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A Family of Physicians


Michael Johannis de Mandeville (1578-1635)

Pictured Above: Latin School at Nijmegen where Dr. Michael de Mandeville taught

Michael Johannis de Mandeville is our 11th great grandfather by this path: RWA → Vera Esler Abbott → Martha Amy Tappan Esler → Emily Harned Tappan → Abigail “Abbie” Acken Harned → Thomas Acken → Phoebe de Camp Acken → Hendrick de Camp → Hendrick Laurence de Camp → Aeltje de Mandeville de Camp → Gillis Janz de Mandeville → Jansz Michaelsz de Mandeville → Michael Johannis de Mandeville

Dr. Michael Johannis de Mandeville was born about 1578 near the city of Nijmegan which is in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands. This family originated in France and after the Norman Conquest de Mandevilles became feudal barons in England. But the family retreated to Holland following upheaval in England after the War of the Roses and the beginning of the Protestant reformation. This branch of the family settled in Nijmegan which is the oldest city in the Netherlands and a cultural and intellectual center.

Michael de Mandeville enrolled at Franeker University in May, 1595. He earned his medical degree and was the first city physician in Nijmegan. He also taught at the Latin School in the city. He was asked to resign as principal of the school so he could be full time in his medical practice. He also served as a town burgher for a time. Not only was Michael a physician, but his brother and two of Michael’s sons were physicians.

Michael married Maria Van De Rade on June 13, 1601 and they had ten children. His grandson Gillis Janz de Mandeville is our ancestor who immigrated to New Amsterdam in 1647.

In 1635, there was an outbreak of plague (Black Death) in Nijmegan. While ministering to the sick, Dr. Michael contracted the illness and died. At that time, the population of Nijmegan was estimated at 10,000; 6,000 people died in that outbreak.

See more information about the 1635 plague at this link: https://www.huisvandenijmeegsegeschiedenis.nl/info/18_The_Plague (this includes mention of Dr. Michael’s brother Dr. Emmanuel de Mandeville)

Source:

The Mandeville Genealogy, De Halve Maen: Quarterly Magazine of the Dutch Colonial Period in America, volume liv, 1979.

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