x2  

Generation  X-2  Vansant-Cornelis-Gerretze

                                    Note: Spelling of family names are shown as they appear in official records.

Dutch Names

The Dutch were much slower than the English in adopting surnames as we know them.  Patronymics ended theoretically under English rule in 1687 with the advent of surnames, but not every one followed the new guidelines.  In the Netherlands, patronymics ended mostly (especially in Friesland) during the Napoleanic period around 1811 when everyone had to register and select a family name.

The most common Dutch custom , before 1811,was identification based on the father's name by adding (-se, -sen, or -szen) for sons and (-x or -dr. added for daughters).  An individual could also be known by his place of origin.
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Gerret was born in 1644.  His mother, Moeder Gerrits, was said to have died in childbirth.  He was named Gerret after Moeder's father, which was the custom.  His father, Christofell, (2) married Trijtntje Claesen in 1652 the family came to New Netherlands in the employ of Cornelius de Potter; Gerett was eight years old.  Three years later his father was killed in an attack by Indians.   His stepmother, the only mother he has known, Jointje, marries (2) Rut Joosten van Brunt.  Gerrett was 12 years old.

"As noted earlier, he is named in the 1652 notarial document at the time of the family's emigration, and is referred to in the 1657 Orphanmasters' proceedings.

Whereas the testament of said Stoffel, made before Notary Judicq van der Vin and witnesses at Amsterdam July 10, 1649, and shown to the Orphanmasters of this City, shows that said boy should have one half of his deceased father's estate,  Therefore it is deemed necessary, that impartial parties should either by inventory or appraisement of the estate, left by said Stoffel Hannensen, look into and settle the child's share.  For this purpose the Orphanmasters have requested and commissioned, as they hereby do, Sieur Johannes Nevius and Jacques Corteljou conscientiously to settle as guardians with said Tryntie Clasen what is corning to said child from the estate of his father, etc. etc. etc.   Done etc.

Whereas Tryntie Clasen, widow of Stoffel Hannensen, cloth worker, perished in the attack of the Indians in 1655, now intends to marry Rut Joosten van Brunt, bachellor, whereas said Stoffel Hannensen has left with Tryntie Clasen a minnor son, by his first wife about 12 years old, and whereas the testament of said Stoffel, made before Notary Judicq van der Vin and witnesses at Amsterdam July 10, 1649, and shown to the Orphanmasters of this City, shows that said boy should have one half of his deceased father's estate, Therefore it is deemed necessary, that impartial parties should either by inventory or appraisement of the estate, left by said Stoffel Hannensen, look into and settle the child's share.  For this purpose the Orphanmasters have requested and commissioned, as they hereby do, Sieur Johannes Nevius and Jacques Corteljou conscientiously to settle as guardians with said Tryntie Clasen what is coming to said child from the estate of his father, etc. etc. etc.  Done etc".

Garret, it would seem, was fortunate to have guardians who were well connected.

"The family came to New Amsterdam in the employ of de Potter. At that time he was, with Giliam Wys, a prosperous trader and shipper of goods and merchandise.  Arriving in New Amsterdam that year, de Potter was spoken of in the records as an advocate.  In 1632 he had been a minor official of the East India Company at Batavia and by 1636, a procureur or agent.  He was the stepfather-in-law of Gerret Stoffelszen's guardian, Johannes Nevius, at age 30 in 1657 a schepen (magistrate) in New Amsterdam.  Nevius, who had attended the University of Leyden, was appointed City Secretary in 1660.

Gerret's other guardian, Jacques Cortelyou, Surveyor General in 1657, came in 1652 as a private tutor to the children of Comelis Van Werkhoven of the West India Company.  Van Werkhoven purchased the Nyack Tract (New Utrecht) from the Indians in 1652 and Jacques managed this property during his employer's absence in Holland in 1654.  After Van Werkhoven's death in 1655, Cortelyou became founder of New Utrecht in 1657, representative to the Hempstead Convention in 1665, a Justice, and Vendue Master.  With such guardians, Gerret Stoffelszen Vansant certainly must have received some education."

The following account makes no mention of Garrets' early years.

Garret Stoffles Van Zandt, according to the History of "Bucks County, Pa. , "emigrated from The Netherlands, probably from Zaantdam in North Holland, or Zandberg in Drenthe, and settled in New Utrecht, Long Island, ca 1651.  He was a magistrate of New Utrecht in 1681.  He probably resided in New York City for a time as two of his children were baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church there in 1674 and 1676.

Garret Stoffles Van Zandt was one of fourteen Patentees named in the Patent from Gov. Thomas Dougan 13 May 1686, for the Commons of New Utrecht, on behalf of themselves and their associates, the present freeholders and inhabitants of the said Towne".

Garret's land was located at Yellow Hook.under the jurisdiction of the town of New Utrecht.  By deed, dated 31 July 1695, he conveyed his Yellow Hook plantation to Derick Janse Van Zuphen and removed to Bucks Co., PA where, on 10 Dec. 1698, Joseph Growder conveyed to Garret Van Zandt 150 acres in Bensalem Township and. on the same date, conveyed a similar tract adjoining to Garret's son, Cornelius Van Zandt.

Garret Stoffles Van Zandt died intestate in Bensalem Township, Bucks Co. prior to 5 June 1706 on which date his ten children conveyed the same tract he bought in 1698.
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Lysbeth Gerritse is listed as mother of the two earlier children baptized in New York during the 1670s, while later children baptized in Flatbush between 1681 and 1689 have Lisbet Cornelis as mother.  However, on 3 September 1693, baptismal records of her first grandclilld, Stoffel's daughter Jannitje, again give her name as Elisabeth Gerritse.  The surname Gerrits was probably for her husband, the "Cornelis" for her father and/ or stepfather.

Lysbeth was born about 1650 probably in Middelburg, Zeeland, from where she emigrated as a 9-year old child with her mother Josyna/Josyntje Verhagen,  in 1659.  The last record found for her is the 1693 baptism noted above.  Her father appears to have been named Cornelis Van Westen.  She was also the stepdaughter of Cornelis Janszen Van Oosten, and stepsister of his children, Jacobus and Cornelia

In 1685 Gerrett Stoffelszen was a tenant on the farm of his stepmother's second husband, Rut Joosten Van Brunt, at Yellow Hook, New Utrecht.  He also owned 18 acres at Yellow Hook. and was one of the fourteen freeholders of New Utrecht included in the patent from Governor Thomas Dougan, 13 May 1686.  He purchased two additional half lots there from Dionys, the unisonant [Denyse] on 1 February 1691/2, which he sold 31 July 1695 to Dirck Van Zutphen.  A magistrate of New Utrecht in 1691, he was on the assessment rolls there in 1683 and 1693.  In a village as small as New Utrecht (only 39 men in 1698), the names of Stoffel and Ham1en were not in common use, so references to him and his family are easily identified

Gerret was not included in the 1698 census, as he had removed to Bucks County, Pennsylvania by that time.  He purchased 150 acres there on the "River Neshaminah" from Joseph Growden on 10 February 1698/9, recorded 20 October 1699 as "Garret Vansand."  This land was part of a 5,000 acre grant from William Penn to Growden 24 and 25 October 1681.  Gerret's son Cornelius also bought 150 acres adjoining his father's on the same date, for which they each paid twenty-eight pounds and fifteen shillings

He died intestate, probably in Bensalem. prior to 20 June 1706 when his older sons,
Stophel1, Cornelius, Hamlan, Albert and Johannes Vansand, all of Bucks County, yeomen, and Jezina and Garret Vansand, younger children of "Garret Vansand deceased," conveyed their interest in their father's 150 acres to their brothers Jacobus and George Vansand, for one hundred fifty pounds current silver money.  This deed was recorded 26 July 1706