Jannetie Egmont (Van Voorhout), wife of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn, was born in Holland in 1633. Her father made a contract with Patroon Van Rensselaer, August 25, 1643, and in this document he is referred to as Cornelise Segertse Van Egmont. He sailed for America in Sept., 1643, by "Het Wapen Van Rensselaerwyck," with his wife, Brechje Jacobsen, 45 years old, and 6 children. He was about 44 years of age. His children were Cornelis, 22; Claes, 20; Seger, 14; Lysbeth, 16; Jannetie, 10, and Neeltie, 8. He was engaged as a farmer and was one of the first farmers of consequence in Rensselaerwyck, nearly all of the others at this time being fur traders. He took up the farm formerly occupied by Brant Peelen, deceased, which was one of the two farms on Castle Island, near Albany. In 1646, he took over from Adrian Vanderdonck the other farm for the remaining 3 years of its lease, and thus came into possession of the entire island. In 1651, an inventory of the farm of Cornelis Segers showed that he was the owner of 13 horses and 22 cows, and that the farm contained 70 morgens, and the rent was 1210 guilders. This farm was called Welysburgh. From 1657 to 1660 Cornelis Segerse was the owner of a lot in Albany on the east side of North Pearl Street, between Steuben Street and Maiden Lane. Another Cornelis Segerse, probably his grandson, was the owner, between 1667 and 1729, of a lot on the southeast corner of Columbia Street and Broadway, Albany, to the River Road. Dec. 10, 1660, Cornelis Segers conveyed to Gerrit Slichtenhorst a house and lot in Albany, probably the one above referred to.

In his will, dated Nov. 22, 1662, the signature appears as Cornelis Segersen Van Voorhout. At this time his wife was living and his son Claes Cornelissen is mentioned as deceased. His son Seger had died in the same year on June 24. His son Cornelis was mentioned in his will, his daughter Lysbeth, wife of Sr. F. Boon, his daughter Jannetie, wife of Jacob Schermerhorn, and his daughter Neeltie, wife of Hans Carelsen. The children of his deceased son Claes were also mentioned. His daughter Lysbeth had been previously married to Guisbert Cornelisz Van Weesp, tavern-keeper.

Claes Cornelise Egmont (Van Voorhout), son of Cornelis Segers, occupied a farm on Papscanee, near Albany, between 1648 and 1658. In 1651 this farm contained 78 morgens (156 acres), and held 7 horses and 7 cows. The Albany Church records include the baptisms of two sons of Jacob Claes Egmont, viz., Nicholas, Apr. 13, 1684, and Jacob (born after his father's death), Dec. 27, 1685. Jacob Schermerhorn and his daughter, Machtelt Beekman, were sponsors at this latter baptism. In 1663 the following children of Claes Cornelise, then deceased, were mentioned: Mary, aged 12 yrs.; Jacob, 10 yrs.; Lysbeth, 8 yrs., Tryntje, 5 yrs. Arrangements for their education were made in this year by Jacob Janse Schermerhorn and others. This branch of the family is, so far as is known, the only one to have carried the name of Egmont down to subsequent generations.

Cornelis Cornelise Van Voorhout (as he signed his name), eldest son of Cornelis Segerse, resided apparently near Albany until about 1668, his name appearing in the Rensselaerwyck rent rolls, 1652-68. Some time after this it is likely that he removed to New York, as the marriage of his two sons, Seger and Jacob, are found among the records of the New York Dutch Church. These marriages occurred in 1678 and 1686 respectively, and the names as given are Jacob Corn. Van Egmont and Seger Corn. Van Egmont. There is no further indication that either the name of Van Voorhout or Van Egmont was carried down to later generations in this branch of the family.

The third son, Seger Cornelise, whose wife was Jannetie Teunis, daughter of Teunis Dircks Van Vechten, died in early life (June 24, 1662, aged 23). It is quite likely that his descendants were those who carried down to succeeding generations the name of Segers. At any rate, the name of Van Voorhout was used only in the first two generations of the family in this country, and even so, very infrequently. The name of Egmont survived for a time, but as a family in America, has been little known. The name of Segers, however, exists to-day and was apparently the generally accepted name for the family, who are descendants of Seger Cornelius.

It is most probable that though Cornelius Segers undoubtedly came direct from Voorhout to this country, he belonged to the original Egmont family of Holland, from which the town of Egmont takes its name. Voorhout is a small place near Leyden, and about 20 miles southwest of Amsterdam. Egmont is about 10 miles west of Schermerhorn and 20 miles northwest of Amsterdam. An early genealogist of the family seemed to believe that Jannetie Van Voorhout and Jannetie Egmont were two different personages and each a wife of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn. This, of course, is incorrect, although it is easy to see how the mistake may have occurred. Among the New York Dutch Church records is a marriage record as follows:

"Feb. 20, 1650. Jacob Janszen, y. m. Jannetie Jacobs y. d. Van Amsterdam."

The early church records were quite crude, and it has been noticed by the author that correctness in registering surnames was by no means invariable. This is quite possibly the marriage record of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn and Jannetie Egmont.

Jannetie's sister, Lysbeth, married Francis Boon, a young French Indian-trader who, after accumulating some money, established himself in New York, his place of business being on the west side of Broadway, opposite Bowling Green. He became very wealthy, finally removing to the West Indies, where his wife died.

Submitted by Judy Tate

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