Image: Family tree showing Hendrik VAN WESSEL - vanwessel.org © 2019

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Jacobus van Wessel (Coat of Arms) ...

Description. Shield: Gules cross formée fitchée (red broadarmed cross) on argent (silver) with below it 3 or (gold) six-pointed stars. Mantling and Wreath: sable (black) and or. Crest: a pair of wings in Sable and gold. Motto: Magna vobis, si dissimulare non vultis, necessitas indica probitatis, cum ante oculus agitis iudicus cunta cernentis (If you like to be impartial, it is neccessary to 'prove' and act before the eyes of the allseeing Judge). Better translations always welcome.

Jacobus à Wessel, Berneveldiâ-Gelrus. [88*, Utrecht] (1)

Wapen Jacobus van Wessel

Sources: (Dutch sources have not been translated)

  1. Information found in 'Album Studiosorum Academiae Gelro-Zutphanicae MDXCLVIII-MDCCCXVIII' Accadunt nomina curatorum et professorum per eadem secula, cura D. G. van Epen; University Library Utrecht; Hagae Comitis apud JACOBUM HOEKSTRA MCMIV, with the following entry: 1662: Rectore Michaele Wolferdo; Aug.26 Jacobus van Wessel, Barneveld.-Gelr.Ph.
  2. Information from "Het Album Promotorum van de Academie van Hardewijk", adapted by Mr. Otto Schutte, Library Rijks Universiteit, Utrecht, Vereeninging 'Gelre', Arnhem, 1980; "De Wapenboeken der Gelderse-Overijsselse Studentenverenigingen" by Mr. Otto Schutte.

Comments: This is one of two 17th century students (see also Johannes van Wessel using a similar coat of arms). Whether these were acquired (as fasion commanded) or based on a family tradition is not known. Reference to Barneveld are consistent with what we know. And one of our family members does move to Harderwijk, although that's nearer the end of the 17th century.

As a little aside ... Mr. Otto Schutte is my 7th cousin, a descendent of Elberta van Wessel and Rijkert Jan Appeldoorn (Married on 31 March 1776 in Hierden, NL). I first came across Otto's name on 18 October, 1976 in the Hilversum library, it was also my first encounter with genealogy. I had found the first 'van Wessel' printed in a book ("Kwartierstatenboek 1958', pag. 256 - Kwartierstaat Schutte-Appeldoorn).

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