Alphons/Alfons Raes - Belgium

[EdCan]

Alphons was born 1898 in Stekene and wife Philomena was born abt 1897 Stekene. Eldest son Peter was born 1922 in Belgium. Alphons came to Canada in 1924 and brought his family over in 1926.
My problem is the maiden name of Philomena is unkown. I have managed to find obits for two additional children but no maiden name for Philomena is given.
Is it possible to find a marriage for Alphons and Philomena ?

Ed

[TreeSpirit]

I had to assume that Alphonse was born 14-02-1898 in Stekene and that his parents were Vitalis Raes and Fidelia van Mullem (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP63-CVW?i=396&cc=2138513&cat=12908)

With this DOB I can find him in the Netherlands abt 1918 in “Vluchtoord Uden”. This was a refugee camp in the town of Uden in North Brabant , which was used in February 1915 to receive Belgian refugees who fled to the Netherlands during the First World War . His 2-11-1917 registration in Uden’s “Bevolkingsregister”: https://images.memorix.nl/bhic/download/fullsize/be5b5aa8-ab9e-01b6-6d28-57891bf67058.jpg.

Amongst the other refugees who were registered on 2-11-1917 was a Philomena Vonck supposedly born 20-11-1897 Stekene. She will get a illegitimate daughter called Julia on 11-06-1918, but who will die 12-8-1918.
- Philomena’s registration in Uden: https://images.memorix.nl/bhic/download/fullsize/492ac76d-5013-4f7f-8522-3ba94a9f1499.jpg
- Julia’s birth and death (civil) registrations: https://www.bhic.nl/memorix/genealogy/search/persons?f=%7B%22search_s_register_type_title%22:%7B%22v%22:%22burgerlijke%20stand%22%7D%7D&ss=%7B%22q%22:%22julia%20vonck%22%7D  (Note the mother is listed as  “Wilhelmina”, probably because “Wilhelmina” and “Philomena” sound very alike in Dutch)

However, I could not find a Philomena Vonck born 1896/7/8 in Stekene, so she might have been born in another village close by (or just over the border in NL e.g.. Philomena Maria Vonck b 12-11-1897 Sint Jansteen NL)!

Another possibility is a Philomena Janssens b 11 nov 1897 in Stekene (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GP63-CBT?i=377&cc=2138513&cat=12908).

There could be more possibilities, but unfortunately you’ve only given the very mimimum of info and it will still take a few years before their marriage will become available online. I would have liked to have seen Philomena’s full birth date and also the first and second names of the children in case they were named after their grandparents. At the moment I’ve only been able to glean the minimum myself i.e. Peter/ Mary / George Joseph. 

FYI
“As of March 31, 2019, access to records in Belgium is unrestricted to those more than 100 years for births, 75 years for marriages, and 50 years for deaths. Records later than these time periods are not open to the general public, and those after 1915 are not online. These records can only be viewed by special permission after writing to the municipal authorities of the municipality where the event occurred. A fee may be charged.” (https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Belgium_Civil_Registration)

[EdCan]

Thanks TreeSpirit
I have since found an additional obit for daughter Mary Madeline which states that her mother was Fhilomena Vonck.
Children that I found mentioned in obits are Peter and George Joseph born in Belgium and Mary Madeline and Edith born in Canada.
If Alfons and Filomena are showing up as refugees I would assume that their marrige could be just about anywhere and not necessarily in Stekene

[jorose]

Going off TreeSpirit's suggestion that she might be "Vonck":

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D558-J5?i=620&cc=1477769&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AJSBT-MYW

Index to Antwerp immigrations has a Philomena Marie Vonck b.  St. Jansteen, cross-referenced to Alphons Raes  (b. 12 11 1897)  - no. 158.093
There is also a Leonie Marie Vonck b.  same place, no. 159.232

Philomena's Antwerp police immigration file begins here (click forward through images)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899H-W9XL?i=186&wc=M6TS-836%3A341767301&cc=2023926

She was b. 12 October 1897 (on this page, see later data), St. Jansteen, Antwerp
father I think Frans, b. St. Jansteen, aged 47, residing there
mother Angelina Van de Berghe b. Stekene, aged 52, residing in St. Jansteen
both residing 257 Wilhelmina Street

Next page shows that she came to Belgium, 17th April 1919

Following page is the marriage to Alphons - 19th July 1920 in Antwerp - her birth is 12 November 1897 on this record and her father is Johannes Francies but other data consistent.

Leonie's file is here, she was a sister to Philomena:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99H-3RSH?i=602&wc=M6TS-8NL%3A341765801&cc=2023926

[EdCan]

Thanks jorose
That info really helpful.

Much appreciated
Ed

[TreeSpirit]

So it was the lady I'd focused on after all ....

I thought it was a bit too coincidental that Alphons Raes had #12490 in the Uden doco and that Philomena Vonck had #12491. She would have been pregnant on 2-11-1917 and this might have been the reason why she’d lied about her nationality, place of birth, her parents residence and why she said that she had no official papers. If they’d found out that she was Dutch, she would have been kicked out of the refugee camp and would have become separated from Alphons.

PS This is Philomena and her family in Sint Jansteen (Netherlands) around 1909
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9QH-CFZR?i=329&cc=2018408&cat=130662

[EdCan]

Thanks TreeSpirit. Very much appreciated

Ed