| |
Notes for Jan Gerritszen Nagel:
Jan is first seen as a soldier in the employ of the Dutch West India company in December 1660 when he left Amsterdam, Holland on the ship "Faith" and came to New Amsterdam. Jan should not be confused with another man of this name who died in New Amsterdam, and who had married Gerritje Dircx. The ship register lists Jan's last name at Hagel, and there has been a general confusion as to exactly what his middle name was, either Gerritszen, or Barentszen. That his father was Barent has not been proved by historians of this family, but given that his first son's name is Barent, and that his sister's name was Tanneke Barents Nagel, and that he sometimes used the middle name of Barentszen seems to lead us back to the possibly of such a connection. The European history of this family is not known, but when he came to New Amsterdam, he settled in at Battery Park in Manhattan, and for 4 years he served as a soldier in the fort at this site. In 1664 Jan left his employ as a soldier, and he moved to New Harlem, where he became a land owner, and farmer. In 1667 he opposed the orders of the English regarding the New Harlem patent. the Constable Verveelen on 03 May, 1667 ordered Jan Gerritszen Nagel to obey this new order, and Jan finally replied as such: "I take this opportunity to send you (Constable Verveelen ) word that i will see you tomorrow to comply with ye orders of ye new government, as such a course seems now necessary, and leaving no other alternative; but not without very strongly protesting against ye injustice which has long been heaped upon us. But finding satisfaction in ye confiscation of very valuable property, they are now compelling us to submit to an illegal and tyrannical Foreign government. If God has designed in his providence that ye Dutch people should become victims to ye treachery and rapacity of ye English, then all they can do is to submit". This remark was Made on 12 April, 1667, and is found in the New Amsterdam Colonial Documents. It clearly shows that Jan was an outspoken man of convictions, who was not prone to laying down, but instead was strong willed, and willing to fight for his convictions. It is unknown where Jan lived from 1667-1670, when he married Rebecca Waldron, but it seems possible that he was living in Manhattan, and then moved to New Harlem, just north of the city. On 08 Feby., 1671 Jan leased a parcel of meadow in the New Harlem village. On 16 Jan., 1673 he owned one half a house lot in Harlem, and on 06 March, 1673 he owned one half house lot, and 12 acres of farm land in this village. In Harlem he raised a large family, and was a farmer of note. He was obviously a learned man who could read, and write well. On 22 August, 1673 he was appointed as the city Magistrate of Harlem, and on the 25th of that month he took the oath of Allegiance. On 07 Nov., 1673 Jan was made a corporal of the village watch. He would often go out after dinner and patrol the outskirts of this small village, and would warn the villagers of any wild animals, wolf, or fox, and whether the local Delaware Indians were actively pillaging. In 1674 he was known to the Indians as a tough man who could not be intimidated. On 06 Dec., 1675 he was once again mustered in as a Corporal of the Night watch, this time to protect the village from an Indian uprising. In the winter of 1676 Jan, with others, was appointed as a corporal in charge of a work party to cut timber in Harlem for the purpose of shipping such to New York city to help build a new harbor. Also in 1675 he was seen attending the new Dutch Reform church in Harlem, and he was soon made a Deacon. From 1670-1676 Jan was often listed in New Harlem records as a wood cutter for the village. He was a man of great physical strength, and a man of excellent qualities. On 19 Feby., 1677 he owned one and a half house lots, and 24 acres of farm land in Harlem. On 30 Oct., 1677 he received another 14 acres of land on the present site of 211th street, and then he soon after purchased another 14 acres next to this property on the Spuyten Duyvel creek. During this time a small Indian village belonging to one of the smaller tribes of the Leni Lenapi (Delaware) was known be located on this site. This small band of Indians traded with the Dutch villagers in Harlem, and they were usually at peace with the village. Jan was one of the first white men to own property in Spuyten Duyvel. The other man to own such land was Jan Dyckman, and the present day Dyckman street in this area was named in honor of his family. In 1677 Jan was twice made town commissioner, and he owned lot number 6 in the original Harlem patent, with meadows, and garden, and then he purchased lots number 13, and 14 in 1679. On 16 August, 1678 he purchased a third lot, that of Joachem Pieters in Harlem, and he lent his wagon for the use of Dominie Nieuwenhuysen while he searched for a new Deacon of the Dutch church. On 02 Jan., 1680 he was employed in hewing down many trees outside the Harlem village, and he assisted on 01 Sept., 1680 to repair an old Indian trail which would later link New York city with Harlem. This link would later be known as King's highway. On 14 Feby., 1682 Jan owned two, and one half house lots in the center of Harlem, and 36 acres of farm land. On 18 Dec., 1683 John Nagel was made commissioner for the Harlem division of the outward of New York city. City records show that on 11 March, 1684 Jan's barn burned down, and the villagers all came out to try and save the building. It was in the evening, and the village alarm rang out clear, and loud. Jan lost his barn, and 12 head of cattle. It was believed that the fire was set by his Negro slave, who then ran away, and was discovered next morning "Hanging to a tree at the little hill by the common". On 02 Feby., 1686 Jan was again made commissioner for the Harlem division. Jan was fined on 03 Dec., 1685 for putting his compost in a public street. On this same date records show that he owned 2 house lots, and 52 acres of farm land in Harlem. In 1686 Jan donated money to help erect the New Dutch Reformed church in Harlem. He was a witness to a baptism in the NYDRC on 14 March, 1671. He was once again a witness to a baptism in this church on 19 Dec., 1677.
|
