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Frederick Schuerman |
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Christina Jans |
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Frederick Schuerman may
have been born around the year 1630, because the age of “Frederick Scurman” was recorded as eighty in a list of residents of
New Rochelle in 1710 OC8. “Frederick harmenszen, van Bremen” was a
member of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam in 1649 SC9.
The record of Frederick’s marriage to Christina Jans was not located in the marriage records for the Dutch
Reformed Church of New Amsterdam. Frederick probably was not married to
Christina before she immigrated in 1658, as she traveled with her father and
was listed as one of Jan’s children, but their wedding must have transpired
before March 10, 1661, when “Fredrick Harmensen”, who
resided at “QweghKonq” or “Queghkoncq”,
was described as the husband and guardian of his wife, Cristina Jans LA3. On that date, he owed Adriaen Van Laer, a shoemaker from New Amsterdam, 217 guilders and
sixteen stivers, and so he gave Adriaen the house of
his deceased father-in-law, which was on “the Marktvelt Steeg” LA3.
On June 30, 1661, “Frerick
Hendricksen” (who on June 13, 1661 had been called “Frerick Hermsen”) was described as the husband of Jan
Jansen Hagenaar’s daughter, who in a court record
dated April 14, 1661, had been identified as Cristina FE6. “Frerich” and his
brother-in-law, Jeremias Janzen, were appointed as guardians of the minor
siblings of Christina by the Orphan Masters of New Amsterdam on April 14, 1661 FE6. On this date, Jeremias Janzen was asked by
the Orphan Masters where his brother-in-law was staying, and Jeremias answered
“Here”, as in New Amsterdam FE6; this does not necessarily indicate that Frederick resided in the city
at this time, but merely that he “was staying” there.
Frederick Hendricksen was
a member of the Dutch Church of New York in 1686, when in that year, he and his wife, Styntje Jans, lived on Koninck Straat, or King Street BA17. “Styntje” was
typically a nickname for “Christina”. It is possible that this Frederick Hendricksen was Frederick Schuerman
because ther members of the church who lived on the
same street were Elizabeth Schuurmans and Geesje
Schuurmans, the widow of Bruin Hage BA17.
On September 7, 1687, three men gave testimony under
oath to the mayor of New York City, Nicholas Bayard, about events which had
occurred in 1686 OC3. These three men were Nanning Harmentse, Dyrick van der Herder (Heyden),
and a man who was called “Fredrych Harmetsen”, “Fred: Harmentse”,
and “Frederick Harments” in the same document OC3. Nanning and Frederick Harments
stated that in the fall of the previous year, 1686, under the command of
Captain Roseboom, they set out from Albany for the
purpose of trading with the “Ottowawa Indians”, and
when they reached “Ottowawas Lake”, which is called
Lake Huron, they were met by approximately 120 Frenchmen and Native Americans
from Canada OC3. Captain Roseboom’s company of thirty-four
men, which included three “Mohoukes” and two “Mahikander”, who were probably men of the Mohawk and
Mahican peoples, were assailed by these 120 men, and threatened with death by sword
and flame, should they not surrender OC3. According to Nanning and Frederick, the French despoiled them of goods
which their company had intended to use to purchase around eight thousand
beavers OC3.
Not long afterward, the reason for the Ottowa’s rage against them was exposed, as they had been
under the impression that “their Brethren prisoners
with the Sinnakes were burnt”, but the two Mahican
men explained to the Ottowa men that their party
meant to initiate a peace treaty and to trade with the Sinnake
OC3. The “Sinnakes” were probably men of the Seneca nation. At this
point, it seems as though five Ottowa prisoners were
presented by Frederick and Nanning to the opposing Ottowa
men, for their testimony stated OC3:
the said Ottowawas were Informed… that they
came to trade and to propose a peace with the Sinnakes,
and to that end several, that is five of the Ottowawas
Indians prisoners, were brought by the said examts in
token of friendship, the said Ottowawas returned all
manner of kindnesses to the examinants [these were Frederick and Nanning, but
not Dyrick, as he was not a member of Rosebloom’s company] and offered presents to them with
great resentments against the French in regard of the said false information.
Frederick and Nanning, and probably the rest of Roseboom’s company, were forcibly transferred to Onjagra (or Onyagra) OC3, which is now called Niagara PO2, but while they were traveling, they
encountered Captain MacGregory’s men, numbering
thirty-five, with eight prisoners OC3. Dyrick van der Heyder
was a member of this party OC3. At this time, the ranks of the French and First Nations had swollen to
about 1500 men, but Frederick and Nanning did not state how or when their
captors had joined with the additional hundreds of men OC3. As before, the French insisted surrender, or
MacGregory and his band would face the blade, and
another bout of plundering produced merchandise meant to procure eight or nine
thousand beavers OC3. When they reached “Onyagra”, Nanning,
Frederick, and Dyrick discovered that the French had
recently constructed a fort at this location, but they did not remain, as they continued on to Cadarackque OC3.
Cadarackque has been spelled several ways, but Cataraqui is
now called Kingston, Ontario, and was the site of the French Fort Frontenac DR4. Before reaching Cadarackque,
one man from Roseboom’s company, Abell Merrion, was
executed on the order of Governor De Nonville, because he was born a Frenchman, but served the
King of England OC3. Nanning, Frederick, and Dyrick stated that all of the prisoners “were very barbarously treated there by
the French Commander inforcing them to labour grievous hard in drawing the Bark [or barque: a smallish ship] to bring materials for to
strengthen and building the Fort…” OC3.
From Cadarackque, they
were sent to “Mont Reall” (Montreal), at which place
they enjoyed more freedom, and were not imprisoned, until Governor De Nonville arrived and ordered all of the prisoners to “be
putt to close confinement” OC3. The next day, they were sent to “Quebecq”,
which was probably Québec City, where they were lent out to farmers and other men, and forced to perform manual labor to earn their meals OC3. Four of them were able to escape at night,
and they utilized waterways for five days, until they reached Albany OC3. They traveled by water throughout the entire
duration, aside from two places where they were obliged to carry their boat;
one overland hike was “about three Dutch miles”, but the other portage was just
150 paces OC3. A Dutch mile has been likened to one hour of walking, or approximately
five kilometers, and so three Dutch miles would be equivalent to about nine or
ten miles. Further, because the men indicated that they met Cryn,
the “Sachim of the French Marquess Indians” on “Corlaars Lake”, it can be definitively determined that they
utilized Lake Champlain, which was formerly called Corlaers
Lake OC5.
They likely floated southwest down the St. Lawrence
River, and from there, edged into the Richelieu River, which meets Lake
Champlain at its northernmost point. They probably sailed or steered their
vessel as far south in Lake Champlain as they were able, which would have led
them into the Poultney River. If they navigated the Poultney River to South
Bay, the southernmost point of South Bay is still twenty miles north of the
Hudson River, which would have meant they walked about six Dutch miles, through
wilderness. This is extremely unlikely, and completely against their sworn
statement. The alternative route is also questionable, for they would have been
privy to the La Chute River, which connects Lake Champlain and Lake George. The
La Chute River would have been particularly challenging to negotiate, and they
would have been forced to disembark and hike uphill, as this short river boasts
several waterfalls, and they would be fighting
upstream, against the rapids. Just before they encountered the first waterfall,
they doubtless would have hauled their boat or boats onto land, and carried
them over their heads, but if would be quite remarkable if at this point they trekked just 150 paces, for a more likely span to
avoid most of the falls would entail about half of a mile. If they did have
prior knowledge about the La Chute River, and chose this waterway, they would
have entered into the northern tip of Lake George; the
distance between the southern banks of Lake George and the nearest point of the
Hudson River is nine miles. From there, they would have remained on the Hudson
River until they reached Albany.
The name “Fredrik Harmesse”
was included in a list of freeholders and inhabitants of the county of Albany,
which was included in a letter to King William III on December 30, 1701 OC4. That his name was included did not guarantee
that he endorsed the contents of the letter, which essentially informed the
king that they, his Protestant subjects in his plantation of New York, had been
falsely accused and misrepresented to him, but on the contrary, they were loyal
and dutiful, and grateful for their religious freedom and other liberties OC4.
Frederick was still alive on October 9, 1710, when
he was enumerated in New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York OC8. Additional family members with the “Scurman” surname were Mary, aged seventy, Marget, aged fifty, Jacob, aged forty, Altia,
aged thirty-eight, Jacob Jr., aged eleven, Miles, aged six, Alexander, aged
three, Anne, aged ten, Sarah, aged five, Frederick, aged forty-three, Judy,
aged thirty-seven, Marget, aged eighteen, Sussanna, aged fifteen, Elizabeth, aged thirteen, and
Isabell, aged four OC8. This list grouped families together, as it is obvious that there were
at least two distinct Scurman households in New
Rochelle at that time. While the ages of the elderly Scurman
family members were probably estimated, the enumerator seemed to strive for
accuracy as often as possible, when listing the ages of individuals of other
families.
Harmen Schuerman may
have been the father of Frederick Harmenszen WY1. On June 3, 1649, as “Harman Scheurman”, he released his claims to a parcel of land on
Manhattan Island purchased by Cornelis Maersen OC1, WY1.
Christina Jans ★ (Jan)
sailed to New Amsterdam on May 17, 1658 on De
Vergulde Bever (The Gilded Beaver), helmed by
Captain Jan Reyersz Van der Beets, probably when she
was twenty-one years old BA19. The
ship’s roster included a list of her and some of her
siblings, which trailed a list of their ages, and as Christina’s name was the
last to be written BA19, it
may be reasonable to assume that the last age listed should match with the last
name listed. If Christina was twenty-one in 1658, she was born in about 1637.
She was the mother of Geesje, Johannes, Lÿsbeth, Dina, and Ephraim, and she may have been the
mother of Marget, Frederick, and Jacob. It is unclear
if she was the mother of
Rachel Schúúrmans.
Geesje (or Geesie),
the daughter of Fredrick Harmenszen and Christina Jans, was baptized on December 25, 1659 in the Reformed
Dutch Church of New Amsterdam; witnesses or
sponsors were Jan Janszen den Hagenear
and Sophia Jans EV4, BI1. Geesje Schúúermans
and Brúÿn Hage published
their intent to marry on November 16, 1681 and married at the Reformed Dutch
Church in New York on December 10, 1681 PU4. Brúÿn Hage may also have been called Hage Bruynsen RI8 and he may have been the son of Hage Bruÿnse, who
was called the father of Bruÿn at Bruÿn’s
baptism on November 22, 1654 at the Reformed Dutch Church in New Amsterdam;
witnesses or sponsors were Lambert Huÿbertszen and Cors Janszen EV4. Bruyn Haagen and Geesje
Fredrixz were named as the parents of Annetie in her baptism on January 7, 1683 at Old Dutch Church of Kingston, Ulster County,
New York; witnesses were Jacob Rutzen and Magriet Roosevelt HO5. Geesje Schuurmans was
called a widow of Bruin Hage in 1686 when she was
listed as a member of the church who resided on Koninck Straat (King Street) in New York BA17. Geesje Schúúrmans was still called a widow of Brúÿn
Hagen on October 19, 1688 when she and Herman Janszen,
who was a widower of Brechtie Elsewaert,
published their intent to marry on that date; their marriage occurred at the
Reformed Dutch Church in New York on November 7, 1688 PU4. Harmen Jansz (called a rope-maker) and Geesje
Schúúrmans were named as the parents of Dirckje in his baptism at the Reformed Dutch Church in New York
on July 28, 1689; witnesses were Caspar Pieters and Lÿsbeth
Schúúrmans EV4.
Herman Janszen and Geertie Schúúrmans were named as the parents of Jeremias in his
baptism on January 4, 1691 at the Reformed Dutch Church in New York; witnesses
were Jeremias Hage and Lÿsbeth Schúúrmans EV4.
Johannes, the son of Fredrick Hermanszen and Christÿn Jans, was baptized on April 9, 1662 in the Reformed Dutch
Church of New Amsterdam; witnesses or sponsors were Jeremias Janszen and Marrietie Besems EV4,
BI1. Johannes
Schuerman and Johanna Verveele
were the parents of Daniel, who was baptized on May 24, 1708 at the Reformed
Dutch Church of Hackensack in Bergen County, New Jersey; witnesses were Gideon Verveele and Alida Frÿman HO23.
Lÿsbeth, the daughter of Fredrick Harmenszen and Christina Jans, was
baptized on September 22, 1665 in the Reformed Dutch Church of New York; witnesses or sponsors were Jeremias Janszen and Catalina Joris EV4, BI1. Dina, the daughter of Fredrick Hermanszen
and Christina Jans, was baptized on January 24, 1674
in the Reformed Dutch Church of New York; there
were no witnesses or sponsors EV4,
BI1. Ephraim, the son of Fredrick Harmenszen
and Christian Jans, was baptized on June 30, 1675 in
the Reformed Dutch Church of New York; there
were no witnesses or sponsors EV4,
BI1.
She may have also been the
mother of Marget, born about 1660, Frederick, born about 1667, and Jacob, born about 1670 OC8. Jacob Schúúmans and
Annetje Jeffers were named as the parents of Sophia
in her baptism on June 5, 1713 at the Dutch Reformed Church in New York;
witnesses were Denÿs Doohage
and his wife, Rachel EV4.
Rachel Schúúrmans, an unmarried woman from Standfort, and Denÿs Janszen, an unmarried man from Vlissingen, who both resided
in New York, published their intent to marry on October 13, 1696; their
marriage was not recorded but perhaps they left to
Harlem (“Vertrocken met vertoog
naer Haerlem”) PU4. On September 1, 1695 at the Reformed Dutch Church in New York,
Rachel Schúermans and Jeremias Westerhoút
were witnesses to the baptism of Fredricx, the son of
Caspar Mebie and Elisabeth Shúermans
EV4. On January 19, 1701, Rachel Scheúrmans,
who was called the wife of Denÿs Janse,
and Johannis Van de Heÿde
were witnesses to the baptism of Jacob, the son of Robbert
Jacobs and Annetje Brúÿns PU4. Rachel Schúúrmans and Denÿs Doolhage were named as the
parents of Cristina in her baptism on July 21, 1706 at the Reformed Dutch
Church of New York; witnesses were Samúel Staats and Anna Van Brúgh, the
wife of Andries Grevenraat EV4.
Christina was the wife of “Fredrick Hermanszen” when she was listed as a member of the Reformed
Dutch Church on August 30, 1674 SC9. Her name was not listed on the list of residents of New Rochelle in
1710 OC8. Christina was
still alive on October 7,1715 when she was mentioned in the will of her sister,
Sophia Romÿn
of New York City NE36. Sophia’s will stated that her brother,
Jacob van Westerhout of Westchester, and her sister, Christina
Scureman, should be the executors of her last will
and testament NE36. She also made a bequest to Jacob and
Christina NE36:
Item
I Give Devise and Bequeath the house and Lot of Ground wherein I now live in
the City of New York and all the rest and residue of my Estate Real and personal
whatsoever and wheresoever unto my said Brother Jacob van Westerhout
and to my Loving Sister Christina the now wife of ffredrick
Scureman of New Rochel in the County of WestChester Shoemaker and to their heirs and assigns for
Ever to be Equally Divided between them Share and Share alike…