 1612 - 1655
-
| Name |
Cors Pietersen |
| Born |
19 Oct 1612 |
Langeraar, Nieuwkoop, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
1655 |
New Amsterdam, New Netherlands |
| Notes |
- The first authentic record of Cors Pietersen and his wife, Tryntje Hendrickse, occurs under date of June 10, 1638, when we find Cors entered suit against Adam Roelantsen, the first school-master of New Amsterdam, to recover Tryntje's interest in the estate of her deceased mother, Elsje Martense, who after the death of Tryntje's father had become Adam Roelantsen's first wife. Cors Pietersen, the progenitor of the Staten Island-Pennsylvania branch of the Corson families in America, was born at Langeraer, Holland, in the year 1612. Langeraer is a small hamlet, situated about six miles east of Leyden, on a small canalized river, known as the Aar. Langer means longer. At present Langeraer has about 850 inhabitants. It also borders a small beautiful lake called "Westplas." A reproduction of several camera snapshots of this old village, that were taken for the compiler by a friend, Mr. Simka Zijlstra of Rotterdam, is shown on the following page.
PROOF OF AGE
New York Colonial Manuscripts (O'Catlaghan Translations), Vol. 1, p. 55.
"Before me Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherlands, appeared at the request of Annetje Jans, wife of E. Bogardus, minister, Cors Pietersen aged 26 years, and hath by true Christian words in place and with promise of an Oath, if needs be, testified, attested and declared that it is true and that he, the deponent, having bought a hog from Annetje Jans above named, did take from the store, in payment for it, as much purple cloth as was sufficient for a petticoat.
All which the deponent declares to be true. Done this 19th October, Ao 1638.
This is the mark X of Cors Pietersen, aforesaid.
The exact date that Cors Pietersen emigrated to New Amsterdam is not known. It has been suggested by some writers that he came with Capt. Petersen de Vries in 1633. From the fact that, in some manner, he very early had become quite versed in the Indian tongue, it is probable that he was in New Amsterdam by 1633 or sooner. Although the records of New Amsterdam after 1638 are fairly complete, previous to this date they seem to have been lost. When we consider that the Hudson River was not discovered until 1609, that the only persons in this section of the country from 1610 to 1624 were a few clerks or traders of the New Netherlands Company messing together in one or two cabins, and no settlers prior to 1624, it can be realized how early Cors Pietersen became identified with the settlement of New Amsterdam, now New York City.
From what has been gleaned from the records, he was apparently a young man of nautical training and seems to have been for a time in the service of Capt. David Pietersen de Vries. His occupation was principally that of skipper of a small vessel freighting between Manhattan and Rensselaerswyck (Albany) and occasionally acting as pilot in the harbor of New Amsterdam. Trading with the Indians was one of the principal occupations of the people of early New Amsterdam, and during his trips up and down the Hudson River, Cors Pietersen was no doubt actively engaged in this exchanging with the Redskins. It was probable while thus engaged that he became proficient in the Indian tongue.
The records tell that Cors got into trouble in these early days by taking a parcel of skins from an Indian and then pitching him overboard from a Dutch vessel. This act later was reciprocated by the Indians slapping Cors in the face with a dead squirrel, which nearly caused a general fight between the Dutch and the Indians. From the records, we also find that Cors Pietersen acted on many occasions as interpreter for the Dutch authorities in their dealings with the Indians.
Cors Pietersen and his wife, Tryntje Hendrickse, lived in their home on the North side of Pearl Street, in New Amsterdam, from 1647, or possibly some years before this date, until his death in 1655. A Royal Patent for this plot was granted to him by the Dutch authorities on June 21, 1647, but as the West India Company allowed persons to build on land sometimes years before they gave them a ground brief (ten years not uncommon), it is probable that they lived there many years before 1647. No doubt all of their children were born in this house, which is located in the view of the Marckveldt and 'T. Water, as illustrated facing page 34. In this view, the house of Cors Pietersen is the second building on the north side of Pearl Street, east of the Marckveldt, and is designated by the letter "H." (Also see the location of Cors Pietersen's house as described in the Guardian's report to the Orphanmasters of New Amsterdam, concerning the settlement of Cors' estate, page 37). The building on the North side of 'T Water (Pearl St.) designated by the letter "R" and owned in 1652 by Pieter Cornelissen, became the property of Joannes Nevius prior to 1655. Joannes Nevius, for many years the Town Clerk of New Amsterdam, is a maternal ancestor of some of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Corsons.
On the page following the VIEW OF THE MARCKVELDT AND 'T WATER is a PLAN OF NEW AMSTERDAM as it existed from about 1644-1657. This is a reproduction of a plan of New Amsterdam, compiled from the Dutch and English records, by J. H. Innes in his remarkable volume, NEW AMSTERDAM AKD ITS PEOPLE. The plot is the lower tip of Manhattan Island, which today is the heart of the financial and business district of the largest city in the world, New York City. In order that the site of New Amsterdam as shown on this early map may be made more clear, in its relation to the position of the modern New York City, the location of the present Wall St., Exchange Place, New St., and Broad St. are shown in dotted lines. The location of these modern streets in the New York financial district was furnished by Mr. John R. Goubeaud, of the New York City Engineering Department.
In addition to the references, listed by Mr. Innes on his original plan, the compiler has added the location of four homes of ancestors of the Staten Island~Pennsylvania group of the Corsons in America. The buildings located are:
No.1. The house of Cors Pietersen and his wife, Tryntje Hendricks;
No.2. The house of Fredrick Lubbertsen and his first wife, Styntje Hendrickse, the maternal grandparents of Maritje van der Grift, who became the wife of Cors Pietersen's eldest son, Capt. Cornelis Corssen;
No.3. The house of Cornelis Volkertsen and Maria Du Trieux, whose granddaughter, Blandina Viele, married Benjamin Corssen, a son of Captain Cornelis Corssen of Staten Island;
No.4. The house of Joannes Nevius, about 1655. The great granddaughter of Joannes Nevius, Margarietje Neefies (Nevius) married Cornelis Corsen, of Bucks County, Pa., a grandson of Capt. Cornelis Corssen.
The building (No.2) on the Northwest corner of Maiden Lane and Pearl St., was sold about 1657, by Fredrick Lubbertsen, to Maria Du Trieux and her second husband, Jan Peeck. The building designated No.3, which seems to have been located at the intersection of the modern Exchange Place and Broadway, was probably the first house built on Broadway south of Wall St. after 1644, at which time a lease on this land to Jan Damen expired. Here in this building, Cornelis Volkertsen and Maria Du Trieux kept a tavern, probably until the death of Volkertsen, before 1650. Maria Du Trieux and her second husband, Jan Peeck, seem to have occupied the Lubbertsen house (No.2) until about 1600, when they sold it to Cornelis Clopper. At this time they seem to have acquired the eastern half of the Lubbertsen Lot, which had been sold previously to Albert Cornelissen, and to have erected here a building used as a tavern, which remained in their possession for many years. Mr. Innes on page 302 of his history has the following: "This house, which must have occupied the site, or a part of the site of the present building, No.207 Pearl Street, was just sufficiently removed from the observation of the town authorities to afford a convenient drinking house for Indian visitors to New Amsterdam, and is supposed to have been the seat of the illicit liquor traffic for which Mary Peeck was banished from Manhattan Island in 1664." This incident is related in a subsequent chapter.
You will probably agree with the compiler, that it is a privilege, enjoyed by few American families, to be able, almost three hundred years after, to see, in a view of New Amsterdam, the house occupied by the progenitor, and to see located on a plan of this early settlement, the buildings in which at least five maternal ancestors of our family lived and raised their children.
Tryntje Hendrickse probably came to New Amsterdam from Holland with her father, Hendrick Tomassen and her mother, Elsie Martense, very early, as we find her father had died and his widow had married Adam Roelantsen, the first schoolmaster of the settlement, before 1638. In that year the mother of Tryntje Hendrickse died and Cors Pietersen entered suit against Adam Roelantsen to recover his wife's interest in the estate of her deceased parents. Judgment was awarded the plaintiff and in the release that Cors Pietersen gave to Adam Roelantsen, in the settlement of this suit, the birthplace of Cors Pietersen was given at Langeraer, Holland. The entry regarding the suit brought by Cors Pietersen against Adam Roelantsen occurs under date of June 10, 1638, on page 11, vol. 4, New York Colonial Manuscripts and is listed in the Calendar of Dutch Mss. on page 62. A complete translation of the entry is as follows:
"Cors Pietersen, Plaintiff, vs Adam Roelantsen, Defendant. Regarding the inheritance of the late Adam Roelantsen's wife, who is the Plaintiff's wife's mother. The Court having examined the inventory signed by the Notary and witnesses and all debts, claims, furniture, etc., being deducted, it is decided that 12 gls. 10 st. are still due Cors Pietersen and no more."
In the final settlement the following release was given by Cors Pietersen, which release establishes:
PROOF OF BIRTHPLACE OF CORS PIETERSEN
IDENTITYOF HIS WIFE AND HER PARENTS
New York Colonial Mss., (O'Callaghan Translations), vol. 1, p.72.
"Before me, Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherlands, appeared Adam Roelantsen and Cors Pietersen from Langeraer, who in the presence of the underwritten witnesses and others in an amicable and friendly manner agreed and covenanted in manner and on the conditions following :
First, Adam Roelantsen shall pay to the above named Cors Pietersen, who is husbandth guardian of his wife, Tryntje Hendrickse, the sum of fifty carolus guilders, reckoned at 20 stivers the guilder, arising from the purchase which the above named Adam Roelantsen hath made of the aforesaid Cors Pietersen, in quality as aforesaid, of what his wife may have to claim from the paternal estate of her deceased father, Hendrick Tomassen, and her mother, Elsje Martense, whereby he, Cors Pietersen acknowledges to be fully paid and satisfied for what is aforesaid by Adam Roelantsen, him hereby releasing from all action and claim which I may in the least or at most have to set up on the part of my aforesaid wife, from her father's and mother's estate: I promise him, Adam Roelantsen from this time forever not to trouble him any more for what is aforesaid, either by myself, my wife or heirs, discharging him from all further demands. Moreover, I Cors Pietersen Promise not to revive any old dispute which has heretofore existed between Adam Roelantsen and me, all in good faith without guile or deceit; for all which I, the undersigned Cors Pietersen and Adam Roelantsen, pledge our persons and properties, movable and immovable without exception under the provincial court of Holland and all other courts, Judges and Justices, all in good faith.
Thus done and covenanted in Fort Amsterdam, this 27th January, 1639. This is the + mark of Cors Pietersen, abovenamed. Everhardus Boghardus, Eccl. Manahat.
Ulrich Lupoltt' Fiscal."
Cors Pietersen and Tryntje Hendrickse were members of the Dutch Reformed Church of New Amsterdam and their names appear in the list of old members of this Church as recorded on pages 498-9 of the Original Church Records of the Dutch Reformed Church, and a copy of this original record is listed in The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 9, pp. 38-40. That they were very active in the affairs of this Church is attested by the many times that they appeared as witnesses in the baptisms of the children of their friends and relatives.
Cors Pietersen and Tryntje Hendrickse had five children baptised as follows, and establishing:
New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 5, pp. 33, 86, 91, 96, & 151, listing baptismal records, copied from the original records of the Dutch Reformed Church of New Amsterdam, pp. 258, 264, 272, 278, & 288.
June 7, 1643 Kors Pieterszen Elsje Marin Adriaen, Lysbeth Thys, Corn. Bedert, Christina Vymen.
April 23, 1645 Cos Pieterszen Cornelis Dirck Corneliszen, Marritje Lievens, Tryntje Cleas.
May 25, 1648 Cors Pieterszen Grietje Cleas Bording, ]oris Rapalje, Jacob Leendertszen van der Grift, Rebecca Fredrickse.
Mar. 5, 1651 Cors Pieterszen Pieter Fredrick Lubbertszen, en syn huys vr. (and his wife) ]ochem Pieterszen, Peter Anthony.
Nov. 30, 1653 Cors Pieterszen Hendrick ]ueriaen Blanck, Pieter Stough- tenburg, Aeltje van Tienhoven, Hester ter Neuf.
Cors Pietersen died in 1655 at the age of forty-three years, a comparatively young man. When we read of the experiences of these pioneers under the misrule of such Director-Generals as Willem Kieft and Petrus Stuyvesant, and of the depredations of the Indians, it is likely that the short life of Cors Pietersen was full of trials and tribulations. Two years after the death of her husband, Tryntje Hendricks appeared before the Orphanmasters of New Amsterdam and stated her intention of marrying Fredrick Lubbertsen.
!THREE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE CORSON FAMILIES IN AMERICA
ADDITIONAL PROOF OF THE MALE ISSUE OF CORS PIETERSEN AND TRYNTJE HENDRICKS
LOCATION OF THEIR HOME ON PEARL STREET DESCRIBED
(Minutes of the Orphanmasters of New Amsterdam, 1655 to 1663) (Translated and edited under the auspices of the Committee on History and Translations of the Colonial Dames in the State of New York, by Berthold Fernow) (Vol. 1, pp. 37-41):
"Whereas Tryntje Hendrickse, widow of Cors Pietersen, intends to become the wife of Fredrick Lubbertsen, widower of Styntje Hendrickse, and whereas said Tryntje has three infant children by Cors Pietersen, and wishes before remarriage to settle upon said children their paternal inheritance, so, that when they come of age or marry they may receive, what is due them. Therefore the Orphanmasters commission as guardians Pieter Stoughtenburgh and Jurrien Blanck, Burghers and inhabitants here, who are hereby authorized to make with said widow as guardians of the children either by inventory or appraisal of the estate, including debts and credits such an agreement on behalf of the children, as they shall deem best, subject to the approval of the Orphan's Chamber, when reported.
Done September 16, 1657."
'Today, the 19th of September 1657, appeared before me, Dirck van Schel1uyne, Notary Public etc. and the below named witnesses, the virtuous Tryntje Hendrickse, widow of Cors Pietersen, assisted by Fredrick Lubbertsen, her present fiance and chosen guardian, parties of the first part, and Sieur Pieter Stotltenburgh with Jurriaen Blanck, guardians of the three children of said Tryntje and Cors, who declared, after having made an estimate of the estate and considered the statement of debts and credits. as far as they, the guardians, could discover them, they had agreed with each other concerning the settlement of their paternal estate for the children as follows : First, said Tryntje Hendricks shall be held and promises honestly to bring up her said three children, named Cornelis Corssen, 12 years old, Pieter 6 years and Hendrick Corssen, 3 years, as well as she can, to have them taught reading, writing and a good trade or occupation, so that in time to come they may earn their own living, further to instruct them in the fear of the Lord and in religious exercises and to do all, a good mother is bound to do, until said children shall come of age or marry; then she is to give to each child the sum of 600 fl. in such money or pay, as then shall be current here, besides she shall then furnish to each a good parcel of clothing, six shirts, six __, six handkerchiefs, inscribing the aforesaid 1800 fl. for her sons specially upon her house and lot on the North side of Pearl Street in this city, bounded on the South by said street, on the West by lsaack Grevenlaad, on the North by Fort Amsterdam, on the East by Pieter van Couwenhoven, and generally binding her person and property, real and personal, present and future, etc. etc,
Signed : This is + the mark of
Tryntje Hendricks
Carel van Brugge, testis
Fredrick Lubbertsen
Hans Kierstede
Pieter Stoutenburg
Jurnaan Blanck
Dirck van Schelluyne, Notary Publ.
|
| Person ID |
I38271 |
Bryant |
| Last Modified |
25 Oct 2002 |
| Family |
Tryntje Hendrickse, b. Abt 1612, Netherlands , d. 1693, New York City, New York Co, New York |
| Married |
Abt 1638 |
New Amsterdam, New Netherlands |
| Children |
|
| Family ID |
F2784 |
Group Sheet |
-
-
|
= Link to Google Maps 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set