B. about 1600 in Hees, Ruinen, Netherlands1
M. (1) about 1630 in Netherlands1
Wife: Aaltjen Wessels
M. (2) about 1649 in Netherlands2
Wife: Willempie Roelofse Suebring
D. 16 Feb 1684 in Flatlands, New York2
The populating of 17th-century America was largely done by young, energetic people coming over from Europe. But Steven Coerts van Voorhess was an exception — he left his motherland at the age of about 60.
Steven spent most of his life in the village of Hees, located in the province of Ruinen, Netherlands, and he was born there in about 1600 to Coerte Albertse van Voorhees, the oldest of 11 children.1 Hees was a “hamlet” of three farms: Voorhees, Middlehees and Achterhees, with a history that traces back for centuries.3 We have no surviving records of vital events in Hees, but using information on his children it’s believed Steven married a woman named Aaltien Wessels in about 1632.1 They had three children, then she died, and in by 1650, Steven remarried to Willempie Roelofse Suebring.2 They had six children together, with the last one born in about 1660.2
New Netherland was well-established by the time Steven decided to relocate there. He likely moved for economic reasons, as the region around Hees was said to be depressed. On April 15, 1660, Steven, his wife, and most of his children boarded the ship de Bonte Koe (the spotted cow).2 Four other families traveled on the voyage, along with eighteen soldiers and nine single men.
Later that year on November 29th, Steven purchased land in the community of Niew Amersfoort, which became Flatlands (part of present-day Brooklyn).1 He paid Cornelius Deriksen Hoogland 3,000 guilders for “nine morgen of corn land, seven morgen of salt meadow, seven morgen of woodland, and ten morgen of plain land.”1 The property had a house and a fully-operational brewery, so Steven was set up to make his own beer. As an elder member of the community, others must have looked to Steven for leadership, and he served as a magistrate in 1664.1
Steven wrote a will dated August 25, 1677,1 and he passed away in Flatlands on February 16, 1684.2 His wife survived him and died in 1690. Steven’s legacy is in the name Voorhees which became prolific in the United States. His descendants reportedly were the largest Dutch family in America. Besides people named Voorhees or Voorhies, all of whom traced back to Steven, there is a Voorhies Street in Brooklyn, and the killer in the Friday the 13th movies was named Jason Voorhees. Besides his descendants with the Voorhees name, Steven is the 8G grandfather of Howard Dean and the 9G grandfather of Paul Giamatti.4
Children by Aaltjen Wessels:
1. Hendrickjen Stevense Van Voorhees — B. about 1634, Ruinen, Netherlands;2 D. before 4 Aug 1705, (probably) Flatlands, New York;2 M. Jan Kiersen (?-1705), Flatlands, New York2
2. Merghen Stevense Van Voorhees — B. about 1636, Ruinen, Netherlands;2 M. (1) Roelef Oostinge, 14 Dec 1664;2 (2) Remmelt Willemse2
3. Coert Stevense Van Voorhees — B. about 1638, Drenthe, Netherlands;2 D. after 1702;2 M. Marretje Gerretse Van Couwenhoven (1644-?), before 16642
4. Wessell Stevense Van Voorhees — B. before 25 Sep 1640, Oosteboer, Drenthe, Netherlands;2 D. before 14 Jan 1641, Netherlands2
Children by Willempie Roelofse Suebring:
1. Lucas Stevense Van Voorhees — B. about 1650, Hees, Ruinen, Netherlands;2 D. after 28 Sep 1724, (probably) Flatlands, New York;2 M. (1) Catalyntje Van Noorstrant (1653-1688);2 (2) Jannetje Minnes (~1660-?), 23 Jan 1689, Flatlands, New York2
2. Jan Stevense Van Voorhees — B. about 1652, Hees, Drenthe, Netherlands;2 D. before 3 Jan 1735, (probably) Flatbush, New York;2 M. (1) Cornelia Reiniers Wizzelpenning (1652-1680), 17 Mar 1678, Flatbush, New York;2 (2) Femmetje Aucke Van Nuys (1662-1735), 8 Oct 1680, Flatbush, New York2
3. Albert Stevense Van Voorhees — B. about 1654, Drenthe, Netherlands;2 D. after 14 May 1727, Hackensack, New Jersey;5 M. (1) Helletje Reiniers Wizzelpenning (1655-1691), 24 Apr 1681, Flatbush, New York;5 (2) Helena van der Shuere (1667-1727)5
4. Aeltje Stevense Van Voorhees — B. about 1656, Drenthe, Netherlands;2 D. 12 Nov 1746, Gravesend, New York;6 M. Barent Jurjansen Ryder (~1640-1707), about 1673, Gravesend, New York6
5. Jannetje Stevense Van Voorhees — B. about 1658, Drenthe, Netherlands;2 D. before 10 Sep 1709, Hackensack, New Jersey;5 (1) Jan Martense Schenk (~1631-1687), before 1677, (probably) Flatbush, New York;5 (2) Alexander Simpson (1655-1721), after 27 Feb 1690, Flatlands, New York5
6. Hendrickje Stevense Van Voorhees — B. about 1660, (probably) New Netherland;2 D. about 1693, Hackensack, New Jersey;7 M. Albert Albertse Terhune (1651-1709), 1674, Flatbush, New York7
Sources:
1 Steven van Voorhees (Wikipedia article)
2 The Van Voorhees Family in America, Florence A. Christoph, 2000
3 Find-a-Grave listing of Steven Coerte Van Voorhees
4 FamousKin.com listing of Steven Coerte Van Voorhees
5 The Brouwer Genealogy Database (website)
6 Find-a-Grave listing of Aeltje Stevense (Van Voorhees) Ryder
7 Find-a-Grave listing of Henrickje Stevens (Van Voorhees) Terhune
Friday, October 30, 2026
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Hidden in East Hampton, New York — Samuel Hand
B. about 1672, East Hampton, New York1
M. before about 1692 in (probably) East Hampton, New York1
Wife: Elizabeth _______
D. about 1735, East Hampton, New York2
For someone who had Cornelius Vanderbilt for a great-great grandson, there is scant information on the life of Samuel Hand. When it came to records, he was one of those people who slipped under the radar, and sadly, there is little to say about him.
Samuel was of the third generation of settlers named Hand in East Hampton, Long Island, born to Stephen Hand and Sarah Stratton as one of their eight children.1 His birth year was thought to have been about 1672, although others say it was about 1665.3 The family was raised at a place known today as Wainscott,4 and Samuel’s father was part of the East Hampton community, serving as constable.4
While we don’t have specifics about the life of Samuel, we can apply some likely attributes to him based on East Hampton history. One is that he was probably Presbyterian rather than Puritan because East Hampton was “founded in 1648 by Puritan farmers who worshipped as Presbyterians.”5 (There’s also the fact that Samuel’s son Nehemiah was buried in a New Jersey Presbyterian cemetery.6) Another part of the historical context was that 17th-century East Hampton was engaged in the whaling business, and perhaps Samuel made some income there; some Hand family lore points to that in a general way.1
Little is known about Samuel’s wife and children. It’s believed that he had three sons, with the oldest born about 1693, so his marriage to a woman named Elizabeth happened roughly before that date.1 Samuel was mentioned on a deed dated October 16, 1693 selling some land and a house left to him by his father.7 His brother Stephen Jr. was administrator of the document. Another document in the East Hampton town records dated April 23, 1705 contains his signature.8 This was regarding some land perhaps commonly owned by Samuel and his brothers Joseph and Stephen. Joseph sold the land to someone else, and Stephen handled the money.
After 1705, the records go silent on Samuel Hand. One source says he died in about 1735,2 but there isn’t really any hard evidence to back this up. Samuel was the ancestor of Cornelius Vanderbilt and all of his illustrious descendants.7
Children:
1. Stephen Hand — B. about 1693, (probably) East Hampton, New York;7 D. 10 May 17432
2. Jonathan Hand — B. about 1695, (probably) East Hampton, New York7
3. Nehemiah Hand — B. about 1700, (probably) East Hampton, New York;6 D. 27 Dec 1776, Rahway, New Jersey;6 M. Lydia _____, about 17257
Sources:
1 Hand, Sisson and Scott – More Yeoman Ancestors, Carol Clark Johnson, 1981, pp. 15-16
2 Find-a-Grave listing of Samuel Hand
3 Genealogy of the Hand Family and Related Families, Dorothy Hand Dymond,1982
4 Records of the town of East-Hampton, Long Island, Suffolk Co., N.Y., Vol. 2, 1887
5 East Hampton (village), New York (Wikipedia article)
6 Find-a-Grave listing of Nehemiah Hand
7 Hand Family Scrapbook, compiled by Margaret Smith Isaac, 1986, p. 26
8 Records of the Town of East-Hampton, Long Island, Suffolk Co., N.Y., Vol. III, 1889, pp. 129-131
M. before about 1692 in (probably) East Hampton, New York1
Wife: Elizabeth _______
D. about 1735, East Hampton, New York2
For someone who had Cornelius Vanderbilt for a great-great grandson, there is scant information on the life of Samuel Hand. When it came to records, he was one of those people who slipped under the radar, and sadly, there is little to say about him.
Samuel was of the third generation of settlers named Hand in East Hampton, Long Island, born to Stephen Hand and Sarah Stratton as one of their eight children.1 His birth year was thought to have been about 1672, although others say it was about 1665.3 The family was raised at a place known today as Wainscott,4 and Samuel’s father was part of the East Hampton community, serving as constable.4
While we don’t have specifics about the life of Samuel, we can apply some likely attributes to him based on East Hampton history. One is that he was probably Presbyterian rather than Puritan because East Hampton was “founded in 1648 by Puritan farmers who worshipped as Presbyterians.”5 (There’s also the fact that Samuel’s son Nehemiah was buried in a New Jersey Presbyterian cemetery.6) Another part of the historical context was that 17th-century East Hampton was engaged in the whaling business, and perhaps Samuel made some income there; some Hand family lore points to that in a general way.1
Samuel spent his entire life in East Hampton.
Little is known about Samuel’s wife and children. It’s believed that he had three sons, with the oldest born about 1693, so his marriage to a woman named Elizabeth happened roughly before that date.1 Samuel was mentioned on a deed dated October 16, 1693 selling some land and a house left to him by his father.7 His brother Stephen Jr. was administrator of the document. Another document in the East Hampton town records dated April 23, 1705 contains his signature.8 This was regarding some land perhaps commonly owned by Samuel and his brothers Joseph and Stephen. Joseph sold the land to someone else, and Stephen handled the money.
After 1705, the records go silent on Samuel Hand. One source says he died in about 1735,2 but there isn’t really any hard evidence to back this up. Samuel was the ancestor of Cornelius Vanderbilt and all of his illustrious descendants.7
Children:
1. Stephen Hand — B. about 1693, (probably) East Hampton, New York;7 D. 10 May 17432
2. Jonathan Hand — B. about 1695, (probably) East Hampton, New York7
3. Nehemiah Hand — B. about 1700, (probably) East Hampton, New York;6 D. 27 Dec 1776, Rahway, New Jersey;6 M. Lydia _____, about 17257
Sources:
1 Hand, Sisson and Scott – More Yeoman Ancestors, Carol Clark Johnson, 1981, pp. 15-16
2 Find-a-Grave listing of Samuel Hand
3 Genealogy of the Hand Family and Related Families, Dorothy Hand Dymond,1982
4 Records of the town of East-Hampton, Long Island, Suffolk Co., N.Y., Vol. 2, 1887
5 East Hampton (village), New York (Wikipedia article)
6 Find-a-Grave listing of Nehemiah Hand
7 Hand Family Scrapbook, compiled by Margaret Smith Isaac, 1986, p. 26
8 Records of the Town of East-Hampton, Long Island, Suffolk Co., N.Y., Vol. III, 1889, pp. 129-131
Sunday, October 11, 2026
On the Delmarva Peninsula — Mathias Jones
B. before about 1725 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland1
M. before about 1754 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland2
Wife: Temperance Hardy
D. after 11 Jun 1793 in (probably) Sussex County, Delaware3
In the heart of the Mid-Atlantic colonies, was a region of small tobacco plantations bordered by water on both sides. This was where Mathias Jones made his home.
Few records survive from the 18th-century Delmarva Peninsula, so it’s very challenging to connect Mathias to his family. It can be estimated that he was born before 1725; it’s more certain that he was from Somerset County, Maryland.1
Mathias was likely closely related to a man named Finch Jones because their names both appear in the will of a man named William Evins dated January 28, 1750.4 Mathias was named as primary beneficiary of Evins, receiving a plantation of 150 acres. He also left 50 acres to “William Jones, son of Finch Jones,” and “a young heifer, iron pots and pewter plates” to “Rebecca Jones, daughter of Finch Jones.” We also see that the year before the will, Mathias was listed as a dependent of William Evans.5
Was Mathias the child of Finch Jones? Maybe, but it seems odd that he wasn’t mentioned that way and two other people were. More likely perhaps was that he was a nephew or cousin. Finch (with his unusual name) appeared in several civic records. In 1730, he was taken to court for not paying a woman for some silk handkerchiefs and linens he had purchased,6 and in 1735, he was cited for not burning his tobacco crop, as “he was obliged to burn.”7 A property appraisal dated November 11, 1732 mentions that Finch Jones was “exceedingly poor with wife and small children.”8
One interesting thing that may also tie Mathias to Finch was that each was once described as a bricklayer. For Finch, it was in the 1730 court record, and for Mathias, it was on an 1786 deed.9 Could this reinforce a connection between the two men? Maybe. It’s also to be noted that there were records of what appears to be another Mathias Jones living in Somerset County at the same time; this man seems younger as he was listed as a dependent to a brother named Levin in 1756.10 Facts related to the other Mathias points to him not being the man in this biography.11
Mathias married sometime before about 1754 to a woman named Temperance Hardy,2 and they had at least four children. At some point, the family moved to Sussex County, Delaware, where on March 24, 1776, Mathias had a survey done for 212 acres he was purchasing. The tract was located “south of Green Branch,” and was called “Jones’ Choice.”12
In 1784, Mathias took on the role of guardian for his wife’s niece, whose parents had both died. The record states, “Came unto the court Mathias Jones and made known to the court that Jehu Claypoole, late of Sussex County, deceased, did not in his lifetime appoint a guardian to his daughter Sarah Claypoole, a minor under fourteen years of age, and prayed the court to appoint some person to be guardian to said minor’s personal estate during her minority.”13 The court then gave the job to Mathias; whether or not he took her into his household or just looked after her finances isn’t clear from the record.
Two land deeds involving Mathias are dated May 3, 1786, one where he sold his 200 acres,9 and another where he bought 161 acres of adjacent land.14 We learn from the deeds that he lived in Nanticoke Hundred, the designation of an area of Sussex County. Mathias’ son Isaac Hardy Jones mentioned his father in his will written on March 22, 1790, leaving his “moveable estate” to be divided between Mathias and Isaac’s wife Sarah; the will was in probate as of April 2, 1790.15
The last known document of showing Mathias still alive was a note promising to pay a man named Thomas Marvel the sum of 6£ 3s 3p.3 It was dated June 11, 1793 and signed by Mathias with his mark. Witnesses were Robert Barr, Sally Conaway and James Jones (presumably his son). It isn’t known when Mathias’ wife Temperance died.
Children:
1. William Jones — B. before 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 7 Aug 1792 in (probably) Sussex County, Delaware17
2. James Jones — B. before 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 1812,(possibly) Vincennes, Indiana;18 M. UNKNOWN, before about 1785, Sussex County, Delaware19
3. Isaac Hardy Jones — B. after 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 22 Mar 1790 in (probably) Sussex County, Delaware;15 M. Sarah ______15
4. Traney Jones — B. after 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 22 Mar 179015
Sources:
1 Estimated birth year is based on being roughly the same age as his wife, who is known to have been born in 1725.
2 Estimated marriage year is based on the fact that the will of Temperance’s father, dated 1756, mentioned their sons William and James, and so their marriage was at least two years before that date.
3 Note in probate file of Thomas Marvel, Sussex, Delaware, Probate Estate Case Files, 1700-1956, FamilySearch.org
4 Will of William Evins, Maryland, Wills, 1746-1754
5 1749 tax list for Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland.gov
6 Somerset County Judicial Records, 1730-1733, Archives of Maryland Online
7 Somerset County Judicial Records, 1735-1737, Archives of Maryland Online
8 Whittington King listing in Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia’s Northern Neck Counties
9 1786 deed between Mathias Jones and Abraham Adams, Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Ancestry.com
10 1756 tax list for Somerset County, Maryland
11 The second Mathias was a dependent in 1756, a time when our Mathias already had three sons. Also the members of related families like Hardy are tied to Nanticoke Hundred, and the other Mathias lived in Monie Hundred.
12 1776 land deed of Mathias Jones, Sussex County, Delaware Land Records, 1680-1968, FamilySearch.org
13 Court appearance of Mathias Jones, Orphans’ Court Dockets, Sussex, Delaware, 1770-1796, FamilySearch.org
14 1786 deed between Thomas Marvel and Mathias Jones, Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Ancestry.com
15 Isaac Hardy Jones’ will, Sussex, Delaware Probate Estate Case files 1680-1925, FamilySearch.org
16 James Hardy’s will dated 26 May 1756 which mentions grandchildren William and James, but not Isaac or Traney, FamilySearch.org
17 Land deed between William Jones and Barnaby Conneway, Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Ancestry.com
18 James Jones as resident of Knox County, Indiana Territory in 1812, Indiana, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890, Ancestry.com
19 1850 U.S. Census, Knox County, Indiana showing James’ daughter Naomi Hunter as being 65-years-old.
M. before about 1754 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland2
Wife: Temperance Hardy
D. after 11 Jun 1793 in (probably) Sussex County, Delaware3
In the heart of the Mid-Atlantic colonies, was a region of small tobacco plantations bordered by water on both sides. This was where Mathias Jones made his home.
Few records survive from the 18th-century Delmarva Peninsula, so it’s very challenging to connect Mathias to his family. It can be estimated that he was born before 1725; it’s more certain that he was from Somerset County, Maryland.1
Map of where Mathias lived.
Mathias was likely closely related to a man named Finch Jones because their names both appear in the will of a man named William Evins dated January 28, 1750.4 Mathias was named as primary beneficiary of Evins, receiving a plantation of 150 acres. He also left 50 acres to “William Jones, son of Finch Jones,” and “a young heifer, iron pots and pewter plates” to “Rebecca Jones, daughter of Finch Jones.” We also see that the year before the will, Mathias was listed as a dependent of William Evans.5
Was Mathias the child of Finch Jones? Maybe, but it seems odd that he wasn’t mentioned that way and two other people were. More likely perhaps was that he was a nephew or cousin. Finch (with his unusual name) appeared in several civic records. In 1730, he was taken to court for not paying a woman for some silk handkerchiefs and linens he had purchased,6 and in 1735, he was cited for not burning his tobacco crop, as “he was obliged to burn.”7 A property appraisal dated November 11, 1732 mentions that Finch Jones was “exceedingly poor with wife and small children.”8
One interesting thing that may also tie Mathias to Finch was that each was once described as a bricklayer. For Finch, it was in the 1730 court record, and for Mathias, it was on an 1786 deed.9 Could this reinforce a connection between the two men? Maybe. It’s also to be noted that there were records of what appears to be another Mathias Jones living in Somerset County at the same time; this man seems younger as he was listed as a dependent to a brother named Levin in 1756.10 Facts related to the other Mathias points to him not being the man in this biography.11
Working as a bricklayer. (AI-generated image)
Mathias married sometime before about 1754 to a woman named Temperance Hardy,2 and they had at least four children. At some point, the family moved to Sussex County, Delaware, where on March 24, 1776, Mathias had a survey done for 212 acres he was purchasing. The tract was located “south of Green Branch,” and was called “Jones’ Choice.”12
In 1784, Mathias took on the role of guardian for his wife’s niece, whose parents had both died. The record states, “Came unto the court Mathias Jones and made known to the court that Jehu Claypoole, late of Sussex County, deceased, did not in his lifetime appoint a guardian to his daughter Sarah Claypoole, a minor under fourteen years of age, and prayed the court to appoint some person to be guardian to said minor’s personal estate during her minority.”13 The court then gave the job to Mathias; whether or not he took her into his household or just looked after her finances isn’t clear from the record.
Two land deeds involving Mathias are dated May 3, 1786, one where he sold his 200 acres,9 and another where he bought 161 acres of adjacent land.14 We learn from the deeds that he lived in Nanticoke Hundred, the designation of an area of Sussex County. Mathias’ son Isaac Hardy Jones mentioned his father in his will written on March 22, 1790, leaving his “moveable estate” to be divided between Mathias and Isaac’s wife Sarah; the will was in probate as of April 2, 1790.15
The last known document of showing Mathias still alive was a note promising to pay a man named Thomas Marvel the sum of 6£ 3s 3p.3 It was dated June 11, 1793 and signed by Mathias with his mark. Witnesses were Robert Barr, Sally Conaway and James Jones (presumably his son). It isn’t known when Mathias’ wife Temperance died.
Note from Mathias Jones in 1793.
Children:
1. William Jones — B. before 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 7 Aug 1792 in (probably) Sussex County, Delaware17
2. James Jones — B. before 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 1812,(possibly) Vincennes, Indiana;18 M. UNKNOWN, before about 1785, Sussex County, Delaware19
3. Isaac Hardy Jones — B. after 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 22 Mar 1790 in (probably) Sussex County, Delaware;15 M. Sarah ______15
4. Traney Jones — B. after 3 May 1756 in (probably) Somerset County, Maryland;16 D. after 22 Mar 179015
Sources:
1 Estimated birth year is based on being roughly the same age as his wife, who is known to have been born in 1725.
2 Estimated marriage year is based on the fact that the will of Temperance’s father, dated 1756, mentioned their sons William and James, and so their marriage was at least two years before that date.
3 Note in probate file of Thomas Marvel, Sussex, Delaware, Probate Estate Case Files, 1700-1956, FamilySearch.org
4 Will of William Evins, Maryland, Wills, 1746-1754
5 1749 tax list for Somerset County, Maryland, Maryland.gov
6 Somerset County Judicial Records, 1730-1733, Archives of Maryland Online
7 Somerset County Judicial Records, 1735-1737, Archives of Maryland Online
8 Whittington King listing in Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia’s Northern Neck Counties
9 1786 deed between Mathias Jones and Abraham Adams, Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Ancestry.com
10 1756 tax list for Somerset County, Maryland
11 The second Mathias was a dependent in 1756, a time when our Mathias already had three sons. Also the members of related families like Hardy are tied to Nanticoke Hundred, and the other Mathias lived in Monie Hundred.
12 1776 land deed of Mathias Jones, Sussex County, Delaware Land Records, 1680-1968, FamilySearch.org
13 Court appearance of Mathias Jones, Orphans’ Court Dockets, Sussex, Delaware, 1770-1796, FamilySearch.org
14 1786 deed between Thomas Marvel and Mathias Jones, Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Ancestry.com
15 Isaac Hardy Jones’ will, Sussex, Delaware Probate Estate Case files 1680-1925, FamilySearch.org
16 James Hardy’s will dated 26 May 1756 which mentions grandchildren William and James, but not Isaac or Traney, FamilySearch.org
17 Land deed between William Jones and Barnaby Conneway, Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, Ancestry.com
18 James Jones as resident of Knox County, Indiana Territory in 1812, Indiana, U.S., Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890, Ancestry.com
19 1850 U.S. Census, Knox County, Indiana showing James’ daughter Naomi Hunter as being 65-years-old.
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