http://www.stipak.com/hoagland/maria/bios/5.HTM Page 30]: "Samuel Rapalye," in 1703; "Jeronimus Rapalje," "Yan Rapalje," "Daniel Rapalje," and "Joris Rappalyee," all in 1723; and "Derrick Rappaljee," in 1739. In consequence of this prefix not having been used by Joris Jansen Rapalie and his immediate descendants, although in some instances used by contemporary clergymen and writers, the propriety of its being used by them in any case is very questionable. If he had been of noble birth, or of a station above the ordinary settlers, his contemporaries would, in the public records, have prefixed to his name the appellation of "Heer," (Mister), as was done in the case of Van Rensellaer, De Sille, De Bruynne, Poulus Van der Bek, and others. Joris Jansen Rapalie was probably a sailor, for on the colonial records of June 12th, 1647, in the office of the secretary of state at Albany, it is set forth, that "Jan Dircksen from Amsterdam, master carpenter, who sailed in the company's service in the ship Swol, lying sick a bed at the house of George Rapalje, chief boatswain ('hooch bootsman'), in New Amsterdam, makes his will."1 <http://www.stipak.com/hoagland/maria/bios/5.HTM#PC1D> Rapalie made the following mark for his signature to documents: [Sorry, image not available at this time--Webmaster] ________________ [Footnotes on Page 30]: 1See vol. 11, p. 349, O'Callaghan's translation Dutch Records.