Teunis Janszen Middagh

Theunis MIDDAGH was born before 3 Nov 1706 in Rochester Township, Ulster, NY, and was christened 3 Nov 1706 in Ulster, NY. Witnesses: Antonie Hoornbeck and Wyntie Claarwater.Theunis died before 15 Jun 1771 in Upper Smithfield, PA. Theunis' will is abstracted on LDS Microfilm #0856839, page 97 of the "Wills of Northampton Co., PA". In the will "Tunis" is listed as a "Yeoman" of Upper Smithfield. The will is dated 8/18/1754 and was probated 6/19/1771. It was first inventoried on 6/15/1771. Then inventoried for a second time on 8/12/1775 and finally settled 8/18/1775.

His place of birth was taken from the marriage records of the Kingston DRC. The records also indicated that both Theunis/Teunis/Tunis and Catrina resided in the Rochester area at the time of the wedding. He was a member of the Ulster County militia in 1738 and a Trustee of Rochester in 1740. Theunis left his estate, except for a few bequests, to his wife Catherine. The bequests included giving one acre of land to his "eldest son" Cornelis' as a "birthright", and five acres of land and the buildings on it to Elias. While Elijah is not given a bequest, he and Cornelis are appointed executors. At Catherine's death, the will stipulates that the estat e is to be divided among his three sons; Cornelius, Elijah and Elias. The will does not mention his daughter, Catrina. The witnesses to the will were: John Vanaken and William Ennes.

While Theunis' will would appear to be very specific and thus the lineage of his descendants established, there is some confusion about the lineage. Most of the confusion revolves around the similarity of names (Elijah, Elisa Elisha and Elias) attributed to and recorded as his sons; the lack of being able to find a son of Theunis named Elijah or Elisha in any of the church records; and, at least one, previously published MIDDAUGH lineage, that attributes the parentage of Cornelis to other than Theunis and Catherine. However, there are church, probate, tax and census records that support the lineage adopted in this compilation. Among the records and documents found supporting the indicated lineages and the names used in this compilation are:

1. The records of the Machackemack DRC.

2. The records of the Kingston DRC.

3. Theunis' will.

4. Northampton County, PA court records.

5. 1772 tax rolls for Upper Smithfield Township of Northampton Conty, PA. 6. The 1790 Federal census for Upper Smithfield Township.

Summarizing what the above appears to warrant assuming:

1. It is believed Elisa, Elisha and Elijah (and Eliza in one baptism record) are one and the same person. In the opinion of the compiler the different spellings are not that different from those encountered in many of the early Dutch family records.

2. Cornelis died prior to 8/12/1775.

3. Catherine, Theunis' wife, died in July or August of 1775.

Theunis married Catharine KORTREGHT 13 Sep 1728 in Rochester Township, Ulster, NY. While it is not known for sure where they were married it most likely was in Rochester since they both resided there both before and after their marriage..