A Fresh Start in New France — Anne Girard

B. before 3 Feb 1630 in St Cyr-du-Vaudreuil, Normandy, France¹
M. 22 Oct 1665, Château-Richer, New France²
Husband: Nicolas Daudelin
D. 23 Aug 1710, Varennes, New France³

It’s easy to romanticize the story of the Filles du Roi — young women of France who signed up to become brides to strangers in colonial America. But in reality, this was a choice often made in desperation; those who took this course usually had no other option in life.

Such was likely the case for Anne Girard. She was born in 1630 to Michel Girard and Françoise de Giffard, and was one of five children. Anne was baptized on February 3rd at the parish of Cyr-du-Vaudreuil in Normandy along with a twin brother named Gilles.⁴ Anne’s mother was also a twin,⁴ and this seems to have been a genetic trait. It's interesting that the name “de Giffard” suggests she had a higher social status — Anne’s baptism designated her as demoiselle, which was also an indicator of rank.

Anne’s father didn't seem to share his wife's status because records show that he made a living as a cart maker.⁴ When Anne was 7-years-old, her mother died,⁴ and her father remarried, having five more children with his second wife.⁴ Later, her father was again widowed and married a third time.⁴

There's something of a mystery in the fact Anne didn’t get engaged to be married until she was 29-years-old. Her husband-to-be was named Nicolas Loton, but before they were married, she became pregnant by him. Anne gave birth to a girl on February 28, 1660 who died within a couple of days.⁴ Loton seems to have backed out of marrying Anne, and nothing more is known of him. Anne’s father passed away in 1661,⁴ and this likely left her without much of a means of support. And since she had the stigma of an out-of-wedlock child, it may have been extremely challenging to attract someone who would marry her. 

Baptismal record of Anne's out-of-wedlock child. (Source: Michigan’s Habitant Heritage, Vol. 28)

Then in 1665, Anne found a new chance in life by migrating to America as a Fille du Roi. In New France, the social norms tended to be looser (she also may have been able to hide her past). After Anne arrived, she was soon under contract to marry Nicolas Daudelin, with the wedding taking place on October 22nd in Château-Richer.² The couple settled in Beaupré where Nicholas was a farmer. Like her mother, Anne gave birth to twins, and did it twice — in 1667^5,6 and 1669.^7,8 These were Anne and Nicolas’ only children.

The 1681 census showed that Anne’s family had 37 arpents under cultivation and 19 head of cattle,⁹ so they seemed to be living well. Soon after, they moved to La Pérade, which was west of Quebec City. Nicolas died there on August 25, 1699,¹⁰ and afterward, Anne moved to the Montreal area to be near her children. She passed away at the age of 80 on August 23, 1710 in the seigneury of Varennes.³ Three of Anne's children carried on her bloodline with many descendants (including Leo Durocher) — the legacy of a woman given a second chance as a Fille du Roi.

Children by Nicolas Loton:
1. Marguerite Loton — B. 28 Feb 1660, St Cyr-du-Vaudreuil, Normandy, France;⁴ D. 1 Mar 1660, St Cyr-du-Vaudreuil, Normandy, France⁴

Children by Nicolas Daudelin:
1. Marie-Anne Daudelin — B. 28 Apr 1667, Château-Richer, New France;⁵ D. 1 Jul 1733, Vercheres, New France;¹¹ M. René Provost (~1652-1734), 9 Jan 1684, Ste-Anne-de-la-Pérade, New France¹²

2. Réne Daudelin — B. 28 Apr 1667, Château-Richer, New France;⁶ D. 11 May 1719, Varennes, New France;¹³ M. (1) Marguerite Collet (1669-1703), 7 Jan 1687, Batiscan, New France;¹⁴ (2) Marie-Madeleine Abirou (1680-1736), 1 Dec 1703, Varennes, New France¹⁵

3. Madeleine Daudelin — B. 11 May 1669, Château-Richer, New France;⁷ D. 26 Apr 1750, Varennes, New France;¹⁶ M. (1) Jean-Baptiste Rougeau (1649-1718), 8 Feb 1684, La Pérade, New France;¹⁷ (2) Antoine Berthelet (1675-1755), 30 Jun 1732, Montreal, New France¹⁸

4. Marie Daudelin — B. 11 May 1669, Château-Richer, New France⁸

Sources:


1    Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française listing of Anne Girard
2    Marriage record of Nicolas Daudelin and Anne Girard, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Anne Girard, Q.C.P.R.
4    “My Journey to a Fille du Roi: Anne Girard, wife of Nicolas Daudelin,” by Patricia A. Brundirks, Michigan’s Habitant Heritage, Vol. 28, January 2007
5    Baptismal record of Marie-Anne Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
6    Baptismal record of René Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
7    Baptismal record of Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
8    Baptismal record of Marie Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
9    Recensement de 1681 en Nouvelle-France
10  Burial record of Nicolas Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
11  Burial record of Marie-Anne Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
12  Marriage record of René Provost and Marie-Anne Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
13  Burial record of René Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
14  Marriage record of René Daudelin and Marguerite Collet, Q.C.P.R.
15  Marriage record of René Daudelin and Marie-Madeleine Abirou, Q.C.P.R.
16  Burial record of Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
17  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Rougeau and Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.
18  Marriage record of Antoine Berthelet and Madeleine Daudelin, Q.C.P.R.

A Rugged and Fearless Man — Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne

B. before 10 Feb 1626 in Breil, Anjou, France¹
M. 28 Sep 1648 in Quebec City, New France²
Wife: Marie Archambault
D. 21 Mar 1689 in Montreal, New France³

There were few places more challenging to live in colonial America than Montreal during its first few years. It took men with muscle and nerve to make their home there, plus the wits to survive whatever circumstances threatened them. Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne stands out as one who could more than handle it.

Urbain was born in Breil, France, a town about 60 miles east of La Rochelle, baptized there on February 10, 1626.¹ His parents were Artus Tessier and Jeanne Mesme. Artus was a carpenter and likely taught the trade to his son. The exact date of Urbain’s arrival in New France isn’t known, but it was some time after 1641 and before 1648. He may have been recruited while still in France to help settle a new post in the west, Ville-Marie (later renamed Montreal), and on January 10, 1648, he was granted a tract of land there.⁴ The post was set up for the purpose of fur trading, but needed men with skills like Urbain to help construct buildings. Urbain was a “long sawyer,”⁵ which meant he used the kind of saw that turned raw timber into planks of wood. He was known to have built many early houses in Montreal, and he also supplied wood to other settlers in the community.⁵

Working as a long sawyer. (AI-generated image)

After he received his grant of land, Urbain looked to find a wife, and on September 28, 1648, he married Marie Archambault in Quebec City.² He may have connected with her through a friend, Michel Chauvin, who had earlier married her sister Anne. Another sister named Jacquette was married on the same day as Urbain and Marie. When Marie married, she was not yet 13 years-old, and the following year, she gave birth to a baby boy who didn’t survive.^6,7 Marie and Urbain would go on to have a total of 16 children.

The difficulties of living in a place like Montreal in the mid-17th century went beyond just carving out a home in the wilderness — the greatest threat came from the Iroquois tribe across the river to the south. During 1651, two Montreal settlers were brutally murdered in an Iroquois raid. On May 10th, the attackers came back, said to be 40 men, and set fire to Urbain’s house, as well as his friend Michel Chauvin’s house.⁵ The following month, on June 18th, Urbain had another encounter with the Iroquois. He heard four men who were being attacked in a vulnerable spot away from the settlement, and he rushed to their aid, avoiding being shot as he navigated to their location. The settlers were barricaded in a hut, and after Urbain joined them, they fought off the attack together.⁵

Urbain was known to be fearless against Iroquois attackers, but on March 24, 1661, he was captured with some other settlers and became a prisoner for several months.⁸ The men were taken to a village of the tribe located in present-day New York State. The Iroquois were notorious for torturing their captives, and while a prisoner, one of Urbain’s fingers was cut off. He had no contact with his family during his time with the Iroquois, and his wife Marie didn’t know he if he was dead or alive.

Held captive by the Iroquois. (AI-generated image)

There’s no doubt that Urbain suffered during his captivity; he later admitted becoming so desperate, that he nearly joined his captors when they went off to battle another tribe. It was the Jesuits who negotiated for his release, and he was handed over to them in August along with eight other people. The Jesuits noted that his hand where his finger had been cut off was in pretty bad shape, but it healed enough six months later so that he could use it again.⁸

Even after all he had been through, Urbain wasn’t afraid to fight off the Iroquois yet again. A short time after he had returned home, he woke up in the middle of the night and saw a group of warriors sneaking into town, looking to kill more settlers. He was said to have ”silently awakened his companions, and having the rest of the night for consultation they arranged their plan well, so that some of them sallied from the rear of the house, came cautiously upon the Iroquois, placed them between two fires and captured them all."⁹

As the years passed, the threats in Montreal became less and less as it became more populated. The presence of military in the area also helped, and Urbain lived out the rest of his life in a safer community. He died in Montreal on March 21, 1689;³ his wife Marie survived him by many years, passing away in 1719.¹⁰ Urbain was the ancestor of Pierre and Justin Trudeau, Leo Durocher, Liza Minnelli and Angelina Jolie.¹¹

Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne left a legacy in Montreal that is evident to this day. Saint Urbain Street was said to have been built by him — today, it’s a major street in Montreal.¹² Much of the downtown area was originally part of his land. On the Royal Trust Company building that faces the Notre-Dame Basilica, there are plaques in both French and English that read:

“This building was built on a piece of land initially granted to Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne. This was the 8th concession made to a citizen of the island of Montreal.”

(Source: Jean Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Children:
1. Charles Tessier — B. 19 Jul 1649, Montreal, New France;⁶ D. 24 Jul 1649, Montreal, New France⁷

2. Paul Tessier — B. 5 Feb 1651, Montreal, New France;¹³ D. 26 Apr 1730, Longue-Pointe, New France;¹⁴ M. Marie-Madeleine Cloutier (1662-1748), 13 Oct 1681, Chateau-Richer, New France¹⁵

3. Madeleine Tessier — B. 19 Jul 1653, Montreal, New France¹⁶

4. Laurent Tessier — B. 3 Jun 1655, Montreal, New France;¹⁷ D. 27 Sep 1687, Montreal, New France;¹⁸ M. Anne-Geneviéve Lemire (1664-1750), 20 Oct 1681, Quebec City, New France¹⁹

5. Louise Tessier — B. 26 Mar 1657, Montreal, New France;²⁰ D. 9 Apr 1727, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France;²¹ M. Pierre Payet dit St-Amour (~1641-1719), 23 Nov 1671, Montreal, New France²²

6. Agnés Tessier — B. 23 Mar 1659, Montreal, New France;²³ D. 24 Jan 1733, Montreal, New France;²⁴ M. (1) Guillaume Richard (~1641-1690), 26 Nov 1675 , Montreal, New France;²⁵ (2) Claude Duconge (~1669-1729), 21 Nov 1692, Pointe-aux-Trembles, New France²⁶

7. Urbain Tessier — B. 7Jun 1661, Montreal, New France;²⁷ D. Mar 1685, Montreal, New France²⁸

8. Jean Tessier — B. 14 Jun 1663, Montreal, New France;²⁹ D, 6 Dec 1734, Montreal, New France;³⁰ M. (1) Jeanne LeBer (~1671-1687), 16 Jan 1686, La Prairie, New France;³¹ (2) Louise Caron (~1671-1703), 21 Apr 1688, La Pairie, New France;³² (3) Marie-Catherine Poithier (~1671-1745), 27 Aug 1703, Montreal, New France³³

9. Claude Tessier — B. before 25 Dec 1665, Montreal, New France³⁴

10. Jacques Tessier — B. May 1668, Montreal, New France;³⁵ D. 23 Jun 1670, Montreal, New France³⁶

11. Pétronille Tessier — B. before 18 Mar 1670, Montreal, New France;³⁷ D. 19 May 1751, Pointe-aux-Trembles;³⁸ M. Pierre Janot dit Lachapelle (1660-1725), 31 Jan 1684, Montreal, New France³⁹

12. Jean-Baptiste Tessier — B. before 26 Jan 1672, Montreal, New France;⁴⁰ D. 19 May 1736, Longueuil, New France;⁴¹ M. Élisabeth Renaud (1681-1747), 4 Nov 1698, Montreal, New France⁴²

13. Pierre Tessier — B. Feb 1674, Montreal, New France;⁴³ D. 23 Feb 1674, Montreal, New France⁴⁴

14. Jacques Tessier — B. Mar 1675, Montreal, New France;⁴⁵ D. 7 May 1738, Montreal, New France;⁴⁶ M. Marie Adhémar (1679-1754), 10 Mar 1699, Montreal, New France⁴⁷

15. Ignace Tessier — B. 11 Mar 1677, Montreal, New France;⁴⁸ D. 3 Mar 1747, Repentigny, New France;⁴⁹ M. Marguerite Luissier (1683-1748), 23 May 1703, Repentigny, New France⁵⁰

16. Nicolas Tessier — B. before 17 Jun 1679, Montreal, New France;⁵¹ D. 3 Jan 1757, Montreal, New France;⁵² M. Genevieve Augér (1699-1748), 27 Jan 1716, Montreal, New France⁵³

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Urbain Tessier, Généalogie du Quebec et d’Amérique française
2    Marriage record of Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne and Marie Archambualt, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
3    Burial record of Urbain Tessier dit Lavigne, Q.C.P.R.
4    Find-a-Grave listing for Urbain-Tessier-Lavigne
5    French Canadian and Acadian Genealogical Review, Volume I, No. I, Spring 1968, Rev. Archange Godbout, 1968
6    Baptismal record of Charles Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
7    Burial record of Charles Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
8    Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Volume 36, Reuben Gold Thwaites, 1899
9    The Old Regime in Canada, Francis Parkman, 1874
10  Burial record of Marie Archambault, Q.C.P.R.
11  FamousKin.com listing for Urbain Tessier-Lavigne  
12  Saint Urbain Street (Wikipedia article)
13  Baptismal record of Paul Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
14  Burial record of Paul Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
15  Marriage record of Paul Tessier and Marie-Madeleine Cloutier, Q.C.P.R.
16  Baptismal record of Madeleine Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
17  Baptismal record of Laurent Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
18  Burial record of Laurent Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
19  Marriage record of Laurent Tessier and Anne-Geneviéve Lemire, Q.C.P.R.
20  Baptismal record of Louise Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
21  Burial record of Louise Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
22  Marriage record of Pierre Payet and Louise Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
23  Baptismal record of Agnés Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
24  Burial record of Agnés Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
25  Marriage record of Guillaume Richard dit Lafleur and Agnés Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
26  Marriage record of Claude Duconge and Agnés Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
27  Baptismal record of Urbain Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
28  Burial record of Urbain Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
29  Baptismal record of Jean Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
30  Burial record of Jean Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
31  Marriage record of Jean Tessier and Jeanne LeBar, Q.C.P.R.
32  Marriage record of Jean Tessier and Louise Caron, Q.C.P.R.
33  Marriage record of Jean Tessier and Marie-Catherine Poithier, Q.C.P.R.
34  Baptismal record of Claude Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
35  Baptismal record of Jacques Tessier (older), Q.C.P.R.
36  Burial record of Jacques Tessier (older), Q.C.P.R.
37  Baptismal record of Pétronille Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
38  Burial record of Pétronille Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
39  Marriage record of Pierre Janot dit Lachapelle and Pétronille Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
40  Baptismal record of Jean-Baptiste Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
41  Burial record of Jean-Baptiste Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
42  Marriage record of Jean-Baptiste Tessier and Élisabeth Renaud, Q.C.P.R.
43  Baptismal record of Pierre Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
44  Burial record of Pierre Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
45  Baptismal record of Jacques Tessier (younger), Q.C.P.R.
46  Burial record of Jacques Tessier (younger), Q.C.P.R.
47  Marriage record of Jacques Tessier and Marie Adhemar, Q.C.P.R.
48  Baptismal record of Ignace Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
49  Burial record of Ignace Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
50  Marriage record of Ignace Tessier and Marguerite Lussier, Q.C.P.R.
51  Baptismal record of Nicolas Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
52  Burial record of Nicolas Tessier, Q.C.P.R.
53  Marriage record of Nicolas Tessier and Genevieve Auger, Q.C.P.R.

A Farmer in Lower Manhattan — Teunis Nyssen

B. about 1615 in Bunnik, Utrecht, Netherlands¹
M. 11 Feb 1640 in New Amsterdam, New Netherland²
Wife: Phoebe Sayles
D. before 7 Jun 1663 In Brooklyn, New Netherland³

It’s hard to imagine, but there was a time when much of lower Manhattan was farmland. This is the story of a man who lived there named Teunis Nyssen. He was born in Bunnik, Netherlands in the province of Utrecht, roughly in about 1615.¹ There has been speculation about who his parents were, but the information has not been confirmed.

The exact date of when Teunis arrived in America is unknown. The earliest record of him was in a court proceeding in New Amsterdam on July 15, 1638 when he filed a suit against a man named Gerrit Jansen over “delivery of a cow” (the case was ruled in his favor).⁴ This would suggest he was already established as a farmer, putting his arrival maybe a year before that date, if not earlier. A record of a 1639 transaction of property near the Hudson River mentioned that Teunis had once lived on that land.⁵

Farming in early Manhattan. (AI-generated image)

On February 11, 1640, Teunis married Femmetje Jans,² a girl who at the young age of 15 was the widow of a man named Hendrick de Boer. Teunis and Femmetje would have nine children born between about 1641 and 1655. She was originally from England, born with the name Phoebe Sayles. Her family had migrated to New England, but her father was somewhat of a trouble-maker there, and relocated to the Dutch colony with his daughter in 1638. His name was John Sayles which he changed to Jan Celes after he moved to New Amsterdam.⁶

When Jan died in 1645, he left part of his farm to his son-in-law, Teunis.⁷ The tract of land, which was called “Old Jan’s Farm,” was located just above the present-day Canal Street in what would one day be the western end of Soho. The farm was surrounded by other farms and had frontage on the Hudson River.

Approximate location of Teunis' farm on today's map. Before landfill, it was waterfront property.

Teunis was involved in several other land sales during the next couple of years. On December 1, 1646, he bought a house on a lot located on the “great highway” (the early name for Broadway).⁸ It was “opposite the Company garden” and he paid 160 guilders for it. A few years later, on May 13, 1649, he sold the place to someone else.⁹ As for the farm he owned in Manhattan, he sold that on June 15, 1651.¹⁰

At that point, Teunis seems to have left Manhattan. It’s believed that the family lived in Gowanus on land bounded by modern-day streets Carroll, President, 4th and 5th.¹¹ Teunis returned to New Amsterdam for the baptism of two sons in April 1654.¹² It isn't known if the boys were twins, or if they were born at separate times during years when the family didn't have easy access to a church.

Brooklyn and its surrounding towns became Teunis' home for the remainder of his life. He was a magistrate from 1658 to 1661,¹³ and he and his wife became members of the Brooklyn Dutch Reformed Church when it was founded in 1660.¹⁴ Teunis died before June 7, 1663, when his wife Femmetje was recorded on a document as a widow.³ She remarried later that year, but passed away on December 13, 1666. Teunis and Femmetje were ancestors of actor James Spader.¹⁶

Children:
1. Jannetje Teunise — B. before 22 Dec 1641, New Amsterdam, New Netherland;¹⁷ D. after 1734, Long Island City, New York;¹⁸ M. Titus de Vries (~1630-1689), 7 Mar 1660, Brooklyn, New Netherland¹⁸

2. Marretje Teunise — B. before 3 Apr 1644, New Amsterdam, New Netherland;¹⁹ M. Derick Janse Woertman (1630-1694), 1660, Brooklyn, New Netherland²⁰

3. Annetje Teunise — B. before 18 Feb 1646, New Amsterdam, New Netherland;²¹ M. Jeronimus Jorise Rapalje (1643-?)²²

4. Elsje Teunise — B. before 10 May 1648, New Amsterdam, New Netherland;²³ M. Gerret Snedeker (1640-1692), 2 Dec 1669, Brooklyn, New York²⁴

5. Femmetje Teunise — B. before 3 Apr 1650, New Netherland;²⁵ M. Michiel Hansen Bergen (~1646-~1712)²⁶

6. Cornelis Teunissen Denyse — B. (probably) Gowanus, New Netherland;²⁷ D. 3 Nov 1731, Raritan, New Jersey;²⁷ M. Neeltje Tuneisen Bogaert (~1665-?), 22 Aug 1687, New York²⁸

7. Denyse Teunissen — B. before 12 Apr 1654, Gowanus, New Netherland;²⁹ M. (1) Elizabeth Polhemius (1660-1683), 22 Oct 1682, Flatbush, New York;²⁹ (2) Helen Cortelyou, 12 Aug 1685, New York²⁹

8. Jan Teunise Van Middleswart —B. before 12 Ap 1654, Gowanus, New Netherland;³⁰ D. after 1742;³¹ M. Catalyntje Tunisen Bogaert (1657-1707), 16 Nov 1679, Flatbush, New York³¹

9. Aertije Teunise — B. about 1656, (probably) Gowanus, New Netherland³²

Sources:
1    Estimated birth year based on the year of his marriage
2    Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol. 1, 1890, p. 110
3    Femmetje filed a petition concerning her deceased husband’s estate dated 7 Jun 1663
4    Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, N.Y., Edmund Bailey O’Callaghan, 1865, p. 63
5    The Iconography of Manhattan Island, Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes, Victor Hugo Paltsits, and Frederik Caspar Wieder, 1915, p. 148
6    Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, Robert Charles Anderson, pp. 1616-1618
7    Patent of Tonis Nysen for a lot on Manhattan Island, 3 Apr 1647, New York State Archives, Dutch colonial patents and deeds, 1630-1664, Series A1880, Vol. GG 
8    Contract of sale of a house and lot on Manhattan Island from Leendert Arenden to Tonis Nyssen, New York State Archives  
9    Deed from Tonis Nyssen to G. Loockermans of a lot at Manhattan, opposite the Company’s garden, New York State Archives  
10  The Iconography of Manhattan Island, Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes, Victor Hugo Paltsits, and Frederik Caspar Wieder, 1915, p. 147
11  The Bergen family: the Descendants of Hans Hansen Bergen, Teunis G. Bergen, 1876, p.100
12  Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol. 2, 1890
13  “Notes on Various Old Somerset Families, Tunison Families — Line of Dr. Garret, of Somerville,” Somerset County Historical Quarterly Vol. 7, pages 225-228
14  Year book of the Holland Society of New-York, 1897, p. 134 [church membership]
15  “The Family of Dirck Janszen Woertman of Brooklyn Ferry,” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vols. 132-133 (2001-2002)
16  FamousKin.com listing of Teunis Nyssen  
17  Baptismal record of Jannetje Teunise, Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol. 2, 1890
18  WikiTree listing for Jannetje Teunis  
19  Baptismal record of Marretje Teunise, Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol. 2, 1890
20  WikiTree listing for Marritje Teunis
21  Baptismal record of Annetje Teunise, Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol. 2, 1890
22  WikiTree listing for Annetje Teunis  
23  Baptismal record of Elsje Teunise, Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol. 2, 1890
24  WikiTree listing for Elsje Teunis  
25  Baptismal record of Femmetje Teunise, Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol. 2, 1890
26  WikiTree listing for Femmetje Teunis
27  WikiTree listing for Cornelis (Thuenissen) Teunissen  
28  Marriage record of Cornelis Teunissen and Neeltje Bogaert, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, Vol. 1, 1677-1720, 1998
29  WikiTree listing for Nijs Teunissen  
30  Baptism of Jan Teunisen Nijssen, “The Family of Philip (Sole) Sales of the Winthrop Fleet,” New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 168, 2014, pp. 55-56
31  WikiTree listing for Jan (Theunissen) van Middleswart  
32  WikiTree listing for Aertje (Denyse) Teunis 

The Chain of Longevity — Amos Carpenter

B. before 6 Nov 1693 in Northampton, Massachusetts¹
M. 23 Oct 1718 in Coventry, Connecticut²
Wife: Deborah Long
D. Jul 1792 in Coventry, Connecticut³

In 18th century America, it was fairly unusual when someone lived past 80-years-old. Medical knowledge was primitive, living conditions were often unsanitary, and other dangers could wreck a person’s good health. That’s why the lifespan of someone like Amos Carpenter makes you wonder what he did differently. 

Amos was born to Benjamin Carpenter and Hannah Strong, and he was christened on November 6, 1693 in Northampton, Massachusetts,¹ the third of twelve children. When he was 14-years-old, the family moved to Coventry, Connecticut,⁴ a new settlement where Amos would spend the rest of his life. He bought some land from his father in 1717,⁵ and on October 23rd of the following year, he married Deborah Long.² Between 1719 and 1744, they had 14 children.

Like all New England towns, every man in Coventry was expected to perform some civic duty, and starting in 1721, Amos was assigned to jobs such as “lister and inspector,” collector, and tithingman.⁶ After 1739, his name no longer appeared in town meeting notes. There is little else noteworthy about his life; he didn’t fight in any wars, and he didn’t make trouble in the community. He was a farmer who seems to have kept a low profile

But Amos did do one thing: he lived nearly a hundred years. After his wife Deborah died at an unknown date, he passed away in July 1792 in his 99th year.³ How could someone born that long ago live to such an age? There’s reason to believe that genetics played a part — Amos was part of a chain of people who lived to near-90 or older. There must have been something in the DNA Amos inherited and passed to his descendants that led to his longevity.

Children:
1. Seth Carpenter — B. 18 Jul 1719, Coventry, Connecticut⁷

2. Mary Carpenter — B. 18 Jul 1719, Coventry, Connecticut⁸

3. John Carpenter — B. 20 Feb 1722, Coventry, Connecticut⁹

4. Seth Carpenter — B. 13 Apr 1723, Coventry, Connecticut¹⁰

5. Elisha Carpenter — B. 27 Apr 1725, Coventry, Connecticut;¹¹ D. 14 Jul 1816, Granville County, North Carolina;¹² M. Deliverance Meraugh (~1728-?), 14 Apr 1748, Coventry, Connecticut¹³

6. Timothy Carpenter — B. 5 May 1727, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁴ M. Miriam Parker, 8 Feb 1759, Coventry, Connecticut¹⁵

7. Rachel Carpenter — B. 29 Mar 1729, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁶ D. 28 Feb 1816, Westhampton, Massachusetts;¹⁷ M. (1) Joshua Boynton (1723-1752), 9 Nov 1749, Coventry, Connecticut;¹⁸ (2) Ebenezer French (1731-?), 5 Sep 1754, Coventry, Connecticut¹⁹

8. Phebe Carpenter — B. 20 May 1731, Coventry, Connecticut²⁰

9. Joshua Carpenter — B. 30 Jun 1734, Coventry, Connecticut;²¹ M. Submit Webster (1734-1815), 15 Jan 1755, Lebanon, Connecticut²²

10. Anna Carpenter — B. 22 Sep 1736, Coventry, Connecticut;²³ M. Benjamin Fenton, 24 Feb 1768, Willington, Connecticut²⁴

11. Ephraim Carpenter — B. 1 Apr 1738, Coventry, Connecticut;²⁵ M. Mary Wheeler, 21 May 1761, Columbia, Connecticut²⁶

12. Simeon Carpenter — B. 23 Mar 1740, Coventry, Connecticut;²⁷ D. 21 Oct 1830, Waterbury, Vermont;²⁸ M. Anna Burton (1750-1841), 11 May 1769²⁹

13. Dan Carpenter — B. about 1742, Connecticut;³⁰ M. Rebecca Smith³⁰

14. Azubah Carpenter — B. 13 Sep 1744, Connecticut;³¹ M. Perez Sprague, 16 Dec 1782, Coventry, Connecticut³²

Sources:
1    Christening record of Amos Carpenter, Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Amos Carpenter and Deborah Long, Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997, FamilySearch.org
3    Connecticut Courant, 23 Jul 1792, “Died at Coventry, Mr. Amos Carpenter, aged 99.”
4    History of Northampton, Massachusetts: From its Settlement in 1654, Vol. 1, James Russell Trumbull and Seth Pomeroy, 1898
5    Carpenter Cousins (website)  
6    Coventry, Connecticut town records, FamilySearch.org  
7    Birth record of Mary Carpenter, Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, FamilySearch.org
8    Birth record of Seth Carpenter (older), C.B. & C.
9    Birth record of John Carpenter, C.B. & C.
10  Birth record of Seth Carpenter (younger), C.B. & C.
11  Birth record of Elisha Carpenter, C.B. & C.
12  Find-a-Grave listing of Elisha Carpenter  
13  Marriage record of Elisha Carpenter and Deliverance Meraugh, C.M.
14  Birth record of Timothy Carpenter, C.B. & C.
15  Marriage record of Timothy Carpenter and Miriam Parker, C.M.
16  Birth record of Rachel Carpenter, C.B. & C.
17  Find-a-Grave listing for Rachel F. (Carpenter) Boynton 
18  Marriage record of Joshua Boynton and Rachel Carpenter, C.M.
19  Marriage record of Ebenezer French and Rachel Carpenter, C.M.
20  Birth record of Phebe Carpenter, C.B. & C.
21  Birth record of Joshua Carpenter, C.B. & C.
22  Marriage record of Joshua Carpenter and Submit Webster, C.M.
23  Birth record of Anna Carpenter, C.B. & C.
24  Marriage record of Benjamin Fenton and Anne Carpenter, C.M.
25  Birth record of Ephraim Carpenter, C.B. & C.
26  Marriage record of Timothy Carpenter and Miriam Parker, Connecticut Vital Records, prior to 1850, FamilySearch.org
27  Birth record of Simeon Carpenter, C.B. & C.
28  Death record of Simeon Carpenter, Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954, FamilySearch.org
29  WikiTree listing for Simeon Carpenter  
30  Geni listing for Dan Carpenter  
31  Birth record of Azubah Carpenter, C.B. & C.
32  Marriage record of Perez Sprague and Azubah Carpenter, C.M.

Marrying into a Creole Family — Isabelle Hunter

B. about 1803 in (probably) Knox County, Indiana¹
M. 11 Jun 1826 in Vincennes, Indiana²
Husband: Jean Baptiste Edeline
D. 8 Jan 1872 in Vincennes, Indiana³

During the first few decades of the 19th century, the town of Vincennes, Indiana was undergoing a cultural shift. It had been founded a couple of generations earlier by French-Canadians, but after the American Revolution, a wave of non-French settlers from the East moved in. Isabelle Hunter was from one such family, and by marrying a French man, she became a part in blending the two groups together. 

Isabelle was born to Robert and Naomi Hunter in about 1803, probably in Vincennes.¹ She seems to have been their oldest child, and the cabin where they lived soon became crowded with the addition of many siblings.⁴ Her father had been born in Ireland,⁵ undoubtedly of Scottish descent, and her mother was from Delaware.⁵ There are no handed-down stories that give any clue as to how and why Robert and Naomi both ended up in Vincennes. While the family was later shown to belong to the Presbyterian church,⁶ no records exist showing Isabelle ever being a member.

On June 11, 1826, Isabelle married Jean Baptiste Edeline in Vincennes, Indiana.² Since she wasn’t Catholic, they weren’t allowed to be married in the church that Jean’s family attended, so it was a civil marriage. Jean had a long heritage in Vincennes going back to the days when it was a French fur trading outpost. The French people in Vincennes were considered “Creoles" — they had their own traditions, food and music which was a hybrid of French, Native-American and American frontier culture. This was certainly very different from the lifestyle Isabelle grew up with.

Isabelle's marriage record.

Between 1827 and 1848, Isabelle gave birth to seven children, one of whom died as an infant.⁷ Her oldest boy died at age 14.⁸ All of the children were baptized as Catholics, except possibly the two youngest because there is no record of them in the church. The family had a farm on the southern outskirts of Vincennes, and the children did go to school, at least for a few years.⁹

19th-century farm outside Vincennes, Indiana. (AI-generated image)

In March 1849, Jean died, probably of a sudden illness because his will was written just days before his death.¹⁰ Isabelle's youngest son was a baby, but the other two boys were almost of age and helped keep the farm going. The 1850 census showed the farm to have a value of $1,500,⁵ considerably more than the ones around it. By 1860, though, one of Isabelle’s sons was listed as the head of the household and the farm was worth a lot less money.⁹

Isabelle spent her remaining years among her children, and was with her married daughter’s family in 1870.¹ She died two years later on January 8, 1872 in Vincennes.³ The family got permission to have her buried next to her husband in a small Catholic cemetery. Unfortunately, the cemetery was desecrated years later by a farmer who used the headstones for the foundation of his barn.³

Children:
1. Joseph Edeline — B. 21 Oct 1827, Vincennes, Indiana;¹¹ D. Jan 1842, Vincennes, Indiana⁹

2. Marie Jeanne Edeline — B. 5 Oct 1829, Vincennes, Indiana;¹² D. about 1851, Indiana;¹⁰ M. Paul D. Richardville (~1825-?)), 21 Sep 1850, Knox County, Indiana¹⁰

3. Robert A. Edeline — B. 26 Sep 1831, Vincennes, Indiana;¹³ D. after 1870;¹ M. Suzanne Queret (~1840-?), 14 Jan 1861, Vincennes, Indiana¹⁴

4. John Edeline — B. 9 Dec 1833, Vincennes, Indiana;¹⁵ D. 23 May 1896, Cairo, Illinois;¹⁰ M. (1) Eliza Joyeuse (~1836-~1873), 19 Feb 1855, Vincennes, Indiana;¹⁰ (2) Moliea Pauline Owens (1848-1927), 18 May 1875, Vincennes, Indiana¹⁰

5. Patience Naomi Edeline — B. 10 Feb 1838, Vincennes, Indiana;¹⁶ D. before 24 Oct 1838, Vincennes, Indiana⁷

6. Isabelle Edeline — B. 10 Apr 1840, Vincennes, Indiana;¹⁷ D. 24 Mar 1895, Vincennes, Indiana;¹⁷ M. John Richard Glass (1830-1908), 25 Jul 1858, Vincennes, Indiana¹⁰

7. William L. Edeline — B. about 1848, (probably) Vincennes, Indiana;¹⁸ D. before 24 Oct 1876, (probably) Knox County, Indiana;¹⁹ M. Mary Louise Ravellette (1850-1918), 24 Nov 1868, Knox County, Indiana²⁰

Sources:
1    1870 U.S. Census, Vincennes, Indiana
2    Marriage record of Isabella Hunter, Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1806-1861, Ancestry.com
3    Find-a-Grave listing for Isabella (Hunter) Edeline 
4    1815 Vincennes land ownership list which shows Robert Hunter with lot 157
5    1850 U.S. Census, Vincennes, Indiana
6    Minutes of the Session of the Indiana Church, Knox County, Indiana, Mary Aline Polk, 1965
7    Burial record of Little Deline, St. Francis Xavier parish records, 4 Oct 1838
8    Burial record of Joseph Edeline, St. Francis Xavier parish records, Jan 1842
9    1860 U.S. Census, Vincennes, Indiana
10  “My Ancestry & their descendants plus misc research,” Denis Paul Edeline, RootsWeb.Ancestry.com
11  Baptismal record of Joseph Edeline, St. Francis Xavier parish records, 16 Mar 1828
12  Baptismal record of Marie Jeanne Edeline, St. Francis Xavier parish records, 7 Oct 1829
13  Baptismal record of Robert Deligne, St. Francis Xavier parish records, 22 Nov 1831
14  Marriage record of Robert Edeline and Susan Boyer, St. Francis Xavier parish records, 14 Jan 1861
15  Baptismal record of John Edeligne, St. Francis Xavier parish records, 11 May 1834
16  Baptismal record of Patience Naomi Deline, St. Francis Xavier parish records, 6 Jun 1838
17  Find-a Grave listing of Isabella Edeline Glass 
18  1870 U.S. Census, Vincennes, Indiana
19  Probate record of William Edeline, Knox County Records Library
20  Marriage record of Wm Edoline and M Ravalett, Indiana, U.S., Marriage Index, 1800-1941, Ancestry.com

A Difficult Road to Marriage — Marie-Madeleine Drousson

B. 3 Apr 1689 in La Prairie, New France¹
M. 15 Jan 1720 in Longueuil, New France²
Husband: Louis-Antoine Edeline
D. 25 Aug 1747 in Montreal, New France³

During the times when fur traders and adventurers populated the area around Montreal, their free-spirited culture spilled over into the lives of the women. One of them was Marie-Madeleine Drousson, who was connected to several family scandals during her lifetime.

Madeleine was born on April 3, 1689 in La Prairie, New France,¹ which was across the St. Lawrence River from Montreal. Her parents were Robert Drousson dit Lafleur and Marie-Jeanne Tarde, and she was one of 9 or 10 children in their family. The reason for the confusion about the number of siblings is that one of Madeleine’s younger sisters seems to have been fathered by a different man; the baptismal record says the baby was the daughter of Madeleine’s mother without mentioning a father.⁴ A few years later, in April 1706, Madeleine’s older sister Marguerite also gave birth to an out-of-wedlock child.⁵

An impression emerges of a permissive atmosphere in Madeleine’s family and community. La Prairie was populated by rugged men who made frequent fur trading expeditions out west, as well as French soldiers sent over to defend the colony, and these types of men didn’t always live by the rules of society. 

When Madeleine was 18-years-old, she became a servant in the household of Pierre You de La Découverte.⁶ He was a man who had traveled with La Salle during the 1680s, then later had a child with a woman of the Miami tribe in the 1690s.⁷ During the time he was with Madeleine, he was married to a French woman, and lived on the western end of the Montreal island where he engaged in illegal fur trading.⁷ But he also had a home in Montreal, and this was presumably where Madeleine was a live-in maid.

Working as a servant. (AI-generated image)

Madeleine’s job there came to an end when she became pregnant, and Pierre You was accused of being the biological father.⁶ Soon her condition could no longer be hidden, and she was kicked out of the house by You’s wife. She wouldn’t let Madeleine take her clothes with her until she paid 35 livres for items she claimed had been broken by Madeleine’s carelessness (three terrines and four glasses), or that she had stolen (a watch, four towels, a blouse, a skirt and a bar of soap).⁶ Was the mistress of the house being truthful or vindictive? It’s impossible to say.

At this point, Madeleine’s father got involved and told the authorities that their daughter had been more or less raped by You. The matter was taken up in court and it was a case of “he-said-she-said.” There was suggestion in the testimony that You had access to Madeleine’s bedchamber and had sexual relations with her in her sleep.⁶ This may have happened when his wife wasn’t at home. The court decided in favor of Madeleine’s father, and she was allowed to get her clothes back.⁶ But Robert Drousson was ordered to “take good and proper care of their daughter and her child so that no accident occurs.”⁶ Did You own up to impregnating Madeleine? It would appear so. On September 9th, Madeleine gave birth to a daughter who was baptized in Montreal, and You attended the baby’s baptism.⁸

Baptism of Marie-Catherine You.

After Madeleine gave birth to her child, she most likely continued to live with her parents, who had moved to Longueuil. Events continued which reflected badly on the character of the Drousson family. In 1713, Madeleine’s father was accused of assaulting two of his neighbors at the Longueuil mill, one of whom he struck with a bayonet.⁹ The existing record doesn’t suggest the outcome of his case, but one of the witnesses was a 16-year-old laborer named Laurent Benoît, and three years later, court records indicate that he seems to have married Madeleine.¹⁰

The problem with the pairing of Madeleine and young Laurent was that their relationship didn’t have the blessing of his parents. On March 11, 1716, they initiated a lawsuit against Madeleine to get her marriage with their son annulled.¹⁰ They claimed the marriage had been obtained “improperly” from the parish priest, and the court agreed, ruling against Madeleine. The marriage (if there was one) seems to have been removed from the parish registers, because no record of it exists. What was the real issue here? It’s easy to speculate that having a child out-of-wedlock offended Laurent’s parents, and they also may have had a problem with the fact she was eight years older than he was. Madeleine did file an appeal the following year, but lost again.¹¹

It wasn’t until Madeleine was 30-years-old that she seems to have gotten her life on track. On January 15, 1720, she married a fur trader named Louis-Antoine Edeline in Longueuil.² This gave her a late start on having a family, and she only bore four children with her husband, two of whom died young. Sadly, she also lost her illegitimate daughter at age 16.¹²

Fur trading expeditions took Louis-Antoine away from home for much of the time. During their marriage, he was known to have made trips to Fort Detroit, Michilimackinac and Grande Rivière.¹³ Typically, a fur trading expedition would last from spring to autumn. Louis-Antoine’s 1730 expedition to Fort Detroit meant that she was alone while pregnant with their youngest child, although he was probably home for the birth in December. His frequent trips continued all the way through their marriage, and for much of the time, Madeleine was left to raise their son and daughter alone.

In July 1747, Louis-Antoine was working as a clerk at Fort des Miamis,¹⁴ a remote trading outpost located in present-day Indiana. Madeleine died in Montreal on August 25, 1747,³ so it’s likely that he was away at the time of her death. She was buried in the graveyard of Notre-Dame “near the church,”³ a structure that was torn down in 1830.¹⁵

Child by Pierre You de La Deécouverte:
1. Marie-Catherine You — B. 9 Sep 1708, Montreal, New France;⁸ D. 22 Jul 1724, Longueuil, New France¹²

Children by Louis-Antoine Edeline:
1. Marie-Louise Antoinette Edeline — B. 25 Oct 1720, Longueuil, New France;¹⁶ D. 25 Apr 1748, Montreal, New France;¹⁷ M. Jacques Denis dit Lyonnais (1716-1755), 25 Nov 1743, Montreal, New France¹⁸

2. Marie-Josephe Edeline — B. 21 Jun 1722, Montreal, New France;¹⁹ D. (probably) young²⁰

3. Antoine Edeline — B. 13 Feb 1725, Longueuil, New France;²¹ D. 19 Oct 1727, Longueuil, New France²²

4. Louis Victor Edeline — B. 23 Dec 1730, Longueuil, New France;²³ D. 28 Apr 1799, Vincennes, Northwest Territory;²⁴ M. Marie Joseph Thomas (~1743-~1808), 14 May 1759, Fort Detroit, New France¹⁴

Sources:
1    Baptismal record of Marie-Madeleine Drousson, Quebec Catholic Parish Registers, 1621-1979, FamilySearch.org
2    Marriage record of Louis-Antoine Edeline and Marie-Madeleine Drousson, Q.C.P.R.
3    Burial record of Marie-Madeleine Drousson, Q.C.P.R.
4    Baptismal record of Marguerite Lafleur, Q.C.P.R.
5    Baptismal record of Marie-Charlotte, daughter of Marguerite Robert Drousson, Q.C.P.R.

6    La Vie Libertine en Nouvelle-France au XVII e Siècle, Vol I, Robert-Lionel Séguin, 1972, pp. 318-319 

7    “You de La Découverte, Pierre,” Dictionary of Canadian Biography 

8    Baptismal record of Marie-Catherine You, Q.C.P.R. 
9    Court record of Barbe Beauchamp vs. Robert Drousson, June 26, 1713 - July 14, 1713, BAnQ 
10  Court record of Laurent Benoit vs. Madeleine Drousson, 11 Mar 1716 to 7 Oct 1716, BAnQ 
11  Court record of Laurent Benoit vs. Madeleine Drousson, 8 Mar 1717, BAnQ 
12  Burial record of Marie-Catherine You, Q.C.P.R.
13  Louis Edeline in Centre du Patrimoine (database of voyageurs contracts) 
14  “My Ancestry & their descendants plus misc research,” Denis Paul Edeline, RootsWeb.Ancestry.com
15  Notre-Dame church (Montreal) Wikipedia article  
16  Baptismal record of Marie-Louise Antoinette Edeline, Q.C.P.R.
17  Burial record of Marie-Louise Antoinette Edeline, Q.C.P.R.
18  Marriage record of Jacques Denis dit Lyonnais and Marie-Louise Antoinette Edeline, Q.C.P.R.
19  Baptismal record of Marie-Josephe Edeline, Q.C.P.R.
20  There is no further record of Marie-Josephe Edeline
21  Baptismal record of Antoine Edeline, Q.C.P.R.
22  Burial record of Antoine Antoinette Edeline, Q.C.P.R.
23  Baptismal record of Louis Victor Edeline, Q.C.P.R.
24  St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Records: Marriages and Deaths 1749-1838, Barbara Schull Wolfe, 1999

Judge and Clerk in Colonial New Jersey — John Brokaw

B. before 26 Oct 1709 in Somerset County, New Jersey¹
M. (1) possibly 1734 in New Jersey²
Wife: Maritje Van Cleef
M. (2) after 2 Apr 1789³
Wife: Catherine __________
D. before 28 Sep 1804 in Bridgewater, New Jersey⁴

John Brokaw’s life spanned a time when people of Dutch heritage were first setting in central New Jersey, all the way into the beginning of the 19th century. In his prime, he gave service to his community, and as an old man, saw the founding of the United States. 

 

John was born in Somerset County, New Jersey to Jan Brokaw and Sarah Janse Van Middleswart, and baptized in the Raritan Dutch Reformed Church on October 26, 1709.¹ He was one of eight children, and the oldest son. In 1725, John's father purchased a large tract of land near Millstone,⁵ and this is where he came of age. John married Maritje Van Cleef, a native of Freehold; one source states they were married in 1734, but no original source is cited.² They settled in Somerset County, where they had twelve children, two of whom died young.

John seems to have been well-educated, holding several important offices in Somerset County; in most of the records he had the title of “esquire” on his name,⁶ suggesting a certain status. He was commissioner of peace in 1752, 1759 and 1769,⁵ and a justice in 1768 and 1767 to 1770.⁵ In 1761, John took on the job of surveying and mapping some land belonging to a neighbor named John Dumont, dividing the tract into smaller lots.⁶ He did the same thing four years later for the estate of another man named Hendrick Wilson.⁶ Then in 1771, the board of Millstone made him their clerk and paid him 30 shillings for the year.⁶

New Jersey was a pivotal location during part of the American Revolution, and support for the cause was very strong among John’s community. His oldest son John served as a lieutenant in the militia, and gave his life for the effort. In October 1777, General Washington led a force in an unsuccessful mission to surprise the British at Germantown, Pennsylvania, and one of the casualties was Lieutenant John.¹ There is a family story that his heroics on the battlefield were so noteworthy that two years later, Washington rode to the home of his widow to “express his sympathy.”¹

The Battle of Germantown.

The years following the war brought more sadness when John’s wife Maritje passed away on April 2, 1789.³ Sometime after this, at the age of at least 80, he remarried to a woman named Catherine whose last name may have been Van Vechten.⁴

As John’s long life drew to a close, he made out a will dated July 5, 1803.⁴ In it, he bequeathed a silver tankard to the son of his son who was killed in the war. John also mentioned a single slave, a woman named Hannah, appearing to free her at his death, but the will has ink spilled across it, obscuring the words. It reads: "I order and devise that my Negro wench named Hannah _____ not be sold but have choice to live where she pleases so that she m__________________.”⁴ John died on September 25, 1804 in Bridgewater.⁴ His probate inventory showed that his estate was valued at a total of $2,779.93.⁴

John's 1803 will with the spilled ink.

Perhaps John’s legacy lies in his surname, which would be handed down to his 5G grandson Tom Brokaw. He was also the ancestor of Humphrey Bogart.⁷

Children (all with Maritje Van Cleef):
1. John Brokaw — B. 5 May 1736, Somerset County, New Jersey;⁵ D. 4 Oct 1777, Germantown, Pennsylvania;¹ M. Maria Vanderveer (1742-?), about 1760¹

2. Catherine Brokaw — B. 18 Oct 1737, Roycefield, New Jersey;⁵ D. 10 Dec 1819, Somerset County, New Jersey;⁵ M. Hendrick Van Arsdalen (1731-1820), about 1755, (probably) New Jersey⁵

3. Henrietta Brokaw — B. 26 Sep 1739, Roycefield, New Jersey;⁵ D. 9 Jan 1829, Millstone, New Jersey;⁸ M. Cornelius Lott (1738-1816)⁸

4. Sarah Brokaw — B. 11 Jan 1741, Somerset County, New Jersey;⁵ D. before 12 Sep 1748⁵

5. Benjamin Brokaw — B. 19 Dec 1743, Somerset County, New Jersey;⁵ D. 27 Apr 1815, Auburn New York⁹

6. Isaac Brokaw — B. 4 Feb 1746, Somerset County, New Jersey;⁵ D. 18 Sep 1826, Morristown, New Jersey;¹⁰ M. Elizabeth Miller (~1750-?), about 1764, New Jersey¹⁰

7. Sarah Brokaw — B. 12 Sep 1748, Somerset County New Jersey;⁵ M. Jacob Van Deventer⁵

8. Derck Brokaw — B. 12 Mar 1751, Somerset County New Jersey;⁵ D. young⁵

9. Mary Brokaw — B. 14 Jun 1753, Somerset County New Jersey;⁵ D. 10 Dec 1833;¹¹ M. Cornelius Van Dyke¹¹

10. Bergon Isaac Brokaw — B. 6 Jan 1756, Somerset County New Jersey;⁵ D. 25 May 1813, Bridgewater, New Jersey;¹² M. Jane Sudyam Mount (1760-1830), 29 Mar 1779, Millstone, New Jersey¹³

11. Richard Brokaw — B. 7 Sep 1758, Somerset County New Jersey;⁵ D. 24 Jan 1841⁵

12. Phebe Brokaw — B. 18 Dec 1760, Somerset County New Jersey;⁵ D. 20 Jan 1808, Bound Brook, New Jersey;¹⁴ M. John Field (1756-?), 22 Jan 1781, Bridgewater, New Jersey¹⁵

Sources:
1    Pre-Revolutionary Dutch Houses and Families in Northern New Jersey and Southern New York, Rosalie Fellows Bailey, 1936, pp. 442-444
2    WikiTree listing for Jan (Broka) Brokaw  
3    WikiTree listing for Marike van Kleve
4    Probate record of John Brokaw, New Jersey Probate Records, 1678-1980, FamilySearch.org
5    Our Brokaw-Brogaw Heritage, Elsie E. Foster, 1967
6    History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey, Everts & Peck, 1881, p. 760 & 776
7    FamousKin.com listing of John Brokaw
8    Find-a-Grave listing of Henrietta (Brokaw) Lott  
9    Find-a-Grave listing of Benjamin Brokaw  
10  Find-a-Grave listing of Isaac Brokaw  
11  Find-a-Grave listing of Mary (Brokaw) Van Dyke  
12  Find-a-Grave listing of Bergun Brokaw  
13  Marriage record of Bergan Brokaw and Jane Mount, New Jersey Marriages, 1678-1985, FamilySearch.org
14  Find-a-Grave listing of Phebe (Brokaw) Field
15  Marriage record of John Field and Phebe Brocaw, N.J.M.