Page 46 - Poat_to_Poot_Engels

From 1840 through 1851, while living in Deventer, Jan and Lammerdina Poot
had eight children, of whom six survived. The children were born as follows:
Engelina Bartha 1840, Job 1842, Lammert Jan who died in 1843, a second
Lammert Jan born in 1843, Engelbert (possibly a twin) also born in 1843, a
son named Jan who died in 1846, Johannes Jacobus born 1849, and Jan
Willem born in 1851. Jan Willem appears to have been their last child.

Jan Poot did not remain a cap maker for very long. He advanced to more
prestigious work as a silversmith. Eventually he established a business
manufacturing medical and surgical instruments. These instruments
would have been made of silver or silverplate. It is believed that Jan Poot
later died from the toxic effects of fumes from either the molten silver or
the chemicals used in manufacturing. He had to supervise the process
personally in order to prevent workers from stealing the silver.

The Poot's had become a successful middle class family with social position,
some wealth, and several servants. The Dutch economy had finally begun an
era of growth about 1852. This was due to an overhaul of Dutch economic
policies including the end of excise taxes on food and fuel. With business
conditions improving throughout the country, Jan probably found it a good
time to move his business to his ancestral home of Delfland. Sometime
between 1851 and 1864, Jan, Lammerdina and their children moved west
from Deventer to Delft in Zuid-Holland. Eventually, Jan's health may have
forced him to retire from his most profitable work. In 1875 when he was age
60, Jan's occupation was recorded as "ornament gieter" maker. A translation
dictionary said this was a person making decorated watering cans used for
gardening! However, photographs show that "ornamentaal gieter" were fine
artistic silver flasks and vases made for special presentations and for wealthy
families. It seems logical that a skilled smith like Jan would do this type of
work in his retirement. He could accept custom orders and make as many
pieces as his health allowed.

After Jan retired, the business probably continued to be operated by the
Poots. His son Engelbert produced a child named Willem Frederik Poot
(1876 - 1951) who grew up to become an "instrument maker". Perhaps
Willem continued in the family business. Jan's youngest son, Jan Willem Poot,
would periodically receive sums of money from his family. This money may
have been his share of profits from the family business.

Most of Jan Poot's relatives lived in Delft or in the surrounding towns. Here
Jan and Lammerdina remained until their deaths in 1877 and 1880
respectively. Jan's children -- Engelina, Job, Engelbert, Lammert Jan, and
Johannes, were married in Delft. Jan William (J.W. Poot) was the only one of
their children not married in Delft.

Jan Willem Poot did not follow in the family business, nor did he remain in
Delft. He attended university and became a minister in the Reformed
Church of Holland (Hervormde Kerk). He began his ministry in 1873.

(revised 09-2005) - JW Poot - - page 3 -