Goethals 880-1900. the Story of the Goethals Story

by Jozef Goethas

"This review of a millennium filled with Goethals stories brings us in touch with the evolution of medieval Western Europe into the world of the twentieth century. It brings to life the individual family members and communities. It is a grand procession of scholars of everlasting reputation, grandees who served their masters and their country, traders and craftsmen, entrepreneurs and adventurers, persecutors and persecuted,fervent religious men and women, and opportunists. The proud and the humble, the successful and the not so fortunate all bound by their common ancestry, by a common simultaneous presence of ambition and sense of service." (Foreword by Dr. Mark Vanderheyden) This is a first comprehensive study of the Goethals family in the English language, originating in the city of Ghent, but reportedly originating in Italy in 880 A.D. -- a tale of fact and legend consistently retold throughout the centuries.The work traces the three classical branches of the Goethals family in Ghent, the family of General George Washington Goethals, "Builder of the Panama Canal," the family of Geeraert Goethals accepted in the the nobility in 1652 and the branch of the Goethals of Kortrijk in Belgium.The work is based on parish and civil records, notarial and guardianship documents and genealogical publications in French, Dutch and Latin from the last 200 years. An extensive bibliography and all published archival pieces are part of the book.

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2008