Belitje (DeGroot) Cruser (abt. 1730 - aft. 1807)

Born about 1730 in Richmond, New York Colony

Wife of Cornelis (Croesen) Cruser — married 5 Apr 1757 in Richmond, New York Colony

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Belitje (DeGroot) Cruser is the descendant of a New Netherland settler.

Biography

Belitje DeGroot was born abt 1730 in Richmond County, New York to Joannes (de Groot) DeGroot (1704-1788) and Elizabeth Sikkels (abt.1707-aft.1740). ^[1]

Marriage & Children

Belitje married 5 April 1757 to Cornelius Cruser (also recorded as Crusen, Crusa, Kruser, Kroeson and Krusen) Richmond County, New York. ^[2] They had the following children:

1. Cornelius Cruser b, 26 Aug 1759^[3][4][5]
2. Elizabeth Cruser 1760 ^{[citation needed]}
3. John Cruser 1761^[1][5]
4. Lenah/Lena/Helena Cruser 1762- Married John Mercerneau^[6][7][8]

The will of Belitje's husband Cornelius dated 15 Dec 1807 mentions:
Wife: Belache
Children: Cornelius, John & Lana (wife of John Mercereau)
Grandchildren:Elizabeth (dau of Lana), Cornelius (eldest son of John), John, Jacob Tucker Cruser, Morris Hatfield Cruser, Elizabeth (not sure if this is a second Elizabeth or not) wife of John Bodine Jr, Deborah Van Tuyl wife of Abraham VanDuser, Helena and Sarah Maria. ^[5]

Death

Belitje was alive when her husbands will was written on 1 July 1807, as she is mentioned as "my beloved wife Beleche". Her death had to occur after that date. ^[6]

Research Note

I have not been able to find a baptism record for Belitje in either Bergen or Staten Island Records. I have only found a baptism record for one of Belitje's children. Although Johannes DeGroot does not mention his daughter in his will, the names of two of Belitje's children are mentioned as his grandchildren.

However the will of Belitje's father Johannes DeGroot and the will of her husband Cornelius Cruser along with the will or Cornelius's father Cornelius Cruser Sr provide ample evidence for the family relationships.

The will of Johannes DeGroot dated 11 Nov 1788 mentions his "granddaughter Lana Mersereau" and his "grandson John Cruser". ^[7]
Transcription of Will of Johannes Pieterszen De Groot 11 Nov 1788

The will of Cornelius Cruser dated 15 Dec 1807 mentions his "beloved wife Belache" his "daughter Lana, wife of John Mersereau" and his "son John Cruser" ^[6]

The will of Cornelius Cruser Sr dated 26 Jan 1784 refers to his son Cornelius and "my grandchildren John and Lana, the children of my said son Cornelius"^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Pre-Revolutionry Dutch Houses in NJ-Southern NY https://archive.org/details/pre-revolutionary-dutch-houses-nj-southern-ny/page/155/mode/2up P155
2. ↑ Ancestry.com, New York, U.S., Marriage Index, 1600-1784 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999), Ancestry.com, Record for Beletje De Groot. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=4205&h=4514&indiv=try.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com, U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 Ancestry.com, Holland Society of New York; New York, New York; Stone Arabia and Staten Island, Book 48. Record for Cornelius Kroeson. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=6961&h=234947&indiv=try
4. ↑ Records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Port Richmond, S.I., Cornelius Kroesen 8/26/1759 parents: Cornelius Kroesen & Beelitye Degroot, Records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Port Richmond, S.I. https://archive.org/details/recordsofdutchre00wrig/page/64/mode/2up
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Cornelis Cruser Sr's will mentions his son, Cornelius. Familysearch.org, New York: Abstracts of New York County Wills, 1662-1801, Vol 13, P.274-276. https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/459955/?offset=0#page=279&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} will of cornelius jr:New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999, Richmond, Wills, Vol A-C, 1787-1829 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8800/images/005512812_00197
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Will of Johannes DeGroot: New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999, Richmond, Wills, Vol A-C, 1787-1829 https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8800/images/005512812_00025
8. ↑ Ancestry.com, U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014), Ancestry.com, Holland Society of New York; New York, New York; Records of the Protestant Dutch Church, Port Richmond Staten, Island, Book 38. Record for John Mercereau. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=6961&h=150036495&indiv=try