| The Beijen/Beyen Family Site by Laurens Beijen |
The Johan Franco branch of the IJsselstein family | |
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The overview of the site The list of first names The photo gallery The next page The previous page The homepage Searching this site Questions or comments  Nederlandse pagina's By clicking an underlined name in the text you can jump to the overview of the Johan Franco branch (or the oldest generations). Afterwards you can return to this page by clicking the "Back" key. If you notice any lacks of clarity in the English texts, or if you have any linguistic suggestions, please inform me. To the top of the page To the top of the page | Johan Beijen (1682-1712), commander in EdamJohannes Beijen (6.21) (who used to be called Johan or Jan) was one of the sons from the fourth marriage of the IJsselstein 'chirurgijn' Dirck Beijen (5.6) who was mentioned on the page "Dirck Gijsbertsz. Beijen and his wives". He was the link between the oldest generations and the Johan Franco branch. Therefore Johannes (Johan) can also be found in generation 6 of the overview of the Johan Franco branch.Johan was a lieutenant and later a commander in the Navy. In 1710 the Admiralty of Amsterdam gave him the command of the warship Ooststellingwerf with 250 crewmen. Hij lived in Edam, a small town north of Amsterdam, and married Mechteld van Meerland, a daughter of the IJsselstein burgomaster Franco van Meerland. They had a son Johan Franco (7.1), who was born in 1706. Johan died in 1712, only 29 years old. Mechteld and the young Johan Franco were left in Edam. In 1720 they moved to Dordrecht, where Mechteld married Willem Beijen. It was a coincidence that Willem had the same family name as Mechteld's first husband: he belonged to the Dordrecht family Beijen that later became extinct. It was also a coincidence that Willem just as Johan was a commander in the Navy. Johan Franco I (1706-1752), alderman of IJsselstein When Johan Franco Beijen (7.1) reached the age of manhood, he left Dordrecht. In 1731 he married Arnolda Catharina van Esch and settled in IJsselstein at the house of his grandfather Franco van Meerland. After Franco van Meerland's passing Johan Franco held positions in the municipality of IJsselstein, just as his grandfather before. For many years he was an alderman. The IJsselstein city hall as it was at that time is depicted on the right.
From 1736 Johan Franco played an important role in the establishment of the Herrnhutters in the Netherlands. They were a Protestant community from Bohemia and Moravia (now the Czech Republic) that was persecuted there. Johan Franco sold them a parcel in IJsselstein where they built their settlement 's-Heerendijk. Gradually Johan Franco was more involved with them. In 1741 he became a member of the Brothers Congregation, as the Herrnhutters called themselves. He gave and loaned the Brothers Congregation considerable sums of money. As a result of opposition by the other members of the municipal government the settlement in IJsselstein was no success. In 1747 the Herrnhutters moved to Zeist, east of Utrecht, where the Brothers Congregation still is established now. Johan Franco remained in IJsselstein. He died in 1752. The Johan Franco's II to VIAfter this first Johan Franco that name was passed on to five more generations from father to son. In the family book the six Johan Franco's are referred to with the numbers I to VI.
Johan Franco III (9.1) (1773-1842) studied medicine at the Utrecht University. He worked as a medical doctor in IJsselstein and was also for many years (from 1815 until his death in 1842) the burgomaster of IJsselstein. On the right a picture of his coat of arms is shown; just as that of his ancestors of the oldest generations it includes a pair of deer's antlers. Johan Franco IV (10.2) (1803-1878) also studied medicine in Utrecht. He worked as a medical doctor in Barneveld, in the province of Gelderland.
Johan Franco VI (12.2) (1886-1971) was a navigating officer and a captain on merchant ships, and during the Second World War a lieutenant in the Navy. A picture of him from 1940 is shown on the left. He was unmarried. With him this line of Johan Franco's came to an end.
Hendrik J.R. Beijen, Minister of WarHendrik Johan Rudolph Beijen (10.9) (1817-1892) was a son of Johan Franco III and therefore a brother of Johan Franco IV. He joined the army as a voluntary cannoneer when he was only fifteen years. After a series of promotions he was finally appointed as a major general of the Infantry. He married Louisa Elisabeth Ebeling. Three of their four children died at a relatively young age. After Louisa's passing Hendrik published a booklet with diary passages and poems that Louisa wrote after the death of their children.In 1876 Hendrik was appointed Minister of War. He kept that position until the end of 1877, when a new cabinet took up office. From 1880 Hendrik was a member of the Council of State; besides that he was an adjutant in special service to King William III. Relations with IndonesiaThere were also other members of the Johan Franco branch that chose a military career. Two of them were sons of the Barneveld doctor Johan Franco IV:Pieter Wilhelm Adriaan Beijen (11.4) (1835-1909) went to the Dutch East Indies as an officer of health in 1856.  During several battles he showed great courage in taking care for wounded soldiers. This was cause to award him the Military William's Order, the highest military order in the Netherlands. After his retirement he returned to Holland in 1886.
Hendrik Rudolph Beijen (11.9) (1843-1922, shown on the right) went to the Indies in 1863 as a lieutenant of the Infantry. Finally he became a captain. He participated in battles in Atjeh in the northern part of Sumatra. As a result of injuries that he suffered there his right lower leg had to be cut off. As an acknowledgement for his courage he was awarded the Military William's Order as well. After his retirement he stayed in the Indies; he lived in Sukabumi on Western Java until his death. Nearly all present members of the Johan Franco branch are offspring of this Hendrik Rudolph. | |
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