What a nice surprise. Over 30 replies to my query, dated 4 June 2011, Cozyn Gerritsen Cozyn and Vroutje Gerrits. I want to thank everyone for a lively, interesting, and informative discussion. Lots of new ideas, suggestions, opinions etc. etc. The Dutch Colonies website is still 'The Best of the Best'. Chris Chester wrote: Regarding the apparent age of 12y 11m for Margriet at the time of her first marriage, I would add for your consideration the article, "Some New Light on Aeltje Braconie and Maria Badie," by Harry Macy, Jr., published in NYGBR 142 (2011):21-36, in which he states the case for Magdalena Verdon being only age 13 at the time of her marriage on 21 March 1645 (RDC New Amsterdam). Although, there is no baptism record for Magdalena, and her age of 13 is based upon the assumption that she gave birth to a son, Daniel, in 1678, the article does accept the premise that a girl could be married as young as 13 during the earlier part of the 17th century in New Netherland, when it was governed by the Dutch. Thanks Chris. This is a must read article by Harry Macy. He wrote that some failed to recognize that the extreme shortage of marriageable women in the colony at the time was causing girls to marry when just a few months past their 13th birthdays. For example, Maria Rapalje married in 1640 at 13 years, 8 or 9 months, and her sister Jannetje Rapalje in 1642 at 13 years 4 or 5 months. Both were, like Magdalena Verdon, natives of the colony. This was a temporary phenomenon, lasting only until the colony attained a normal balance of the sexes. When the younger Rapalje sisters Catelyntje and Annetie married in 1663-64, they were 23 and 17 respectively. The above article helped me make a decision. "The extreme shortage of marriageable women in the colony at the time' was their common sense solution to their problem. Survival of the fittest? Knowing that there were other children besides Margariet Cozyn married at that point in time, did not please me, but helped me make a decision. My final decision. Margariet Cozyn d/o Cozyn Gerritzen bp 5 May 1641. [NYDC 2:12] married (1) Herman Theuniszen VanZell 19 April 1654 when Margariet/Grietje was 12 years, 11 months old. She married (2) Jan Haring Witsuntide 1662 and had seven children. She married (3) Daniel DeClark, 4 March 1685. Thanks again, Ethel Kay Konight (mailto:[email protected])