Johann Heinrich Springorum
Farmer in Wickede
Who was Johann Heinrich Springorum?
Little is known about Johann Heinrich Springorum, living in Heinrichenburg, Vest Recklinghaussen. It appears that Johann Heinrich first married Sibylla Vasolt. Could she be related to Johannâs grandmother, Catrinen Vasolt? After Sibyllaâs death in 1704, he married Helena Herdinck.
Is Johann Heinrich the son of pastor Johannes Springorum?
I couldnât find solid proof that Johann Heinrich is the son of Johannes Springorumâfor example, a birth record in the church books. The volume that likely contains records from the time he was born is missing, although records for his older siblings still exist. However, there is strong DNA evidence connecting meâand therefore Johann Heinrichâs descendantsâdirectly to Johann Bernhard II, who is a direct descendant of Reinhard Springorum.
The real breakthrough came a few months after my DNA test had confirmed a match with a descendant of Reinhard Springorum. Thatâs when I finally got hold of a new source: Dr. Höfkerâs book, "BeitrĂ€ge zur Geschichte der Familie Springorum in der Zeit 1700â1800." In it, he writes that Pfarrer Johann Springorum of Kirchende had five sons, including Johann Heinrich.
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Image: From Geschichte der Familie Springorum in der Zeit 1700 - 1800; Dr. Höfker
Source: Geschichte der Familie Springorum in der Zeit 1700 - 1800; Dr. Höfker; p.4
Descendants
What made this last discovery even more exciting was a detail I had never come across before: Dr. Höfker reveals that Johann Heinrich had three additional children with his first wife, Sibylla Vasolt.
In 1742, Johann Heinrich Springorum and his wife Helena Herdinck are explicitly named as witnesses at a baptism, identified as the grandfather and grandmother of Josephus Bernhardus Henricus (Barend) Springorum. This provides a clear and direct link between them and the next generations. From that point on, the descendants of Johann Heinrich and Helena are relatively well documented. Their family line can be traced with confidence, eventually leading to the emigration of two of their grandsonsâBarend and Willem Springorumâto Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Image: Babtism registration of Josephus Bernhardus Hendricus Springorum, son of Johannes Josephus Springorum, and grandson of Johann Heinrich Springorum and Helena Herdinck (Henrichenburg, St. Lambertus Church (8 August 1742).
Source: https://data.matricula-online.eu/
In the year of our Lord 1742, upon the 8th day of August, was baptized Josephus Bernhardus Henricus Springorum, lawful son of Johannes Josephus Springorum and Anna Maria Stratmans, his wedded wife. The godparents were: the right reverend and well-regarded Mr. Harcorn, Johannes Bernhardus Wissing, the childâs grandfather Johann Heinrich Springorum, and his grandmother Helena Herdinck, wife of Springorum.
Anno 1742 8ten August ist getauft Josephus Bernhardus Henricus Springorum auĂ Johannes Josephus Springorum und Anna Maria Stratmans ihr ehelicher Sohn Die Gevattern: der wohlehrwĂŒrdige und wohlgeachtete Herr Harcorn, Johannes Bernhardus Wissing, und des Kindes GroĂvater Johann Heinrich Springorum, und dessen GroĂmutter Helena Herdinck, Ehefrau Springorum.
Johann Heinrich Springorum and Sibylla Vasolt had three children together:
- Helena Elisabeth Springorum
- Bernhard Friedrich Springorum (1693 - ?)
- Heinrich Johann Springorum (1698 - ?)
Johann Heinrich Springorum and Helena Herdinck had three children together also:
- Johan Joseph Springorum (1711 - 1795)
- Fransiscus Antonius (Franz Anton) Springorum (1726 - ?)
- Johann Heinrich Springorum, Jr. (1728 - ?)
There is a notable 15-year gap between the first and second child, which is rather unusual. Could it be that more children are missing from the church records? Or might there be other explanations for this long interval?