| Notes |
- From The op Dyck Genealogy, citation details below:
Johan appears in the records as Schepen, Treasurer, and Town Councillor, as Burgomaster eleven times, and as receiving the usual salaries and Christmas gifts incident to these offices. For two years he was custodian of one of the four keys of the city chests, and he was repeatedly chosen with others by the Council to represent the city at the court of its feudal lord, the Duke of Cleves, and also in foreign towns. The mission on which he served in 1449 was to Deventer in Holland, to procure the release of Wesel citizens wrongfully iniprisoned there, while that of 1431 had for its object the remission by the Duke of Cleves of an excessive tax that he had levied upon the town. Besides paying various taxes and imposts, the townsmen were occasionally invited to meet the pressing needs of their feudal lord by lending him money. One of these loans was of 400 gulden, of which amount Johan alone contributed one-twentieth part.
The records contain numerous mentions of Johan as holding land at and near Wesel. It is this continued tendency towards land-ownership, quite as much as their hereditary office-holding, that distinguishes the Wesel op den Dycks and others of the Altbuerger class, and suggests for them an origin in the equestrian rank. While we have no reason to suppose that they were more honest or able, or better educated than many other citizens of the place, we are forced to conclude that they enjoyed a dignity and consideration to which their less fortunate neighbors hardly aspired. As an instance of this We find such expressions as "Sir" and "Honorable" attached to Johan's name in the records. Whatever ground he and his line may have had for family pride, we must still think of them as chiefly engaged in manufactures or commerce. One of the most important industries of Wesel was its woolen trade, and we find Johan appearing as a member of the City Woolen Guild. [...]
Even at this early period the citizens of Wesel deserved great praise for their numerous charities, not only hospitals for immediate relief, but institutions for the future support of the needy and their successors. To these purposes the merchants devoted a considerable part of the wealth acquired by them through fortunate trade, and the still existing benevolent foundations are so many monuments of their virtue and wisdom. Among these was the Orphan Asylum, built by the town before 1450. It was controlled by two managers, one selected by the magistrates, and one elected by the people. The orphans were dressed in ashen gray cloth, with a stripe on the shoulder; they must not beg; they were taught reading, writing and a trade, and were maintained until the age of sixteen years or later. They knelt morning and evening to say the Lord's Prayer and the articles of faith, and ate their breakfast at eight o'clock, none being allowed to rise before grace. Those that worked outside carried their dinners, but all returned to an afternoon meal at four o'clock, and again had a six o'clock supper of bread and butter and beer. There were also many smaller institutions, which were usually supported by rent-charges placed by the founders upon their estates, and which often bore their name. One of these was the Offerman Charity, of which the original deed of foundation, 1443, recites that :
"Before _____ and _____, Schepens of Wesel, came Deric Offerman and his lawful wife Ludegard, who, in the honor of God, His Mother Mary, and all the Saints, and for the comfort of their own souls and of those of their children, relatives, and friends, have given their house and land for the use of eight or nine persons forever, said persons to be chosen by the founder and his Wife and their heirs. Each person so chosen shall be received in the house, have his chair, his place by the fire, his food, his candle, etc.; shall wash the spoons in his Week, shall carry fire-wood, and prepare what is to be cooked, etc., but shall carry away no beds, Wood, or coals, etc. All shall live quietly and peacefully together, and pray for the souls of Deric, his wife, children, relatives, and friends. What each brings shall remain at his death in the house for the common good of the poor. If any is discontented and troublesome so that the others can not live with him, and does not mend his Ways after two or three Warnings by Deric, his wife, or his heirs, then shall such a one be expelled with all the goods that he has brought."
Another endowment was of seven small houses for seven widows; another for two poor women; and another for poor maidens of good character. Johan and his wife twice gave property to similar godly and charitable purposes, and are mentioned as members of a religious association at a neighboring town.
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Nielsen Hayden genealogy
- 1459