Jan Corneliszen Damen (abt. 1635 - bef. 1707)

Born about 1635 in Buninch, Utrecht, Nederland

Ancestors

Husband of Fytie (Martens) Damen — married about 1660 in New Netherland

Descendants

Died before 9 Apr 1707 before about age 72 in Flatbush, Kings, New York

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Jan Cornelisz Damen was a New Netherland settler. Join: New Netherland Settlers Project Discuss: new_netherland

Biography

Jan Corneliszen Damen was a native of Vechten, a hamlet in the village of Bunnik in the bishopric of Utrecht in the Netherlands. No records are known to exist of his baptism or his parents, but he is inferred to be the nephew of Jan Jansz Damen and son of Cornelisz Jansz Damen.^[1]. He is estimated to have been born in about 1635, based on the assumptions that he was no older than 17 on 10 March 1651,^[1] when he was hired for a three-year term as a farmhand or house-servant, and that he was at least 20 years old in April 1655, when he purchased a house and land in Breuckelen, Long Island, New Netherland.^[2]. Jan Corneliszen emigrated to New Netherland, probably in 1651. A notarial deed executed in Amsterdam in the Netherlands on 10 March 1651^[3] states (in English translation) that Ide van Voorst, "a free man of Nieunederlandt but now present within this city of Amsterdam," had acted on behalf of his father-in-law (probably referring to a stepfather), Jacob Stoffelsz, "also a free man in Nieunederlandt," to engage and hire Jan Cornelisz from Vechten in the bishopric of Utrecht to work for Jacob Stoffelsz for three years as a farmhand or house-servant in New Netherland, beginning "with his arrival in that land and his setting foot ashore." Jan Cornelisz' father was declared to have given consent, "as Jan Jansz Damen, also free man in Nieunederlandt, also present here, declares to be true." Jan Cornelisz was to "serve his aforementioned master or his master's wife as a farm hand, performing all work that makes part of that, with no exception, obediently, willingly, loyally and discreetly as becoming and fitting a good servant." Compensation was to be sixty Carolus guilders for the first year and eighty Carolus guilders in each of the two following years, "in addition to free food, drink and lodging, as well as paid food and passage thither."^[1] From this deed, Koenig and Nieuwenhuis inferred that Jan Comelisz was a minor, as indicated by the requirement that he have his father's consent. Additionally, they indicate the agreed-on wage of 60 Carolus guilders was a relatively low amount, suggesting that Jan Cornelisz was "still young, probably around 17 years of age." They note that it was "slightly unusual" that Jan Jansz Damen's declaration that Jan Cornelisz had his father's consent was considered acceptable in the absence of written proof, and state that this "suggests a special relationship between Jan Jansz Damen and the boy." This suggests that Jan Cornelisz was a nephew of Jan Jansz Damen, a son of his brother Comelis Jansz Damen, who lived "on the Mersch (in Vechten/Bunnik)."^[1]

On 29 April 1655 Jan Cornelisz Damen purchased a house and land in Breuckelen, Long Island, from Comelis van Tienhoven. He agreed to pay 1300 Carolus guilders in equal payments spread over a three-year period.^[2]. Deed documented in Calendar of Historical Manuscripts in the office of the Secretary of State, Albany NY Part I, Dutch Manuscripts, 1630-1664, ed. by E.B. O'Callaghan. 1865. ^[4] Schulze observed that Jan Cornelisz Damen must have had money from some source other than his own earnings, since his contract with Jacob Stoffelsz would have paid him only 320 guilders over three years.^[2].

In 1656 he witnessed a baptism in New Amsterdam. The next record of him is from 1661, when his daughter Marte was baptized. ^[2]

There is no record of his marriage to Sophia ("Fytie") Martens, but it is assumed to have occurred some time after 1656 and before 1661, when the first baptism of a child was recorded.^[2] (However, the first child is estimated to have been born in about 1660, suggesting marriage in 1660 or earlier.)

He took the Oath of Allegiance in New York in 1687, stating that he had been in America for 37 years. This is consistent with the 1651 notarial deed that indicates immigration in about 1651.^[1]

Jan Damen appears in the 1698 census for "Brookland," Kings County, New York, in a household with his wife, four children and one slave.^[2]

1697 in August within Jan Damen's tavern keeper in Brooklyn, in Book 2 Conveyances Jan Evertse Bout said he gave some property to Brewer's children and not to Adam Brewer himself. (image att) ^[5]

The last record of Jan and Sophia as baptismal sponsors was in 1701, when they witnessed the baptism of their granddaughter Jannetje Schermerhorn.^[2] The last record of Jan Damen being alive is from 12 August 1704, when he voted at a town meeting in Flatbush, New York. He died some time after that and before 9 April 1707, when a deed by all the children incl. Michael Parmentier and wife Neeltie Damen (his daughter) described him ("John Damon") as deceased. His will was probated on 20 June 1707.^[2]

Deed by the children dated 9 April 1707

Deed by Michael and his wife Neltye of Dutchess Co, NY. Martha Sympson of Flatbush, Pieter Uziell and Cornelia his wife of Dutchess Co, Samuel Phillips and his wife Aelkie of New York, Lucas Sckermorehorn and Elizabeth his wife of Dutchess Co, Frans Konin and Selia his wife of Dutchess Co, Phillip Cazier of Richmond Co., heir to his mother Lyshie, Russia Damon of Flatbush. Deeded to Daniel Remsen. The said Neltye, Martha, Cornelia, Aelkie, Elizabeth, Selia, Lyshie, and Russia all being the daughters and co-heirs of John Damon, late of Flatbush, deceased. ^[6]

Children

Children of Jan Cornelisz Damen and Fytie Martens were:^[2]

1. Lysbeth Janse Damen, born about 1660 in New York
2. Marta lanse Damen, baptized 24 July 1661 in Breuckelen, New Netherland
3. Comelis Janse Damen, baptized 11 February 1662/3 in Breuckelen, New Netherland
4. Neeltje lanse Damen, born about 1664 in New York
5. Cornelia lanse Damen, born about 1666 in Breuckelen
6. Aeltie lanse Damen, born about 1672 in New York.
7. Sophia lanse Damen, baptized 19 August 1674 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York; no further record
8. Lysbeth, baptized 20 September 1676 ^[7]
9. Jan, baptized 28 August 1678^[8]
10. Sophia lanse Damen, baptized 8 August 1680 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York; no further record
11. Celetje lanse Damen, baptized 7 October 1683 in New Utrecht, New York
12. Geesje, baptized 1 November 1685^[9]
13. Risjen lanse Damen, born about 1687

Research Notes

• Source: NARDC Bapt. Record: Page 146 - 1681 Mar 15; Jan Cassier, Lysbeth Damen; Maria; Jan Damen, Fytie Damen

-- Fytie was a sponsor in 1681 NARDC

• Source: And appears in the Constable (Van Akin) Family History compiled by Beatrice Constable as Jan Cornellison Damen (UNPUBLISHED, updated 1988).
• Source: John Cornelisen Damen, married to Tytie Martens, father of Rusje Damen ab1687 appears in family documentation pedigree of Nathan Everett Hatfield. I don't have source documents - these names are provided to support searching.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Koenig, Dorothy A., and Pim Nieuwenhuis. "The Nephews of Jan Jansz Damen." New Netherland Connections,(1999), pages 36-39. https://media.americanancestors.org/uploadedfiles/american_ancestors/content/databases/pdfs/newnetherlandconnections/newnetherlandconnectionsv.4.pdf
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8} Schulze, Lorine McGinnis. "Jan Corneliszen Damen in the New World." New Netherland Connections, pages 47-56. https://media.americanancestors.org/uploadedfiles/american_ancestors/content/databases/pdfs/newnetherlandconnections/newnetherlandconnectionsv.4.pdf
3. ↑ Huurcontract Jan Cornelisz
4. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/calendarofhistor00newy#page/58/mode/2up Page 58]: 29 April 1655. Deed. Comelis Van Tienhoven to Jan Comelissen Damen, of Buninck, of a house and parcel of land in the village of Breuckelen, situate between Joris Dircksen and black Hans.
5. ↑ NY Bk 2 Conveyances
6. ↑ Kings County, N.Y., Wills https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/48331/LongIslandSrcRec-001955-100/295699
7. ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: Page 124 - 1676 Sep 20; Jan Damen, Fytie Martyns; Lysbeth; Jan Adriaenszen, Lysbeth Jans.
8. ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: Page 134 - 1678 Aug 28; Jan Cornelis Damen, Fytie Martens; Jan; Paulus Ritzart, Neeltie Jans .
9. ↑ Page 170 - Jan Cornelisz Damen, Sophia Martens; Geesje; Michiel ????, Judith Rapalje

• Ancestry.com, Public Member Trees. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006.

Acknowledgments

• Damen-16 was created on 14 September 2010 through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged.
• WikiTree profile Damen-40 created through the import of Ancestor's that we lost, the Decendants they left behind_2011-08-28_01(2).ged on Sep 12, 2011 by Willette Bryant.