B. about 1616 in Hengelo, Netherlands
M. before 1640 in (probably) Hengelo, Netherlands
Wife: Tryntie Reynders
D. 15 Sep 1655 in Staten Island, New York
During the 17th century, colonies in America often had a tenuous relationship with the Indians around them, and this sometimes produced attacks on frontier settlements. In one such incident, Arent Theunissen Van Henglen became a victim in an obscure conflict that is known as the Peach Tree War.
Arent was born in about 1616 in Hengelo, Netherlands, a small agricultural village not far from the present-day German border. His parents were were said to be Theunis Jansz Van Hengel and Jannettie Arentsdr. When Arent came of age, he married Tryntie Reynders, and they had at least three children. In about 1654, Arent decided to migrate with his family to New Netherland, joining a new settlement on Staten Island. This move would prove fateful.
All around the area where Arent settled, a battle was being fought for control of the territory. The colony of New Sweden had been established along the Delaware River in 1638, and 17 years later, Dutch forces encroached on it, trying to kick them out. The Swedish allied with the Susquehannock tribe, and their fight with the Dutch went back and forth. After the Dutch overpowered the Swedish, taking their forts in 1655, the Susquehannock retaliated in a series of attacks on September 15th that swept through the New Netherland colony.
There was another incident which was also said to have sparked the raids. It involved an Indian woman stealing peaches from a New Netherland settler’s tree; the settler shot her on the spot and she was killed. This story was why the attacks by the Susquehannock were called the Peach Tree War, although it isn’t clear if there was any real connection to it. Whatever the case, the Dutch settlement on Staten Island was one of the hardest hit in the September 15th attack, and 23 people lost their lives, apparently including Arent.
After the raid, the rest of Arent’s family were taken prisoner, and their release was negotiated a month later. Arent’s widow Tryntje moved to New Amsterdam where she remarried in 1656.
Children:
1. Reynier Arentsen Van Henglen — B. about 1641, Hengelo, Netherlands; D. after 17 Sep 1721; M. (1) Annetje Hermans, New Netherland; (2) Jannetije Aukes Van Nuys, 1666
2. Maritje Arents Van Henglen — B. (probably) Hengelo, Netherlands; M. Jan Jansen Langestraat, 2 Nov 1659, New Nethrland
3. Hendrick Arentsen Van Henglen — B. about 1652, Hengelo, Netherlands; D. about 16 Jun 1689, New York; M. Catherine Hardenbroeck, 25 Oct 1684, New York
Sources:
“Notes on the Rynearson (Van Hengel) Family,” Somerset County Quarterly, Vol. 5., Edward Kinsey Voorhees, 1916
Dutch Colonial Manuscripts, Volume 12 & 13, 2003
America’s Best History (website)
WikiTree
