Coert Stevense van Voorhees (1637–1702), a settler of
New Netherland
New Netherland () was a colony of the Dutch Republic located on the East Coast of what is now the United States. The claimed territories extended from the Delmarva Peninsula to Cape Cod. Settlements were established in what became the states ...
is remembered today as progenitor of numerous American families,
and as an early settler of
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
.
Early life
He was born around April 1637 in Hees, near
Ruinen
Ruinen is a village in the Dutch province of Drenthe. It is located in the municipality of De Wolden, about 10 km northwest of Hoogeveen. The Dwingelderveld National Park is located near Ruinen.
History
The village was first mentioned in ...
,
Drenthe
Drenthe () is a province of the Netherlands located in the northeastern part of the country. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and the German state of Lower Saxony to the east. As of Jan ...
,
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
,
[ the son of ]Steven van Voorhees
Steven Coertse van Voorhees (1600 – 16 February 1684) was an early Dutch colonization of the Americas, Dutch settler in America and the patriarch of the Van Voorhees and Voorhees family lines as well as related namesakes. In 1664, he was appointe ...
and Aeltje Wessels. Van Voorhees arrived in New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam (, ) was a 17th-century Dutch Empire, Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island that served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland. The initial trading ''Factory (trading post), fac ...
when he was 22 years of age sailing on the de Bonte Koe in 1660.
Career
He was a member and deacon of the Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church (, , abbreviated NHK ) was the largest Christian denomination in the Netherlands from the onset of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century until 1930. It was the traditional denomination of the Dutch royal famil ...
in Flatlands in 1677 and captain of the militia
A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...
in 1689, as well as representative of Flatlands in the Assembly held at city hall in New Amsterdam on 10 April 1664.
He took his oath of allegiance in September 1687 as Coert Stevense Van Voorhuys, having been in the country 27 years. On 8 March 1691, he purchased land from John Tilton of Gravesend
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, situated 21 miles (35 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross (central London) on the Bank (geography), south bank of the River Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. Located in the diocese of Roche ...
and conveyed the property to his son Albert on 20 June 1694.
Personal life
Van Voorhees married Marretje Gerritse van Couwenhoven, daughter of Gerret Wolfertse van Couwenhoven and Aeltje Cool, and granddaughter of Wolphert Gerretse
Wolfert Gerritse Van Couwenhoven (1 May 1579 – 1662), also known as Wolphert Gerretse van Kouwenhoven and Wolphert Gerretsen, was an original patentee, director of (farms), and founder of the New Netherland colony.
Along with his wife, Neel ...
, an original patentee of the New Netherland
New Netherland () was a colony of the Dutch Republic located on the East Coast of what is now the United States. The claimed territories extended from the Delmarva Peninsula to Cape Cod. Settlements were established in what became the states ...
colony.
Legacy
He is known as the previous owner of the property where the Hendrick I. Lott House now stands, he sold the land in 1719 to Johannes Lott. The property and house is now a New York City Landmark
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The LPC is responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and c ...
.
References
Further reading
*Christoph, Florence A. (2000).
The Van Voorhees Family in America
First Six Generations''. Gateway Press.p. 2-4.
*Van Voorhees Association. (1992). ''Through a Dutch Door: 17th Century Origins of the Van Voorhees Family''. Gateway Press.p. 155, 158, 161.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Voorhees, Coert Van
1637 births
People from Drenthe
Dutch emigrants to the Thirteen Colonies
Coert Van
Dutch emigrants to New Netherland
1702 deaths