Vreeken (formerly also Vreeke), a Mennonite fam­ily found at Aalsmeer, Netherlands, from at least the early 17th century. Most of them were fisher­men in the 17th-19th centuries. They belonged to the Frisian Mennonites and in the 19th century to the "Nieuwe Vermaning." Many of them served as deacons and (lay) preachers. Ministers were Claes Fredriks, preacher 1732, elder 1742-d.1789, Willem Arends Vreeke 1788-ca. 1812, his brother Vreek Arends Vreeke 1788-d. 1814, Cornelis Pietersz Vree­ke 1801-ca. 1832, Klaas Vreeksz Vreeken 1832, elder un­til 1866, Willem Arends Vreeken 1849, elder 1850-1866, Dirk Vreeken ca. 1858-1866. In 1866 when the "Nieuwe Vermaning" merged with the Zijdweg congregation, Cornelis, Klaas, and Willem Vreeken retired.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 862. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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