The Cheris family of Antwerp and the Jan Saris van Erpe family of Oisterwijk.

Thanks Joel, for your detailed explanation of your research on this family. I see you have really found a lot of information, thanks to our forum-members and the Bosch'Protocol.

Happy New Year to you too! It seems you've done quite a bit of research on this subject last year🙂 Thanks for sharing the results.

Thank you Mariët and Max.

Het personeel, de leden en de collectie van BHIC zijn fantastisch!

Joel

Hello Joel,

I think that you are mistaken in your assumption that the Belgian Cheris family descends from the Dutch family known as Van Erp(e).
It is likely - like you wrote - that the origin of the Saris/Zaris branch of the Van Erpe's can be found in a person with the name Saris.

One such person can be found: Sarys (Cesarius) van Kuyc known from mentionings in 1324, 1326 and 1330. Dr. J.A. Coldeweij in "De Heren van Kuyc 1096-1400", Bijdragen tot de geschiedenis van het zuiden van Nederland deel L (1981) on page 167 note 273, assumes that this Sarys was a bastard son of Otto, lord of Cuijk. In 1341 this Sarys van Kuyc was dead leaving a daughter Beerte who sold the feudal property Ter Hoeven in the village Haps to an Arnt Padbroek.

This Beerte (or a sister) married a Van Erpe by whom she probably begot a son with name Saris (Serijs/Zerijs) van Erpe. Saris married and had offspring: Jan Saris van Erpe and Yda Saris van Erpe (had in 1368 a daughter Sophia). Jan Saris van Erpe married ca.1385 Ermgart daughter of Jan son of Arnt Berthout Bac from the town Tilburg.

Jan and Ermgart had lots of children but n o o n e with the name Cesarius (Saris)! This name can n o t b e f o u n d within younger generations that named themselves plainly "van Erpe", and sometimes "Van Erpe van Beerse". That kind of suggests that your assertion is on weak grounds. That the later Cheris-persons walked the same ground as the Van Erpe's previously is just an accidental coincidence.

If, that is a big if, the name Cheris originates as a variant of the name Saris, it would mean that the origin of the family name (as a patronymic) could be found elsewhere by any person carrying the name Saris/Cesarius starting a family. Even the absence of the name Van Erpe with the eldest persons walking around as "Cheris" suggest a different origin of the Belgian family.

To convince me you have to provide more and convincing information to back up your suggestion, otherwise, it will stay on the level of wishful thinking.

With regards,
Hans Vogels

Zoek je in het Bosch Protocol na 1500 op Cheris en klankverwante namen wordt je niet veel wijzer. Ook dat is een indicatie dat Cheris niet gelijk te stellen is aan Saris.

denboschpubliek.hosting.deventit.net/resultaten.php?nav_id=0-0&page=0 (opent in een nieuw tabblad)

Dear Mr. Vogels,

Thank you for the link to the Bosche Protocol, and for your expert opinion. The connections of the Anwerp and English "Cheris" family to the Saris van Erpe family are admittedly circumstantial, but the Cheris daughters were well-connected in Noord-Brabant suggesting family family associations. I very much appreciate the BHIC forum and discussion.

The earlier spelling of the name of the Antwerp/English family tended to be Seris, Serys or Seres. The spelling "Cheris" seems to have been favored by Clara (wife of Cornelis de Bever) and her sisters. The Cheris daughters were referred to as "jonkvrouw" but that designation may have come through their mother, Aleijt van Breugel.

The early references follow.

Sincerely,
Joel Lefever

Notes:

Chronycke ofte Beschryvinge van de stadt Antwerpen, de bekeeringe ende Voortganck in de ware Catholijcke Religie..., Antwerp: Joannes Paulus Robyn, 1723, no page number.

Namen van de Heeren Aelmoesseniers van het geginsel der Instellinge tot nu toe.

1527. Adriaen de Vogelaer en Rombaut Seris.
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FelixArchief (Archives of the City of Antwerp) Schepenregister Antwerpen 1580, n° 360, pag. 701-702. (Zie ook n° 363, pag. 51, 55v, 62, 131v. en n° 367, pag. 678-679 en n° 379, pag. 79-79v). zoeken.felixarchief.be/zHome/Home.aspx?id_isad=167110 (opent in een nieuw tabblad)

CATHERINA CHARLES, geh. met HENRICK PIJNE wonende te Gravensande in Engeland gaan divers bezit te Antwerpen verkopen dat afkomstig is van haar ouders wijlen Mr. PEETER CHARLES, die geh. was met MARIE CHERIS. Zij verkoopt nu met haar mede-erfgenamen een erfelijke rente die haar grootvader ROMBOUT CHERIS in 1523 heeft gekocht - sept. 1580.
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FONDS PLAISIER Deel VI 1575 - 1580.

home.pi.be/~ma479346/fonds%20plaisier_6.htm (opent in een nieuw tabblad)

15 mei 1579. HENDRIK PIJN en zijn vrouw CATHARINA CHARLES transporteren aan PETER SERIS een erfelijke rente op een huis. Bron: Schepenbrief Rijksarchief Antwerpen.
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R.A. Oirschot, inv. nr. 140 A, periode 1 Jan. 1567 t/m 1 maart 1567.
158) Jonker Cornelis de Bever heeft hierbij machtiging gegeven aan Jouffrouw Clara Zeris (= Cheris, JT ) zijn echtgenote om namens hem bepaalde bezittingen te verkopen, rentes, pachten etc. om daarmee een bedrag van 505 gulden en tien stuivers vrij te maken die hem volgens het testament nog resteren 203-v) dat hij eerder met Jouffrouw Aleijt Belaerts, zijn eerste echtgenote, samen had gemaakt. De gemachtigde moet daarbij alles doen wat in de zaak noodzakelijk is en hijzelf ook gedaan zou hebben. Datum 21 februari 1567, getuigen Niclaes Jan Goessens en Joerden die Metser.
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Martinus Nijhoff, Rijks geschiedkundige publicatiën: Grote serie, v. 91, 1950, p. 933, 1055.

Seris, Serys, Cerys, Petrus (Deutschland, Londen), 933, 1055.

Entry 1055: Aan de High Court of Admiralty wordt van de zijde van Petrus Serys, mercator Teutonieus, medegedeeld, dat de genoemde koopman tussen October 1563 en Maart 1564 18 quarteria sinapii ter waarde van 40 s. per quarter en octo ponders croci, Anglice 8 ? of saffron, ter waarde van 26 s. 8 d. per pond met het schip the Egle of Myddelboroo, waarop een zekere Wesse Jonson schipper was, van Boston naar Middelburg zond, doch dat Robert Persie, kapitein op een Engelsch oorlogsvaartuig ...
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M. Eugène van Bemmel, Revue Trimestrielle, Series 2, Volume 8, (48), Bruxelles; Bureau de la Revue Trimestrielle, 1865, p. 47.

Liste de plusieurs non rangez et ce néanmoins fréquentants les presches. Ano 1568.

Loys Boschop; Pierre Brasseur; George Frayere; Nicolas Plucquet, de Tournay; Jean Ort; George Ort; Jehan Dupuitz; Noé Delacroix; Gabriel Sablon; Adrien Baudrenghien, de Tournay; Pierre Veghelman; Guillaume Hannecart; Tobias van Hoefe; Pierre Serys, d'Anvers; Arnold Hesius, D'Anvers; Guillaume Budens; Franchoys Visin; Jehan de Neuveterre.
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The Publications of the Huguenot Society of London, v. X, pt. III, Returns of Aliens Dwelling in the City and Suburbs of London from the Reign of Henry VIII to the end of James I., London: Huguenot Society of London, 1907.

p. 268

Lay Subsidies, London, 145/202.

Writ of Privy Seal, 3 June, 2 Eliz. (1560). Exemption from payment of Antwerp merchants from the Subsidy granted 23 January, 1 Eliz. (1559).

... whose names and several sommes [of money upon ?] them to either of the said payments in form aforesaid taxed and assessed particularly hereafter ensuithe, that is to say: Peter Serys - to and for the first pay[ment . . . . , and to and for the second payment, x s.

p. 331

Aliens in London, 1567

Byllyngesgate Warde

Dowchmen: Peter Serys, at Somer Key, 20 Years / And his two servauntes.

pp. 355-356.

The Parishe of St. Botolphes. 1568.

Noela de Luck, merchant, denizen; lieth at Peter Serys howse; of the Frenche church.

Peter Seris, merchant, borne in Brabant, and James his servant, of the Frenche church.

p. 399

1569, Sensuyuent les noms de plusieurs non ranches, ce needtmoins fréquentants les presches.

Pierre Serys

... these persons above written to have frequented the French Church before the time of this arreste.
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Calendar of the Patent Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office, v. 71, Great Britain, Public Record Office, H.M. Stationery Office, 1982, p. 10.

56). 29 March 1576. Gorhambury. Licence for Matthew Lullis and Peter Seris, merchants of London, their deputies and assigns to export in ships of the Queen's realm or of outward parts being with her in amity 2,000 cloths and 'carsies', accounting three 'carsies' to the cloth, as well of such cloths as are commonly called 'Kentyshe clothes or Suff' cloths, Worcester, Glocester, Somersett or Wilshier clothes commonlye called sortynge clothes' of whatever price (m. 29) dressed or undressed, as of any other kind of cloths of ...
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Return of Aliens in London,

p. 71.

571, Haunce Lypsam, borne in Lewkelande, hath byn here a yeare and a half, and is of the Doutche church, and lyeth in the house of Peter Seres.

p. 176.

1576, St Buttolles Parishe, Straungers.

Petter Serys, 1 li., v li.

Deryek, servaunt to Peter Serys, iiij d.

p. 214

Lay Subsidies, London, 145/243

Certificate, 22 January, 20 Eliz. 1577[-8], by the Lord Mayor, Thomas Smith...exempting the following persons, merchants of Antwerp and others, from the second payment of the Subsidy granted 11 Eliz. (1575)...

In Billingsgate Ward: Peter Seres, 1 li.; Joyce van Erpe, 1 li.

pp. 239-240

1582, St. Buttolphes Parishe, Strangers

Peter Seres, Lxx Li., vij li.

Elizabeth, the wife of Peter Seres, Joyce his man, and Jane his maid servauntes, poll. xij d.

p. 297

1582-3, Denizen

Peter Seres, merchaunt, and Joyce Cupvander, his seruaunte, of the Englishe Churche
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etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/2455/1/DX223036.pdf (opent in een nieuw tabblad)

PATENTS AND PATRONAGE: THE LIFE AND CAREER OF JOHN DAY, TUDOR PRINTER

ELIZABETH EVENDEN

University of York, Doctoral Thesis 2002

Partnership with William Seres

Stephen Alford has recently described at some length the reason why certain authors and printers were so successful under Edward VI. The key word to describe their success, Alford explains, was their 'godliness': In effect, 'godliness' was an essential tool of their trade. It was the key to obtaining royal favour and patronage from the highest ranks. Such favour would ensure procurement of the premier patents available, providing financial security, not to mention the reputation of being one of the 'godly' proselytisers of the realm. The patronage and favour Day's 'godliness' procured for him under Edward soon became evident. Under Edward he would receive favour from, amongst others, the Duke of Northumberland and the Bishop of Winchester, John Ponet. 2 As Day's list of patents increased, it soon became evident that a partner would be beneficial to his business, and Day found one in the shape of another man of 'godliness', the printer William Seres.

During the first part of 1547, it appears that Day was working alone. It was later that year that he entered into partnership with, William Seres, for A Copie of a letter to Chrispyne. Seres' origins, like Day's, are obscure. Seres, however, was most probably of alien origin, as he was listed as a 'stranger' in the parish of St. Gregory in the lay subsidy of 1564 and as a 'stranger' in 1577 for the subsidy of the ward of Castle Baynard. Seres' patron was William Cecil, and he was clearly a favourite of Mildred CeciI. Seres adopted Cecil's hedgehog insignia in his imprint. As Pettegree acknowledges, under Edward VI Seres soon displayed 'close connections to the new [Protestant] regime: Day and his new partner were quickly involving themselves and their presses in the most controversial issues of the day.

Hello Joel, welcome back to this forum and happy Newyear to you too.
And once again: a lot of work you've put in.

I can't give any information in respect to the Cheris - Saris van Erpe discussion.
In a way it looks farfetched and thin ice.
But in a historical perspective it could be a real link.
In my opinion you're looking at a possible connection, but I don't think that it is the printing business, though you brought your theory all the way to Fleetstreet ;-)

To me it seems that the cloth-trade/industry might bear the answer. In the early years of the sixteenth century this was the business that made Antwerpen one of the richest cities in the Lowlands.
And it sure was a connection to England, where Clara Cheris originated from (according to some sources). And the same England where the wool came from. And in the same way related to the northern part of Brabant, since "we" imported this industry succesfully in our region.

Find the connection between this cloth-trade and the families (as you already did in some of the above transcripts you mentioned).
And when these connections exist, then you've got a case.

Dear BHIC Researchers,

Thanks to your input and since 2019 having gone "back to the drawing board" with the Cheris family of Antwerp, I have found additional documentation for the family and its relationship to Noord-Brabant.

The family did not originate in England, but rather in Castile (Burgos) Spain, and married into Flemish and Brabant families. The family name began as Cerezo but then was spelled as Cereso, Zery, Seris and many different variations. Cerezo translates as "cherry tree" in Spanish, and the family coat of arms is a cherry tree. Zery and Cheris also are associated with the word "cherry."

While Cereso family members had been trading in Bruges, London, Middelburg and Bergen-op-Zoom, perhaps as early as the 1300s, the first member of the family in Antwerp was Jan Pierres Cereso who is recorded in that city around 1490. He married Maria Gheens, the daughter of the painter and member of the Guild of St. Luke, Rombout Gielijss Gheens from Berlaar and Mechelen.

Jan Pierres Cereso and Maria Gheens had a son in Antwerp, Rombout Zery or Cheris, born about 1491. Rombout Cheris was a Bourgeois of Antwerp in 1521 and was a wealthy caescooper. He married Jacomine Reuerzyt whose surname at first was difficult to trace. Her father appears to have been the Spanish Catalan merchant Jaquet Rozeyt, who was a merchant trading in Bruges and Antwerp between 1490 and 1505. The surname Rozeyt was a Flemish version of the Spanish name Rosalis which means "rose bush." Rozeyt was a term used in textile trading to mean "rose" or "rose colored" in the late 16th century.

Rombout Cheris and Jacomine Reuerzyt had two sons, Jacob and Peter. Jacob Cheris was married first to Clara van Hulten, and then to Aleijt Willems van Breugel. Jacob settled in Noord-Brabant and had four daughters: Catharina, Jacomina, Clara, and Marie. The daughters had connections to Noord-Brabant, and the cities of 's-Hertogenbosch, Oirschot, and Oisterwijk.

Peter Cheris became a merchant in London from about 1547 and had two sons. While his brother Jacob remained Roman Catholic, Peter Cheris became a Calvinist. His sons died relatively young, but one of the sons, Jacobus appears to have descendants who went by the surname Serij and settled in Walcheren, Zeeland in the early 17th century.

One final note that concerns 's-Hertogenbosch and the Rosalis family. Jacquet Rozeyt, the father of Jacomine Reuerzyt, appears to have had a son named Jan Rosalis who married Peterken Pels of 's-Hertogenbosch. Jan and Peterken were members of the Illustre Lieve Vrouwe Broederschap, and lived in 's-Hertogenbosch until she died about 1511, and he returned to Antwerp and purchased a house in the Veemarct in 1512. Their son, also named Jan Rosalis, was married to Alijt Beelaerts. When Jan Rosalis, Jr. died, Alijt Beelaerts married Cornelis de Bever, "Kapitein in Spaanschen Dienst." When Alijt died, Cornelis married Clara Cheris, the daughter of Jacob Cheris of Antwerp. Jan Rosalis, Jr. and Clara Cheris probably were cousins. Jan, Jr. appears to have been the grandson of Jacquet Rozeyt and Clara Cheris was the great-granddaughter of Jacquet Rozeyt.

The family information included here (and much more) is included in my Geneanet pages. The page for Jan Rosalis, Sr., is here:

gw.geneanet.org/jtlefebvre_w?lang=en&pz=joel+timothy&nz=lefever&p=jan&n=rosalis&oc=1 (opent in een nieuw tabblad)

Best to you all,

Joel Lefever

Dear Joel,
It is very nice to see which leads you have gathered together. And thus have been able to assemble it into a whole. And so we are finally back at Cornelis de Bever who married, among others, with Clara Cheris (and - later Marijke Cheris - her sister).
I'm going to go over some of your claims. Meanwhile - respect!
Regards, Henk

Possible connection to the name Macharius ?

Dear Henk,

Great to hear from you as well. The Cheris family has surprisingly good documentation, much of it in Felix Archief in Antwerp. Unfortunately, little past 1523 is available on-line, and with the pandemic I can't travel to Belgium, so I'm trying to be patient.

I did get DNA confirmation that I am descended from this family. On the website MyHeritage, a descendant of a son of Bartholomeus Donckers, "Mulder op de Waalder Molen" and I share a section of DNA on chromosome 3. My ancestor is Maria Bartholomeudr. Donckers (c. 1670-c. 1743) who was married to François Prouveur, (?-c. 1690), "Mulder op de eigen Keersopper watermolen." This François Prouveur was the grandson of the first François Prouveur, illegitimate son of Marie Cheris and Cornelis de Bever.

Indeed, it does seem to come back to Cornelis de Bever!

Best to you,

Joel

Dear Peter,

At first I assumed the name Cheris came from Macharius, but nothing I found connected the two names. I think that Cheris is a French version of the Spanish word Cerezo. Those with wealth or aristocratic aspirations in Antwerp may have found a French-sounding name more appealing than a Spanish-sounding name.

Best regards,

Joel