Jan Ter Avest and Berendina Kamphuis

For centuries, the Ter Avests were farmers in the small farming hamlet of Notter, in the Province of Overijssel, in eastern most Holland. The name Ter Avest means “at the forest edge” or “at the shelter”.

In 1795, our ancestor, Jan Ter Avest left his farm in Notter, known as “Groot Ter Avest”, and married Berendina Kamphuis.  They were married in May 1795. He is a son of Derk ter Avest and Grietje ten Boomkade of the farmyard Groot Ter Avest. They settled on her family farm, known as “Kamphuis” in the nearby farming hamlet of Zuna. They subsequently chose to nickname it “KampJan”. Jan and Berendina had three children:

Jan Hendrik – born in 1796.  Christened on February 23 1796. Marries in June 20 1839 Hendrika Bartels. She is a daughter of Jan Wilelm Bartels and Hermina Brinkman, and was born at Raalte on September 15 1816.  After their marriage they moved in with Jan’s parents. 

Dina – born in 1799.  Christened on February 10 1799. She marries Hendrik Matman, born at Bathmen. She remarries in 1838 Hendriks Kraa, shopkeeper and baker at Rijssen. 

Gerhardus –  born on June 24 1802.  Christened on June 27 1802. He dies on July 6 1830. 

According to a list of cattle, dated February 12 1800, the yard boasts two cows over two years old, and one less than two years.  

A list of horses, sheep and horned cattle made on April 20 1811 shows Kamphuis with one sheep, four cows and three heifers. This made it one of the smaller farms in the area. Thus, the farm was entitled to only one quarter of one vote in the community. Despite this, Jan Ter Avest had a prominent role in the community. He was appointed to many committees in order to solve problems. In the community rolls he appears as Jan ter Avest, alias Kamp or Kampjan. 

According to the land map of 1832, Jan Ter Avest owned the following parcels of land in the Lange Blok near Zuna:

• Section G 67, a hayfield
• Section G 118 farmland 
• Section G 118 a hayfield 
• Section G 119 house and yard 
• Section G 121 farmland 
• Section G 164 a hayfield 
• Section G 232 a hayfield 

These lots amount to nearly 4 hectares. This is equivalent to 9.9 acres.

In addition, he owns 33 are (.8 acres) in section G 50 iii (iv) marsh, on the marshes of Zuna. 

Berendina died in July of 1835. Jan died on March 19, 1842.

The division of the estate of Jan Ter Avest and Beredina Kamphuis left their daughter, Dina, with the following:

• about 80 ares (2 acres) of hayfield in the Vinkenmaat, situated at Rectum.
• about 40 ares (1 acre) of hayfield situated in Ypelo, known as Den Demberg, section C 234
• about 70 ares (1.7 acres) of hayfield in de Plagslagen section A 70, situated in the      community of Rijssen
• about 33 ares (.8 acres) of marsh, in the Marsh of Zuna, section G 50 iiii, situated at the      Ligtenberg.

Dina had also received a large sum (175 guilders) when she married.

The son, Jan Hendrik, received:

• a hayfield, called the Rietmaatje, section G 67.
• farmland, section G 118
• a hayfield G 118a.
• farm and yard section G 119
• farmland, section G 121.
• a hayfield, called the Slag, section G 164.
• half a hayfield, called the Walmus, section G 232
• A third part of a hayfield, called the Vinkenmaat, section F 532 at Rectum.
• The clothes of the testatrix, and a few yards of linen cloth.
• cattle, furniture, household instruments and farming requisites.
• A sum of 200 guilders to be charged to the heirs of Hendrik Jan van de Riet at Notter.

The property with the fieldname Rietmaatje, that was situated behind the present-day ‘t Molke has disappeared as a result of the canalization of the river Regge. 

The hayfield Slag is no longer known under that name. In 1712 it belonged to Jan ter Avest’s grandparents Derk and Jenneken ter Avest. Most of this parcel is now part of the provincial road. The fieldname Walmus has been used since 1692 and is still in use today. 

The bulk of this information was contained in the book “Van Sudenae tot Zuna: Een Buurtschap Aan de Regge” written by Jan Lohuis.