I need some help researching my Belgian ancestors. My great grandfather, Vetalis Van Puymbroeck came to the US in 1887 His parents are Carolus Ludivicous Van Puymbroeck and Freelina Melina Meersman. Vetalis was born January 26, 1870 in Westmunster Belgium. He went back to Belgium in 1906 and married Dorthea Irena DeRidder, daughter of Karel Lodewyk DeRidder and Rosalia Francisca De Clereq. She was born in Vrasene Belgium in 1885. Dorthea died after having there third child and Vetalis remarried Marguerite DeMaere also from Belgium. Dorthea had a sister who lived in Norway, Belgium named Elizabeth Franchisca who was married to Frank C. Vaerewyck. I believe her brother Alphonse DeRidder also lived in Norway Michgan.

Vetalis also had a sister Maria Hortense Van Puymbroeck who came to Baker also. She was married to Peter DeBaker. I also know that Ivo Spriet and Adolph Van Wynsbright (Wynsburg) were witnesses at Vetalis's second wedding in Baker City Oregon. I don't know if they fit into the puzzle, but they are both from Belgium.

If anyone has any information on any of these people please let me know. Or if you know of any ways of getting information from Belgium please let me know.

Thank you,

Kari

I am a grandson of Alphonse Carolus DeRidder, born 12 Apr 1883 in Vrasene, Belgium, died 10 Jan 1956 in Norway, MI. Feel free to contact me.

Hello,

I am very excited to hear from you! My father Robert Stephens is the Grandson of Dorthea Irena DeRidder who would be Alphonse's sister. She died at the age of 25, so we have hardly any info on her. We have been trying to find any information on my Great-Grandmothers line, but it has been difficult. I have put a lot together about her brothers and sisters and have found all of their ship records and have tracked them on census records. I only know her parents names from marriage certificate. My Mom had been in contact with some descendants of the Varewycks, so we have quite a bit of inf on them.

I have contacted a professional genealogist in Belgium, she should have more information within the week.

Please let me know if you have any more information about cousins or anything else, or if you would like to see any of the info I have.

Please e-mail:
karimeup@yahoo.com

Thank you,

Kari Anderson