Winnifred Jouwsma was born September 28, 1864 in Spannum, Hennaarderadeel (now Littenseradiel), Fryslân, Netherlands. There is a possibility she was born in 1863, but I will update once I find her birth certificate (if she was born in 1863 possibly she was a twin because her brother Peter was born the same year). Winnifred was six years old when her father Wybren died (1871).
Winnifred (Wypkjen) married Peter May 18, 1887 in Hennaarderadeel, Fryslân . Below you can see the wedding announcements of Winnifred and Peter along with what looks like Winnifred’s brother along with other relatives. Included is Peter and Winnifred’s wedding certificate (in 4 sections to make it easier to read). And if it is not clear, Peter and Winnifred are first cousins.
It is unclear exactly when Winnifred an Peter moved to the United States. The 1900 census says that they arrived in 1892. Their son Webb became a naturalized citizen in 1922. In his application for citizenship he stated that he arrived in the United States on February 10, 1891 on the Rotterdam.
If they arrived in 1891 in New York City they would have been processed at the Barge Office which was located where Battery Park is now. If they arrived in 1892 they would have arrived at the docks on Manhattan and then the steerage passengers were ferried over to Ellis Island for processing. I have not found my grandparents at Ellis Island. I have to wonder why they were not on the list if the records say they arrived in 1892.
In the 1900 census it states that Winnifred did not know how to read or write in English, but she could speak English. In the 1910 census she stated that she could read and write in English.
I am not sure why I cannot find her on the 1920 census. I know that her husband was still alive at that point so it seems strange that there are no records of her on the census. Possibly something happened to the local records. I found some city directories for Grand Rapids and I may have found another Winnie or the information I have on Peter are wrong about his death date (but how could they put the wrong death year on his tombstone?). Still not sure where they were in 1920. So much more to learn about all of my ancestors.
The date that some distant relative has for Winnifred’s death is April 16, 1945.
On Their Shoulders 
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