Notes For
JAN GERRITSE STRYKER & LAMBERTJE SEUBERING
From: "Somerset County Historical Quarterly"
VOL VI
Pub: 1917
"...STRYKER.--Jan Strycker, from Ruinen, Holland, b. 1614, came to
New Amsterdam in 1652 with wife and four children; was one of the
founders of Flatbush in 1654, and chief magistrate there; d. about
1697; m.
(1) Lambertje Seubering (Sebring);
(2) Swantje Jans (widow of Cornelis de Potter);
(3) Teuntje Tunis (widow of Jacob Hellakers).
Sons were Gerrit, Hendrick and Pieter. Gerrit settled in Somerset Co.
as did children of Pieter, the latter being the ancestor of the late
Adjutant-General William S. Stryker. Jacobus Gerritse Strycker, prob-
ably brother to Jan, arrived in New Amsterdam in 1651 and, in 1660,
went to Flatlands, L. I., m., 1660, Ida Huybrechts; d. 1687. Had son
Gerret. There were Somerset Strykers also descending from Jacobus..."
From: "Genealogical and Personal Memorial of
Mercer County, New Jersey" Vol I
Pub: 1907 Under the Editorial Supervison of
FRANCIS BAZLEY LEE
"THE STRYCKER FAMILY is of most remote antiquity. Proof has been
brought from Holland of the family having remained on the same estates
near the Hague and near Rotterdam for full eight hundred years prior
to the coming of the first member to this country in 1652. The follow-
ing facts, viz.: the ducal coronet on the crest and the family being
traced far back to the latter part of the eighth century, prove that
the progemtors were among the great military chieftains of the Nether-
lands who were created dukes, counts and barons by Charles the Bald,
in order to bring some form of government out of the chaos of those
times long before the advent of the Dutch Republic. Many legends are
told of this powerful family in those warlike days--one particularly
accounting for the three boars' heads upon the shield.
In 1643 the States General of the Netherlands offered a grant of land
in New Amsterdam to Jan and Jacobus Strycker provided that they
brought out, at their own expense, twelve other families from Holland.
This grant, it does not appear, they accepted until eight years after-
ward, when they established the American branch of the family in and
near New Amsterdam. The old Strycker mansion at Fifty-second street
and the Hudson river is the last of the old manor houses of New York
city.
There were few offices which these able men did not fill at different
times. Jacobus was a great burgher of New Amsterdam in 1653-55-57-58-60,
also one of Peter Stuyvesant's council.
Jan Strycker, born in Holland, 1614, reached New Amsterdam from Rouen
with his wife, two sons and four daughters, 1652, leaving behind him
all the privileges and rights which might be his by descent in the old
world. He was a man of ability and education, for his subsequent his-
tory proves him to be prominent in the civil and religious community
in which he cast his lot. His first wife was Lambertje Seubering.
After her death he married Swantje Jans, widow of Cornelis Potter, of
Brooklyn. The second wife died in 1686. In March, 1687, he married a
third time, Teuntje Teunis, of Flatbush.
Jan Strycker remained in New Amsterdam a little over a year, and in
the year 1654 he took the lead in founding a Dutch colony on Long Is-
land at what was called Midwout; it was also called Middlewoods. The
modern name is Flatbush. On the 11th of December, 1653, while still
in New Amsterdam, Jan Strycker joined with others in a petition of the
Commonalty of the New Netherlands and a remonstrance against the con-
duct of Director Stuyvesant. The petition recited that "they apprehended
the establishment of an arbitrary government over them; that it was
contrary to the genuine principles of well regulated governments that
one or more men should arrogate to themselves the exclusive power to
dispose at will of the life and property of any individual; that it
was odious to every free-born man, principally to those whom God has
placed in a free state of newly settled lands." We humbly submit that
"'tis one of our privileges that our consent, or that of our represent-
atives, is necessarily required in the enactment of laws and orders."
It is remarkable that at this early day this indictment was drawn up,
this "bill of rights" was published. But these men came from the blood
of the hardy Northmen and imbibed with the free air of America the
determination to be truly free themselves.
In the year 1654 Jan Strycker was selected as the chief magistrate of
Midwout, and this office he held most of the time for twenty years.
The last time we find the notice of his election was at the council
of war holden in Fort William Hendrick, August 18, Anno 1673, where
the delegates from the respective towns of Midwout, Bruckelen, Amers-
fort, Utrecht, Boswyck and Gravesend selected him as "Schepen." He was
also one of the embassy from New Amsterdam and the principal Dutch
towns to be sent to the Lord Mayors in Holland on account of their
annoyance from the English and the Indians; they complain that they
"will be driven off their lands unless re-enforced from Fatherland."
On April 10, 1664, he took his seat as a representative from Midwout
in that great Landtdag, a general assembly called by the burgomasters,
which was held at the City Hall in New Amsterdam, to take into consid-
eration the precarious condition of the country. He was one of the
representatives in the Hempstead convention in 1665, and he appears
as a patentee on the celebrated Nichols patent, October 11, 1667, and
again on the Dongan patent, November 12, 1685. He was elected captain
of the military company at Midwout, October 25, 1673, and his brother
Jacobus was given the authority to "administer the oaths and to install
him into office." Captain Jan Strycker was named March 26, 1674, as a
deputy to represent the town in a conference to be held at New Orange
to confer with Governor Colve on the present state of the country.
During the first year of his residence at Midwout he was one of the
two commissioners to build the Dutch church there, the first erected
on Long Island, and he was for many years an active supporter of the
Dominie Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, of the Reformed Church of Holland,
in that edifice. After raising a family of eight children, every one
of whom lived to adult life and married, seeing his sons settled on
valuable plantations and occupying positions of influence in the
community, and his daughters marrying into the families of the
Brinckerhoffs, the Berriens and the Bergens, living to be over eighty
years of age, he died about the year 1697, full of the honors which
these new towns could bestow, and with his duties as a civil officer
and a free citizen of his adopted country well performed..."
Additional note:
A portrait of Jan Stryker, painted by his brother Jacobus in 1655,
is now owned by the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. It was
inscribed "given to Altje by her father Jacobus Gerritsen Stryker, who
himself drew this likeness of his brother Jan".
Notes For
ALTJE STRYKER & ABRAHAM JORISE BRINCKERHOFF
From: "The Hamlin Family"
Published On-line Genealogy
"...JORIS DIRCKSEN BRINCKERHOFF,1 founder of the family in
America, b. Dreuthe, Holland, 1609; and having lived for some time at
Flushing, in the Province of Zealand, emigrated to New Netherland
(New York), 1638, and settled upon a farm within the present limits
of the city of Brooklyn, N. Y. It is stated that he contracted with
Cornelius Melyn, a son-in-law, the owner of Staten Island, to reside
there; but owing to the murder of some neighboring planters by the
Indians, in 1641, he was released from his contract, and settled on
Long Island, as above stated; m. Susaunah Dubbels. He d. Jan. 16, 1661.
Ch. b. Holland:
1) Dirck, killed by Indians, 1643.
2) Hendrick, b. 1630; m. Claasie Boomgaert.
3) Abraham, b. 1632, m. Aeltie Stryker.
4) Aeltie, m. Cornelieus Melyn and William Van
Cowenhoven.
ABRAHAM BRINCKERHOFF,2 b. Holland, 1632; m. Aeltie, dau. Jan
Stryker, of Flatbush, N. Y. He d. about 1714. Children: Joris, John,
Dirck, Garrett, Ida, Susannah, Sarah, Margaret, Lammetia..."
From other sources:
The children of Altje Stryker and Abraham Jorise Brinckerhoff were:
1) Lametia b. 1662 m. Johannes Cornell
2) Joris b.1664 m. 1690 Annetje Teunisen Bogert
3) Margaret b. 1675 m. 1693 Theodorus Vanwyck
4) Dirick b. 1677 m. Aeltie Cowenhoven
5) John b. 1678
6) Sarah b. 1680 m. Jacob Rapalje
7) Cornelis b. 1686
8) Garret
9) Ida
10) Susannah
Notes For
JANNETJE STRYKER & CORNELIUS JANSEN BERRIEN
From: "Genealogical and Personal Memorial
of Mercer County, New Jersey Vol I"
Pub: 1907 Under the Editorial Supervison
OF FRANCIS BAZLEY LEE
"...THE BERRIEN FAMILY. All testimony and family traditions
ascribed to this ancient family show that it is of French origin,
and it is supposed that the early ancestors came from and had their
family seat at "Berrien," now a town of considerable size in the
department of Finis Terre. Concurrent traditions existing in diverse
branches of the family declare that their ancestor was a Huguenot,
who, during the civil wars of France, was forced to flee and took
refuge in Holland.
Cornelius Jansen Berrien, as appears upon the early records of
the family, was the first of the name that emigrated to this country,
and became the common progenitor of the family here. He settled in
Flatbush, Long Island, as early as 1669, and there married Jeannetie,
daughter of Jan Stryker. Being a person of character and education,
he was appointed to fill positions of trust and held offices in the town
government and was a deacon in the Dutch church. In 1683, by appointment
of the Colonial Assembly, he served as one of a commission to levy a
special tax in the province. In 1685 he removed to Newtown, Long Island,
where, during the previous year he and his brother-in-law, Abraham
Brinckerhoff, had bought over four hundred acres of land at the head
of Flushing Bay, which they afterward divided. Mr. Berrien died at
Newtown in 1688, and his widow married secondly, Samuel Edsall, Esq.
The children of Jannetje Stryker and Cornelius Berrien were:
1) John b. 1671 in Flatbush, d. 1711, m. 1697 his step-sister
Ruth Edsall. He was a farmer and brewer.
2) Peter b. 1672 in Flatbush, d. 1737, m. 1706 his step-sister
Elizabeth Edsall. He was a surveyor.
3) Nicholas b. 1681 in Flatbush, d.1737, m. Sarah, daughter of
Abraham Brinckerhoff and widow of Jacob Rapelje. He was a farmer.
4) Catharine b. 1683 in Flatbush, m. Joromes Remsen
5) Agnes b. 1685 m. Lieutenant Joris Rapelje..."
From the Baptism Records of the
Reformed Dutch Church at New Amsterdam:
29 Nov 1685
Parents: Cornelis Janszen, Jannetie
Child: 6?)Cornelis
Sponsors: Jacob Stryckers, Ytie Stryckers, Gerrit Stryckers
Their descendants included:
Rev. William Berrien, D.D., Rector of Trinity Church, New York City
John Berrien, Trustee of Princeton College d. 1772
John Berrien, Brigadier Major during the American Revolution
Hon. John Berrien, b. 1781, graduate of Nassau Hall (Princeton)
at 15. Admitted to the Georgia Bar at 18. U.S. Senator 1825-1829,
U.S. Attorney General 1829-1831 (under Andrew Jackson), U.S.
Senator 1840, 1847.
Commodore John M. Berrien, b. 1804, United States Navy
Notes For
HENDRICK STRYKER & CATHARINE HYS
From: "Register of the Early Settlers
of Kings County, Long Island New York"
Author:Teunis G Bergen
Pub: 1881
"...Hendrick (Janse), m. Feb. 16, 1687, Catharine Hys of Flatbush.
Member of the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush in 1677; on patent
for the land in New Lott of 1673; and on assessment roll of Flatbush
of 1675. He sold June 12, 1680, to Jan Van der Vliet wood-lot No. 7
in the New Lott for 1000 guilders, as per p. 125 of Library AA of
Flatbush records. Oct. 7, 1686, he bought of Cornelis Janse Berrien
2 lots of land, Nos. 46 and 47, in the New Lotts of "Midwout," they
being the 2 outside numbers on the Fresh Kil or Shoemaker's Bridge,
as per p. 78 of Library A of Flatbush records. From his will, dated
Jan. 23, 1684, on p. 155 of Library C of Flatbush records, it is
inferred that he had no children. Signed his name "Hendrick Strycker..."
Notes For
EYTIE STRYKER & CHRISTOFFEL PROBASCO
From: "Register of the Early Settlers
of Kings County, Long Island New York"
Author:Teunis G Bergen
Pub: 1881
"...Christoffel Jeurianse, the common ancestor of the family, emi-
grated to this country in 1654, m. Ida (Eytie) Strycker and settled
in New Lott July 29, 1687, he and his wife made a joint will, as per
p. 91 of Library A of Flatbush records. His name appears on the assess-
ment rolls of Flatbush of 1675 and '83, taking the oath of allegiance
there in 1687; member of Flatbush Church in 1677, and elder in 1678 and
'90; magistrate in 1678 and '86; justice of the peace in 1693, and on
census of 1698. Aug. 8, 1671, he bought a farm of 19 morgens in Flat-
bush between the farms of Jan Strycker and Dirck Janse Vander Vliet,
abutting against Curlaer's flats, of "Tomas Lammerse and Tunis Janse
Coevers," as per p. 96 of Library C of Flatbush records. In the body
of the conveyance his name is written "Stoffel Jurianse Probaske."
This farm he sold Feb. 4, 1698, to Bartel Claesen, as per p. 45 of
Library A of Flatbush records. In 1690 opposed the administration of
Gov. Leisler. Will dated Oct. 3, 1724, not recorded.
Issue:
1) Jan
2) Jacob, bp. July 9, 1682
3) Abraham, bp. Feb. 22, 1685
4) Aaltje, bp. June 26, 1687
5) Lammetje, m. Jan Simonse Van Aersdalen
6) Jurryen, bp. Oct. 30, 1695
7) Christoffel Junr
8) Heyltje, m. Jeremias Remsen
Signed his name "Stoffel Probasko..."
Notes For
SARAH STRYKER & JORIS HANSE BERGEN
From: "Register of the Early Settlers
of Kings County, Long Island New York"
Author:Teunis G Bergen
Pub: 1881
"...Joris or George Hansen, bp. July 18, 1649; m. Aug. 11, 1678,
Sara daughter of Jan Strycker of Flatbush; d. after 1736. Was a car-
penter by trade, took the oath of allegiance in Brooklyn in 1687, was
a commissioner of Brooklyn from 1690 to 1699. In 1698 bought a farm
of nearly 40 Acres (formerly of Gerret Wolfersen Van Couwenhoven) in
Brooklyn East of Smith St. and North of the Mill Creek. In 1703, '4,
and '5, was supervisor of Brooklyn. Apr. 10, 1697, a resolution was
passed at a town meeting in Brooklyn to divide the common lands, the
holders of a house and lot to have only a half share. For laying out
and dividing they appointed Capt. Henry Filkin, Jacob Van Deventer,
Daniel Rapalie, Joris Hansen (Bergen), John Dorland, and Cors Van Duyn,
as per p. 133 of Library 2 of Conveyances.
Issue:
1) Lammetje bp. Dec 26 1679 m. Joris Remsen of Haverstraw
2) Sara bp. Mar 13 1681
3) Aaltje bp. Oct 15 1682 m. Aug 17 1707 Rem Remsen d. abt 1724
4) Hans bp. Aug 31 1684
5) Jannetje bp. May 27 1688 m. Jan 21 1711 Hendrick Vroom of Brn
6) Annetje bp. Mar 9 1689-90 m. Mar 12 1720 Arnout Abrahams
7) Jan bp. May 17 1694
8) Breckje bp. May 24 1696
9) Joris
10) Catharine m. Sep 21 1726 Peter Ewetse of Brooklyn and NY
Signed his name "Jores Hansen..."
