Elias Pieterse was christened on 20 December 1785 in Zierikzee, Zeeland, as a Roman Catholic. His parents were Engel Pieterse, who died in 1792; and shopkeeper Johanna van den Heijde. Elias had one older brother, Engel, who worked as a barber and died in 1820.
Johanna Mens was born circa 1790 in Bergen op Zoom, Noord-Brabant. Her parents were Marinus Mens, who was already in his fifties when she was born and died of a fever in 1798; and Maria Hermans, who lived until 1826. Maria had relocated her family to Zierikzee. after her husband died. Johanna's siblings, all older than herself, were Catharina, Antonius, Anna, Joannes, Petronilla, Cornelia and Anna. Catharina and Cornelia are known to have married and had families in Zierikzee.
Elias and Johanna married on 22 March 1812 in Zierikzee. At that time Elias was working as a coast guard and Johanna as a domestic servant. A few years later Elias became a publican/innkeeper, which he continued until his death, although he also (in 1821) worked as a St. Jansarbeider. Elias and Johanna had eight children: Johanna, Marinus, Maria, Arnoldus, Engel, Catharina, Cornelia and Johanna Catharina. Four survived into adulthood, Johanna, Marinus, Maria and Catharina.
Engel died on 16 September 1827 in Zierikzee aged 41. As a widow Johanna took over the pub, also working behind the bar. In the 1840s she retired and moved to Amsterdam, where her adult children were living. She lived along the same street as her daughter. Johanna died on 23 December 1847 aged 57.
Children: Johanna Pieterse (1813-1857) Marinus Pieterse (1814-1850) Maria Pieterse (1817-1875) Arnoldus Pieterse (1819-1821) Engel Pieterse (1821-1825) Catharina Pieterse (1823-1862) Cornelia Pieterse (1824-1827) Johanna Catharina Pieterse (1827-1828)