(Click on photos to enlarge)
Joseph and Hendrina (van den Bogaard) van der Heijden
We do not have any photos of Joseph or Hendrina.
(Click on photos to enlarge)
Joseph (Jozeph) van der Heijden was the local Beadle in Nistelrode, The Netherlands. The Beadle's job was to deliver mail, verbal messages and small items that people in the community needed. He was paid by the Municipality. Joseph used the pouch in Nistelrode and brought it to the United States when he immigrated. If you click on the pictures above to view the enlarged photo, you can read the inscription in the leather "CEMEENTE (municipality) NISTELRODE 1846". The pouch was passed down through the family, and is still owned by one of his descendants today.
Jean Reese found data from the Archives in Oss that verifies
Jozeph's position as Beadle.
According to family lore, Jozeph's oldest son John may also have been a Beadle
in Nistelrode, but the story is unverified.