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Roots [Family tree records of Theo Vecht]
Mozes Heijman was born on 30-10-1762 in Ommen and died on 17-11-1830 in Elburg.
On the census date in 1795 he lived in Elburg, province Gelderland, an old fisherman & trade town (belonging to the Hanze) on the border of an inland sea: "the Zuiderzee". In consequence of Napoleon's law he took on 18-1-1813 the family name VECHT in the act no 34 written: Vegt.
In opinion of the Historical Association in Elburg he chosed the name of the river Vecht on which bords the village of Ommen, where he was born. The spelling of the family name was soon corrected to Vecht for reasons unknown.
In 1813 he was butcher. In 1817 he owned a shop in woolens and linens, gold and silver.
He married with Vrouwtje Izaak born in 1783 or 1787 in Meppel, province Drenthe, she died on ? in ?. In 1831 census date her name was written in the registers: Vrouwtje Godfried. Family name of her parents?
Her occupation: koopvrouw - saleswoman in her shop.
The Globetrotter [Jacob J.Vecht]
Aron Vecht was, for his time, a true globetrotter. Born in Elburg in 1854, and surrounded by cattle farmers, butchers etc in his family, he became an inventor and commercial pioneer of refrigeration and transportation of meat. This caused him to travel round the world exploiting his know-how. This brought him to England, where he lived for many years, and also to South Africa, Australia, Argentina and other places on the way.He thus had a child or two in each of 4 continents.
Street in Elburg around 1850
Among other things, Aron was very learned in matters Jewish, studied much Torah and could perform ritual slaughter. He owned a small Sefer Torah (hand-written parchment scroll of the 5 books of Moses) which he took around the world with him.
It is passed from father to _youngest_ son, and is thus in the care of Romeo Vecht today, housed in the Spanish & Portugese synagogue in London. It is, in my regard, a great family treasure.
Aron was a significant poineer of early Zionism too. He had significant and extensive correspondence with the great rabbis of his time, some of which has been publised. He also edited a Jewish newspaper.
He died relatively young and never fulfilled his wish to get to the land of Israel. He was however buried there in the most primitive beginnings of Tel Aviv, where his prominent grave stands today.
