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At the beginning of the 17th century there are some people with Van Bohe(e)men as family name. They live in the former amt of Monster and the western part of the former amt of The Hague. The best known is Dirk Jansz. van Bohemen. His farm which gets the name Bohemen, is demolished at the end of World War II due to an expansion of -the city- of The Hague. However, the existence of the farm continues, because the new residential area of The Hague is named Bohemen.

Map with Bohemen farm, lying on the line Kijkduin-Eikenduien in polder Segbroek. Made in 1898 (National Archiv).

Archive research in 2017 has shown how the first persons with the Van Bohe(e)men family name are related to each other. The earliest identified ancestor is considered the founder of the family Van Bohe (e)men (until an even older ancestor is found).
The results of the archive research have been published in two articles by Peter J.M. van Boheemen in the Dutch periodicals Gens Nostra and Ons Voorgeslacht  (see Publications).

Family founder

The oldest ancestor about who reliable information was found, is Sijmen Jan Philipsz (ca. 1500-ca. 1557). He lives in 1544 on a farm in the Lozerdijkse Polder (later Uithofpolder), lying in the former amt of Monster. This farm gets the name Vrederust, but this probably happens much later.

Former amt of Monster in 16th century. At the right side the Lozerdijksepolder. Drawn by Jeffrey Erkens of Waterboard Delfland,

Sijmen Jan Philipsz. owns Vrederust, including the parcel of 6 ‘morgen’ on which the farmyard is located (1  ‘morgen’ corresponds with 0,85 ha). He also leases 67 ‘morgen’ land, of which 7½  ‘morgen’ from the parish charity Heilige Geest (Holy Spirit) in The Hague. The  concerning 7½  ‘morgen’ lie in the Escamp Polder which borders on the northeast side of the Lozerdijksepolder.

It is remarkable that Sijmen Jan Philipsz. buys a house in the city of Delft  on the east side of the Oude Delft in 1552. Barely two years later he sells it again. Just before that he is registered as a burgher of Delft, whereby he is referred to as Sijmen Jan Philipsz. from Wateringen (borders Monster).

Given the extensive land use, his house in Delft and his burghership of Delft, Sijmen will have belonged to the upper layer of the rural population.

Vrederust Farm when it is demolished in 1957 (Photo F.W. Wegman, Archiv of The Hague).

In view of his patronymic, Sijmen is a son of Jan Philipsz. This will be Jan Philipsz, who also leases land from the above mentioned Heilige Geest in The Hague. This happens in 1518-1522 and includes three parcels covering (together) about 7½ ‘morgen’. It is the same area as leased later by Sijmen.
The lease of 7½ ‘morgen’ to Jan Philipsz. begins in 1486. ​​Previously the parcels are leased to Sijmon Hubrechtsz., possibly a relative of Jan Philipsz.

Furthermore, both Jan Philipsz. and Sijmen lease 3 ‘morgen’ from the Abbey in Loosduinen.

Southern part of Uithofpolder (earlier Lozerdijkse Polder). At the right side Vrederust farm. Mapped by Krukius in 1712.

Sijmen Jan Philipsz’ grandfather will have Philip as his first name. He will be born around 1430. For the time being this Philip is considered the founder of the Van Bohe(e)men family.

Possible earlier ancestors

Possibly founder Philip is a son of Jan Philipsz. mentioned in a charter drawn up in 1431. This document concerns an exchange of parcels which Jan Philipsz. and Willem Jansz. own on both sides of the Hollewatering, north of the Gantel. The Hollewatering is an extension of the Wennetjessloot which forms the eastern border of the Lozerdijkse Polder (see map above of the Monster amt).

A completely different hypothesis, as shown in Geneagram I, is, that Philip is a descendant of Sijmen Florisz. born around 1320. The geneagram is based on assumptions discussed below.

Geneagram I with hypothetical ancestors of Sijmen Jan Philipsz.

The similarities in land use discussed above suggest that Jan Philipsz., son of family founder Philip, also lives on Vrederust farm or close by. This may also be the case with Philip and some of his ancestors. That’s why there has been studied a survey of the Monster amt, executed in 1378. In this survey not only the areas of the parcels in Monster are recorded, but also its owners and users.

In the southern part of amt part VII, where Vrederust farm is located, a parcel of 6 ‘morgen’ is recorded, owned then by Sijmen Florisz. and used by Gielis Sijmonsz. It is quite possible that it concerns the farm yard of 6 ‘morgen’ owned by Sijmen Jan Philipsz. in 1544. The survey does not mention the presence of a residence on the parcel.

At the time of the survey a parcel of 29 ‘morgen’ lies near the parcel of 6 ‘morgen’, of which a large part (24 ‘morgen’)  is used by Gielis the Younger. Thereby Gieles Sijmonsz. will be the one referred to.

The land use data above have led to the hypothesis that founder Philip is a grandson of Gielis Sijmonsz. and a son of still unknown Sijmen Gielisz. Further research must show the correctness of this hypothesis (and the geneagram above).

Sijmon Huijbrechtz is also inserted in the geneagram. He is mentioned earlier on this page as leaser of land of Heilige Geest in The Hague. Perhaps he is a cousin of Jan Philipz.

On July 13, 1401, more than 2 ‘morgen’ in Monster is sold to the abbess of Loosduinen. Thereby Floris Sijmonsz. is mentioned as a neighbour. On the basis of the survey from 1378 it is presumed that the parcel in question is located near the farmyard of Vrederust. It may be, that Floris Sijmonsz. is a second son of Sijmen Florisz.

If Floris Sijmonsz. would be the grandfather of founder Philip,, the following geneagram can be real.

Geneagram II with hypothetical ancestors of Sijmen Jan Phlipsz.

Primeval ancestors

On the base of a DNA-analysis a descendance has been determined of Y-chromosomal Adam who lived in Africa  150.000-300.000  years ago. See the webpage DNA-profile.