Hendrika was born in Zutphen, Gelderland, Netherlands on September 2, 1815. She was the daughter of Martinus Willemsen and Adriana Roelofsen. Hendrika married Johannes Pieter Danner on November 7, 1842. She is the mother of four daughters: Adriana (she died young at age 5), Antonetta (Nettie), Adriana (Jane), and Hendrika (Hattie). The family immigrated to the USA on May 25, 1855. She arrived in the Port of New York, as a passenger on the Bark Carolina with her husband and their three daughters. Religion is noted as Protestant-Dutch Reformed. The family first settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Traveling to Milwaukee from Buffalo, New York by way of the Great Lakes. Her brother, Evert Willemsen was living in Milwaukee at the time, having immigrated in 1848. Certainly letters from him encouraged the family to immigrate and settle in Milwaukee.

Hendrika along with her family later moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in about 1868. That is except for one daughter who had married and had made her home in Milwaukee. Hendrika died on May 27, 1873, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (This date was recorded in a now missing Family Bible). It is believed that she is buried in Valley City Cemetery, now known as Oak Hill Cemetery. However, this information is based on family lore and cannot be verified as the cemetery records for this time period were lost in a fire. Also, it would appear that no death certificate information was recorded at the county office.

The following is a list of the siblings:
--Jan Willem Willemsen (1814- )
--Hendrika J. Willemsen (1815-1873) this memorial
--Gerret Willem Willemsen (1817-1887)
--Evert Jan Willemsen (1818-1895) also immigrated to USA
--Willemina M. Willemsen (1821- )
--Rudolph Willemsen (1823-1918)
--Johannes E. Willemsen (1826-1905)
--Emelia G. Willemsen (1828-1900)

[by contributor H.J.Worst]
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