Andries DeWitt

MVDW 2
TGE 2. i. Family 2.
1657 - July 22, 1710
Born in Manhattan, New York [?]
Buried in Kingston, New York

Jennetje Egbertsen

January 11, 1664 - November 23, 1733
Birthplace

(Captain) Tjerck DeWitt

MVDW 15
TGE 15. i. Family 12.
23 January 1683 (per family Bible) - 30 August 1762
[birthplace probably Marbletown, New York]
baptized Tirck 22 January 1683 [Anjou and TGE say 12 Jan]
parents: Andries de With and Jannetie Egbertz
witnesses: Tirck Claasz de Wit [father’s father], Mathys Matysz [husband of father’s sister]
baptized in Kingston
buried at Old Dutch Church in Kingston, New York
His son Henry, in the family Bible, refers to him as Captain Tjerck DeWitt
from the family Bible:
1762 August 30th in the morning about six o’clock, Tijerck Dewitt departed this life and on the 31 ditto was buried in the churchyard of Kingston at the east side a long stone lettered ADW, at the age of 79 years, 7 months, and 7 days.

Ann Pawling

Married 19 June 1708 & Place
DeWitt family Bible, in Tjerck’s hand, says they married 18 June 1708
Old Dutch Church in Kingston has no records from any marriages in 1708 or 1710, and only one in 1709, performed by an unknown pastor. The congregation was struggling with keeping the church staffed.
she was baptized June or July 1687 - died presumably after 1728, before 1739
baptism is recorded by a church elder, between 19 June and 23 July 1687
parents: Hendrick Paelingh, Neltyen Roosa
witnesses: Marya Roese, Mattys ten Eick
DeWitt family Bible says she was born 14 May 1687
daughter of Henry Pawling and Neeltje Roosa
Birthplace (baptism record is in Old Dutch Church, Kingston, New York)
Ann (Anna) Pawling’s death is recorded in the family Bible, but the date is not legible. Note in Bible, written probably by Tjerck, says she was born 14 May 1687.
Tjerck’s aunt Aaggie (MVDW 14, his father’s youngest sister) marries Jan Pawling, a brother of Ann Pawling.

I have not researched it, but I have seen that her family had the Pawling Patent in present-day Dutchess County (New York), including the site of today’s Staatsburg. (See text of his will, below.) Her son Petrus, at least, ended up living in Dutchess County, where he is buried, across the Hudson from Kingston. See further notes on his page. Also see this page about Dutchess County landholding history.

Deborah Schoonmaker

Married 17 October 1739 (per DeWitt family Bible) as recorded in Old Dutch Church, Kingston, New York (U.S.A.)
(Tjerk de Wit, a widower, and Deborah Vroom, a widow, both residing “under the jurisdiction of Kingstown.” Deborah Schoonmaaker, widow of Jacob Vernoy, residing in Kingston, on 30 September 1723 married Hendrik Vroom, his first marriage.)
(The family Bible records this as October 17, in Tjerck’s handwriting.)

baptized 14 September 1684 - [death date]
parents: Egbert Hendricz, Anna Berry
witnesses: Paulus Berry, Elsie Jans
Birthplace (baptism record is in Old Dutch Church, Kingston, New York)
daughter of Egbert Hendrickse Schoonmaker and Annatje Berry
widow of Jacob Vernooy
widow of Hendrick Vroom

Andries DeWitt (1)

MVDW 97
TGE 88. i.
baptized 7 May 1710 - 23 July 1711
family Bible says Andries was born 7 a.m. 26 September 1709, died 23 July 1711:
“My first son Andries departed this life about an hour before daybreak and was buried on the 25 ditto in the churchyard of Kingston next to his grandfather Andries DeWitt by a stone lettered ADW on the northwest corner of the churchyard on the right side because there was no room on the other side.”
Birthplace
Baptized Old Dutch Church, Kingston, New York, 7 May 1710
parents: Tjerk de Wit, Anna Paling
witnesses: Andries de Wit, Jannetje Egtberts
(No baptisms were recorded in Kingston church between 18 September 1709 and 7 May 1710. Domine Gualterus du Bois, of New York, apparently came to town in September 1709 and in two weekends baptized all the children born since the previous October in two weekends, then left again. The same minister came back the following spring, again baptized all the children born since his last visit, and then departed, to return again that November and go through the same routine.)

Neeltje DeWitt

MVDW 98
TGE 89. ii.
baptized 22 April 1711 - [death date]
(family Bible says born 4 April, Wednesday, 9 a.m.)
parents: Tyerk de Wit, Anna Paling
witnesses: Jan Paling, Neeltjen Rosa
Birthplace
5 September 1734 married Wessel Jacobsz Ten Broek
“both parties born and resid. under the jurisdiction of Kingstown”
per Evans, p. 11, “Soon after his marriage Wessel Ten Broek removed to Harlingen, Somerset County, N. J. where he died in 1747.”
married Samuel Stout date and location
burial location

Henry DeWitt

MVDW 99
TGE 90. iii. Family 35.
baptized 24 January 1714 - 17 September 1753
(family Bible says he was born 14 January; one entry says in 1717, another in 1714. Time was 8 p.m.)
parents: Tjerk de Wit, Anna Paling
witnesses: Hendrik Paling (probable namesake), Jacomyntjen Kunst
birthplace
10 November 1738 married Maria Ten Broeck (see family Bible record)
“Henry de Wit, j.m., and Mareitje ten Broek, both resid. under the jurisdiction of Kingston. Married on the presentation of a license of Lieut.-Gov. George Clarke.”
presumably named for his mother’s father, Henry Pawling, present at baptism

Worth observing: Henry died in September 1753; in December that year his father sat down and wrote out a will. Typically in those days, a person would write a will only when death seemed imminent. Was Captain Tjerck simply reminded of his mortality when his son died, 39 years old, or was Captain Tjerck, 70 years old, also fearful that he too might die soon? Tjerck lived another nine years before his will was probated.

burial location

Johannes DeWitt

MVDW 100
TGE 91. iv.
baptized 18 August 1717 - 30 May 1749
(family Bible says born 13 August 1722, 12:00 on Monday)
parents: ’t Jerk de Wit, Anna Paling
witnesses: Thomas Mathysz, Maria Paling
Birthplace
marriage record not found. In his will he leaves property to his father and to nieces and nephews
from notes in the family Bible:
John DWitt, son of Tijerck Dewitt and Anna Dewitt, departed this life in 1749 on 30 May, a Tuesday, before noon at about 10 o’clock in Barmud[a] [Bermuda] at the age of 31 years, 9 months, and 16 days.
John spent probably ca. 1743-1749 in Kingston, Jamaica, in correspondence with and contact with various Livingstons from the Hudson River community; he died in Bermuda in 1749, and it was Henry Livingston in Jamaica who forwarded his will to his father, Tjerck DeWitt, still living in Kingston, New York. John is witness to the baptism of his nephew John (son of Tjerck) in Kingston [NY] in 1745, so he probably goes back and forth on different voyages.

Evans, p. 11, says Johannes died 30 October 1749, but this does not match the documentary record.

Petrus DeWitt (Captain Peter DeWitt)

MVDW 101
TGE 92. v. Family 36.
baptized 15 July 1722 - 3 January 1790
(family Bible says born 9 July 1723/4, Monday about 2 p.m. Note that Old Style/New Style dates really apply only January-March; after that, the calendar years are the same in both styles.)
parents: Tjerck de Wit, Anna Paling
witnesses: David de Wit, Maria de Wit
Birthplace
8 June 1749 married Rachel Radcliff (1724-1794)
“Peter de Wit, of ‘Mannor Livingston’ [Livingston Manor], in the Co. of Albanie [Albany], merchant, and Rachel Radelift, j.d., resid. in the same place.”
See notes on Petrus’s page about Livingston Manor today vs. Livingston Manor then.
Rachel Radcliff, according to Find-a-Grave, is daughter of Benick Joachim Radcliff and Hillitje Hogeboom, daughter of Pieter Meus Hogeboom and Jannetje Muller. Her sister Jannetje Radcliff married Eggo Tonckens van Hoevenberg, first dominie of the Rhinebeck Dutch Reformed Church.
from the family Bible:
1790 January 3 in the evening at about 10 o’clock, Petrus Dewitt departed this life, at the age of 67 years, 3 months
See Find-a-Grave record of his burial in Rhinebeck Cemetery, Dutchess County, NY (across the river from Kingston)
See WikiTree page on him, listing descendants: John Radcliffe DeWitt (1752-1808), Hillitje DeWitt (1753-1807), and Ann DeWitt Bevier (1762-1835). (Sources listed on WikiTree page. The extensive Find-a-Grave record on John says he ran a mill in Dutchess County; this possibly was run by Johannes, son of Charles DeWitt, a cousin.)
Probably (?) this is the Peter DeWitt to whom Robert Livingston, Jr., addresses a letter 29 July 1749 regarding various estate affairs, including importation of slaves from Guinea, cited in the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History’s page on the Middle Passage. Note that Peter’s brother John spent probably ca. 1740-1749 in Kingston, Jamaica, in correspondence with and contact with other Livingstons from the Hudson River community; he died there in 1749, and it was Henry Livingston who forwarded his will to his father, Tjerck DeWitt.

Evans (p. 7) describes Petrus as “the grandfather of Peter DeWitt [MVDW 536], an eminent New York lawyer in the early part of” the 1800s. See more on the page of Captain Peter’s son John MVDW 278. Evans, p. 11, says Petrus “Resided at Hyde Park, Dutchess County, N. Y.”

(Col.) Andries T. DeWitt (2)

MVDW 102
TGE 93. vi.
baptized 3 March 1728 - 9 June 1806
(family Bible says born 24 February 1726, about 11 a.m.)
parents: Tjerk de Wit, Anna Paling
witnesses: Albert Paling, Catrina Beekman
17 December 1757 married Rachel Du Bois
from family Bible: On the 17th of December in 1757 I, Andries T. DWitt was married to Rachel DuBois, I being at the age of 29 years, 9 months, and 17 days, my bride at the age of 20 years, 11 months, and 12 days.
“Andries de Wit, j.m., and Rachel du Bois, j.d., both parties born and resid. in Ulster Co.”
Children listed in family Bible: Neeltje, born 16 June 1759; Tijerck, born 20 May 1762; Isaac, 5 May 1769.
Grandchildren (from Bible, all children of Neeltje and Petrus Elmendorph, Jr., who married 6 February 1783): Andries, 14 January 1787; Lena, 23 October 1789; Rachel, 5 October 1796.
from family Bible: 1806 June 9 at 11 o’clock in the evening my father Andries DeWitt departed this life and on 10 ditto was buried on the northwest corner of the churchyard of Kingston and on the southeast side of grandfather Andries DeWitt next to a long stone lettered ADW—being 80 years, 3 months, and 16 days old.

Notes

29 December 1753 Will of Captain Tjerck DeWitt

The transcription below is from the New York Heritage Digital Collections copy of Captain Tjerck DeWitt’s will, in the Historic Huguenot Street collection, specifically from the Philip Dubois Bevier Family Papers. (Captain Tjerck’s daughter Ann married Philip D. Bevier; a half-dozen densely informative documents from that branch of the family, from, from 1753-1823, are collected in the HHS site, excerpted from a larger trove of Bevier family documents spanning 1685-1910.) Each of the subcollections linked above is worthy of patient exploration; a lot of rich material is here.

I have added punctuation for clarity, broken up one long stream of sentences into paragraphs (hi, Jack Kerouac), and used a relaxed approach to reproducing capitalization. Spelling in the original is nearly identical to what would be used in 2022; I have marked a few irregularities. This document appears to be a handwritten legal copy, not an original. It is quite legible in most places.

The first page of this copy has a marginal note, written in pencil, incorrect in several places, correct in others: “This Tjerck De Witt is the son of Tjerck Claace De Witt, who was one of the first by that name in this country and was a brother of Andries DeWitt. This will is recorded in the Surrogates’ Office in the City of New York Lib 24 Page 517 dated December 29th 1753. Tjerck DeWitt died Aug 30th 1762 aged 79 years. Buried in Church yard (east side) of Kingston.

Archive.org has all but one of the volumes of abstracted wills from the City of New York published in the early 1900s by the New-York Historical Society. The abstract of Captain Tjerck’s will is in Vol. VI, wills filed in 1760-1766, on pages 196-197. The abstract converts “Tjerck” to “Dirck,” so anyone scanning the index might not realize this will is here. Also, even when the abstract encloses phrasing in quotation marks, it does not match the text of the original.

In the name of God amen. The Twenty-Ninth day of December Annoque Domini One Thousand Seven hundred and Fifty Three.

I, Tjerck De Wit of the Corporation of Kingston in the County of Ulster and Province of New York, being in good health of body and of a sound and perfect memory and understanding (blessed be the name of the Lord), calling to mind that it is ordained for all flesh once to die, and being desirous to settle [all] things in order, do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say):

First and principally I commit my immortal soul in the protection of God Almighty hopeing and trusting through the meritorious death and passion of my Soul Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to receive full pardon and remission of all my sins; and my body to the earth and a Christian like and desant [probably “decent,” but could be alternately read as “devout”] burial, as to my executors shall seem meet.

And concerning such temporal estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with (far above my deserts), I give, bequeath, order, and devise the same in manner and form following (that is to say):

I give and bequeath unto my six grandchildren, the children of my son Henry, deceased, (to wit) unto Tjerck Claesen, Jacob, John, Henry, Elizabeth, and Hannah, the two bonds I have of my son Henry, their father, deceased, each bond being one hundred pounds New York currency, to be equally divided amongst my above-named six grandchildren, share and share alike. And this is all I leave unto my above named six grandchildren. I have already given my son Henry and their father in his lifetime his share and proportion of my estate.

Also I give, devise, and bequeath unto my son Petrus all that parcel of land unto me belonging, scituate [situated], lying, and being in Dutches [sic] County in the province of New York in a certain tract of land commonly called and known by the name of Pawlings Purchase (alias) Staatsburgh as the same is conveyed to me by sundry conveyances, together with all buildings, houses, barns, barracks, orchards, gardens, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever unto the several lotts [sic] within the said tract unto me belonging, to have and to hold the several lotts or parcels of land within said tract unto my son Petrus, his heirs and assignes [sic] to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of my said son Petrus, his heirs and assignes forever.

Also I give, devise, and bequeath unto my son Andries all and singular my farm whereon I now live, scituate, lying, and being within the Corporation of Kingston on both sides of the Esopus Creek (that is to say) all my land which I have not already conveyed unto my son Henry, as also I give, devise, and bequeath unto my said son Andries the road that leads to and over the high bridge on both sides of the Esopus Creek with the same Previledges [sic] as I have reserved and accepted [?—could be excepted or something else] by said deed of conveyance to my said son Henry, together with all buildings, houses, barns, barracks, orchards, gardens, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever unto the said several pieces or parcels of land belonging, to have and to hold the said farm, lands, and roads, hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto my said son Andries, his heirs and assigns to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of my said son Andries, his heirs and assigns forever.

In trust, nevertheless, and it is my will and desire that my well-beloved wife Deborah is to live and remain in the now dwelling house of mine with my said son Andries and to be maintained by him during her natural life out of my estate, to him by me above bequeathed and devised, but in case my said wife doth not chuse [sic] to live and remain in the house with my said son Andries and will go elsewhere that then and in such case it is my will and desire that my said son Andries, his heirs and assignes shall yearly and every year well and truely [sic] pay or cause to be paid unto my said wife Deborah during her natural lifetime out of my aforesaid farm whereon I live and hereabove devesed [sic (devised)] and bequeathed unto my said son Andries the sum of Six Pounds current money of New York and I do hereby will and bequeath this to her for her maintenance with what I shall hereafter give and bequeath unto her to be in lieu of her dower and I do hereby make that part of my estate hereinbefore devised to my said son Andries chargeable with the maintenance of my said wife Deborah or the payment of the sum of Six Pounds yearly and every year during her natural lifetime, so as the same is above ordered and directed.

Also I give and bequeath unto my said son Andries all my Negroe [sic] slaves of male and female and also all my horses, black cattle, sheep, hoggs [sic], fowls, and also all my waggons [sic], slees [sic—sleighs?], ploughs, harrows, and all my other farmers utensills [sic] unto me belonging, and also all my household goods and furniture, and also all my other personal estate herein not particularly given and bequeathed to any other in this my last will and testament what I may or shall leave at the time of my decease.

And further I also give and bequeath unto my said son Andries and his heirs the rent or acknowledgment of rents of three Dunghill fowls, to be paid unto him or his heirs yearly and every year by the heirs or assignes of Gerret Aartsen Van Wagenen, deceased, for an acknowledgment of rent for a lot of land formerly conveyed by Tjerck Claesen Dewit deceased [Captain Tjerck’s grandfather] to the said Gerret Aartsen Van Wagenen, deceased. [In other words: The three Dunghill fowls, a.k.a. chickens, are given to the DeWitt family every year as a kind of quitrent for the land occupied by the Van Wagenens.]

And also I give and bequeath unto my said son Andries all my crop of grain now by me in my house, barn, barrick or in the mill and also all my crop of wheat, rye, or other grain now growing on my land and therewith pay my funeral charges and all my just and honest debts, and if my said crops of grain should fall short to pay and discharge my funeral charges, and my just and honest debts, then I do hereby order and direct that my said son Andries shall pay the same out of my other personal estate to him by me given and bequeathed.

And also I will and bequeath unto my said wife Deborah all such household goods and furniture she had and brought with her at the time I marryed [sic] to her, to be for her use and disposal.

Also I will and bequeath unto my said wife during her natural lifetime my negro wench named Diane, and after my said wife’s decease if the negroe wench is still living she shall than [sic] again descend to my son Andries, his executors, administrators or assignes, and to his or their proper use, benefit, and behoof forever.

And I give and bequeath unto my daughter Neeltje, the wife of Samuel Stout, the sum of Ten Pounds New York money to be paid unto her by my executors hereafter named in this my last will and testament, out of the legacy which is bequeathed unto me by the last will and testament of my son John DeWit, deceased, if my said executors receives [sic] any part thereof for I do order it to be paid out of said legacy and not otherwise.

And also I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Ann, the wife of Richard Stout [identity not yet clear: Captain Tjerck had granddaughter Annatje ten Broeck, born ???, and granddaughter Anne DeWitt who married Peter Bogardus 1775. Granddaughter Ann DeWitt who married Philip Bevier was not born until 1762. This also could be a granddaughter of wife Deborah from an earlier marriage. Needs further check against church and other records], the sum of Ten Pounds New York currency to be paid to her or her respective heirs by my executors hereinafter named as aforesaid out of the legacy to me bequeathed by my son John DeWit, deceased, if my said executors receives any part of said legacy and not otherwise as abovesaid.

And also I give and bequeath unto my three grandchildren, the children of Wessell Jacobsen Ten Broeck by my daughter Neeltje, by names of Jacob, Tjerck, and Elizabeth [this omits Wessel, Johannes, and Annatje], the sum of two hundred pounds New York currency—that is, to each of them the sum of sixty-six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence New York money as afforesaid [sic] to be paid unto them, their respective executors, administrators, or assignes by my executors hereinafter named out of the moneys they shall or may receive out of a legacy left me by my son John DeWit, deceased, which money above given and bequeathed unto my grandchildren is to come out of the abovesaid legacey [sic] if my said executors receives the same and not otherwise.

And if my executors doth not receive the above sum of two hundred and twenty pounds of said legacey left to me, then they shall only pay so much in part as they or any one of them have received, and then it is to be shared amongst them in like proportion as I have given and bequeathed the same unto them, my daughter Neeltje and her children. And further it is my will and order that my executors hereinafter named shall receive all the moneys due or to become due to me from the estate of my son John DeWit, deceased, as he bequeathed the same to me by his last will and testament, and when my executors have received the said legacy or any part thereof, it is my will and order that they shall pay the same as is above ordered and directed.

And if there should still remain in the hands of my executors a surplush [sic] over and above what I have above given and bequeathed unto my Neeltje and her children, I do give and bequeath the same as followeth: one

Any further pages are missing, including the final page showing signatures of Captain Tjerck and any witnesses.

[Seal] Robert Monckton, Esquire, Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Province of New York and the territories depending thereon in America, Vice Admiral of the same and Major General of His Majesty’s forces:

To all to whom these presents shall come or may concern, greeting!

Know ye, that at Ulster County on the twenty-third day of October last, before Petrus Edmundus Elmendorph, Esquire, thereunto delegated and appointed, the last will and testament of Tjerck DeWitt, deceased (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed), was proved, and is now approved, and allowed of by me, the said deceased having whilst he lived, and at the time of his death, goods, chattels, and credits within this province, by means whereof the proving and registring the said will, and the granting administration of all and singular the said goo[ds], chattels, and credit, and also the auditing, allowing, and for[??] discharging the account thereof doth belong unto me, and that administration of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased and any way concerning his will is granted unto Petrus DeWitt and Andries DeWitt, the executors in the said will named, being first duely [sic] sworn well and faithfully to administer the same, and to make and exhibet [sic] a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods, chattels, and credits, and also to render a just and true account thereof when thereunto required. In testimony whereof I have caused the prerogative seal of the Province of New York to be thereunto affixed at the city of New York, the second day of December, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-two

Pix

Sources

Information is from Mary Veldran DeWitt’s “The DeWitt Genealogy: Descendants of Tjereck Claessen DeWitt of Ulster County, New York.”

Further notes from Andries and Jannetje DeWitt Bible (not available in print, but see photos at link above and on Andries’ page), courtesy of the Matthew Ten Eyck DeWitt Family Collection.

Baptismal and Marriage Registers of the Old Dutch Church of Kingston, Ulster County, New York (formerly named Wiltwyck, and often familiarly called Esopus or ’Sopus), for One Hundred and Fifty Years from their commencement in 1660. Transcribed and edited by Roswell Randall Hoes, Chaplain U.S.N., corresponding secretary of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, etc. New York 1891; available today from Higginson Book Co., Salem, Mass., 508-745-7170. Detailed information about baptisms has been filled in through the end of 1687, marriages through 1701. More information is available. Records begin 1660. Other baptisms may have taken place in Hurley and other locations nearby; also from time to time itinerant ministers would travel through and perform various rites, not always entered in the books. This is available online at archive.org.

Thomas Grier Evans, The De Witt Family of Ulster County, New York (reprinted from the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, October 1886), New York: Trow’s Printing and Bookbinding Co., 201-213 East Twelfth Street, 1886. Available online from archive.org. Evans’s work, reprinted in 1886 up to the point where it left off in Volume XVIII of the Record, was continued in 1890 (Volume XXI, No. 4, pp. 185-190) with additional names and family numbering. The reprinted portion includes names of descendants to the fourth generation; the extension shows their descendants, the fifth generation, with considerable further biographical information on some. This later addition to Evans’s work (he also published details on other families that intermarried with DeWitts in Ulster County, including Crispells, Bruyns, and others) extended into Volume XXII (January 1891, pp. 3-6). (I include here links to some publicly available copies of the individual issue and articles from the Record, but a better way to get access to it and a wealth of other genealogical resources, in addition to supporting genealogical research in general, is to join the NYGBS itself.)

Ulster County, N. Y., Probate Records, In the Office of the Surrogate, and in the County Clerk’s Office at Kingston, N. Y., compiled, abstracted and translation by Gustave Anjou, Ph. D., 1906. Privately published (?) in New York, but available at genealogical libraries (NYPL and others). Subtitle: “A careful abstract and translation of the Dutch and English wills, letters of administration after intestates, and inventories from 1665, with genealogical and historical notes, and list of Dutch and Frisian baptismal names with their English equivalents.” Introduction by Judge A[lphonso] T[rumpbour] Clearwater, LL.D. This is available in reprinted form. Note that there are two distinct volumes included in this work, sometimes combined into one physical book.

Abstracts of Wills on File in the Surrogate’s Office, City of New York, Vol. VI (1760-1766), New-York Historial Society, 1898 (from the Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1897). Vol. VI is available on Archive.org.

Last Modified: Monday, July 10, 2023

Send E-mail about this site

Back to MrJumbo's genealogy home page