Person:Jouke Fridsma (1)

The Jouke Fridsma family were Turfskippers in southwestern Friesland. Jouke was described as having rings in both ears and often smoked a corn-cob pipe. The family lived on a houseboat/barge and owned shares in a peat bog. They would cut bricks of peat, dry them in the sun, and sell them off their houseboat village by village for people to use in their heating stoves. They lost two young children to the canals, a sad occurrence which was common in the day. The family slept in hammocks on the vessel, and would overwinter in Scharnegoutum, where the children also went to school. Usually, Jouke and eldest son Meindert would tow the boat with ropes from shoulder yokes, but occasionally the family would rent a mule or donkey. When coal became prevalent, Jouke said, "Our way of life is over," and sent eldest son Meindert to the New World to find a place for the family of 8 to live. He telegrammed back that he had secured an apartment in Passaic, NJ. With $150, the family left from Rotterdam on the SS Ryndham and arrived at Ellis Island, New Jersey on March 14, 1911. They settled in Passaic, NJ.

1. ↑ Geboorte, in Wymbritseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands. Burgerlijke Stand
   Aktenummer: A 178, 31 AUG 1858.

   Jouke Fridsma

2. ↑ Passaic, New Jersey, United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   1930.

   Jacob Fridsma, 71
   Hilda Fridsma, 66