There are two distinct, separate Van Zandt Families in the U.S.  One, the New York Line whose progenitor, according to the "New York Gen. and Biological Record" , was Johannes, son of Adam Wensel Van Zandt.  Johannes was born in The Netherlands, near Arnheim, ca 1660.  The other, "our" Van Zandt Line, of Bucks Co. Pa., whose progenitor was, according to the "History of Bucks Co. Pa.", Garret Stoffles Van Zandt, son of Christoffles Van Zandt, born in the Netherlands and emigrated to the Dutch Colony of New Netherlands ca 1651. This is the line we are concerned with. No doubt the two families are related.

After moving from Long Island, New York, to Bucks County, Pa. the name began to be spelled, in public records, with many variations such as Van Sandt, Van Zant, Vanzant, Vansant, Vansand, Vinzant, Vinsant etc. until the original spelling became rare.

                                     Land Patent and Certificates - Inhabitants of Cecil County, 1649 - 1774.

Orphans of John Vansant: Jacobus, Elizabeth, Ann, Rachel, and Cornelia Vansant - 1734  "Orphan's Legacy" - 500 acres.     (See following page)  There is some doubt about the actual names of Elizabeth and Ann.  In one case the name is Elizabeth, Ann while in another there is no comma between Elizabeth and Ann.  A birth record for Elizabeth has not been found, but one for Ann has.

"He moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his father and married Leah, dau. of Jacob Classen and Anna Vander Grift Groesbeck, on February 17, 1702 at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.  Johnnes purchased 125 acres in Bensalem Township 1 August 1704 and conveyed the same to Thomas Stevenson 17 May 1714, who on the same date conveyed 500 acres on Elk River, Cecil Co., Maryland.  Evidently his move to Maryland was stopped by sickness and death, for his will, dated 30 Oct. 1714 and proved 6 Jan 1715, so indicated."

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"The will devised to his son John, 40 shillin'gs and to his wife, Leah, his personal estate and the use of his Maryland property, if not sold, "During life for the education and maintenance of her self and children" However, believing it might be necessary to sell the property, he empowered brother Stoffel Van Vansant and Bartholomew Jacobs to sell it, If not sold, to be valued and divided between the two boys, they to pay their sisters equal shares.  The second of the two boys nor the sisters were named."

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"The land records of New Jersey contain a deed from Jacobus Vansant, of Newport, on Rhode Island, "mariner", dated 22 September, 1756, to Joshua VanSant of Kent County, Maryland, "yeoman" from which it appears that Sarah Stevenson and Joseph Kirkbride conveyed to said Jacobus Vansant, Ann Vansant and Cornelia Vansant, 27 & 28 March, 1726, 600 acres of land on southern branch of Raritan river.  In the latter deed the grantees are called of Bucks County, Pa.  This deed dated 6 October 1753, recites that the said Cornelia was deceased.  Ann Vansant married William Hatcher, and is called of Fairfax county, Virginia".

The land (1000 acres) that Richard received from William Penn in Bucks Co. later became Middletown twp.  This land lays on both sides of the Neshaminy Creek a few miles upstream from where the creek joins the Delaware River.  The Neshaminy Creek in the area of Richard's land separates Middletown Twp from Southampton Twp.