Scheltema, a Mennonite family, from the 16th century found at Harlingen and from the 18th century at Franeker, both in the Dutch province of Friesland, where they were engaged in business. A descendant of this family in the female line was Jan Jansen Agricola (1658-94), of Franeker, who later also took the family name of Scheltema. He was a merchant and a preacher of the Franeker Mennonite congregation. His son and further descendants joined the Reformed Church. One branch of this family has taken the family name of Scheltema de Heere. Elder Jan Jacobsz, who according to tradition was a son of Jacob de Heere, may have been a son of a Jacob whose great-grandson took the name of Scheltema.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 449. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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