Epke Jacobs (1619)

Born 1619 in Oosterbierum, Franekeradeel, Friesland, Nederland

Ancestors

Husband of Sitske Dircksdr — married 1650 in Harlingen, Friesland, Nederland

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in Hackensack, Bergen County, Province of New Jersey

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Biography

The ancestor of the Banta family in America

Epke Jacobs was a farmer in Northern Holland, near Harlingen, which was an important seaport there. Harlingen is at the entrance of the Zuyder Zee, 65 miles north north-east from Amsterdam. It stands on the site of a former town, which was engulfed by the sea in the year 1134. It is protected by a dike 40 feet high, one of the largest in Holland.

Subsequently, Epke Jacobs removed to New Jersey, settling at Bergen, (Now Jersey City), probably prior to 1675. In 1681 he purchased land at Hackensack, Bergen Co., NJ. A deed, not recorded, for property at what is now called Ridgefield Park, on the east side of the river, two miles below Hackensack, was in existence a number of years ago. It was dated 17 June 1685 and was made by Epke Jacobs to Hendrick Joris Brinckerhoff, in the possession of whose descendants the land remained for 200 years. (The deed was kept in an old oaken chest in the Brinckerhoff homestead.) The late James Riker examined this deed for the signature of Epke JACOBS.

Owner of a windmill near Minnertsga, Friesland, the Netherlands or Holland. He was a miller in Oosterbierum and Minnertsga for a time and owned a 'wintmolen' windmill. In 1652, he and his wife bought a house in the village of Oosterbierum, but sold it at a loss in 1655, returning to Minnertsga. When he came to America, it was under the following agreement with the Dutch West India Company:

1. Obey all Company orders.
2. Agree to live wherever told, for six years.
3. Help in all community projects.
4. Sell all export merchandise to the Company.
5. Agree not to sell at a profit, the products they make.
6. Plant only what they are told to plant.
7. Not to trade with outsiders or reveal to them the business and profits of the Company.
8. Pay a yearly rental in farm produce, for farm and home, in addition to the Company's regular share, for 10 years, after which time taxes must be paid for the support of the Provincial Government and the military expenses of the Fort.
9. To remain a true Calvinist, as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church.
10. Any items needed may be purchased at the Company Store, and charged against the purchaser's account, to be paid for in produce.:^[1]

In accordance with the above, Epke was apparently told to open an Inn and Tavern, because when he arrived at Vlissengen (Flushing, NY), on Long Island, which was founded in 1645 by the Dutch, he became an innkeeper, but later moved to Jamaica, near Flushing, and became a miller there. Before, 1675, he moved to Bergen, now Jersey City, NJ. In 1681 he purchased land at Hackensack and with his sons became some of the earliest settlers in that village.

Epke Jacobs was a farmer in Northern Holland, near Harlingen, which was an important seaport there. Harlingen is at the entrance of the Zuyder Zee, 65 miles north north-east from Amsterdam. It stands on the site of a former town, which was engulfed by the sea in the year 1134. It is protected by a dike 40 feet high, one of the largest in Holland.

On the register of the Dutch Church at Bergen, NJ, in recording the marriage of Seba Bant he is stated to have been born at Oosterbierum, and in a similar record Hendrick, Dirck and Wierrt are shown to have been born in Minnertsga, Holland. These are small villages with a mile of the Zuyder Zee, 6 and 9 miles respectively northeast of Harlingen. Epke Jacobs probably lived between those two villages.

Records show that he was arrested on October 8, 1656, and fined for permitting a Roman Catholic priest into his house to baptise his child (probably Hendrick). The state religion was the Reformed Protestant Church. Regardless, Epke and his descendants were staunch supporters of the Dutch Reformed Church. ^[2]

It is not known why Epke, and his family left the Netherlands for America, but he is known to have had financial problems. They probably left for religious reasons as well, they seem to have been catholic, this religion was forbidden, and he also was arrested for inviting a priest to his home for the baptism of his child. He and his family left the Netherlands in late 1658 or early 1659 from Harlingen on the ship "DeTrouw" for New Amsterdam. The ship sailed to the Canary Islands, then the West Indies and then north along Virginia to New Amsterdam (later renamed New York by the British), arriving on 12 Feb 1659. ^[3]

Captain of the ship was Jan Jansen Bestevaer who received 159 florins for Jacob's family passage. By 12 Feb 1660 Stuyvescant had bought all of the land from the Esopus Indians but had to force them out of the area with the help of the Mohawk Indians. Some Indians were shipped to the West Indies. In 1664 the English invaded New Amsterdam and Stuyvescant surrendered. Taxes increased.

Epke and family settled in Vlissingen (now Flushing), Long Island. He became an Innkeeper, an important person. There he spent the next 16 years. In 1671 he bought a new mill in Jamaica, Long Island. Milling had been his occupation in the Netherlandst. The mill was built on the river between Old Town Neck and Long Neck. In 1675 he sold the mill to Joseph Carpenter and Caleb Carmen, and he moved to Bergen, Bergen County, New Jersey (now Jersey City).

Epke was an upstanding and respected citizen, and on February 18, 1679 he was appointed as a Magistrates Assistant to the Court of Oyer and Terminer, under Captain John Berry. The Court, on which Epke served, met semiannually and had jurisdiction of all indictable crimes. ^[4]

Epke Jacob was arrested in 1686 by the Sheriff of Bergen Co., with other landowners for rioting and for refusing to obey the King's authority.

Epke Jacob Banta emigrated to America soon after the landing of the pilgrim fathers. Epke Jacob Banta was born in East Friesland Holland where he was a farmer and was married. After the birth of five sons (Cornelius, Seba, Hendrick, Derrick/Dirck, Weart), he set out for Amsterdam Feb. 13, 1659, on the ship De Trow and upon reaching America located at Bergen N.J. He became the owner of land near Hackensack where he was prominent and well-to-do. He was a leader in the Dutch Reform Church and died full of years and honor. -from Portrait and Biographical Album of Vermillion and Edgar Counties, Illinois, published 1899, Chicago. p. 940 -- accessed on Google Books.

Surname

• The descendants of Epke Jacobs came to be known by the surname Banta. The first appearance of the surname Banta, as far as is known, is 22 August 1696, when Jannetie Cornelese Banta married Johannes Meyer ^[5]

Birth

• 1619 Friesland, Netherlands^[6]

Arrival

• On 12 February 1659 Ship List Name of Ship: De Trouw (The Faith).^[7]
• Epke Jacobs of East Friesland Holland came to America with his wife and five sons landing at Flushing, Long Island in April 1659. No reason has been found as to why he changed his name to Banta. It has been spelled many different ways, Banta, Bonta, Bonty, and De Banta. - from bio of Henry Banta VIII, from Daviess County Indiana History, 1988, Paducah, Ky.
• A Colonial Manuscript in the New York State Library has the first record of the Banta's in this country, the bill of charges for Epke's voyage, showing he paid FL 38 for himself, and FL 108 for is wife and five sons.^[8]
• Upon arrival in America, Epke JACOBS probably settled in Flushing, Long Island, NY and was an innkeeper according to New York records. About 1671 he had a mill in the adjoining town of Jamaica, NY.

Marriage

• Sitske Dirksdr^[9]

Death

• He died some place in Northern NJ between the years of 1686-1690. Burial: Body lost or destroyed Specifically: Was buried someplace in NJ

Children

• Epke and Sitske had the following issue:
  1. Cornelius Epkes Banta, b. ca. 1653, Minnertsga, West Friesland, Netherlands, d. bef. 20 May 1719 Bergen Co., NJ. (will probate). Marr. 1) Jannetie De Pre 2nd) Magdalena DeMarest 18 Nov. 1699 Hackensack Dutch Reformed Church, NJ, 3rd) Abeltie Sloth 1 March 1719 Hackensack Dutch Reformed Church. MY line is with wife Magdalena De Marest.
  2. Siba/Seba Epkes Banta, b. ca. 1655 Oosterbierum, Friesland, Netherlands, d. aft. 1700. Marr. Marytje Ariaense Sips 6 Nov. 1678 Bergen Dutch Reformed Church (now Jersey City).
  3. Hendrik Epkes Banta, b. ca. 1656 Minnertsga, Friesland, Netherlands, d. aft. 19 July 1717. Marr. 1) Maritje Lubbertse Westervelt 17 Nov. 1678 Bergen Dutch Reformed Church (now Jersey City) 2nd) Angenitie HENDRICKS 13 Jan. 1696 Hackensack Dutch Reformed Church.
  4. Dirk Epkes Banta, b. ca. 1657 Minnertsga, Friesland, Netherlands, d. aft. 15 Oct. 1717. Marr. Hester Hanse Didricks 3 Oct. 1681 Bergen Dutch Reformed Church (now Jersey City).
  5. Wiert Epkes Banta, b. ca. 1658, Minnertsga, Friesland, Netherlands, d. bef. 15 Sept. 1696. Marr. Geertje Jillis Mandeville 3 Oct. 1681 Bergen Dutch Reformed Church (now Jersey City).

Property

• In 1681 Jacob purchased 183 acres at Hackensack among the earliest settlers there.
• In 1686 Jacob purchased another 240 acres North of what is now Cherry Hill encompassing what was previously called Sluckup. A stone farmhouse he built was still standing in 1985 but was converted to a garage at 1184 Edgewater Ave. on the bank of Overpeck Cr.

Holland court case

• In de Kerstnacht van 1655 had grietman Douwe van Hottinga het voorzien op Liauckamastate te Sexbierum. Het schijnt dat hij geen overval ondernam , doch van alle kanten getuigenissen verzamelde en vervolgens een gerechtelijke vervolging liet instellen, die de bewoonster van het slot, Sophie Anne van Pipenpoy, tussen de 900 en 1000 gulden dreigde te kosten. De rechterlijke archieven bevatten slechts een korte vermelding over deze zaak; de mededeling van het visitatieverslag uit 1656, dat van Maele onlangs gevangen genomen is, kan echter wel op dit geval slaan. ^[2]

• Translation: "Christmas night 1655 grietman (sherif) Douwe van Hottinga's target seemed to be Liauckamastate at Sexbierum. He didn't rob the place, but was collecting testimonies from many people in the area for a court case and to be able to prosecute Sophie Anne Pipenpoy, the inhabitant of the castle, which threatened to cost her between 900 and 1000 guilders. The judicial archives contain only a brief mention on this matter; the communication of the assessment report in 1656, which was: van Maele recently was taken prisoner, it could however very well be related to this case. ^[2]

• Terwijl de zaak tegen Sophie Anne nog hangende was, pakte de procureur-fiscaal van Barradeel bovendien de molenaar Epke Jacobs te Minnertsga aan, die beschuldigd werd van het herbergen van een priester om zijn kind te laten dopen. De fiscaal had eerst getracht de boete zonder vorm van proces te innen, maar toen de molenaar weigerde, werd hij voor het gerecht om 600 gulden aangesproken. ^[2]

• Translation: "While the case against Sophie Anne was still pending, the attorney general of Barradeel also arrested the miller Epke Jacobs at Minnertsga , who was accused of hiding (inviting) a priest at (into) his house to baptize one of his children. The tax first attempted to collect the penalty without trial, but when the miller refused, he was in court addressed to pay 600 guilders."

• In de nieuwe wereld vinden wij Friezen als ziekenbezoekers : de uit Harlingen afkomstige zijdewerker Bastiaen Jansz Krol kwam in 1624, maar werd twee jaar later commies van fort Oranje (Albany) en was in 1632-33 directeur generaal van de hele kolonie Nieuw-Nederland; in 1629 kwam Jan Claesz van Minnertsga.

• De kolonisator Kiliaen van Rensselaer haalde in 1631 enkele kolonisten uit Franeker, en omstreeks 1660 volgde de familie Banta uit Barradeel Epke Banta - generation II (son of Jacob Epkesz Te Bonta) came to America in 1659.

• Translation: "In the new world we find Frisians as ill visitors: in 1624, from Harlingen, was the silk worker Bastiaen Jansz Krol, two years later he was a clerk from Fort Orange (Albany) and in 1632-33 the director general of the entire colony of New Netherlands; in 1629, Jan Claesz from Minnertsga arrived. The colonizer Kiliaen van Rensselaer took in 1631 some colonists from Franeker, and about 1660 a family Banta from Barradeel followed, Epke Banta - generation II (son of Jacob Epkeszn Te Bonta) came to America in 1659. ^[2]

• It's very likely they went to the New World because of their religion, they were Catholics, and this was forbidden in Holland at that time, he indeed is mentioned here as a miller at Minnertsga, het Bildt, Friesland, Netherlands.

Research Notes

• In volume 14, page 90, of the Colonial Manuscript in the State Library, at Albany (copied into N. Y. Documentary History III: 52, 53), there is preserved the first record we have found of the forefather of the Bantas, being the bill of charges for passage to America.^[8]
• The first use of the Banta family name so far as is known started in 1640 in Holland where he had begun to sign his name as Jacobi Epkes te Bonta. This appears in the States Archives in Friesland at Leewarden. Translated, the spelling means "Jacob Epkes at Bonta". Most likely it was derived from the fact that Epke's grandparents had a farm named Bonta near the Frisian Arum. In America the first use of the surname appears in the records of the Dutch Reformed Church records of Hackensack, NJ on August 22, 1696. For a short time thereafter, the name appeared sometimes as Banta and sometimes as Epke. Research indicates that since the name was not used in Holland by any otherfamily, it is safe to assume that all those bearing the Banta name descend from Epke Jacobs.^[7]
• Banta Name Meaning - Frisian: probably a habitational name for someone from Bant, in the 17th century an island in Friesland, now the village north of Emmeloord in the Noordoostpolder.^[10][11]

Sources

1. ↑ Per Dan Roberts data 5/8/1995:
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Source: In en оm de schuilkerkjes van Noordelijk Westergo Promotor: Prof. Dr. L. J. Rogier Katholiek leven in Frieslands Noordwesthoek onder de republiek (1580-1795) Proefschrift by Herman Joseph Oldenhof Te Assen bij Van Gorcum & Comp. N.V. - Dr. H. J. Prakke & H. M. G. Prakke see summary: for English info from pg. 438 pg 209-210
3. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical Digital Archives
4. ↑ Berks County Genealogical Society
5. ↑ Source: Ristenbatt. genealogy
6. ↑ :From Find A Grave: Memorial #72286874
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Lane, Robert E. Banta Family Descendants, page 3. Privately Printed; 10 Jul 2001. http://www.ingenweb.org/inorange/familyfiles/banta_rl.htm
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Banta, Theodore M. A Frisian Family – The Banta Genealogy - Descendants of Epke Jacobse, Who Came from Friesland, Netherlands, to New Amsterdam, February 1659. New York; 1893. Page 4. https://archive.org/details/frisianfamilyban00bant/page/n8/mode/2up
9. ↑ Banta Genealogy, A Frisian Family by Theodore M. Banta and Banta Pioneers and Rec. of Their Wives by Elsa Banta
10. ↑ In 1893, a book titled "A Frisian Family, The Banta Genealogy" was written by Theodore M. Banta, New York that detailed the first seven generations in North America. The records of the Reformed Dutch Church provided many records, and many family bibles were located and used. "The Frisian Family" can be found on Google Books. Vincent Akers wrote a serier of articles about the Dutch settlements on the Kentucky frontier. He mapped the migration of the Bantas to Kentucky.
11. ↑ Recently, in 2000, a historical novel was written by Theodore M. Banta titled "Conquest of Continent, Nine Generation on the American Frontier". This book is available in print or ebook.

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