Verhaeghes of Steenbecque

Volume I of a history book entitled "The Verhaeghes of Steenbecque" traces the lives of the seven oldest known generations of this Flemish family, between approximately 1550 and 1780. More than just a family tree, it is a description of the families who lived for over 230 years in this hamlet in northern France near Hazebrouck, their languages, their lands, and their trades. The text is illustrated with maps and reproductions of baptism, marriage, and burial records. The author has used an original method of numbering the 462 people he cites, starting with the oldest, each identified by their rank in the lineage for each generation. Finally, the book includes two alphabetical indexes: one for the first names of the Verhaeghes and one for the names of the 56 collateral families originating from Steenbecque, Morbecque, or the surrounding parishes. It is intended for the many people who bear this name, but also for those who are passionate about genealogy and the inhabitants of Steenbecque, Morbecque, Cassel, and neighboring communities who are interested in local history.