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Note: BIOGRAPHY: Granddaughter Aukje Binnema-Kapteyn would tell about him: Pieter Kapteyn was a farmer in the Zuidplaspolder near Waddinxveen and the story goes that he had long arms, so that at harvest time he could cover more land with th scythe than his co-labourors. Pieter W. Kapteyn lost his first wife and children probably before 1852. He then quite farming in order to study for the ministry. Pieter Rupke, his brother-in-law, took over the farm. Pieter Kapteyn had his theological trainin at the small theological school at Hoogeveen (Drenthe) under Reverend Wolter Kok, and was probably one of the last students to graduate from there. In December 1854, the same year the church of Gees was established, the Theological school in Kampen was opened. After 2 years of study in Hoogeveen, the question of whether or not to stay in Hoogeveen or continue his studies at Kampen came up. But his teacher at Hoogeveen told him, "Kapteyn, you can go into a congregation." Pieter Kapteyn recieved and accepted the call to Gees in Drenthe on a salary of 200 Guilders plus 'Turf' (peat moss fuel) and potatoes. He served there from 1 Mar 1855 until 16 Nov 1858 when he went to Putten. From there to Sleeuwijk in 1861, Leerdam 1868, Pernis 1870, Amstelveen 1873, Emeritus in 1898, and died in 1903. On 6 Oct 1946, when I, Jacob Binnema was a student, I went with my fiancee Hild to Gees to preach in the Gereformeerde Kerk. I said to Hilda: "My great-grandfather was the first minister here." Hilda responded, "My great grandfather was a minister here, too!" (see the next paragraph) Reverend Pieter Kapteyn was the first minister in the Christian Afgescheiden Gemeente in Gees which was organized in 1854. Reverend Hendrik Van Hoogen served there from 1865-1867. We (Jacob and Hilda) saw the old church building in Gees which is now a barn with gothic windows and still shows the place where the collection bags had bee hanging and where the pulpit had been. We also saw the old parsonage and imagined how our relatives had once lived there. The name of the first wife of Pieter Kapteyn is unknown to us. He married for the second time on 25 May 1855 to a widow, Wichertje Jansd Koning, who was born 5 Nov 1826 in Gees, and died 10 Dec 1896 in Brussels, Belgium. She was buried in Amstelveen. The story goes that while the couple was living in Amstelveen, on market day th beggars on the way to Amsterdam would pass by the parsonage for a hand out. Mrs. Kapteyn would not open the door, but she would let a half-penny piece slid through a slit in the door for each of the many beggars that came by.
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