The Groningen Branch
Based on information from Genlias and named other sources
Translation in progress
I. Nanno Harms Pul, born(*)1740(?); daylabourer, married(oo) with Geeske Morits ,
born(*) 1740(?).
From this marriage(oo):
1. Morits Nannes Pul, born(*) April 4th, 1766 at Petjum (Friesland)
carpenter; died(+) March 8th, 1827 at Nieuwolda; married(oo) March 4th, 1796,
with Frouke Ritzes van Loon, born(*) December 10th, 1763 (acd. death certificate
born in 1761) at Oostwolderhamrik, County Oldambt died(+) April 24th, 1828
at Nieuwolda.
Frouke was married(oo) before with Aiko Hindriks on March 28th, 1783.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Hindrik Aikens Kamphuis 1786 - ???
2. Ritzo Aikes Kamphuis 1789 - 1844
3. Eltjo Aikens Kamphuis 1792 - 1826
4. Wilko Aikes Kamphuis 1795 - 1869
From this marriage(oo):
1. Nanno Morits Pul, born(*) February 1st, 1799 at Nieuwolda, carpenter;
died(+) August 20th, 1840; April 26th, 1822 married(oo) with
Gepke Fokkes Wezel born(*) October 3th, 1800 at Borgsmeer (Termunten)
From this marriage:
1. Morits Nannes Pul, born(*) April 4th, 1822 at Nieuwolda, carpenter;
died(+) November 19th 1895 at Scholthuizen (cnty. Veendam);
married(oo) May 19th, 1853 , aged 30 years,at Winschoten with Grietje
Hindriks Brongers Boer born(*) 1871 at Westerlee, aged 24 years, maid,
died(+), aged 74 years, January 4th, 1903 at Veendam, father of the
bride : Hindrik Brongers Boer , carpenter , mother of the bride:
Geertruide Harms Schoenmaker.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Gepkina Pul, (twin) born(*) August 6th , 1855 at Veendam,
died(+) October 16th, 1855 at Veendam (2 maanden oud).
2. Siberdina Pul, (twin) born(*) August 6th, 1855 at Veendam;
died(+) March 29th, 1856 (33 weken oud) at Veendam.
3. Nanno Pul born(*) Sebtember 11th, 1862 at Veendam; carpenter,
died(+), aged 99 years on October 31th, 1940 at Veendam,
married(oo), aged 23 years May 29th, 1886 at Veendam with
Jantje Visser , aged 25 years, born(*) 16 October 1860 at
Veendam, died February 24th, 1923.
Father of the bride: Pieter Hillebrands Visser. Mother of the
bride: Fennchien Jans Reintjes.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Grietje Pul, born(*) September 2nd, 1886 at Veendam,
died(+) December 16th, 1970 ,married(oo), aged 25 years,
on May 18th, 1912 at Veendam with Andries Slim, aged 24
years, born(*) 1888 at Onstwedde, carpenter; died(oo), aged
26 years, on June 2nd, 1914 declaration at Wildervank
(died somewhere else ) legalising 1 child at the marriage.
Father of the groom: Jan Slim. Mother of the groom:
Geertruida Johanna Luikens.
2. Pieter Pul, born(*) March 12th, 1889 at Veendam , butcher,
died(+) June 3th, 1968, married(oo), aged 26 years, on
March 20th, 1915 at Wildervank with Hindrikje Schott, aged
2i years ,born(oo) December 23th, 1893 at Wildervank, died
January 25th, 1972. Living at Parallelweg 4 in Gieten.
Father of the bride: Johannus Schott, labourer. Mother of
the bride: Aaltje Kuipers.
Grave of Pieter Pul and Hendrikje Schott.
Cnty Cemetary , Gieten.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Jan Pul ,
2. Johannes Pul ,
3. Nanno Pul born (*) 28 July 1919 at Gieten; butcher;
died (+) April 6th, 1945 at Leipzig
(notification February 23th, 1948). see: II Nanno Pul
4. Aaltje Pul
5. Grietje Pul
3. Fennegiena Pul, born(*) August 31th, 1891 at Veendam;
died(+) ??, married(oo), aged 21 years, on September 14th,
1912 at Veendam with Hendrik Hut, aged 20 years, born(*)
1890?? at Veendam , farmlabourer.
Father of the groom : Reinder Hut, farmlabourer.
Mother of the groom: Roelfien Veldhuis.
4. Hinderika Gepkina Pul, born(*) November 10th 1893 at
Veendam; died(+)??, married(oo), aged 22 years on
January 22nd, 1916 at Veendam with Wiebo Gruben, aged 21
years born(*) 1896 at Muntendam, blacksmith.
Father of the groom: Stoffer Gruben, cabinet-maker.
Mother of the groom: Geertje Ruuls.
5. Morits Nanne Pul, born(*) 7 April 1896 at Veendam,
died(+) ??, los werkman; married with Anneke Meijer;
From this marriage(oo):
1. Jantje Pul born (*) March/April 1925 at Veendam;
died (+) 7 October 1925 at Veendam (4 maanden oud)
6. Martha Wendelina Pul, born(*) 20 June 1899 at Veendam,
died 13 July 1956 at Veendam.
7. Gepkina Roelfina Pul, born(*) 8 October 1901 at Veendam.
8. Hilbrand Pul, born(*) 16 August 1904 at Veendam.
4. Hendrika Pul born(*) June 1870 at Veendam; died(+), aged 34 years
on September 12th, 1904 at Veendam; married(oo), aged 32 years,
on May 7th, 1902 at Veendam with Germ Schoenmaker, aged 45 years,
butcher; born(*) 1857 at Veendam, weduwnaar van Anna Nieboer.
Father of the groom : Hindrik Hindriks Schoenmaker.
Mother of the groom : Hindrika Harms Pot.
5. Gepke Pul, born(*) June 1874 at Veendam, died(+), aged 60 years,
on June 6th, 1934 at Veendam, married(oo), aged 23 years,
July 10th, 1897 at Veendam with Roelof Timmer, aged 24 years,
born(*) 1873 at Veendam, sailor, waiter.
Father of the groom: Johannes Timmer.
Mother of the groom: Jantina Elsina Stuut.
Legitimization 1 child at the marriage:
Elsiena Timmer born(*) 1898(?).
married(oo):
1. March 2nd. 1922 , aged 24 years at Veendam with
Hendrik Prummel, aged 25 years, born(*) 1897(?) at
Wildervank, trader. Father of the groom: Eppo Prummel,
carpenter. Mother of the groom: Zwaantje Lukkien.
next to Elsiena, Gepke gives birth to : Morits, Egbert Jakob,
Nanno, Jakob and yet 5 other children.
2. Grietje Nannes Pul born (*) 18 March 1824, no occupation;
died (+) 21 May 1827 at Nieuwolda;
3. Frouke Nannes Pul born(*) April 10th, 1826, no occupation; died (+)
May 13th, 1827 at Nieuwolda.
4. Focko (Fokko) Pul born(*) May 15th, 1828 at Nieuwolda, carpenter;
died(+), aged 68 years, June 25th, 1896 at Solwerd (Cnty. Appingendam)
married(oo):
1. May 20th, 1854, aged 26 years, at Slochteren with Aagtje Schepel,
aged 27 years, born(*) 1827 at Siddeburen, maid; died(+)
March 16th, 1869 at Siddeburen , Cnty. Slochteren.
Father of the bride: Geert Popkes Schepel, farmer,
Mother of the bride: Catharina Heikes Woldbeek, farmer.
2. May 14th, 1870, aged 41 years, at Noordbroek with Freechien
(Fregi) (M)(U)(H)uldrikshof, aged 44 years born(*) 1826 at
Noordbroek, maid, died(+), aged 57 years, July 21st, 1883 at
Siddeburen (gem. Slochteren) Father of the bride: Jan
Jans (M)(U)(H)uldrikshof. Mother of the bride: Fenje Jans van
der Broek.
3. December 12th, 1884, aged 56 years, at Delfzijl, with Geertruida
Luitjens, aged 53 years, born(*) 1831(?) at Hornhuizen. Died(+)
June 3th, 1892 at Appingedam aged 62 years.
Father of the bride: Jan Luitjens. Mother of the bride: Geertje
Jacobs Heller. Geertruida was widow of Hatie Wilhelmus Delken
and widow of Steffen Jonker.
5. Frouwke Pul, aged 38 years, born(*) 1831 at Nieuwolda,
maid; died(+) ?? married(oo) November 20th, 1869 at Delfzijl with
Jacob Bregman, aged 47 years, born(*) ?? 1823? at Den Helder,
seapilot. Widower of Tina Ackermann.
Father of the groom: Fulps Bregman. Mother of the groom: Aagje
Cornelis Zeeuw.
From this marriage(oo):
1.Nanno Bregman, born (*) ??1870 at Delfzijl , apprentice-engineman,
married(oo), aged 30 years, on September 28th, 1905 at Delfzijl
with Hendrika Aleida Westenberg, aged 28 years, born(*) 1877(?) at
Enschede. Father of the bride: Johan Westenberg , tailor.
Mother of the bride: Aleida Knuppe.
6. Harm Pul born(*) April 1835 at Nieuwolda, carpenter; died(+)??
married(oo):
1. June 2nd, 1855, aged 20 years, at Scheemda with Jantje Timmer
born(*) 1829 , aged 26 years, at Nieuw Scheemda.
Father of the bride: Kornelius Klaassens Timmer , Mother of the
bride: Antje Jans van Dijken.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Gepke Pul born(*) 1856 at Nieuw Scheemda; died(+), aged 79
years, September 23th, 1935 at Groningen, maid, Unmarried
mother of Pieterke Pul born(*)1876 at Nieuwolda; died(+)
March 16th, 1877 at Nieuwolda (aged 5 months).
married(oo):
1. May 14th, 1880, aged 24 years, at Delfzijl with Jacob
Kuen, aged 22 years, baker's assistant, born(oo)
1858(?) at Borgsweer, died(+) ??
Father of the groom: Jacob Drewes Kuen.
Mother of the groom: Ida Machiels Folkers.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Harm Kuen, born(*) 1885(?) at Ten Post,
tax-officer, married(oo), aged 31 years on
Januari 24th, 1916 in Delfzijl, with Sijben
Ritsema, aged 29 years, born(*) 1887(?) at
Farmsum.
Father of the bride: Ritzo Ritsema.
Mother of the bride: Aafke Eekens.
2. Jacoba Kuen, born(*) 1887(?) at Ten Post
(cnty. Ten Boer), married(oo), aged 30 years on
August 2nd, 1917 at Groningen, with Jan van
Zanten, aged 31 years, born(*) 1886(?),
shophand.
Father of the groom: Nicolaas van Zanten,
Mother of the groom: Maria Tillema.
3. Harmanna Kuen, born(*) 1895(?) at Ten Post
(cnty. Ten Boer),died(+), aged 55 years on
April 27th, 1951 at Groningen. Married(oo), aged
24 years, on August 7th, 1919 at Groningen, with
Willem Wolzak, aged 27 years, born(*) 1892(?)
at Alkmaar , proxy holder. Father of the groom:
Hendrik Wolzak, administrator. Mother of the
groom: Maria Johanna Korn.
2. October 23th, 1906, at Delfzijl, aged 51 years, with
Sipke Kornelis Houtman; pastry chef, aged 35 years,
born(*) 1871 at Dokkum, divorced February 13th, 1908
at Groningen. Father of the groom: Petrus Kornelis
Houtman. Mother of the groom: Sjoerdtje Pijttersen.
2. Antje Pul born(*) 1858 at Weiwerd; died (+) ??;
married(oo), aged 26 years, February 21st, 1884 at Delfzijl
with Willem Vogel, aged 35 years, trader; born(*) 1849 at
Uithuizermeeden; died(+), aged 55 years, June 6th, 1903
at Groningen.
Father of the groom: Hendrik Jans Vogel.
Mother of the groom: Rijmke Willems Brouwer.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Rijmke Vogel, born(*) 1885(?) at Uithuizermeeden,
landlady ( boarder) , unmarried.
Died(+), aged 58 years on September 29th, 1943,
at Groningen.
2. Clara Heilina Vogel, born(*) 1888(?) at
Uithuizermeeden. Married(oo), at Groningen, on
January 18th, 1912, aged 24 years with Bernardus
Luttmer,aged 25 years, born(*) 1887(?) at Sappemeer,
trader. Father of the groom: Johan Bernard Joseph
Luttmer. Mother of the groom: Trientje van der Woude.
3. Harmanna Vogel, aged 28 years, born(*) 1894(?) at
Uithuizermeeden , married(oo) on June 8th, 1922 at
Groningen with Geert Doris Pater, aged 26 years,
born(*) 1896 at Groningen, office-clerk.
Father of the groom: Not Known. Mother of the
groom: Trientje Pater.
4. Harm Vogel, born(*) 1896(?) at Uithuizermeeden,
proxy-holder. Married(oo), aged 24 years on June 24th,
1920 with Johanna Hindrika Tjaberings, aged 22 years,
bore(*) 1898(?) at Hoogezand.
Father of the bride: Freerk Tjaberings, directeur.
Mother of the bride: Janna Hendrika Maters.
2. March 26th, 1859, aged 24 years, at Delfzijl with Martje Timmer,
aged 24 years, born(*) 1835 at Nieuw Scheemda, widow of
Albertus Knapper. Father of the bride: Kornelius Klaassens
Timmer , Mother of the bride: Antje Jans van Dijken.
3. May 21th, 1867 at Delfzijl, aged 32 years with Imke Melgers,
aged 37 years born(*) 1830 at Eexta, maid, died (+) 1872.
Father of the bride: Simon Henrick Adolf Melgers , farmer.
Mother of the bride: Helena Pieters Tiepen.
4. 14 June 1873, aged 39 years, at Delfzijl with Klara Heilina Rabe
aged 47 years ,born(*) 1826 at Winschoten. Died(+),
aged 86 years , October 4th, 1911 at Nieuwe Pekela, Father of the bride:
Theodorus Frederikus Rabe , Mother of the bride: Lammechijn
Hindriks Huttinga.
7. Grietje Nannes Pul born(*) September 1837; died(+)
22 January 1838 at Nieuwolda (5 maanden oud)
8. Jurjen Pul born(*) 1839 at Nieuwolda; wagenor,daylabourer, labourer;
died(+),aged 79 years, November 29th, 1918, at Nieuwolda;
` married(oo):
1. March 18th, 1865, aged 26 years, at Nieuwolda with Hindriktje
Noordhof , aged 37 years, born(oo) 1828 at Zuidbroek
(gem. Oosterbroek), maid; died(+) June 12th, 1880 at Nieuwolda.
Father of the bride: Fokko Alberts Noordhof, labourer.
Mother of the bride: Jantje Geerts Meijer, labourer.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Nanno Jurjen Pul born(*) 1868 at Nieuwolda; died(+), aged
62 years on January 19th, 1931, at Groningen, butcher.
married(oo):
1. October 22nd, 1892 , aged 24 years, at Veendam with
Trijntje Pik, aged 22 years, born(oo) 1870 at Veendam,
labourer; died(+), aged 49 years, on October 11th,
1919 at Dennenoord (cnty. Zuidlaren).
(registration : Cnty Groningen).
Father of the bride : Willem Pik. Mother of the
bride: Hendrika de Jonge.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Hindrika Pul born(*) 1893 at Nieuwolda, died(+)
January 30th, 1895 at Nieuwolda (16 maanden oud)
2. Willem Pul born(*) 1896 at Nieuwolda; died(+)??,
warehouse labourer, married(oo), aged 23 years,
on December 11th, 1919 at Alkmaar with
Catharina Alleida Bestevaer, aged 29 years,
born(oo) on February 22nd, 1890 at Zijpe.
Father of the bride: Louwrens Bestevaer, stone
porter. Mother of the bride: Neetje Wit.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Nano Jurgen Pul, born(*) 19-12-1919
at Alkmaar.
Front familycard Willem Pul
Catharina Alleida Bestevaer (left)
picture ca. 1900
3. NN Pul , still born Juli 9th, 1901.
2. February 5th, 1920, aged 51 years at Groningen with
Geertje Smit, aged 45 years, born(*) 1875(?) at
Hoogkerk. Died(+), aged 71 years op April 9th, 1946
at Groningen. Father of the bride: Geert Smit, Mother
of the bride: Geesien Moesker.
2. Jantje Pul (alias: Jenny Pul; Johanna Bal; Jonitje
Peel) born(*) on June 3th, 1866 at Nieuwolda, died(+)
November 21th, 1934, married on March 27th, 1892 with
Jacobus Maans, labourer, born(*) February 11th, 1861 at
Leek, died(+), aged 58 years, on July 19th, 1919 at
Groningen. Father of the groom: Diele Maans.
Mother of the groom: Wiebregje Havinga.
In 1880 Jacobus leaves, aged 21 years, for Amerika.
Followed in 1892 by Jantje Pul, servant. On March 27th,
1892 she marries her friend in Baltimore (USA) at
The First United Evangelical Church.
In 1904 Jacobus visits the Netherlands shortly.
In 1914 they return together with their children to
Groningen.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Nanno John Maans, born(*) August 12th, 1899 at
Baltimore(MD), (USA) married(oo), aged 22 years,
elektro-mecanic, on September 1th. 1921 at Groningen,
with Hendrikje Medema, aged 25 years, born(*)
March 12th, 1896, at Mensingeweer (cnty. Leens).
Father of the bride: Sikke Medema, shoemaker.
Moether of the bride: Elizabeth Zomerdijk.
In 1923 Nanno en Hendrikje leave, after losing
a recent born child, for Amerika. For Grand Rapids(MI)
where they have another 3 children. Nanno died(+) on
June 1st, 1956 in Holland(MI) where Hendrikje
already had died on June 26th, 1950.
2. Karoline Wiebergine Maans, born(*) December 3th, 1901
at Baltimore(USA), died(+) August 7th, 1977 at
Groningen, married(oo), aged 20 years, on
October 23th, 1922 at Groningen, with Johannes de
Bruin, aged 28 years, born(*) July 10th, 1894 at
Groningen, died(+), December 24th, 1968 te Groningen,
sergeant. Together they have 2 children of which
Jantje moves to Grand Rapids(MI) in 1955 together with
her husband and son.
Father of the groom: Theunis de Bruin, arbeider.
Mother of the groom: Allerdina Westerhof.
In 1914 Karoline comes, together with her parents and
siblings to the the Netherlands.
During the Second World War she joints together with
Johannes the resistance. She operates under the name
Bruintje de Beer. He was arrested and emprisoned in
Vught and Amersfoort. Hij recieved for this
the Golden Medal of the Order of Oranje Nassau.
3. Henricka Maans, born(*) October 25th, 1905 at
Baltimore(MD)(USA), died(+) ?? , South Haven(MI),
married(oo), aged 17 years on May 29th, 1922, at
Groningen, with Eltjo Frederik van Ervan, aged 22
years, tailor, born(*) January 2nd, 1900 te Groningen,
died(+) April 16th, 1945 at Groningen. They had 5
children. On November 22nd, 1955 she leaves on the
SS Maasdam, together with her sister Grietje (s.h.o.)
and her husband for Michigan (USA).
Father of the groom: Frederik van Ervan, bridgekeeper.
Mother of the groom: Anna van der Laan.
Eltjo and his father were members of the N.S.B., they
collaberated with the Germans during WWII.
4. Grietje Gepke Maans, born(*) June 13th, 1907 at
Baltimore(MD), died(+) 1989 at South haven(MI),
married(oo), on May 12th, 1927 at Groningen, with
Johannes Haumersen, born(*) August 16th, 1903 at
Groningen, died(+), November 27th, 1986 at
South Haven(MI), elektro-mecanic. They had 3 children.
Together with her sister Hendricka and husband (s.a.)
she moved to Michigan in 1955 .
3. Gepke Pul, born(*) November 19th, 1870 at Nieuwolda,
died(+) on January 2nd, 1940 at Baltimore(MD), USA,
maaried(oo): the story of Gepke Pul
1. May 27th, 1894, aged 23 years, at Groningen with
Frederik Schul(d)(s), aged 20 years, born(*)
July 23th, 1873 at Groningen, labourer, died(+), aged
22 years on September 28th, 1895 at Groningen.
Father of the groom: Frederik Schul(d)(s).
Mother of the groom: Aaltje Wiltjer.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Fredrika Schuls, born(*) October 10th, 1895 at
Groningen.(12 days after the death of her father)
died(+),aged 51 years on September 27th, 1947 at
Baltimore (MD), USA. married(oo), on ?? at
Baltimore(MD) with Joseph Frank Novak, born(*)
1885, died(+) 1953. Both buried on
Cedar Hill Cemetary, Brooklyn Park , Anne
Arundel Cnty (MD) ( plot: Section KK-523-1).
Together they had 7 childern.
Gravw stone of Joseph and Fredricka
2. 1896 , at Baltimore(MD) with August Brown, born(*)
December 1st, 1862, in Hannover, Germany as August
Braun. Died(+), between 1907 and 1911 at Baltimore.
Father of the groom: Wilhelm Braun.
Mother of the groom: Catherine Braum.
August immigrated in 1880 to the USA had become
an American Citizen in the meanwhile.
He has adopted Frederika (1.1) as his child.
From this marriage(oo):
1. George Jerry Brown, 1898 - 1965
2. NN, ( died young)
3. Hendrich Brown, 1901 - ??
4. Leonard Brown, 1902 - 1972
5. Johanna Brown, 1905 - 1984 , married with
mr. Seminazzi.
6. Claus Brown, 1907 - 1984
3. about 1912, at Baltimore(MD) with Ferdinand Jones.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Edwin Thomas Jones, 1913 - 1990
2. Rose Elizabeth Jones, (*)December 13th, 1905 -
(+) October 3th, 1984, married with mr. Smith.
4. Fokko Pul born (*) 1873 at Nieuwolda; died(+)
September 6th, 1873 (2 maanden oud) at Nieuwolda
2. April 24th, 1886, aged 47 years, at Nieuwolda with Harmina Smid,
aged 47 years, born(oo) 1839 at Nieuw Scheemda, seamstress,
died(+), aged 68 years, February 13th, 1907 at Kalkwijk.
(cnty. Hoogezand) Widow of Willem Kramer. Father of the bride:
Jakob Kornelius Smid, Mother of the bride: Aaltje Geerts
(F)(T)romkes.
3. June 17th, 1909, aged 70 years, at Nieuwolda with Jantje Antema,
aged 64 years, born(*) 1845(?) at Nieuwolda, widow of Jan Smid.
Father of the bride: Jan Alberts Antema. Mother of the bride:
Elsien Harms Primee.
2. Harm Morits Pul born(*) January 7th, 1806 at Nieuwolda, carpenter, died(+)
August 4th, 1872, aged 66 years, married(oo) November 9th, 1827 with
Trijntje Koenes born(*) November 2nd, 1806 at Nieuwolda, died(+) July 30th,
1879 at Nieuwolda, aged 72 years, labourer.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Trijntje Harms Pul born(*) 1833 at Nieuwolda; died(+)
28 September 1840 at Nieuwolda (7 jaar oud)
2. Frouwke Pul born(*) 4 October 1828 at Nieuwolda; married(oo)
15 december 1849 at Nieuwolda with Martin Jacobus Schoonbeek,
carpenter, born(*)??1828 at Termunten , both 21 years of age , father of
the groom: Jacobus Hilbrands Schoonbeek,carpenter, mother of the groom,
Anna Martens Bultje.
From this marriage(oo):
1. Jacobus Schoonbeek, born(*) 1852(?), occupation: headteacher,
married(oo), aged 23 years, on August 28th, 1875 with Reina Geessina
van der Laan, aged 22 years, born(*) 1853(?) at Oude Pekela.
Father of the bride: Jochum van der Laan, carpenter,
Mother of the bride: Janna de Boer.
2. Anna Schoonbeek, born(*) 1854 ,died(+), aged 14 years,
on October 6th, 1868 at Nieuwolda.
3. Iektje Schoonbeek , died(+) aged 1 year, on May 14th , 1860 at
Nieuwolda.
Not yet placeable in this branch ?:
A. Pilippus Christiaans Pul, born(*)?? from Borgsweer, carpenter, married(oo) with
Geeske Geerts Moesker ,
From this marriage(oo):
1. Hindrikje Pul, born(*) 1854(?) at Borgsweer , married(oo) in Termunten,
aged 23 years, on June 22th, 1877 with Pilippus Kamp, aged 32 years,
farmhand, born(*) 1845(?) at Heveskes. Father of the groom :
Hinricus Mijnders Kemps, labourer, Mother of the groom: Aaltje Pilppus
Wezeman.
Nanno Pul from Gieten
II
Nanno Pul was born in Gieten on 28 July 1919, as the son of Pieter Pul and
Hendrikje Schott and brother of Jantje, Johannes, Aaltje and Grietje. Nanno was the
middle of five children. The family lived at Parallelweg 4 in Gieten.
After primary school, Nanno went to work as an apprentice butcher in the export
slaughterhouse Udema.
Nanno was approved for military service, but initially he was exempted due to
brotherly service.
In April 1939, Nanno was still enlisted in the 1st Infantry Regiment in Assen.
With his army unit, Nanno was stationed in Bergen aan Zee and later in the bunkers
on the Afsluitdijk near Den Oever. Here he participated in the fighting against
the Germans during the May days of 1940, during which the latter suffered heavy
losses.
Four weeks after the capitulation, Nanno Pul went home on Grand Leave.
In Gieten, Nanno worked again as before in the Udema slaughterhouse.
The call from the German general Christiansen also applied to Nanno in April 1943:
report to work as a prisoner of war in Germany. Nanno was unlucky.
His employer had no work for him at that time and so he could not get an exemption
due to indispensability. The Germans usually considered work in the food industry
important enough to grant an exemption.
Together with his friend Haijo Kuilman (always called Charlie by Nanno),
Nanno Pul decided to go into hiding.
On Ascension Day 1943, the friends left for Veelerveen, to the
Duursma family. They stayed there for about five days; then they went to the
Bergsma family in Stadskanaal. They stayed there until 25 June 1943.
In the meantime, a shelter had been set up by some family members and friends for
the friends in the Staatsbossen ( a forest), near the Eexterhalte, at Blok 23.
Nanno's brother, Johannes Pul, later said: 'They were not nature people, neither was
Nanno and neither was Haijo, whom we called Charlie. They had that against them.
But it was a summer day, that made a difference. It wouldn't have been possible on
a winter day.'
The Pul family provided hot food every day. There was even a gasifier in the hut
to heat up the food.
The boys spent three months in the forest. Then they became restless.
Johannes Pul: 'There were actually too many people who knew about the shelter.
And then there were those stupid people who had to look for and
report in people in hiding to the German autorities. Nanno and Haijo no longer
trusted it. The approaching winter also played a role in the decision to look for
new accommodation.
Nanno and Haijo left for Wildervank, to the Meijer family. Johannes Pul:
'The son of the notary here, Gerard Lammers, who lived at Het Kraaiennest, knew
of a hiding place for them in Pieterburen'.
On 27 September 1943, Haijo Kuilman and Nanno Pul cycled to Pieterburen in Groningen.
However, luck was not on their side. Between Winsum and Mensingeweer, they were
stopped by SD officers and taken to the Scholtenhuis in Groningen.
Haijo Kuilman wrote in a letter home: 'You must have heard the news, that they caught
us. What bad luck! But unfortunately, it is what it is, so we have to accept it.'
After a few days, the two boys were taken to the Amersfoort concentration camp.
Haijo wrote to his father: 'We are now in Amersfoort. That is,
I believe, not too bad here. And let's keep our spirits up, don't let our heads
hang, Dad, we'll do well.'
In his letter, Haijo asked for some necessary items: a pan to eat from, a fork and
a spoon and a cup. And blankets! 'And if possible a little food...and sigarettes...'
Father Kuilman immediately travelled to Amersfoort, together with Nanno's father and
Geertje, Nanno's girl, to bring the requested items and to visit the boys.
However, they were unlucky. There had just been a few escapes and as punishment the
other prisoners were not allowed to receive visitors.
Johannes Pul also tried to visit them. Pul: 'I had heard about those escapes,
those guys had let themselves down on a piece of rope. You were allowed to bring
something with you when you visit. So I took a bundle of sturdy rope with me.
We had to report. What do you have there with you? I had to explain what that bundle
of rope was for. I had my excuse ready in advance. That was to tie the luggage
together, I said, because those boys didn't have a suitcase. Well, they believed me,
but they could just as well have kept me there.'
Unfortunately, Johannes Pul came for nothing: the prisoners had been taken away the
night before.
From Amersfoort the journey continued to Leipzig. There Haijo and Nanno Haijo and
Nanno were housed there in Stalag 4. There were prisoners of war from different
countries housed there. Their work consisted of clearing rubble in the streets of
Leipzig and digging graves for war victims. Clearing rubble was increasingly
necessary, because the Allies were constantly bombing the city.
The prisoners also helped farmers in the area, with threshing grain and other work.
Johannes Pul: 'Unlike many other prisoners, they did not go hungry.
They did lack clothes and such, but enough to eat. They also sometimes
got bread from local residents or from farmers there. And they were not abused
either.'
A few days before the Allies took Leipzig, on 6 April 1945, there was another
air raid. Haijo and Nanno fled into the air raid shelter with a number of prisoners.
Johannes Pul: 'A city like that was completely flattened and a bomb like that hit
diagonally under the shelter. As far as I know, not one of them came out alive.
They were terribly unlucky. There were about forty or fifty prisoners of war
in that cellar and there were about ten more outside. They were (partly) lucky.
A few of them later visited my mother. They told us about the conditions there.
They also brought personal belongings, such as a wallet, to safety. We received that
later via the Ministry of Defence. And those boys also buried their comrades.
And put a cross with a name on each grave. That way they could later be reburied.
If it had been a mass grave, that would not have been possible.'
Nanno Pul from Gieten.
Temporary grave of Nanno Pul in Leipzig (1945)
source : Wil Legemaat on May 6th, 2019
Taken from : Foundation Wargraves-Nanno Pul[ 28 ]
Gepke Pul from Nieuwolda
Here comes the story of Gepke Pul.