Dirk Kornelus (Cornelis, Kornelisz) Kaper
Born: 12 MAY 1760 in Vrouwenparochie, Friesland, Netherlands
Died: 19 JUN 1812 in St. Jacobiparochie, Friesland, Netherlands
Christened: 22 JUN 1760
Parents:
Cornelis Klazen
Maartje Johannes
Marriage:
Hiltje Jans
2 FEB 1783 in St. Annaparochie, Friesland, Netherlands
Dirk was a laborer. Between 1783 and 1786 the family moved from St. Annaparochie to St. Jacobiparochie. In 1811, after Napoleon's decree, Dirk took Kaper as the family name. In Dutch, "Kaper" is a word for some sort of hat, and also a word for privateer. Perhaps this explains rumors that the Kapers were once pirates on the North Sea, originally Celtics from Norway, and that some Kapers practised witchcraft.