Mattheus Smallegange

Mattheus Smallegange (Goes, baptized December 29, 1624 - Goes, January 5, 1710) was a Dutch historian, lawyer, genealogist and translator. Whenever he could, Smallegange copied parts of the old chronicles.

Smallegange's Cronyk was published when the publishing profession in Middelburg, which had been flourishing in the early 17th-century, was already on in decline. Nevertheless, his book is still an interesting work for the province. A second part was foreseen, but never materialized. Smallegange summarized this in a short Besluyt, which appeared in 1704. He did write other works, including a number of genealogies and translations.

Smallegange was a passionate researcher and collector of historical details, which cost him a lot of time, effort and money. The collection of material for his masterpiece, the Cronyk, was financed by the State. He died, unmarried, in a rented room in Goes.

Literature

PJ Verkruijsse; Mattheus Smallegange (1624-1710) and his cronyk van Zeeland; Interbook International (Schiedam) (1977) PJ Verkruijsse; Mattheus Smallegange (1624-1710): Zeeland historian, genealogist and translator. Descriptive personal bibliography (1983)