.Jan is born in Middelharnis, The Netherlands, on March 20th, 1816 as the son of Gerrit van de Roovaard and Elizabeth Klaasse. On April 4th, 1841, at the age of almost 25, he marries Catharina Maria van Wieringen in Oud en Nieuw Mathenesse, The Netherlands. Catharina Maria is born in Schiedam on November 5th, 1824, hence she marries at the age of 17 years. She is the daughter of Hermanus van Wieringen and Hilletje Schepping.
On October 2nd, 1850 (!!) a divorce of this marriage is registered in Schiedam, The Netherlands. The plaintiff is Catharina Maria van Wieringen. The reason for the divorce is : malicious abandonment by Jan van de Roovaard late in the year 1942 [sic] and that he persistently refuses to return to his wife. The whereabouts of Jan van de Roovaard are unknown .
Strangely enough, Catharina Maria van Wieringen gives birth to a son on August 15th, 1846 in Schiedam and gives him the name Martinus. As a witness her father is present. From 'the father' Jan van de Roovaard is stated that he is not in the city of Schiedam.
Anna Dorothea Hehewerth
Anna Dorothea is born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on August 9th, 1814 as the daugther of Frans Hendrik Hehewerth and Frederica Carolina de Leur. On November 29th, 1839 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, she gives birth to a son Franz Hendrik 
. Father unknown. On September 10th, 1844 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, she gives birth to a daughter Elizabeth Geertruida 
, again father unknown.
On the way to Pella
Jan van de Roovaard is mentioned as 'Jan van de Roovaart with his wife and two children' in the diary of John Hospers.
It seems as though Jan and Anna Dorothea pretend to be husband and wife with the two children of Anna Dorothea as theirs, which is understandable since Anna Dorothea is pregnant with her third child.
The conclusion can be drawn that the couple travelled on the same ship as John Hospers.
The journey
On Saturday May 5th, 1849 the bark Franziska sets sail for New York from Hellevoetsluis, The Netherlands. The events on board the vessel can be read in the diary of John Hospers. After sailing for 36 days they arrive in New York on Wednesday June 6th, 1849.
Then we get to Friday July 6th, 1849. In the diary is written : ´We have agreed to take with us Jan van de Roovaart with his wife and two children, he agreeing to reimburse me for the traveling expenses either by means of his earnings or by direct payment. Thus we shall have traveling companions´.
 bark Franziska |
A
B C D E F G H I |
New York Albany, New York Utica, New York Buffalo, New York Chicago, Illinois La Salle, Illinois Peoria, Illinois Oquawka, Illinois Pella, Iowa |
 |
From New York to Albany by boat, then the train to Buffalo, again a steamboat to Peoria. The last part of the route by coach and wagon.
In all, this part of the journey took 42 days, of which 26 was travelling and the rest was to stay over in different towns.
On Saturday August 28th, 1849 they reach Pella, Iowa.
In Iowa
On September 13th, 1849 Anna Dorothea gives birth to her third child, a son, his name will be Jacob vande Roovaart.
On December 9th, 1849, Jan van de Roovaard marries Anna Dorothea Hehewerth, in Lake Prairie Township, Marion County, Iowa. At that moment Jan is still officially married to Catharina Maria van Wieringen.
In Chicago
The family moves to Chicago, Illinois. Here Jan vande Roovaart will die on November 6th, 1880. Where and when Anna Dorothea Hehewerth died is still unknown.
The first child, Franz Hendrik Hehewerth, will adopt his (step-)fathers name and will call himself Frank Hendrik Roovaart 
. The second child Elizabeth Geertruida Hehewerth, stays single and will keep the lastname Hehewerth 
. Jacob vande Roovaart dies at the age of 67 
.