Ancestors at the University of Franeker

The province of Fryslân enjoyed the status of having a university for over two centuries, from 1585 until 1811. The second oldest of the Dutch universities, the University of Franeker (Frjensjer) was created by the House of Orange to be a centre for higher education with a special emphasis on its role in the promotion of Calvinist religious doctrine. It took over the grounds and buildings of a former religious cloister. The four primary faculties were theology, law, medicine and liberal arts. As Latin was its primary teaching language, it attracted students from all over Europe. One of its illustrious students was the French philosopher René Descartes in 1629–30! As it declined by the early 19th century, it was closed by Napoleon in 1811; it continued as a preparatory school for university until 1843 when it was definitively closed.

From its beginning, it attracted sons from prominent middle class families in the burgeoning cities and towns of Fryslân. Among these families were two from our ancestry: from the Samplonius and Sevensma families, from our van der Meer and Bijlsma family trees.

Geert Hessels was the forefather of the Samplonius clan, a rich family in Leeuwarden (Ljouwert) in the early 17th century involved in manufacture and trade: shipping, cloth and fur making, rope making, etc. One son acted as clerk and notary public for the city; another became a city judge; another was a publisher, book binder and printer; another became a notary public in Franeker.

Among the sons was one named Hessel Geerts Samplonius who studied at Franeker University and later became a Hervormde minister in Molkwerum, Kollum and Dokkum. A second son, Johannes Gerhardus Samplonius followed the same path and later became minister in Hollum, Asten in Noord Brabant, and later in Haskerhorne and Heerenveen. He was buried under the floor of the former now long demolished church in Heerenveen. Note that Hessel and Johannes were brothers; Johannes used the Latinized form of his father’s Frisian name! It is likely that the Samplonius named was coined by one or two of these brothers; it was common in this era for educated people to take on Latinized forms of their names.

Johannes had two sons who followed in the same path. His eldest son, Dominicus (Douwe) Johannes Samplonius, became minister in Ouwsterhaule and Oldeouwer. A younger son, Gerhardus Johannesz Samplonius, who we met in a previous story, was minister in Tjerkgaast for 53 years. As we noted, Gerhardus did not enjoy a very good reputation because of his alcoholism.

Two of Gerhardus’ sons attempted to follow the same path without success. One son, Seerp (Serapius) Gerhardus Samplonius was a candidate for the ministry but apparently never received a call. Another son, Johannes Gerhardus Samplonius likely studied at the university but never completed his studies; he later became a farmer.

The second of the family lines to be explored is the Sevensma family. This family originally came from Ouwsterhaule, Joure and Heerenveen. Petrus (Peter) Lykles was baptized in Heerenveen in 1676; he first entered the Academie of the University of Franeker in 1689 and was received as candidate for the ministry in 1699. Assuming the family name of Sevensma, he was minister in Cornjum and Hallum.

His younger brother Sipke Lykles lived first in Broek and later in Sloten (Sleat). Sipke’s second son Pieter Sipkes was baptized in 1723 in Tjerkgaast, likely by Gerhardus Samplonius, above! He became a rich merchant in Sloten and served as mayor of Sloten from 1775–85. What is also notable is that he assumed the surname Sevensma, taking the lead from his uncle. Pieter’s elder brother, Brand, did not assume the name Sevensma but his children did.

One further Sevensma also became a minister. Brand’s grandson Romke Sipkes Sevensma, born in 1791, was a minister in Broek, Lekkum and Workum.