Thomas Montagne - Biographical Sketch

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: New York Colony
Surnames/tags: Montagne Bruen Earle

About the Montagne Family - Introduction

This page includes biographical Information on Thomas Montagne (1691-1761) which was published in the book: History and Genealogy of the Earles of Secaucus, with an account of other English and American Branches by Isaac Newton Earle. History and Genealogy of the Earles of Secaucus, with an account of other English and American Branches, Marquette, Michigan: Guelff Printing Co., 1925. This is a "secondary" source and is provided for background information only.

CHAPTER SEVEN. THE MONTAGNE FAMILY.
Begins with this introduction on pg 361.

On Feb. 8, 1755, Morris Earle (abt.1734-1780) married Anna (delaMontanye) Earle (1737-1815), a lady of Huguenot extraction, of noble descent, and a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families in the early history of New York. The record of this marriage is on the register of the Old Dutch Church, New York, as follows: “Morris Earle and Johanna Mountany, Feb. 8th, 1755.”

As all the Earles of Marmaduke Earle Sr (1696-bef.1765) (Father of Morris) line known to us today, one of the most numerous branches of the Secaucus family, are descended from Anna de la Montanye, it will be of interest to a large number of our readers to know something of her ancestry.

We shall therefore pause to trace the rise of this stream, which had its fountainhead in hranee and which, in the person of our revered ancestress, is now about to unite with the English stream whose course we have been following.

The information on the Montanye Family is quite large so it has been divided up by person.

1. Dr. Jean Mousnier de la Montagne - Biographical Sketch Settled in New Amsterdam in 1637 (pg. 362). Wikitree: Jean (Mousnier) de la Montagne Sr (bef.1595-abt.1670)
   
   
2. Jesse De Forest - Biographical Sketch - Came to America with the colony of Walloons, and Dr. Montagne accompanied them (pg. 364). WikiTree: Jesse (Desforetz) De Forest (1576-1624)
   
   
3. Jean de la Montagne Jr - Biographical Sketch The third son of Dr. Montagne and Rachel de Forest (pg. 378). Wikitree: Jean (Mousnier) de la Montagne Jr (1633-1672)
   
   
4. Vincent de la Montagne - Biographical Sketch, the second son of Jean de la Montagne, Jr., and Peternella Pikes (pg. 380). Wikitree: Vincent de la Montagne Sr (bef.1657-1735)
   
   
5. Thomas Montagne - Biographical Sketch A Son of Vincent de la Montagne born Feb. 15, 1691, Anglicized Surame: Montanye (pg. 381). Wikitree: Thomas Montagne (1691-1761)
   
   
6. Rebecca Bruen - Biographical Sketch The wife of Thomas de la Montagne (pg. 382). Wikitree: Rebecca (Bruen) Montagne (1691-1775)
   
   
7. Nelly Montanye - Biographical Sketch A daughter of Thomas Montagne, married Isaac Vredenburgh (pg. 388).
   
   
8. Rev. Benjamin Montanye - Biographical Sketch Another child of Thomas Montanye (pg. 388). Wikitree: Benjamin Montayne (1745-1825)
   
   
9. Rev. Thomas Benjamin Montanye - Biographical Sketch Son of Rev. Benjamin Montanye (pg. 391). No Wilitree Profile

---

Thomas Montagne - Biographical Sketch

THOMAS de la MONTAGNE, was born Feb. 15, 1691.

From this point in the family history we shall use the Anglicized form of the family name, Montanye, because it is the modern form, and because we find this spelling in the old records of the families of Thomas Montanye’s children.

Thomas Montanye was a shopkeeper in New York City. He had a residence on Prince Street, sold by his son Peter, as executor. May 15, 1784. He was married, Nov. 25, 1718, to Rebecca Bruvn or Bruen. This name has been Anglicized into Brown or Bryant.

This lady, if she be the Rebecca Bruen that is supposed, has a remarkable ancestry. We give it as a matter of interest to her descendants, not vouching for the correctness of it. The data are taken from Browning’s “Americans of Royal Descent.”

We understand that Mr. Browning does not hold himself responsible for the correctness of the pedigrees contained in his book. (go to the Rebecca Bruen - Biographical Sketch page to view the pedigree)

Thomas Montanye and Rebecca Bruen had fifteen children. Those who reached maturity were: Vincent, b. 1721; Peter, b. 1723; Adriana, b. 1724; Martha, b. 1726, m. Abraham Alienor; Thomas, b. 1731; Rebecca, b. 1735, m. Richard Martin; Hannah, b. 1737, m. Morris Earle; Jane,b.1739,m.John Wright; Apollonia, b. 1741, m. Elbert Amerman; John, b. 1743; Benjamin, b. 1745; Peternella, b. April 13, 1747, m. Isaac Vredenburgh, March 5, 1767.

We have given this family a little more fully, as these are our nearer relatives, some of these names being familiar to us from childhood. We shall also have occasion to refer to several of them.

Thomas Montanye died in 1761, at the age of seventy. His will is dated Oct. 7, 1758, and is as follows:

WILL OF THOMAS MONTANYE

Made Oct. 7, 1758

Prob. Nov. 27, 1761

Surrogate’s Office, New York City

Liber 23, Page 186

In the name of God, Amen, this seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight.

I, Thomas Montanie, of the City and Province of New York, being weak of body but of sound and disposing mind and memory, calling to mind the mortalitv of mv bodv, do make and ordain this mv last V ill and Testament in manner following:

First. I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner, at the discretion of my executors here in after named, and as touching such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and Dispose of the same as follows:

Imprimis—it is my mind and will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and contended in convenient time after my Decease.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Vincent Montanie the sum of five pounds current money of this Province, to be paid to him out of my estate within the space of six months after my Decease, with intent to barr him of any other or further claim or demand to my estate as heir at law or otherwise over and above what more is hereinafter given to him.

Item, It is my mind and will and I hereby order my well beloved wife, Rebecca Montanye shall have and enjoy the use benefits and profits of all the remainder of my estate, Real and Personal, during the term of her natural life, and after her decease it is my mind and will that my executors shall sell and dispose of all and singular my estate Real and Personal that shall be then remaining, and they or the surviving one of them are hereby fully impowered and authorized to make and give sufficient titles to the purchaser or purchasers for the same, and further it is my mind and will and I hereby order the moneys arising by such sale, whether by Publick Vendee or Private Sale (which is left to the discretion of my executors) shall be equally divided amongst my four sons, vizt., Vincent, Peter, John and Benjamin, and my daughters, Aronche, Martha. Rebecca, Hannah, Jane, Plena and Nelly, share and share alike, and to be paid to them and each of them as they arrive at and come to be of lawful age, and in case of the death of either of my said children leaving issue of their body lawfully begotten, the share of such to be paid to and for the benefit of his or her children that shall so depart this life, and lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my loving sonsvVincent Montanye and Peter Montanye, or the surviving one of them, to be the executors or executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former or other Wills by me made, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Thomas Montanie (L. S.)

This Will contained in twenty lines without alteration or interlineation was Published, Pronounced and Declared by the said Thomas Montanye to be his last Will and Testament, and as such was signed and sealed in the presence of George Hopson, Joseph Outen Bogart, Abel Harden Brook.

It will be noticed that the' name Montanie is spelled in two ways in this will by Thomas Montanye himself. He calls his sons Vincent and Peter Montanye to be his executors and signs himself “Thomas Montanie.”

Though not strictly belonging to a history of the Earle Family, we wish to give some account of two children of Thomas Montanye, because of their subsequent relations to some of the Earles.

This account will’have a peculiar interest for some members of the family.