Slot ter Hooghe

Slot Ter Hooghe

In 1764 Cornelis Kien van Citters (1732-1805) acquired Ter Hooghe from Elisabeth Koninck (1733-179?). Cornelis and Elisabeth had grown up together, as she was an orphan, which was adopted by Wilhem I van Citters, father of Cornelis.

Ter Hooghe is one of the few noble estates in Zeeland, which dates back to the end of the thirteenth century. The estate holds the privelege of brewing beer without paying duties and the right to freely house criminals. In 1754 the old castle was torn down and a new casle was built.

Wilhem I was an intermediary between Jan van Borssele (1707-1764), aged 43, and Elisabeth, aged 17, and in 1750 Jan was able to marry her. There is an extensive correspondence on the subject of his love for her, between Jan and prince Willem IV on one side and Jan and Wilhem I on the other side.

Cornelis Kien married Magdalena Steengracht (1732-1799) in 1755 and they got two children. After his oldest son had died in 1794 he raised his granddaughter Magdalena Cornelia. She was abducted to France in 1802 by Jean-Baptiste Agricole Auguier. What happened exactly is not known.

Cornelis Kien died in 1805. After his death Ter Hooghe was sold.

His other son Johan lived in the family house in London until his death in 1826. This house was purchased by his great grand father, the ambassador Aernout in 16??, and had been kept in the family for almost one and a half century until after the death of Johan in 1826.

Possibly the family relations are further linked with Ter Hooghe. Aernout van Citters, father of the ambassador, married in his this marriage with Anna (van Borssele) van der Hooge (1581-1627), daughter of Johan (van Borssele) van der Hooge en Anna van Borssele. It is likely that she was raised at Ter Hooghe as well. The younger branch of the Van Borssele’s called themselves van der  Hooge to differentiate them from the older branch.