Martin Ysselsteyn - Ancestry of Leander Howard Crall
One of the fourteen signers of this protest, "settlers of Schanechstede," was "Marten Cornelisse [Van Isselsteyn]." The document was considered by the Director-General and Council on June 18, 1663, but they found further pretext for delay. Nearly a year later they were bombarded by another petition from "the settlement named Schaneghstede," dated April 17, 1664, in which it was skillfully urged that "to prevent further dispute the surveyor might be sent up to lay out and parcel the land and house lots for every person interested." 7 The fear of serious complications in connection with the holdings at Schenectady, thus aroused, appears to have at length wrung the reluctant consent of the authorities to an official survey, which is borne witness to by the following order: "20 May, 1664. Resumed the apostill upon the petition of those interested in the lands of Schanechstede made the 17th April;—the surveyor Jacques Cortelyou is commanded to proceed from here on the first Sailing Vessel to Fort Orange to lay out the aforesaid lands in the best manner possible and for the best accommodation of those interested therein, viz: to each man his Share . . . Done in Fort Amsterdam." 8
In the division of the property among the original fourteen proprietors, which was now soon arranged, a plan was adopted which is thus described: "Four different allotments were made to each of the first settlers; first, a house lot in the village; second, a farm on the Great Flat or islands; third, a pasture ground east of the village, and fourth, a garden lot in the lowland (laeghte) west of Mill creek and near Binne hill." 9 The Great Flat was divided into twenty farms of different sizes, the allotments of some of the proprietors embracing two of these. The allotment of Van Ysselsteyn was of this nature, consisting of the two described on the old plan as "Farms No. 8. Marten Cornelise Van Isselsteyn received a patent for these farms June 16, 1664,—confirmed by Governor Nicolls, April 13, 1668 (Patents, 527). Oct. 23, 1668, he sold both farms to Claas Frederickse Van Petten and Cornelius Viele, comprising 22 acres (Deeds, ii., 741)." 10 In another place he says: "Oct. 23, 1668, Van Petten and Cornelius Cornelise Viele bought the two bouweries numbered 8, of Marten Cornelise Van Esselsteyn and mortgaged the same the same day to Van Esselstetn for 220 beavers." 11 For this property Van Ysselsteyn received a cash payment of 110 beavers, in addition to the mortgage here mentioned.12 In a list of "Adult Freeholders who settled in Schenectady before 1700, Together with a description of their House Lots and Other Possession," the same work gives the following biographical notice:13
MARTEN CORNELISE VAN ESSELSTEYN (YSSELSTEYN).
He was born in the city of Ysselteyn in Holland; his wife, Mayke Cornelise was a native of Barnevelt; on the 12th Jan., 1676(7), they made a joint will, both then living in Claverac. [Not. Papers, ii.] He died before 1705, leaving one son, Cornelis Martense.
Cornelis was one of the first settlers of Schenectady; after residing here about six years he sold his farms and removed to Claverac. His residence was upon his hindmost farm near the site of Mr. John D. Campbell's house in Rotterdam.
His farms are thus described in the patent of date April 13, 1668:
"Two parcels of land at Schenectady both marked No. 8;—one lying on the second piece of land to the west of No. 7,—to the east of the creek [Poenties kil*], a line cutting between No. 7 [and No. 8] from the creek or kil to the woods south-west somewhat more southerly; —in breadth 36 rods containing about 22 acres or 11 morgens;—the other being upon the hindmost piece of land on the woodside, to the west of No. 9, to the east of No. 7, a line being run as before from the creek IDove gattl to the woods south-west by west,—breadth 56 rods, containing about 24 acres or 12 morgens and 130 rods, as granted June 16, 1664, by Governor Stuyvesant to said Cornelise."t
On the 23d of October following, Van Esselstyn sold the hindmost lot to Claas Frederickse Van Petten and Cornelise Viele, "together with the house, barn, 3 ricks, 4 horses, 5 cows, 8 hogs, wagon, plough and barrow."
On the 23 Jan., 1704(5), " Cornelis Martense, eldest son and heir of Marten Cornelise Van Isselstyn, deceased, of Claverac," confirmed the sale of farms No. 8, to Claas Van Petten.5
Marten Cornelise Van Ysselsteyn removed to Claverack, in what is now Columbia County, New York. He was a resident of that place in January, 1677 when he made his will, but it is not certain whether he removed thence immediately after the sale of his Schenectady property. Several of his children were born at Claverack. In 1687 "Martinus Cornelissen Van Elsensteyn" was a sponsor at the baptism of one of his grandchildren, as we learn from the register of the old Dutch Reformed Church at Kingston.14 The original homestead which he occupied at Claverack has been continuously held by male descendants, bearing his surname, to the present time, or for seven or eight generations, and is now owned by Mr. Everett J. Esselstyn, lawyer, of New York City. Upon this estate is the only family graveyard, where members of the family found sepulcher for several generations, and it is believed that in this private cemetery lie the bones of the founder of this family in America, together with those of his good "vrouw," MAYKE or MARIA CORNELISE. In their joint-will, executed "in the year after the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christus, 1676[7], on the 12th day of the month of January," they are described as "the worshipful MARTEN CORNELISSEN born in the Town of Ysselsteyn, and
* The Poenties kil crosses the river road on the west side of the old Van Ens place and is usually dry now at that point, the water having been diverted into Willem Teller's killetje, which also crosses the river road about a quarter of a mile east of the Poenties kil. All these streams have failed of water of late years, though this kil comes from the sand.—M'M.
t The Erie Canal in its passage across the bouwland was made over a series of dove gats or dead holes containing dead water, once doubtless the ancient bed of an arm of the river. One of these dove gats (called "Maritje's Gat") near the junction of the Prince town and river roads, of great breadth and depth, was enclosed by the two banks of the canal and called "Navarino Bay."—M'M.
t Patents, 527.
! Deeds, iv.
his wife, MAEYCKE CORNELIS, born at Zarrevelt, living both on the Claverrack."18 They had the following children:
1. Jannetie Martens, who was married in 1679 to Hendrick Cornelisse van den Bogaert, a young unmarried man from Hypick, in the District of Vianen (Province of Utrecht, Holland), then residing at Kingston, N. Y. The birthplace of the bride is not given in the marriage record, but she is described as a young unmarried woman then "residing at the Klaverrack." The first publication of their marriage banns occurred November 16, 1679, and they were given a certificate to be married at Albany. Three of their children were baptized at Kingston: Marten, October 3, 1686; Rebecca, April 4, 1697; and Rachel, May 4, 1701.
2. Oeertje (Gertrude), who married Jacob Bruyn, by whom she had a son, Jan, baptized at Kingston, October 6, 1678. She and her first husband were sponsors, November 26, 1682, at the baptism of their niece, Gertrude, daughter of Johannes Smeddes and Machtel Van Ysselsteyn. She married 2ndly, at Kingston, September 23, 1688, Jacobus de la Mater, who was born at New Harlem, and was then residing at Kingston, as was his bride. He was the youngest son of Glande de la Mater, ancestor of the family of that name in America. Gertrude Van Ysselsteyn had, by her second husband, the following children, baptized at Kingston: Glandi, January 28, 1692; Isaac, June 3, 1694; Martha, November 8, 1696; Jacobus, May 18, 1699; Maarten, May 4, 1701; Bata, December 24, 1703; Hester, August 11, 1706; and Jannetje, April 1, 1711.
3. Cornelis Martens Van Ysselsteyn, was married in 1686 (present style), to Cornelia van Vredenburg, the first publication of the banns being on the 23d of February, 1685 (old style). He is described as a young unmarried man, " of Albanien "—which probably refers to his birth-place—" residing at the ClaverRack" at the time of his marriage, while his bride is described as a young unmarried woman "of N. Jorck, residing in Kingston." In a deed referred to above, he is spoken of as "Cornelis Martense, eldest son and heir of Marten Cornelis Van Isselstyn, deceased, of Claverack." He resided at the latter place on the Van Ysselsteyn homestead, and was prominent in the organization of the Dutch Reformed Church of Claverack, in 1727, and in the erection of its edifice, being the member of the Building Committee who took active charge of the affair. The present church building stands on the original site. His death occurred about the close of the year 1748, as is indicated by the fact that his will, dated June 21, 1740, was proved January 16, 1748-9. (See extract frrom Pearson's First Settlers of Albany County, section vii., of Van Ysselsteyn Appendix.) He had the following children: William; Bataah, baptized at Kingston, August 7, 1687, her paternal grandfather, "Martinus Cornelissen Van Elsensteyn," being a sponsor, as was Appolonia Van Vredenburgh, her maternal grandmother, no doubt; Tobias, baptized at Albany, August 3, 1690; Isaac, at Kingston, January 1, 1696; Johannes, at Kingston, November 6, 1698; Jacobus, at Kingston, May 26, 1701; Abraham, at Albany, January 8, 1704; and David, at Albany, October 28, 1705.
4. Pons Van Ysselsteyn, a sponsor at the baptism at Kingston, October 6, 1678, of Jan, son of Jacob Bruyn and Gertrude Ysselsteyn. This is the only reference to him known to the writer. Here his name appears as "Pons Ysselstein," while "Willemtie Willems"—perhaps his wife—was a witness at the same time.
5. William Van Ysselsteyn, who was sponsor at the baptism of his nephew, Willem, eon of John Smeedes and Machtel Van Ysselsteyn, at Kingston, August 31, 1684. This is the only certain reference to him known to the writer. His name appears as "Willem Iselsteyn," the other witness being " Maria Iselsteyn."
6. Machtel, who was married to Johannes Smeddes as early as 1682, as is indicated by the baptism of two of their children at Kingston: Gertrude, November 26, 1682, the sponsors being "Gertruyd Essensteyns" and Jacob Bruyn; and Willem, August 31, 1684, sponsors, "Willem Iselsteyn" and "Maria Iselsteyn."
7. MARRITJE (or MARIA) MARTENS VAN YESSELSTEYN, of whom subsequently.
8. Jacobus Van Ysselsteyn, who married in Kingston, December 5, 1699, Cathalyntje van Deusen, described as a young unmarried woman, born in Claverack and residing there. Van Ysselsteyn is described as a young unmarried man, "born in Claveraack, and residing here "—i. e., in Kingston. He removed to New York City, and eventually to Amboy, N. J., and is the ancestor of the branch of the family which flourished in that colony prior to the Revolution. Among his children were the following: Marten, baptized at Kingston, August 11, 1700; Matheus, baptized at New York, October 16, 1715; Isaac; Helena, baptized at New York, March 28, 1703; and Bata, baptized at New York, December 26, 1705.
9. Cornelia Van Ysselsteyn, who married, March 29, 1702, Jan Post, a young unmarried man, born in Harlem, but residing at Kingston at the time of marriage. Her name appears as "Cornelia Martinsen Ysselsteen," and she is described as a young unmarried woman, born at Claverack and residing at Kingston. They had the following children, baptized at Kingston: Antje, March 7, 1703; Jan, March 17, 1706; Abraham, October 24, 1708; Marthen, December 9, 1711; Isaac, December 19, 1714; and Jannetje, February 9, 1718.
MARRITJE (MARIA) MARTENS VAN YSSELSTEYN, was born under the jurisdiction of Albany, according to the record of her marriage, which occurred April 22, 1696, while at the time of the latter event she was residing at Marbletown, as was also her husband, JORIS (GEORGE) MIDDAGH. She is described as a young unmarried woman, and Joris Middagh as a young unmarried man, "born at Hycoop, in Holland." The antecedents of her husband are traced in the monographs on the families of Middagh, Bergen and de Rapalje, while an account of the children of Joris Middagh and Marritje Van Ysselsteyn will be found in connection with the Middagh Family, the line of descent of special interest to the present investigation being still further traced in connection with the families of Beatty, Haff and Crall.
AUTHORITIES.
I Albany Records, Vol. XIX., p. 179.
'Ibid., p. 180.
'Albany Deeds, Vol II., p. 542. The Indian name for this tract of land was corrupted into Schenectady.
*" A History of The Schenectady Patent in the Dutch and English Times; being Contributions toward a History of the Lower Mohawk Valley," by Prof. Jonathan Pearson, A. M., and others. Edited by J. W. MacMurray, A. M., U. S. A., Albany, N. Y., 1883, p. 13. For Van Curler's letter see Albany Records, Vol. XXI., p. 137.
• Albany Records, Vol. XX., p. 350. 'Ibid., p. 376.
'Ibid., Vol. XXII., p. 169.
• Albany Records, Vol. XXII.
•" History of the Schenectady Patent," p. 58.
"Ibid., p. 66. The property here referred to, containing 22 acres, was but one of the farms, the smaller one. The other contained 24 acres, as will appear further on. "Ibid., p. 186.
u See Section II. of Van Ysselsteyn Appendix. A beaver-skin was worth about $3.60.
II MacMurray's "History of the Schenectady Patent," pp. 180-1.
"The marriage records of his children and the baptismal records of his grandchildren, so far as they appear in this register, will be found in Sections V. and VI. of the Van Ysselsteyn Appendix.
"A copy of this will is given in Section IV. of the Van Ysselsteyn Appendix.
The Van Ysselsteyn coat of arms here shown is that given on plate 95, facing page 366 of A. A. Vorsterman Van Oyen's "Stam-En Wapenboek Van Aanzienijke Nederlandische Familien met Genealogische en Heraldische Aanteckeningen," Darde Deel, 1890. No connection has been proved, however, between the Van Ysselsteyn family whose genealogy appears on pages 367 and 368 of that work and the immigrant in New Netherland.
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