Welcome ...

This site exists to make available information I have gathered on my ancestors. It had its beginnins prior when I embarked on my fist overseas tripin 1989,15 years after my father's death. I kew little of the backgrund. During my then travels, I cam away empty handed except for a few names in the Dutch telephone book. Remember, this was before today's internet/web.

The original website followed on from the original work of Jean (Johannes) van Waterschoot {1960-1996}. Over the years,I have received contributions from other relations.

Unbeknown to myself initially, a cousin on my mother's side was also researching those branches. I have the basics in the Walpole (c.1600) tree and more in the Databse (which needs review as the merge hhas caused some problems.

There is more to come, I am certain. I also am now aware of research being undertaken in The Netherlands.

The Double Name

It was speculated by my cousin Jean that Judoca and her background may hold the key to the doublename. I could neither confirm nor deny this ... way back when. She is recorded as Judoca van de Graght at Zeeuws Archief.

Just recently, using different search engne, I located a page on the Dutch wikipedia. After translating the page, it indicated that Doctor Joseph van Waterschoot (1759-1853) had in 1817 obtained the right to be known as "van Waterschoot van der Gracht". This therefore flowed to his descendants. More to follow ..

Regards ... John v W

[Illustration: Artwork by Gisele van Waterschoot van der Gracht, 1958. Used with permisssion.]