Hi:

For over 30 years, I have struggled to locate and/or learn of the parentage of Jan Bra who marred (1) Grietje van Haage in 1780 and (2) Margaretha Slommer in 1790.  According to his first marriage record, Jan gave his age in 1780 as 26 (which means he was possibly born about 1754). It also said Jan was from Velsen. Jan was later buried on 18 May 1788. By wife Grietje van Haage (whose family has already has been covered under another thread), they had the following children: Jan, Wilhelmus, Anna (my ancestor), and Apollonia.

In terms of family connections, according to Jan's 1780 marriage record, Pieter Braa was termed "neef" of Jan Braa. See here: https://archief.amsterdam/indexen/deeds/44f74f86-e7f1-44bd-8196-b523462835de

For his part, Pieter Braa, age 23, of Velsen, married Elisabeth Hornog, recorded 6 April 1781 in Amsterdam. Hence, Pieter's estimated birth was roughly 1757/1758. See here: https://archief.amsterdam/indexen/deeds/50dd7ecf-7f33-44e4-9b79-ad0533c766bd

An additional family member was found: Willem Braa, age 26, of Velsen, married Johanna van Keulhorst, age 30, of Amstelveen, recorded 21 January 1791 in Amsterdam. Hence, Willem's birth date was possibly about 1764/1765. See here: https://archief.amsterdam/indexen/deeds/c9508361-b6d2-482f-b0d7-1aaea0cec212

In the best effort possible, I would like to post the following to see if anyone can pick up any naming patterns (witnesses bearing the Bra/Braa name will be bolded and italicized for emphasis):

DTB Dopen - Amsterdam (Jan Braa family):

Doop Datum: 10-05-1781:
Kind: Jan
Vader: Jan Bra
Moeder: Grietje van Haagen
Getuige: Pieter Bra
Getuige: Elisabeth Hornog
Kerk: Kerk 't Boompje
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek

Doop Datum: 22-09-1782
Kind: Wilhelmus
Vader: Joannes Bra
Moeder: Grietje van Hagen
Getuige: Wilhelmus Bra
Getuige: Anna Wergers
Kerk: Kerk 't Boompje
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek

Doop Datum: 20-11-1783:
Kind: Anna
Vader: Jan Bra
Moeder: Grietje van Hagen
Getuige: Willem Bra
Getuige: Helena van Leeuwen
Kerk: Kerk 't Boompje
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek

Doop Datum: 27-03-1785
Kind: Apollonia
Vader: Jan Bra
Moeder: Grietje van Hagen
Getuige: Jan Wergers
Getuige: Catharina Swart
Kerk: Kerk 't Boompje
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek

DTB Begraven met Grietje van Hagen:
Geregistreerde: Grietje van Hagen
Geboorteplaats: Soesdijk
diversen Overlijdensdatum: 04-04-1786
Gebeurtenis Overlijden Datum: 04-04-1786
Akteplaats: Amsterdam
Boek: Overledenen Gast-, Pest-, Werk- en Spinhuis
Opmerking Afdeling: Vrouwen(Pesthuis)
AkteSoort: Overlijden

DTB Begraven met Jan Bra:
Geregistreerde: Jan Bra
Begraven Datum: 18-05-1788
Akteplaats: Amsterdam
Begraafplaats: Heiligewegs- en Leidsche Kerkhof

As a witness:

Kind: Joannes
Vader: Pieter Braa
Moeder: Elizabeth Hornog
Getuige: Joannes Braa
Getuige: Catharina Swart
Doop Datum: 27-12-1787
Kerk: Mozes- en Aäronkerk
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek

Pieter Braa family:

Kind: Joanna
Vader: Pieter Braa
Moeder: Elizabeth Hornog
Doop Datum: 01-06-1783
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek
Getuige: Willem Braa
Getuige: Joanna van Balderen
Kerk: Mozes- en Aäronkerk
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek

Kind: Dirk
Vader: Pieter Braa
Moeder: Elizabeth Hornog
Doop Datum: 21-03-1785
Getuige: Joseph Soeter
Getuige: Maria Hornog
Kerk: Kerk De Duif
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek

Kind: Catharina
Vader: Pieter Braa
Moeder: Elisabeth Hornog
Doop Datum: 24-03-1790
Getuige: Willem Braa
Getuige: Catharina Zwart
Kerk: Kerk De Duif
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek

Wilhelmus Braa family:

Kind: Theodorus
Vader: Wilhelmus Braa
Moeder: Joanna van Keulhorst
Getuige: Pieter Braa
Getuige: Elizabeth Hornoch
Doop Datum: 19-10-1793
Kerk: Kerk De Duif
Religie: Rooms-Katholiek

Origin hint: Jan, Pieter and Willem either indicated in their marriage documents that they were either born or lived in Velsen. All were Rooms-Katholiek.  Unfortunately, Roman Catholic baptisms in Velsen do not begin until 1772.  

Given the information compiled, I hope to find a concrete answer ascertaining the parentage of Jan, Pieter, and Willem Bra/Braa.

Regards,

Steve  

at least you have the marriages:

Pieter calls his 1st son Dirk, that helps

Pieter and Elizabeth had two more children: Joannes, baptized 27-9-1786 [here] and Joannes, baptized 27-12-1787 [here], witnesses: Jan Braa and Catharina Swart.

As Peter B already mentioned: Pieter calls his first son Dirk. Also Wilhelmus called his son Dirk (Theodorus). Pieter called his first daughter Joanna and Jan Anna. A possibility is that the parents of Jan, Pieter and Wilhelmus are the ones already mentioned in Peter B's message: Dirk Jansz Bra and Antje Pieters Zwart

Thank you for your very helpful reply on the marriage and overlooked baptisms (I had a feeling I might have).  In the meantime, I found their marriage record quite informative:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9QK-MVKR?cat=44478&i=424

Dirk Jansz Bra gave his birthplace as Assendelft and Antje Pieters Zwart said she was born in Velsen. Marriage record of 31 January 1752.

@Peter B: what website contains the spreadsheet which contains the Velsen data?  Impressed with how quickly you located it.

Thanks.

Here's one possibility:

Scan 117 - right side:

Dirck, son of Jan Pietersz and Trijnjte Dircks, dated 20 June 1729 (RK Assendelft):

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9QK-D3YN?cat=268850&i=117
 

what website contains the spreadsheet which contains the Velsen data?  

https://www.ooijevaar.info/indexbestanden.htm

it has an index for Assendelft as well

Thanks. On the surface, Pieter and Willem appear to be good candidates as sons of Dirk Jansz Bra and Antje Pieters Zwart. In turn, Pieter appears to be a good candidate as the son of Jan Pietersz Braa, wed. married Meijnsje Jans.

One point I need to emphasize. While Jan, Pieter, and Willem Bra appeared to have a close family relationship while in Amsterdam, in looking over Jan Bra's marriage record from 1780 in Amsterdam, Pieter Braa was termed "neef" of Jan Braa. See here: https://archief.amsterdam/indexen/deeds/44f74f86-e7f1-44bd-8196-b523462835de

In short, we need to know Jan's father who would have been a brother of Dirk Jansz Bra, and by extension, a grandson of Jan Pietersz Braa. 

Looking at the children of Jan Bra and Grietje van Haage, Jan's father could have been Jan or Willem.  Bear in mind that Grietje van Haage's father was named Jan.

Thoughts and insights are welcomed.