Geehrte Liste,
Hit the proverbial brick wall hard, a while ago. With new circumstantial information I turn to this esteemed forum for potential help. I have two relevant archive entries (translated) namely:
Groningen, the Netherlands (M.K. = Martini Church; denomination: Dutch Reformed) / translated from Dutch to English. Church registry entries known:
1) 1747, Friday May 26th M.K. baptized Kristiaan son of Karel Hindrik Nijkes and Maria Dorentie Wolfs, in Oosterstraat.
2) 1749, April 29th, M.K. marriage: Johannes Bor, soldier in the regiment of captain Morey (?) of Breil (Breyell) in Gulkerlant and Maria Dorentie widow of Carel Hinderck Nijckes from Hamborgh pro qua Hinderijcks Shül present (in the margin there is a note regarding two people …... (names not relevant/city appointees) ...… whom claim to take (co-)guardianship of the child Kristiaan).
Looking for further information on Karel Hindrik Nijkes and Maria Dorentie Wolfs, especially a marriage certificate (probably early 1745), which could be of tremendous help.
Additional assumptions and research:
Both are NOT from the city of Groningen. Hamburg has been combed out to no avail, and is most likely misleading, as it may reflect on Johannes Bor serving in the regiment of capt. Morey of Breyell in Gulkerlant (Upper-Gelre, part of the Dutchy of Gelre/Gelderland).
I assume that Karel Hindrik Nijkes died in the siege on the Dutch city of Bergen op Zoom by the French, from July-September 1747 (Austrian Succession War). Hence, Karel Hindrik Nijkes served in the Dutch Staatse army, but most likely as a mercenary. This since he may have been recruited by Gideon Salomon Deutz, between February 5th 1745 and April 30st 1745 (date of the approved Act by the Dutch Raad van State, and the date that the new regiment was to be complete and present at the garrison of Grave on the Meuse). Conditioned by the act, recruits by Deutz were to be taken NOT from the then Netherlands, and subsequent but partial material collected from the garrison Grave on the Deutz regiment proofs that most came from Germany, of which a substantial subset from the Rhineland. Both Karel and hence Maria may have fled a potential draft by the Prussian army, as part of Upper-Gelre was obtained by Prussia from the Netherlands under the peace treaty of 1713.
Information on Maria Dorentie Wolfs is that she may have had one or two aunts from her mother’s side (family name Sieghers or Siegers) in the city of Groningen, whom must have accommodated and assisted her in childbirth of her son Kristiaan. Since she is not attested as being a widow yet, Karel probably died at the later stage of the siege mentioned (maybe even on September 18th 1747, the fall of the city, as part of the regiment Deutz was on early appel to leave the city for refreshment, and were the first to head into the entering French).
In addition, both names Nijkes (Nijckes) and Wolfs frequent in the Viersen/Dulken area, and a bit westward for Wolfs from Breyell to Bruggen, respectively.
Neiken (which I take to be the root of the name) is alt-niederfrankisch, and supposedly of alt-German stock. Name variations of interest Neikes, Neikens, Neiken, Neykes, Neykens and Neyken (all with or without a “c”, which phonetically is not relevant). I found a few potential old namesakes in Viersen and Suchteln, but no relations proven as of yet. Wolfs obviously comes as is.
Danke fur euer berucksichtigung und danke fur jeder bit of informationen,
Martijn