Of a Staten Island Family — Jan Jansen Van Pelt

B. about 1680 in (probably) Staten Island, New York¹
M. before 22 Oct 1710 in (probably) Staten Island, New York²
Wife: Aeltje Hooglandt
D. before 22 Mar 1762 in (probably) Staten Island, New York³

There is little known about the life of Jan Jansen Van Pelt, aside from the detailed will that he left, and a few baptismal records from his church.

Jan’s parents were said to be Jan Teunissen Van Pelt and Maria Pieterse, and he was one of nine children. His birth was in about 1680, although this a rough estimate; he was likely born on Staten Island, where his father was a prominent man.¹ Staten Island was in the process of being settled by Dutch families and others from Manhattan and Brooklyn, and by 1698, the population was 727.⁴

Jan first appeared in records on a 1710 baptism of a daughter, Marritje (a Dutch variation of Mary), at the Reformed Dutch Church of Staten Island;² the records for that year didn’t list the mother of the child, so it’s an assumption that this was him. Two other baptisms with Jan Van Pelt as the father gave the mother’s name as Aeltije Hooglandt.^5,6 It’s unknown what her connection is to the Hooglandt family of early New York. Some sources claim that there were several other children,² but they can be eliminated because the baptisms identified the father as “Jacob Van Pelt,” which was clearly not him. Jan and Aeltje were named as witnesses in many baptismal records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Port Richmond.

At a Staten Island baptism. (AI-generated image)

It’s likely that Jan, or John as he was known later in life, worked as a farmer. Books on the Van Pelt family say that he was the captain of a sloop that sailed from New York to North Carolina, but there is no original source for this.² Given that Staten Island had easy access to the New York Harbor, it’s possible that it was true. 

Jan was about 80-years-old when he made out his will dated November 11, 1761,³ revealing most of what we know about him. He mentioned his wife Aeltje, leaving her their furniture, and suggesting that the executors of his estate would make sure she would get the support she needed. Of his children, he only named daughters Mary and Sara, and both of them were already dead, so the heirs were their children. Specifically he listed Mary’s son John Van Tuyl, and Sara’s children Aylte Symonsen, Van Pelt Symonsen, Akert, Marytie, Elizabeth, Symon, Johanes, and Evert.

Jan’s probate was complete on March 22, 1762, so he passed away by that date.³ It isn’t known what became of Aeltje after he was gone.

Children:
1. Maritje (or Mary) Van Pelt — B. (possibly) 22 Oct 1710, Staten Island, New York;² D. after 2 Jun 1734, Staten Island, New York;⁷ M. Abraham Van Tuyl (~1714-1791), (probably) Staten Island, New York⁷

2. Sara Van Pelt — B. before 25 Jan 1719, Staten Island, New York;⁵ D. before 11 Nov 1761;³ M. Simon Simonse, before 1736, Staten Island, New York²

3. Catalyntje Van Pelt — before 16 Oct 1720, Staten Island, New York⁶

Sources:
1    Birth year is rough estimate based on older brother Pieter being born in 1680
2    A Genealogy of the Van Pelt Family, Effie M. Smith, 1913
3    Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate’s Office, City of New York, 1893, pp. 282-283
4    Timeline of Staten Island (Wikipedia article)
5    Baptismal record of Sara Van Pelt, U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989, Ancestry.com 

6    Baptismal record of Catalyntje Van Pelt, R. of the R. D. C. of P. R.

7    Baptismal record of Jan Van Tuyl, New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962, FamilySearch.org

Farmer in Early Gowanus — Cornelis Lambertszen Cool

B. about 1590 in (possibly) Doorn, Netherlands¹
M. (1) before 1615 in Netherlands¹
Wife: unknown
M. (2) about 1638 in New Amsterdam, New Netherland¹
Wife: Aeltje Braconie
D. before 30 Dec 1643 in Gowanus, New Netherland²

Cornelis Lambertszen Cool was one of many Dutch men who migrated to New Netherland early, but left little mark, and his surname died out when his only son apparently died childless.

The origins of Cornelis are almost completely unknown. Based on ages of his children, he was born in roughly 1590,¹ and his middle name suggests his father was Lambert Cool. Some researchers have said Cornelis was born in a place called Doorn,³ which was near Amsterdam, Netherlands; since no documentation supports this, it cannot be taken as fact. He got married to an unknown woman, and they had three children born between about 1615 and 1623.¹

Cornelis was said to have migrated to New Netherland during the mid- to late-1630s.² The earliest record of him in America was on June 24, 1638 when he was a plaintiff in a court case in New Amsterdam — he had sued two men named Cornelis and Jan Van Voorst concerning a debt he was owed. It’s likely that Cornelis arrived with his family at least a year or two before that, but this is speculation. At some point, he remarried to a woman named Aeltje Braconie;¹ it’s unknown if the marriage took place in the Netherlands or America. It was a second marriage for her, and she had a daughter from her first husband. Cornelis had no children with his second wife.

During this time, Cornelis’ name appeared in several court records. On August 26, 1638, he was involved in the sale of a horse to Claes Cornelissen.² Then on November 25th, Cornelis had a dispute with Jan Celes for “damages sustained by the defendant’s hogs.”¹ This would suggest the two men were neighbors, and it’s known that Jan Celes lived at what is now Soho. Another curious mention of Cornelis in court records was on March 21, 1639, when he made a declaration of the discharge of Grietje Reyniers for “improper conduct when a waiting girl at Pieter de Winter’s tavern in New Amsterdam.”²

Hogs invading a Manhattan farm. (AI-generated image)

Later that year, on May 17 1639, Cornelis bought 50 acres in Gowanus, with the patent for the land being granted on April 5, 1642.² This is where he apparently took his family and lived for the rest of his life. Gowanus was one of the many new settlements that began during the 1630s, and Cornelis was one of its first farmers; it’s possible that he cultivated tobacco there.⁴

Cornelis lived only about four more years. His wife Aeltje was named as a widow in a document dated December 30, 1643,² so he had died by that date. Cornelis two daughters each left descendants, his son disappeared from records after May 1642.

Children (all by his first wife):
1. Aeltje Cornelis Cool — B. about 1615, Netherlands;⁵ D. Jan 1683, Flatlands, New York;⁶ M. (1) Gerret Wolfertse van Couwenhoven (~1610-?), 24 Jan 1635, New Netherland;⁶ (2) Elbert Elbertszen Stoothof, 27 Aug 1645, New Amsterdam, New Netherland⁶

2. Aechtje Cornelis Cool — B. before 1623, Netherlands;⁷ D. before 21 Jul 1647, New Amsterdam, New Netherland;⁷ M. Claes Janszen (1613-1648), before 22 Aug 1639, New Netherland⁷

3. Lambert Cornelissen Cool — B. about 1627, Netherlands;⁸ D. after May 1642, (probably) New Netherland⁸

Sources:
1    Listing of Cornelis Lambertszen Cool in Brouwer Genealogy Database
2    “Aeltje Braconie-Baddie-Cool-Bredenbent Family Notes,” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, V. 65, John Reynolds Totten, Jul 1934
3    WikiTree listing of Cornelis Lamberts Cool
4    Gowanus Canal (Wikipedia article)
5    Estimated birth year based on age at first marriage
6    Listing of Aeltje Cornelis Cool in Brouwer Genealogy Database
7    Listing of Aechtje Cornelis Cool in Brouwer Genealogy Database
8    Listing of Lambert Cornelissen Cool in Brouwer Genealogy Database

Brooklyn Family Patriarch — Coert Stevense Van Voorhees

B. about Apr 1637 in Drenthe, Netherlands¹
M. before 1665 in (probably) New York¹
Wife: Marretje Gerritse Van Couwenhoven
D. after 1702 in (probably) Flatlands, New York¹

By virtue of being one of several siblings who migrated from Europe, Coert Stevense Van Voorhees became one of the earliest generations of a great American family.

Coert came from Drenthe, a region of the Netherlands, and he was born there about 1637 to Steven Coerts Van Voorhees and Aaltjen Wessels, one of their three known children.¹ His mother died when he was a child and his father remarried, producing six half-siblings.²

Coert was an adult when his 60-year-old father took the family to America, settling in Flatlands, part of present-day Brooklyn. His father purchased a large tract of land on November 29, 1660,³ and presumably Coert received part of it, or bought a farm of his own nearby. There’s no record of Coert’s marriage, but by about 1665, he wed Marretje Gerritse Van Couwenhoven,¹ daughter of one of the earliest Dutch settlers of Flatlands. Between about 1667 and 1683, they had five sons and four daughters. 

On a farm in Flatlands. (AI-generated image)

As a large landowner in Flatlands, Coert held many offices. In 1677, he was a deacon of the Dutch Reformed Church,¹ and in 1689, he was captain of the militia.¹ He was also a representative of Flatlands at an assembly held in New Amsterdam on April 10, 1664;¹ presumably this was in regard to the English takeover of the colony which happened that year. And he was a delegate to “The Convention at New Orange” on March 26, 1674,¹ which took place after New Netherland formally ceased to exist. Coert was also a church elder in 1679 and 1684.¹

On March 8, 1692 Coert purchased property at Gravesend, New York, which he transferred to his son Albert on June 20, 1699.¹ Coert was last known to be alive in 1702, but it isn’t known when he died.¹ It’s believed that his wife Marretje was deceased by 1709. They were both the ancestors of Howard Dean, Paul Giamatti and Thomas Kean.⁴

Coert had four half-brothers, and the Van Voorhees family grew to a tremendous size over the years, leading the family association website to claim they are “the largest Dutch Family in America.”⁵

Children:
1. Gerrit Coertsen Van Voorhees — B. before 1666, (probably) Flatlands, New York;⁶ D. before 23 Sep 1704, New Utrecht, New York;⁶ M. (1) Mensje Janse;⁶ (2) Willemptje Pieterse Luyster (~1665-?), 26 Apr 1685, Flatlands, New York⁶

2. Aeltie Coertse Van Voorhees — B. before 1666, Flatlands, New York;⁷ D. 12 Nov 1746;⁷ M. Joost Rutgerz Van Brunt (?-~1746), 16 Apr 1687, Flatbush, New York⁷

3. Stephen Coertsen Van Voorhees — B. about 1667, Flatlands, New York;⁸ D. 16 Feb 1724, Gravesend, New York;⁸ M. (1) Eegje Jans;⁸ (2) Eva ______⁸

4. Albert Coertsen Van Voorhees — B. about 1670, Flatlands, New York;⁹ D. before 14 Apr 1748, (probably) Flatlands, New York;⁹ M. (1) Sara Willemse Cornel (?-1736), before 1695;⁹ (2) Willempje Suydam, 15 May 1743; (3) Ida Suydam (1678-?), 1 Dec 1744⁹

5. Marretje Coertse Van Voorhees — B. about 1675, Flatlands, New York;¹⁰ M. Jacob Remsen¹⁰

6. Neeltje Coertse Van Voorhees — B. 30 Jun 1676, (probably) Flatlands, New York;¹¹ D. 4 Aug 1750, (probably) Monmouth County, New Jersey;¹¹ M. Garret Roelfse Schenck (1671-1745), Flatlands, New York¹¹

7. Cornelis Coertsen Van Voorhees — B. before 23 Jun 1678, (probably) Flatlands, New York;¹² M. Antje Remsen (1681-?)¹²

8. Annetie Coertse Van Voorhees — B. before 5 Dec 1680, Flatlands, New York;¹³ M. Jan Rapalje (1673-?)¹³

9. Johannes Coertsen Van Voorhees — B. 20 Apr 1683, Flatlands, New York;¹⁴ D.10 Oct 1757;¹⁴ M. (1) Barber Achyase Van Dyck (1682-1743), 19 Nov 1703;¹⁴ (2) Sarah Van Vliet (1694-?), 2 May 1744¹⁴

Sources:
1    Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Coert Stephense Van Voorhees
2    Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Stephen Coert Van Voorhees
3    Steven van Voorhees (Wikipedia article)
4    FamousKin.com listing of Coert Stevense Can Voorhees
5    History of the Van Voorhees Family (website)
6    Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Gerrit Coertsen Van Voorhees
7    Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Aeltie Coertse Van Voorhees
8    Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Stephen Coertsen Van Voorhees
9    Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Albert Coertsen Van Voorhees
10  Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Marretje Coertse Van Voorhees
11  Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Neeltje Coertse Van Voorhees
12  Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Cornelis Coertsen Van Voorhees
13  Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Annetje Coertse Van Voorhees
14  Brouwer Genealogy Database listing for Johannes Coertsen Van Voorhees

Dutch Woman in Delaware — Catharina Cronenberg

B. before 1631 in (probably) Netherlands¹
M. (1) about 1648 in (probably) Flatbush, New Netherland¹
Husband: Hendrick _______
M. (2) before 18 Nov 1659 in (probably) Flatbush, New Netherland¹
Husband: Jan Teunissen Dam
D. before 25 Mar 1695 in (probably) Flatbush, New York¹

When we think of the Dutch colony in America, present-day New York comes to mind. But for a short time in the mid-17th century, New Netherland had control of part of Delaware, and Catharina Cronenberg moved there with her husband.

The early years of Catharina’s life are sketchy. She was from the Netherlands, perhaps into what is now Germany, and was born before 1631. She married a man who we only know by the first name of Hendrick,¹ and it isn’t certain which side of the Atlantic the wedding took place. They had one child named Magdalena,¹ born in the Dutch settlement of Flatbush (there may have been others who died young). Then Hendrick seems to have died.

Catharina took a second husband, probably in Flatbush, by the name of Jan Teunissen Dam; it’s believed that they didn’t have any children together. The marriage record is missing, but their names were on a document dated November 18, 1659.¹ Sometime earlier that year, they left Flatbush and relocated to the former colony of New Sweden,¹ now called New Amstel, where land was more plentiful. They apparently hadn’t cleared the move with the Dutch authorities, because court records show that they got into trouble for it, and Jan was arrested.¹

A home in New Sweden. (AI-generated image)

Why would the Dutch authorities come down on a family wanting to live in a place of their choosing? Because New Netherland was run as a company, and the colonists were in some sense their employees. So in order to relocate, people needed permission, and Jan and Catharina apparently didn’t have it. A few days after Jan was taken into custody, he escaped, and then Catharina was brought in for questioning on November 22nd.¹

A letter written by Wilhelmus Beekman to Director-General Peter Stuyvesant dated April 23, 1660 told of a man who worked for the authorities named Adries Lourens, who had been sent to where Catharina and her husband was.¹ He referred to Jan, Catharina and their child as “fugitives,” and he brought them back with him to New Netherland. Beekman was the man in charge of New Amstel, and later during the 1680s, he served as the mayor of New York City.¹ 

Wilhelmus Beekman.

The next place Catharina and Jan were known to be living was Southampton because a record named him as being involved with the building of the church. There is a document dated October 14,1667 saying that Jan was paid four barrels of pork, 30 bushels of wheat, and 30 bushels of Indian corn for the work he did as a carpenter.¹ On April 1, 1668, Jan was granted 4 acres in Southampton on the condition that he would live there for at least 4 years.¹ During this time, Catharina’s daughter married a man from Southampton,¹ another Dutchman.

Catharina and Jan didn’t stay in Southampton because records show that she bought property in Flatbush on August 22, 1679.¹ She paid 3,000 guilders for a house, orchard and yard, with the option to pay in wheat or rye worth that amount of money. The plan was to pay in installments in 1680, 1681 and 1682, so that seems to be a deal to surrender 1,000 guilders worth of farm production each year, and then she would own it outright. There are records for three payments to the seller, with the only the third adding the detail that stated an amount of 500 guilders, and that it was her husband who paid.¹ These documents also reveal that Catharina couldn’t sign her own name.

It isn’t known exactly when Catharina died, but it was between November 27, 1681, when her name was on a baptismal record,¹ and March 25 1695, when husband Jan wrote his will.¹ He left his estate to his step-daughter and her children, and he likely died by March of 1701.¹

Child by Hendrick ______:
1. Magdalena Hendricks — B. about 1649, (probably) Flatbush, New Netherland;¹ D. after 22 Apr 1716, (probably) Haverstraw, New York;¹ (1) M. Cornelius Vonck (~1634-?), 26 Dec 1667, Southampton, Long Island;¹ (2) Minne Johannis (?-1691), about Apr 1689, Flatbush, New York;¹ (3) Achias Jansz Van Dyck (?-~1707), after 22 Dec 1693, (probably) Brooklyn, New York¹

Source:
1    “Magdalena Hendricks, Wife of Cornelis Vonk/Vonck, and Her Mother, Catharina Cronenberg, Wife of Jan Teunissen Dam,” Carolyn Nash, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 143, 2012

Indian Captive After Husband Killed — Tryntie Reynders

B. about 1621 in Hengelo, Netherlands^1,2
M. (1) before 1640 in (probably) Hengelo, Netherlands^1,3
Husband: Arent Theunissen Van Henglen
M. (2) 25 May 1656 in New Netherland¹
Husband: Severyn Laurenszen
D. before 5 Aug 1671 in New York¹

Tryntie Reynders was a woman who settled in New Netherland with her husband, and faced terrible hardships because of it. But she found a way to survive, keeping her children safe, and passing her bloodline on to thousands of descendants.

Tryntie (also spelled Tryntje) was born in Hengelo, Netherlands in about 1621.^1,2 Nothing is known of her family; surnames were patronymic in most Netherlands families, and “Reynders” was taken from the first name of her father. After she came of age, she married Arent Theunissen Van Henglen, who was also from Hengelo.^1,3 Between about 1641 and 1652, she had at least three children.

Shortly after the birth of her youngest child, Arent decided the family would find a new life in America. Once in New Amsterdam, they joined a group who were establishing a community on Staten Island.¹ For a time, the family enjoyed a peaceful life on their farm, but it came to an abrupt end in a conflict called the Peach Tree War. This was a fight between the Dutch and the Swedish who colonized in the region first. The Swedes enlisted local tribes who could help them fight, and after the Dutch took several of their forts in 1655, Susquehannock warriors retaliated against Dutch civilians on September 15th.

One of the places they hit was where Tryntie lived. A total of 23 people were killed at the Staten Island settlement, including her husband Arent.^1,4 Typically, in a raid such as this, people were slaughtered in their homes with tomahawks, and it’s likely Tryntie was there to witness whatever was done to her husband. She and all three of her children were then captured and taken back to the Susquehannock camp where they were held as prisoners.⁵ There were over 60 people with her, each living in fear of what would happen next. But luckily, after a month in captivity, their release was negotiated by the man who had run the settlement on Staten Island, Captain Adrian Post.⁶

Held captive in a Susquehannock camp. (AI-generated image)

With her husband dead and her home destroyed, Tryntie and her children sought refuge in Manhattan with many other victims of the massacre.⁵ Needing a husband to support her, she married a man named Severyn Laurenszen on May 25, 1656.¹ Severyn was from Denmark, and had come to New Amsterdam as a mercenary soldier.⁷

Tryntie was by now about age 45, and she had no children with her second husband. It must have been a struggle to make ends meet, which may have led to Severyn being charged with theft in early 1658. A trial on April 12th resulted in him being found him guilty, and his sentence was to be “stripped of arms and publicly flogged and branded.”⁷ He escaped jail before this was done, and on May 28th, he was pardoned and “permitted to live on Long Island,”⁷ which meant he and Tryntie moved to either present-day Queens or Brooklyn.

Since Severyn no longer had a place in the military, he needed a new livelihood, and in about 1660, he decided to go into business with another man running a tavern.⁷ Once again, Tryntie moved, this time to a road on the outskirts of New Amsterdam which became known as The Bowery. Several taverns lined the road, so it must have attracted a somewhat lawless element. Severyn was cited more than once for such violations as “selling liquor during divine service,” and for allowing people in his tavern “to play nine pins” on Sunday.⁷

Tryntie’s ordeal on Staten Island resurfaced in November 1661. Former colony leader Captain Post sued Severyn for money he thought was owed regarding Tryntie’s release back in 1656. To counter that, Tryntie came forward in court with a claim that Captain Post actually owed her a larger amount of money.^7,8 The authorities referred the case to Thomas Hall and Fredrick Lubbersen to settle the issue, but there’s no further record of what happened next.

It isn’t known exactly when Tryntie died. She and Severyn made a joint will in about May 1662,⁸ and she didn’t appear in any records after that. He married a second wife on August 5, 1671,¹ so her death must have been between those two dates.

Children (all by Arent Theunissen Van Henglen):
1. Reynier Arentsen Van Henglen — B. about 1641, (probably)Hengelo, Netherlands; D. after 17 Sep 1721;¹ M. (1) Annetje Hermans, New Netherland; (2) Jannetije Aukes Van Nuys, 1666¹

2. Maritje Arents Van Henglen — B. (probably) Hengelo, Netherlands; M. Jan Jansen Langestraat, 2 Nov 1659, New Netherland¹

3. Hendrick Arentsen Van Henglen — B. about 1652,  (probably) Hengelo, Netherlands; D. about 16 Jun 1689, New York;¹ M. Catherine Hardenbroeck, 25 Oct 1684, New York¹

Sources:
1    “Notes on the Rynearson (Van Hengel) Family,” Somerset County Quarterly, Vol. 5., Edward Kinsey Voorhees, 1916
2    Birth year estimate based on approximate ages of children
3    Marriage year estimate based on approximate ages of children
4    Since we know Arent’s wife and children were captives in the 1655 raid on Staten Island, and that Arent wasn’t among them, it’s safe to conclude that he was killed
5    Documents Relative to the Colonial History of N.Y., Vol XIII, page 74, 1881
6    Documents Relative to the Colonial History of N.Y., Vol XIII, pages 45-48, 1881
7    Scandinavian Immigrants in New York, 1630-1674, John Oluf Evjen, 1916
8    Yearbook of the Holland Society of New York, 1900

On the Last Ship to New Amsterdam — Jentie Jeppes

B. before about 1633 in Friesland, Netherlands¹
M. (1) about 1653 in (probably) Friesland, Netherlands¹
Wife: Tijedtske Gerrits
M. (2) 4 Dec 1666 in New York, New York¹
Wife: Britten Oloff
D. before 18 Apr 1673, (probably) New York, New York¹

Jentie Jeppes migrated to New Netherland shortly before the colony fell to the British. He was born in about 1633, a native of Friesland in the Netherlands,¹ the northernmost region of the country. His father may have been named Jacob, but nothing is known of his family or childhood. Jentie married a woman named Tijedtske Gerrits in about 1653,¹ and for the first decade or so of his marriage, they moved to various towns and villages in Friesland — Dokkum, Wijckel and Leeuwarden — where eight children were born.² Sadly, the oldest three died young.

Map showing towns where Jentie lived in Friesland

On April 17, 1664 Jentie, along with Tijedtske and their four young children, boarded a ship called the Eendracht.¹ Records show that he paid 126 florins in passage money for himself, Tijedtske, and “his three children of 5, 4, and 2 years.” Presumably the youngest child who was about 6-months-old didn’t require payment. The captain of the ship was Jan Bergen, a man born in the colony whose nephew would one-day marry Jentie’s granddaughter.^3,4 The ship also carried at least 31 other migrants, including Tijedtske’s brother and his family.³

Arrival in America. (AI-generated image)

The Eendracht docked in Manhattan on July 19th.³ Little more than a month later, another four ships sailed into the harbor with a force from England who demanded the surrender of the colony. Rather than fight, the Dutch leaders gave in, and the following year, New Amsterdam was renamed New York. By this time, Jentie seems to have moved to Flatbush where his name appeared on an August 29, 1665 document accepting a young orphaned child, Tijedtske’s nephew, under his guardianship.¹ But the following spring, Jentie had migrated to Bergen, New Jersey;¹ Tijedtske passed away and was buried at the church there.

Jentie remarried on December 4, 1666 to a woman named Britten Oloff, a widow who was originally from Sweden; the wedding took place at the Dutch church in New York.¹ The couple didn’t have any children together. Jentie didn’t seem to return to New Jersey and likely spent the rest of his life in New York or Brooklyn. The date of his death is unknown, but his second wife was shown to be married to someone else on April 18, 1673.¹

Children (all by Tijedtske Gerrits):
1. Lijckele Jenties — B. 20 May 1655, Dokkum, Friesland, Netherlands;⁵ D. young

2. Grietien Jenties — B. before 1 Jul 1656, Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands;⁶ D. before 11 Oct 1663, (probably) Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands⁶

3. Euwe Jenties — B. before 1 Nov 1657, Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands;⁷ D. before 17 Jun 1660, (probably) Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands⁸

4. Euwe Jenties — B. before 17 Jun 1660, (probably) Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands⁸

5. Gerrit Van Wicklen — B. before 1 Jan 1659, Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands;⁹ D. after 23 Dec 1722, Jamaica, Long Island, New York;¹⁰ M. Tryntje Gerrits (1666-?), 1687, (probably) New York¹⁰

6. Evert Jansz Van Wicklen — B. before 17 Jun 1660, Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands;¹ D. about 1720, Flatbush, New York;¹ M. Metje Simonse Van Arsdalen (~1670-?), after 27 Feb 1690, Flatbush, New York¹

7. Meinske Jenties — B. before 11 May 1662, Leeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands;¹¹ D. 1708, Tarrytown, New York;¹² M. Albert Minnelay (1659-?), 18 Oct 1684, Flatbush, New York¹²

8. Grietje Jenties — B. before 11 Oct 1663, Leeuwarden, Friesland, Netherlands;¹³ M. Jan Hercksz (~1657-1730), (probably) New York¹⁴

Sources:

1    "The Van Wicklen/Van Wickle Family: Including Its Frisian Origin and Connections to Minnerly and Kranckheyt,” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.128, no. 2, Harry Macy Jr., 1997
2    WikiTree listing for Jentie Jeppes   
3    D’ Eendracht (The Unity) passengers list, Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild (website)  
4    Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the Town of Flatbush, Kings Co., New York, marriages 1792-1866
5    WikiTree listing for Lijckele Jenties  
6    WikiTree listing for Grieten Jenties  
7    Baptismal record of Euwe Jeppes (older), Netherlands Archival Indexes, Vital Records, 1600-2000, FamilySearch.org
8    Baptismal record of Euwe Jeppes (younger), N. A. I. V. R.
9    Baptismal record of Gerrit Jeppes, N. A. I. V. R.
10  WikiTree listing for Gerrit Jenties  
11  Baptismal record of Meinske Jeppes, baptismal registers for 1662-1663, Frisian Historical and Library Centre
12  WikiTree listing for Meinske Jans  
13  Baptismal record of Grietje Jeppes, baptismal registers for 1662-1663, Frisian Historical and Library Centre
14  Birth record of Jan Krankheyt (Grietje’s son), New York Church Records, 1660-1954, FamilySearch.org

Migrating to Monmouth County — Benjamin Van Cleef

B. before 25 Nov 1683 in New Utrecht, New York¹
M. 1704 in Long Island, New York¹
Wife: Hendrickje Van Sutphen
D. 6 Oct 1747 in Monmouth County, New Jersey¹

Benjamin Van Cleef was part of a wave of Dutch people who took their families to New Jersey in the early 18th century. He was born in New Utrecht, New York, part of present-day Brooklyn, and was baptized there on November 25, 1683 along with a brother named Joseph, possibly his twin.¹ His parents were Jan Cornelissen Van Cleef and Engeltje Laurens; his father was a Dutch immigrant who may have had a German heritage, and his mother was half-Norwegian and half-German. Their family had at least eleven children, and possibly more, with Benjamin as one of the youngest.

In 1704, Benjamin married Hendrickje Van Sutphen,¹ a young woman who was also from New Utrecht. Their marriage record is missing, but it likely took place in the Brooklyn area. They had a daughter born the following year, and not long after, Benjamin made the decision to move to New Jersey.² The family made their home in Monmouth County, in the village of Freehold; the children grew in number to a total of eight by the end of 1721.

Moving to New Jersey. (AI-generated image)

Why did Benjamin and so many other Dutch from New York move to New Jersey? Of course one reason was the availability of land for farming as part of a natural progression to the west. But there was also the fact that New Jersey was originally part of New Netherland, and when British authorities set it up separately from New York, they gave people the freedom to practice their own religion. This enticed the Dutch to move there in large numbers. 

Little else is known of Benjamin’s life. He seemed to own a lot of property, land which he provided to his three surviving sons as they came of age. He was a member of the Old Brick Reformed Church located in Marlboro, with his name appearing on a list dated October 1719.³ Two years later, he was named church deacon,³ although there’s no record of how long he served in that role. 

Benjamin was about 64-years-old when he made out his will on September 26, 1747.⁴ He died on October 6th, and was buried at the church cemetery.¹ It isn't known when his wife passed away. Among Benjamin's descendants is Tom Brokaw.⁵

Benjamin's grave at Old Brick Reformed Church Cemetery. (Source: Find-a-Grave)

Children:
1. Lysbet Van Cleef — B. before 29 May 1705, Brooklyn, New York;⁶ D. 1747, Monmouth County, New Jersey;⁶ M. William Albertse Couwenhoven (1702-1790), about 1720, Freehold, New Jersey⁶

2. Elije Van Cleef — B. about 1707, New Jersey;² M. William Baird (1704-1793), before 21 Nov 1731, (probably) Freehold, New Jersey

3. Neeltje Van Cleef — B. about 1709, New Jersey;⁸ M. Hendrick Jansz Vanderbilt (1701-?)⁹

4. Johannes Van Cleef — B. before 3 Jun 1711, Freehold, New Jersey;¹⁰ D. Oct 1777, Freehold, New Jersey;¹¹ M. (1) Maria Kraffert;¹² (2) Sarah Couwenhoven (1714-?), 14 Jun 1739, Freehold, New Jersey¹¹

5. Derrick Van Cleef — B. before 3 May 1713, Freehold, New Jersey;¹³ D. before 21 Dec 1718¹⁴

6. Maritje Van Cleef — B. before 6 Oct 1715, Freehold, New Jersey;¹⁵ D. 2 Apr 1789, Somerset County, New Jersey;¹⁶ M. John Brokaw (1709-1804), 1734, New Jersey¹⁶

7. Derrick Van Cleef — B. before 21 Dec 1718, Freehold, New Jersey;¹⁴ D. Sep 1765, Marlboro, New Jersey;¹⁷ M. Elizabeth Lake (1722-1766), 1738, Freehold, New Jersey¹⁷

8. Benjamin Van Cleef — B. before 3 Dec 1721, Freehold, New Jersey;¹⁸ M. Neeltje Couwenhoven (1723-?), 2 Jul 1741, Marlboro, New Jersey¹⁹

Sources:
1    Find-a-Grave listing of Benjamin Van Kleef  
2    WikiTree listing of Elije (Van Cleef) Baird  
3    “Records of the Dutch Congregations of Freehold and Middletown,” The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol. XXII, January 1947
4    Probate record of Benjamin Van Cleef, New Jersey Abstracts, Vol. 30
5    FamousKin.com listing for Benjamin Van Cleef  
6    Find-a-Grave listing of Lysbeth (Van Cleef) Van Couwenhoven  
7    Baptism of Alexander Baird, son of William Baird and Elsje Van Cleef, New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980, FamilySearch.org
8    Find-a-Grave listing of Ellen (Van Cleef) Van Der Bilt  
9    Baptism of Benjamin Van Der Bilt, son of Hendrick Van Der Bilt and Neeltje Van Cleef, N.J.B. & C.
10  Baptism of Johannes Van Cleve, N.J.B. & C.
11  Find-a-Grave listing of John Van Cleef  
12  Baptism of Martha Van Cleef, son of Johannes Van Cleef and Maria Kraffert, N.J.B. & C.
13  Baptism of Derrick Van Cleve (older), N.J.B. & C.
14  Baptism of Derrick Van Cleve (younger), N.J.B. & C.
15  Baptism of Marike Van Kleve, N.J.B. & C.
16  WikiTree listing of Marike van Kleve https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Van_Kleve-1
17  Find-a-Grave listing of Richard Van Cleaf  
18  Baptism of Benjamin Van Cleve, N.J.B. & C.
19  Marriage record of Benjamin Van Cleef and Neeltje Couwenhoven, NJ Marriage records, 1683-1802, Vol. XXII

From a Flatbush Farm — Aucke Reyniersen Van Henglen

B. before 1672 in (probably) Flatbush, New York¹
M. 1695 in Long Island, New York²
Wife: Ida Vonck
D. before 20 Jan 1740 in Somerset County, New Jersey³

Centuries before Brooklyn was a patchwork of ethnic communities, it was a patchwork of farms, and Aucke Reynierssen Van Henglen was born on one of them. His parents were Reynier Arents and Jannetje Aukes Van Nuys, who had been married in 1666.¹ The date of his birth isn’t known, but Aucke was old enough to take the oath of allegiance to England in 1687, so he must have been born before 1672.¹ He was likely named for his maternal grandfather, Aucke Janse Van Nuys, who would have been part of his childhood. Aucke had ten siblings, plus one older half-brother (several of the children seem to have died young).

When Aucke came of age, his name appeared on a 1692 land transaction, purchasing some property in nearby Bushwick,¹ the northernmost of the “six towns” of Brooklyn. In 1695, Aucke married Ida Vonck,² a young woman who was from Southampton. Between about 1697 and 1721, they had a dozen children. On October 20, 1700, Aucke bought a second farm, this time from his father.¹ The land included some “salt meadows” in a place referred to as “Keuters-Hook,” which is today in the East New York section of Brooklyn. A salt meadow was land that would sometimes be flooded by seawater, so this property must have been next to Jamaica Bay, near where JFK Airport is today.

Marsh near JFK Airport as it looks today. (Source: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Sometime during the early 18th century, Aucke moved to Somerset County, New Jersey,³ a place where many of the Dutch of Brooklyn were migrating. He acquired a vast amount of land of over 250 acres on both sides of the Millstone River where he operated a farm into the 1730s.³ Some of his married children moved there with their families as well.

Aucke made out his will on June 9, 1738,³ and died around the beginning of 1740. His will was proved on January 20th, and an inventory was taken on March 6th.³ At the time of his death, he owned three slaves worth a total of £140; he also had many heads of cattle and some horses. His wife and all of his children seemed to survive him; it isn’t known when Ida died.

Children:
1. Reynier Van Henglen — B. about 1697, Long Island, New York;⁴ D. before 10 Jan 1774, Hillsborough, New Jersey;⁵ M. Geertje Volleman (~1709-?), 1726, Long Island, New York⁵

2. Magdelena Van Henglen — B. before 23 Oct 1698, Long Island, New York;⁵ D. after 1769;⁶ M. Christoffel Van Arsdalen (~1696-1769), about 1717, in New York or New Jersey⁷

3. Hendrick Van Henglen — B. before 11 Aug 1700, Long Island, New York⁵

4. Tryntje Aukes Van Henglen — B. before 12 Jul 1702, New York⁸

5. Cornelius Van Henglen³

6. Aernout Van Henglen³

7. Catherine Van Henglen³

8. Maritje Van Henglen³

9. Femmetje Van Henglen³

10. Ida Van Henglen — B. about 1710;⁹ D. 23 Jun 1803;⁹ M. Cornelius Jacobse Wyckoff (1709-1737)⁹

11. Alida Van Henglen — B. about 1712;¹⁰ D. about 1784;¹⁰ M. Paulus Amerman (1712-~1781), about 1740¹⁰

12. Ouke Van Hanglen — B. before 8 Oct 1721, New Utrecht, New York¹¹

Sources:
1    “Notes of the Rynearson (Van Hengel) Family,” Somerset County Historical Quarterly, Vol. 5., p 286
2    WikiTree listing of Auke Rynierse van Henglen  
3    Probate record of Ouke Reynierse, Documents Related to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol.XXX, pp. 395-396
4    Rough age based on marriage date
5    “Notes of the Rynearson (Van Hengel) Family,” Somerset County Historical Quarterly, Vol. 6., p. 55
6    A Genealogy of Reyniersen Family, Peter M. Rinearson and Arthur P. Rynearson, 1997
7    “Christoffel Van Aersdalen," Charles R. Vanorsdale, The Vanguard, Vol. III, No. 2, December 2000
8    Baptismal record of Trijntie Ouke, New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962, FamilySearch.org
9    WikiTree listing of Idah (Reyniersen) Wyckoff  
10  WikiTree listing of Alida Aukes van Henglen  
11  Baptismal record of Auken V Hengelen, N.Y.B. & C.

Killed in Peach Tree War — Arent Theunissen Van Henglen

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. 

Susquehannock warriors.

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 — B. about 1641, Hengelo, Netherlands; D. after 17 Sep 1721; M. (1) Annetje Hermans, New Netherland; (2) Jannetje 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

A Tangled Colonial Dutch Family — Adrian Hegeman

B. 1 Feb 1719 in New Utrecht, New York
M. 10 May 1742 in (probably) Kings County, New York
Wife: Sarah Terhune
D. (possibly) 4 Aug 1793 in Somerset County, New Jersey

Like many other males in his extended family, Adrian Hegeman was named for his great-grandfather, who was the first of the family to settle in America. By 1760, there were something like 15 men who had the same name, creating confusion for genealogists for years to come.

The Adrian Hegeman of this biography was born on February 1, 1719 in New Utrecht, New York, part of present-day Brooklyn. His father was also named Adrian, and his mother was only known as Sarah. He was the oldest of their six children, and had four half-siblings from his father’s previous marriage.

Adrian got married on May 10, 1742 to Sarah Terhune, a 21-year-old woman, with the wedding probably in present-day Brooklyn. Within two years, the couple had settled in Somerset County, New Jersey, where other members of Adrian’s extended family were already living. Their first child was born in March of 1744, and by 1756, they had four more. The three youngest children were baptized at Harlingen, the main Dutch Reformed Church in Somerset County during the mid-18th century.

A Dutch Reformed church in 18th-century New Jersey.

It can be assumed that Adrian became a part of the Dutch community in Somerset County, but there seems to be no significant records of him beyond the baptisms of his children. At age 58, he was too old to be a soldier in the American Revolution, which happened nearby. During much of 1777, Washington’s army was camped in central New Jersey, and it’s likely that Adrian could hear the distant sounds of battle from his home.

Adrian is thought to have died on August 4, 1793 in Somerset County, New Jersey. It’s believed that his wife survived him, and passed away in 1799.

Children:
1. Sarah Hegeman — B. 13 Mar 1744, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. about Oct 1820, Hillsborough, New Jersey; M. Peter A. Dumont (1734-1818), 23 Feb 1763, Somerset County, New Jersey

2. Alche Hegeman — B. 27 Jul 1749, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 13 Jun 1816, (probably) New Jersey; M. Jacob Vandeventer (1739-1810)

3. Adrian Hegeman — B. 12 Nov 1751, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 3 May 1809, (probably) New Jersey

4. Anne Hegeman — B. 7 Sep 1754, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 31 Mar 1774, (probably) New Jersey

5. Derick Hegeman — B. 20 Apr 1756, Somerset County, New Jersey; D. 18 Oct 1776, (probably) New Jersey

Sources: 
WikiTree
Hageman-Pendleton Genealogy, Ora E. Burnett and Ethel Millies, 1985
Military pension file of Christopher & Sarah Van Arsdalen, Somerset County, New Jersey, 1832-1843
Adrian’s Descendants Pt. 3, Genealogy.com, James LaLone, 2000 

Aided by the Orphanmasters — Evert Jansz Van Wicklen

B. before 17 Jun 1660 in Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands
M. after 27 Feb 1690 in Flatbush, New York
Wife: Metje Simonse Van Arsdalen
D. about 1720 in Flatbush, New York

Evert Jansz Van Wicklen arrived in America as a small child, and both of his parents died within a few years. But with the help of others, he grew up to became a productive member of his community.

Evert was born in 1660 in Wijckel, Netherlands, located in the Friesland section, and was baptized on June 17th of that year. His parents were Jentie Jeppes and Tijedtske Gerrits; he was the fourth of their seven children, three of whom died young. When Evert was just 4-years-old, his family sailed on the ship D’Eendracht, which arrived in New Amsterdam on July 19, 1664. They seem to have lived in Flatbush in 1665 before moving to the town of Bergen the following year, which was across the Hudson River in present-day New Jersey. It was here that Evert’s mother died.

The church in Wijckel, Netherlands.

When Evert’s father remarried on December 4, 1666, it triggered the Orphanmasters of New York to order an inventory of his possessions. Although Evert and his siblings had only lost their mother, it was important to establish their inheritance so that their step-mother couldn’t claim it in case their father also died. Orphanmasters were panels of authorities who would oversee such a situation, a system of civic interest that was uniquely Dutch. In addition, a pair of guardians named Focke Jansen and Cornelis Aerts were assigned to the children. Evert’s father was instructed that he must supply his children “with proper food and clothing until they come of age and then pay to each of them a sum of fifty guilders wampum amounting in all to the sum of 200 florins.”

The action of the Orphanmasters became more significant when Evert’s father died sometime before 1673. After his father’s death, Evert and his siblings were thought to have been cared for by someone who lived in Flatlands (part of present-day Brooklyn) because all four of them became members of the Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church when they came of age in the 1680s. Evert signed a contract in 1680 to work as a carpenter on a house belonging to Christoffel Jansen, who also lived in Flatlands. The service was to last for three years, paying him 450 guilders, with the curious add-ons of a “Persian rug” and “free washing of his bed linens with soap” during the term of service.

Evert took the Oath of Allegiance in 1687, which was required for all Dutch men living in the now English colony of New York. About three years later, he got married, with banns published on February 27, 1690 at the Flatbush church, and the wedding likely taking place soon after. His bride was Metje Simonse Van Arsdalen, daughter of Simon Jansen Van Arsdalen. Between about 1692 and 1710, they had seven children who lived to adulthood.

During his married life, Evert lived and worked in various parts of what is now Brooklyn. On February 6, 1696, he received a transfer of land in Midwout from “the heirs of Hendrick Strycker.” He received another transfer of lands in Midwout on May 9, 1707 from Jan Berrien. In 1697, he was paid 150 guilders for making benches at the Flatlands church. The following year he was listed in a census with a household in Flatbush that included he and his wife, along with three children and one slave. He also at some time in his life owned a mill, with a dam and pond, in Brooklyn “near the ferry.”

In 1703, Evert and two other men made a purchase of land in Somerset County, New Jersey consisting of 450 acres. Perhaps he was looking to the future, as many Dutch men in Brooklyn were moving to the area, but he himself probably never lived there. Most of the land seems to have been resold a couple months later.

By February 9, 1720, he was nearing the end of his life, and on that date, he made out his will. He described himself as being “very sick and weak in body,” and his signature was shaky. He likely died not long after. His wife Metje remarried soon after his death to a man named Philip Volkertse. She was last known to be living on December 13, 1740 in Somerset County, New Jersey.

Children:
1. Sytje Van Wicklen — B. about 1692, (probably) Flatbush, New York; M. (1) Hans Jorise Bergen (1684-1726), 16 Aug 1711; (2) Joseph Van Cleef (~1683-?)

2. Pieterneltje Van Wicklen — B. about 1695, (probably) Flatbush, New York; D. 17 May 1759; M. Rem Hegeman (1685-?)

3. Geertje Van Wicklen — B. about 23 Apr 1696, Flatbush, New York; D. before 30 Aug 1769; M. Hendrik Suydam, after 28 Mar 1719, Midwout, New York

4. Jan Van Wicklen — B. about 26 Oct 1698, Flatbush, New York; D. 1732, (probably) New Lots, New York; M. Ida Remsen (1703-?), 3 Jan 1723, (probably) New York

5. Simon Van Wicklen — B. 1700, (probably) Flatbush, New York; D. about 1754, (probably) New Brunswick, New Jersey; M. Gerradina Kouwenhoven (1705-?)

6. Grietje Van Wicklen — B. 1708, (probably) Flatbush, New York; D. before 5 Feb 1782, Millstone, New Jersey; M. William Cornell (1708-1760), before 1735

7. Metje Van Wicklen — B. about 1710, (probably) Flatbush, New York; D. about 1785, Roycefield, New Jersey; M. Bergon Brokaw (1711-1799), before 1740, (probably) Somerset County, New Jersey

Sources:
"The Van Wicklen/Van Wickle Family: Including Its Frisian Origin and Connections to Minnerly and Kranckheyt,” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.128, no. 2, Harry Macy Jr., 1997
Genealogies of New Jersey Families: Families A-Z, pre-American notes on old New Netherland families, Joseph R. Kleft, 1996
Dutch Genealogy (website)
WikiTree

Office Holder in Early Brooklyn — Joris Hansen Bergen

B. before 18 Jul 1649 in Brooklyn, New Netherland
M. 1 Sep 1678 in Flatlands, New York
Wife: Sara Janse Strycker
D. 22 Jan 1731 in Brooklyn, New York

During the 17th century, when Brooklyn was populated by mostly Dutch farmers, Joris Hansen Bergen was called upon to serve as one of its civic leaders.

Joris' parents were important early settlers of Brooklyn. His father, Hans Hansen Bergen, owned 400 acres at Wallabout Bay. And his mother, Sarah Jorise Rapalje, was said to be the first European born in what is now New York. Joris was the first of his family to be born in Brooklyn, and he was taken to New Amsterdam to be baptized there at the Dutch Reformed Church on July 18, 1649. His parents had a total of seven children, then his father died when he was about five-years-old. His mother remarried and had seven more children.

On September 1, 1678, Joris married Sara Janse Strycker, who was also from one of the early families in the Dutch colony; the wedding took place in Flatlands. Between 1679 and 1694, they had at least ten children, although the birth years of some are missing from the records. A census taken in 1698 showed that there were 11 children in their household, so there may have been another child whose name is unknown.

From 1690 to 1699, Joris served the community as one of the “commissioners of the common lands” of Brooklyn. During colonial times in Brooklyn, small groups of men were elected to oversee court proceedings, investigate civil disputes, and handle assessments of property. In 1703, the title of “commissioner” was replaced by “supervisor,” and Joris was voted into that position servng basically the same function. He was also a church elder at the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn during the years 1698 and 1702.

Dutch Reformed Church in Brooklyn.

Joris owned large amounts of land in what is today Brooklyn. In 1695, he asked permission to “enclose his lands all together.” He also requested that a new highway be built between Brooklyn and Flatbush. Presumably this was so he could transport goods and farm products more easily between the towns on Long Island.

Some of the Dutch settlers in Brooklyn were slave owners, and Joris was no exception. In 1701, he was fined 8 shillings for not bringing one of his slaves “before the court as bound to the sheriff.” This was in regard to an incident of September 15th. Two slaves, one belonging to Joris and the other belonging to his brother Michel, had disturbed the peace by “drinking, fighting and hallooing all night.” The pair had assaulted another slave and “dangerously wounded” him, although the other man was said to have started the fight. All three were sentenced to “receive 13 lashes on their naked backs.” They were also imprisoned until their masters paid 20 shillings each; it isn’t known if Joris submitted to the fine, but he likely did.

Joris lived a long life, dying in Brooklyn on January 22, 1731. His wife Sarah survived him, passing away in 1736.

Children:
1. Lammetje Jorise Bergen — B. before 20 Dec 1679, New York; D. about 1710; M. Joris Remsen, before 1701

2. Sara Jorise Bergen — B. before 13 Mar 1681, New York; D. 29 May 1722; M. Cornelius Ryerson (1684-1761), 29 Jan 1701

3. Aeltje Jorise Bergen — B. before 15 Oct 1682, New Utrecht, New York; D. about 1724; M. Rem Joris Remsen, 17 Aug 1707, Flatbush, New York

4. Hans Jorise Bergen — B. before 31 Aug 1684, New Utrecht, New York; D. before 1 Oct 1726, Hempstead, New York; M. Sitje Van Wicklen, 16 Aug 1711

5. Jannetje Jorise Bergen — B. before 27 May 1688, Brooklyn, New York; D. before 18 Jan 1745; M. Hendrik Vroom (1683-1769), 21 Jan 1711, New Jersey

6. Annetje Jorise Bergen — B. before 9 Mar 1690, Brooklyn, New York

7. Jan Jorisen Bergen — B. before 17 May 1694, Brooklyn, New York

8. Brechje Jorise Bergen — B. before 24 May 1696, New York

9. Joris Bergen — B. unknown date; D. before 8 Apr 1749; M. Fransyntje Abrahamse

10. Catherine Bergen — B. unknown date; M. Petrus Ewoutze (1703-1776), 21 Sep 1726

Sources:
The Bergen Family: The Descendants of Hans Hansen Bergen, Teunis G. Bergen, 1876
The Colony of New Netherland: A Dutch Settlement in Seventeenth century America, Jaap Jacobs, 2009
Descendants of Hans Hansen, Progenitor of the Bergen Family 
Notes, Geographical and Historical, Relating to the Town of Brooklyn, on Long-Island, Gabriel Furman, 1824
Hans Hansen Bergen (Wikipedia article)
WikiTree
Find-A-Grave