Goert Reyersen STERCK

                   The earliest record so far found mentioning Gijsbert Goirts is in 1579, at which time he is a m man. After which he is found on a regular basic buying and selling real estate as well as borrowing and lending money in the years 1581-1612; from these he appears to have been a man of substantial means. Church warden in the years 1612-1615. In 1616 and in 1619 he acted as guardian for the children of his deceased son ALERT GIJSBERTSZ. On 29 Jul 1579 GHIJSBERT GOIRTSEN, on behalf of his wife, sells to GHIJSBERT REYERSEN: half of 19 hont of land in Herwijnen, in Gheertkenshoeff (Geertjeshoef), adjacent above: the heirs of Goesen van Oenzelaer and below: Engbert Claesen, stretching from the Broickgraeff (Broekgraaf) to the Middelsloet (Middelsloot) . The other half of this property is owned by ARNT THONISEN. Security: his house and homestead in Herwijnen. (Judicial Archives of Tuil, no. 1243, fol. 21vso. Transcribed and translated by Peter Nouwt.)

In one of the many transactions in which GIJSBERT GOIRTS is involved in he can be found on 15 Feb 1594 with an unusually large borrowing capacity: on that date he promises to pay GHIJSBERT ARIENSEN an annual interest of 60 guilders, commencing on 22 Feb 1595 which is redeemable by 1000 guilders. As security GIJSBERT GOIRTS puts up his house and yard with land in Herwijnen, inhabited by him. (Judicial Archives of Tuil, no 1244, fol. 100. Transcribed and translated by Peter Nouwt.)

On the church membership list dated 25 Dec 1612 he and his wife Maria top the list of 22 church members. On 13 Jun 1615 GHIJSBERT GOERTSEN is given 400 guilders "being the surplus of his administration of the church property of Herwijnen." (Judicial Archives of Tuil, no. 1236, fol. 126. Transcribed and translated by Peter Nouwt.)

The following record is the last one found which indicates Gijsbert was still living: on 27 Feb 1619 acting as guardian for the children of his deceased son, ALDAERT GHIJSBERTSZ, leased 8 morgen of land in Herwijnen to several people. (Copye-brieven van Gijsbert van Rijckhuijsen, Municipal Archives of Leiden. Transcribed by G.E. Brederode.)

On 20 Jul 1630 HENDERICK DIRCKSEN FEYTER hands over to the heirs of GIJSBERT GOIRTSEN the inheritance, that he (Feyter) had obtained from his grandmother and was sold by him GIJSBERT GOIRTSEN. (Judicial Archives of Tuil, no 1246, fol. 330vso. Transcribed and translated by Peter Nouwt.)

In none of the records found thus far has Gijsbert Goirts been found using a surname.