Bakker Geert small

Geert Bakker was born in Wildervank  on 4 September  1846. This is a town in the North East of the Netherlands in the province of Groningen. In the sailing days many sailors came from here. The farmers in that area had large families and as only one son could inherit the farm, the others if there were more, often went to sea.

 

IF THERE IS ANY FAMILY MEMBER OR OTHER WHO KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT THE CAPTAINS ERLY YEARS PELSE CONTACT ME ON Captalbert1@aol.com so I can complete his biography.

Joined Holland America Line in Febr. 1880 in the rank of Chief Officer at the age of 34. So he must have had some experience at sea. most likley some in steam as well, as it is doubtful if the company would have slotted him in as 2nd in command wiihout it. His first ship was the ss W.A Scholten the 3rd ship of the company.

The ss W.A Scholten. Named as a major investor in the company, was the first ship that was built after Holland America was founded as the NASM, a public company in 1873.

Two years later in 1882 he was promoted as captain to the ss Maas. (later ss Maasdam I)

In June 1882 he was awarded the “Robin Price” issued by the South Holland lifesaving company (ZHRM) together with the Captain.. This for when he was Chief Officer on the ss W.A Scholten (Captain G.J Vis) for saving the crew of the english barque “Frederick (Captain Hunter) in heavy seas and storm winds on the north Atlantic on 10 December 1881. The crew consisted out fo the captain and his wife and 13 others.  Chief Officer Geert Bakker commanded the lifeboat and of one of the volunteer crewmembers the name is known, F van Harten. He received a silver medal from the Dutch lifesaving association (ZHRM) and 10 guilders.

As he was sailing at the same time as another Bakker, first name Willem, he was known as the “Black” Bakker. (“Zwarte Bakker” in Dutch). His name sake was known as “Red Bakker” (“Roode Bakker” in Dutch). I assume the colors referred to their hair.

By 1888 he is captain of the ss Rottedam (II) and the newspaper published this drawing of him.

Captain Willem Bakker in 1888

For anecdotes and history he is remembered for in the company’s history, the mutiny on the Obdam,. Please look at the history of this ship  under Holland America Fleet.

In 1892 he disappears from the company records and according to some sources passed away in 1893. Did he retire because of illness ?

Sailing dates:

Date:                    Function:                            Ship:                                    Wages and/or remarks.

Feb.       1880      Chief Officer                      W.A. Scholten                   fl 100,–

17 may 1882      Captain                               Maas                                   150,– +2%  later fl 200,–

1 sept. 1884        Captain                               W.A. Scholten                   200,–

15 apr. 1885      Temporary  ashore.

9 Jun.     1885      Captain                               Schiedam                            250,–

8 Sep.    1886     Temporary  ashore assigned to the ss Scholten

24 Sep.  1886      Captain                               W.A.Scholten                    250,–   eendrachtsstraat Rotterdam

16 Nov. 1887      Temporary ashore

01 Dec. 1887      Captain                               Amsterdam                        250,— (exBritish Crown)(temp)

13 Apr. 1888      Captain                               Rotterdam

24 Aug. 1888      Honorary discharged from the ss Rotterdam

16 Mar. 1889      Captain                               Obdam

01 Jan.  1891     Temporary relieved from command

01 Jan. 1891        Captain                               Veendam                            250,–    temp in command.

06 Feb. 1891       Captain                               Obdam                                250,–

17 Apr. 1892       Send ashore on inactivity and later dismissed.

Died 19 June 1893 ???

Sources:

(a) contemprorary newspapers

(b) Authors archcie and photo collection.

Last updated: 22 January 2025.