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THE DESCENDANTS OF [WILLEM?] KLINCKENBERG

Generation No. 2


2. WILLEM2 KLINCKENBERG ([WILLEM?]1)3 was born 1649 in Nieuw Nederland, and was living in Nieuw Uijtrecht (Brooklyn) in 16874,5,6, and died May 1754 in Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania7,8,9. He married JOHANNA [----?----]10 about 1683 in (Kings County?), New York. She was born about 1660, and died Aft. 1741.

Notes for WILLEM KLINCKENBERG:
[The compiler's seventh great grandfather.]
Willem Klinckenberg, a member of the Yeoman class, was born in 1649 in the Dutch Colony of Nieuw Nederland during the period of the Dutch Republic under Stadholder WILLIAM II, Prince of Orange, to parents who presumably had migrated from The Netherlands. Although his father's Christian name is also thought to have been "Willem," the identity of Willem Klinckenberg's parents has not been discovered.
When the Dutch Colony was taken by the British in 1664 and renamed New York, the inhabitants, including Willem, became British subjects and were required to take an oath of allegiance to the King. At that time, Willem is shown to have been resident in Nieuw Uijtrecht (now New Utrecht, a section of Brooklyn), and to have been born in the Province of New York. The document recording Willem's taking the Oath of Allegiance is dated 1687:

"The Roll off Those Who haue Taken the Oath off Allegiance
in the Kings County in the Province of New Yorke
the 26: 27: 28: 29: and 30th Day off September
in the Third Yeare of His Maytsh Raigne Annoque Domine 1687

"off New Uijtrecht
"Wellem klinckenberg native off this Province off N: York".[a]

The year of Willem's birth is established by the date of his death in conjunction with the following passage in a history of the Dawson family compiled in 1874 by Willem's descendant, Charles Carroll Dawson:

"William Clinkenbeard d. abt. 1753, in the 104th year of his age. On the birth of his gt. gt. gr. dau., Susannah Dawson, he said to his dau. Barbara [Van Clinkenburgh] Coney, 'Arise daughter, go see thy daughter [Susannah Coney], for thy daughter's daughter [Elizabeth Fussell] has a daughter' [Susannah Dawson]."[b]

Another of Willem's descendants, Neal Fussell, wrote in his book on the Fussell family history, published in 1891, that "William Clinkenbeard d. in 1753 in his 104th year. He lived at Plymouth, Bucks Co., Pa."[c] Curiously, yet a third descendant of William's, Gilbert Cope, wrote that Susannah Dawson, widow of a Mr Cowgill, married John Smedley (born 22 November 1714, died in August 1793), and that

"She saw her great-great-grandfather, William Clinkenbeard, who was one hundred and eight years old when he died, and also saw her own great-great-grandchildren."[k]

It would seem likely that this source's 108 years was an error in transcription, and that Dawson and Fussell were correct in stating 104 years as Willem's age at death.
Some degree of confusion exists in regard to the identity of Willem's wife. In his Will, Willem names his wife "Johanna". Regarding this Christian name, one source states that the Dutch names "Jannetje" and "Johanna" are two distinct names:

"Jannetje" is the equivalent of the English "Jane";
"Johanna/Janneken" is the equivalent of the English "Joan".[m]

However, the English names "Jane" and "Joan" are both feminine forms of "John". Therefore, "Jannetje" and "Johanna" can essentially be considered the same name. This conclusion is bolstered by another source that states that "Johanna" and "Jannetje" are simply formal and informal versions of one and the same name:

"Dutch given      Dutch nickname      English given       English nickname
-------------------      -------------------------      ----------------------      ----------------------------
"Johanne       Jannetje       Joan       Janet"[n]

It thus becomes very possible that Johanna, the wife of Willem (b. 1649) was in fact Jannetje Juriaens. In the following documentation of baptisms, Willem Klinckenberg and Jannetje Juriaens are listed once as godparents and once as parents, and Willem Klinckenberg is shown once as a godparent:

· 1710: The Baptismal Register of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia[d] lists "Willem Clinkenberg and Jannetye Jurriaens" as the godparents at the christening on 21 May 1710 of Hendrick Bradecks and Jacob Coney, the grandsons of Willem Klinckenberg (1649-1753).[d]
· 1736: At the baptism on 21 April 1736 in Maidenhead, New Jersey, of a child named "Elizabet", the parents are identified as "Wellem and Jannetye Klenkenbergh," with sponsors Abraham Stevens and Maryte Corsen.[e]
· 1742: On 29 August 1742, Elsie, the daughter of Isaac Frestone and Johanna Broades, was baptised at the North- and Southampton Dutch Reformed (Neshaming) Church, Churchville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with godparents shown as Willem Klinkenbergh and Elsie Broades, presumably the son and daughter of Willem (b. 1649).[f]

Clearly, then, Willem Klinckenberg and Jannetje Juriaens were married. But was Jannetje's husband the Willem born in 1649, or his son?
The following three persons named "Jannetje Juria[e]ns" have been documented,[o] the first two seeming to be the same person despite discrepancies in the husband's birth dates:

· Jannetje Juriaens, b. in Bosch, Brabant, Belgium, m. 1 January 1665 in Bergen, New Jersey to Jan Laurenszen Duijts, christened 23 March 1642 at the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam.
· Jannetje Jurians,      m. 1 January 1665, Bergen, New Jersey to Hans Laurentszen Duyts, born 28 September 1644 in New Amsterdam.
· Janetje (Johanna) Juriaens      bp 26 January 1678, 1st Dutch Reformed Ch., Brooklyn,
Kings Co., New York.
Parents - Father: Andries Jeuriaensen / Jeuriaens / Juriaens;
Mother: Anne (Annetje) Pieterse / Prat / Praa

Unless Jannetje's husband, Jan Duijts, died and she married Willem Klinckenberg as her second husband, the Jannetje married in 1665 would not be ours. This leaves the Jannetje (Johanna) baptised in 1678 as the wife of Willem. But again, which Willem? Emerick, in A GENEALOGICAL HISTORY, states that,

". . . Jannetje Juriaens . . was baptised in Brooklyn (New York) January 26, 1678 . . . The author firmly believes the above Jannetje (Johanna) Jurriane (Juriaens) to have been the wife of William Clinkenbeard, Jr. [1649-1753] and the daughter of Andries Juriaens and Annetje Praa (Prat). He also believes there exists in the published transactions or proceedings of an American genealogical society, the genealogy of Wellem Klinchenberg, Jr. Further, he has not been fortunate enough to have discovered the source or sources."[j]

There is a problem with this construction, however, for if the Jannetje Juriaens baptised in 1678 was the mother of Elisabet baptised in 1736, Jannetje would have been aged fifty-eight in that year and Willem aged eighty-seven, both rather too old to have produced a child (except in the unlikely event that Elisabet had been born years earlier and was belatedly coming to her christening). Also to be considered is the fact that Johanna/Jannetje's birth in 1678 would make her twenty-nine years younger than Willem (b. 1649), but around the same age as Willem's son, Willem Klinckenberg (b. c.1684. Yet a further consideration is that if Jannetje, born in 1678, was the wife of the elder Willem and the grandmother of Hendrick Bradhurst, who was born in 1709, the time aspect becomes problematic: Both Jannetje and her daughter, Hendrick's mother Alse/Elsye, would have to have had their pregnancies at about the age of fifteen.
All factors considered, the writer makes the rebuttable assumption that the Jannetje Juriaens baptised in 1678 was not Johanna, the wife of the Willem Klinckenberg born in 1649, but rather the wife of Willem's son, Willem Clinkenberg, born in about 1684. The mystery surrounding this issue probably never will be resolved.
Sometime after his marriage, Willem moved his family from New York to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he established a plantation in what was to become Northampton Township. The year in which the family moved to Pennsylvania has not been established, but, as seen above, they were in Philadelphia by at least 1710 for the baptism of Willem's grandsons. Twelve years later, in 1722, Willem was one of the signers of the petition for the organization of Northampton Township.[g]
By 1743, Willem, then aged 94, apparently decided to retire. In the 2 February 1743 issue of THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE, an advertisement offered for sale the plantation of "William Klinkenburg" in Northampton Township, Bucks County, and directed interested persons to "apply to Bernhard Vanhorn, living near said place, or to Solomon Fussel, chairmaker, in Phila." (Willem's son-in-law and grandson-in-law).
Willem's Will was written on 15 May 1741, two years before the sale of the plantation, and proved thirteen years later on 4 June 1754.[h] In it, William bequeathed "unto my Dear beloved Wife Johanna Clinkenbird all my Estate and Effects both Real and Personal" with the stipulation that upon her death the estate be distributed equally to Willem's children and grandchildren, to wit: "William Clinkenbird, Barbara Coonee, Else Broadast, Mary West, Elizabeth Vanhorne, Johanna South, William Clinkenbird, Son of John Clinkenbird, Deceased, And Johanna Clinkenbird and Joriah Clinkenbird, Daughters of Joriah Clinkenbird, Dece'd." He named as Executors his son-in-law, Barnard Van Horn, Yeoman, and his grandson-in-law, Solomon Fussell, the Philadelphia chairmaker from Yorkshire, England, and husband of Barbara (Van Clinkenburgh) Coney's daughter, Susannah. Following is the full text of Willem's Will:[h]

"In the Name of God. Amen. I, William Clinkenbird of the Township of Northampton in the County of Bucks and Province of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, being of a Sound and Perfect Mind and Memory (thanks be to God therefore) And knowing that it is Appointed for all Men once to Dye, Do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following:
"Vizt. I give and bequeath my Soul unto Almighty God that gave it, and my Body to the Ground there to be Decently Interred in such manner as my Executors hereinafter Mentioned shall think Proper in Hardings Burying Ground amongst my Relations. And also such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me withall I give and Dispose thereof in Manner following - -
"Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Dear beloved Wife Johanna Clinkenbird all my Estate and Effects both Real and Personal for and During her Natural Life, and after her Death I give and bequeath the said Estate both Real ane Personal equally to be Distributed to my Children and Grandchildren herein after named in Manner following - -
"Vizt. Between William Clinkenbird, Barbara Coonee, Else Broadast, Mary West, Elizabeth Vanhorne, Johanna South, William Clinkenbird, Son of John Clinkenbird Deceased And Johanna Clinkenbird and Josiah Clinkenbird, Daughters of Josiah Clinkenbird, Dece'd, These two last but to have one Share between them, such share as their Father might have had if Living.
"And my Will is that my Executors hereafter Named shall and may Lawfully dispose & Sell my Land, Goods, & Chattels, and out of the whole Amount of the Sails of the said Estate & Effects Discharge & pay my Lawfull Debts & funeral Charges & the Residue thereof to be divided as abovesaid And the said Executors that full Share of William Clinkenbird, Son of John Clinkenbird, dece'd, shall put out to Intrest on Sufficient Security for the same Untill the said William Clinkenbird arrives to the Age of Twenty One Years, And in Case the said William Clinkenbird should Dye before he comes to Age his said Share to be divided as Abovesaid and likewise Johanna Clinkenbird & Josiah Clinkenbird, Daughters of Josiah Clinkenbird, dece'd, their One Share between them to be put out to Intrest with good Security Until they arrive to the Age of Eighteen Years Each or day of Marriage. And if either of these last Named should dye before they Arrive at Age or day of Marriage then that share to go to the other Sister, but if both dyes then their Shares with the Intrest thereon to be devided as Abovesaid. likewise if the withinsaid William Clinkenbird, Son of William Clinkenbeard, should Dye without Issue then his Said Share to be Divided as withinsaid.
"And lastly I do Constitute and Appoint Barnard Vanhorne of the Township and County Aforesaid, Yeoman, and Solomon Fussell of the City of Philadelphia in the Province Aforesaid, Chairmaker - - my Sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making Void all former Will or Wills by me heretofore made or Caused to be made, Ratifying and Confirming this, and none other to be my last Will.
"In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of May One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty One.
"Sealed, Signed & Delivered His\
as for the last Will & Testament "William W Clinkenbird (SEAL)\
of Wm Clinkenbird in presence of Mark\
us --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- \
"George Wilson
Henry Krewsen
John Pickering"

"Bucks: Ss The 4th: Day of June Anno Domini 1754 Then Appeared Henry Krewsen, One of the Witnesses to the foregoing Written Will and upon his Solemn Oath did Declare that he was Present and Saw William Clinkenbird the Testator Sign, Seal & Acknowledge the within Writing to be his Last Will & Testament and that at the Doing thereof he was of Sound Mind, Memory, and Understanding to the Best of his Knowledge.
Before me
Richd Gibbs, Deputy Register
"By Virtue of a Commission from the Regr General
And by the Direction of Lawr. Growdon, Dept. Regr."

"Bucks: Ss Be it Remembred That on the 4th Day of June 1754 This Last Will and Testament of
William Clinkenbird was Proved According to Law and Probate and Letters
(SEAL) Testamentary were Granted unto Barnet Vanhorn and Solomon Fussell,
Executors, in the sd Will Named said Barnet Vanhorne being first Sworn and
the said Solomon Fussell Duly Affirmed well and Faithfully to Administer the Goods and Chattels, Rights and Credits of the said Office for the said County of Bucks In One Month after the Date hereof and a Just and True Account of their Administration when thereunto Required to Render. Witness my Hand and the Seal of the office the Day and Year aforesaid.
Richd Gibbs, Dept Regr.
"By Virtue of a Commission from the Regr. Genl.
And by the Direction of Lawr. Growdon, Dept Regr."

Willem's estate was inventoried on 4 June 1754 in the amount of £126.0s.2d.[h] (one hundred and twenty-six pounds and twopence):

"June ye 4th: 1754. The appraisment of the Goods, Bonds, & Effects of William Klinkingburgh Late of the Township of Northamton and County of Bucks, Deceasd, apraised by us whose Names are here unto Subscribed.
One Bond on John Teague & John Laycock Dene[?] Feb.[?] 23:1753 with interest £15:9:0
One Bond on Richard Addis & Barnard Vanhorn Dene May 19:1751 9 years interest 9:8:6
One Bond on Evan Jones & George Dun Dene May 1:1753 2 years Interest 39:4:5
One Bond of William Klinking, Junr. Dene - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 14:2:3
One Bond of Abraham [----?----] & George Dun Dene May 1:1754 3 years Interest 14:15:0
One Bond of John Broadhurst & Richard Addis Dene June 22:1753 - - - - - - 11:0:0
One Bond of Jonathan Abbot Dene Feb [?] 5 1753 with Interest Dene - - - - - 9:5:0
One Bond of Benjamin Vanhorn Dene March 12:1718 Interest Gull[?] - - - - - 6:16:0
perotes [sp?] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1:12:0
wearing aparrel - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2:0:0
Bead Stead & Beading - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1:15:0
2 Chairs & a Chest - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0:7:0
Tobacco - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0:6:0
__________
£126:0:2
"Josep fentenin
Adriaan Cornel"

"Perotes" or "peroter" in the above list would almost certainly be "perukes", or wigs, relatively expensive items at least one of which a proper gentlemen would be sure to have. With used wigs such as Willem's valued at £l 12s. ($228.54 in today's money),[k] the common man of the time would have found them too expensive to buy. While the writer and his wife were at dinner at The King's Arms Eating House in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2002, the writer commented on the sign advertising "perukes" at the wig shop next door, wondering what a "peruke" was. The waiter explained that "perukes" were the powdered wigs worn by gentlemen in Colonial times, and that "people who had them were usually important and wealthy, for a peruke would equal the cost of an addition to one's house today. Jefferson had three --- a white one for formal occasions, and two brown ones to match his own hair".
The estate appraisement above disclosed that in addition to bonds for amounts he had loaned out, which totaled £119.19s.2d., and the above-mentioned perukes worth £1.12s.0d., Willem's possessions consisted only of wearing apparel; a bed and bedding; two chairs and a chest; and six shillings' worth of tobacco. His real estate (his plantation, presumably including house and outbuildings, furnishings, carriages, farm equipment, horses and livestock, etc.) had been sold before his death. Willem and Johanna evidently had taken lodging with one of their children after the sale of their plantation, which reduced their requirements simply to bedroom furniture, clothes, and small personal items.
In 1754, £1 Sterling would have the purchasing power of $100.79 in today's money.[l] Willem's personal effects, valued at £126.0s.2d., would be worth £12,700.46 ($17,999.09) in today's money; his wearing apparel valued at £2.0.0d. would be worth £201.58 ($285.68); and his bedstead and bedding valued a £1.15.0d. would now be worth £176.38 ($249.97).[l]
On 1 May 1754, Willem made a loan of £14.15s.0d. ($1,486.66)[l] to Abraham [----?----] and George Dun. Since his Will was probated on 4 June 1754, it can be inferred that Willem died sometime in May 1754. In accordance with his Will, Willem was buried in Harding's Burying Ground, Northampton Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[i] By the time of Willem's death, he had reached a very ripe old age indeed --- 104 years!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Carl Boyer, 3rd, comp., SHIP PASSENGER LISTS: NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY (1600-1825) (Newhall, Calif.: published by compiler, 1978), pages 140, 142. A transcription of a list of oath-takers taken from: Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan, THE DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK (Albany: Secretary of State, 1850) vol. 1, pp. 429-432 [Lancour No. 88].
b. Charles Carroll Dawson, A COLLECTION OF FAMILY RECORDS WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND OTHER MEMORANDA OF VARIOUS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS BEARING THE NAME DAWSON, OR ALLIED TO FAMILIES OF THAT NAME (Albany: Joel Munsell, 1874) pp. 420-421; also (1866; reprint Charleston, S.C.: Garnier & Company, 1969); LDS HFL US/CAN Fils 908333, item l, and 982259, item 6; photocopies of pp. 420-421with letter of Jas: Clinkingbeard, 678 Simla Drive, Pueblo West, Colorado, to J.E. Stockman, 2 February 1998.
c. Edwin Neal Fussell, ed., GENEALOGY OF THE FUSSELL FAMILY : COMPRISING A COMPLETE RECORD TO 1890 OF THE DESCENDANTS OF BARTHOLOMEW FUSSELL (New York: M.T. Fussell, 1891), page 24; LDS FHL US/CAN Film 1571763, item 8; photocopy of p. 24 with letter of Jas: Clinkingbeard, 678 Simla Drive, Pueblo West, Colorado, to J.E. Stockman, 2 February 1998.
d. PENNSYLVANIA VITAL RECORDS: FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA GENEALOGICAL MAGAZINE AND THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY, Vol. I (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983) pp. 76-77, 112.
e. Donna R. Irish, comp., PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN MARRIAGES (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1982), page 43; cited in the Clinkenbeard family group records, Note 23, from Polly Sutherland, Wauconda, Illinois, 24 August 1996.
f. Ibid., p. 45.
g. W.W.H. Davis, HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, Vol. I (1905), p. 335.
h. Will of William Clinkenbeard dated 15 May 1741; BUCKS CO. [PA.] WILLS, 2:269, Register of Wills, Bucks Co. Courthouse, Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
i. Clinkenbeard Surname File, The Filson Club Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky.
j. Norman Cooper Emerick, A GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF THE GEORGE COOPER (KIEFER) FAMILY & ALLIED FAMILIES, Chapter ___: "The William Clinkenbeard Family," with Bibliography (Baltimore: N.C. Emerick, pre-publication draft as of Aug 1995) pp. i, ii; photocopy of Chapter & Bibliography MS. supplied to J.E. Stockman courtesy of author.
k. John Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope, HISTORY OF CHESTER CO., PA., WITH GENEALOGIES AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, typed manuscript at Chester Co. Historical Society, West Chester, Penn.; (1881; microfilm: Salt Lake City: The Genealogical Society of Utah, 1968); FHL US/CAN Film 568079, items 6-7.
l. John J. McCusker, "Comparing the Purchasing Power of Money in Great Britain from 1264 to 2002." Economic History Services, 2003, URL : http://www.eh.net/hmit/ppowerbp/; as cited in
COMPARING THE PURCHASING POWER OF MONEY IN GREAT BRITAIN FROM 1264 TO 2002; URL: http://eh.net/hmit/ppowerbp/; Copyright (c) 2003 by EH.NET. All rights reserved. This work may be copied for non-profit educational uses if proper credit is given to the author. For other permission, please contact the EH.NET Administrator (administrator@eh.net; Telephone: 513-529-2851; Fax: 513-529-3308).
m. Chrisell Colvin Cronin (chrislouise@juno.com), "Dutch Names and their English Equivalents" in GENEALOGY : FAMILY HISTORY PAGES OF CHRISELL COLVIN CRONIN; URL:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/3374/dutchname1.htm; 13 Jan 2006.
n. James Nohl Churchyard, "A Note on Dutch Given Names" in OUR FAMILY MUSEUM: A COLLECTION OF FAMILY HISTORY NOTES (SEPTEMBER 1997); URL: http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/gen/chfmntro.html#dutchnick; author and print publisher: James N. Churchyard, 1694 Santa Margarita Dr., Fallbrook, Calif., 92028-1639; Internet publisher: Henry Churchyard, 3205 Helms St., #204, Austin, Texas, 78705, church@crossmyt.com.
o. LDS International Genealogical Index (Internet), (ver. 5.0; Family Search TM [http://www.familysearch.org]; (c) 1999 - ____ by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.), "Electronic"; the submitters of the data were members of the LDS Church, but their identities were otherwise unknown.
     
Children of WILLEM KLINCKENBERG and JOHANNA [----?----] are:
3. i.   WILLEM3 KLINCKENBERGH, b. about 1684, New York; d. Unknown.
4. ii.   BARBARA VAN CLINKENBURGH, b. about 1687, New York; d. Unknown.
5. iii.   ALSE/ELSYE VAN CLINKENBURGH, b. about 1690, New York or Pennsylvania; d. Unknown.
6. iv.   JOHN CLINKENBEARD, b. about 1693, New York or Pennsylvania; d. Bef. 15 May 1741, (Pennsylvania?).
  v.   MARY CLINKENBOROUGH11, b. about 1696, New York or Pennsylvania12,13; d. Unknown; m. THOMAS WEST, 17 December 1718, the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania14,15,16; b. about 1691; d. Unknown.
7. vi.   JORIAH CLINKENBEARD, b. about 1699, New York or Pennsylvania; d. Bef. 1741.
  vii.   JOHANNA CLINKENBEARD17, b. about 1702, New York or Pennsylvania18,19; d. Unknown; m. [----?----] SOUTH; b. about 1695; d. Unknown.
8. viii.   ELIZABETH VAN CLINKENBURGH, b. about 1705, New York or Pennsylvania; d. Unknown.

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