The name "Clewits" originates from the Preussen/Brandenburg/Sachsen-Anhalt area
mainly south of Berlin close to Wittenberg where there is a village called: Klebitz
We allways thought that Clewits meant Cle from Klee (clover) and wits/wice as polish for "son of"
Another explanation could be: Clewits or Clebitz, Cleb/Kleb means glue, from a gluestick to catch
birds with, common practise in the middleages.
It is believed that the dutch Clewits family came from
nothern Germany to the north of Holland (Groningen) during the 30 year war (1618-1648).
Their main profession, from at least the year 1700 onwards, was teaching,
some of them were bakers.
From the provinces: Friesland and Drenthe a couple of them also emigrated to the US.
I'm looking for any info of the following surnames, links to their genealogy pages:
My Clewits database is going back to 1666 now, while the Arends family is now going back
to the late 18th century.
Any info on any of the above families is appreciated especially stories and photographs.
As far as the Weinans family is concerned the name originates from Kortessem in Belgium.
some questions:
There must be a German link somewhere between the Klewits and the Klewitz,Klebitz
families but I haven't found proof yet, although I have found the Clewitz name
in the Mecklenburg/Brandenburg/Berlin/Nuemark and Klebitz in the Kleve area.
Currently I'm investigating if Wilhelm Klebitz (1533-1568) might be one of our ancestors
This German church reformer from Nahmitz near Wittenberg has stayed in Emden/Embden, Zwolle (NL)
and Bocholt as well as Heidelberg, Freiburg, Worcester (UK) and Paris (F).
Any info on him is much appreciated.
Who can tell me more about Simon Bastiaens (Bastejans) Klewits who married Elsien Jansens
in the NH Kerk at january 2nd 1666 at Groningen City.
At the time of marriage he was Stads-Tamboer (City-drummer).
It seems that the Klewits family name wasn't used a long time before 1706.
A Bastian Klewitz was found in Aschersleben in 1600 he could well be the ancester we're looking for
He is the same ancester of Wilhelm Anton Klewitz (1760-1838) and the von Klewitz family.
Also Anna Clewits married with Coenraad/Conrad Hulscher from Coevorden
emigrated to the US with their four children in 1856.
I haven't found any trace of them in the US only the Clewits and Hulscher
name on a ships passenger list, where in the US did they go to (Michigan/Illinois)?
In 1886 Simon Clewits emigrated to the US: Grand Rapids.
The last information I have is that in 1888 he was working at McCord & Bradfield Furniture Co
as a filler.
(There seems to be a Clewits entry in the Grand Rapids, Michigan City directories 1889-1890)
Source Information:
Grand Rapids City Directory, 1889. Grand Rapids, MI: R. L. Polk and Co., 1889. Grand Rapids City Directory, 1890. Grand Rapids, MI: R. L. Polk and Co., 1890.
(There is also a Minne Clewitz in the 1900 US sensus)
Any info on them is appreciated.
Pictures
An old postcard from the German now Polish town: Klewitz on the Mietzel or in Polish: (Chlewice on the Mysla)
(With thanks to Steffen Klewitz)
Here another one now in Poland: Glewice, north-east of Stettin/Szczecin
or also spelled: Clewitz (latitude: 52'40"N Longitude: 14'30"E)
(You can see the Imp of my parents in the background)
Here you see the coat of arms of the German "von Klewitz" family 1810
Here you see the medal of Wilhelm Anton von Klewits (1815)
Above: a page of the admittance book of the Red orphanidge of Groningen:
Bovenstaande Bastiaan Simens is met kennis van de voogdes
uit het weeshuis gegaan zijn inboedel en alles wat daar an dependeert ontvangen
hebbende. Doet derhalve door ondertekeningh zijns naams de opvoeders van
gemelde huis en de gehele gemeinte deser stadt voor de weldaden en goede opvoedinge en
onderwijsinge bedanken en onder Godes zegen het huis
gedraghtigh te wesen actum int Borgerweeshuis den 12 febr. 1703
Bastjaan Simens
Above: the earliest proof of a Klewits in Holland:
zaterdag de 2e oktober 1706
Bastiaan Sijmens Klewits uit Groningen trouwt Gretjen Classens uit Appingadam.
Met Jan Hindrik Camphuijs als goede bekende.
Cop. P Dr.. Abbringe de 10e november 1706 AK (afkondiging geschiedde).
(From the churchbook of the NH church Groningen)
(The procedure was to announce the wedding in church three weeks before the actual marriage)
The following pictures show a report on the celebration
of Simon Clewits being a teacher for fifty years (dutch):
Here are two pictures of the "Penning" given to Simon Clewits on november 18th 1859 (see text)
in the name of William 3rd king of the Netherlands
It states:
Aan S. Clewits te Kollum
Voor getrouwe en ijverige
Vervulling der betrekking
van onderwijzer
gedurende eene halve eeuw
van wege
den Koning
11 november
1859
This coin is currently owned by Edo Deen who's grandmother was Hendrikje Clewits a decendant of
Klaas Simons Clewits the youngest son of Simon Clewits.
Interesting detail is that Edo is a school teacher himself now.
A second coin given by de Maatschappij "tot nut van 't Algemeen" with the date october 1st 1859,
which was given to Simon Clewits as well,
is currently in the possesion of C.J.Clewits, which is a descendant of the oldest
son of Simon Clewits: Ritske who is mentioned in the report.
more info on this "Maatschappij" and coin:
de Maatschappij "tot nut van 't Algemeen (geschiedenis)" de Maatschappij "tot nut van 't Algemeen (penning)" de Maatschappij "tot nut van 't Algemeen (website)"
Clearly a hole can be seen in the coin so it must have been hanging on a ribbon at that time
The little school in Kollum on the mr. Andreaweg 2 built in 1828 where mr. Simon Clewits was headmaster has been copied
in the Zuiderzee museum, here is the weblink:
Het openbare schooltje te Kollum(het zuiderzeemuseum) The real school burned down in the early nineteen eighties but has been restored in 1989 and is a protected monument now
Currently it's split into two family houses.
A picture of Ritske Simons Clewits and his wife Aukjen Sinia
Ritske was headteacher at Ferwerd
F.J.von Kolkow was the first professional photographer of the City of Groningen: 1839-1914
A picture of the Clewits family who lived on the Grootebreedstraat at Dokkum:
From left to right:Sientje, granddad Gerrit Folkert Gorter, Gerrit Folkert,
mother Trijntje Clewits-Gorter, Hendrik, father Hendrik Clewits, Ritske and Aukje
Aukjen was a red cross nurse at the start of WO1 in july/august 1914, find below her personal story: (in dutch only)
Aukjens page
Here a link to the side of Tom van Hooff about the early days of The Great War:
The battle of Luik
