A Visit to
Winterswijk - Rob and Connie TeSelle Robinson (1975)
Compiled from notes and letters contributed by
Connie TeSelle Robinson and Dirk Willem te Selle
November 2005
|
(Photos to be added soon.) |
|
|
Recent e-mail exchanges
between
Dirk Willem te Selle and Connie TeSelle Robinson are shown below,
describing their recollection of Connie's visit to Winterswijk in
May or June, 1975.
--------------
E-Mail from Connie TeSelle
Robinson to Dirk Willem te Selle and Ellen TeSelle Boal, November
27, 2005
"Hi, everyone,
"Rob and I have been trying to remember about our trip to
Winterswijk. The trip was about May or June of 1975. I wrote to
the Post Master in Winterswijk or Aalten (can't remember which
one) and asked if he knew anyone with the name of TeSelle. I
explained that my maiden name was TeSelle and wondered if he knew
of anyone with that name. We thought that if anyone would
know whether or not there were TeSelles in the area it would be
the Post Master. I had previously received a letter (dated 25
September 1962) from Norma TeSelle that indicated that the
TeSelles were from Winterswijk or Aalten.
"As I recall, I believe that the Post Master was Dirk's father.
Is that right Dirk? He sent us a letter saying he was a TeSelle
and invited us for a visit. Dirk, I have that letter somewhere
and have searched, but can't find it yet. I will continue
looking. Rob seems to think that we wrote back and told him when
we could come, but he was going to be away on vacation. He then
contacted his son Dirk, and Dirk came to Winterswijk from
Amsterdam to meet with us since his father wasn't going to be
there. Is that right, Dirk? I really can't remember how we came
to meet up, but I do remember being amazed at all the genealogy
you had compiled. Dirk, do you remember exactly? I do remember
though, that you took us to visit the farm, and we exchanged our
genealogy information.
"I remember meeting a cousin (can't remember his name) and his
wife. I do have a picture of him and his wife. He was a descendent
of one of the TeSelle brothers that had remained in Holland. He
had the letters that the brother's, who immigrated to the USA, had
written after their arrival in the USA and he gave me a
copy of
one dated 26 November 1865.
"I remember, that thanks to Dirk, it was a wonderful and memorable
visit. We had made arrangements to meet with you Dirk, in
Pirmasens Deutschland, but missed you. I believe we had gone to
the store for a few minutes and when we returned, you had already
been there and departed. I hope you can help me fill in some of
the details.
"Take care everyone,
Connie"
-----------------------
Excerpts from E-Mail from Dirk Willem te Selle
to Connie TeSelle Robinson, November 28, 2005
"Hello Connie,
"Thank you for your long letter!
First I will try to answer some questions.
1. Yes. In 1975, my father was the postmaster of Aalten.
2. In that same year Hellen and I were already (since 1968) living
in Enschede, the city we never left....
Enschede is about a 40 minutes drive from Aalten. I think we met
in Aalten. Didn't you bring along with you a big genealogy
book ? I remember Rob was wearing a ring from his military
academy. Is that right?
We went to the old "Fökkink" farm of Albert and his sister Jo te
Selle in Winterswijk. (Both are unmarried.) When you look into the
Memorabilia section of the website you will find pictures of Jo
and Albert from the same period.
From a snowbound Te Selle in Enschede.
Dirk"
------------------
Excerpts from e-mail from Connie TeSelle
Robinson to Dirk Willem te Selle , November 28, 2005
"I did have my book of genealogy. I can't
believe I have been researching the TeSelle family since about
1961. Also, I've been researching the family of my grandmothers--Vandewege
and Vermaas. They came from the province of Zeeland. We
never visited the area of Zeeland, but if we ever return, I would
like to visit there also. It has been so much fun over the
years. Especially when I got to visit the original farm, and to
meet distant relatives, like you Dirk.
"Norma helped me out so much. Now, Geert is just doing such a
wonderful job continuing with the line. I'm so glad he has taken
an interest in the TeSelle genealogy.
"Hope the snow will melt soon. Please give my regards to Hellen.
"Connie"
