VanAken Families and Research in Europe 
Very little information is known about the origin of our immigrant ancestor, Marinus Van Aken. The first record we find is dated 1March1682 in which Marinus and Prijntje Rents served as witnesses to the christening of Pieternelleken van Aken, in Cadzand, Holland. The father’s name was Cornelis van Aken and mother is given as Jolijntje Vas.
Evidently Prijntje died soon thereafter as another document, dated 1683 and also in Cadzand, attests that on the 20th of March that year Marinus Van Aken, widower of Prijntje Rent, was betrothed to Pieternelle de Pre. The marriage took place on 11April 1683.
We have reported on early genealogical research attempts to find Marinus’ origin in the Van Aken/Van Auken Newsletter. Beginning in August 2004 subscribers to the Newsletter collectively enlisted the aid of H. Willem Gobel of Vlissengen, Netherlands to do additional research work in local (Netherlands & Belgium) repositories of records.