Johanna Francisca van Tinteren was born on 8 October 1838 in the family apartment in Kleine Kattenburgerstraat, Amsterdam. She was raised by her parents – Johannes van Tinteren, a porter and Cornelia Velthuijs, a vegetable seller, and also her maternal grandparents – Johannes Franciscus van Tinteren, a retired paper hanger and his wife Antje van Oostveen.
Johanna was named after an older sister, also Johanna Francisca van Tinteren, who had died aged one. Her other siblings were Johannes, Antje, Pieter, Cornelia Johanna, Cornelis Johannes, Catharina Maria, Dorothea and Willem. Johanna’s brothers could write, but it appears that Johanna never learned how to.
Unlike many young women of the time, Johanna did not work as a maid, instead having no occupation until her widowhood. She may have helped her parents in their home.
Johanna was 21 and unmarried when her first child, a daughter also called Johanna, was born on 27 May 1860. The father was Elias Blok, a raftsman who also lived in Kleine Kattenburgerstraat. Despite the illegitimacy, Elias was obviously keen to make a good impression, and his father also signed the birth certificate. Another daughter, Anna Christina Louisa, was born before the marriage in 1862. Both daughters had the surname of van Tinteren until their parents’ marriage.
Johanna and Elias married on 10 September 1862 in Amsterdam. At this stage Johanna and Anna legally became Elias’s children. The couple chose Johanna’s brother Pieter, her brother-in-law Jan Dirk Siebons, and Elias’s brother Gilles as witnesses.
Following the marriage, Johanna and Elias had Johannes, Hendrik, Hendrik, Catharina Maria, Marinus, Catharina Maria Johanna and Elias.
1866 was a terrible year for Johanna. In July her grandmother Antje died, then in September both of her parents died four days apart. Finally, in November her son Hendrik died aged only one year.
Johanna was not spared of further tragedy. In October 1871 her daughter Catharina died, six days before her second birthday. In July 1875 her son Elias died, only a few months of age. On 18 January 1876 Elias died, aged only 40, making Johanna a widow at 37. She had six children to support, ranging in age from 15 to 2.
Johanna was placed in a difficult situation. Her parents had both died, and her siblings were trying to raise their own families. Johanna had to rely on herself to raise and support her children. She worked as a cleaner for almost twenty years, retiring only when all of her children had moved out.
Johanna spent her remaining years living with her children. On 13 August 1891 she moved in with her daughter Johanna and her husband Johannes Valkenaars, a mason. Her daughter Catharina also lived with them until her marriage.
On 21 April 1895 Johanna moved in with her daughter Anna and her husband Paulus Wilhelm Vittali, who owned a chimney sweeping and masonry company.
On 1 January 1900 Johanna moved in with her daughter Catharina and her husband Jan Arnold Vervoort, a milk seller. During her stay her daughter Catharina died, aged only 27.
On 29 October 1913 Johanna moved in with her grandson Antonius Paulus Vittali, a brush maker who was married with children.
On 13 November 1914 Johanna moved back in with her daughter Johanna and son-in-law Johannes Valkenaars.
On 19 April 1915 she moved in with her son Marinus, a chimney sweep, and his family. During her stay with him, his wife Neeltje died in 1917, and Johanna’s son Hendrik died in 1919.
On 1 March 1920 Johanna moved back in with her daughter Anna and son-in-law Paulus Wilhelm Vittali.
On 13 August 1921 Johanna returned to live with her daughter and son-in-law Johanna and Johannes. She spent her final years here, passing away on 16 July 1926 aged 87.
Children: Johanna Blok (1860-1944) Anna Christina Louisa Blok(1862-1930) Johannes Blok (1864-1934) Hendrik Blok (1867-1919) Catharina Maria Blok (1869-1871) Marinus Blok (1870-1942) Catharina Maria Johanna Blok (1873-1901) Elias Blok (1875-1875)