling in Pennsylvania. Click here for more information.

3) Sebastian Nilandt (Gen 2), born circa 1652. Sabastian Niland, son of Gerhard Niland, Mayor of Gemen, married Catharina Sommers, daughter of Rudolf Sommers, Former Mayor of Gemen, on 12 May 1678 in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia. This couple had at least one child: Rudolph Nilandt is listed as a citizen after 1697 in Das Bürgerbuch von Gemen 1693-1818, a book which transcribes early records from Gemen. In 1724 and 1729 he is listed in the same book as a Bürgermeister or Mayor of Gemen.
a) Rudolph, baptized 12 February 1677 in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia. Godparents were Mayor Gerdt Nilandt, Dieterich Erpenbach and Johanna Wiesswyl. Rudolph Nilandt is listed as a citizen after 1697 in Das Bürgerbuch von Gemen 1693-1818, a book which transcribes early records from Gemen. In 1724 and 1729 he is listed in the same book as a Bürgermeister or Mayor of Gemen.

4) Garrieth Nilandt (Gen 2), born circa 1650. Garrieth Niland, son of Gerhard of Gemen, married Elisabeth Tilkes, daughter of Johannes Status Tilken on 31 July 1679 in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia.

5) Berndt Nilandt (our Generation 2 ancestor), born about 1645. Berndt Nilandt married twice and fathered at least 12 children. See also the Biography for Berndt Nilandt c. 1645.

B. Heinrich Nilandt, c. 1615 (Gen 1) (possibly our ancestor) — Heinrich Nilandt was likely born about 1615. He is mentioned in two Generation 2 marriage records. (1) Heinrich is named as the father of Margareta Nilandt in the record of her marriage to Gerhard Tückings in 1664 and (2) Heinrich is named as the father of Heinrich Nilandt in the record of his marriage to Meta Tückings in 1670. From these marriage records, we know he is the father of at least two children:

1) Margaretha Nilandt (Gen 2), born about 1644. Margaretha Niland, daughter of Henrich Niland, married Gerhard Tückings, son of Hermann Tückings in 1674 in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia. The children of this couple were baptized in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia:
a) Hermann Berndt, baptized 15 January 1677. Godparents were Mayor Everdt Nilant, Albert Wüner and Margaretha Schmidts.
b) Anna Margareta Eliesabeth, baptized 5 February 1682. Godparents were Eliesabeth Jungblut, Margareta Brantz and Meyss Büning.
c) Johann Daniel, baptized 10 October 1683. Godparents were Adolf Hase the younger, Gerdt Büning and Elisabeth Anna Osing.
d) Johann Dieterich Christian, baptized 15 August 1688. Godparents were Christian Kock, Dietrich Kerkering and Eilisabeth Anna von Rehmen.
e) Johann Jorgen, baptized 21 April 1691. Godparents were Johann Jorgen Hansaker, Gerhardt Wener and Anna Gerdrudt Leusings or Leunings.

2) Heinrich Nilandt (Gen 2), born about 1645. Henrich Nilandt, son of Henrich Nilandt, married Mettha Tückings, daughter of Hermann Tückings, in 1670 at Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia. This couple had at least five children baptized in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia:
a) Anna Elisabeth, baptized 5 April 1672. Godparents were Deua or Drica Nilandt, Venne Tückings and Gerdt Nilandt.
b) Henrich, baptized 3 February 1674. Godparents were Herman Tückings, Berndt Nilant and Elsche Nilant.
c) Gerhard Willem, baptized 31 August 1676. Godparents were Gerdt Tückings, Tonß Quadtacker and Catarina Sommers.
d) Deua or Drica, baptized 19 December 1677. This name may be a short form of Hendricka. Godparents were Margaretha Schölern, wife of the pastor, Greta Nilant and Gerdt Nilandt.
e) Johann ??, baptized 19 July 1682. Godparents have not yet been deciphered.

Other early Nielands in Gemen who may be in our Family Tree

These additional Generation 2 individuals have not yet been assigned to a family group.

1) Elschen Nilandt (Gen 2) married Tonniss Kost 12 April 1665 in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia. Pastor Johanness Berynckhussen presided. This couple had at least these children baptized in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia:
a) Anna Elsche, baptized 30 May 1669. Godparents were Metta Kost, Venne Tuckings and Pastor Johannes Theodor Hunsler.
b) Engle Margreta, baptized 3 July 1671. Godparents were Venne Tuckings, Margreta Niland and Jost Henrich Carle.
c) Anna Amelia, baptized 11 Jun 1673. In this record, Tonniss is called Quadtacker. Godparents were Gunigunda Gogeyen, Anna De Wall and Willem Vierhagen. Anna de Wall is likely Anna von de Walle, first wife of Berndt Nilandt.
d) Margret Lisabeth, baptized 3 November 1675. The record says the parents "brought their twin daughters God sent to them" to be christened. Godparents were Elisabeth Hausslern, Margret Nilant and Gerdt Renneken.
e) Engell, baptized also on 3 November 1675. Godparents were Stiene Smulling, Tirna Schelt von Diling and Gerdt Tücking.

2) Catharine Nilandes (Gen 2) married Andreas Krämer 15 May 1672 in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia.

3) Anna Nilandt (Gen 2) married Friederich Junging and they had at least two children baptized at Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia:
a) Johann Gerhardt, baptized 27 June 1688. Godparents were Berndt Junging, Johann Brathaus and Isabella Schürenass.
b) Gerdrudt Cattaryna, baptized 9 September 1691. Godparents were Johanness L??, Alchen Schmits and Madelin Sehnes.

4) Johann Henrich Nieland (Gen 3) married Margaretha Tuchter in Gemen (Kreis-Borken) Westphalia. They had at least five children:
a) Rudolph, baptized 3 April 1737. Godfather was Herman Otto Schlutters.
b) Bernhardus, baptized 18 April 1740. Godparents were Herman Otto Schlutters, Johan Lesering and Wilhelmina Nielands.
c) Sibilla Catharina, baptized 28 February 1742. Godparents were Johan Henrich Brüns, Catharina Tuchter and Sibila Tuchter.
d) Lenne Catharina, baptized 11 January 1746. Godparents were Herman Otto Schluters, Sybilla Tuchter and ??
e) Johanna Mechtildis, baptized 30 April 1749. One of the godparents is Anna Nieland, the other is ??

Bio updated 05 November 2006
Rev 9a