Notes for Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I: Christoffel Steynmets I (also spelled Christophel Stymes, Stynmuth) was born about 1660 in Ahasymus, NJ or New Amsterdam, NY. One source lists Christoffels' birth as: "Abt. 1658". He was baptized on December 19, 1660; Witnesses to his baptism was Gerrit and Rebecca Gerrits. He died in 1735 and his Will was proved June 17th, 1735. (CS) Source: "Baptisms at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam"(1639-1730)
Christoffel had twelve children by his two wives. By his first wife, Jannetje Gerrits (Van Wagenen), his seven children were: Casparus, Annetje (Antie), Jannetje, Gerret (Garret), Judith (Judah), Joanna, and Benjamin I.(CS) Christoffel's second wife was Sarah Van Nest. She was the daughter of Pieter (Piertson) Van Nest and Judith (Jorise) Rapalje. Christoffel and Sarah were married in 1699 and soon afterwards, moved to Passaic, NJ. Christoffel and Sarah's children were all born in Bergen, Bergen Co., New Jersey. They had five known children: Peter, Johannes (Johanes), George (Joris), Elizabeth, and Marya.
The "Stymiest Families of New Brunswick" had always thought that Benjamin I was the son of Christoffel and Sarah Van Nest; however, records show that he was the son of Christoffel Steynmets and his first wife, Jannetje Gerrits.(CS) Sources: "Magistrate Records of Dutch Reformed Church, Hackensack"; p. 38, Pt.1 "NJ Gen Mag.", Vol. 3 page 128 "NYGB", Vol 56, page 259; Vol 66; July 1925; Vol. 40 p. 170 "The New Jersey Genesis", July 1961
"In 1698, Christoffel received a deed for land which he purchased at Acquackanonck from one Gerret Gerritsen (Van Wagenen) of Essex County, being for Lot # 6 with half of the privileges belonging to the 14th part of the Commenages there."* Also in another record we see the following reference: "Christoffel Steynmets purchased for himself of Gerrit G. Van Waggininge (sic) a plot of land in 1699, in Acquackanonck, with all the rights and privileges belonging to it."^ Sources: *"DRNY" ^"Caspar Steynmets and His Descendants", P. H. Hoffman, New Jersey Historical Society, 1916, p.165
"On 22 October 1709, Christoffel Steynmets was made Executor of the Will of one William Abraham Bockee (probably Brokaw) of Acquackanonck, both of Hackensack, New Jersey." Source: "DRNY"
In 1711, Christoffel Steynmets with seven others, relatives, pioneers and early settlers, named, Francis Post, Jan Sip, Hermanse Gerritsen, Thomas Van Riper, Cornelius Doremus, Pieter Powlse, and Hessel Pietersen, all of Acquackanonck, bought from the Proprietors for 660 pounds sterling, 2800 acres of land, running from the Great Falls to and over the Garret Mountain. The land was divided into tracts or farms of 10 chains in breadth, running from the river up to the Mountain. This was the first settlement in Little Falls, NJ." Source: "Caspar Steynmets and His Descendants", P. H. Hoffman, New Jersey Historical Society, 1916, p.165
Author's Note: The following is an excerpt from the book,"PRE REVOLUTIONARY DUTCH HOUSES IN ESSEX AND PASSAIC COUNTIES" which gives a wonderful account of the house built by Christoffel Steynmets in the 1690's. The information was forwarded by John Stymeist of New Jersey in 1999.(CS) (JSNJ)(SEE: APPENDIX IX)
Stynmets-Sip House: 714 River Road, Passaic, Passaic County "In the Acquackanonk settlement a short distance above the Newark Town Purchase line (now the Essex County border) runs a small stream known as the Mineral Spring Brook. Lot No. 7 on its south bank, a 100 acre lot in the first division of the patent, fell to a member of the Vreeland family; Dirck Vreeland, bap. 1686, was still living there in 1750, and in 1778 another Richard Vreeland had his home there. Lot No.6, immediately to the south, was allotted to Gerrit Gerritse Van Wagening, a patentee of Acquackanonk, but a resident of Communipaw in the Town of Bergen. His son Hermanus Gerritse settled further north in Acquackanonk, opposite the present bridge at Passaic. On Jan. 30, 1698/9 Gerrit Gerritse Van Wagening of the Town of Bergen deeded to "Christoffle Stynmets" of Essex County, Lot No. 6 in Acquackanonk with the house lot and half the patent rights and the commonage pertaining thereto.
Christoffel's parents were Casper Steynmetzen and Jannetje Gerrits; they had six sons baptized in New York between 1650 and 1670. They probably settled in Bergen about the time the youngest was born, as Casper's wife Jannetje was buried in Bergen in 1670. Their third son, Christoffel Stynmets I (Stymets, Stynmetz), bap. Dec. 19, 1660 in New York, married at Bergen Oct. 6, 1684 Jannetje Gerrits, baptized March 19th, 1662, daughter of Gerrit Gerrits Van Wagening and Annetje Hermanse of Communipaw.
It is probable that Christoffel left Bergen shortly after the birth of his fourth child in 1693 and settled at Acquackanonk in Essex County, building the rear unit of the present house in the 1690's, on the tract conveyed to him by his father-in-law in 1699. He was an Elder of the Acquackanonk Church 1697-1698. His young wife died and he married a second time at Bergen 1698-99, Sara Van Nest; it is probable that she was the mother of most of his children. In his will of 1732, Christoffel Stynmets mentioned various tracts of land, among which were 299 acres on the Passaic River adjoining the land of Dirck Vreeland. It is on this property that the house stands. When Lot No. 7 was confirmed to Dirck Vreeland in 1750, it was described as bounded on the south by Christoffel Stymets. The Will of Arie Sip of Acquackanonk, dated 1762, gave to his son Helmich the 200 acres on which the son lived, which were purchased from Christoffel Stynmetz II, and also the land in the common. This Christoffel must have, been a grandson of the first Christoffel Stynmets, and evidently sold the land between 1750 and 1762.
Present tenure of the house, however, is based on an indenture dated March 21, 1768 from John J. Ludlow of Acquackanonk to Helmich Sip of the same place, which transferred for 100 pounds sterling, a dwelling and lot in Acquackanonk, south of the dwelling of Dirck Vreeland, beginning at the river 17 feet north of the house, running west 90 feet, south 100 feet, and east 110 feet to the river, along the river north 100 feet to the beginning, with barn, stable and gardens (original deed in the possession of Mrs. Roberts, a descendant). At the time of the Revolution, Ludlow was living further north on the Passaic River. How he came to own the house is not known; it is possible that this was a release from a claimant, as it is probable that this house and lot were included in the 200 acres with house which Arie Sip had willed to his son Helmich in 1762.
Arie Sip, whose father owned the house in the village of Bergen settled at Acquackanonk, some distance north of the Stynmets farm. He had twin sons, of whom John Sip inherited the homestead and is the ancestor of the "Athenia" branch of the family. The other twin, Helmich or Halmagh Sip, b. March 10, 1715 at Acquackanonk, married Nov. 14, 1740 Jannetje Van Houten, b. April 19,1719 at Totowa, a sister of Gerrebrant Van Houten of Totowa . They had two children: Adriaen, b. 1746, and Derrick, b. 1749 and bap. at Hackensack. They undoubtedly settled in the Stynmets house about 1768, if not earlier in the 1750's, and probably built the south unit of the house at this time. Halmagh Sip died about 1807 at an advanced age. His son Adriaen Sip and wife Gerretje were probably the parents of twins; Metje and Gerretje, b. 1763; Jannetje, bap. 1767; John A. Sip, b. June 6 1775 and bap. June 15th; Annatje, bap. 1781 and Halmagh, b. 1784 (the family Bible is not clear as it merely lists various births without stating the parents; it will be noted that four of these six children were recorded in the Bible, and one of the four with the two others are given as Adriaen's children in the Acquackanonk Church Records). Halmagh Sip, Jr., b. Oct. 22, 1784, d. Jan. 28, 1855, aged 71 years, 3 months, and 6 days., married at Acquackanonk March 30, 1806, Margaret Linford, b. Aug. 7,,1791, d. Nov. 19, 1852,. aged 62 years, 3 months and 12 days. It is probable that he was called "Jr." because his grandfather was still alive at the time of his marriage, rather than because he had a father or an uncle of the same name. Halmagh inherited and occupied the "Stynmets-Sip House" and farm, and undoubtedly built the north unit of the house. Here his daughter Charity Sip was born Nov. 11, 1820, and baptized the following January; d. Aug. 10, 1896, married at Passaic Feb. 28, 1839, Richard Romaine, b. Dec. 1820, d. Dec. 17, 1891. They lived at Rochelle Park. After the death of her father, the house was no longer occupied by members of the family. She inherited the property and left it to her son Helmas Romaine, b. Sept. 8, 1840, d. Nov. 20, 1896. His daughter, Mrs. Kate Romaine Roberts, sold the place about 1900 to "Henry Muth", whose widow is the present owner.
The growth of this house is interesting. The original house is the small unit at the rear. It has unusually thick stone walls covered with clapboard, and very low ceilings,over which is a gable roof with no overhang. Like most of the very early houses it faces south. It was undoubtedly built by "Christoffel Stynmets" in the 1690’s. The next unit was erected at right angles to it on the river end, about the middle of the eighteenth century; it is built of roughly-cut and dressed stone. The post-revolutionary unit was added at the north, it is built of well-dressed stone and is much larger; the Dutch stoop with its swelling columns is interesting. Note how the size of the house, the height of the ceilings and the size of the windows increase with each later unit. The lean-to at the rear of the original house dates from the middle of the nineteenth century. The house stands on the West bank of the Passaic River, south of Mineral Brook Road, and the Union Avenue Bridge." Primary Source: "Pre Revolutionary Dutch Houses in Essex and Passaic Counties", Bailey, Rosalie Fellows; Dover, 1936
Author's Note: There are 2 specific references to Christoffel's Will in archival records: (1) The Will of "Christofel Stynmuth" of Acquackanonk, yeoman, aged and infirm, executed in 1732 and probated in 1735, mentioned his wife Sarah and twelve children: Casparus (bap.1693), Antie (bap. 1692, married Jacob Van Noordstrand), Jannetie (bap. 1693), Benjamin (married secondly in 1731 Sara Emons, both residents of Riddenstown), Judah or Judith (married Harman Jurianse Van Riper), Peter (married 1734 Marietje Brouwer, both of Essex Co.), Hannah, Johannes (born and lived at Acquackanonk, married 1737 Catharine Post), Garret (of Saddle River, wife Susanna), George (married 1742 Claertje Van Iderstein), Elizabeth (married 1730 Juri Jurianse Van Riper), and Marya.*
(2) Will of Christophel Stynmuth, dated: June 1, 1732: "Stynmuth, Christophel, of Acquackanonk, Essex Co., yeoman; will of "Being aged and infirm" Wife Sarah. Children- Casparus, Antle, Janetie, Benjamin, Judah, Peter, Hanah, Johanes, Garret, George, Elizabeth and Marya, land joining lands of Close Vreeland and Hendrick Garretsee; 299 acres on Passayack River joining lands of Dirck Vreeland; land bought of Hugh Roberts, March 31, 1698; meadow in Bergen Co., by Hackingsack River, joining land of Frederick Tomasee and Garrett Van Waganon. Executors-son, Peter, and son-in-law, Harman Vriansen. Witnesses- Jno. Cooper, Thomas Jurianse, Aldereck Brewer. Proved: June 17, 1735.^ Sources: *"Caspar Steynmets and His Descendants", P. H. Hoffman, New Jersey Historical Society, 1916 ^"Library of Congress, Library C, p.92: New Jersey Colonial Documents; Calendar of Wills: 1730-1750", New Jersey Archives. (Copy forwarded by John Stymeist, New Jersey, October, 1999.)
More About Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I: Baptism: 19 December 1660, New Amsterdam, NY; Witnesses: Gerrit Gerritszen & Rebecca Fredricks.205 Burial: Abt. June 1735, Great Falls over Garret Mountain.206 Census: 1671, NJ Early Census Index Bef. 1790-1870: Ref #NJS1a2995100 (Bergen Co., Jersey City). Census #1: 1684, NJ Early Census Index Bef. 1690-1870: Ref #NJS1a2995101 (Bergen Co., Jersey City). Census #2: 1689, NJ Early Census Index Bef. 1772-1890. Deacon: Bet. 02 May 1697 - 04 May 1699, installed as Deacon, Acquackanonck.207 Deed: 30 January 1698, Lot # 6 (Essex County, N.J.) was deeded to Christoffel Steynmets I by Gerrit Gerritse Van Wagening of the town of Bergen. Elected: Bet. 1713 - 1715, appointed Elder in the Dutch Church at Hackensack and Acquackanonck.208 Moved: 1693, moved from Bergen, NJ to settle in Acquackanonck, Essex Co., NJ. Probate: 17 June 1735, Will was probated and in it he mentions 12 children. Property: 1699, tract of land conveyed to him by his father-in-law. Religion: Bet. 1697 - 1698, Elder in the Acquackanonck Church. Will: 01 June 1732, Will was executed.
More About Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I and Jannetje Gerrits: Banns: 21 September 1684, by Minister at Bergen.209 Marriage: 06 October 1684, Bergen, Hudson, New Jersey.210
Marriage Notes for Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I and Jannetje Gerrits: "Christoffel Steynmets, Y.M. of New York and Jannetje Gerrits, Y.D. from Gemonepa; married October 6, 1684 by minister at Bergen". Marriages in the Village of Bergen in New Jersey Beginning 1665 Record #: 66 Groom: Christoffel Steynmets, Y. M. Comment: from New York Bride: Jannetje Gerrits, Y. D. Comment: from Gemonepa Banns Date: 21 Sep 1684 Marriage Date: 06 Oct 1684 Marriage Place: by minister at Bergen Sources: "Records of The Reformed Dutch Church of Bergen, NJ (1666-?)"; 1914. "New York, Holland Society Yearbook", 1914; Item # 66 dated and recorded September 21, 1684. "Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey: Bergen Reformed (Dutch) Church Marriage Records; 1664-1801, The Marriage Ceremony", Vol. G, p. 563.
Children of Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I and Jannetje Gerrits are:
Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I (b. Bef. 19 December 1660, d. 17 June 1735)
Notes for Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I: