Tree exploration tips

How to explore the tree

You can explore the genealogical research by browsing the MacFamilyTree generated family tree:

You can navigate up and down the tree chart by clicking on the box of a person. This will show the person's direct descendants and ancestors. Below the chart you will find more information about the person, e.g. life events, notes, photos, etc., as available (and if not hidden for privacy reasons, see remark below).
Alternatively, you can search through the alphabetical list of all persons and select the person you are looking for, and start browsing from there.
When you scroll down on a person's individual page there will also be a Media section where you will find additional pictures and documents if available (hidden for living persons).
Be aware that in the overview of a person under the chart you can also select and click on their life-events (e.g. birth, death, etc.). This will open a specific page related to the selected life-event where you are provided with additional information or documentation (where available) such as birth registrations, newspaper articles, memorial cards, marriage invitations, photos, notes, etc.

The research posted online will be regularly updated as research continues. The date of the last upload is mentioned on the primary page.

REMARK: Personal data of living persons are hidden, however can be obtained upon simple request (though all request will be scrutinized and validated to protect privacy).

Persons in the spotlight

History and historic events are popping up in the life events of our ancestors. Below I have put some ancestors in the spotlight whose lives were directly linked to historical events.

Note: Persons highlighted with a (*) are not directly linked the Wulgaert family tree.

Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt (1568 - 1648) & Thirty Years' War (1618 - 1648)

Petrus (°1624), Carolus (°1625) and Vincent Loete (*)

An inventory of able-bodied men ("monsterrol") of 1648 of the Oudburg Kasselrij (regional government) mentions the following: "Pieter Loete met roer, Sarel en Vinchent met pijcke". In the period of the Eighty Year's war and Thirty Years' war, the region of West-Flanders and East-Flanders was often in turmoil as a result of wandering rogue soldiers, raiding armies, bandit gangs, etc. As a result the regional government (Kasselrij Oudburg) made inventories of able-bodied men to form militias to protect the population against these threats. "Roer" or "vuurroer", in English sometimes referred to as caliver, was a smoothbore firearm from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It was a smaller and lighter version of the musket, and therefore did not require a fork rest (which a musket did require at that time). "Pijcke" or "Piek" was a pike or javelin, a thin stick, more than 5 meters long, with a metal point at the end, especially intended to repel an attack by cavalry.

French Revolution era (1789 - 1799) & Napoleontic era (1799 - 1815)

	*Ludovicus Sonneville (°1731) ()** Ludovicus leased farming grounds from the church. After the French Revolution these grounds were confiscated, and sold. Those leasing the grounds were normally not allowed to buy the grounds, but Ludovicus found a backdoor by having a stooge buy the grounds. You can find more information under the life event "place of residence" where his live is nicely described (in Dutch) in an extract out of the book Roger Poelman, Sloten Van Nederzetting tot Bedevaartsoord, Jaarboek XII, 1975 Heemkundige Kring Oost-Oudburg.
	*Joachim Sonneville (°1734) ()** Joachim was a priest that was imprisoned as a result of a general ordinance that required all clergy to be imprisoned. In the article Merkwaardigheden over Waarschoot based on two original hand written documents archived in the state archive of Ghent, Belgium (Rijksarchief Gent), and published in the magazine Ons Meetjesland, 1977, 10de jaargang, nr. 2, the following can be read (text in old dutch): "... wierd hy ten jaere 1799 gevat door de gendarmes - in (de) algemeene opsluitinge der priesters - en vervoert na(er) "den Blauwen Leeuw" en nademael gebragt in het Convent der Cellebroeders, die reeds gesupprimeerd waeren. In welke plaetse hy met in de 80 andere priesters 9 maenden heeft opgehouden geweest, totdat sy in maerte 1800 zyn geslaekt (= vrij gelaten) geworden. Hy overleed tot Meerdonck in december 1800."
	Person records in the period 1793-1805 In the period 1793 till early 1800s dates of births, deaths and marriages in town records in French governed regions (including present-day Belgium) were recorded using the French Revolutionary calendar. It was 4 years after the 1789 revolution, when the French Revolutionary Calendar was introduced in 1793, and it was meant to be the dawn of a new beginning. Also known as the French Republican calendar, the idea was to do away with the old ways and usher in a new era of science and thinking. No more January, February, March, or Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, the new French Revolutionary calendar would have 12 months a year starting in autumn. It would also have 3 weeks in a month, 10 days in a week, 10 hours in a day, 100 minutes in an hour, 100 seconds in a minute. Example: Petrus Wulgaert (born in 1731) died in 1805. His date of death was registered using the French Republican calendar: 22th Pluviôse of the 13th year of the Republic, or 9 February 1805.

Ludovicus Sonneville (°1731) (*)

Ludovicus leased farming grounds from the church. After the French Revolution these grounds were confiscated, and sold. Those leasing the grounds were normally not allowed to buy the grounds, but Ludovicus found a backdoor by having a stooge buy the grounds. You can find more information under the life event "place of residence" where his live is nicely described (in Dutch) in an extract out of the book Roger Poelman, Sloten Van Nederzetting tot Bedevaartsoord, Jaarboek XII, 1975 Heemkundige Kring Oost-Oudburg.

Joachim Sonneville (°1734) (*)

Joachim was a priest that was imprisoned as a result of a general ordinance that required all clergy to be imprisoned. In the article Merkwaardigheden over Waarschoot based on two original hand written documents archived in the state archive of Ghent, Belgium (Rijksarchief Gent), and published in the magazine Ons Meetjesland, 1977, 10de jaargang, nr. 2, the following can be read (text in old dutch):
"... wierd hy ten jaere 1799 gevat door de gendarmes - in (de) algemeene opsluitinge der priesters - en vervoert na(er) "den Blauwen Leeuw" en nademael gebragt in het Convent der Cellebroeders, die reeds gesupprimeerd waeren. In welke plaetse hy met in de 80 andere priesters 9 maenden heeft opgehouden geweest, totdat sy in maerte 1800 zyn geslaekt (= vrij gelaten) geworden. Hy overleed tot Meerdonck in december 1800."

Person records in the period 1793-1805

In the period 1793 till early 1800s dates of births, deaths and marriages in town records in French governed regions (including present-day Belgium) were recorded using the French Revolutionary calendar. It was 4 years after the 1789 revolution, when the French Revolutionary Calendar was introduced in 1793, and it was meant to be the dawn of a new beginning. Also known as the French Republican calendar, the idea was to do away with the old ways and usher in a new era of science and thinking. No more January, February, March, or Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, the new French Revolutionary calendar would have 12 months a year starting in autumn. It would also have 3 weeks in a month, 10 days in a week, 10 hours in a day, 100 minutes in an hour, 100 seconds in a minute. Example: Petrus Wulgaert (born in 1731) died in 1805. His date of death was registered using the French Republican calendar: 22th Pluviôse of the 13th year of the Republic, or 9 February 1805.

Belgian emigration waves to the US (19th - early 20th century)

	Dominicus (Dominic) Wulgaert (°1861) Dominic and his family migrated to the US (via Quebec in Canada) in 1894. Via Port Huron they finally arrived and settled in Occonto, Occonto County, Wisconsin. As such, he became the primary ancestor of the Wisconsin branch of the family tree. Dominicus became a US citizen in September 1906. Click on his life events "Immigration" and "Naturalization" to find more documentation about migration and naturalization.
	Gustavus (Gustav) Wulgaert (°1889) Gustav migrated in 1913 to the US on the SS Finland from Antwerp to New York (Red Star Line). He settled in Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, where he also married his wife Alice. Together they had 4 children. As such, Gustav became the primary ancestor of the Illinois branch of the family tree. Gustav became a US citizen in 1921. Click on his life events "Immigration" and "Naturalization" to find more documentation about migration and naturalization.

Dominicus (Dominic) Wulgaert (°1861)

Dominic and his family migrated to the US (via Quebec in Canada) in 1894. Via Port Huron they finally arrived and settled in Occonto, Occonto County, Wisconsin. As such, he became the primary ancestor of the Wisconsin branch of the family tree. Dominicus became a US citizen in September 1906. Click on his life events "Immigration" and "Naturalization" to find more documentation about migration and naturalization.

Gustavus (Gustav) Wulgaert (°1889)

Gustav migrated in 1913 to the US on the SS Finland from Antwerp to New York (Red Star Line). He settled in Moline, Rock Island County, Illinois, where he also married his wife Alice. Together they had 4 children. As such, Gustav became the primary ancestor of the Illinois branch of the family tree. Gustav became a US citizen in 1921. Click on his life events "Immigration" and "Naturalization" to find more documentation about migration and naturalization.

WWI (1914 - 1918)

	Jan Baptist Wulgaert (°1892) Jan was a decorated WWI frontline soldier who spent 5 years in the trenches at the Belgian Western Front. He survived the war and lived on to become 100 years old. Click on his life event "Military Service" to see more documentation about his military service in WWI.
	Edouard Wulgaert (°1887) Edouard was a soldier during WWI and part of a Grenadiers devision in the Belgian army. He was taken prisoner in the battles at the river IJzer between 15 and 31 October 1914. He was first held prisoner in the courthouse of Brugge, Belgium, and then transferred to a prisoner of war camp in Germany. Click on his life events "Military Service" and "Other event" to see more documentation about his military service and situation during WWI.
	Angelus Wulgaert (°1860) Angelus was registered as war refugee in The Netherlands, which was a neutral country during WWI.
	*Raymondus (Raymond) Gryp (°1887) ()** Raymond already served in the Belgian army from 1908 to 1912. He was called to duty on 1 August 1914, as a result of the German invasion. He was 1st sergeant in different regiments, but mainly the 3rd line regiment. He served more than 51 months during WWI, of which more than 32 served at the front line. He was a recipient of multiple military awards and decorations, and was also awarded 8 fire service stripes. He was captured on 18 October 1918 in Wingene at the battle of the Ringbeek. Click on his life event "Military Service" to see his military file.

WWII (1940 - 1945)

	Oscar Karel Wulgaert (°1910) Oscar was a soldier during WWII in the Belgian army (level: Soldaat - Milicien). He participated to the battles of 10 May 1940 to 28 May 1940. He was a prisoner of the Germans from 29 May 1940 to 10 June 1940. Click on his life event "Military Service" to see more documentation about his military service in WWII.
	Robert Le May (°1912) Robert was a soldier (combat engineer) during WWII with the US Army. In the afternoon of Monday 18 September 1944, during the 2nd day of the Allied airborne landings as part of Operation Market Garden, at 15.06 hrs, the glider in which Robert was flying was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire over Oisterwijk in North Brabant, The Netherlands. The glider was one of eighty Waco gliders that had taken off from Chilbolten airfield in Hampshire in the south of England. The glider was being towed with a nylon tow rope that was attached to an American tug aircraft, a C-47A Skytrain/Dakota of the American 50th Troop Carrier Wing. The crew of 4, including Robert, was found dead at the crash site. Check the notes linked to his person, and click on his life events "Military Service" and "Burial" to learn more about the circumstances of his death.
	Achille Julien Wulgaert (°1902) Achille was a French soldier in the 1re S.I.M. (Section d'Infirmiers Militaires) during WWII. He was killed on 17 Jun 1940 in Malo-les-Bains, France during the battle of Dunkerque (28 May - 4 June 1840). At the battle of Dunkerque 48.000 allied soldiers were killed, mostly by German bombings targeting the beaches and ports of Dunkerque and Malo-les-Bains, or at sea during their attempt to escape with rafts and boats to the UK. Check the notes and click on his life events "Military Service", "Burial" to see more documentation about his military service in WWII.
	Abel Wulgaert (°1912) Abel was a French soldier during WWII (Soldat 1er Classe, 2e régiment de chasseurs d'Afrique, or 2e RCA). He was taken prisoner by the Germans and a prisoner of war in the Frontstalag 124 prisoner camp in Troyes, France. Later on, he was deported for forced labor to Strahlungen, Bavaria, Germany. Click on his life events "Military Service" and "Other Event" to see more documentation about his military service and situation during WWII.
	Anthony (Tony) Van Wymeren (°1920) Tony was a flight engineer in the US Air Force from 1942 through 1945. His plane was shot down over Germany on April 11, 1944. He was a prisoner of war in Germany from April 11, 1944 to January 18, 1945. Click on his life events "Military Service" to see more documentation about his military service and situation during WWII, including a news paper picture of an injured Tony being treated after his plane was shot down.
	Oscar Ferdinand Wulgaert (°1920) Oscar joined the French marine infantry in 1939. He was taken prisoner in 1940 and taken to the German prisoner of war camp Stalag III-A. Stalag III-A was a German World War II prisoner-of-war camp at Luckenwalde, Brandenburg, 52 kilometres (32 mi) south of Berlin. Oscar remained prisoner until the end of the war in 1945. At the end of the war, as the Russians approached Berlin, the guards fled the camp leaving the prisoners to be liberated by the Red Army on 22 April 1945. Click on his life events "Military Service", "Military award" and "Other Event" to see more documentation about his military service and situation during WWII.
	*Hector De Smet (°1913) ()** Hector was a corporal in the Belgian army. He participated to the military campaigns from 10 May 1940 to 26 May 1940. Taken prisoner and sent for forced labor to Stalag XVII-B in Gniekendorf, Austria (near Krems) from 27 May 1940 to 22 February 1941. Click on his life events "Military Service", and "Other Event" to see more documentation about his military service and situation during WWII.

First Indochina War (Vietnam 19 December 1946 - 20 July 1954)

	Oscar Ferdinand Wulgaert (°1920) After WWII, Oscar was deployed to Indochina (current day Vietnam) where he participated in the First Indochina War (war for Vietnamese independence from France). Click on his life event "Military award" to see a French article with more documentation about his military service.

Korean War (1950 - 1953)

	Dominic (Nick) Van Eyck (°1930) Dominic served in both the US Army and the US Navy (amongst other on the USS Putnam), and was a veteran of the Korean War.

Berlin Crisis (4 June 1961 - 9 November 1961)

Edward H Wulgaert (°1930)

Edward enlisted in Company D 127th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin Army National Guard as a private in 1953 and promoted through the ranks to Brigadier General of the Line (1981) retiring in 1984. He served as a 1st Lt during the Berlin Crisis Call-up. The Berlin Crisis started when the USSR issued an ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of all armed forces from Berlin, including the Western armed forces in West Berlin. The crisis culminated in the city's de facto partition with the East German erection of the Berlin Wall. Click on his life events "Military service", "Retirement" and "Death" to learn more about his military service.

Gulf War - Operation Desert Storm (17 January 1991 to 28 February 1991)

	Lee Wulgaert (°1956) Lee served in the US Army National Guard for 20 years and was deployed in Operation Desert Storm.