Notes for Jannetje Gerrits: One source records her birth as "October 9, 1661; Gemonepa, New Jersey". (FWS) The "Van Wagenen" family name had its derivation in southern France dating back to the early 1200's. Jannetje Van Wagenen who was married to Christoffel Steynmets was a descendant of the "Wagoner" families of France who received acclaim with the invention of a sledge/coach used in seventeenth century Europe. It was her great grandfather who had the idea of constructing a new superstructure to the chassis of a sledge, and this 'slide carriage' met with immediate and tremendous success. In a few years its use had spread throughout Europe making the immigrant family to Holland very wealthy indeed. In the mid- to- late 1600's, the towns of the Union were familiar and picturesque with 'Van Wagenen's' coaches.
The upper part of the vehicle reproduced every type of open or closed carriage then in fashion, and sledges were also designed for transporting goods and merchandise within the towns. Various accessories were wedged under the iron slides at appropriate moments: greased rags to help them on, and wads of straw to slow them down. Diverging the vehicle was a difficult art. The driver trotted briskly along at the edge of the sledge, reins and whip in his right hand, while his left hand kept the load steady. Without ever stopping, he guided the horses, ran forward when necessary with his greased rags or bundle of hay and pitched into the canal at the end of a cord a keg perforated with holes which he used for sprinkling the road in front of him. Nothing was allowed to slow the pace down, and pedestrians had to keep a sharp look-out. Indeed the pedestrians ran very real risks, especially after nightfall, since the sledges circulated in the streets without lanterns. (WT)
Sources: "Observations Upon the United Provinces of the Netherlands", William Temple,Cambridge, 1932. "Genealogy in Part of the Sprague Family in America", Frank W. Sprague, Augustus Brown Reed Press, 1827. "Ancestral Lines Revisited", Frank W. Sprague, Augustus Brown Reed Press.
Jannetje Van Wagenen, wife of Christoffel Steynmets died during childbirth of her daughter, Joanna Steynmets in 1696.(CS)
More About Jannetje Gerrits: Baptism: 19 March 1662, Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam. Marriage Witnesses: 19 March 1662, Herman Wessels and Fytje Hertmans.
More About Jannetje Gerrits and Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I: Banns: 21 September 1684, by Minister at Bergen.37 Marriage: 06 October 1684, Bergen, Hudson, New Jersey.38
Marriage Notes for Jannetje Gerrits and Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I: "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 Jannetje Gerrits and Christoffel Phillipus Steynmets I are:
Jannetje Gerrits (b. Bef. 19 March 1662, d. Abt. 1698)
Notes for Jannetje Gerrits: