#52Ancestors: Jacob Jansen Van ETTEN 1632-1693, Netherlands to New Amsterdam

 Another post in the year-long challenge, #52Ancestors by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow. Although I am behind, every post is another post! Today I am sharing information on a very early New Amsterdam settler, Jacob Jansen Van ETTEN.  His surname Jansen indicates his father's first name was Jan/John. Because there were many Jacob Jansen persons, Van Etten was added, and shows he came originally from the small town of Etten, southeast of Amsterdam. Above is a map of Etten in the Netherlands. His surname is written a number of ways, sometimes as one word. My standardized surname spelling is Van ETTEN. Jacob is my 8th great-grandfather, 9th to my children, and 10th to my grandchildren.

Jacob's parents might possibly be Johannes Marinessen & Wilhelmina Hoannes from Etten - this has not yet been verified. I have no further information on Jacob's family of origin.

Jacob Van ETTEN, b. 1632, came over to New Amsterdam about 1659 under a 6 year contract, with another man, Aert Pietersen Tack. Aert was about 6 years older than Jacob, and quickly married a very young girl, Annetje ADRIANSE, (b. 29 Aug 1645), on Aug 14, 1660. They had 2 children: Cornelius Aertszen abt 1661, and Grietje abt 1663. After Grietje was born, Aert abandoned his wife and children and returned to the Netherlands, where he was known to have immediately married again, and  to have several children with this second 'wife.' Because this was known information to the authorities, Annetje was allowed to divorce him immediately. 

On Oct 21, 1664, there is a record in Kingston Records [in New York Albany Deeds] of a request from Jacob Jansen Van Etten, Aert PietersenTack's "head farmhand to be paid out from Aert Pietersen Tack's estate," per a bill he sent in earlier. Several months later, on Feb 3, 1665, he again requests that his wages from working the farm be taken out of Aert's estate.  

What a very challenging time. Remember that the British took over the small Dutch colony, New Amsterdam and the other small towns along the Hudson River, in 1664. I'm wondering when Jacob was paid what was owed to him.   

And then what happened? Yes, you've probably guessed: Jacob, Aert's work partner, married Annetje, 11 Jan 1665, taking on her two small children, Cornelius & Grietje. Tanslation of the marriage record in the Old Dutch Church Register [found in the NY Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol.30, p52]:
"1665, 11 Jan.  Jacob Jansen, young man of Etten in Brabant [Netherlands] and Annetje Arians of Amsterdam, deserted wife of Aaert Pietersen Tack, both  residing here [in Wiltwyck now Kingston]. First publication of Banns, 28 Dec 1664, second 4 Jan, third 11 Jan 1665."

Children of Jacob & Annetje follow, with only limited research on the children: 
   1.   Jan Van Etten, bap Jan 3, 1666; m. abt 1690 to Jannetje Roosa, dau of Capt Arie Roosa; second, June 22, 1731 to Cornelia Van Aaken, widow of Jan Chammers; 10 children 
   2.   Sytie Jacobsz Van ETTEN (ancestor), bap 1668, Kingston, New York; m. 1685 in Kingston, NY to Jan EVERTSEN [var. Evertz] whose surname changed shortly afterwards to TERWILLIGER; 12 children
   3.   Adriaen, bap Mar 25, 1669; m. Catharine Crom
   4.   Pieter, b.est 1672; m. Eva de Hooges
   5.   Petronella, b abt 1675; m. Aldert Roos
   6.   Heiltie, bap Apr 21 1679; m. William Van Vredenburg
   7.   Emanuel, bap Dec 29, 1681; m. Antje de Hooges   
   8.   Tietie, bap Feb 24, 1684; m. Evert Roosa
   9.   Jacobus, bap May 2, 1686; m. Rebekka Roosa
  10.  Gessje, bap Dec 25, 1688; m. Jacob Decker

I was able to find a few documents about Jacob Jansen Van ETTEN. He signed the 1676 petition to Governor Andros for his assistance in procuring for them a minister at Esopus [early name for area which became Kingston NY] - particularly wanting a minister who could preach both in English and Dutch.  In addition, his name is found on a roll of the names and surnames of those who took the oath of allegiance, 1st day of September, 1689.  

However I have yet to find a death record or a gravestone/cemetery listing. I have seen a date of 1693 for his death, in Hurley, New York, about 8 or 9 miles away [abt 14km], but I haven't found a verifying document or historical note. So his death is unverified, but possible. No will or probate as well. More research to do.

Annetje ADRIANSE went to live with one of their children, and died in 1717, in Rhinebeck, Dutchess, New York. Rhinebeck is on the east side of the Hudson River, so quite close to Hurley, New York, where the children were born and raised. Again, I have yet to find a will/probate, a gravestone or, a death registration for her.

                                   -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / 

If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.

Blogger - or my computer - is not letting me "reply" to your comments. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You truly make my day!! 

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No. 25, The Old Homestead: TERWILLIGER house

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was Heirloom, and I wrote about the Terwilliger Souvenir Album which has its own blog by the same name. This week, the theme is The Old Homestead. We have very few such homesteads.  

One of the few examples of an old homestead in our family history is found in the TERWILLIGER family history.

Let's look at the TERWILLIGER Farm house - scroll down to the "Evert Terwilliger House" at the bottom of this Wikipedia page. This home, a stone house, was built in 1738, by the Platekill Creek, by Evert Terwilliger, eldest son of Jan Evertson TERWILLIGER & Sytie Jacobz VAN ETTEN. Note that Jan and Sytie had 12 children which included only one girl.  

In March 1716/7, Evert Terwilliger married Sara Freer. The house pictured above is built on the land she inherited from her parents, Hugo and Maia [LeRoy] Freer, Huguenots. The house shows the wide gabled porch running along the front, which is apparently a common architecture feature of the times.  

This house was apparently extended by Evert and Sara's son, Jonathan in 1764. Stones of the house are incised with initials of several family members, Terwilliger, and Freer. Many of the Terwilliger family members settled in and near Shawangunk, Ulster, NY, a little south of New Paltz. 

Our family's TERWILLIGER line goes through Evert's younger brother, Johannes TERWILLIGER, who married Katrina HEYPSE/Heaps, 6 Sep 1717.

The TERWILLIGER surname is a made-in-America surname, developed when the British took over New Amsterdam and the Dutch settlements in North America, in 1664. By 1690, the families were using a version, spelled in many various ways. Some of the early ones were "Der Villig"  "Ter Willig"  "Tervilge" and others.  The website of TERWILLIGERS IN AMERICA, Inc., has information for anyone attempting to research their Terwilliger line, of whichever spelling used. 

If you have information about the TERWILLIGER home, or families, I am happy to share, and also to correct any incorrect information which may be here. You can reach me at calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. 

Blogger is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day.

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No. 13, Different: Sytie JACOBZ van Etten

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog, but based on Themes. Last week, it was SAME, as in same as me.  This week, of course, it is DIFFERENT!  It took me a while to pick an ancestor... Here she is - Sytie Jacobz van Etten, born before 25 March 1668, in Kingston, New York.


How are we Different?  Well, Sytie had 12 children, 11 of whom were boys. Whew! I don't know how she managed that mob of boys. I had 4 children, 2 of whom were boys! It's a good opportunity for me to write about her, whether we are different or not. In this year-long challenge, I'm enjoying writing about many ancestors, particularly the women. 

Her Dutch name indicates she was a daughter of Jacob, of Etten, The Netherlands. Jacob Jansen apparently arrived before 1658, although I have not found his actual ship passenger list. Jacob Jansen van Etten married Annetje ADRIANSE Tach (who divorced her first husband for abandonment).  The Old Dutch Church of Kingston Baptismal and Marriage Registers contain the record of their marriage: 
"11 Jan 1665, Jacob Jansen of Etten, and Annetje Arians of Amsterdam, deserted wife of Aert Pietersen Tack, both residing here Wiltwyck, [now Kingston].  First publication of Banns, 28 Dec.,1664; second, 4 Jan; third, 11 Jan 1665."

The Old Dutch Church of Kingston followed Calvinist beliefs [Reformed Church]; the image to the right was taken from Wikipedia. The book above may be downloaded; I found baptism dates for all Sytie & Jacob's children, and marriage dates as well.

Sytie was their second child, bap 25 Mar 1668; witnesses: Jan Broers & his wife [p.6, Baptismal Registers, Kingston NY]. 

She married Jan Evertson 23 Apr 1685 in Kingston, New York:
"19 Jan 1685: JAN EVERTZ, j.m. of Vianen, under the jurisdiction of the Stigt Vtregt [Diocese of Utrecht], and SYTIE JACOBZ van ETTEN, j.d., of Kingstouwne, both resid. in Marmur [Marbletown].  First publication of Banns 23 Apl."

Note: This family took the new surname: TERWILLIGER [corruption of phrase 'by the willows'], by the late 1690s.  All those with Terwilliger surnames are related, a 'made-in-America' surname.  There are a myriad ways of spelling this name, seen in several early records as 'der Villig'  'Ter Wilge' 'De Villiger' and so on.  More information may be found on the Terwilliger Surname Research Center, as well as a short history on this site about the Origins of the Terwilliger Name, or The Terwilliger Family Association. The latter is my favourite site!

Sytie and husband Jacob had the following children:
  1.  Evert, bap 23 May 1686; m. Mar 1717 to Sara Freer
  2.  Jacobus, bap 25 Nov 1688; m. 10 Mar 1716/7 to Annetjen Hornback
  3.  Johannes [ancestor], bap 6 Nov 1692; m. 6 Sep 1717 to Katrina Heypse, 5 children
  4.  Jannetje, bap 9 Jun 1695; m. 17 Jan 1716/7 to Cornelius Kool/Cool
  5.  Matheus, bap 18 Apr 1697, died as infant that year
  6.  Matheus, bap 30 Oct 1698; m. 3 May 1732 to Marytjen Oosterhout
  7.  Salomon, bap 1 Sep 1700; m. 8 Jul 1720 to Rachel Ostrander
  8.  Manuel,bap 31 May 1702; m. abt 1725 to Jannetjen Decker
  9.  Pieter or Petrus, bap 3 Sep 1704
10.  Ary, bap 22 Sep 1706;  m. abt 1749 to Grietjen Phoenix
11.  Abraham, bap 18 Sep 1709
12.  Issac, bap 10 Jun 1716;  m. 15 Dec 1741 to Rebecca Phoenix

Only one girl in this big group of boys.  I wonder what it was like for her? Hopefully, Sytie's other relatives and many siblings were able to help her. There is a gap of 7 years between #11 and #12 children, and she may have had one or more children during this time. 

I do not have any death dates or places, although both Sytie and Jacob may have stayed in Kingston, or in Hurley (extension of Kingston), and died there.  Several more items need to be researched, and clarified. 

Sytie - my hat goes off to you for birthing and raising this group of strong healthy boys and one girl. No wonder there are so many TERWILLIGER descendants!

If you have any information or if I have details incorrect here, please do not hesitate to comment or provide corrections.  You may also contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or leave a comment below.  Thanks for stopping by!