View source for Laakeman, Melis Pietersz (ca. 1670-1699)

Melis Pietersz Laakeman (Laekeman, Lakeman) was born about 1670 and died 9 January 1699 at Zaandijk, where he was a blacksmith. He was preacher of the Mennonite congregation ([[Frisian Mennonites|Frisians]]) at [[Oosthuizen (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Oosthuizen]] about 1691-1693 and of Wormerveer (Frisians) 1693 until his death. Laakeman, a blacksmith's servant at Purmerend, was baptized in 1691 in the Frisian congregation of Oosthuizen. Later he worked in Hoorn. He was married twice; both times his wife died only one year after marriage. Laakeman was a pious man, who had to struggle with poverty.

After his death a volume of his sermons was published: <em>XXXVI Predicatiën</em> (Amsterdam, 1700). These sermons were very popular; the book was used in the congregation of [[Balk (Friesland, Netherlands)|Balk]], [[Friesland (Netherlands)|Friesland]], until the middle of the 19th century. Other members of the Lakeman family also served as preachers at Wormerveer. Some members of this family were found at neighboring [[Krommenie (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Krommenie]], and later also at [[Amsterdam (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Amsterdam]].
= Bibliography =
<em>Doopsgezinde Bijdragen</em> (1892): 76.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. <em>Mennonitisches Lexikon</em>. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. II, 604.

<em>Het Leven en sterven van M. P. Laakeman</em>. Amsterdam, n.d. ca. 1700.

Visscher, H. and L. A. van Langeraad. <em>Biographisch Woordenboek von Protestantsche Godgeleerden in Nederland</em>. Utrecht, 1903-: V, 434 f.
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