Person Page - 364

     Gottschalk Comes was born circa 1510 in Munchen Gladbach-Venn, Germany.¹ He resided on the lower Palatinate lying on both sides of the Rhine River.¹ He died before 17 January 1586/87 in Munchen Gladbach-Venn, Germany.¹

     Thonis E Comes was born circa 1535 in Munchen Gladbach-Venn, Germany. He was a farmer and acquired between 1587 and 1607 the farm known as "Comis-Hof", Munchen Gladbach-Venn, Germany.¹ He was a Mennonite.¹ He was listed as a church elder and preacher in Munchen Gladbach-Venn, Germany.¹ As a represenative of his congregation he signed on 1 May 1591 the Concept of Cologne, which was an attempt to bring unity to the Anabaptist movement. It was signed by fifteen preachers of the High Germans and the Frisians and later by the Waterlanders.²

     Gottschalk Comes was born circa 1565 in Munchen Gladbach-Venn, Germany. He married Vitgen van der Heiden circa 1584.¹ Gottschalk Comes acquired on 25 March 1596 the farm known as Heckengut, in Honschaft Damm, Germany, in the Alst, near Munchen-Gladbach.¹ He was a farmer.¹ He and Vitgen were Mennonites.¹

     Thones Comes was born circa 1596 in Munchen Gladbach-Venn, Germany.¹ His full complete name was Thones Comes Veit der Heiden.² He married Oelletgen (?) circa 1620.² Thones Comes fled in 1654 from his estate in Munchehen Gladbach Venn, as all Mennonites were forced to do so to Goch, Duchy of Cleves.² He was a weaver and cloth merchant.² He died before 1 February 1667/68 in Goch, Duchy of Cleves.¹

     Oelletgen (?) was born circa 1596.¹ She married Thones Comes, son of Gottschalk Comes and Vitgen van der Heiden, circa 1620.² As of circa 1620, her married name was Comes.²

     Gottschalk Thonis was born between 1625 and 1630 in Heckenhof, near in Munchen Gladbach-Venn, Germany.¹ He was a servant to Hans Newes in 1654. He married Lehntgen Henrichs, daughter of Henrich Wilhelms and Entgen (?), in 1654.¹ Gottschalk Thonis married Gertud (?) probably in 1676 or 1677.¹ Gottschalk Thonis was a weaver and merchant. He was ordained a preacher in the Mennonite Church in 1682. He died after 25 January 1708/9 in Goch, Duchy of Cleves.²

     Lehntgen Henrichs married Gottschalk Thonis, son of Thones Comes and Oelletgen (?), in 1654.¹ As of 1654, her married name was Thonis.¹ Lehntgen Henrichs died probably before 1676.¹

     Gertud (?) married Gottschalk Thonis, son of Thones Comes and Oelletgen (?), probably in 1676 or 1677.¹ As of 1676 or 1677, her married name was Thonis.¹

     Henrich Wilhelms married Entgen (?)

     Entgen (?) married Henrich Wilhelms.

     Herman Opdengraff was born on 26 November 1585 in Aldekirk, Muir, Germany.¹ Herman was the probable son of Abraham Opdengraff. Herman was the possible son of Johann Wilhelm of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.
     I at first considered this possible relationship wishful thinking on the part of somebody who wanted a royal ancestry. I then made the "mistake" of reading the reasons for this possible connection. I deem the relationship unlikely, but stranger things have happened. It is conceivable.

What I find absolutely unbelievable is the possibility of a morganatic marriage with Herman's mother. If Herman is Johan Wilhelm's son, he was illegitimate

Certain facts of Herman's life tend to support a noble birth. He had a coat of arms on his windows, a coat that has certain herdic implications. It was illegal at that time to display arms when you had no right to them. He was religiously tolerant in an intolerant age. Johan Wilhelm had a family that was split between the old and the new religions, Catholicism and Lutheranism. Herman had an excellent education, was cultured, and was a successful entrepreneur.

He provided a home for his mother-in-law at the end of her life (nothing unusual about that, he was being a good Christian son-in-law) but what was unusual was that his mother-in-law was nursed by three Roman Catholic nuns, whom Herman also willingly housed and provided for. These nuns were of high nobel birth, and left their convent in order to care for this woman. That was extremely unusual, considering that Herman, his wife and her mother were all Protestants, and Herman notable among the Reformers. And especially if they were all commoners. Or were they?
      Herman Opdengraff married Greitgen Pletjes, daughter of Dries Pleges and Alet Göbels Syllys, on 8 August 1605. The date August 16th is given by the Scheuten manuscripts, so says the webpage Op Den Graeff Ancestry.² Herman Opdengraff arrived in Krefeld, Duchy of Cleves, circa 1609.² He died on 27 December 1642 in Krefeld, Duchy of Cleves, at age 57 years, 1 month and 1 day.³

     Greitgen Pletjes was born on 16 October 1588. She was also listed as being born on 26 November 1588 in Kempen, Holland.¹ She married Herman Opdengraff, son of Abraham Opdengraff, on 8 August 1605. The date August 16th is given by the Scheuten manuscripts, so says the webpage Op Den Graeff Ancestry.¹ As of 16 August 1605, her married name was Opdengraff. Greitgen Pletjes arrived in Krefeld, Duchy of Cleves, circa 1609.¹ She died on 7 January 1642/43 in Krefeld at age 54 years, 2 months and 22 days.¹

     Dries Pleges married Alet Göbels Syllys. Dries Pleges died on 27 December 1645.

     Alet Göbels Syllys married Dries Pleges. Her married name was Pleges. Alet Göbels Syllys died on 7 January 1640.

     Isaak Opdengraff was born on 28 February 1616 in Krefeld, Duchy of Cleves.¹ He married Grietgen Peters. Isaak Opdengraff died on 17 January 1669 in Krefeld, Duchy of Cleves, at age 52 years, 10 months and 20 days.¹ He was buried on 19 January 1669 in the Reformed Church, Krefeld, Duchy of Cleves.¹