| Commentary | On 5 January 1607, Jean le Bleu, from Wesel, 27, living on Keysersgracht, assisted by his father Francois le Bleu, was betrothed to Hester Jans Verspreet, 18, living op 't Water, assisted by her father Hans Verspreet (DTB 412/139). On 4 November 1607, Jan le Bleu and Hester le Bleu had their son Francois baptized in the O.K. in the presence of Francen le Bleu and Annetken [Verspreet ?] (DTB 4/219). If the name of the witness Annetken (Tanneken ?) Verspreet has been correctly read, she was the sister of Hester Verspreet. When the death inventory of Jean le Bleu's father-in-law Hans Verspreet was taken on 2 April 1627, it was supervised by his son Samuel Verspreet, his son-in-law Isaack Moors (of R 26927) (the husband of his daughter Sara), Jean le Bleu (the husband of his daughter Hester), and Sara Verspreet, together with Pieter van Montfoort and Barent Jansen (of R 20461 ?), who were executors of Hans Verspreet's testament. The other children of Hans Verspreet were Anthoni (of R 25596) and Jacques (cited in the INTRO) (NA 562B, fol. 35). Hester must have died shortly after her father's estate was liquidated in 1626. On 16 November 1628, Hans le Bleu, widower of Hester Verspreet, was betrothed to Cornelia van Mesen, widow of Lenert de Beer (DTB 433/186). Cornelia van Mesen, widow of Lenert de Beer, had signed the Remonstrant petition in the same year 1628. Jean le Bleu, who was also a buyer at auction (R 27639), was the brother of Jacobus le Bleu, student in medicine in 1628. His mother Lenora Venant was the sister of Francoijs Venant de oude (I), the father of the painter Francoijs Venant(II), who was therefore his cousin. The younger Venant became the guardian of Jacobus le Bleu (and most probably of Jean le Bleu as well) after the death of Le Bleu's father. Jean le Bleu paid a tax of 20 f. in 1631, at which time he lived on the Warmoesstraet, near the St. Jansstraet (fol. 208, p. 48). He moved to a house also named 't Gulde Paert on the Lauriersgracht soon after this inventory was taken. On 15 February 1632, Jean le Bleu, drogist, insinuated Gerrit Gerritsz. Worcum, cloth dealer (NA 843, fol. 41, Not. Hoogeboom). |
