The life of Peter Klunder
Peter Klunder (also named Pieter, Petro, Petrus Klunder or Clunder; in 1748 he is known as Christiaan Klunder) profession: "soldaat in 't veldt" ('soldier in the field'). Where he was born is not known up to now. At his marriage 26-02-1736 in Deventer (Overijssel, the Netherlands) with Aleida Geertruit Herckenraet he is described as: 'soldier under the Hr. Baron Zwartzenberg, with his Regiment at Bergen op den Zoom'. This particular regiment has been stationed in Deventer from 1728 to 1731 and afterwards in Kampen (Overijssel, the Netherlands) and Bergen op Zoom (Brabant, the Netherlands). Probably the couple met each other during this period in Deventer.
During the marriage in the courthouse (very common for catholics in those days to marry in front of the court) Peter declares that he is catholic but promises to raise his future children in the protestant way (the religion of his wife). The baptisms of his children can therefore be found in the books of the protestant church. From other sources it becomes clear that after the baptism, the raising of (especially the male) children is in no way performed in the protestant way.
Quotes:'20 April 1753 Collega van Doelen maakt bekent, dat hij in zijne huijsbezoekinge hadde bevonden, dat zekere Pieter Klunder in de Norenbergstraat, tegens gedane edelijke beloften zijn zoon wederom na de paapse kerk is, Volgens advies van den Heere Cameraad Jordans geresolveert, dien man voor deze vergadering te viteeren en rekenschap van zijn gedrag in desen te vragen.'
Source: ACTA Hervomde Kerkeraad Deventer.(Council of the protestant church)
'20 April 1753 College Van Doelen announces that he has found out, during a visit at the house of one Pieter Klunder in the Norenbergstraat, that this person went with his son to the catholic church acting against his wedding vows. On the advice of college Jordaens the council decides to call this person before the council and ask him about these facts.''7 Meij 1753 Pieter Klunder / waarvan in de acte van de 20. april / zegt dat zijn zoon van omtrent 16 jaaren met hem gaat ; en vraagt, wat hij moet antwoorden, als een kint vraagt ; vader mag ik mee na die kerk gaan ? De kerkeraad verzoekt den Heeren ouderlingen des raades, de Heeren van de Magistraat over dit geval te spreeken.'
Source: ACTA Hervomde Kerkeraad Deventer.
'7 May 1753, Pieter Klunder / the same as in the notes of 20 april / declares that his 16 year ols son goes with him, and asks what he should respond if a child asks: father can I come with you to that church ? The council declares that the members of the council will have to consult the magistrate about this case.'After this we do not find Peter Klunder again in the books of the protestant council. The only thing that can be observed is that all his male children afterwards marry in a catholic church and all grandchildren are baptised in a catholic church. From that moment on (up to now) the Klunder family has stayed a catholic family.
The question remains: where did Peter come from ??