What is the van Romondt Family Tree Research Project?

Source: Malaki Zuleika Croes (AUA)

How the research started:

“The van Romondt Family Tree, West Indian Branch Research Project” started with the initiative of Malaki Zuleika Croes living on the island of Aruba, a descendant of the van Romondt (VR) Family of the West Indian Branch, Sint Maarten N.A. who since the age of 14 was very much interested in her family history. Both of her grandparents are descendants of the VR-family of the West Indian Branch and they were fortunate to have known the VR of their time. Her grandparents often told her stories of the life in Sint Maarten, N.A. and the relationships with their father (John Granville VR) and grandfather (Otto Lionel VR). Little by Little Malaki started collecting information on her family history and when she finished putting her direct branch together she said: "okay, we have our connection but this is just one leaf out of the whole tree, so the research is not complete.

Her opinion was that she wants the complete tree filled with history, facts, documents, literature, pictures and any other information regarding the family and this is how she followed her dream to continue researching "the van Romondt Family of the West Indian Branch and to connect all ancestors & descendants to each other and to achieve the most amazing Caribbean FAMILY TREE in the world".

As the journey started several people told Malaki and/or are still telling her up to this day "why do you want to do this looking back at historical facts of the family and that you will not achieve this as it is too much work". Just leave everyone do their own thing". But all of this hasn't stop Malaki (Malachi in the bible) to continue what she says: "when I close my eyes I see it and it is so amazing, can you believe we are putting together a family tree of a West Indian Branch and we are talking of thousands of people!"



She says sometimes "I do get disappointed by certain comments or reactions but when I look at those who believe in the VR-Family Tree Research Project I get more and more motivation and determination to continue the work". 

The research and all its components is a dedication to "ALL DESCENDANTS OF THE VAN ROMONDT FAMILY, WEST INDIAN BRANCH SINT MAARTEN N.A." and together we are going to achieve this dream! 



So far many (living)descendants have been found and we are still searching for many branches. Everyone is part of this project and many descendants and contacts all over the world have already contributed to the research by providing family information, collections, pictures, documents etc.



Knowing your roots is empowering and knowing them absolutely gives one a sense of confidence. Her motto is: "let us learn from the past and look with a positive mind & heart to the future and let us the West Indian Branch unite!

Vision and Mission:
The mission of the research is to provide a resource for all of us which can connect all family trees together, share information, learn and increase what we know and to have as many information possible (certificates, documents, pictures, literature, publications, clippings, and any other information that can contribute) on the ancestors and descendants of Diederik Johannes van Romondt & Ann Hassell, the VR-family of the West Indian Branch, Sint Maarten N.A.



Research categories at this time:


VR-Database http://www.aruba.tribalpages.com

The family tree online http://www.vanromondt.tribalpages.com.

VR-Website- Blog http://www.vanromondtresearch.blogspot.com

VR-Network
http://www.facebook.com (username van Romondt)

VR-Research Collections (all received and collected information and categorized in sub theme’s)