Albertus Hendricks (abt. 1640 - 1716)

Born about 1640 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

Ancestors

Husband of Aeltje (Helchey) Hendricks — married about 1666 in Upland, Colonies on the Delaware

Descendants

Died 20 Jan 1716 at about age 76 in Marcus Hook, Chester, Province of Pennsylvania [uncertain]

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Genealogical Note: Avoid this Confusion:

There was an Albert Hendrickson, carpenter, from Maersen, Holland, Netherlands, aboard De Vos (The Fox) that sailed from Amsterdam after 31 August 1662; arrived in New Amsterdam on 14 November 1662. This Albert remained in New Amesterdam and is documented there during the period that the Albertus Hendricks of this profile was residing on the Delaware River on Tinicum Island. The two men should not be confused or conflated.

Biography

Albert Hendricks is gerelateerd aan Nederland.

Albertus Hendricks is believed to have been born about 1640. No evidence has been found for his birth or early life prior to his departing Leyden, South Holland, in the Netherlands.

Indentured to Joost de la Grange of Leyden

The first record we find for Albertus Hendricks was when he was a passenger aboard the Gulden Arent, or Golden Eagle that arrived at New Netherland on 2 May 1662, following a three month voyage. He was among the six servants (Albert Hendrickson, Johan van Cullen, Reynier Pietersen, Claus Andrissen, Evert Alderts, and two maids of Joost de la Grange, along with De la Grange‘s wife Margarita, and their three children (son, Arnoldus, daughters Hester and Christina).

The ship‘s final destination was up the South (Delaware) River to New Amstel, or present day New Castle, Delaware. At this point in time, New Amstel was governed not by the West Indies Company, but was actually a colony of the city of Amsterdam. That fact was important when the English conquered New Netherland. Here De la Grange would put a down payment of 3,000 guilders on a property called Tinicum Island.

On Tinicum Island

Tinicum Island was farther north, upriver, from New Amstel; it is located near today's Philadelphia International Airport. Albert was then living and working in an area that was mostly settled by Swedes and Finns. It was part of the recently conquered (seven years previous) colony of New Sweden. Joost De la Grange purchased his land from Aremegot Printz, acting for her father, Johan Printz, the former (last) governor of New Sweden before the Dutch takeover.

Albert worked for De La Grange for six years as an indentured servant. During this time, the Dutch lost their American colony: Nieuw Nederland (New Netherland), to the English, and it was re-named New York. De la Grange was involved in an extended court case over Tinicum Island, within a year of his purchase; his bills of exchange in Amsterdam for the remaining 3,000 guilders of the purchase price were never honored, and Aremegot Printz returned from Europe to New Amsterdam to regain her father‘s property. Although she won the case, De la Grange appealed, so he never gave up the property. In 1668, De la Grange left the New World to straighten out the problem with his bill of exchange in Amsterdam. On the voyage, he became ill, and died. Albert continued working for Margarita, the widow De la Grange until she remarried in 1669. Then he would have been working for her new husband, an Englishman named Edward Carr. (Interestingly enough, it was Edward Carr‘s brother, Robert Carr, who had commanded the invasion of New Amstel. Because Dutch commander, in charge of the city refused to surrender, a battle was fought; the Dutch lost. As a result, the Dutch burghers of New Amstel (renamed New Castle) forfeited their homes, livestock, land, and in some cases, their freedom. Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch Governor of New Amsterdam, was persuaded by his town fathers to surrender, which he did in 1664.

Edward Carr got the English governor, Lovelace, to issue him an English patent for Tinicum Island, which slowed Aremegot Printz‘s case for non-payment of the balance of its purchase price. In 1671 Margarita De la Grange Carr received an important inheritance in the Netherlands, so the whole family traveled to the Netherlands to arrange its collection, leaving Edward Carr‘s brother, John, in charge of the estate. Aremegot Printz finally won her court case in 1672, so perhaps Albertus worked briefly for her, although he is mentioned in the final write up of the case in 1673. (This is fortunate for his descendants, as it is evidence of his origins.)

Marriage and Family

Albertus was married to a Dutch woman whose name was anglicized to Helchey. Some descendants believe that she may have been one of the maids listed on the Gulden Arent passenger list. Their marriage is not recorded. There is also no record of their children's baptisms. ^[1]

Children:

1. Jacobus (James), born about 1667; married Lucy Ducket in 1690.
2. Elizabeth, born about 1669; married Thomas Bright in 1685.
3. Margaret, born about 1670; married Martinus Shere in 1689. She and her husband lived across the Delaware in Penn‘s Neck, where Albertus also owned land.
4. Johannes (John), born about 1672; married Frances Bezer and afterwards Rebecca Groesbeck
5. Isabel, born about 1674; married Johannes Vanneman
6. Catherine (Katrin), born about 1675, married Mr. Harred
7. Albertus, Jr., born about 1677; married Elizabeth Evans
8. Tobias, born about 1680; married Catherine Boyer

Albertus filed a suit against Richard White for having sired an illegitimate child by his daughter Catherine. A judgment required White to pay support for the resulting child.

Public Life

Albertus Hendricks was very active in local politics. In 1676, he was named the first Constable in Upland, as the area was called after 1664. He was the first recorded local public official when the English-led government was formally organized in 1677 by the Duke of York, at that time the English proprietor of both New York and Upland colonies.^[2] On Sep. 11, 1677, Albert Hendricx appeared before the Court at Upland and requested that he be dismissed of his Constable duties, having served out his year.^[3]

From the beginning of the Upland records and into the records of Chester County, Pennsylvania (after 1682). Albertus was extremely active as a juror and/or as a court- appointed referee or agent. Other court references indicated Albertus was appointed to visit and examine roads, prisons, bridges, etc.^[4]

For more information on Albertus' public life, including court and land records, please see: The Albertus Hendricks Family Resources page.

The Quaker "Invasion"

The Quaker "invasion" in the 1680s increased the population in the area tremendously. At the marriage bann of Albertus' and Helchey's son, John, to Frances Bezer it was recorded in the Concord MM on the 8th of 8 mo 1694 and 12 of 9 mo 1694 (08 Oct and 12 Nov 1694). that he was to bring a certificate of consent from his parents, "they not being Friends." This would indicate that as of Nov 1694 neither Albert nor Helchy Hendricks were Quakers.^[5] Helchey and her daughters would eventually become Quakers and attend the Monthly Meetings. Her son Jacobus (James) would become a Quaker, and John would marry one. In 1714, Helchey reported in the Chester Monthly Meeting that the marriage of one of her namesake granddaughters: Helchey, daughter of James, to Thomas Baldwin had been "orderly," meaning between two persons who were Quakers. There is no evidence that Albertus Hendricks ever formally became a Quaker.

The Will of Albertus Hendricks

Albertus previously gave his two oldest sons land when they were 30, James 100 acres in 1697, John 50 acres and Albert 70 acres in 1701. Perhaps he felt he had given John and James their portion, because he only left them five shillings each in his will. Or he may have been disappointed that they had gone their own way— James to become an Indian trader, and John to become a ship‘s carpenter in Philadelphia. His son, Albertus, Jr, lived on his father's 400 acre tract in Penn's Neck, Salem, Co. NJ from his marriage until 1718. Albert, Jr. received 5 pounds and stock. His youngest son, Tobias received the remainder of his estate. Tobias‘s daughter, Helchey, namesake of her grandmother, must have been a special favorite of her grandfather, for she received a generous portion (20 pounds) to be given her at age 21, or at her marriage. Helchey (daughter of Tobias) was ten at the time of her grandfather‘s death. Each daughter was to receive 5 shillings. Since his daughter Margaret and her husband had predeceased Albert, he left their son, his namesake, grandson Albertus Steer (Shere), five shilling, which would have been his mother‘s portion. This grandson would have been in his 20‘s at that time. Not in the will, but later affirmed by the family was 65 acres given or sold to Thomas, husband of Elizabeth Hendricks Bright. Tobias, the youngest of the family, stayed near and cared for his aging parents for twelve years before they died. He lived in Chester County for ten more years after the death of his parents, becoming a justice of the peace in Chester County. He is the only known literate child of Albertus, who was literate in both Dutch and English.

A transcription of the Will follows;

Will of Albertus Henrickson, dated 5th day of 11th mo 1714 (5 January 1715).

I, Albertus Hendrixon, of the County of Chester in the Province of Pennsylvania, being aged and weak of body, but of perfect memory, and calling to mind the uncertainty of life, do dispose of all my worldly or temporal estate in manner and form following:

Impremise: I comit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, having faith in the Resurrection, and believing that through ye merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour, I shall find free and full forgiveness of my sins and my body to be decently buried at ye discretion of my executors after mentioned.

Item: I will and require that all ye just debts I shall owe at the time of my decease be first deducted and paid.

Item: I give and bequeath all my whole plantacon and personal estate un to my son Tobias Hendrixon and his heirs forever, he paying all such legacies as shall hereafter be mentioned.

Item: I give unto my son Albertus Hendrixon, five pounds in money or stock.

Item: I give unto my two sons, James and Johannes Hendrixon each five shillings and to my grandson Albertus Steer five shillings as also to my three daughters, Elizabeth Bright, Isabel Venaman and Katharine Harred five shillings. My will is that all my aforesaid legacies shall fully discharge the Legatees from any title or claims to any part of my personal or real estate and that my said legacies shall be paid at twelve months after my decease.

Item: I give unto my granddaughter, Helchey Hendrixon, daughter to my son Tobias, twenty pounds in money or stock when she attains to the age of twenty-one years or marriage whether shall first happen.

Lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Tobias Hendrixon and my friend and neighbor John Salkeld my executors, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me made and do declare this to be my last w ill and Testament this fifth day of the eleventh month called January, 1714.

Sealed, Signed and Published Signed Albertus Hendrickson "A" his mark, in the presence of us

David Willson - Jonah Devenport - John Wright

Chester, ye 20th 11 mo 1715/16 There personally appeared David Wilson and John Wright two of ye witnesses to ye within will and on their solemn affirmacons did declare they were present and say ye Testator within named sign sel publish and declare ye within writing to be his Last will and Testament and that at ye doing thereof he was of sound mind and memory to ye best of their understanding. John Simcock

Be it remembered That on the Twentieth day of the Eleventh month anno Domi ni 1715/6 The last will and Testament of Albert Hendrickson Decd. was proved in due form of ? and probate and Letters of Administracon was granted to his son Tobias Hendrickson and his friend John Salkeld sole executors therein named being first attested well and truly to administer a nd to bring in an inventory of the Deced. Estate into the Register Offi ce at Chester on or before the eight day of the second month next and to r ender a just accounting when required. Given under the seal of the said office.P. John Simcock

Will proved 20 Jan 1716
Letters of Administration granted 20 Jan 1716
Inventory due 08 April 1716.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Pardridge/Partridge Family File on RootsWeb: Albertus Hendricksen
2. ↑ Smith, George; History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia: H.B. Ashmead, printer, 1862; Page: 110; Albert Hendrix was constable and noted in this source as having been 1st person to hold that office in Pennsylvania - this is incorrect as the English Province of Pennsylvania did not yet exist in 1676 - the area, still not organized, was called "The Colonies of the Delaware". His appointment was for Upland in 1676 per PA Archives Series 2: Vol. IX: Part II: Sections 1-3: List of Officers of the Colonies on the Delaware and the Province of Pennsylvania, 1614-1776 . Published under direction of Matthew S. Quay, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Edited by John B. Linn and Wm. H. Egle, M.D. Harrisburg: Lane S. Hart, State Printer, 1880.
3. ↑ The Record of the Court at Upland By New Sweden, Upland Court, Josiah Harmar, Edward Armstrong, Ebenezer Denny; Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co. for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1860; Page: 57; “Albert Hendricx the Constable desiering of the Court to bee dismist of his Constables place (hee haueing served Court out his Yeare) ; They Have nominated and appointed Court William Orian, Constable for the Jurisdiction of this for the Roome of the 5d Albert; and was sworne accordingly;"
4. ↑ Hazard's Annals, 603; Petition (probably presented Feb. 1683 at Philadelphia) "To William Penn . . . petition of the freeholders of the County of Chester . . . we have chosen twelve persons for our delegates to serve in the provincial Council, . . . three. . .as provincial councillors and the other nine for the Assembly, which provincial Councillors are John Symcock, for three years, Ralph Withers for two years, and William Clayton for one year. . . This was signed by James Brown, William Woodmancy, John Sharples, Albert Hendrickson and some others whose names are now illegible.
5. ↑ Chester (Pennsylvania) Monthly Meeting Records 1677–1871; Society of Friends and Gilbert Cope (transcripts of minutes); page 167; Genealogical Society of Utah, filmed 1965; FHL microfilm # Media: Microfilm # 432022, Item 3, Concord MM marriage records under John Hendrickson, notes in parenthesis "or Johanas" and ffrances Bezer declare intention, 8th of 8 mo 1694 and 12 of 9 mo 1694 (08 Oct and 12 Nov 1694). This record notes "He was ordered to bring certificate (of consent) from his father and mother, they not being Friends."
6. ↑ Chester Co., Pennsylvania Wills 1713-1854, Family History Library microfilm no. 20844, Will Book A., vol. 1, p 29–30.

• Memories for Tobias Aaron Hendricks, 1732-1807; 292-pg. manuscript Descendants of Albertus (Henrixson) Hendricks, detailing Hendricks/Hendrix history in America.

• 1671 Census of the Delaware; Craig, Peter Stebbins; Philadelphia: Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1999; Monograph series No. 4; Page: 33–4; per Walter Wharton survey Jons Gustafsson/Justis as a land owner at Marcus Kill. Also noted for 1671 was a listing at Marcus Kill on Johan Hendricksson. This would seem to indicate that this Johan Hendricksson is unrelated to Albertus Hendrickson's son Johan Hendrickson. Johan Hendricksson is a Swede according to this source. Marcus Kill was described by Wharton as attached to the Delaware waterfront extending southwestward from Lamoco Creek to Marcus or Marites Creek. A 1675 survey of Marcus Hook did not show Albertus at that time.

• Taxed Residents of Upland in 1677; Chester County Pennsylvania; At Marr: Jukk (Marcus Hook), listed as Albert Hendriex.

• Chester/Delaware County Pennsylvania Tax Lists, 1693; Albert Hendrixson - Jacobus Hendirxson

• Martin, John Hill Esq., Chester (and its Vicinity) Delaware County in Pennsylvania, (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Printed by W. H. Pile & Sons, 1877 (Privately printed, 500 copies). p. 92–94; People of Chichester (Chester County) presented the Council with a petition on the 7th mo. 23, 1701 regarding two "ffairs" it was granted permission to hold (at Chichester) every year [Jun and Sep] that was now being cut to only one fair by reason of Marcus Hook being granted privilege of holding a fair and market. The petition cites that such would prove "injurious & much to the damage & disappointment of the said inhabitants, who, as usual, had made provision for their approaching fair." The Council ordered that "both said fairs, with weekly market, and the streets &c. of t he said Town be confirmed to the said inhabitants by charter . . ." Dated 14th of 12 mo. 1700 [14 Feb 1700/01]. The original petition can be found in "The Logan Papers,", vol. IV. The full petition and list of signers is reprinted in Martin's book, p. 93–4. Signers at 1700 included Nathaniel Lamplugh; Francis and Thomas and John Baldwin; Richard and Edward Bezer; Thomas Bright; and Albeat [sic] Hendricke.

• George Smith; History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania: From the Discovery of the Territory included within its limits to the present time, Philadelphia: 1862 Printed by H.B. Ashmead; p. 468; Bios: Albert Hendrickson “one of the earliest Dutch settlers on the Delaware” about 1 mile west of Chester creek. Called his plantation Lomoco the patent for which was from Gov. Lovelace to Juns Justafson in 1673. Served as constable of Upland court 1676-7. He d. 1715 having first devised his homestead to his son Tobias who was also executor along with John Salkeld “celebrated Quaker preacher.” Notes his name is listed as Holbert on Holmes map.

• Moore, Florence Hendricks; Descendants of Albert(us) Hendrickson, 1673-1984: Beidel Printing House, Inc., Shippensburg, PA, 1985.
• Herb's South Carolina Hendricks bible information