II. Pieter de Clerc (<1379-1439) x Katheline Rommels
Son of Denijs de Clerc and N.N. Loetins
Pieter de Clerc, born probably in Erondegem in or before 1379, died Ghent shortly before 28 Nov. 1439, married ca. 1414 Katheline Rommelins, dr. of Jan and Elisabeth van Bassevelde.
Pieter was born in Erondegem, but at a young age he moved to the city of Ghent, about 20 miles to the west. Ghent was at that time one of the largest cities of Northwestern Europe. Also it was rich and powerful, thanks to its profitable textile industry. Many of its inhabitants were employed in it.
'Gandavum', a 16th century view of the city of Ghent
Pieter is first recorded in Ghent in Sept. 1404; he was then still a minor (younger than 25). Deeds, found in the municipal archive, suggest that he was under the care of Pieter Loetins, probably his uncle, who was a textile dyer. Loetins was a man of influence; years before he had been member of the city government. At his workshop Pieter de Clerc will have learned the dyeing trade.
- Doc_Pieter_dC_fs_Niis_1404-l.jpg
The oldest record of 'Piet(er) de Clerc fs Niis' (= filius, son of Denijs) in the administration of Ghent (click to enlarge)
Around 1414 Pieter married to Katheline Rommels, daughter of Jan Rommels, a wealthy textile merchant, who traded with the 'Hanze': a medieval coöperation of cities and merchants in Northern part of Germany and the eastern part of the Netherlands. A few years before Pieters brother Goessin de Clerc was married to Mergriete Rommels, a sister of Katheline.
In 1420 Pieter and Katheline bought a large dyeing workshop, on the corner of the Borresteeg and the Nederscheldestraat, which would also be their home. This house would remain in the family for at least another 170 years.
The Nederscheldestraat, mid 16th century, with left the city watermill and the tower of one of the city gates. Opposite the mill, on the corner of the Borresteeg (right), is the wooden house of Pieter de Clerc and succeeding generations.
Same location, a few decades later.
After Pieter died in 1439, an inventory was made of his estate. Not detailed, of his personal belongings in his house, unfortunately. But the document does show that, apart from his house and workshop in Ghent, Pieter still owned property in his birth town Erondegem.
As a widow, Katheline lived for another twenty years. It is not certain that she remarried. Probably she continued the dyeing workshop, which was not uncommon for widows in Flanders.
Pieter and Katheline were parents of seven children, among which Jacob de Cleerc.
