Christoffel "Kit" Davidts

New Amsterdam - Immigrants

• Christopher Davis
• about - Christopher Davis
• Christopher Davis (or Davids), the immigrant ancestor, was born in England. He was also called "Kit" Davis.
• He came to Massachusetts Bay Colony before 1636. The only public record we find of him there, however, is a record showing that he was bondsman for John Davies (Davis) before the general court, December 13, 1636.
• Later he went to New York and settled at Hellgate, Manhattan, where he was known as "the Englishman" by his Dutch neighbors. He sold his land here and removed to Fort Orange, but in 1654 went down the river and settled in Redoubt Kill, opposite what was called afterward Kit Davis Kill.

Is Roundout Creek meant? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rondout_Creek

• He married (first) Cornelia de Vos, who died in 1657.
• He married (second) Maria Martens, also a Dutch woman.
• Davis was a noted trapper and acted as a mediator and Indian interpreter.
• Governor Stuyvesant at one time put him in jail "for spreading false reports among the Indians," but his wife secured his release "to provide for a poor famished and disconsolate wife and children."
• Indian hostilities eventually caused him to remove to New Amsterdam, but afterward he located at Esopus and finally at Marbletown. Children:
• 1. George, of whom further.
• 2. David.
• 3. Isaac, and perhaps others.
• He was also know as Christopher Davis or Christopher Davidson. In Dutch records he was known as Christoffel Davidts.

There are quite a few genealogies of his descendants online, e.g.,

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wilsey/pafg446.htm#11165

Notes for Christopher Davis:
Testified Sep 3, 1658 that he was 42 and born in England. Listed by the Dutch as Christoffel Davidts. Sep 25, 1656 patent for 72 ac on the west side of Esopus Kil.[Davis.FTW] Davis, Kit Family Chart - Ulster County Genealogical Society Family Chart. Ulster County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 536, Hurley, New York 12443. This chart provides resource citations. Per Lori Luke In the History of Ulster County, NY by N. Sylvester pub. 1880, it is noted that Cit Davis, the trapper, said a rumor floated among the Indians. This was obviously a prelude to the first Esopus Indian War of 1659. Kit was an Indian interpreter. He liked this business and the Indians liked him. At one point during "unrest", Officer Smit sent Christopher Davis to the director with information of the true condition of Esopus. He went down the Hudson River in a canoe. This was on Sept. 21, 1659. Kit first went to the Massachusettes Bay Colony in 1636 from England. It is believed he settled shortly at Helleget, on the Manhatten removing to Ft. Orange in 1638. He moved to Ulster County in 1652 and built a log cabin in 1654 on the Redout Kill. During one Indian attack, the daughter of Montagne, was kidnapped. Kit, who now lived in Rensselaerwyck, was dispatched after her. It is noted that Kit's son, JAN, was also an Indian interpreter and tracker and at one time accompanied 5 Mohawks to solicit for the return of prisoners. .....Christopher Davis being at Fort Orange, some Mohegan savages were sent to invite him down, for the Dutch wished his service to parley with the savages..... He is commonly known as Kit Davis. Christopher Davis or Davidson, who was of Rensselaerswyck in 1638, testified on Sept. 3, 1658 that he was 42 years old and born in England. In the Dutch record of the Colony, he was called Christoffel Davidts. He received a patent for a 72 acre tract on the west side of the Esopus Kil, opposite the land of Thomas Chambers, dated Sept. 25, 1656, Andres de Vos and Arent Andriessen were appointed curators of the estate of the late Cornelia de Vos, first wife of Chris. He moved down the Hudson River about 1658 to his patent tract of land in Esopus where, by his 2nd wife Maria Meertens, he had a son, Abraham bpt. May 2, 1663 and Debora bpt. Jan. 25, 1665 (Olde Ulster 10: pg97).

More About Christopher Davis: Immigration: 1636, Massachusetts Colony

Children of Christopher Davis and Cornelia De Vos are:

	2259	i.	 	Ariaentje Davids, born Abt. 1645 in Albany, NY; died Aft. November 11, 1694 in Kingston, Ulster Co., NY; married Jurriaen Teunise Tappan Abt. 1661.

		ii.	 	David Davids, born 1652; died February 09, 1689/90 in Schenectady, Schenectady Co., NY; married Wife; died Unknown.

	Notes for David Davids: [Davis.FTW]  He owned a lot on the east side of Church Street, 100 ft. wide and lying 100 feet south of Union Street. He was slain with his wife and 4 children on Feb. 9,1690 by the French and Indians when Schenectady was sacked and burned. He had a daughter named known as Gertrude. 

iii. Joris Christofflese Davis, born 1653 in Albany Co., NY; died Abt. 1680 in NY; married Johanna Loopers December 09, 1674 in New York, NY; born October 30, 1650 in New York, NY; died Unknown in Ulster Co., NY.

	Notes for Joris Christofflese Davis: [Davis.FTW]  His name appears on one of the earliest land grants in Ulster County for  lands in the Minisink.  He was a trapper and Indian Intrepreter. Joris' marriage banns were first  called in the New York City Dutch Church on November 18, 1675 showing him  from Albany. 

Notes for Johanna Loopers: [Davis.FTW] Parents were Jacob Loper and Cornelia Melyns. See a resource in Probate Records I by Anjou, page 191. Jacob Loper was born in Sweden and married in New Amsterdam to Cornelia, daughter of Melyn, a Patroon of Staten Island, and Janneken Adriaens. Her second marriage occurred in the NYC Dutch Church.
iv. Marritje Christofel Davids, born Abt. 1657 in Ulster Co., NY; died Abt. 1708 in Marbletown, Ulster Co., NY; married (1) Amdries Pieterse Van Leuwven 1675 in Kingston, Ulster Co., NY; born Abt. 1649 in Bergen, Holland; died 1691 in Marbletown, Ulster Co., NY; married (2) Manuel Consalus Abt. 1692 in Ulster Co., NY; born Abt. 1660 in Spain; died April 18, 1758 in Wurtsboro, Sullivan Co., NY.

	Notes for Amdries Pieterse Van Leuwven: [Davis.FTW]  His father's name as Pieter. Per Evelyn Sahler From, he was baptised in  New York City on May 25, 1664, obviously as an adult. 

GEDCOM Note

Arrived in America 1638 at Massachusetts Bay Colony

GEDCOM Note

Christoffel Davids and Cornelia De VosChristoffel Davids, often called "Kit Davids", was born in 1615 or 1616 in England. He settled in New Netherland and married first Cornelia de Vos. Cornelia was the daughter of Andries de Vos. She had a sister, Catalyntje. Cornelia had died by 27 February 1657, when her father, Andries, and Catalyntje's husband, Arent Andriessen, where made curators of her estate, due to Kit's mismanagement of his children's inheritance. Kit married second Maria Martens.

Kit served as an Indian interpreter. Kit signed documents with a mark of his initials C D. He participated in an expedition to retrieve captives in 1663. He had been requested as an interpreter and had arrived at the Esopus by canoe. He also warned the settlers of Kingston of trouble in 1665.

Kit settled in Rensselaerswyck, probably at Fort Orange, and at the Esopus (now Kingston, Ulster, New York). In 1650, he lived "on a farm at Dominie's Hoeck, now called Van Wie's Point" at Rensselaerswyck. Petrus Stuyvesant granted to Kit a "certain plot of land named the 'Weylandt'" near Wildwyck (Esopus) in 1656, which Kit later sold to Jacob Jansen Stol. In 1665, he had half ownership of "the Broncken land lying through Hellgate". In 1667, Kit sold to Evert Pels "his land situated on the bank of the Esopus Kil, near the rondout, to the east of the wagon road, running till a running little kil and extending till the second mountain in the interior of the country up to the Ponckhachking path".

Kit was a colorful character. In 1653, he was accused of selling brandy to Indians against the wishes of the leaders of both the Dutch and the Indians. In 1657, he sued for the rent of house but refused to pay on the grounds that he has was drunk at the time he signed the contract. In 1658, he was twice accused in court-once for striking a man and challenging him to fight (there was insufficient proof) and once for telling Esopus Indians that the Dutch planned to kill them, causing the Indians to take prisoners (Kit denied involvement and produced two witnesses). In 1665, Jacob Joosten, the court messenger of Kingston, was removed from his position because he had refused to summon Kit without an armed guard! In 1668/9, Kit started an argument with Eduward Whittakaer over a piece of land. Whittikaer drew his sword and Kit fought back with a cane that had a sword blade in it. Kit and Cornelia had [1]: · Joris Davits, married Jannetje Loopers. [2] · Marritje Christophers Davids, married 1) Andries Pieters Van Leuven [3] and 2) Manuel Gonsalis. [4] Kit and Maria had: · Abraham Christoffels Davids, baptized 3 May 1663 in Kingston, Ulster, New York. · Debora Christoffels Davidtz, baptized 25 Jan 1665 in Kingston, Ulster, New York, married 1) Hendrick Claasz Schoonhoven 6 Jul 1679 in Kingston, Ulster, New York [5]and 2) Pieter Van Bommel. · Isaac Davids, married Jannetje Maurits. [6] Kit may also have had other children either by Cornelia or Maria, including: · Ariaentje Davids, married Juriaen Teunisz. [7]

GEDCOM Note

Christoffel Davids and Cornelia De VosChristoffel Davids, often called "Kit Davids", was born in 1615 or 1616 in England. He settled in New Netherland and married first Cornelia de Vos. Cornelia was the daughter of Andries de Vos. She had a sister, Catalyntje. Cornelia had died by 27 February 1657, when her father, Andries, and Catalyntje's husband, Arent Andriessen, where made curators of her estate, due to Kit's mismanagement of his children's inheritance. Kit married second Maria Martens.

Kit served as an Indian interpreter. Kit signed documents with a mark of his initials C D. He participated in an expedition to retrieve captives in 1663. He had been requested as an interpreter and had arrived at the Esopus by canoe. He also warned the settlers of Kingston of trouble in 1665.

Kit settled in Rensselaerswyck, probably at Fort Orange, and at the Esopus (now Kingston, Ulster, New York). In 1650, he lived "on a farm at Dominie's Hoeck, now called Van Wie's Point" at Rensselaerswyck. Petrus Stuyvesant granted to Kit a "certain plot of land named the 'Weylandt'" near Wildwyck (Esopus) in 1656, which Kit later sold to Jacob Jansen Stol. In 1665, he had half ownership of "the Broncken land lying through Hellgate". In 1667, Kit sold to Evert Pels "his land situated on the bank of the Esopus Kil, near the rondout, to the east of the wagon road, running till a running little kil and extending till the second mountain in the interior of the country up to the Ponckhachking path".

Kit was a colorful character. In 1653, he was accused of selling brandy to Indians against the wishes of the leaders of both the Dutch and the Indians. In 1657, he sued for the rent of house but refused to pay on the grounds that he has was drunk at the time he signed the contract. In 1658, he was twice accused in court-once for striking a man and challenging him to fight (there was insufficient proof) and once for telling Esopus Indians that the Dutch planned to kill them, causing the Indians to take prisoners (Kit denied involvement and produced two witnesses). In 1665, Jacob Joosten, the court messenger of Kingston, was removed from his position because he had refused to summon Kit without an armed guard! In 1668/9, Kit started an argument with Eduward Whittakaer over a piece of land. Whittikaer drew his sword and Kit fought back with a cane that had a sword blade in it. Kit and Cornelia had [1]: · Joris Davits, married Jannetje Loopers. [2] · Marritje Christophers Davids, married 1) Andries Pieters Van Leuven [3] and 2) Manuel Gonsalis. [4] Kit and Maria had: · Abraham Christoffels Davids, baptized 3 May 1663 in Kingston, Ulster, New York. · Debora Christoffels Davidtz, baptized 25 Jan 1665 in Kingston, Ulster, New York, married 1) Hendrick Claasz Schoonhoven 6 Jul 1679 in Kingston, Ulster, New York [5]and 2) Pieter Van Bommel. · Isaac Davids, married Jannetje Maurits. [6] Kit may also have had other children either by Cornelia or Maria, including: · Ariaentje Davids, married Juriaen Teunisz. [7]

Birth: Sep., 1615 County Durham, EnglandDeath: 1680 Marbletown Ulster County New York, USA

Kit was a local Character and friend of the Indians and a general hell raiser. Much has been written about him and he was developed into a folk liore hero.

The old way to describe County Durham was "Besscohopwyck".

Christoffel Davids and Cornelia De Vos Christoffel Davids, often called "Kit Davids", was born in 1615 or 1616 in England. He settled in New Netherland and married first Cornelia de Vos. Cornelia was the daughter of Andries de Vos. She had a sister, Catalyntje. Cornelia had died by 27 February 1657, when her father, Andries, and Catalyntje's husband, Arent Andriessen, where made curators of her estate, due to Kit's mismanagement of his children's inheritance. Kit married second Maria Martens.

Kit served as an Indian interpreter. Kit signed documents with a mark of his initials C D. He participated in an expedition to retrieve captives in 1663. He had been requested as an interpreter and had arrived at the Esopus by canoe. He also warned the settlers of Kingston of trouble in 1665.

Kit settled in Rensselaerswyck, probably at Fort Orange, and at the Esopus (now Kingston, Ulster, New York). In 1650, he lived "on a farm at Dominie's Hoeck, now called Van Wie's Point" at Rensselaerswyck. Petrus Stuyvesant granted to Kit a "certain plot of land named the 'Weylandt'" near Wildwyck (Esopus) in 1656, which Kit later sold to Jacob Jansen Stol. In 1665, he had half ownership of "the Broncken land lying through Hellgate". In 1667, Kit sold to Evert Pels "his land situated on the bank of the Esopus Kil, near the rondout, to the east of the wagon road, running till a running little kil and extending till the second mountain in the interior of the country up to the Ponckhachking path".

Kit was a colorful character. In 1653, he was accused of selling brandy to Indians against the wishes of the leaders of both the Dutch and the Indians. In 1657, he sued for the rent of house but refused to pay on the grounds that he has was drunk at the time he signed the contract. In 1658, he was twice accused in court-once for striking a man and challenging him to fight (there was insufficient proof) and once for telling Esopus Indians that the Dutch planned to kill them, causing the Indians to take prisoners (Kit denied involvement and produced two witnesses). In 1665, Jacob Joosten, the court messenger of Kingston, was removed from his position because he had refused to summon Kit without an armed guard! In 1668/9, Kit started an argument with Eduward Whittakaer over a piece of land. Whittikaer drew his sword and Kit fought back with a cane that had a sword blade in it.

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Kit Davids story number one:

NOTES: 4554. Capt. Christoffel "Kit" Davids was an English Sea Captian. He emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636, and became a trapper and whiskey trader. He and his family were some of the first settlers of Schenectady, N.Y. and were in Albany N.Y. as early as 1638. He was a leader in the Indian wars, an Indian interpreter and always in trouble with the authorities.

"... In 1646 there was a falling out between (the van Nes family) and the family of 9110. Ardries de Vos, a neighbor and member of the Rensselaerswyck Council. Mrs. van Nes was convicted of slandering 9110. de Vos both personally and in his official capacity, and the court ordered her and her husband not to molest de Vos and his family...

When Pieter Claessen was living with the van Nesses, a number of farms and other enterprises were being developed in the immediate neighborhood, to form a community named Bethlehem. Aert Jacobsz, who had the neighbouring farm, also ran a tavern. In 1646 Gerrit van Wescom, a court officer, went there to buy brandy, and was assaulted by a drunken Indian, who would have strangled him had not another Indian intervened. The next year another neighbor, Ryck Rutgers, was involved in a general melee. One supposed this also took place in a tavern. 4554. Kit Davids hit Ryck in the head with a post, then hit Jan van Bremen in the head with a beer stein, and beat another man black and blue, while Jacob Flodder was busy using a beer stein on the head of Poulus the Norwegian."

Kit Davids story #2

It would seem that there were problems with the local Indians and fire water(I note that everyone in the community seemed to be a heavy drinker). Kit promised that he would not sell liquor to the Indians, but you guessed it he did. Turns out the Indians massacred his wifes in-laws in a drunken rage that could be traced to his little liquor enterprise.

Kit Davids NYPD rap sheet circa 1660 watch out for those Manhattan Indians!

http://www.boydhouse.com/michelle/gonzales/christoffeldavids/christ...

Family links: Spouse: Maria Martensen Davis (____ - 1670)*

Children: Isaac Davis (1661 - 1712)*

• Calculated relationship Burial: Body lost or destroyed Specifically: Buried in Marbletown, Ulster Co., New York?