Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Richard "Dirk" Duyts

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Descendants of Richard "Dirk" Duyts

Generation No. 2

2. LAURENTS² DUYTS (RICHARD "DIRK"¹) was born 1610 in Friedrickstadt, Schleswig, Denmark (Holstein), and died January 14, 1667/68 in Bergen, NJ. He married (1) GRIETJE JANSEN. He married (2) UTJE JANSEN 1639. She was born 1610 in Oldenburg, Germany (formerly Holstein Denmark).

Notes for LAURENTS DUYTS:
Marriage Notes for Laurents Duyts and Utie Jansen:
      It is generally agreed that Laurens Duyts was born in 1610 in Holstein, Denmark, which is now Germany. He came to the American Shores in 1639, by way of Holland as a passenger on board the ship "De Brandt van Trogen", or "The Burning of Troy." The ship came into Harbour at New Amsterdam (New York) whose name was then New Netherland. Laurens Duyts and another passenger, Pieter Andreissen, contracted to work for another Dane, Jonas Bronck. Mr. Bronck paid for their passage on the ship and in return, Laurens and Pieter agreed to clear a tract of land containing 500 avres. Mr. Bronck purchased this land from the indians, and it is located in what is now known as the Borough of Bronx, in New York.

      In 1639, Laurens married Utji Jansen, who was born in Oldenberg, Germany about 1620. Information about thier family differs fromone source to another, but the general concensus is that they were the parents of three children. Margaret, baptized on the 23rd day of December 1629, and her sponsors were Gerrit Jansen of Oldenburg, Tenuntjo Joris, and Tyntje-Martens. Jan who was baptized on the 31st of March, 1641, and Hans who was baptized in 1644. Jochem Peiterson Kuyter was a sponsor at the baptism of both boys.

      One source states that there were about 1000 settlers in New Amsterdam at the time Laurens Duyts arrived there. Laurens was commonly called laurens "Grosschun" meaning big shoe. He apparently was a farmer and leased land for this purpose from several landowners. As he continued to earn his living by farming, it would seem that he was a hard worker. He did however have some problems with some of his business dealings, and his name appears in the court records of that time. It is recorded that in March of 1654, Laurens was involved in a dispute over a parcel of land which he sold claiming the land belonged to him. The land was part of Long Island. Another man, Franceys Fyn, claimed the land belonged to him, and not Laurens. Laurens leased sine if the bowery land belonging to a Norweigian woman, Anneke Jans, who was from Marstrand. Laurens was to pay this woman rent in the amount of two hogs, he paid only one hog and whas then sued by the woman's son-in-law, and was condemned to deliver the second hog to the plaintiff. This occured in May, 1658.

      Laurens also had a problem with his personal life. On the 25th of December, 1658, he received a most severe sentence from Peter Styuyvesant, Governor of New Amsterdam. It seems that Laurens sold his wife, Utje Jansen, forcing her to live in adultry. His punishment was that he was to have a rope tied around his neck and them be severly flogged and to have his right ear cut off and banished from that area for 50 years.

      Laurens left new Amsterdam and is know to have lived in Bergen New Jersey whic is located across the Hudson from New Amsterdam.

      in 1666, on the 1st of January, Laurens married Geetje Jansen, sister of Utje. Their marriage bonds were posted on the 3rd day of December 1665. Laurens and Geetje became the parenst of one daughter, Catreyn, who was baptized between the 10th of March and the 14th of April 1667. Catreyn was born in Bergen New Jersey and witnesses for the baptism were Pieter Mercelis and his wife.

      It is generally known that Laurens Duyts is our first known ancestor in the United States. There is difference from various sources that has to do with the spelling of this ancestors name. It appears as Laurens Duytszen, Laurents Duyts, Laurens Duytts, and Laurens Duyts. The most frequently used spelling is Laurens Duyts and that is the spelling chose for use in this family history. Like most family names we have had spelling variations of ours, Duyts, Dey, Dye, etc.

      The Duyts are described as a Notable Family dating to the middle ages in Southern Holland. They were apparently very literate and well-educated. They became prominent members of Yankee society. Their families were close knit and communicated with one another leaving a paper train. This seems to be true of the Rhode Island, Conn, and New York tribe, Unfortunately many of the Dyes remained in the southeast.

      All genealogy found comes from the various sources of the Dye society, D.V. Lindley who was married to the daughter of William marvin dye, son of Henry Hannibal and informationf received from Eva Kerns, Evie Klein, Liz Haught, Glenna Hall, and Raymond Bragg.

A special thank you goes out to cousin's Mildred Withrow and Flora "Betty" Maynard who kept cheering me on and providing me with bits and pieces of my puzzle

i. James Hance, baptized December 31, 1671; will processed November 26, 1745; married first
Mary Milliured (Maliner), and second Margaret (-----------) (5)

ii. Catharine, baptized June 13, 1674; married Joost Paulding, March 16, 1688. (6)

iii. John Lawrence, baptized about 1687; will processed March 8, 1750-51; married Ann (---)

The mix of nationalities and dialects in early New York, plus the low literacy level, make it
difficult to find consistent spelling of most names in 1652. "a goodly company of English-
men arrived in this colony from New England," among them, we assume, were James and
Henry Sawtell, who are found in Newtown, Long Island records from the 1660's into the
1680's. They probaby came from Groton or Watertown, Massachusetts.

Notes for UTJE JANSEN:
Holstein was a dutchy controlled by Denmark from 1448 until 1864 when it was a lost along with the duchy of Schleswig, as a result of a war with Austria and Prussia and is now a part of Germany.

Ytie died at the age of 45. Her husband then married her sister with who he had been living, Grietje Jansen in Bergan, New Jersey. Bergen is now know as Jersey City Heights, in Jersey City. The marriage citation is from the Bergen Reformed Church (Dutch). The enrty says:
Duyts, Laurens and Grietje Jansen, 1/1/1666. An earlier paragraph said the date given in the right hand column in the following pages is that of the first proclamation of the banns of marriage, except whree otherwise indicated. It will be noticed that is was customary for the young couple to take from the Bergen church a certificate of the announcement of the banns of marriage and go to New York to get married by a regularly ordained minister of the gospel.

Marriage Notes for LAURENTS DUYTS and UTJE JANSEN:
      It is generally agreed that Laurens Duyts was born in 1610 in Holstein, Denmark which is now Germany. He came to America's shores in 1639, by way of Holland as a passenger on board the ship "De Brant van Trogen", or "The burning of Troy". The ship came into Harbour at New Amsterdam (New York) whose name was then New Netherland. Laurens Duyts and another passenger, Pieter Andreissen, contracted to work for another Dane, Jonas Bronck. Mr. Bronck paid for their passage on the ship, and in return, Laurens and Pieter agreed to clear a tract of land containing 500 acres. Mr. Bronck purchased this land from the Indians, and it is located in what is now known as the Borough of Bronx, in New York.

      In 1639, Laurens married Utji Jansen, who was born in Oldenberg, Germany about 1620. Information about their family differs from one source to another, but the general concensus is that they were the parents of three children. Margaret, baptized on the 23rd day of December 1639, and her sponsors were Gerrit Jansen of Oldenburg, Tenuntjo Joris, and Tyntje-Martens. Jan who was Baptized on the 31st of march, 1641, and Hans who was baptized in 1644. Jochem Pieterson Kuyter was a sponsor at the baptisms of both boys.

      One source states that there were about 1000 settlers in New Amsterdam at the time Laurens Duyts arrived there. Laurens was commonly called Laurens "Grosschun" meaning "Big Shoe". He apparently was a farmer and leased land for this purpose from several landowners. As he continued to earn his living by farming, it would seen that he was a hard worker. He did however have som problems with some of his business dealings, and his name appears in the court records of that time. It is recorded that in March of 1654, Laurens was involved in a dispute over a parce l of land which he sold claiming the land belonged to him. the land is now known as Long Island. Another man, Franceys Fyn, claimed the land belonged to him, and not Laurens.

      Laurens leased some of the bowery land belonging to a Norwegian woman, Anneke Jans, who was from Marstrand. Laurens was to pay this woman rent in the amount of two hogs. he paid only one hog and was then sued by the woman's son-in-law, and was condemned to deliver the second hog to the plaintiff. This occurred in May of 1658.

      Laurens also had a problem with his person life. On the 25th of November, 1658, he received a most severe sentence from peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New Amsterdam (New York). It seems that Laurens sold his wife, Utje Jansen, forcing her to live in adultery. His punishment was that he was to have a rope tied around his neck and then be severely flogged and to have his right ear cut off and be banished for 50 years.

      Laurens left New Amsterdam (New York) and is known to have lived in Bergen New Jersey which is located across the Hudson from New Amsterdam (New York).

      In 1666, on the 1st of January, Laurens married Geertje Jansen, sister of Utje. Their marriage bonds were posted on the 3rd of December, 1665. Laurens and Geertje became the parents of one daughter, Catreyn, who was baptized between the 10th of March and the 14 of April, 1667.m Catreyn was born in Bergen, New Jersey and witnesses for the Baptism were Pieter Mercelis and his wife.

      It is generally known that Laurens Duyts is our first know ancestor in the United States. There is differences from various sources that has to do with the spelling of this ancestors name. It appears as Laurens Duytszen, Laurents Duyts, Laurens Duytts, and Laurens Duyts. The most frequently used spelling is Laurens Duyts and that is the spelling chose for use in this family history. also, like most family names we have had spelling variations with ours. duyts, Dey and dye.

      All genealogy found comes from the various sources of the Dye society, D.V. Lindley who was married to the daughter of William Marvin dye, son of Henry Hannibal Dye and to Eva Kerns, Evie Klein and Lizzy Haught all granddaughter of Henry Hannibal Dye.

Leerta Jean Bragg-Denham

Children of LAURENTS DUYTS and GRIETJE JANSEN are:

	i.		JENTJIE³ DUYTS.
	ii.		CORNELIUS DUYTS.
	iii.		CATHERINE DUYTS, b. April 1667.

Children of LAURENTS DUYTS and UTJE JANSEN are:

	iv.		MARGARET³ DUYTS, b. December 22, 1639; m. AMBODIA WOUTERS, 1659; b. December 23, 1639.
	v.		JANS LAURENS DUYTS, b. March 23, 1640/41, New Amsterdam (NYC); d. 1678; m. (1) NEELTJE ADRIAENS; m. (2) JANNETJIE JEURAENS, October 02, 1667.

Notes for JANS LAURENS DUYTS:
Jans took as his second wife Mrs. Sarah (-------) Fountain. Her first husband was Antone Fountain, by whom she had a son, Vincent. Vincent was called "lately deceased" in a Richmond County deed of May 5, 1697. "Sarah Hance, ye mother of ye sd. Vincent Fountain and wife now of ye sd. hans Laurens" is mentioned in another Staten Island deed, dated May 22, 1700. "Sarah Lawrence" appears in the Staten Island census of 1706; and Sarah Dey" was a witness at the baptism of two of her grandchildren in 1719. She was still living January 4, 1731 - 32 when Vincent Fountain wrote his will and included his "much honored mother, Sarah Dye, (who) shall be decently maintained and sufficiently provided for, out of my estate, and to be tended attendance (sic) as her feeble and old age shall require." [Liber ii, p. 323, N.Y. City Probate Records] (2)

One can only imagine how the traumatic events of November and December 1658 affected the children of Laurens and Ytie. Hans, being the youngest child, perhaps accompanied his mother to Dutch Kills, Long Island and the farm of Jan Parcell. His brother, Jan, was in Harlem in 1662: (3) and hans was there in 667, when he was on the excise accounts from January 16, to July 22, charged for purchase of beer. (On one occasion, he purchased "one ton of strong beer?" The British take over of New Netherlands in 1644 caused some ill feeling and lawlessness among the residents, who found themselves in increasing numbers in the courts of law. On October 24, 1667, Hans was cited with others as being "a rebel" and fined forty guilders together with costs. After that he returned to Newtown, Long Island, and was the defendant in a case involving the loss of a canoe by Jan Parcell's neighbor, George Stevenson, in February of 1667-68. He was a witness in another case heard on December 2, 1669. After his marriage, on October 9,1672: "I Hanc Loroson have should & maide over unto John parsell of Mashpott Kills all my right & titell that I bought of burger youress of the same place & John parsell doe promise to cleare hanc loroson of all debts dues & demands for sd. burger youress wife concerning the land...." (Both Hans and John Parcell made their marks in lieu of signatures on the document. In 1673 Hans Laurens and John Russell " are allowed to mow Captain Mannings Valley in Mespat & after so doing to report, when further agreement shall be entered into with him. In 1677 he was granted an eighty acre tract in the New Dorp section of Staten Island. (4) He made his mark on documents to New Utrecht (Brooklyn) in 1679, the year that his brother, Jan, died. (Jan purchased two half lots there in 1677.) [Bergen, Register of the Early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island, New York (1881), p. 106] He was one of those who took inventory and appraised the estate of John Bodine on Staten Island, February 11, 1695. On December 29, 1699, Hans Laurens' land at New Dorp was mentioned as part of a boundary description. [Van Name, Britton Genealogy (1790, p. 31] \
He is listed on Staten Island in the census of 1706, age sixty three. That was the last time his name appears in the public records.

) Jan Duyts had a good reputation in Harlem, and apparently did not deserve the insult hurled
at him in 1662, when he was twenty years old: "You schelm, loop by you vaar Deen" [You
villain, run to you father Dane"]

(4) His sep-father, Jan Parcell, died in 1677 and made provision in his will for three hundred
guilders to be divided amongst his wife's children and grandchildren, as "shee shall think fitt."

3.	vi.		HANS LAURETZEN DUYTS, b. September 23, 1644, New Amsterdam (NYC); d. 1710, Staten Island, New York.
	vii.		CATREYN DUYTS, b. June 13, 1647; m. JOOST PAULDING, March 16, 1661/62.

Notes for CATREYN DUYTS:
Catharine Duyts married at age fourteen and accompanied her husband, ten years her senior
[Scott, Early New Yorkers and Their Ages, NGS Quarterly:62 :280], to Westchester County.
She was the ancestress of John Paulding, one of Major Andre's captors, and of General
William Paulding, a former mayor of New York City and the original owner of Lyndhurst,
a Gothic Revival mansion in Tarrytown, New York-now a museum and National Trust Property.

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