Johan John Van Culen

Johan van Cöln (meaning from Cologne, Germany) arrived on the Delaware c. 1662, probably as one of the servants of Joost de la Grange from Leyden in the Netherlands who in that year purchased Tinicum Island from Armegot Printz. That island lies on the south side of Darby Creek, opposite Ammansland.

Johan van Cöln, usually described as John van Culin in public records, was granted 100 acres of land on the east side of Crum Creek in Ammansland in 1679 and lived at that location until his death c. 1711. His wife Anna died before 1697. In 1687, John van Culin complained to the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania against the sheriff's seizure of his only two milk cows, which was all his wife and seven small children had to live on, he being 66 years old and unable to work. His children, as they became old enough, generally found employment in other households.

The seven known children of Johan van Cöln and Anna Johansdotter are listed below. Each of the sons, except Jacob, later dropped the "van" from their surnames and became known simply as Culin.