I'm trying to determine just who the Hendrick Pietersen was who was associated with Claes Corneliussen Van Schouwen by 1640. My ancestor is believed to have been Joris Jacobszen who lived on Long Island by 1660. His descendants assumed the surname Bouwman, Bouman, or Bowman after the English takeover of the New Netherlands. Joris Jacobszen was married to Tryntje Claesen, the daughter of Claes Corenlissen Van Schouwen. Claes Cornelissen Van Schouwen was apparently sometimes referred to by the name Meutelaer or Mentelaer. The term Meutelaer was used by some to refer to the Dutch Sea Beggars or to people who were mutters, whiners, grumblers, complainers, or teasers. Some also think that the term Meutelaer may have indicated that Claes was a mason or bricklayer; however, I believe that the Dutch word associated with the trade of mason was Metselaer rather than Meutelaer. However, early writing is such that Metselaer could have easily have been confused with Meutelaer. There is a marriage record which shows that a Claes Cornelissen married Metje Harperts on March 21, 1632 at Sloterdijck which is now part of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The bann’s were published January 20, 1632. Coryn Cornelissen who lives near Amsterdam provided me with translation of the banns which read: "Appeared before me as before Claas Corneliss of Brouwershaven age 25 and Metgie Harpers from Amsterdam 20 years old assisted by Pietertje Jacobs and living as before in the Haerlemmerstraat. . " In the margin there is also writing which translates to "The banns have been read in Brouwershaven without hindrance. This persons have been married on the 21st of March 1632 in Sloterdijk by Mathijas Mursius, vicar." I would assume that Pieterje Jacobs was the mother of Metje Harpers. Coryn also located the baptism record of Metje Herpertsen. Metje was baptized at the Neuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam on either the 7th or 9th of November in 1610. Her parents were Herpert Jansz and Pieterje Jakobs who were married on November 1, 1609 in the Oude Kerk (Old Church) in Amsterdam. An email from Cynthia Middaugh Zuber informed me that a Herbert Jansz of Hassellunen (Germany) and a Pietertjen Jacobdr, widow of Tjaling Cornelius, filed a record marriage intentions on October 17, 1609 in Amsterdam. Pietertjen Jacobdr was indicated to have been from Ameland, a Frisian island. Coryn also found that Herbert Jansz and Pieterje Jakobs had a son Marten baptized about 1612 and another son baptised 1618. Coryn also found records of the baptisms of two children of Claes Cornelissen and Metje Herperts, namely Tryntje Claesen baptized on June 12, 1633 and Herpert Claesen baptized on August 14, 1635. Thus Herpert or Harpert was born in 1635, rather than 1631 as some have reported. Further, this tends to indicate that Claes Corneliussen was still in Holland at least about 9 months prior to the baptism of Herpert. The witness for the baptism of Tryntje was Gerbris Teunisen and the witness for the baptism of Harpert was Pietertje Jacobs, probably his grandmother. It appears that this Claes Cornelissen Van Schouwen came to America sometime between 1635, when his son Herpert was baptized in Amsterdam, and Oct 26, 1640, when Pieterje Claes, possibly his daughter, was baptized in the New York Reformed Dutch Church with witnesses Jeurgie Hendrickszen and Hester Simons. Pieterje Claes could have been named after Pieterje Jacobs, the mother of Claes Cornelissen's wife Metje Harperts (or Herperts). Some apparently believe that Harpert Claesen died before his parents got to America; however, the 1657 tax record for Amersfort lists a Harpert Claesen. In November of 1651 Joris Jacobszen was a witness for the baptism of Ariaen Claesze, the son of Claes Cornelissen. Joris Jacobszen's son Jacob Jorise was baptized at the New York Dutch Reformed Church on May 20, 1652, with sponsors including Jacob Pieterszen and Metje Harpersen (or Herpertsen). I have yet to establish whether Jacob Pieterszen who witnessed the baptism of Jacob Jorise was somehow related to Joris Jacobsen. From the name and Dutch naming practices at the time one might assume that the witness Jacob Pieterszen could possibly have been the father of Joris Jacobsen, i.e. the grandfather of Jacob Jorise Bowman. On November 14, 1642 Willem Kieft granted a patent to Claes Cornelisz van Schouw for 16 morgens of land on Long Island opposite Manhattan Island between the ferry and the land of Andries Hudde. I’ve seen it said that hClaes later disposed of his land near the ferry and bought a farm at Amersfoort about six miles away. Between 1650 and 1660, Claes was owner of at least one team of horses, a wagon, and some cattle. Franklyn Frick’s "Family Tree of Jacob Banta Vanosdol 1788-1872", edited by B. Van Osdol-Schneider, self-published, 1986, notes on page 7 that "Claes was living on Bergen's Island near Flatlands in 1671. ....On March 13, 1675, Claes made a donation to the church. This was the last record of him." However in "Kings Co. Wills" (NYGBR, vol. XLVII, p. 165), the will of "Swaentie Janse, widow of Cornelius Depotter" written March 31, 1676 includes, as a witness, a "Claes Cornelinssen". If this is Claes Cornelissen van Schouw, this may be the last known record of Claes, then about 71 years old. It appears that, later in life, Claes may have at one time had land on Meutelaer's Island of the New Netherlands near the Flatlands area of Long Island. Was the Island named that because of him or was he sometimes called Meutelaer because he lived there? I have concluded that Joris Jacobszen was born about 1626 because Joris was listed as being 38 when he testified in 1664 concerning a raid that a Capt. John Scott had made on Brooklyn. See Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York by E. B. O Callaghan, Vol 2, pages 480- 483, which states: Remonstrance of Delegtes from the Dutch Towns on Long Island, biz. : Amesfoort, Breuckelen, Utrecht and Boswyck, to the Director-General and Council....Before me, Pelgrom Clocq, by the Right Honorable Director-General and Council admitted a Notary Public, residing in the village of Midwout, in New Netherland, and the undernamed witnesses, appeared Fredireick Lubberts, aged 55 years, Joris Jacobsen, aged 38 years, ... all resident inhabitants of The Ferry,.... The document was dated February 20, 1664 and Joris signed it by making his mark. On the previous day of February 19, 1664 another declaration about Capt. Scott’s actions was prepared in Amersfoort in the presence of Schepens Roelof Martense, Pieter Claesen, and Elbert Elbertsen from the testimony of Claes Cornelissen 67 and Symon Janse 35, both listed as residents of Amesfooort (Amersfoort). Claes Corneliussen would have been the father-in-law of Joris Jacobszen. Frederick Lubertsen indicated in that deposition that eight men of Scott's party came to his house with drawn swords and poked at him and that he believed that he would have been killed if it had not been for his wife and Capt. Scott. Others testifying in that February 20 deposition included Dirck Jansen age 32, Barent Jansen age 56, Hendrick Volkersen (Volkertsen) age 30, Cornelius Dircksen age 65 and Wynant Pietersen age 32, all listed as residents of “ The Ferry”. Hendrick Volkertsen was the husband of Geertie Claes, the sister of Joris Jacobszen’s wife Tryntje Claes. New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, vol. I, record 200 indicates that in 1640 a Claes Cornelissen gave a deposition which stated: "This, date underwritten, before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, secretary in New Netherland, at the request of Hendrick Pietersen, mason, personally appeared Claes Cornelissen van Schouw, aged about 35 years ..." A Marten Harbersen joined in that declaration which stated Hendrick Pietersen and Maryn Adriaensen had been drunk when Adriaensen sold land to Pietersen. The declaration indicated that Marten Harbersen was 26 years old, thus born about 1614. Perhaps Marten Harpertsen was a brother of Metje Harpertsen, the wife of Claes Cornelissen Van Schowen. Metje had a brother Marten who was born about 1612. In May of 1642 a Theunis Cray baptized a child Janneken and the witnesses included Sibolt Caleszen (Claesen?), Huyck Aertszen, Hendrick Pieterszen Metseir, Lysbeth Dircks, and Anneken Loockermans. In 1645 a Sybolt (Sibolt) Claeszen van Hoorn married a Susanna Jans, the widow of an Aert Theuniszen. Hendrick Pieterszen may have been referred to as Metseir because he did masonry work. It seems quite possible that the witness Hendrick Pieterszen Metseir was the same man who with Jons or Joris Jacobsen witnessed the baptism of Claes Corneliszen's son Floris in 1647. Theunis Cray and his wife Tryn Van Campen were members of the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam sometime between 1649 and 1659. On April 15, 1647 a Theunis Cray obtained a lot in New Amsterdam and on October 25, 1653 a Theunis Cray obtained 37 morgens near Hellegat on Long Island. In February of 1645 a Cornelis Claeszen baptized a son Jacob the witnesses were Hendrick Pieterszen, Pieter Colette, and Heyltie Jeuraiens, It is assumed that this Cornelis Claeszen was Cornelius Claeszen Swits. Cornelius Claeszen Swits obtained 25 morgens in Bowerie No. 5 on Manhattan in 1645. In October of 1646 a Gerrt Janszen Van Oldenburg baptized a son Jacob and the witnesses included Hendrick Pieterszen, Engel Mans, and a Claes Cornelis. On January 14, 1647 a Jons (Jans or Joris?) Jacobszen and Hendrick Pieterszen, Jan Theuniszen Schay, Marritje Lievens, and Sara Cornelis, witnessed the baptism of Floris, son of Claes Corneliszen. Could the Hendrick Pieterszen who witnessed the 1647 baptism of Floris Claeszen have been related to the Jacob Pieterszen who witnessed the baptism of Joris Jacobsen's son Jacob in 1652? Could Hendrick Pieterszen have been Jacob Pieterszen’s brother and thus possibly the uncle of Joris Jacobsen? In October of 1650 Gerrt. Hendrickszen baptized a daughter Grietie and the witnesses were Lambert Huybertszen, Hendrick Pieterszen, Lyntie Dirckszen, and Marie Lievens. In December of 1650 Michiel Pauluszen Van der voort baptized a son Jan and the witnesses included Adriaen Dirckszen, Hendrick Pieterszen, Grietie Gerrits, and Hester Jans. On December 24, 1651 a Hendrick Pieterszen was a witness for the baptism of Gerrit Hendrickszen's daughter Grietje. The other witnesses included Lalmbert (Lambert) Huybertszen and Lysbeth de Potter. I wonder if Hendrick Pieterszen was the father of Gerrit Hendrickszen. Lambert Huybertsen's daughter Marritie (Margaret) Lambertsen Mol married Gerrit Hendrickszen in 1646. The 1683 will of Gerrit Hendrickszen indicated that at the time of his death he lived near Stuyvesant’s Bowery, that at the time he was married to Josyntie Thomas and that his prior wife was Margaret Moll. Gerrit Hendrickszen may have sometimes been referred to as Gerrit de blau boer or Blauvelt. Some children of Gerrit Hendrickszen assumed the surname Blauvelt. Lambert Huybertsen was a witness for baptism of a number of the children of Margaret Lambertsen and Gerrit Hendrickszen between 1650 and 1653. Other witnesses for some of those baptisms were Hendrick Pieterszen, Lysbeth Dirckszen, Maria Lievens, and Lysbeth de Potter. There was a Hendrick Pieterszen who may have also been known as Hendrick Pieterszen van Wesel or van Duisburg or Van Tessel. An Elsie H. Wilson at _ehwilson@charter.net_ (mailto:ehwilson@charter.net) posted that a Hendrick Pietersen Van Tassel was married to Geertje Everts. According to David M. Riker's New Netherland Vital Records Directory a Hendrick Pieterszen arrived in the New Netherlands about 1638 and settled in Flatbush. A William Hoffman indicated that Hendrick Pieterszen Van Wesel was probably married first to Geerite Everts and then to Geertie Rutgers, probably the widow of Bryun (Bruno) Williamsz. Geertje Rutgers is believed to have had several children with her first husband. Some of those children are believed to have included: Willem Bruynsen, Wouter Bruynsen (possibly aka Walter Brimasen), and Rutger Bruynsen. Hendrick Pieterszen’s children with Geertie Everts have been suggested to have been: Pieter (Bapt. Sept. 7, 1640) Sponsors: Arlean (Ariaen) Pietersz, Volckert Evertszen, Wrouwtje (or Vrouwtje) Gerrits; Evert (Bapt. May 16, 1644) Sponsors: Abraham Pieterszen Molenaer, Hendrick Westercamp Backer, Tryntie Abrhams; Aeltje (Bapt. April 7, 1647) Sponsors: Harmen Smeemen, Nicholas Backer, Claes Cornelis (Van Schouwen?); Adam (Bapt. Feb. 12, 1651) Sponsors: Joris Dirckszen, Styntie Pieterszen; and Harmen (Bapt. Aug. 17, 1653) Sponsors: Hans Janszen, Janneken Gerrits. That Hendrick Pieterszen is believed to have had another son, Gerrit, who was mentioned in the 1692 sale of his estate. The son Gerrit married Catharina Harednbroek, widow of Hendrick Arentsen. Hendrick Pieterszen and his 2nd wife, Geertie Rutgers, are believed to have had one son Bryun, named after Geertie Rutgers first husband. The family name changed from Pieterszen or Van Wesel to Bras/Brise/Brissa by the third generation. Bruyn was known as Bruyn Hendrickson Brise. The son Garrit is believed to have also been known as Garrett Hendrickse Brissa. The son Harman was also known as Harman Hendrickse Brisse. Wouter Bruynenz was a witness at the Kingston March 21,1683 baptism of Geertje, the daughter of Bruyn Hendrickszen & Lysbeth Jans Oosterhout. In 1653 a Hendrick Pieterszen had a child Herman baptized and the witnesses were Hans Janszen and Janneken Gerrits. I. N. Phelps Stokes’ “ The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909" ; Arno Press, NY, 1967, indicates that a Hendrick Pietersen (from Hasselt) had an interest in property beyond the New Amsterdam Wall by Jan 28, 1653. Others who had interest in property near that location included Sybout Claessen (rented) May 15, 1647 and Jan Vinje (Vinge) and heirs of Adrianna Cuvilje, the widow of Guleyn (Willem) Vinge. In August of 1655 Hendrick Volckertszen and his wife Geertie Claes baptized Volckert and the witnesses included Claes Corneliszen (believed to have been the maternal grandfather), Joris Jacobszen, and Metje Herberts (believed to have been the maternal grandmother). In 1661 Teunis Cray and and Tryntje Van Campen claimed that the widow of Hendrick Pietersen Van Hasselt owed them for board for the time that she was living with them. A Hendrick Pietersen obtained a patent for 25 morgens at Flh Apl. 7, 1664, as per O'Callaghan's New Netherlands. On April 7, 1665 a Hendrick Pietersen obtained 25 morgens at Midwout on Long Island. On October 20, 1667 a Hendrick Pietersen of Flds conveyed to Cornelis Hendrickse Van Eens 27 morgens in Flh on the W. side of the highway, with plain and meadow land, as per p 21 1/4 of Lib. C of Flh rec. Some speculate that this may have been Hendrick Pieterse Wyckoff of Flds. However, Hendrick Pierterse Wycoff is believed to have been born abt.1658 and it would have been strange for him to have been conveying land when he was only 11 years old. The 1675 Amersfoort Tax List showed a Hendrick Pietersz with 1 poll, 3 horses, 4 aged cows, 3 cows of 3 years, 2 cows of 2 years, 1 hog, and 19 morgen of land; however, that could have been a different Hendrick Pietersz than the one who made the declaration in 1640. ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.