Catalyntje Trico

Catalyntje Trico

• Baptized: 1605 - St. Nicholas Church, Pris, Hainaut, Spanish Netherlands (now Prisches, France) as Pasque (?)
• Died: Sep 11, 1689 in Walabought, Long Island, New York about the age of 84.
• Buried: in the Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery in Flatbush, Kings County, NY. The cemetery is withinin the grounds of Erasmus Hall High School
• Parents: Jeronimus Trico, Michèle Sauvagie
• Husband: Joris Jansen Rapalje; 11 children She was also known as Catalyntje Jeronimus Trico Rapalje and as Catelina

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Depositions of Catelina Trico

February 14, 1684/5

The Deposition of Catelina Trico aged four score years or thereabout taken before the right Honorable Colonel Thomas Dongan Lieutenant and Governor under his Royal Highness James Duke of York and Albany, etc. of New York and its Dependencies in America who saith and declares in the presence of God as followeth:

That she came to this Province either in the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-three or twenty-four to the best of her remembrance, and that four women came along with her in the same ship, in which ship the governor Adrian Jorissen came also over, which four women were married at sea and that they and their husbands stayed about three weeks at this place and then they with eight seamen more went in a vessel by order of the Dutch Governor to Delaware River and there settled.

This I certify under my hand and ye seal of this province.

Tho. Dongan.

From Documentary History of the State of New York,

E. B. O'Callaghan, 1849, Vol. III pg 49.

--------------------------

Catelyn Trico aged about 83 years born in Paris doth testify and declare that in ye year 1623 she came into this country with a ship called Unity whereof was Commander Arien Jorise belonging to the West India Company, being the first ship that came here for the said Company; as soon as they came to Manhatans now called New York, they sent two families and six men to Hartford River and two families and 8 men to Delaware River and 8 men they left at New York to take possession and the rest of ye passengers went with the ship up as far as Albany, which they then called Fort Orange. When as ye Ship came as far as Sopus which is half way to Albany; they lightened the ship with some boats that were left there by the Dutch that had been there a year before a trading with the Indians, upon there own accompts and gone back again to Holland and so brought ye vessel up; there were about 18 families aboard who settled themselves at Albany and made a small fort; and as soon as they had built themselves some huts of bark; the Mahikanders or River Indians, ye Maquase, Oneydes, Onnondages, Cayougas and Sinnekes, with the Mahawawa or Ottawawaes Indians came and made covenants of friendship with ye said Arien Jorise there Commander, bringing him great presents of beaver and of peltry and desired that they might come and have a constant free trade with them with which was concluded upon and ye said nations came daily with great multitudes of beaver and traded them with the Christians. Their said Commander Arien Jorise stayed with them all winter and sent his son home with the ship; ye said Deponent lived in Albany three years all which time ye said Indians were all as quiet as lambs and came and traded with all the freedom imaginable, in the year 1626 the Deponent came from Albany and settled at New york where she lived afterwards for many years and then came to Long Island where she now lives.

The said Catelyn Trico made oath of ye said Deposition before me at her house on Long Island in ye Wale Bought this 17th day of October 1688.

William Morris
Justice of ye Peace

139 Catalina Jeronimus TRICO Born in 1605 in the tiny hamlet of Pry or Pris or Prische, Waesland, Dept. of Nord, France. One source says she was born in Valenciennes; another says Paris, France. Yet another says she was born in Jever, Ostseeland, Holland. Catalina Jeronimus died on 11 Sep 1689 in Wallabout, Brooklyn, Kings Co., Long Island, New York. Alias/AKA: Catelyn / Catalynte / Catalina TRICO/TRICOT, Catalyntje / Catalyntie Jeronomus / Jeronimus (Friko) TRICO, FRISCO.

•~ {there are a baptism records from Valenciennes (displayed here under MEDIA) that call into question whether she was baptized "Catherine" or "Pasque".}

bearing on this issue (January 2014) see MEDIA and a document there: My remark: It would seem quite odd that there would be a Catherine Trico from the same parish as George Rapareillet and for Geroge to find another Catherine from Paris… It had alternately been reported that Catherine was born in Paris in 1600 but the marriage intention document has the word "PARIS" stricken out and is replaced with "Pris" The baptism date for Catherine is 1604.

From The Bergen Family by Teunis G. Bergen, Albany, N.Y., 1876, pp. 30~32:20

[Page 30]

His [Joris Jansen Rapalie] widow, Catalyntie, died Sept. 11, 1689, aged 84, having been born in 1605, and married before the age of 20; and Sarah, her daughter, calculating from the birth of her oldest child, was married between that of 14 and 15. Like others, Catalyntie's life did not pass without difficulties.

On August 31, 1642, Catalina Trico & daughter Sara Rapalje made a declaration "respecting the conduct of Tryn Jonas, midwife, when sent for to attend said Trico" (Tryn was mother of Anneke Jans who married Roelof Jansen first & then Everadus Bogardus.}

In 1679, 2 travelers, DANKERS & SLUYTER visited Catalnyntje, who lived in Brooklyn in a house alone "with a garden & other conveniences", and evidently regarded her as a distinguished historical personage. Her progeny numbered 150.

In the DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF NEW YORK III, are 2 depositions made in 1685 & 1688 by Catalnyntje, one of the company of 30 Walloon families who were transported to New Netherlands, 1623, in "De Eendraght" by Skipper Cornelis Jacobsz May (or Mey). Captain Arien Joris was 2nd in command. Catalyntje gives an interesting account about the distribution of the Immigrants to the Connecticut river(2 men & 6 families),Delawar River(2 men & 6 families), &Manhattan(8men), & concerning her voyage with the remainder(about 18 families) up to Fort Orange where she lived 3 years, "all of which time the Indians were all quiet as lambs"

---------------------------------

The year before her death, she made a deposition before Governor Dorgan, establishing the time of her arrival in this country & her first residence

From First Settlement of New-York by the Dutch

EARLY DUTCH SETTLEMENT ON THE DELAWARE page 49

(deed book, VII)

N.York, feb 14, 1684-85

The Deposicon of Catelina Trico aged fouer score yeares or thereabouts taken before the right honorable Coll. Thomas Dongan Leut and Governour under his Royal highness James Duke of Yorke and Albany etc of N. York and its Dependencyes in America who saith and Declares in the presence of God as followeth:

Than she came to this Province either in the yeare one thousand six hundred and twenty three or twenty fouer to the best of her rememberance, and that fouer Women came along with her in the same Shipp, in which ship the governor Arian Jorissen came also over, which fouer Women were married at Sea and that they and their husbands stayed about three weekes at this place and then they with eight seamen more went in a vessell by order of the Dutch Governor to Dellaware River and there settled. This I ceritfie under my hand and seale of this province.

Tho. Dongan

-------------------------------

THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN IN ALBANY

(N.Y. col: MSS<XXXV>)

Catelyn Trico, aged about 83 years born in Paris doth testify and declare that in the year 1623 she came into this country with a ship called Unity whereof was Commander Arien Jorise belonging to the West India company, being ye first ship ye came here for ye said company; as soon as they came to Mannatans now called N;York they sent two families & Six men to harford River & two families & 8 men to Delaware River and 8 men they left att N: Yorke to take possession and ye rest of ye passengers went with ye ship up as farr as Albany which they then called Fort Orangie. when, as ye ship came as farr as Sopus which is half way to Albanie; they lightned ye ship with some boats ye were left there by ye Dutch that had been there ye year before a tradeing with ye Indians upont there oune accompts & gone back again to Holland & so brought ye vessel up; there were about 18 families aboard who settled themselves att Albany & made a small fort; and as soon as they had built themselves some hutts of Bark: Ye Mahikanders or River Indians. ye Maquase; Oneydes: Onnondages Cayougas & Sinnekes, with ye Mahawawa or Ottawawaes Indians came & made covenants of friendship with ye said Arien Jorise there Commander bringing him great presents of Bever peltry & desyred that they might come & have a Constant free trade with them which was concluded upon & ye said nations came dayly with great multitudes of bever & traded them with ye Christians, there said comman Arien Jorise staid with them all winter and sent his son home with ye ship; ye said deponent lived in Albany three years all which time ye said Indians were all as quiet as lambs & came & traded with all ye freedom imaginable, in ye year 1626 ye deponent came from Albany & settled at N: Yorke where she lived afterwards for many years and then came to Long Island where she now lives.

The said Catelyn Trico made oath of ye said Deposition before me at her house on Long Island in ye Wale Bought this 17th day of October 1688

William Morris

Justice of ye Peace

Catalina Trico and Joris de Rapalje were married just before leaving Holland for New Netherlands in 1623. Catalina had the first baby in the new colony. Their story is noted in "Island at the Center of the World", among other places.

"Their descendants have been estimated at upwards of one million" (Island at the Center of the World, R. Shorto)

Had eleven children.

(Blake Raplee) As she was the only survivor of the early trip of settlers to New Netherland, many years later colonial officials twice asked her to give.sworn statements of the facts. Both documents are in the archives of the Secretary of State at Albany:
Dated at New York, 14 Feb 1684/5: "The deposicion of CATALINA TRICO aged fouer score yeares or thereabouts, taken before the right honoble Coll. Thomas Thomas Dongan, Leut and Governor under his Royll. Highso, James, Duke of Yorke and Albany, etc., of New York and its Dependencyes in America, who saith and Declares in the presens of God as followeth:

 "That she Came to this Province in the yeare one Thousand, six hundred and twenty three , or twenty fouer to the best of her remembrance and that fouer Women Came along with her in the same Shipp, in which the Governor, Arian Jorrissen Came also over, which fouer Women were married atSea and that theyand their husbands stayed about three weeks at this place and then they witheight seamen more went in a vessel by ordr. of the Dutch Governor to Dellaware River and there settled.

 "This I Certifie under my hand and ye seale of this province.

                                        THO. DONGAN."

"CATELYN TRICO aged about 83 years, born in Paris, does testify and declare that in ye year 1623 she came into this Country eth a ship called ye Unity, whereof was commander Arien Jorise, belonging to ye West India Company being ye first ship yt. came here for ye sd. Company; as soon as they came to Manatans now called N. Yorke to take Possession and ye heet of ye Passengers went with ye Ship up as far as Albanie which they then Called fort Orange. When as ye ship came as farr as Sopus which is 1/2 way to Albanie, they lighted ye Ship wth. some boats yt. were left there by ye Dutch that had been there ye year before and trading with ye Indians upont their owne accompts & gone back again to Holland, & so brought ye vessel up;- there were about 18 families aboard, who settled themselves att Albany & made a small fort, and ass soon as they had built themselves some hutts of Bark: ye Mahikan ders or River indians, ye Maquase, Oneydas, onmondagas Cayougas & Sinnekes, withye Mahawawaot Ottawaes Indians came and made Covenants of friendship wth. ye sd. Arian Joriss their Commander Bringing him Great presents of Bever or oyr. Peltry & desyred that they might come and have a Constant free trade with them wch. was concluded upon & ye sd. nations Came dyly with great multidue of Bever & traded them wth. ye Christians; their sd. Commandr. Arien Jorise staid with them all winter and sent his sonne home with ye Ship;- ye sd. Deponent lived in Albany three years all which Time ye sd. Indians were all as quiet as Lambs & came & traded with all ye freedom Imaginable;- in ye year 1626 ye Deponent came from Albany & settled at N. Yorke, where she lived afterward for many years and then came to Long Island where she now lives.

                "The sd. CATELYN TRICO made oath of ye sd. Deposition

                 before me at her house on Long Island in ye Wals.

                 Brought this 17th day of October, 1688."

                                      WILLIAM MORRIS

                                  Justice of ye pece."

 [%28KBS%29 Some of the spelling errors above may have been transcription/typing errors.  The originals should be checked!]

While living in New Amsterdam, managed an inn on Paerl Straet (Pearl Street), not allowing any of her customers to better her in money matters. She often appeared in the New Amsterdam court to reclaim payments due to her, as the inn concerned her more than her husband. Insults to her person and her name, which might easily result from the mixed cosmopolitan population of the community and her public occupation, were intolerable to her and whenever provoked, she frequently attempted to vindicate her rights and name.

 On 31 Aug 1642, she and her daughter Sara, then 17 and a great help to her mother, gave a public declaration concerning the conduct of Tryn Jonas, midwife of New Amsterdam, when she was sent for by Mrs. Rapalje.  (Vol. II, 29.)

 Mrs. Rapalje sued Paulus van der Beeck for slander on 12 Jan 1644.  The defendant declared that he could not prove his assertion, and that he knew nothing of the plaintiff but what was virtuous and good, and as he struck her, he will pay two and a half guilders fine.  At the same court session, Gbert Van Borsum appeared as a witness in a quarrel between Catalina Trico and Mr. Paulus (van der Beeck).  (Vol. IV, 215, and II, 139.)

 (Am. Genealogist, pp. 118-20, post Apr. 1971, artilce by George E. McCracken) For a long it was believed that Catelyntje was born in Paris.  The origin of this error is to be found in a deposition made by her on 17 Oct 1688 (printed in E.B.  O'Callaghan's "Documentary History of New York", 1850, 3:22; the deposition is from New York Colonial manuscripts, vol. 35), which begins, "Catelyn Trico aged about 83 years born in Paris." 

 Genealogists in 1961 found that actually she was born in the hamlet of Pry, 50ø17' N., 4ø26'E., on the Herve River directly south of Charleroi in Hainault.  It is obvious that when she said "Pry", the English-speaking clerk who took down the deposition misunderstood her to be pronouncing Paris as the French do, an easy error if she rolled the "r" strongly.

 When her name is recorded with the patronymic, it is regularly Jeronimus, an name frequently repeated among her descendants.  McCracken further believes her family name to be something like Tricot, Tricaud, Tricault, Tricaut.

 Amsterdam Dut. Ref. Marriage Intentions (Microfilm 113.191): Joris Raparlie     Den 13 January 1624 [New Style]  Compareerden alvoren Jooris Raparlie van Valenchie- boratwercker out 19 Jaeren woon- op 't Waelepadt & Catharina triko van pris in Walslant geasst- met mary Fla[m]egh haar suster woon- in de Vles out 18 Jae- [Translation: Appeared as before Joris Raparlie from Valenciennes boratworker age 19 Years residing on 't Waelepadt & Catherina triko from pris in Walslant accompanied by mary Fla[m]engh her sister residing in the Ilask age 18 years.]

 Mr. McCracken suggests that Joris' occupation may be a weaver of a cloth the French call "bure".  He goes on to suggest the following entries may refer to this "sister" of Catharina, probably a half-sister, because of the last name variation:

 13 June 1615.  Appeared . . . Phillipe de Fonteijn de Wikkart from Vallenchijn, borattworker aged 22 years 3 years residing on the Nieu ossemarkt [New Oxenmarket]  In the Hoefijaers [horseshoe] street, accompanied by his brother Jehan de Fonteijne de Wickart, & Marie Flamen by Valencijn age 21 Years residing in the Nes accompanied by Zacharias Flamen her uncle on the other side.

                              Signed

                               Phijlijpe de la Fontaijne djt Wijcart

                               Mari Flameng

6 April 1619: appeared Jaques tesse from anchijn, caffe werker, age 27 years 6 years residing on ruslant, on one side & Marij Flaman, aged 18 years residing in the Schuijtemakers [Bark/sloop makers alley] steegje of the Amstel, accompanied with Claes Flaman, her father, on the other side.

                              signed  Jacque tesse

                                                  [Microfilm 113.118]

The Walloon Church at Amsterdam lists [113.402] for the first couple: Fiances le 13e Juin 1615 Philippes de la fonteinne dit Wicart Espouses le 5e Juillet 1615 natif de Vallenciennes, bourrasier,

                                  demeurant sur le nouveau marche- aux

                                  boen ...

                                  Marije Flamen demeurante an ness.

The date of immigration appears to be 1624 rather than 1623. Here is a link that provides information about the sailing on January 25, 1624 on the Unity on which Catelyn Trico was a passenger. [http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycoloni/shfrsten.html]. The reason for the 1623/1624 difference relates to differences in how calendar years were figured for different countries at that time. So, for this time period when events occurring in January-March of a year are reported, it is possible that this really refers to the next year.