Thursday, June 14, 2012

The van Beverhoudts Take Manhattan

Bloomingdale, to be specific.

Regular readers may know that the van Beverhoudt line is my longest family line in the Virgin Islands.  While no one is sure when exactly they arrived, my 7th great grandfather, Claudius (Claudi) van Beverhoudt is recorded in the St Thomas landlister as residing on St. Thomas in 1693.  Descendants of Claudi are still living there today (and one of them is a regular blog reader!).  This is an unbroken string of van Beverhoudts in the Virgin Islands for 318 years!  So imagine my surprise when I discovered that Claudius’ son, my 6th great grandfather, Johannes van Beverhoudt, Claudizoon, and his entire family, shows up in the records of the Colony of New York around 1750.  In fact Johannes and his sons (including my 5th great grandfather, Claudius) were naturalized citizens of the Colony of New York.


First, let’s deal with the name: Claudizoon.  As I have written before, the van Beverhoudts were Dutch and the Dutch had a custom of taking a patronymic title from their fathers first name.  Since Johannes’ father was named Claudius (or Claudi), he used the appellation Claudi-zoon, or Claudi’s son, after his name.  This turns out to be extremely helpful in locating people at a time of particular unoriginality in naming choices. Of course, not everyone is familiar with this Dutch custom.  I have seen Johannes listed as Glaudizoon, Claudizoon, Glaudiz, and Glaudisz, sometimes as surnames.

Either way, this name has been instrumental in ascertaining his identity from among the plethora of Johannes van Beverhoudts (ok, well maybe not a plethora, but at least several).

My earliest knowledge of Johannes Claudizoon comes from a series of articles written by Henry Hoff and Kenneth Barta in the Spring 1983 edition of The Genealogist, currently published by the American Society of Genealogists.  This is one of a series of articles that trace the lineage of the De Windt families of the West Indies.  So far, this is the only compiled genealogy I have run across from the Virgin Islands.  Even if you are not related to the De Windts, I recommend that you get ahold of a copy and look at the sources used.  I found lots of great pointers and ideas just from the notes.  The series was begun in V3 No1 (1982), then V4 No1 (1983), then two articles in V6 No 1 (1985) and completed in V10 No2 (1989).  Back issues are available for $15 each. The ASG website currently has a special for Volumes 1-10, comprising 20 issues (2 per volume) and two special issues for $40 post-paid. (They tell me they ordered too many, so it’s a killer price).  I bought a set a month or so ago and I’m so glad I did.

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1746 Membership Register of the Dutch Reformed Church in St Thomas
According to Hoff and Barta, Johannes Claudizoon was born on St Thomas and baptized in the Lutheran church on 9 Feb 1711.  He owned several properties on both St Thomas and St Croix and was a member of the Burgher Council.  He married 4 times on St Thomas.  The first and third wives were De Windts (which explains why he is in the articles).  His first wife, Dorothea De Windt, was my 7th great grandmother.  He married his fourth wife, Margaretha Langemack sometime before 1746 when she was received into the St Thomas Dutch Reformed Church and recorded in the churchbook (pg. 9, line 3) as “Margarita van Beverhoudt, born Langemath”.  It is likely that they were married around that time.

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Extract from the Record

Then I ran across something unexpected in an on-line copy of The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, (The Record) Vol LXI No. 1, January 1930.  Many issues of the Record contained transcriptions of old registers.  This one contained an article entitled “Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in the City of New York”.  On page 74 there was an entry for new members for 21 Aug 1749:

“Johannes van Beverhoudt & Margarita Langemath, Egte L. van St. Thomas”. 

This says they transferred their membership from St. Thomas.  Apparently, between 1748, when Johannes was listed as a member of the Burgher Council on St Thomas and August 1749, he and his wife moved to the English Colony of New York. He apparently maintained his property in St Thomas after moving to New York.

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1750 Naturalization in New York of the van Beverhoudts
There were other records of their presence in New York city over the next few years, often as witnesses at baptisms of other West Indies ex-pats, particularly De Windts.  Then I found a very curious document, the Colonial Laws of New York from the year 1664 to the Revolution.  Chapter 902 is a law granting citizenship to a number of individuals including Johannes Van Beverhout Gloudisz, and his four sons, including Claudius Van Beverhout (my 6th great grandfather) in 1750.  Keep in mind, New York was a colony at the time, so the citizenship was for the Colony of New York, not the United States.

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Map of Herman Le Roy Farm area of Manhattan
Looking around in the New York area, I found more references to the family.  In the book The Iconography of Manhattan Island 1498-1909, v.6, p 115-116 I located a description of a piece of land referred to as “The Herman Le Roy Farm”.  According to the book, the westerly portion of the property was acquired by Johannes Van Beverhoudt Glouidisz about 1749.  This land appears to be west of Central Park, right by the Hudson River.  Johannes owned 109 acres on Manhattan Island, about where Columbia University is now located. It further states that he built a “stone house” on the property.

Johannes and Margaretha had a daughter Maria (b. 1750) in New York and a second daughter, Margarita (b. 1752), who was born 6 months after Johannes death in November 1751.  Following her husband’s death, Margaretha decided to sell the property and published an advertisement for the sale. The Iconography quotes:
1752, Sept. 25. "To be sold, A certain Farm situate at
Bloomendal, in the Out Ward of the City of New-York, between
the Farms of Adrian Hoogeland and Dennis Hicks, and
is bounded Westerly to Hudson's River, containing 109 Acres;
also a Lot or Piece of Salt Meadow lying on the West Side of
the aforesaid River, in the County of Bergen, The Farm is
pleasantly situated either for a Gentleman or a Farmer, having
delightful Prospects both up and down the River; and on it is
lately built a large Dwelling-House of 50 Feet in Breadth front
and rear, and 44 Feet in Depth, with Sash-Windows, Beausets,
Closets, and in all other Respects completely finished, with
Cellars under the whole House; Also a new Stone Kitchen, a
Farm or Out-house, and Kitchen, of Stone and Brick; a large
Barn new shlngl'd, two Gardens, one of near two Acres of Land,
indos'd with neat Pales and Board-Fence. Whoever inclines to
purchase the same, may apply to Mrs. Margaret Van Beverhout,
living on the Premisses, or to Charles Crommelin, in
New-York. Good Security for the Payment of the purchase
Money, will be preferr'd to ready Money."-The N. Y. Post-
Boy, S 25, 1752.
The house was purchased by Humphrey Jones and a deed was recorded by 25 Sep 1752.  The house became known as “The Homestead”.  In New York of Yesterday, Hopper Striker Mott shows a picture of the house that Johannes van Beverhoudt built, and although the drawing was made much later, it is believed to be an accurate representation of what the house looked like, although it may have been added to after Johannes van Beverhoudt’s death.

Johannes Claudizoon House in NY

The “stone house” was clearly one of the mansions built in Bloomingdale, a fashionable residence in pre-revolutionary Manhattan near other well-to do families.

The house passed through several hands after Jones.  New York of Yesterday cites a series of owners: Jones, Kemble, and Ann Rogers before it became a female academy and purchased by Frederick Weber. Weber leased the property out and it became known as the Abbey Hotel.  There is an article entitled The Lost Abbey Hotel -- 101st Street and Broadway on the house on Daytonian in Manhattan, a blog dedicated to the architectural history of Manhattan. The house was struck by lightning circa 1859 and burned to the ground.

Following Johannes Claudizoon’s death, his son Claudius returned to St Croix where he was married in 1754 to Gertrude Magens.  They subsequently moved to St Croix around 1773, as I wrote n My Family Comes to St Croix in 1773.  Several other sons returned to St Thomas as well.  Margarita stayed in New York, marrying Nicholas Bayard in 1756 and raising her daughters Maria and Margarita.  When Maria van Beverhoudt married, she kept a detailed family bible of the births of her children and that bible exists today in a collection in New York.  But that story will have to wait until another day.

14 comments:

  1. Arnold van Beverhoudt Jr.June 14, 2012 at 8:31 AM

    David,

    That's a great find! Thanks for sharing this piece of our family history.

    Arnold

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  2. A "van Beverhoudt" from the St. Thomas branch just passed away recently as reported in the V.I. Daily News:

    "Joan Marilyn van Beverhoudt Thorne
    Former North Carolina resident Joan Marilyn van Beverhoudt Thorne, 74, died June 11, 2012.
    Per her wishes, there will be no service held.
    "Joanie" was born in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, on June 24, 1937. Joan lived, worked and raised her family in Farmville, N.C., before deciding to move back to Montrose, Colo., in 2005. She was residing in Colorado at the time of her passing.
    Like her father before her, Joan's love of plants and flowers showed in every plot of land that she touched. She also loved spending time with family, especially her grandchildren.
    Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold Edward van Beverhoudt (aka Chief) and Henrietta Olga Creque van Beverhoudt; ex-husband, Leonard F. Thorne; and granddaughter Brandy Nichole Smith.
    Joan is survived by her children, Pamela Stewart, Leonard A. Thorne, Elaine Stewart and Emily Andrews; sisters, Marion Miller and Jacquelyn Templin; brothers, Arnold van Beverhoudt Jr. and Steven van Beverhoudt; grandchildren, Adam Stewart, Tiffany Stewart, Corey Stewart, Natalee Stewart, Allen Smith, Arthur Jacob Thorne and Ashley Nicole Andrews; and four great-grandchildren."
    -Rachel

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  3. Do you know if Susannah Marshall and her sisters Mary and Anne Burke were somehow related to the
    Van Beverhoudt or Langemath family ?

    Susannah Marshall, New York, Will made Feb 10, 1789 proved September 29, 1792
    Page 62 -- Susannah Marshall, New York, to James Barclay, New York, A nctioneer, and Maria, his wife, a lot of ground lying in the out ward of New York City, bounded northerly in front by Lombard Street, easterly by a lot of gound hereinafter devided to Thomas (son of Thomas Duncan and Margaretta, his wife), southerly by other ground belonging to me, and westerly by ground late of the heirs of Theophilus Hardenbrooke, deceased; and said lot being twenty-five feet wide and a hundred feet deep, to them during their natural lives, and at the death of said James Barclay and Maria his wife, the ground to become the sole property of my God-son, Andrew Barclay (son of James and Maria Barclay), to him, his heirs forever; To Thomas , son of Thomas Duncan, by his late wife Margaretta Van Beverhoudt, the lot of ground in the out Ward of New York adjoining the lot hereinbefore devised, to James Barclayand Wife; bounded northerly in front by Lombard Street, easterly by the ground now or late of John Barlow, Southerly by ground belonging to me, and westerly by the lot given to the said James Barclay and wife;
    In case of the death of Thomas Duncan, the son, before he arrives at lawful age, I devise the same lot to the children of my nephew, John R. Marshall,…

    Abstract of Wills On file in the surrogate's office, of the City of New York--
    Page 198.--In the name of God, Amen. I Anne Burke, of the city of New York, Spinster, in good health. I leave to my sister, Mary Burke, all my right and title to the corner house and lot purchased by my father, Mr. Derrick Agers, and further I devise all my estate, real and personal, none in the world excepted, to my two sisters, Mary Burke and Susannah Marshall, equally divided. My executors are my two said sisters. Dated April 21, 1781. Witnesses, Philip A. Schuyler, James Barclay, Thomas Duncan. Proved October 27, 1785. [Does she mean my father purchased "from" Mr. Derrick Agers ?]
    Mary Burke was a sponsor to the 26 Oct. 1777 baptism of Helena d/o James Barclay and Maria Van Beverhoudt
    Abstract of Wills On file in the surrogate's office, of the City of New York--
    Page 445.-In the name of God, Amen. I, BARENT LANGEMACH VAN BEVERHOUDT, of New York, Gent. I leave to the two churches in the Island of St. Thomas two pieces of 8 each. I leave to the Hospital in said Island 10 Pieces of 8. I leave to my half-brothers, Claudius, John, and Stephen, and to my half-sisters, Eliza Magens, and Elizabeth, and Nancy Bayard, 50 Pieces of 8. All the rest I leave to my sisters, Mary and Margaret Van Beverhoudt. I make Gerritt De Wint, of St. Thomas, merchant, Johanes Ponet, and Simon Johnson, of New York, and Mary and Margaret Van Beverhoudt, of New York, spinsters. Dated September 2, 1767. Witnesses, Anne Burke, John Carpenter, John De Wint, Jr. Proved, December 31, 1768.

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  4. Sorry, I forgot to leave my name of the post
    Leigh Jones

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  5. Leigh,

    Why yes, this references the same family. James Barclay was married to Maria van Beverhoudt. Maria, Margaretha, and Barent Langemach were all children of Johannes Claudizoon and his 4th wife, Margaretha Langemack, born in New York. Thanks for posting these, there is information I didn't have, such as the name of Margaretha van Beverhoudt's husband.

    I'll have to see if I can find the connection to Susannah though. In my research I found an Ann Marshall, daughter of John Marshall and Ann Ten Eyck, married to Lucas de Windt, but those are the only Marshalls I found. I haven't found any Burkes. It's not likely they are related to the Langemacks, that was Margaretha's maiden name and she was from St. Thomas. She did have an older sister named Anna though.
    Thanks so much for sharing.

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  6. Leigh,
    On page 15 of "In Old New York", The Irish dead in Trinity and St Pauls's Churchyards by Michael O'brien is an entry about the Burke/Marshall family. It says
    "Anna Maria Burck" was the wife of Rickard Burke, who
    died in 1714, and at the Surrogate's office there is an entry
    showing that letters of administration to "the estate of Rickard
    Burck of New York, merchant, who died intestate,"
    were granted to "his wife, Anna Maria Burck," on November
    19, 1714.16 As "Anna Maria Burke," her death on
    April 21, 1740, at the age of sixty-eight, is recorded on
    the tombstone of the Marshall family in Trinity churchyard.
    Her will,17 probated before the Surrogate of New
    York County on May 29, 1740, shows that she married
    ( I) Edward Marshall and (2) Rickard Burke, and among
    the legatees she named her four children, John and Susannah
    Marshall, and Anne and Mary Burke, and her "cousin, Anna
    Maria Burke." Rickard Burke was long a resident of
    New York and is first mentioned in records of the year
    1710. At the Register's office there is recorded a deed 18
    as of June 18, 1714, covering the transfer of property in
    Queen Street purchased by Rickard Burke from Dirck Egberston...

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  7. Dave,
    Thank you for all the information.
    Here is a summary of the rest of Susannah Marshall’s will.
    nephew John R. Marshall late clerk of the township of Woodbury, Connecticut
    She left separate lots to each of the of the children of her nephew John R. Marshall
    Richard Burk Maeshall oldest son of said nephew [under 25]
    Susannah Anna Maria Marshall eldest daughter of said nephew
    Anne Burk Marshall daughter of said nephew
    Sarah Marshall daughter of said nephew
    Anna Maria Susannah Marshall daughter of said nephew
    Hermanus Marshall son of said Nephew
    John Marshall son of said Nephew
    John Penet Marshall and Elsie his sister £ 150 each. when they are of lawful age–no relationship stated
    Executors: Richard Burk Marshall, Susannah Anna Marria Marshall, Sarah Marshall and
    David Provoost, Merchant of New York
    Dated Feb. 10, 1789. Witnesses, David M. Clarkson, Thomas Roberts, Merchant, W. Cock.
    Codicil 1st: Anna Burk Marshall now deceased.
    Revokes bequest of £ 150 to John Penet Marshall gives him land instead. left assorted
    Initialed silver pieces to the daughters of the same said nephew. including, Susannah Maria now Ives, wife of Reverend Reuben Ives.
    Sept. 14, 1789. Witnesses, “John Ritsen,” Lot Merkel, Merchant, W. Cock.

    Codicil 2nd . she has sold land, money to be put out at interest to be paid to ” my niece Sara Marshall, wife of my nephew John R. Marshall”
    Dated March 5, 1789. Witnesses Jn Cross Jr, Henery Ritter, Merchant, W. Cock

    Codicil 3rd. Sarah Mashall daughter of nephew, John R. Marchall is about to marry a person
    “I consider improper” names John Ritsen. unnuls bequest of land to said Sarah Marshall and gives the same to Sarah Marshall, widow of deceased nephew, John R. Marshall and her son Richard Burk Marshall in trust for the children of said nephew. ( excepting Sarah Marshall)
    If Sarah marries some other person or “John Ritsen shall depart this life” not having married Sarah Marshall, I revoke this codicil.”
    Dated April 30, 1792.Witness, Henry M. Van Solingen, physician, Peter De Sart, W. G. Wentwort.
    Proved Sept 29, 1792.

    I came across an interesting reference to Susannah Marshall:
    Children of Johannes Benners and Elizabeth De Windt were as follows:
    33. i. Susanna Johanna Benners Jansen (Rn=47397).
    She married before November 1777 Jasper Jansen (Rn=47398), a son of Daniel Jansen (Rn=47606) and Maria Uytendael Jansen/Heerlein (Rn=47607).
    Religion 1 - Reformed Dutch Church, Saint Thomas, West Indies.
    Religion 2 - Reformed Dutch Church, New York City in May 1774.

    Education 1 - Educated by Susannah Marshall in New York City.

    First Residence - Saint Thomas, West Indies.
    Second Residence - New York City.
    Source [The Genealogist: Spring 1985 Volume 6 Number 1 page 117]

    Leigh

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  8. Your final reference appears to be from the website "Early New Netherlands Settlers". I recognize the citation. Further, I have consulted "The Genealogist" and looked at the notes to the citation. A book you may want to look for is "The family of Edward Marshall, colonist, c. 1667-1975" by Frederic DuBois, published 1976. It appears to be available on microfilm from the Family History Centers, Film 1321489 Item 7. It is a short book but probably very hard to find.

    According to Hoff & Barta (The Genealogist, V6 No 1 p 116), in the entry for Elizabeth de Windt, Elizabeth married Pierre Joseph Panet, widower of Anna Maria Marshall, "whose aunts had befriended Johannes van Beverhoudt Claudizoon and his family". The reference there is to DuBois. So that is the connection.

    Hoff & Barta continue "Susanna Johanna, lived with and educated by Susannah Marshall in New York City" Ditto for Jacob Hendrick Schmaltz, listed as Johannes and Elizabeth (De Windt) Benners' son.

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  9. Dave,
    Thank you very much,
    Yes, you’re right it was from "Early New Netherlands Settlers”. I couldn’t find their home from where I entered the site.
    Just one more question.
    You have
    “for Elizabeth de Windt, Elizabeth married Pierre Joseph Panet, widower of Anna Maria Marshall”
    Who was the Anna Maria Marshall, that Pierre Joseph Panet, widower of?
    Leigh

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    Replies
    1. That wasn't in the article. If you have a Family History Center nearby, I'd try to get the microfilm I mentioned. It may have answers.

      Delete
  10. Dave,
    I was able to identify Anna Maria Marshall; she was d/o John Marshall, who was the brother of Susannah Marshall.
    Early New Netherlands Settlers.

    22. Elizabeth De Windt Benners/Panet/Bodkin (Rn=47395), who was born at Saint Thomas, West Indies and died after October 1791.

    She married first, before March 1753 Johannes Benners (Rn=47394…
    (Rn=47413) and married second, Johannes Panet (Rn=47396), who was born at Saint Thomas, West Indies and died before May 1779, a son of Pierre Joseph Panet

    West Indies Chancery, 1773-1786, Vol. 788, FHL #0426943, item 2
    21 May 1779 Johannes Panet & wife Elisabeth (DeWint) Panet, St. Thomas 12 Nov 1777.

    Early American paintings: catalogue of an exhibition held in the Museum of Brooklyn, 1917.

    UNKNOWN ARTIST
    138. Johannes Panet. This gentleman was married in 1779 [sic] to Anna Maria Marshall, the subject of the following portrait. The waist-coat worn by Mr. Panet still exists, and is now at Woodbury, Connecticut. This portrait is still in the possession of a descendant.
    On canvas: H 30 inches; W. 25 inches.

    UNKNOWN ARTIST
    139. Anna Maria Panet. Daughter of John Marshall, she was born in 1731 and married Johannes Panet in 1779[sic]. She died without issue. [d. May 19, 1764*] Her brother, John Rutgers Marshall was an Episcopal clergy of Woodbury, Connecticut, where this portrait and the preceding remained for more than 120 years. This portrait is still in the possession of a descendant
    On canvas: H. 30 inches; W. 25 inches.

    *History of Ancient Woodbury, Connecticut:
    Marshall Family

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  11. Thank you for all this. Do you have any information about Henry Biverowdt, a black slave from St. Croix, who is recorded in the Book of Negroes as being among those shipped out from New York to Canada by the British in 1783?

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  12. Is there a portrait of Lucas van Beverhoudt in a museum somewhere? I'd like it for my family tree. (Even though I am Maria deMalleville's descendant and not of the same bloodline.)

    Also, are the other spellings of "van Beverhoudt" all wrong? I searched until I found the right one, which I think is this one. My father put a different spelling on our tree.

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  13. I have an original deed of the first of may 1753 where a simon Johnson sold the exact premises mentioned in your text to Margaret van Beverhoudt. The deed is signed by Simon Johnson, witnesses to the deed Johannes Panet and Balthazar Kip.
    there is no registration signature by the authorities.
    best regards dirk rasschaert,belgium

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