Johannes Vincent (bef. 1651 - bef. 1705)

[Note: I had added this to the record for Jan Vincent but realize now more people might see this post if I put it here in the comment section]. I have spent some time examining the New Amsterdam RDC baptismal and marriage records, as well as those of the Église Francoise à la Nouvelle York. I am convinced that Johannes Vincent did not lead a double life as has been conjectured, but has been combined erroneously into one person, whereas there really were two separate individuals, a Johannes Vincent from a Flemish family, and a Jean Vincent from a French family. One of the sources given here for his profile, Proceedings of the Huguenot Society of America, Vol. III, Part I, June 1896 (“Notes on some Huguenot Families Vincent...etc.” by Edward Stanley Waters), actually begins the article on the Vincents by saying “Of the early settlers of this name there were two distinct families, one Dutch, the other French.”

The individual Johannes, baptised 15 Jan 1651 in the New Amsterdam RDC, son of Adriaen Vincent was the one who married there, in 1673 Annetje Jans. There is a clear network of families connected with them: Cassou, Fell, for example. He and Annetje baptised 4 children in the RDC: Cornelis in 1674, Marritye in 1679, Adrianus in 1680, and Magdalen in 1684. This Johannes, usually referred to in the records as Jan, is sponsor for many baptisms. He may also have remarried after the death of Annetje, if he is the person who appears in a 1700 record as Jan Vincent [with] his wife Helena Griegs.

The other person with this name, who were both often Anglicized to John Vincent, was Jean Vincent. Jean Vincent has a sister Madeleine Vincent, who appears in the first entry of the record of the French Church in New York. She married Jean Pelletreau and is known to be from St. Martin parish on the Ile de Re, directly across from La Rochelle, France. Her siblings are Jean, who married Susanne Neuquerque, Francis who married Anne Guerry, and Ester Vincent who married Jean David. This family all originated from St. Martin, from which many Huguenots had to flee at various times in the 1600s. They went to London first, then to America.

In 1682 Francis Vincent, his wife Anne, and children Anne and Francis, received letters of denization in London, and soon after, John, wife, Susanne, and son Levi did the same (this statement from the Waters article). I found these people listed in the register for “L’Église de Londres (Threadneedle Street),” page 61, 1682:

Vincent, Jean & sa femme Vincent, Francois & sa femme David, Jean & sa femme demand leur tesmoingnage Fév. 22

These individuals never appear in the New Amsterdam RDC records, but only the French Church records, and Jean always appears as “Jean.” And they appear there from 1688 on, after the church was established.

If you simply focus on the fact that Jean Vincent and wife Susanne were in London in late February 1682, asking for asylum from Charles II, he could NOT be a sponsor for a baptism at the New Amsterdam RDC, as was “Jan Vincent,” for example, on April 1, 1682, appearing with Sara Jans for the child Abraham, parents Coenraedt Van der Beeck and Elsje Jans.

NY deeds have been cited to suggest the pattern of this man being one person. However, because the deeds were written in English, and always referred to “John Vincent,” it opens the door for ambiguity. The deeds of John Vincent selling to Cornelia De Peyster in 1684 and 1686 are the Flemish man, whereas the John Vincent selling to Magdelene Pelletreau (his sister) in 1704 is the French one.

I would like to have Levi Vincent removed as son of Jan Vincent. I intend to create a Jean Vincent, the French one, and add Levi to him. I wasn't sure which order I should do this, welcoming suggestions.