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Descendants of Jean Guenon: The First Seven Generations

Generation No. 1

      1. Jean¹ Guenon¹ was born 1640 in La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, France ^2,³, and died 21 May 1714 in Flushing, Queens, New York ⁴. He married Margreta Sneden 13 August 1662 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York ⁵, daughter of Jan Sneden and Grietie Jans. She was born Abt. 1644 in Amsterdam, Holland ⁶, and died 04 March 1726/27 in Flushing, Queens, New York ⁷.

Notes for Jean Guenon:
The founder of our family and the first to use the name Genung, an Americanization unique to this family in America. Jean was French Huguenot, a native of the Province of Saintonge (now called Charente-Maritime), near La Rochelle, then the principle stronghold of the Huguenots. It may be presumed that he left France to escape the religious persecutions of King Louis XIV and he eventually found his way to Leyden, South Holland. Leyden was the residence of the Pilgrims before they sailed for America in 1620. He sailed on 2 Apr 1657 in the ship Draetvat under Captain Bestevaer for a six week voyage. He is listed on the Draetvat as Jan Guion from Leyden and was employed by Marc Du Saughoy as a farm laborer. After the six week voyage, he settled first in Harlem where his employer lived and where he met his wife and eventually moving to Flushing, Long Island, then New Amsterdam and now New York. He was a farmer and land owner. In a list of inhabitants of Flushing in 1698, John Genung and Margreta were the first named of the French families and this is the first recorded use of the "new" family name. At the time, there were three in the family.

His will dated 1703 at Flushing, was as follows:

In the name of God Amen The Twentyfourth Day of November in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and three I john Gonunge Senr of fflushing in Queen's County on Nassau Island in the province of New York yeoman Being in perfect health of body and of good and perfect memory thanks be to almighty God and calling to remembrance the uncertain estate of this Transitory Life and that all flesh yield unto Death when it shall please God to Call them do make Constitute ordain and Declare This my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following Revokeing and annulling by these presents all and Every Testament and Testaments will and wills heretofore by me made and Declared either by word or writeing and this is to be taken only for my Last will and Testament and none other, and first being pentinent and Sorry from the bottom of my heart for my Sins past most humbly Desireing foregiveness for the Same I give and Committ my Soul unto almighty God my Saviour and Redeemer in whom and by the merritts of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assuredly to be saved and to have full Remission and forgivenes of all my Sins and that my Soul with my body at the Generall day of the Resurrection shall rise again with Joy and through the Merritts of Christ Death and passion for his Elect and Chosen and my body to be buried in Such place where it shall please my Executors hereafter named to appoint, and now for Settleing of my Temporall Estate and such good Chattells and Debts as it hath pleased God farr above my Deserts to bestow upon me I do order give and Dispose the Same in manner and form following that is to say first I will that all those Debts and Dutys as I owe in right or Conscience to any manner of person or persons be well and truely Contented and paid or ordained to be paid within Convenient time after my Decease by my Executors hereafter named. Imprimis Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Jeremiah Gonunge forty acres of Land Lying and being at the place where his now dwelling house stands. Item I give unto my son John Gonunge Twenty nine acres Lying and being in the bounds of fflushing Lying in three partitions viz. Tenn acres Joyning to Joseph Thorne, Ten acres where his now Dwelling house stands and nine acres Joyning to my own plantation with half the priviledge I have myself. The Remainder of all my Reall and Personal Estate I Leave unto my Dear beloved wife Margaret Gonunge Dureing her Life if she survive me and to be Disposed of as She pleased at her Decease. In witnesse whereof that this is my Last Will and Testament I have hereunto Sett my hand affixed my Seale the Day & Date above written, and I do ordain and Appoint my wife Margaret Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament and the Same to be performed according to the true meaneing and Intent thereof.

      his
      John Genonge.
            marke

Signed Sealed and Delivered in presence of us Testiss
John Downes
his marke
Stephen ffoord
william W ffoord his marke

Robert Hunter Esqr Capt Generall and Governor in Cheife of the provinces of New York New Jersey & Territories thereon Depending in America and vice Admirall of the Same &c To all to whom these presents shall come or may concern Greeting Know yee that the Twenty first Day of May the Last will and Testament of John Genonge was proved approved and allowed of by me haveing while he Lived and at the time of his Death Goods Chattells and Creditts in Diverse places within this province by means whereof the full Disposition of all and Singular the Goods Chattells and Creditts of the said Deced and the Granting the administration of also the heareing of account Calculation or Reckoning and the ffinall Discharge and Dismission from the Same unto me Soly and not unto any other Inferior Judge are manyfestly know to belong and the administration of all and Singular the Goods Chattells and Creditts of the Said Deced and his Last Will and Testament in any manner of ways Concerning was Granted unto margaret Genonge named the executrix of the Last Will and Testament of John Genonge named chiefly of well and truly administring the Same and of makeing a true and perfect Inventory of all and Singular the Goods Chattells and Creditts of the Said Deced and Exhibiting the same unto the Registry of the prerogative Court in the Secretary’s office of the said province at or before the Twenty first Day of November next ensueing and of Rendering a Just and true account Calculation or Reckoning when thereunto Required. In testimony whereof I have caused the perogative Seal to be hereunto affixed at New York this Twenty first Day of May Anno Dm 1714.

H. Wileman D. Secry.

[Surrogate's office, New York City, Liber 8, p. 320]

Baptized, Reformed Dutch Church of New York 26 May 1667; sponsor "Uncle" Karston Sneden.

Petitioned 26 Sep 1680 for more land and claimed to have lived there for over 20 years. [Calendar of New York Colonial Manuscripts, Land Papers in the Office of the Sec. of State, 1643 - 1803, Vol 1 page 170].

On 29 Sep 1683, in Flushing, he possessed: six upland acres, 2 horses, 3 cows, 3 - 2 year olds, 3 swine, and 10 sheep.

"History of Harlem, New York" by Riker, p. 99, states "Marc Du Sauchoy (later Disosway) made a voyage from Holland to New Netherlands in 1655. Sufficiently pleased with the country to make it his future home, he returned to Leyden, married March 11th 1657, Elizabeth, daughter of Guillaume Rossignal, and with his bride again sailed from Amsterdam for Manhattan on April 2nd ensuing, in the ship Draevat, Captain Bestevaer, taking with him two workmen, and two boys over 12 years of age, to aid him in farming. One of the adults was Johannes Smedes, from Hardwyck, in Gelderland, and one of the lads, Jean Guenon (now Genung), of Leyden, both of whom have many descendants".

Notes for Margreta Sneden:
Decended from prominent old resident families of Amsterdam. Jean Sneden, wife, two children - Grietie and Cartsen - and Jan's brother, Claes Sneden, sailed from Amsterdam, Holland, 23 Dec 1657 in the St. Jan Baptist, bound for New Amstel. Jan Sneden seems to have gone to Harlem. He was mentioned in 1661 as one of the first settlers of New Haerlem, now Harlem New York. The house probably stood at 115th or 116th Street, block east of Lexington. Jan was the first of the settlers to die in New Harlem and his wife was the second. Upon the death of her parents in 1662, her fathers property was autioned off to pay his debts leaving Margaret with 42 gl after debts were paid. The orphans, Cartsen and Grietie, were appointed guardians on 28 April 1662 which only lasted until her marriage in August of that year. She made her will 21 Feb 1721/22 (WNYHS, 11:54, amoung unrecorded wills) as Margaret Genoung of Flushing, New York, widow, probated 4 Mar 1727. Her will gave real and personal property to sons John and Jeremiah, daughters Hannah Hedger and Susanna Loureer, granddaughters Hannah Debreas and Charity Fiero.

Marriage Notes for Jean Guenon and Margreta Sneden:
Married at the Reformed Dutch Church on the farm of the Director-General; witnesses Marcus Suson and Jan Duurkop.

Children of Jean Guenon and Margreta Sneden are:

+	2	i.	Hannah² Gannung, born 26 April 1664 in Flushing, Queens, New York; died 1767.
+	3	ii.	Margaret Ganong, born 11 November 1665 in Flushing, Queens, New York; died Bet. 1698 - 1702 in Prob. Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey.
+	4	iii.	Susanna Gannung, born 26 May 1667 in Flushing, Queens, New York; died Bef. 1727.
	5	iv.	John Gannung, born 31 January 1668/69 in Flushing, Queens, New York ^8,⁹; died 1767 in Prob. Westchester County, New York ¹⁰.

Notes for John Gannung:
Baptisted in Reformed Dutch Church on 31 Jan 1669 (also reported 31 March 1669); sponsors, Jan Joosten and Aefje Laurens. "Always a cripple but spared by God to a very old age". Was living in his fathers family at Flushing, New York in 1698. Shared with his brother his father's farm after father's death. Moved to Westchester, New York probably about 1722 or 1724, possibly with his brother Jeremiah. In 1715 there was in the Queens County. Horse Malita under Captain Timothy Bagley one John Gannon, possible this man. Name spelled in various ways, probably John Gannung most often but Jan also used. His will has not been found, but the division of his property was set down by his grand-nephew, Isaac Ganong and listed in Genung history by Mary J. Genung. Was probably not married and he owned in 1703 a separate house near those of his father and brother Jeremiah in Flushing, New York. At least it seems quite certain that he had no children that grew to maturity. He probably died in Westchester County, New York between 98 and 100 years of age.
His will as set down by his grand-nephew, Isaac Ganong:
"Our shars of property from old uncle John who was always a cripple but spared by God to a very old age. Nothing to our Hedge cousens, 1 shar to aunt Susannah Lowery not to go to her adopted children. 1 shar to Josephs children in New Jersey who are living with uncle Jeremiah Gannung. 1 shar to the children of uncle Tommys twin sister Rebecca Haight -- William Haight Sarah who married Abel Haight and Charles Haight. 1 shar to uncle Icabot or his children in New Jersey only two sons. 7 shars for uncle Jeremiahs familie uncle Jeremiah was favorite of his uncle John. 2 of 7 for John the oldest son of uncle Jeremiah. Johns children are John, Jeremiah, Phebe, Hannah, Susanuah, Nancy, Daniel, and Jacob. 1 of 7 for Martha who married in New Jers. 2 of 7 for Mary, Hannah, Susannah, and Nancy unmarried daughters of uncle Jeremiah. 1 of 7 for Jonas next younger than Hannah. 1 of 7 for Annanias the youngest to be held by his brother if Annanias lives in Westchester or by Jonas if he lives in New Jersey. 1 shar for uncle Edward but his children some are to have and some not. Uncle Edwards oldest son John to have and pass to his three children Jeremiah, Naomi, and Jesse. Mary Gannung in New York City not. Edward to have; Gilbert, Sarah, Abraham, Martha and Thomas not. Joseph to have and pass to his only child Mary not to others if he has them. 1 shar for John Gannung who went to New Jersey. He is the only one left of uncle Josephs ten children. John to pass to his only daughter but to lose his shar if he does not care for his daughter. 1 shar to uncle John who lives with us to pass to me. 1 shar to my father to pass to me his only child who bears his name Isaac Gannung. I am to pass to my children Thomas, John, Elizabeth, Hannah, Martha, and Isaac. 1 shar to aunt Hannah. 1 shar to aunt Martha. 1 shar to uncle Gilbert. These shars to pass to my children and to the children of uncle Jeremiahs son John."

+	6	v.		Jeremiah Genung, born 1671 in Flushing, Queens, New York; died 20 June 1748 in New Castle, Westchester, New York.
	7	vi.		Saertie Gannung, born 18 March 1672/73 in Flushing, Queens, New York ¹¹; died 1727¹¹.

Notes for Saertie Gannung:
Baptisted in Reformed Dutch Church on 18 Mar 1674; sponsor, Niefje Andries. Probably not married. Also called Sara.

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