GANESVOORT ANCESTORS

The Gansevoort surname was probably derived from the name of a town- Ganzfort, that is located at Westfalen, which is situated on the border of Germany and Holland. Lysbeth Gansevoort was born at Albany NY about 1681. Her brother, Leendert {Leonard} Gansevoort was born at Albany about 1682 and was baptized on 19 September 1683. Their father, Harmen Harmense Van Gansevoort came to Beverwyck, New Netherlands (New York) from Groningen, Holland, sometime before the spring of 1657, and maybe as early as 1655. There are no records of Harmen Gansevoort's birth date, his place of birth or the exact time of his arrival to America or to Beverwyck. It is believed that Harmen was born between 1635 and 1645. There are records of Gansevoorts, including a Harmanus Gansevoort from the Groningen area of the Netherlands, a few miles outside of Lippe in Westphalia.

After the English conquest of New Netherlands, in 1664, Beverwyck was renamed - Albany County. Beverwyck was founded on 14 April 1652 by Peter Stuyvesant for the emigrants from different cities, towns and villages in the Netherlands and from nearby northern Germany. Harmen Gansevoort and the other emigrants had served out the six years, as payment for their passage. In 1686, the English Governor issued the Dungan Charter, which gave the Albanians extensive tracts of land and a government elected by the inhabitants. Harmen Gansevoort had a brewery at the settlement of Bethlehem, south of the Normanskill River. In the early 1660's, Harmen left his brewery in Bethlehem to try his hand at farming, on a 44 acre site on the Catskill Creek, about 30 miles south of Albany.

Sometime before 1670, Harmen Gansevoort married Maritje (Maria) Leendertse Conyn, who was born at Beverwyck about 1650 to the brewer - Leendert Philipse Conyn and Angietje Casparse Stynmets. Harmen and Maria Gansevoort's first four children [Elsje in 1668, Agnietje about 1670, Maria and Anna before 1676] were born on the farm. Harmen sold this farm in 1678, and returned permanently to Albany to establish a brewery business. The DeWandelaer family had been residents of Albany since sometime before 1676. The Dewandelaers had two sons. Johanees DeWandelaer Jr. was born in 1676.

Between 1679 and 1693 Harmen and Maria Gansevoort had eight more children born at Albany: seven more girls and one boy. Lysbeth Gansevoort was born about 1681 and Leendert Ganesvoort was born about 1682. They may have been twins! At least they were very close. Now Catarine DeWandelaer was born in 1689. She was the youngest of the DeWandelaer eight children. More than likely the Gansevoort and DeWandelaer children were playmates.

Harmen Gansevoort took the Oath of Allegiance, at Albany, on 4 January 1699. Harmen Harmense was a Lutheran and his short temper was notorious, especially when he was intoxicated. Harmen became an Albany Lutheran leader and fought the pressures of Calvanism (Dutch Reform Church). Harmen Gansevoort died on 23 July 1710 and was buried at his Lutheran church on South Pearl Street, where a market was later built. Maria was buried 7 January 1743.

Lysbeth Gansevoort married at Albany on 6 April 1701 to Johannes DeWandelaer. They moved from Albany, about 1719, to the Schaghticoke Tract and became tenant farmers. Johannes died there, and they had at least ten children, including our ancestor- Pieter DeWandelaer

On 11 May 1712, Leendert Gansevoort married at Albany to Caterine DeWandelaer. After his father's, Leendert bought out the shares of the brewery from his seven surviving sisters. He further increased his wealth by operating the brewery, and by investing the proceeds into mortgages on City properties and developed farms. The brewery prospered because of the expanding population in the area(10,000 by 1737), that included some of the Palatine Germans brought to Albany, by Robert Livingston, in 1710.

Leendert Gansevoort was listed as a freeholder, of the 3rd Ward of Albany, in 1720. He was a Constable in 1710, a Fire master in 1715, and was elected Alderman of the 3rd Ward of Albany in 1734. He was permitted to share in the Cherry Valley Patent, in 1736. Leendert died on 30 November 1763,and Catarina died at Albany on 16 August 1767. They had ten children, who were all born at Albany: Harmen was born 20 July 1712, and baptized on 20 April 1713.  Hendrick was baptized on 19 August 1716, and died in 1746.  John was born in 1717, and died young.  Sarah was baptized on 28 December 1718, and died in 1731. Johannes was born 3 April 1719, and was baptized 7 April 1721.   Maria was baptized 9 June 1723, and was buried on 3 October 1739.  Pieter Gansevoort - our ancestor was baptized in 1725, see below: Elsje was baptized on 17 September 1727, and  Agniette was baptized on 4 February 1730, and died on 30 December 1731. Last was an unknown child.

Dr. Pieter Gansevoort was baptized, at Albany, on 25 July 1725. He was a classical scholar, studied medicine at Boston and became a physician. He married, at Albany, on 7 January 1752 to Gerritje Ten Eyck, who was born, at Albany, on 18 July 1728 (or 19 August) to Conraet Ten Eyck and Geertje Van Schaick (see Ten Eyck ). Pieter died at Albany on 19 March 1809, and Gerritje died there on 31 July 1782. Some of Dr. Pieter Gansevoort's grandchildren moved to the town of Bath, in Steuben County. Pieter and Gerritje had at least eleven children, who were all born at Albany:  Maria was born on 3 December 1752, and Coenard was baptized on 14 July 1754 Gertrude Ganesvoort, our ancestor, was baptized in 1757, Catarina was baptized on 18 March 1759, and Coenraad was baptized on 15 March 1761. Elsie was baptized on 12 October 1762, and died young. Another child, named Elsie. was baptized on 18 August 1764.  Anna was baptized 13 March 1766,  Leendert was baptized. on 12 March 1768, and Hendrick was baptized on 27 June 1770. Margarita was baptized on 27 June  1770.

Gertrude Gansevoort was born at Albany, and was baptized there on 8 April 1757. She married, at Albany on 14 May 1777, to Johannes Gansevoort DeWandelaer, who was born at Albany and baptized there on 25 April 1756 by Dr Pieter DeWandelaer and Anna Bogardus (see DeWandelaer Ancestors). Gertrude's grandmother was the sister of Johannes' grandfather! Johannes DeWandelaer was an enlisted man in the Albany County Militia, during the Revolutionary War. After the war, they moved to Palatine, New York, where they purchased a 600 acre farm. Johannes died at the farm on 17 August 1824 and Gertrude died there on 29 June 1844. They had nine children, including our ancestor - Gansevoort P. DeWandelaer, who married about 1825 to Delia Getman.  By 1771, the Albany County population had grown to 43,000. In the 1780's, the agriculture areas in Albany County were, one by one, set off as separate counties, until Albany only included the City and the West District of Rensselaerswyck. Albany City eventually lost its administrative domination over the entire upper Hudson Valley, but became the capitol of New York in 1797.

Pieter Gansevoort died at Albany on 19 March 1809, and Gerritje died there on 31 July 1782. Some of Dr. Pieter Gansevoort's grandchildren moved to the town of Bath, in Steuben County.

Gertrude Gansevoort was born at Albany, and was baptized there on 8 April 1757. She married, at Albany on 14 May 1777, to Johannes Gansevoort DeWandelaer, who was born at Albany and baptized there on 25 April 1756 by Pieter DeWandelaer and Anna Bogardus.

Coenradt Ten Eycks was born on 9 April 1678 in Albany. His parents were Jacob and Geertury (Coeyman) Ten Eycks. Coenradt was named after his grandfather. Jacob Coenreat Ten Eyck was born about 1647 at Amsterdam, Holland. The Ten Eyck surname is a contraction of den Eyck' which means `at the Oak' and probably means near the city of Amsterdam, Holland. About 1645 Jacob Ten Eyck and his parents emigrated from Amsterdam, Holland to New Amsterdam N.Y. Coenraet's grandfather was a Lance Corporal in the Burgher Guard in 1653,a Schepan in 1657 and was a Lance Corporal in 1664, when he swore allegiance to the British King.

Coenradt Ten Eycks' grandfather was a tanner, a shoemaker, and bought/sold real estate and became a very prosperous merchant. He was a member of the Reformed Dutch Church and at various times was an Elder and a Deacon there. Jacob TenEyck had eight younger brothers/sisters, who were all born at New Amsterdam and baptized in the Collegiate Dutch Church.

In 1675 Jacob TenEyck went to Fort Orange ( now Albany) where he conducted a tannery and shoe business where he married about 1676 to Geertury Coeymans. Jacob became a Deacon of the First Dutch of Albany.

Coenradt Ten Eycks' mother, Geertury Coeymans, was the youngest child of Barent Pieterse. Barent Pieterse Coeyman was born about 1615/1620 and came to America in 1636 aboard the "Herring" with his parents and three brothers. Uncle Nick says also ` Pieterse Coeymans came to New Amsterdam (or New York City) from Utrecht, Holland, aboard the ship "Rensselaerswyck" on 8 October 1636. He brought his wife and four sons with him.' Maybe "Rensselaerswyck" is Dutch for the "Herring"! Anyway the Coeyman family settled at New Amsterdam NY. Barent was a miller and came to Beverwyck to be in charge of Patroon Van Renseelaer's grist mills for about four years.

After 1645 Barent Coeyman ran his own business, a saw mill and several rented farms at various locations. Was Teunis Ver Der Pool one of his or his father's partners in various businesses? Barent Coeyman married the daughter of Andries De Vos and they had six children. Their first child was Geertrury born on 23 April 1654. Geertury (Coeyman) Ten Eycks' father, Barent Coeyman, purchased a tract of land from the Kaatskill Indians in 1683. The land was 12 to 15 miles south of Albany with ten miles of river frontage on the west side of the Hudson River. The area became known as `Coeymans'.

In 1676 Geertrury Coeyman married Jacob Coenraet Ten Eyck. Jacob and Geertury (Coeyman) Ten Eycks had six children, who were all born in Albany and baptized at the First Dutch Church.

Coenradt Ten Eycks was born on 9 April 1678 and became a prominent citizen of Albany. On 24 September 1704, he married Geertje Van Schaick. Coenradt and Geertje had ten children. Their first child was born in 1705; their tenth child, Gerritje TenEvck, was born on 19 August 1728. Gerritje Ten Eyck will marry Dr. Pieter Gansevoort in January 1752.

Geeritje TenEyck was the youngest of ten children born to Geertje (Van Schaick) and Coenradt Ten Eycks. Her oldest brother was 23 years older than she was. Her father, Coenradt Ten Eycks, was a prominent citizen of Albany. He was fifty years old when Geeritje was born.

Geeritje TenEyck's maternal, great-grandfather was  Goosen Gerritsz Van Schaick, born in 1627. His father died that same year and his mother married again to Reyer Eldertsz. Goosen Gerritsz VanSchaick came to America with his mother and step-father. They emigrated from Texel, a seaport of Amsterdam, Holland aboard the "Rensselearswyck". Did they know the TenEyck family back in Holland? They arrived at New Amsterdam on 4 March 1637 after sailing for five months in winter weather. The family first settled at Fort Orange (later to be called Beverwyck, then Albany). In 1648 Goosen Van Schaick became a magistrate of Beverwyck, a position he held until 1664.

Goosen first married in 1649 to Gertrude Brandt Peelen Van Nieukerke. Their first child, Geertje, was born in 1649. Next came a son, Gerrit G. born in 1650 in Albany. Gerrit married Alida Van Schlictenhorst who was born at Fort Orange about 1660. After Gerrit died in 1679, Alida remarried our Herkimer ancestor, Pieter Davidse Schuyler.

Goosen VanSchaick and his partner, Rutger Jacobez, operated a brewery at Beverwyck which was `tapped' in 1650. Goosen was also acting as the Indian Commissioner at New Amsterdam. On 23 April 1652, Goosen received a patent for land at Beverwyck.

Another son, Sybrant G. VanSchaick, was born in Albany in 1653. Sybrant will marry Elizabeth Van Der Pool. Two years later, Anthony Goosense Van Schaick was born in Albany. Goosen's wife, Gertrude, died in 1656, after bearing him four children. Goosen married again in July 1657 to Annatje Lievense. Goosen and Annatje had eight children of their own between 1657 and 1668.

Goosen VanSchaick secured about 66 more acres on 16 April 1663, in an area known as Espous. On 11 September 1665 Goosen became a joint owner, with Philip Pieterse Van Schuyler, of a tract of land located in the present village of Waterford, as well as some of the islands in the mouth of the Mohawk River where it joins the Hudson River. This patent was then called "Half Moon" or Van Schaick Patent". It is now known as Cohoes Islands. The Indians called these islands "Nachte Nack", while the Dutch called them "Half Moon". This land was granted to Van Schaick and Schuyler by the Indian Chiefs, with the permission of Governor Nicholas. On 12 July 1674, Philip Schuyler gave his interest in this land to Goosen; in turn Goosen deeded the land to his second wife, Annatje.

In 1675, Goosen VanSchaick and Pieter Lansing purchased a brewery in Albany. In addition to being brewer and a dealer in lands, Goosen was a farmer, tanner and an Indian trader. He was a lieutenant of the Troops at Fort Orange in 1670 and a Captain in 1676. Goosen became a prominent burgher of Albany. He died in 1676. Upon Goosen's death, Annatje sold the land at Waterford, called "Half Moon" or "Van Schaick Patent" or "Cohoes Islands", to her step son, Anthony Van Schaick. Annatje went to live with her daughter, Margareta, and died some time in 1702.

Gerritje TenEyck's maternal grandfather, Anthony Goosense Van Schaick, married Maria (Mary) Van der Pool, daughter of Teunis Cornelisz Van der Pool and Catrina Janes Croon. Anthony was a trader and a merchant and lived on Langh Island which is now known as Choes Island, near Half Moon. Anthony also owned a farm on the east side of the Hudson River, called Steen Raby. Steen Raby is also known as Stone Arabia. Anthony Van Schaick was deacon of the Dutch Reformed Church of Albany.

Anthony and Maria Van Schaick had eight children. Their first child, Anthony, was born in 1682. Gerritje Van Schaick was born in 1687. Catherina was born in 1690. Goosen was born in 1696, Sybrant in 1700 and Anna Margarita in 1702. Two other children born in 1684 and 1694 died young. Anthony Van Schaick died at Albany and was buried there on 4 February 1737.

Gerritje TenEyck's mother, Gerritje Van Schaick, married Coenradt Ten Eyck in 1704. Catherina will marry Samuel Coeyman in 1724. Sybrant will marry Jannetje Bogaert in 1733. Goosen will marry, for the second time, Debra Van Schaick in 1734. This shows the close relationship of our ancestral families. Don't try to follow it all; the important one is Gerritje Van Schaick marries Coenradt Ten Eyck.

Now, Geeritje TenEyck was born on 19 August 1728. She was the youngest of ten children born to Geertje (Van Schaick) and Coenradt Ten Eycks. Her oldest brother was 23 years older than she was. Her father, Coenradt Ten Eycks, was a prominent citizen of Albany. He was fifty years old when Geeritje was born.

On 7 January 1752 Gerritje Ten Eyck married Dr. Pieter Gansevoort at Albany. They had nine children; two children died as babies and the last two were twins, Hendrick and Margarita, born in June 1770. Gerritje (Gertrude) Gansevoort was born in April of 1757.