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A Klercq in New York
Panoramic view on New Amsterdam 1673, named as Nieuw Jork as well.
We write 3th of September 1609, when Henry Hudson, an Englishman employed by the Dutch East India Company, VOC world's first international tradingconcern financed by shareholders, believes he has found a passage to China and Asia. He was commissioned by the VOC to search for a western route, because the sailingtrip by passing Cape of Good Hope was a long journey. Full of dangers, heavy storms, shipwrecking, mutiny and lack of food. Also marinemen had to conquer Barbarian pirates off the coast of Barbaria, current Morocco. The insight of mapmaker Peter Plancius brought up, there had to be a route via the North Pole to find a way to East India. Hudson failed, he came across a different country, where he found people he did not expected.
In his log-book he writes; whales off the coast, Indians and tobacco crops. Hudson will find also, an abundant beaver population, which appears to be an additional advantage. For beaver pelts were in vogue in Europe, at those times it was plagued by very cold and long winters, during the Minor Ice-period. Moreover, the byproduct; beaver-lascivious was even more profitable, doctors assumed it had a medicinal effect, making the beaver-trade to a very lucrative business.
And where business is found, the Dutch establisted a trading-post instandly, including factories, warehouses and dwellings. Which extended onto a colony, with fortifications and ramparts. A name had to invent, New Amsterdam it would be called. Not quite original, there where several colonies in the world with the same name already. Nevertheless it could charm the Amsterdam regents
First settlements of New Amsterdam (New York) downtown Manhattan
Videoclip; 3-D Animation Early New Amsterdam 1664 Dutch narr (3,56 min) http://youtu.be/z_EeRgvj1vA
The First Settlers
The first colonists settled in 1624 at the head of the island, which the locals called Manhattas. The broadcasted settlers constructed ports, a tributary of the river was converted into canals, so goods could be distributed into the center easely. A church could not be missed. Faith in God, to worship they All Mighty, God needed his own house. Asking the Lord forgiveness for improper trading practices, a pastor was appointed for comforting the soul, christening the children. On the north-side a wall including one gate araised on Bredeweg (Broadway). A study fort on the south-side overlooking the harbour served as a defensive structure in times of trouble, and emergency shelter as well. Raids of Indians and the English could be expected, because the trade worked in favour to the Dutch, usually. so it lead to hostilities, occasionaly.
The colony grows gradually into a province and is called New Netherlands now, with granted cityrights in 1653. The area is still growing, what originally not was intended, the traders wanted to remain New Amsterdam as a trading-post. Outside the initianal occupied area, new settlements were erected with typical Dutch names like; Nieuw Haarlem (Harlem), Breuckele (Brooklyn), Lange Eylandt (Long Island), Kaap May (after capt. May, Cape May) Conyne Eylandt (-rabbit- Coney Island), Roode Eylandt (Rhode Island),
Walstraat, Wallstreet at the time of 1700
The Sealand Connection
May 1624, the Nieu Nederlandt, a ship of the Sealand's West India Company (WIC) embarked at Noten Eylandt, now Governess Island, just below Manhattan.
On board were thirty families from the Seven United Provinces. Most were natives of Southern Holland or Wallony, all speaking Dutch. Four couples and eight men disembarked at Verhulsten Eylandt in the Delaware River, near to Fort Nassau was built allready. Today you wil find the city of Gloucester at the same spot. Two families and six men perform on the Connecticut River, what they call the Versche Rivier (Fresh of Clear River). The families built a small settlement at Kievitshoeck or Zeebroeck to be there new home-area. The name is changed into Seabrook. About eighteen families remained aboard the Nieu Nederlandt, they carried upstream on the Hudson River and disembarked at the site, now known as Albany. The capital of the state of New York.
In the entire region of today's New York you will find historical sites everywhere, remainings to the former Dutch presence. Americans, New Yorkers in particularly, cherish this history in a patriotic fashion. Not only colonial houses remembered to the Dutch, even the square streetplan is their invention. In 1612 the Beemster Lake of Noord-Holland was impoldered. The fresh new furtile land, 3,5 meters below sealevel, was devided into square lots of 0,5 by 0,5 nautical miles, about 926 meters square agriculture property. This masterplan was a succes. In all colonies the Dutch applied this system to cityplans.
New York City Wharf in ancient times, of economic importance ever since
A Klercq in New York
Wallstreet is the synonym for everything representing the American Dream. In history, the street bordered the northern part of the colony. It had a fairly simple palisade of earthen walls and wooden shots. There is a dispute going on about the origin of that name. Wallstreet would be the genitive of Wal-straat, referring to the former ramparts. Also, there is a equally plausible theory that this name comes from "de Waal-straat." Named after the first families of settlers from Walloon in 1624.
Nevertheless, Wallstreet plays a role in one of the Klercq-families. On March 20th 1681, Alexander Klercq (his name changed into Clark later on) marries Femmetje van Borsum. His father was drawn to the New World as a marinemen, in hopes to build a new future. Presumably Alexander goes into business, because he can afford a residence in the Walstraat. Special is to know where he lived with his wife and children, namely on the south-side of Wallstreet, right opposite of the current entrance of the New York Stock Exchange. So, Klercq's when visiting New York, go to Wallstreet, stand backwards to the now infamous bastion causing financial misery, remember one of your ancesters. You are on historic ground, far from home.
Foot of Wallstreet with a ferryhouse 1745.
New nobility
Not only in the Netherlands excists strong interest for family history. In America it's big business. Quite often is asked; "Where are you from?" This question does not mean where you are living, the questioner is more interested in the roots of your family. You will rise in stature even, if you can show that you are an ancester of one of the passagers of the Mayflower. You will belong to the new American nobilty. Some industrious American genealogists have put me on the trail of this Dutch-American Klercq. Their work is carrefully recorded, above all it fits to the notations of the National Archive in the Netherlands, mainly.
Klercq in the Bensons (Bensingh) Tree
Alexander Klercq (Clark-e) Partn. Femmetje van Borsum
b. abt. 1695, d. 15-11-1760, Tolland Co.Ct. 65 yrs b.1681, c. 30-03-1681. d. 15-09-1760, NY, 78 yrs
S.of; not known D.of; Harmanus van Borsum, 1640-1712 NY
S.of; not known D.of; Wybrecht Hendricks Karstens 1646 Amsterdam Holland
Alexander Klercq, occ. Mariner
Married to Femmetje van Borsum on 13-01-1714, in New Amsterdam NY
Grm; 19 yrs, Brd. 33 yrs.
Second marriage of Femmetje van Borsum, widow of Jan Mildrom
Children Alexander Klercq - Femmetje van Borsum;
01.- Anna Catharina Klercq (Clark) Marr. Hendrik Bakker
b.02-12-1719, NY, d. ?
Fath; 24 yrs, Moth; 38 yrs
Wittn. Philippus van Borsum (brother of Femmetje)
Margrietje Willemse (married to Philippus van Borsum)
02.- Catharina Klercq (Clark) Marr. Jan (Johannes ?) Mildrom
b. 22-07-1722, NY. d. ?
Fath; 27 yrs, Moth; 41 yrs
Wittn. Philippus van Borsum (brother of Femmetje)
Wyburg van Borsum-Hendrick Karstens (mother of Femmetje)
03.- Sara(h) Klercq (Clark) twins
b. 26-02-1725, NY. d. ?
Fath; 30 yrs, Moth; 44 yrs
Wittn; Barent de Foreest
Cornelia de Foreest (couple)
Isaac + Annatje van Deursen (couple)
04.- John Klercq (Clark) twins
b. 26-02-1725, NY. d. ?
Fath; 30 yrs, Moth; 44 yrs
Wittn; Barent de Foreest
Cornelia de Foreest (couple)
Isaac + Annatje van Deursen (couple)
Femmetje van Borsum Partn; Jan Mildrom (Meldrom)
b. 1861. c. 30-03-1681. d. 15-11-1760 b. abt.1680? d. bef. 1714, abt. 34 yrs ?
D. of; Harmanus van Borsum S.of; not known
D. of; Wybrecht Hendrick Karstens S.of; not known
Jan Mildrom
Married to Femmetje van Borsum on 04-05-1704, in New Amsterdam ?
Grm. abt. 24 yrs? Brd. 23 yrs
First marriage of Femmetje van Borsum
Children Jan Midrom - Femmetje van Borsum;
01.- Anna Catharina Mildrom
b. 04-03-1705, NY. d. ?
Fath; 25 yrs? Moth; 23 yrs
02.- Johannes Mildrom
b. 06-02-1707. NY. d. ?
Fath; 27 yrs? Moth; 25 yrs
New Amsterdam in early times
Videoclip; New York 1825-1865 (Eng.narr.) 9,25 min http://youtu.be/46VdbJ-1QaI
Grandparents of Femmetje van Borsum
Gr. Fath. Egbert van Borsum. b. 01-07-1605, Emden Oostfriesland Germany. d. 01-07-1676, NY, 71 yrs
S.of; Johan van Borsum
S.of; Jannetje Arents
Gr. Moth. Annatje Hermansz Hendricks, b. 04-08-1619, New Amsterdam NY. d. ?
D.of; Hendrick Hermansz Hendricks
D.of; Grietje Centens
Egbert van Borsum;
Married; Annatje Hermansz Hendricks on 11-12-1639 in New Amsterdam NY
Grm; 34 yrs. Brd; 20 yrs
Children of Egbert van Borsum - Annatje Hermansz Hendricks;
01.- Harmanus van Borsum
b. 02-09-1640, Kings Co. NY
Fath; 35 yrs, Moth; 21 yrs
02.- Hendrick van Borsum
b. abt. 00-04-1648, New Amsterdam NY
Fath; 43 yrs, Moth; 28 yrs
03.- Thymen (Tynon) van Borsum
b. 17-09-1652, New Amsterdam NY
Fath; 47 yrs, Moth; 33 yrs
Parents of Femmetje van Borsum
Fath; Harmanus van Borsum, b. 02-09-1640, Kings Co. NY
Moth; Wybrecht (Wybrugh?) Hendricks Karstens, c. 1646 Amsterdam, Netherlands
D.of; Hendrick Hendricks Karstens, b. 160, Oldenburg, Germany
D.of; Femmetje Coenraets b. abt. 1624, Groningen, Netherlands
Harmanus van Borsum;
Married to Wybrecht Hendricks Karstens on 30-07-1679 in New York, Dutch Reformed Church
Grm; 39 yrs. Brd. 33 yrs.
Children of Harmanus van Borsum - Wybrecht Hendricks Karstens
01- Femmetje van Borsum
b. 1681 New Amsterdam
c. 30-07-1681, Columbia Congregational Church Tolland Co. CT.
Fath; 41 yrs, Moth; 35 yrs
02.- Philippus van Borsum
b. 1686 New Amsterdam
c. 19-09-1686, Dutch Reformed Church New Amsterdam NY
Fath; 46 yrs, Moth; 40 yr
United Congregational Church of Tolland CO, CT, place of worship for the Klercq family ?
Before 1715, Tolland's first settlers came here from several different towns, they began to build their homes, and to farm. By tradition they were Protestants and felt the need of a place of worship. The settlers voted in 1719 to build the Tolland Meeting House, and the Church of the Congregational Society in Tolland was formed soon after. Laws at that time decreed that a church could not be organized until a prayer or petition was read in the General Assembly, which occurred in 1722. The first structure, a meetinghouse, was built in 1723. Although this meetinghouse was never completed and furnished, it was used as a location for religion services, town meetings, and elections for 30 years.
Read more about the history at; http://www.ucctolland.org
Remarks on the Klercq File
Alexander Klercq is written also as; firstname; Ellik, surname; Clark or Clarke
Parents of Alexander Klercq; not known at present
Alexander Klercq lived between 1725-1760 (until his death) south side of Wall street, now entrance NYSE
Alexander died 2 months after the death of his wife, Columbia Congregational Church Tolland Co. NY
Klercq is an old Flamish (not French) name of profession, (1133) writer, secretary, functionary, etc.
Relations of the Klercq family
1.- The van Borsum family is of German ancestry, Emden, Ostfriesland - Oldenburg Westfalia
2.- The Klercq family presumably is from Zeeland-Netherlands (Sealand)
3.- The Foreest family is of a very old noble pedegree, 1122
4.- There were relations with the Roosevelt family, also of Sealand origin
5.- The Wijnkoop family is early releated to Klercq of Rotterdam-Middelburg (Gonda Wijnkoop)
Sources;
The Bensons Tree; cb@thebensons.org
Dutch Colonies L-Archives; Christopher H. Wynkoop; (Christopher is not with us anymore)
Mary DeWitt, van Borsum File; http://www.njgsbc.org
Genlias Holland Archives; http://www.genlias.nl (to your advise)
Videoclips;
From New Amsterdam to New York, Part 1 (Dutch narr. 4,46 min) http://youtu.be/YfES7CdngdQ
From New Amsterdam to New York, Part 2 (Dutch narr. 2,35 min) http://youtu.be/kFz_ceTiQ6A
From New Amsterdam to New York, Part 3 (Dutch narr. 3,14 min) http://youtu.be/z6yEWqZbGOs
Nieuw Amsterdam-New York 400 years (Eng. subt. 2,50 min) http://youtu.be/Nuiv6HdYXXQ
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Ik ben Albert Prins
