The Hunter-Matthews-Tsangaris Family Page:Information about Jan Hanse VanCleave
Jan Hanse VanCleave (b. 1628, d. 1699)
Notes for Jan Hanse VanCleave:
Jan Van Cleef was born in Holland, probably Amsterdam. He is said to have been
the son of one of the rival claimants for the Ducal throne of Cleves, when it
was vacated byt he death of John Williams, with heir in 1609. In 1614 by the
treaty of Xanten, this Duchy was awarded to John Sigiamund, the Elector of
Brandenburg. It was probably in this same year that the father of Jan VanCleef
fled to Holland as a political refugee.
Jan came to America about 1653, probably taking abode in Gravesend for there is
mention of him as a farmer there in 1656. He is believed to have died in
Gravesend in 1699. It is believed he has a brother, Dirck VanCleef and a
sister Ceytie but this is not proved.
Jan married Engeltie Pieterson on or about 10 Mar 1661 in New Amsterdam.
Engeltie's father, Loweren Pietersen was from Tonsburg, Norway.
an attorney, mayor in NY, farmer of Gravesend, Long Island, NY
Immigrated in 1653
will dated 1698
proved 1701
married before 10 Mar 1661
---Source:
The Vancleve name is also spelled VanCleve and Van Cleve, As modern spelling. It derives from the eleventh century seat of the Counts of Cleves which later became a duchy. It is now part of Germany, and the town is called Kleve. The town is nine miles from the Netherlands border. Anne of Cleves (1515-1557) was the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England. Jan was in New Utrecht (New York) at lest by 1662. He bought and sold various properties there, was a member of the Dutch church there, and in 1678 served as a constable. The names Gravesend and New Utrecht still persist in Brooklyn; the areas so named are only a few blocks apart.
---Source: Scandinavian Immigrants in New York 1630–1674, page 405 - Jan Van Cleef (Cleves) was in New Amsterdam as early as 1653, when he was twenty-five years of age. In company with Titus Cyre he bought a horsemill belonging to Jacob van Couwenhoven. He later became the sole owner of it, but soon sold it, what brought on considerable litigation in the court.
---NOTE: This interesting discussion was found on the Van Cleef GenForum in 1999/2000.
---Posted by: Doug Van Cleave Date: November 30, 1999 at 13:06:17
There was a Jan Van Cleef born in South Holland about 1598 whose father was also Jan Van Cleef, born in South Holland about 1566 according to LDS ancestral files. I'm wondering if anyone has any further information about these individuals and possible connection to our Jan Van Cleef (b. about
1627). By our Jan's patronymic (Cornelis) we have been looking for a Cornelis with little success. The Jan born about 1598 was married in 1626, which would make the name Jan a logical firstborn name for our Jan who was born in 1627 (the timing is right). A theory: perhaps the Jan born in 1598 is the Cornelis
(Cornelis Janszen Van Cleef?) we are seeking. Both Jan and Cornelis are common names for the period. It is also interesting to note that Joos Van Cleve (b. abt 1480), the Flemish painter who painted in court of Francis I and painted a portrait of Henry VIII, had a son (also a painter) named Cornelis (b.abt 1520).
---Posted by: Cleta Terrell Date: January 03, 2000 at 13:21:49
In Reply to: Re: Van Cleave last name by Doug Van Cleave:
I don't believe there was a family that immigrated in 1655-56 - just Jan alone. As for information beyond Jan "The New York Genealogical and
Biographical Record", Vol. 128 #2, April 1997 pages 110-111 says evidence has been found that Cornelissen was Jan Van Cleef's patronymic. So, now we know his father's name was Cornelis
---Posted by: Kahty Boyd Date: December 31, 1999 at 19:48:51
I just got this from a cousin. Family lore says that the real last name of Jan Van Cleave was Waldyke, when the Van Cleef family got to America they where asked what their last name was; they thought they had been asked where they were from, so they said Van Cleef. I was told that Van means from, so they where saying that they where from Cleef.
---Posted by: Peggy Van Cleve Date: February 25, 2000 at 04:30:47
In Reply to: Van Cleave last name by Kahty Boyd
I ran across this in my family files ...Decendants of Jan Van Cleef whose real name was Jan Waldike of Cleef Holland. Jan seems to arrive at Monmouth, New Jersey around 1653 and when asked his name he said Jan from Cleef. So the person wrote Jan Van Cleef instead of Jan Waldike.
---Posted by: Cleta Terrell Date: January 01, 1999 at 16:53:19
In Reply to: Dukes of Cleves/Kleve by Rick S. Thomas
Rick, Our Jan's father was Cornelis. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.128 Number 2.,April 1997 has an article "Finding The Patronymic of Jan Van Cleef in Little-Used New Amsterdam Records". This article on pages 110-111 was written by Henry B. Hoff, F.A.S.G., F.G.B.S. In
the article Mr. Hoff says the evidence of Jan's patronymic has been in publication since 1863, and again published in 1901. On page 527 of "Manual of the Corporation of the City of New-York" (1863) is an abstract of a contract of sale in the 1650s from Pieter ven der Linde to Jan Cornelis van
Kleef for a plantation "Lindenborch" on Manhattan on the East River. The article continues with further confirmation of Jan's patronymic.
---Ancestry.com -Search Terms: CLEEF (4), JAN (1795), VAN (2695), Database: Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI),# 220725, Cleef, Jan Van 1646-1716, A Dictionary of Biography, Past and Present. Containing the chief events in the lives of eminent persons of all ages and nations. Edited by Benjamin Vincent. Haydn Series. London: Ward, Lock, & Co., 1877. Reprint. Detroit: Gale Research, 1974. (DcBiPP)
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Art. Five volumes. Edited by Bernard S. Myers. New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Co., 1969. (McGDA)
More About Jan Hanse VanCleave and Engeltje Lourerens Pieterse Pieterszen:
Marriage: May 10, 166125
Children of Jan Hanse VanCleave and Engeltje Lourerens Pieterse Pieterszen are:
- +Isabrandt VanCleave, b. 1676, Kings, New Utrecht, New York Colony25, d. January 13, 1727/28, Monmouth County, Freehold, New Jersey25.
- Angelica VanCleef, b. 1680, Kings, New Utrecht, New York.
- Anna VanCleef, b. 1672, Kings, New Utrecht, New York.
- Benjamin VanCleef, b. November 25, 1683, Kings, Flatbush, New York, d. October 1747, Monmouth County, Freehold, New Jersey.
- Catherine VanCleef, b. October 23, 1681, Kings, Flatbush, New York.
- Anna VanCleef, b. 1674, Kings, New Utrecht, NY.
- Cornelius VanCleef, b. 1665, Kings, New Utrecht, New York.
- Maria VanCleef, b. 1685, New York, New York.
- Rebecca VanCleef, b. 1672, Kings, New Utrecht, New York.