Balthasar Kirchhoffs

Balthasar Kirchhoffs (also known as Balt(h)us Kerckhoff(s)) (Afden, September 27th, 1707 - Herzogenrath, March 7th, 1771) was a shoemaker in Merkstein ('s-Hertogenraede) and presumed leader of the Bokkenrijders. He died after torture during the night of March 6 to 7.

He was the son of Nicolaar Kirchhoffs and Catharina Doveren and had one sister and four brothers: Johanna (1705 - 30-10-1785), Joannes (13-02-1706), Dionijs (22-11-1708), Peter (1720 - 1771) en Joseph ( ~1724 - 11-05-1772).

On September 7th, 1732, when he was 24 years old, he married Maria Agnes Dreschers, but she died on January 7th, 1752. Eleven years later, on February 8th, 1763, he married Maria Notermans, who was 17 years younger than himself. He never had any children.