Notes for: Cozyn Gerritsen
They supposedly settled in Haverstraw, New York on the west bank of the Hudson River. Thomas Zetterstrom from the Cozine (Cozyn) Family Forum said he was a wheelwright from Putten, Holland. He moved to New Amsterdam in 1633.
All the following info was sent to me by Sherron Westerfield (sherronw@searnet.com).
1. Cozyn GERRITSZEN b. ABT 1608, Putten, N. Holland, The Netherlands,1 occupation wheelwright, m. ABT 1636, in The Netherlands, Vrouwtje GERRITS, b. ABT 1620, The Netherlands, d. 1683, New York City, Manhattan Island, NY.2 Cozyn died ABT 1690, Tappan, Bergen Co., NJ.3 He came to New Amsterdam before 1637, and he owned land fronting the Hudson River on Manhatten Island.
28 Mar 1640 - he gave power of attorney to Aert Gerritsen to collect money coming to him, from the estate of his deceased aunt, Susanna Ellfertsen of Hoorn in Holland.
On 1 Jul 1640 Cozyn Gerrits and Marie D'Angole were witnesses at the baptism of Pernante, child of Emanuel D'Angole. Emanuel was one of the slaves from Angola who were brought to New Amsterdam. Perhaps he belonged to this family?
On 10 Nov 1641, Robbert, son of Thomas Sanders, was baptized in the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam. Witnesses included "Cozyn Gerrits, Rademaecker," or wheelwright.
In June, 1643, Albert Cornelysen Wantenear, let himself as a wheelwright [a maker of wheels] to Cosyn Gerritsen for one year.
Theunis Nysen of Midwout conveyed to Cosyn Gerritsen a lot in New Amsterdam that had been patented to him 5 Dec 1643.
In 1644 Cozyn testified that he "was about 36 years of age" and that "with his wife Vroutje he had 4 children." see "A Dutch Family in the Moddle Colonies, 1660-1800," by Firth Haring Fabend, Ph.D., at p. 253 in her section of notes on Chapter 1. The couple clearly had at least two children born before their emigration to New Netherlands. But who were they? Did they die young?
On 13 Mar 1647 two patents for land were issued to Cozyn Gerritsz.: One for 34 morgans of land on Manhattan Island, Lot 41, adjoining Van Twiller's plantation and Sapokan Wagon Road. [A morgan of land is a measure used in The Netherlands equal to about 2 acres.] This item from O'Callaghan's translation of Dutch manuscripts. And, a second patent for a lot on the public highway.
The register pages of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam, at p. 507, show Cozyn Gerrits and Vrouwtje Gerrits, his wife, as members. The pages (497-507) are not dated, but they begin in 1649 and end in 1659.
The following was abstracted from Notarial Documents in the Amsterdam Archive by Mr. Pim Nieuwenhuis:
"6 Jan 1659 - Harmen Courten from Voorthuysen, age about 39, and Gillis Jans from Gardeen, age about 33, both going as free men to New Netherland, declare that, at the request of Wouter Gerritz from Kootwijk on the Veluwe, on the first of this month they visited Vrouwtgen Gerrits, housewife of Cosijn Gerritsz, cartwright in New Netherland, and that they learned that she refused to be supported by Wouter Gerritsz until his departure for New Netherland, which he had promised to do." [I have no idea what this means!]
[Note: *This record says Cozyn was a "cartwright" and he is referred to elsewhere as a "wheelwright." Cosijn is one of our 9great-grandfathers and Gillis is one of our 10great-grandfathers. How fascinating that they actually knew one another, although their descendants did not intermarry in our direct line for generations, i.e., James Westerfield and Phoebe Cozine.]
Vrouwtje evidently returned to Holland for some reason, as she is listed on the passenger list of "de Trouw" ("The Faith") leaving Amsterdam on 12 Feb 1659 and arriving in New Amsterdam in Apr 1659.
see Fernow's "Records of New Amsterdam," Vol. V:287 -
"August the 22nd. Anno 1665. Att a Court held at New Yorke. P'sent Captn. Thoms. Willet, Major; Capt. Thoms. D' la Val, Mr. Olof Stevens, Mr. Johannes V. Brugh, Mr. Cornelis V. Ruyven, Mr. John Lawrence, Aldermen; Mr. Allard Anthony, Sheriff. [various items, then...]
Abel Hardenbroeck, pltf. v/s Denys Isaacksen, deft. Pltf. says, that deft. meeting him yesterday on the Bouwery Road, drew a knife and said - Draw, van Leer, or I shall stab and cut you, etc. Proceeding against pltf. with very threatening and abusive words, so that the pltf. was obliged to save his life in the house of COSYN GERRETSEN as the deft. pressed hard upon him. Deft. says, that pltf. challenged him yesterday morning in the house of Lucas Dircks, the tapster, to fight in the neighborhood of the Fresh Water, and as he did not find the pltf. there at the appointed time he went further towards the bouwery, where he found him on the road and asked him, Is this the appointed place etc? Admits further having drawn a knife and to have said - Draw also van Leer. Pltf. denies having challenged the deft. and demands, that he shall prove it, as there were many people at Luycas Dircks at the time, who without doubt have heard him. Deft. answering says, that the pltf. whispered it to him, so that none of the bystanders could hear him. Tomas Lodowyck entering declares, that as he was proceeding with Abel Hardenbroeck and some women folk towards the Bouwery, he saw the deft. Denys Isaackzen draw the knife on pltf., whom he pursued with many abusive and threatening words. The Mayor and Aldermen having heard parties, refer the decision to the Court of Assizes and order deft. meanwhile to enter sufficient bail in the sum of fl. 500 Hollands, that he shall comport himself towards the pltf. in such wise as an honest and decent man ought to do. Ady as above."
[Note: *Cozyn Gerritsen's farm was near the present Astor Place, having a frontage of 16 rods on the Bowery and running thence West 100 rods "to a way that is by a certain swamp" (Hoffman, E. S. 2, 193), that is the old Greenwich Lane, thus crossing Broadway to Waverley Place between 5th and 6th Avenues. The scene of the above told encounter therefore was on 4th Ave. and Astor Place. - O'Callahan]
Basically, someone pulled a knife on Abel in the East Village and he escaped into the home of Cozyn Gerretszen. Cozyn owned the land on which now stands New York University and Washington Square Park!
According to the DeClerk family papers, Cozijn Gerretse van Putten and Vroutje Cozijns were living "over the fresh water" in 1686. They may have moved with their daughter, Margrietje and her third husband, Daniel DeClerk, to the Tappan Settlement in Rockland Co., NY.
Dear Sherron, Here is the additional information I promised when I fowarded to you the message received today from Pim Nieuwenhuis.
In 1991 Firth Haring Fabend, Ph.D., published as book entitled "A Dutch Family in the Middle Colonies, 1660-1800". Using her Haring family, Mrs. Fabend draws a sociological picture of colonial Dutch families in New York. Grietje Cosyns, the daughter of Cosyn Gerritszen and his wife Vrouwtje, married (2nd) Jan Pieterszen Haring, and this couple were the progentiors of the HARING family in America.
On page 253 in her section of notes on Chapter I, Mrs. Fabend says, "Cosyn Gerritsen van Putten was born about 1608 (In 1644 he testified that he 'was about 36 years of age'.) With his wife Vroutje, he had 5 children."
Cosyn and Vroutje may well have had more children than 4. I have found the baptismal records of 5 baptized in the New Amsterdam church, and since the records of that church no longer exist before 1639, there may have been others. In the early baptismal records only the name of the father was recorded, but we do find Vroutje and Cosyn together acting as baptismal sponsors for their grandchildren.
20 May 1640 Gerrit (with mother's name given) 05 May 1641 Margariet (mother's name not given) 20 Jan 1647 Hendrick 04 Jul 1649 Geertje 19 May 1652 Elsje
We do know that Vrouwtje made a trip back to the Netherlands and was there in 1659. Her oldest (known) daughter Margariet ("Grietje") would have been 18 and capable most likely of looking after her younger siblings in their father's house in New Amsterdam.
On page 7 Fabend says, "The policy of the Dutch West India Company was to allow a colonist to hold and occupy his land without paying anything for it for 10 years. Since Cosyn Gerritsen's formal patent dates from 1647, his lot number 41 on Manhattan Island was first "sowed or mowed" in 1637 -- the farm was approached along "Cosyn Gerritsen's Wagon Way", known today as Astor Place and Eighth Street.
Determined to succeed in the New World, Cosyn Gerritsen had prepared himself in three ways. He farmed. He had a second occupation as wheelwright. And he dabbled in real estate." Fabend documents the property that Cosyn later bought and sold on Manhattan Island.
I would not want to say for sure what Vrouwtje's patronymic was; she is often given that of her husband. Also, we do not know why she returned to the Netherlands before 1659. We do not know what her relationship was to Wouter Gerritszen. Perhaps he was a younger half-brother or brother to Vrouwtje's husband. [Note: There were no witnesses from Cozyn Gerritszen's family later at the baptisms of any of Wouter's children. Not likely to be a family relationship there.]
As you have noted, all the people mentioned in the 1659 notarial record in Amsterdam travelled to New Netherland from the Netherlands on "de Trouw", leaving Amsterdam on 12 Feb 1659:
Gillis Jansen Van Garder, wife and 4 children Harmen Coerten, from Voorhuysen, wife and 5 children Wouter Gerritsz, from Kootwyck AND - Vroutgen Gerritsen, wife of Cosyn Gerritsen, wheelwright
I found these interesting abstracts in the "Calendar of Dutch HIstorical Manuscripts, 1630-1664", edited by Edmund B. O'Callaghan in 1865 and reprinted in 1968. These events took place in New Amsterdam.
28 Mar 1640 Cosyn Gerritsen van Putten to Aert Gerritsen to collect money coming to him from the estate of his deceased aunt, at Hoorn.
12 Aug 1649 Cosyn Gerritsen to Sybolt Claessen, to receive a legacy left him by Susanna Ellfertsen, of Hoorn.
On 13 March 1647 two patents were issued for land to Cosyn Gerritsz -- 34 morgans of land adjoining Twiller's plantation and the Sapokanikan wagon road on Manhattan Island, as well as a lot on the public highway.
I believe Wouter Gerritszen to be a generation younger that Vroutgen, Cosyn Gerritszen's wife. Wouter, as we have seen, immigrated in 1659. His marriage intention was recorded in the New Amsterdam Dutch Church on 5 Aug 1662:
"Wouter Gerritszen Van Coetwyck in Gelderlandt, and Marritje Hendricks, Van Alcmaer." There are baptismal records for 3 of their children in the same church in 1671 (Marritie on 14 Mar), 1675 (Aeltie on 24 Jul), and 1678 (Hendrick on 20 Feb). They must have had older children as well, but I have not discovered where they were baptized. As far as I can tell, the baptismal sponsors of these 3 younger children were not part of Cosyn Gerritsz.'s family. [Note: a 4th child was baptized in 1673 (Hendrick on 18 Oct)]
I hope all of this helps to give you a fuller picture of the family."
Dorothy A. Koenig dkoenig@library.berkeley.edu
Vrouwtje: Little is known of her other than that she was the mother of 5 children born in New Amsterdam and baptized in the Dutch Reform Church of New York. She appears to have made a trip back to Holland for her name is found on a passenger list among immigrants to the Middle Colonies:
"Vroutgen Gerritsen, wife of Cosyn Gerritsen, wheelwright," set sail for New Amsterdam on 12 February 1659, on the DeTrouw (The Faith) with Capt. Jan Jansen Bestevaer, and 98 other people, including Epke Jacob and family (progenitor of the Banta family in America), and Gillis Jansen van Garder and family (de Mandeville). They all arrived sometime in April.
A translation has not been found for Vroutje from the Dutch into English, although the Quick genealogy suggests it means "little wife."
On 31 Jan 1666 Vrouwtje Gerrits and Lambert Huybertszen were witnesses at the baptism of Barber., child of his unmarried daughter, Geertie Lamberts. I think that woman is this Vrouwtje Gerrits for in Nov 1673, at the baptism of Coenraet, son of Geertie Lamberts and her husband, Hans Jacobszen [Harte], the witnesses were Abraham Lambertszen, Grietie Cozyns, Vrouwtje's daughter.
The following is from the editor of The New Netherland Connection -
"Dear Sherron, I consulted with my friend Pim Nieuwenhuis about the "troublesome" notarial record you asked about at the bottom of page 56 of NNC 5:2. Here is his reply. I have dug up more detailed genealogical information and will send that in another message shortly.
Dorothy A. Koenig dkoenig@library.berkeley.edu
---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:36:58 +0200 From: Pim Nieuwenhuis To: dorothy koenig Cc: pim nieuwenhuis Subject: The trouble with Vroutgen
Dear Dorothy,
I am afraid that I cannot solve the confusion that your corresdondant pointed out regarding Vroutgen Gerritsz. For after all, the matter is very strange. I can only sum up some of the more remarkable happenings and add some new questions.
1. Cosijn Gerritsz depart (when ?) for New Netherland (with wife Vroutgen ?)
2. Wouter Gerritsz promises Cosijn that he would support Cosijn's wife until he (Wouter) could also go to New Netherland. Cosijn would then be in a position to refund Wouter his expenses.
3. Wouter asks Harmen and Gillis if they would be so kind as to visit Vroutgen Gerritsz (in Kootwijk ?). Apparently Vroutgen had refused to be supported by Wouter. Note that all participants live quite near each other in the province of Gelderland (Kootwijk, Voorthuizen en Garderen; the residence of Vroutgen is not given).
4. On the first of January 1659, the two witnesses visit Vroutgen Gerritsz and hear (from her own mouth) that indeed she had refused the support by Wouter.
5. The two witnesses make their statement on the 6th of the same month for the notary public. Note that to have a notarial statement drawn up was a costly affair. The notary is paid probably by Wouter who must have thought this worth his while. Apparently Wouter was afraid that Vroutgen would later deny her refusal.
6. On the 12th of February of the same year, the two witnesses (with wives and kids) AND Vroutgen AND Wouter (alone) sail on the Trouw to New Netherland. Wouter clenching the notarial deed in his hands?
The baptism/marriage books of Kootwijk start 1638. Have those been investigated?
Cosijn Gerritsz occupation is given in the original as 'wagenmaker' which is cartwright. I have the impression this word is used in Holland interchangeable with 'rademaker' which is wheelwright. Maybe 'wagenmaker' sounded slightly more dignified to a notary's ears.
I hope this helps a bit, but I am afraid that that is not the case.
All the best, Pim."
1 see "A Dutch Family in the Middle Colonies, 1660-1800," by Firth at p. 1
2 "Cozyn/Cozine, Volume 1, 1st through 5th Generations" Mrs. E. T. Dorr Mrs. E. T. Dorr, P. O. Box 102, Dobbins, CA 95935, 1983 at pp. 0-1
3 "Cozyn/Cozine, Volume 1, 1st through 5th Generations" Mrs. E. T. Dorr Mrs. E. T. Dorr, P. O. Box 102, Dobbins, CA 95935, 1983 at pp. 0-1
Children:
2. i Gerrit COZYNSZEN b. MAY 1640.
3. ii Margrietje ("Grietje") COZYNS b. 2 May 1641.
4. iii Hendrik COZYNSZEN b. JAN 1647, New Amsterdam (NY City, NY after 1665), 20 Jan 1647, DRC, New Amsterdam (NY City, NY 1665), d. unknown, New York City, Manhattan Island, NY. No record has been found for him other than that he witnessed the baptism of Cozyntie, daughter of his brother, Gerrit, and wife, Belitie Jabobszen (dau/o ??) on 29 Jul 1677 at DRC New York. A second witness was Neeltie Lopers.
5. iv Geertje COUZYNS b. JUN 1649, New Amsterdam (NY City, NY after 1665), 4 Jul 1649, DRC, New Amsterdam (NY City, NY 1665), d. unknown. She married Andries Jeuriaensen 10 Mar 1672, DRC, New York; 3 children.
6. v Elsje COZYN b. MAY 1652, New Amsterdam (NY City, NY after 1665), 19 May 1652, DRC, New Amsterdam (NY City, NY 1665), d. unknown.