Background of Peter van Gestel.

Peter was born on 27 February 1835 in Oirschot, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands, the son of Wilhelmus van Gestel and Elisabeth van Beek. Peter was a 3rd cousin of Ida van Gerwen, wife of Gerwen, Godfriedus van Haaren, who came to Bay City between 1855 abd 1858.

Peter van Gestel, the van Haarens and van Weerts were all from Oirschot.

Peter came to America aboard the "Gaston" which had sailed from Antwerp, Belgium.

Peter van Gestel died in May 1870 in Jackson Prison according to the 1870 Mortality Schedule.

Gijsberdina "Berdina" Nelissen was born on 04 March 1826 in
Empel en Meerwijk,Noord-Brabant,Netherlands.
She married Peter Van Weert on
03 Feb 1853 in
Lith, Noord-Brabant, Nederland.
She was not a shrew or part of a plan to kill her husband.
She was pregnant with her 2nd child when her husband
Peter Van Weert was murdered by Peter van Gestle in 1859.
Mr. van Gestle was not poor. He was a liar, convicted murderer and died in prison.
Berdina was fortunate to marry a kind hearted businessman in 1860. Anthony Walraven raised Peter?s son and daughter. They kept their father?s last name of Van Weert. Anthony and Berdina were blessed with 4 more children. Berdina died at the age of 42.

Correction
Gijsberdina died on 1/19/1879.
She was 52 years old.