Willem Adriaensz (abt. 1604 - bef. 1644)

Born about 1604 in Helsingør, Frederiksborg, Danmark [uncertain]

Husband of Marie (Thomas) Badie — married about 1635 in New Amsterdam, New Netherland

Descendants

Died before 9 Sep 1644 before about age 40 in Gowanus, Long Island, New Netherland

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Willem Adriaensz was a New Netherland settler. Join: New Netherland Settlers Project Discuss: new_netherland

Biography

"Willem Adriaensz, mentioned in the Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts as being "van els seneur," was from Helsingør, in Denmark. ^[1] Our knowledge of him is confined to a letter of Kiliaen van Rensselaer to Jacob Planck, officer and commis in the colony of Rensselaerswyck. The letter is written May 12, 1639, and shows that Adriaensz was a cooper, and had an "account against the lords directors of Groningen signed by Tyaert Brongers, supercargo." Some time prior to 1638 Adriaensz must have been in Holland. According to the letter to Planck he was somewhere near Albany in 1638. In what year he left Holland or Denmark for the new world, is not stated." ^[2]

Bennet Surname

The Bennet surname was adopted by Willem's descendants after the English conquest of New Netherland in 1664.

Origins

The "Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts" states that Willem was described as "van els seneur," which has been identified as Helsingør, in Denmark. ^[3][4][5] This is the most likely origin as Willem named two sons Christiaen, which as A. J. F. van Laer describes, "occur(s) frequently in connection with Scandinavian immigrants". ^[6]

Elſenoer, Denemarcken, Dania c. 1570

Provost's Early Settlers of Bushwick states that Willem might have been a French Huguenot. "...the possibility exists that [Bennet] was a modification of the French name Benet that may have been used by a Huguenot exile..." ^[7]

In the 1698 census of Brooklyn, where five Bennets are recorded, none of them are distinguished by either of the letters "E" for English, or "F" for French. Both sons and grandsons of Willem Adriaensen took oaths of allegiance at Kings County in 1687. These oaths were generally administered by the English Royal Government to only non-English persons. Previously published accounts of Willem, by Provost (1948) and Ledley (1963) lean towards the belief that Willem was of French Huguenot descent, and conclude that while that cannot be determined with certainty, he was most likely not of English descent. ^[8]

A 1998 article by Macy ^[9] provides additional evidence that Willem had resided in Denmark but makes no conclusion regarding his birthplace.

Arrival

1636 New York, New York^[10]

Marriage

Wife: Maritje (Maria) Thomas Badie, 1636 New Amsterdam, , New York, USA^[11][12]

Children

1. Adriaen Willemse Bennet
2. Willem Willemse Bennet
3. Christian Willemse Bennet, bpt 6 Jan 1641. Parent Willem Adriaensz. Getuygen: Michiel ter Oycken, Fiscael; Eli Braconie.^[13]
4. Christian Willemse Bennet Christiaen bpt 30 March 1642. parent Willem Adriaensz, Getuygen: Michiel Ter Hoyken, Fiscael; Jan Bentin, Maurice Janszen, Marritje Theunis^[13]
5. Marritje Willemse Bennet Marye (y has two dots over it) bpt. 9 March 1644. Willem Adriaensz parent. Getuygen: Hr. Willem Kieft, Gouverneur and Eli Braconnie.^[13]

Timeline

In 1624 when the first group of families arrived on Noten Eylandt (later Governors) to be followed by the second group of settlers to the island in 1625, in order to take possession of the New Netherland territory and to operate various trading posts, they were spread out to Verhulsten Island (Burlington Island) in the South River (Delaware River), to Kievitshoek (now Old Saybrook, Connecticut) at the mouth of the Verse River (Connecticut River) and at the top of the Mauritius or North River (Hudson River), now Albany. ^[14]

• 1636 - Arrival in New Amsterdam - age 32^[15]

• 1636 - Purchased 936 Acres in Gowanus with Jacques Bentyn. The first patent of land was granted to Jaques Bentin and William Adrianse Bennett who purchased from the Indians a tract of land in Brooklyn, a large farm of 936 acres of land in Gowanus, extending from the vicinity of Twenty-eighth street, along Gowanus Cove and the bay, to the New Utrecht line, upon which, at some time prior to the Indian war of 1642-'45 , a dwelling-house was erected--affording presumptive evidence, at least, that absolute occupation and agricultural improvement followed close upon its purchase.
  The occupation of this farm, over a portion of which the village of Gowanus subsequently extended--and which comprised that portion of the present city lying between Twenty-seventh street and the New Brooklyn .
  as appears by the following Dutch record, being a certified copy, by Michael Hainelle , clerk, from the old records of the town of Brooklyn^[16][17]

• 1636 - Gowanus farm extended along Gowanus Bay and NY Harvor from the present 27th St to New Utrecht town line (1.5) east about 1 mile into the hills. At the time of the Revolution, the Bennets owned the waterfront of the Gowanus cove from Twenty-fifth to Thirty-seventh St, inclusive and it was probably between 32nd and 37th Sts that the British Reinforcements landed. In the American Revolution it served as the arena for the Battle of Long Island. A map can be found in Styles, "History of Brooklyn" Vol 2, pg 68 and shows a survey made 21 May 1696 by Augustus Graham, Surveyer General of the Benton and Bennet purchase^[18][19] An actual transcript of the patent can be found in the Dutch records.^[20]

• 1637 - William Adriansz Bennet (36) married Maria Baddie Verdon (28) a widow with 2 children in New Amsterdam, daughter of Thomas Badie and Aeltie Braconie.

• 1637 March 22 - Willem gave power of attorney to Hendrick Cornelis Van der Voorst to collect a debt from Dirck Corsen Stam. ^[21]

• 1639 Dec 26 - Willem buys Jacques Bentyn's portion of the original land patent. per footnote: Dec 26 1639 as per deed recorded in office of Secretary of State at Albany from Jacques Bentin, he sets forth: I undersigned, Jacques Bentin, acknowledge that I have sold to William Adriansen a certain lot of land joining the land of William Adriansen for 360 guilders.^[22]

• 1668 May 25 - a confirmatory patent was granted to Thomas Fransen for a certain parcel of land and meadow ground upon Long Island, lying and being near unto or by Gowanes; the said parcel of of land lying between the first and second meadow-ground or valley; being bounded to the north by the first and to the south by the second valley as by Paulus Vender Beeck it was staked out in the presence of the said Thomas Fransen and other witnesses; being also of the same breadth eastward as far as into the original ground brief is set forth, the parel of meadow being divided into four parts/ Two of them - vis. No. 2 and No. 4 - are transferred to the said Thomas Fransen which makes the trust moiety of half of the said meadow, together with a small parcel of woodland lying beyond that part of the aforesaid second valley where No. 4 is, as conveyed by Adriaen Willemsen (Bennet) to Paulus Vender Beeck and Sept 5 1666, conveyed by the said Paulus Vander Beeck and his wife Maria Thomas to the said Fransen, the quantity of land being certified by the surveyor and endorsed on the first conveyance.^[23]

• 1640 Aug 02 - Willem hired a stallion and Mare from the West India Company ^[24]

• 1641 Nov 14 - Willem, recorded as Willem Adriaensen cooper, bought property from Hendrick Jansen, tailor.

• 1642 May 02 - Willem gave a deposition noting that he had "taken Dirck Jansens' boy from Andries Hudde (possibly as an apprentice).^[25]

• 1642 Nov - Bennet also purchased property, including a dwelling and brewhouse, in New Amsterdam (now Manhattan), fronting the East River near Maagde Paetje (Maiden Lane).

• 1643 - The house in Gowanus burned to the ground, This house originally stood near 3rd Ave and 28th Street. The old stone walls of the house were used to rebuild the house which later became the Schermerhorn Farm and it was remodelled and modernized on the same site.^[26]

• 1644 Sept 09 - Willem dies between Mar 9 1644 - and Sept 9 1644. By trade he was a Cooper (Cuyper), wheel and barrel maker. Anecdotal evidence says he was killed by local Lenapi Indians in one of their raids on the New Amsterdam villages. However, daughter Maria was baptized on Mar 9, 1644 and was not noted as a posthumus child. Wife Maritje was noted as widow by Sept 9, so death likely occurred between these dates, possibly as a result of injuries from the Indian Wars of 1634 as family anecdotes indicate.^[27]

• 1644 Sept 09 - Willem's property was patented by Gov. Kieft to Mary Thomas widow of Willem Ariaense Bennet deceased. It was property that later was between 28th and 41st streets in downtown Brooklyn. It included part of the present day Greenwood Cemetery.^[28]

• 1663 Feb 15 - Maritye Thomas, widow of Willem made a deposition in Gowanus.
  It is as follows:

"Today, the 15th of Feby., 1663, appeared before me, Walewyn Van Der Veen, notary public, etc., Maritie Tomas, formerly widow of Jacob Verdon, then of Willem Ariensen Bennet, and now the wife of Poulus Van Der Beeck, who at the request of her sons, Tomas Jacobsen Verdon, and Willem Willemsen Bennet, by her aforesaid first, and second husbands, declared that after the death of her said second husband, Wilem Ariensen Bennet, she and her first child's guardians have found, as there had never been a partition of their property in common, which she brought to her present husband Mr. Paulus Van Der Beeck, that after her house had been burned, and destroyed in the war with the savages about 19 years ago first of a Bouwery (farm), and valley in Gouwanes according to the patent thereof, then a lot with a house on the Beaver's graft in this city, upon which there were still to be paid 100 florins, further a hand mill with belongings, sold by her present husband Van Der Beeck to Albert Pietersen Molenaer, also a press with belongings to set up a corn stack, four iron hoops for a stack, a plough share, and what else belongs to a plough, a cow with her first calf, two goats, 70 skepels of wheat, a hogshead of spun tobacco, delivered At 14 St. the pound, and cash paid for it and received, half an aem of brandy; besides the aforesaid her said second husband's cooper's tools with furniture, and household goods. Said estate was, however, indebted for 600 florins to be paid to Jacob Stoffelssen for a mare, which having been paid said Jacob Stoffelsen gave her, the affiance, for the prompt payment, a cow with her first calf. Herewith she closed her deposition promising, if necessary and she be asked, to confirm it under oath. Thus done and signed in the presence of Jacob Sam, and Willem Bogardt as witnesses, who; signed this record with me, the Notary, on the day as above."

• 1677 April 04 - deposition from 2 Indians as to land sold to William Adrianse Bennet.
  " On this 4th day of April (English style), 1677 , appeared before me Michil Hainelle , acknowledged as duly installed Clerk and Secretary, certain persons, to wit: Zeuw Kamingh , otherwise known in his walks (or travels) as Kaus Hansen , and Keurom , both Indians; who, in presence of the undersigned witnesses, deposed and declared, that the limits or widest bounds of the land of Mr. Paulus Vanderbeeck , in the rear, has been or is a certain tree or stump on the Long Hill , * on the one side, and on the other the end of the Indian foot-path, and that it extends to the creek of the third mneadows; * which land and ground, they further depose and declare, previous to the present time, was sold by a certain Indian, known as Chief or Sachem Ka , to Jacques Bentyn and William Ariensen (Bennett) , the latter formerly the husband of Marie Thomas , now the wife of Mr. Paulus Vanderbeeck ; which account they both maintain to be the truth, and truly set forth in this deposition.
  " In witness of the truth is the original of this with the said Indians' own hands subscribed, to wit: By Zeuw Kamingh or Kaus Hansen , with this mark, ??, and by Keurom with this mark, ??, in the presence of Lambert Dorlant , who by request signed his name hereto as a witness. took place at Brookland on the day and date above written.
  " Compared with the original and attested to be correct.
  "Michil Hainelle , Clerk."

Death

Following the death of Willem Adriensz Bennet, Maritje marries 3rd husband, Paulus Van der Beeck , who was one of the patentees mentioned in the charter of 1667, granted by Governor Nicholls to the town of Brooklyn, and a prominent and influential citizen. They moved from Manhattan to the Gowanus farm she held after William A Bennet's death where they moved in about 1653. He died in the year 1680 and the Gowanus estate is next found in the possession of Adrian Bennett, a son of the original proprietor.

During his occupancy, some dispute seems to have arisen between him and one Simon Arison (de Hart) , who had become possessed of a portion of the original purchase. * In consequence of this controversy, and in compliance with the mandate of the Governor and Council, a new survey was ordered, as appears from the following report:

1695-96: " Pursuant to his Excellency's warrant, bearing date the 9th January, 1695-6 :: " I have surveyed for Adriaen Bennett a certain parcel of land at the Gowanos , on the Island of Nassau , beginning at a certain small lane * near the house of said Adriaen Bennett , * and from thence it runs alongst the said lane and markt trees to a certain chesnut standing on the top of the hill, * marked with three notches, and thence to a black oak standing on the south side of the said hill, marked with three notches. The course from the said black oak to the first station is south 44° and 30' easterly, distance 80 chains; and thence it runs irregularly by markt trees, said to be markt by the Indians when purchased by Willem Arianse Bennett , to a white oak * standing by the Indian foot-path, markt with three notches, the course 20° northerly, distance 122 chains; and thence it runs by the southwest side of Brookland Patent to the bay of the North River, and so Adriaen Bennett , when a day is appointed by his Excellency and council for the hearing of his evidence, doth promise to make them appear to be the bounds and limits of the land purchased by his father, Willem Ariaense Bennett , of the Indians, in the year 1636 . "Aug. Graham , Sur. Genl. " May 21st, 1696 ."

Church Records

Children's baptisms

1. 1641 Jan 06 Christiaen, Willem Adriaensz. Wit.: Michiel ter Oycken, Fiscael; Eli Braconie. ^[29]
2. 1642 Mar 30 Christiaen, Willem Adriaensz. Wit.: Michiel Ter Hoyken, Fiscael; Jan Bentin, Maurice Janszen, Marritie Theunis. ^[29]
3. 1644 Mar 09 Marye, Willem Adriaensz. Wit.: de Hr. Willem Kieft, Gouvneur; Eli Braconnie. ^[29]

Widow's remarriage

• 1644 09 Oct Paulus Vander Beeck, j.m. Van Bremen, en Maria Thomas, Wede. Van Willem de Cuper. ^[30]

Research Notes

LNAB : Adriaensz, Willem's patronymic, is the only "surname" that is recorded for him in church records. He is called "Willem de Cuper" in his widow's next marriage. Quackenbush-118 00:47, 28 January 2017 (EST)

Sources

1. ↑ Van Rensselaer Bowier: Page 418
2. ↑ Evjen: Page 151-152
3. ↑ Macy: NYGBR 123 (1992) 123, pg 21-22
4. ↑ Van Rensselaer Bowier: Page 418
5. ↑ Evjen: Page 151-152
6. ↑ Register: Vol. 1, (Book) Page 97
7. ↑ Provost, Andrew J. Early Settlers of Bushwick, Long Island, New York, and their Descendants. Darien, Conn.: A. J. Provost, 1949-1963.
8. ↑ NY Genealogical and Biographical Record, Ledley "William Adriaense Bennet of Brooklyn, 93:1, pg 94-95
9. ↑ Macy, "Origins of Some New Netherlands Families," NYGBR 123:1, pp. 21-22.
10. ↑ Gale Research. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Ancestry.com Operations, Inc; Provo, UT, USA. Date: 2010. Filby, P. William, ed., Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010. Ancestry Record pili354 #2103508 . Arrival date: 1636 Arrival place: New York, New York
11. ↑ Source: #S32 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for Willem Adrianse BENNET, Record for Marritje 'Maria' Thomas BADIE, Record for Marie Thomas Badie
12. ↑ Source: #S32 Page: Database online. Data: Text: Record for Maria Thomas Badie, Record for Marie Thomas Badie
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Evans, Thomas Grier (editor) Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in New Amsterdam and New York. Baptisms 1639-1730. New York, 1901. Marye p 17; Christian p11; Christian p 13; digital images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/134148 : accessed October 2023)
14. ↑ Note N365The Dutch return

    Immediately after the armistice period between the Dutch Republic and Spain (1609-1621), the Dutch West India Company was founded in 1621. That year, as well as in 1622 and 1623, orders were given to the private, commercial traders to vacate the territory, thus opening up the territory to the transplantation of Dutch culture onto the North American continent whereon the laws and ordinances of the states of Holland would now apply. Previously, during the private, commercial period, only the law of the ship had applied. The mouth of the Hudson River was selected as the most perfect place for initial settlement as it had easy access to the ocean while securing an ice free lifeline to the beaver-rich, unexploited forests farther north where the company's traders could be in close contact with the American Indian hunters who supplied them with pelts in exchange for European-made trade goods for barter and wampum, which was soon being "minted" under Dutch auspices on Long Island.

    Thus in 1624 when the first group of families arrived on Noten Eylandt (later Governors) to be followed by the second group of settlers to the island in 1625, in order to take possession of the New Netherland territory and to operate various trading posts, they were spread out to Verhulsten Island (Burlington Island) in the South River (Delaware River), to Kievitshoek (now Old Saybrook, Connecticut) at the mouth of the Verse River (Connecticut River) and at the top of the Mauritius or North River (Hudson River), now Albany.

15. ↑ US and Canada, Passenger nad Immigration Lists Index, 1500-1900, Source Publication Code 1262: Colket, Meredith B, Jr, "Founders of Early American Families: Emigrants from Europe 1607-1657. Cleveland: General Court of the Order of Founders and Partiots of America, 1975. Pg 26 pf 366
16. ↑ A history of the City of Brooklyn Including the Old Town and Village of Brooklyn, Town of Bushwick and Village and City of Williamsburgh - Vol 1, pg 23
17. ↑ Provost, "Early Settlers of Bushwick, Long Ismand, New York and Their Descendants", Vol 1, Bennet, pg 25
18. ↑ Provost, Early Settlers of Bushwick, Vol 1, pg 26
19. ↑ A History of the City of Brooklyn Including the Old Town and Village of Brooklyn, Town of Bushwick and the Village and City of Williamsburgh, Pg 193 Note 1
20. ↑ History of the City of Brooklyn Including the Old Town and Village of Brooklyn, Vol 1 - pg 49
21. ↑ "Early Settlers of Bushwick LI and Their Descendants", Vol 1, pg 25, Bennet
22. ↑ Arnold J.F Van Laer (translator), New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Volume 1, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1638-1642, (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1974) (Reproduced from Original Typescripts in the Possession of the New York State Library, Albany, New York) p. 250, 251, original p. 179; digital images, New Netherland Institute, (https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/ research/online-publications/register-of-the-provincial-secretarv-volume-1: accessed 26 October 2023)
23. ↑ "History of the City of Brooklyn", Vol 1, pg 50
24. ↑ Early Settlers of Bushwick
25. ↑ Provost, "Early Settlers of Bushwick, LI", Vol 1, pg 25, Bennet
26. ↑ "History of the City of Brooklyn" Vol 1, pg 52
27. ↑ John Reynolds Totten, "Verdon Family Notes", NYGBR, 64:105-132, April 1933) p 109). Also Ledley, "Willem Adriaense Bennet of Brooklyn" pg 93.
28. ↑ Ledley, "Willem Adriense Bennet of Brooklyn:93:1, pg 96
29. ↑ ^{29.0 29.1 29.2} Thomas Grier Evans. "Baptisms from 1639 to 1730 in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York." In Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Vol. II. New York: Printed for the Society, 1890.
30. ↑ Samuel S. Purple. "Marriages from 1639 to 1801 in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York" In Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Vol. I. New York: Printed for the Society, 1890.

• Evjen, John Oluf. Scandinavian Immigrants in New York, 1630-1674 (K.C. Holter, Minneapolis, Minn., 1916)
• New York State Library, Kiliaen van Rensselaer, Arnold J. F. Van Laer, Nicolaas de Roever, and Susan De Lancey Van Rennselaer Strong. Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts (Albany, University of the state of New York, 1908)
• Van Laer A. J. F, Kenneth Scott, Kenn Stryker-Rodda, and Charles T. Gehring.. Register of the Provincial Secretary (Baltimore, 1974)
• Chester, Chris. "The Brouwer Genealogy Database." freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brouwergenealogydata. Accessed 02 Jun 2016. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brouwergenealogydata/ui287.htm Willem Adriaensen (Bennet)
• Macy, Harry Jr. "The Origins of Some New Netherland Families." New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, vol. 123 (January 1992): 17-24.
• NJGS. "Bennett: Bennet, Willem Adriaense (Willem de Cuyper)" njgsbc.org. Accessed 27 Jan 2017. http://njgsbc.org/indexes/bergen-county-families/
• Gale Research. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Ancestry.com Operations, Inc; Provo, UT, USA. Date: 2010. Filby, P. William, ed., Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2010.
• Godfrey Memorial Library, comp. American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI). Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Provo, UT, USA, 1999. Original: Godfrey Memorial Library, American Genealogical-Biographical Index, Middletown, CT, USA.
• Ancestry.com. Ancestry Family Trees and Public Member Trees Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006. URL: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/7179083/person/-1147854270/facts and https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/9639887/person/394480362/facts and https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/7221440/person/1367892493/facts and https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/6601291/person/1308660894/facts

Acknowledgments

• This person was created through the import of Sheppard_Duncan_Bickham_Stroud.ged on 01 February 2011.
• This person was created through the import of Beaman Family Tree.ged on 31 March 2011.
• This person was created through the import of Newman Family Tree.ged on 12 March 2011.
• WikiTree profiles Bennet-344 and De Cuyper-4 created through the import of Johnson Family Tree 2011-08-24.ged on Aug 24, 2011 by Rosemary Palermo.
• This person was created through the import of Smith-Hunter.ged on 10 March 2011.
• Kent Bream, Sunday, April 19, 2015.