FAMILY TREE OF THE NAMES (VAN) RELEG(H)EM, RELECOM AND RELEKOM

HISTORY

The ancestry (1100 - 1700) of the families Van Releg(h)em, Relecom and Relekom particularly took place in the Duchy of Brabant, especially in the region we know today as Flemish Brabant. If we want to describe it even more accurately, then we could talk about the triangle between the cities of Mechelen, Brussels and Leuven.

Villages like Vilvoorde, Houtem, Zemst, Grimbergen, Eppegem, Elewijt, Hofstade, Weerde, Perk, Berg, Hombeek, Kampenhout, and certainly not forgetting, the village of Relegem, played a principal part in here. First we will scrutinize the village of Relegem, for this is the village where it all started. Our family name's roots are unarguably located in this village.

Maybe the word "cradle" is even more obvious.

Relegem lies in Flemish Brabant, to the northwest of Brussels.

The name and the location beside the Roman road from Asse to Elewijt, make it likely that the village is very old.

Cities often owe their name to trade or handcrafts being practised there, while villages rather arose round a monastery or a farm, round which the servants settled then.

The village would owe its name to a fortified farm or a villa, located next to a Roman path (Schapenweg) and a watercourse (Molenbeek).

Municipalities or villages of which the name ends in -gem are names of a dwelling, they often carry the name of the family who was established there once. They came into being during the Frankish era and probably they are from the initial period. (AO 370)

These Frankish farms are even said to be established upon the ruins of the Belgo-Roman farms (villas). (Eigen Schoon X)

Probably there has been a fortified farm on the slope (verbrand hof) between the road to Kobbegem and the Heuvelstraat, so located between two very old roads.

This was indeed a excellent place: not far away from the Roman road, in the hollow there was the large an the small brook with pasture land, and a sunny slope for the buildings and field on the high ground.

That indicated security for the farm and the field, along the Vossenberg and an extensive swamp to Wemmel and Meise, with on the west side the undergrowth along the Verbrande Weg and the Wilgenweg.

On the north side of the slope De Kouter was located. It is the name for the oldest fields, while "veld" rather indicated more recently reclaimed fields.

"De koutere van cultura" was surrounded by a hedge and mostly accessible via the "koutergat", a wooden cross turning on a post.

Kouter (-> koltere): Next to Dr Jan Lindemans the original name of the village was "Radilingaheim". "Radeling" is a patronymic, this is a name derived from the father's name. So "Radelings" would mean "sons of Rade" or "sons of Radulf" and "Radelingheim" could be translated as "the residence of Radulf's sons".

In 1155 the name of the village was written as "Radeslengem", in 1198 as "Radelegem", in 1221 as "Radelghem", from 1328 till 1435 it was "Redelghem", in 1686 "Releghem" and like we now know it it's "Relegem". You understand that finally this is the explanation for our family names' origin.

The view of Relegem remained the same during many centuries. The growth was prevented by all kinds of wars.

At the end of the 9th century the population suffered many under the raids of the Norsemen, who didn't destroy only the coastal region, but also sailed up the rivers to plunder and to murder. Via the Zenne they arrived in the neighbourhood of Zemst in the year 884.

At the moment the known history of Relegem begins, the Lords of Relegem had moved their residence with a large part of the people. That happened in the 11th and the 12th century, an era when disputes were mostly solved with violence.

In Relegem a fortified house (De Vijf Bunders) was located near the place (De Mot) between the ponds and the two brooks.

To give an idea of the size of the village Relegem during the Middle Ages: in 1435 there were 21 inhabitants, 12 in 1480 and 36 in 1525.

In 1480 there were 16 houses and 1525 there were 15. In 1686 there were 12 houses, 2 inns, 1 brewery and 1 weaving mill. Industry was unexisting.

In 1686 there were on a total area of 303 bonniers (ancient area measure) 259 bonniers farming land, 38 bonniers pasture land and 32 bonniers woods. In 1786 there were 108 inhabitants, 171 in 1799, 279 in 1831 and 424 in 1846. In 1846 there were 77 houses.

The names of families were named after their domain or their manor almost all the time, and they became well-known under the name of their properties.

The first owners of the village Relegem or Redelghem were nobles who were related to the most prominent families from the environment, namely those from Crainhem and Bouchout.

First let's get acquainted with the Crainhem family.

The noble Crainhem family, in possession of the villages Kraainem, Sterrebeek and Zaventem, was one of the most distinguished families of Brabant. They were known for their unfaltering loyalty to the Duke of Brabant.

For instance for this reason Willem van Crainhem (1148), a descendant from Lambertus van Crainhem (1094), was charged to keep an eye on the nearby Berthout family from Grimbergen, the Duke of Brabant's arch-enemies, from the Boekhout castle in the beech woods in Meise.

Grimbergen became well-known through the repeatedly struggle of the Lords of Grimbergen, who are part of the Berthout family, against the Dukes of Brabant. (Oosthoek Encyclopedie)

The castle of Grimbergen was destroyed completely by the people from Brussels in 1488. The writer of "De Grimbergse Oorlog" gives the following scutcheon to Crainhem: "van gouden met eenen cruce daerin van kelen (rood), een craye in den quartier van sabel (zwart) sele was zijn banier". (golden with a gules cross in it, a sable crow in the quartering was his banner)

Next to Gelre Jan van Bouchout carried silver with a gules cross. The Van Redelghem scutcheon was equal to the one of the Van Crainhem family, except the colours.

With this we see two blazons from ancient families from Brabant and we are immediately affected by the simplicity of the portrayed scutcheons. Simplicity that indicated their antiquity and their distinction.

Originally these blazons were used as an identifying mark during the struggle. That's exactly why a scutcheon had to be simple and clear.

As chief of the family Gielis van Crainhem carried the full scutcheon.

The other branches took a partial sign. The scutcheon occurs for instance in 1397 on a seal of the knight Jan Van Releghem and in 1409 on those of Jan Van Releghem, alderman from Brussels.

The Van Releghem scutcheons were furnished with five shells with Jan Van Releghem in 1358 and two with Jan Van Releghem in 1367 and 1368.

Willem van Crainhem died without children and left the castle to his cousin Gielies van Wanghe (family tree number 925).

Gielis van Wanghe and his wife Katharina sold 15 hectares ground located in Merchtem, which they had on load from the Aa's from Grimbergen, to the abbey of Afflighem for 150 Pounds from Leuven. For the sum of 380 pounds they left 34 hectares located in Merchtem and in Steenhuffel to the same abbey. This sale was acknowledged, after Gielis' death, by his children on Reminscere Sunday (i.e. the second Sunday of the fast in the year 1278 - 1279).

An episode of the struggle between the Duke of Brabant and the Berthout family or the famous Battle of Ransbeke is described in "De Grimbergse Oorlog".

In the Belgian Royal Library a charter is kept (no 221) in which the most important fighters of that battle are mentioned (1137).

Daneel van Bouchout, son of Gielis, promises that his mother Katharina and his brothers and sisters (Paridaen, Gielis, Margaretha, Katharina and Beatrix) will give their permission. The witnesses were knight Daneel van Reedelgem, the children's uncle, Jan van Ossele and master Niklaas, (parish) priest of Buggenhout. (E.H. De Marneffe, cartulaire de l'abbaye d'Afflighem)

Until now they aren't succeeded yet to retrieve the dynasty of Katharina, Gielis Van Wanghe's widow, as family names didn't already exist.

So it's with this Gielis we will start our family tree.

Afterwards the inheritance came into the hands of his son Daneel, who added his name to the Bouchout one for the first time in 1278.

The silver blazon with red cross and a crow (Crainhem) was already carried by Daneel 1, in the Battle of Woeringen on June 5, 1288.

Next to Alphonse Wauters in "Les environs de Bruxelles" it was thanks to Daneel van Bouchout's intervention that the Brabanters could stay gaining ground in this battle.

We don't only see the Van Crainhem family, the Van Releghem family and the Bouchout family in Woeringen, but also on the battlefields in Basweiler and Courtrai (Battle of the Spurs).

They assisted their Duke of Brabant, from who they were mighty vassals, in victory and defeat.

THE VILLAGE OF RELEGEM

More about the history of the village Relegem will follow later. Let's first take a look at the church.

The chapel of Relegem has been built in 1643, the restoration and the conversion into a church happened in 1912.

In 1132 the name "Radelegim" occurs in a diploma of Liethardus, bishop of Cambrai. It confirms the possession of the church in Wemmel and the succursals in Berchem, Relegem and Ramsdonk to the abbey of Grimbergen.

The holy St John Evangelist was acknowledged as patron saint. In 1803 the church is put together with the churches of Kobbegem and Bollebeek to form one parish. Later it will become a succursal of Hamme, but it keeps its own parish priest.

In 1808, for lack of a presbytery and by insufficient salary for his function, this clergyman decides to apply for his transfer.

Father Craux, parish priest in Hamme, is ordered to succeed.

On 01/07/1806 the local council voted to award yearly BEF 600 (EUR 15) to the priest who regularly would organise religious activities in the church. However this subsidy won't be spent until 1822.

The decision of September 28, 1825, acknowledges the legal existence of the church of Relegem. You can find more information about the religious event in Zemst, Eppegem, Weerde and Elewijt in "Leven rond de kerk 1559-1616" by Marc Alcide.

The church is shaped like a Latin cross.

The nave is divided into three parts by pillars, of which the capitals are decorated with leafs. In the nave the brick vaulting shows crossed grains, while the aisles used to be coated with a ceiling with arabesque decorations.

During the restoration the brick vaultings were exposed. Without any doubt the year 1643 can be attributed to the construction of these. We can still read that in the southern transept above the small window.

The interior of the church is extraordinary beautiful. Except the brick vaultings we also see for instance on the high altar a painting that represents the decapitation of the holy John Baptist, a very beautiful work of Vanderheyden from 1632 or 1634.

It isn't painted by Rubens or Van Dijck, like some villagers might pretend sometimes. The pulpit is in Louis XVI style and the beautiful communion rail in Louis XIV style.

At the entrance of the church stands a beautiful wooden polychromed sculpture that represents the Mother of Sorrows. There's also a sculpture of the holy Saint John Evangelist.

Paintings like "the Descent from the Cross" and "the Last Judgement" embellish the interior.

A reliquary of the holy Saint John Baptist, that's annually carried in the procession, also deserves our attention, as well as the pulpit and the gravestones that are built into the floor.

The last big works, like e.g. the installation of underfloor heating, are done in 1998.

THE FAMILY TREE

Let's return to our family tree for a moment. Concerning the Relecom and Van Releg(h)em families, the descent of the Lords of Relegem is an established fact.

I state for instance that our family name occurred a lot in Vilvoorde between 1500 and 1700. Today it doesn't occur anymore there.

Today the name (Van) Releg(h)em occurs quite a lot in the neighbourhood of Zemst.

An addes list shows about fourty-five different spellings of our family name I found during my research. (period from AO 1200 to 2000)

The results of Dr J.B. Van Schijndel and Dr Emile Spelkens's research show that the Relecom, Van Releg(h)em and Relekom families carry the name of the quite renowned house Van Relegem. This house played a very important part in the Duchy of Brabant's history and especially from the city of Brussels. Here we can find different house members as alderman or as dignitary.

During the Middle Ages our territories counted a large number of families. Initially they consisted of unfree folk who had served their sovereigns as military companions, body-guards, court functionaries or as minder.

In reward of their efforts they received fiefs and they were also payed with "seigniorial rights".

In other words, they climbed higher on the social ladder, sometimes even to be admitted into the nobility.

A typical example in our family tree is e.g. Joannes Baptist van Relegem, married with Anna van Vaerenberg (no 1395 and no 1824).

In the census of 1796 canton Kampenhout under Berg with no 524 we read:

"Etat ou profession Censier". Next to Van Dale "seigneur", "liege", "person collecting the tribute".

Already in the XIVth century we know different branches of the family and the Brussels branch has got the younger Jan van Relegem as ancestor, Amman from the city of Brussels. His father the honoured captain, died on the battlefield in Basweiler in 1424.

However he left a bastard son, Walewijn van Relegem, who married with Maria van der Meeren in 1418, from which descendants.

The Van Relegem family, owner of the house "de Croen" in Zemst surely have to be considered as his descendants.

They are mentioned in Zemst in the 15th century. It's in Zemst that in the XVth century the castle of the Lords of Relegem rose its towers heavenwards.

This was the residence of Jan van Relegem, Geeraert van Relegem's son, Amman from the city of Brussels. He fell in the battle of Basweiler together with Wencelas van Luxemburg.

The first owner of the castle in Zemst was Hendrik van Ophem. As a matter of fact the first owners of the village Relegem were related to the van Ophem family. The castle also became a propery of Jan van Carondelet, chancellor from Bourgogne and from Phillip van Harelbeke. Actually the castle is the property of the family 't Kind de Rodebeke.

By the destruction and the reconstrcution of the castle, its character of an untakeable fortress is lost.

I received the photocopy of the castle in 1694 from the wife of Mr Michel Relecom, manager of Unibra in Brussels, and it has been taken from the book "Les environs de Bruxelles". It's originally taken from "mobilium Brabantiae, coenobiaque celebrioza, Leyde 1699 p. 70. Le Roy, Castella et Praetoria".

It's indeed this family who commissioned Dr B.W. Van Schijndel to look up the family tree of the Relecom family. This family tree was a little incomplete at certain points and it contained a few inaccuracies, but it contained a wealth of information. Once more a sincere thanks.

We can say with cast-iron certainty that it's about the castle in Zemst here.

That is clearly shown in Van Schijndel's description about the castle gate and the high round tower with observation posts. From here the guards saw approach the enemy and their view reached up to the gates of Mechelen.

Its square donjon leant on a main building, which was hardly illuminated along the narrow loopholes. The castle was only accessible via a lift bridge and a large gate was, as it were, contained in a pointed arch. The whole looked like an impressive fortress.

The inhabitants of villages lived under continuous tension and threat. They were forced to fortify residences and to surround them with moats, to find a safe shelter in times of violence.

The most illustrious family who lived in the Relegem castle was the Carondolet family. They arrived in Zemst round 1450.

Sire de Maulde, alias Paul de Carondolet, was born at the castle as son of Paul 1 de Cardolet in 1551?

Ferry de Cordolet had been Lord of Relegem during his whole life, as the seventh son of Jean de Carondolet.

The mausoleum of Jean de Carondolet, later on bishop, can be admired in the Cathedral in Bruges. ("De Semse nummer 3" by Roger Van Kerckhoven and "Het kasteel van Relegem" by Marc Alcide)

So we experience there have been built no less than 16 castles on the territory of Zemst in the course of time (nieuw Zemstenaar by André Ver Elst):

1. The Relegem castle

2. Malfiante

3. Village castle Hofstade

4. Muizenhoek

5. Ambroos

6. Carpentier

7. Ter Borght

8. Het Slotje

9. Het Steen

10. Nederghem

11. Het Schans

12. Heetvelde

13. Impel De Mot

14. Het Kattenhuis

15. Wolfslinde

16. Linterpoorten

About the people who emigrated to Zemst Dr Spelkens writes in "Intermédiaire", 1961, on p. 216 the next:

"C'est sans doute que descent la famille de Zemst, dont on peut actuellement lire le nom au cimétiaire de cette commune. Existe-t-il une généalogie de cette famille permettant de le rattacher a l'ancienne famille féodale de ce nom?" (It's without a doubt the family descends from Zemst, we can actually find the name from on the cemetery of this municipality. Does there exist a genealogical tree of this family that permits to link it with the ancient feudal family which carried this name?)

Here Dr Spelkens refers clearly to Antonetta Van Releghem, born on 08/18/1841 in Zemst and married with Joannes Theodorus De Keyser on 08/30/1865. She died in Zemst on 05/18/1928 and left no children.

This is without any doubt a dead-ending branch of the Van Releghem family.

Certain inhabitants of Zemst and surrounding villages became burgher in the city of Mechelen. So e.g. a Jan Van Releghem, son of Henricus, "Cleedmacker te Zempse" ("tailor in Zempse"), became burgher of Mechelen on 08/14/1466 (1/57).

Gielis Van Releghem, son of Michael Coperslager in Eppegem, became burgher of Mechelen on 02/10/1466 (1/55).

Others moved to Vilvoorde. The families from Antwerp and Brussels are certainly the descendants of those people.

Vilvoorde had about 1400 inhabitants in the year 1574. However that number dropped, so in 1598 (the period many of our ancestors lived there) there were only 300 inhitants.

Next to the civil status in 1672 there were again 1687 inhabitants (always according to A. Wauters in "Les environs de Bruxelles Livre no 6-B").

Maybe epidemics were the cause of these differences?

If in 1598 there were only 300 inhabitants and during that period (from 1600 till 1700) about 70 namesakes were born, than we can talk about a very strong concentration of our family name. Among those who emigrated to Zemst and became burgher of Mechelen, we actually notice very little changes of name. It is limited to: "Van Relegheem", "Van Relegeem" or "Van Rellegeem".

At the end of the 17th and during the 18th century we notice the names "Relecom" and "Van Relecom", "Relegem" and "Van Relegem" occurring mixed.

I notice that the family names of the same persons have changed at different events (e.g. baptism, marriage or death).

The writing down of a name going by the sound can be differently interpreted sometimes: names can be pronounced muddledly, there were priests who were able to write good and less good, in which state the father went register the child, etc. These are all reasons which could have played a part.

Walewijn Van Relegem was living in Borsbeek in the XIVthe century and many of his descendants settled in Antwerp.

I found e.g. a Roeland Van Relegem who had been "goutsmit" ("goldsmith") in Antwerp on 05/15/1433 (Historische nota's van De Burbure, volume 111, p 5).

Also a marriage certificate of Andraan van Bevernaige with Maaike Van Relegem in the St James church in Antwerp on 05/25/1589 (film MFM no 296.288, archives of Antwerp).

Around the end of the XVth century we notice that the name Van Relegem disappears from the archives of Borsbeek and also from those of the city of Antwerp.

Formerly the village Relegem used to have its own judgement at the distribution of help and financial support, and on that level there were some disputes between the inhabitants ans those of Wemmel.

The inhabitants of Wemmel said e.g. that Relegem needed only one alderman, who was a member of the bench of aldermen from Wemmel. However the inhabitants of Relegem didn't agree to that.

The community suffered under the war in the year 1489. In this respect Relegem got a 52 sous decrease on the contribution of the aid in 1490.

The first Lords of Relegem whose names are kept in the documents, are the Radelghem family and the Reedelghem family.

Ywein Van Radelghem had two sons: Geeraert and Daneel.

Daneel 2 Van Reedelghem (1295) his sister Beatrijs and daughter Margaretha. Ywein van Radelghem was probably the brother of Wouter Van Wamble (Wemmel) and the brother-in-law of Willem Van Ophem.

The grandson of Ywein Van Radelghem, named Daneel Van Reedelghem, is mentioned in a charter from 1278 concerning the renunciation of terrains to the abbey of Afflighem.

In 1198 Ywein and Wouter (Walter) occur as witness (in the capacity of uncle) at the donation of a hectare land located in Zellik and done to the abbey of Afflighem, by Americ, Adam, Wouter and Paridaen, late Willem Van Ophem's sons.

That same Ywein is probably married with a daughter from a noble family from the land of Stijne (latin book or book of Duke Jan III's vassals).

Here is mentioned that Daneel Van Redelghem makes terrains located in Ekeren, near the Scheldt, over to Willem Bernecolve, a man from Antwerp.

Also a terrain located in Alshout near Austruweel is made over to Willem Van Eeckhoven from Antwerp.

In the acts from the end of the 12th century we find the name of another knight, Daniel Van Reedelghem, namely in 1295, 1296, 1301 and 1356.

(Archives from Brussels, boxes B 1455)

In 1295 Daneel promises to pay every year on Christmas Day a levy for the benefit of the Holy Spirit table from St Goedele in Brussels. (ibid cartularium of the Holy Spirit folio 4 r°)

In 1296 he recognizes to pay an annual interest to the abbey of Groot-Bijgaarden. (folio 3 r°)

In 1301 he gives to the above-mentioned Holy Spirit table three dagwant beemt located in Radelghem and in Ham. (Cart. of the H. Spirit, St Goedele B folio 4 r°)

Daneel Van Reedelghem's only daughter Margaretha Van Reedelghem marries with Jan Van Schoonhoeven. (Manor near Aarschot)

From his marriage with Margaretha Van Lille (near Berg) he had a son, also named Jan Van Schoonhoven. (C. Butgens; trophées du Brabant II suppl p 41)

Margaretha was already a widow in 1339.

Afterwards Margaretha (lady of Empel and Meerwijck) married with Phillipe Van Waver, called The Hunter (son of Jan Meeuwen, Lord of Waveren and Donckelberghe).

(see C. Butkens, trophées du Brabant, généalgogies Wavre - Dongeberg)

By her marriage she brought the manor Relegem with house, terrains, meres, levies, fiefs, etc. to Phillipe Van Waveren.

The two spouses had a dispute with Jan Van Schoonhoven about some properties neglected by Sir Hugo Van Goudenberghe and his wife.

On May 29 and 30, 1340, the aldermen from Brussels registered an agreement between Jan Van Schoonhoven and his stepmother Margriet Van Reedelghem, concerning the estate of his grandmother Maria Van Goudenberghe (from "les anales de la société d'archives de Bruxelles" tomus 41 p 85).

They resigned themselves to the arbitration of Willem, Lord of Waveren, Willem Van Pipenpoy, and Pasteel Van Aarschot, who declared themselves in favour of Knight Van Schoonhoven, and this all on Tuesday after Ascension 1339 (according to A. Wauters from "Les environs de Bruxelles").

On July 2, 1369, Margaretha Philips and their son Jan Van Gaveren promised, in the presence of the aldermen from Brussels, to make all their goods in Relegem over to Laurentius Van Liedekerke, mandatary from the Viscount of Brussels, Jan Van Bouchout. (according to Spechtboek folio 44 V°)

After all on 09/15/1369 Margriet, Philips and their son gave up all their rights on the goods of Ympele and Meerwijck, in favour of Jan Van Redelghem, son of Geeraert Van Redelghem.

Lord Jan Van Bouchout left Relegem to his son Lonys Van Bouchout.

He was servant and chief butler (bottelier) from the Duchess Joanna, who gave him the cartwright office and all kinds of tasks bound to hospices, monasteries and monastery farms herself. (Brabantse Yeesten 2 p 726)

Jan Van Bouchout the last "Van Crainhem" married with Joanna Van Hellebeke, who didn't bare him any children.

In 1371 he led the Brussels people in the battle of Basweiler. He left a number of bastards, including:

Lonys Van Bouchout, who he gave Relegem to.

Geeraert Van Bouchout, Lord of Raemdonck (received 't hof ten Bossche in Raemdonck).

Gertrude Van Bouchout.

Jan Van Bouchout, who lived in Meise.

Laureis Van Bouchout, dean of St Goedele.

Gielis Van Bouchout, who married with a daughter of Gielis De Busco (Van Den Bossche).

Catharina Van Bouchout, sister in Oudergem.

Elisabeth van Bouchout, sister in Leliëndal near Mechelen.

Since monasteries didn't provide any men for the battle, they had to take care of carts and provisions. They also had to offer hospitality to the leaders of the troops, and that was what Lonys had to supervise.

Lonys van Bouchout married with Elisabeth Boote, daughter of Amauric Boote, a rich man from Brussels who had been fortunate in luck as a trader.

Amaury bought e.g. 160 hectares terrains in Sterrebeek on which he built a castle, the castle of Sterrebeek. (from Stootboek)

He became owner of the castle Horst in Sint-Pieters-Rode and of the Manor of Loupogne.

Also Boote bought incl a fortified castle or called "Little Castle". Later on it became a barracks, and it's still known when it's about compulsory military service.

He was also a brave fighter and always willing to defend his sovereign.

In 1356 he was captured by the people from Mechelen. (Valerius Mechelse kronijcke p 140)

In 1371 he participated in the battle of Buerenfosse in Basweiler. He was in command of an important squad.

Together with his sovereign he was captured and therefore in 1374 he got a compensation for the damage from Wencelijn. In 1386, on the age of 70, he still participated in the Siege of Gaveren.

He was married with a daughter of Jan Van Gaveren and he owned a beautiful Residence in Brussels, the house of Gaveren which was located next to the house of Serclaes and next the the church of St Goedele.

After his death on 07/03/1391 his house was sold to pay off his debts, and on the 3th of August in the same year awarded to Jan Van Ophem. (A. Wauters; "Les environs de Bruxelles III" p 214)

On October 9, 1405, Lonys occurs in an act of division for the aldermen from Leuven, as inheritor of Amaury, and Relegem transferred to the descendants of her uncle, also Jan Van Bouchout, Lord of Humbeek and married with Elisabeth, daughter of Gislebert Taye from Elewijt.

Lonys komt op 9 oktober 1405 voor in een akte van verdeling voor de schepenen van Leuven, als erfgenaam van Amaury, en Relegem ging over aan de afstammelingen van haar oom, ook Jan Van Bouchout, Heer van Humbeek en gehuwd met Elisabeth, dochter van Gislebert Taye from Elewijt.

According to Gelre Lonys carried as scutcheon: Silver with a gules cross, vert barensteel, with above a golden rhomb.

Lonys died without offspring and his fortune returned to the Lords of Bouchout.

Daniel Van Bouchout was married with Elisabeth, daughter of Walter Eggloy, a patrician from Brussels.

Daniel V was Lord of Humbeek, Loenhout, Bouchout, Diepensteyn, Steenhuffel and Relegem. He was Viscount of Brussels from 1415 to 1425.

Daniel V's daughter, Joanna, married with Jan, Lord of Wezemaal and Falleys.

Their seven children died early and in 1447, for lack of offspring, Relegem transferred to a cousin, Daniel VI, brother of Daniel V, Lord of Diepensteyn and Cutsegem in Berg.

The new lord Daniel VI was married with Margaretha Van Poucke. He fell in battle in January 1456 in Montlery near Paris during the war of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.

Already before that he transferred Relegem to his brother Jan Van Bouchout, husband of Joanna Van Vianen.

Also Margaretha, Jan Van Bouchout's sister, married with Knight Willem Van Duvervoorde, Lord of Drongen, died childless.

Edification from 07/09/1466

Jan Van Bouchout, who received the Manor from his brother, sold Relegem to Robert Cottereau.

Edification from 09/22/1500

Edification from 09/20/1529

After Jan Cottereau the Manor got into the hands of his oldest son Michael Cottereau, and as this last person didn't have any offspring, his brother Jan, Lord of Wydoe, and Willem, shared and shared alike.

Edification from 05/03/1522

Edification from 06/20/1506

Willem Van Cottereau also died without children and Relegem became again a fief under Jan Van Cottereau, this by virtue of Charles V's patented letters, given on 04/10/1529. Since then Relegem remained attached to the barony of Assche.

In 1456, during the battle of Montlery, seeing Charles the Bold was in big danger, Robert Cottereau comes rescueing him, saving his life that way, or at least saving him from captivity.

Jan van Cottereau was physician of Philip the Right, married with Joanna Bayart.

By the sovereign he was admitted into nobility as Lord of Puissieux and Tournelles (near Arras, France).

The family was not high nobility, be by Robert's feat the family achieved a lot of fame, and allowed to become related to the most important families from the country.

Robert Cottereau ordered tapestries on which his feat was represented, with in the four corners the scutcheons of Cottereau, Damartin, Bayart and Besançon.

As scutcheon the family carried: in lapis blue field, a silver chrevron accompanied by three cocks, with gules bill and comb, 2 in the head and 1 in the point.

Robert married with Margaretha Hendrix, sister of Gossuin, abbot of Afflighem from 01/10/1457 until 04/25/1494.

Their marriage was blessed with 6 children:

Adolf, religious in Scheut.

Jan, born in 1460 in Puissieux (France).

Philips, registrar of Statutes in Brabant.

Leendert, Councillor of Brabant.

Karel, Treasurer BVM chapter in Antwerp.

And a daughter who was married with Hendrik Van Schoonhoven.

After Margaretha's death in 1494 in Relegem, Robert Cottereau married with Margaritha Licques.

Edification from 07/09/1466

In 1466 Robert De Cottereau sold the Manor Relegem to Jan van Bouchout. He died in 1500 and was buried in the Carthusian church in Scheut.

The house Relegem, in the parish of Wemmel, with 39 hectares terrains, 9 to 10 hectares pasture lands, 2 hectares meres, with levies to the value of 15 florins, with feudal rights in Zellik and Ganshoren, etc., was a very important fief in the Duchy of Brabant, that had to grant vassalage with two fighters on horse and one by foot.

The castle from Relegem doesn't exist anymore, and the farm that belonged to it is sold with 59 hectares terrains in 1826. The property belonged to the inheritors of Doctor Caroly.

The sworn vassals from Relegem availed themselves of the seal of Jette until 1439. This seal showed BVM with the divine child, standing under a sky with on the left side a helmet and on the right side the scutcheon of Burgundy, and as circumscription "sigillum scabinorum ville Jette".

Later on they received an personal seal, representing the Saint John with a lamb under his right arm and in his left hand a scutcheon with the weapons of Cottereau.

On the left you see the seal that was used in the years 1478, 1487 and 1490.

The habits of Ukkel were followed a little bit. In Relegem, there was still a second court of justice appealing to the one from Ukkel. In fact it owes its origin to an old distribution of the Manor.

Margaretha and her husband Philips Van Waveren sold in free trade to Rasse van Herzele: 26 hectares terrains and with that the right of 4/10 on 32 other hectares.

The farm that was on this estate, got the name "rasselhof", to the first name of the first owners, because "Rasse" or "Rasso" was the name that descended from father to first-born with the Van Herzele family.

Renaat Van Herzele inherits Relegem from a grandparent, and attaches it again to the Duchy. (1403-1404)

Edification from 06/04/1442

Willem Van Bakeren (named "Couke") bought Relegem from Jan Gruwels.

Edification from 11/22/1442

He gave it to Victor Van Bakeren. It was confiscated by king Maximilian who gave it to Hendrik Vandennieuwehove on 08/24/1488.

Edification from 10/20/1509

Jan, son of Victor Van Bakeren, canon of Anderlecht, renounced in favour of master Crickengys.

Edification from 03/28/1531-32

Whose daughter Catharina, wife of Jacobus Taye, and Barbara, wife of Petrus Boisot, acquired it on their turn.

Edification from 01/13/1552-53

After that Robert, son of Jacobus Taye, became owner and left Relegem to his brothers and sisters: Jacobus Lord of Coyck, Adrianus Lord of Wemmel, Anna and Catharaina.

Edification from 08/07/1561

Lord Jan Cottereau added 142 pounds by decree from 10/31/1559, with supreme justice, dominal levies, etc.

Everything would remain to his children until 1609.

Edification from 03/07/1608

This last person married with Marc De Grijse, and their grandchildren, the Lords Antonis and Englebert, revalued this fief.

Edification from 09/14/1557

The Auditor's Office granted miller Jan Segers and his wife Catharina Vuyterlicht to build the mill from Relegem.

The mill came close to the road from Dillighem to Brussels. The place was called "den Bossempt ter windmolenstad, boven 't valveken".

Edification from 01/12/1635

In the meanwhile Antonius is knighted by decree from 07/31/1626. He became councillor of Brabant, and he took contractually the Supreme Court from Relegem to the sum of 2000 florins.

Edification from 01/29/1639

His brother Engelbert succeeded him, he had as inheritor his cousin Petrus van Geysel, son of Joannes Jacobus de Vocht, Lord of Zonnebeke, and Anna de Grijse.

Edification from 10/30/1651

Later on, on 03/18/1644, the Supreme Court had Relegem sold to Baron Van Bouchout, who added the sum of 3000 florins, and sold it to Kinschot de Jette.

On 11/06/1690 Engelbert De Grijse mortgaged all goods in Relegem, on his and his father's behalf. It consisted of a mansion built in bricks, barns and buildings, 63 hectares terrains, and he declared to add the new buildings of the castle in Marche as a guarantee.

Edification from 03/24/1722

Engelbert De Grijse succeeded his father much later.

Edification from 01/25/1723

As successor he had his brother Joannes Baptiste, Lord of Fontanelle.

Edification from 09/15/1745

After that his cousin Marie Josephine Van Riffart follows.

Apparently the estate became also the property of Baroness d'Ittre, of Baron Van Attenrode, and Van Doorslaar.

Gérard van Doorslaar, mayor and master of the poors from Relegem, married with Marie Louwens. He died on 01/29/1727 and Guillielmus Van Doorslaar, also mayor and married with Joanna Virginie De Cock, died on 03/15/1899.

They are both buried in the church of Relegem.

In 1721 Balthazar De Villegas inherited from his mother, countess Anna Françoise Kinschot, the Manors of Ganshoren, Hamme, Relegem, Bever, etc.

That way the titles of count from St Pieter Jette and baron Van Rivieren were revalued.

And thus the Manor Relegem remained attached to the house of Villegas until the French Revolution.

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