Where is Hendrik junior?
The will of Hendrik Van Cooten (transcript) in 1825 implies that Hendrik had two sons, Cornelis and Hendrik, born out of wedlock, prior to his marriage to Dorothea Nicols.
The will says that Hendrik junior has “absented himself from Holland where he had been for his education so that no tidings from him have been received by me for several years.”
It turns out that Hendrik senior wasn’t the only person concerned about Hendrik junior’s whereabouts.
I’ve just found the following in Amsterdamse Courant of 10 May 1800, found in the MyHeritage Netherlands Newspapers, 1659-1899 collection.
Transcription:
Indien iemand met zekerheid weet naricht te geeven van het Verblyf, Leeven of Dood, van eenen HENDRIK VAN
COOTEN, van Demerary, in het Jaar 1794, als Matroos nebbende gediend onder Kapitein SIMON RYNTJES, doch in
Maart 1795, afgadankt, en federd zyn verblyf onbekend zynde, wordt verzocht zich en adresseeren by den Boekverkooper
J. TEN BRINK GZ., in de Warmoesstraat, over de St. Annastraat, zal daar voor eene belooning genieten.—Zullende ge-
melde HENDRIK VAN COOTEN, nog in leeven zynde, vriend lyk ontvaugen en gelegenne gegeven worden om na zyn
genoegen te kunnen worden geholpen, waneer zich dezelve in Persoon o per Missive, aan gein. Boekverkooper a levesfeerd.
Rough Translation:
If someone knows with certainty about the Residence, Life or Death, of a HENDRIK VAN
COOTEN, from Demerary, in the Year 1794, serving as a Sailor, serving under Captain SIMON RYNTJES, but in
March 1795, retired, and residence was unknown, are invited and addressed by the book seller
J. TEN BRINK GZ., In the Warmoesstraat, on the St. Annastraat, will be rewarded there for a reward.
pleasure to be helped when they are in person or per Missive. Book seller is supplied.
Hendrik senior was born in Doorn in 1750, and arrived in Demerara about 1773. Hendrik junior could well have been born not long after, which would feasibly have him at about 20 in 1794.
The J. ten Brink making the enquiry is quite probably Jan ten Brink, book store owner and publisher. Netherlands Wikipedia has an entry for him. I wonder why he was being enquired about? Did he owe money?
Also in Oprechte Haarlemse courant 10-05-1800, https://archive.org/details/ddd_010729236_mpeg21 page 3, about a third of the way down.
Indir a iemand met zekerheid weet naricht te geeven van ‘t verblyf, laeven of dood vaneenen HENDRIK van COOTEN, van Demmerary in ‘t Jaar 1794 als Matroos hebbende gediend onder Kapt. Simon Ryntjes, doch in Maart 1795 afgedankt, en zedert zyn verblyf onbekend zynde; word verzogt, zich te adresseeren by den Boekverkooper j. ten Brink Gz., in de Warmoesstraat, over de St. Annestraat, zal daar voor eene belooning genieten. — Zullende gemelde HENDRIK van COOTEN, nog in leeven zynde, vriendelyk ontvangen en gelegenheid gegeeven worden, om naar zyn genoegen te kunnen worden geholpen, wanneer zich denzelven in Persoon of per Missive by gemelden Boekverkooper adresseerd.
If anyone knows with certainty about the residence, life or death of a HENDRIK van COOTEN, of Demmerary in the Year 1794 having served as Sailor under Capt. Simon Ryntjes, but dismissed in March 1795, and his residence is unknown; be requested to address themselves at the book seller J. ten Brink Gz., in the Warmoesstraat, across the St. Annestraat, will enjoy a reward there. — The reported HENDRIK van COOTEN, still alive, will be kindly received and given the opportunity to be helped to his satisfaction, when addressed in person or by Missive by the reported Bookseller.