Appointed curator of the abandoned estate of Bartholomeus Ritmeier
In 1674, Leeuwenhoek was appointed curator of the abandoned estate of Bartholomeus Ritmeier. A wine seller, Ritmeier lived in his family home on the Geerweg and later on the north side of the Burgwal in a house he bought for 2700 gulden. In 1667, he married Catharina Gillis Cramers from Leiden and, after her death the following year, he married Aletta van Sprinckhuijsen (v.d. Oude Langendijk) in 1671. They had three children, Marijtje, Alida, and Hendrick. (Aletta remarried Gerard Nieuwenhuise, a soldier, in January 1682, just weeks before the birth of Albertus. She gave birth to Joanna in 1683 and Guilielma in November 1684. Aletta died five months later, in April 1685.)
Leeuwenhoek was still five years away from being appointed the city's wine gauger (wijnroeier), so there would not have been any conflict of interest in his administration of Ritmeier's estate.
ORA 171 for 1674 January to 1681 June fol. 8v
Kamerboek 48
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Op den 24e dito (= April 1674) is Anthonij Leeuwenhouck gestelt tot curator over den boedel van Bartholomeus Ritmeiere wijncoper, die deselve hadde geabondonnt.
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On the 24th ditto (= April 1674) Anthonij Leeuwenhouck was appointed curator over the estate of Bartholomeus Ritmeiere wine dealer, who had abandoned the same.
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More details followed on August 16. (Link below under Related events.
