Gerrit Van Bunschoten

Christening: 12 Mar 1682 Kingston, Ulster Co., New York

4.IV. Gerrit V.B. bp. Mar 12, 1682 is not found again in the records until his wedding in the spring of 1706, when Domine Henricus Beys who performs the marriage ceremony fails to record the day and month. The entry reads, under the head of 1706: "Gerrit Van Bunschoten. j. m., born in Kingstowne and residing there, and Antje Delva, widow of Lucas de Wit, born in Kingstowne and residing there. First publication of Banns, March 31."

Antje Delva was the daughter of Anthony Delva, or D'Elba, and Jannatje Hillebrants who were Roman Catholics and probably the only persons of that faith in that little community. This Antoni D'Elba it was who figured so prominently in the so-called "Esopus mutiny" in 1667 when the Dutch burghers resisted the insolence of the English soldiery. When the English Capt. Brodhead was seeking to induce some of the younger burghers to go to Albany as Reinforcements to the English garrison there, Antonio d'Elba voiced the public feeling by saying: "Shall we go fight our friends and leave our enemies at home?" For his part in this disturbance he was sentenced to banishment; which sentence was mitigated, however, and he continued on in Kinston. It seems very much in character that at a public sale on Sep. 9, 1665, of the effects of "Gysbert Van Imbroch, surgeon, deceased ," "Antonia D'Elba" should be found buying "4 small bags holding shot, ball and some flints for 30 Gldrs;" also, "a couple of canon (een paer canons), two powder horns and a shot bag with a belt - 15 gldrs." He was of French or Italian origin, and his name would suggest from the island of Elba. We find that on Feb. 10, 1669, and again on Feb. 9, 1675, he had acquired property in the Corporation of Kingston. We know he possessed property there in 1680, as it was on Dec. 8th of that year that Hon. Court decided that the town clock should be placed on his lot and decreed "that the bell should be rung at noon and in the evening." On Feb. 6, 1688, Louis DuBois conveys to him a house and lot in Kingston south of William De la Montanye's. When the stockade was ordered renewed in 1671, the portion falling to Anthony Delba, we find, was "5 rods." On Sep. 1, 1689, when the Oath of Allegiance was being administered at Kingston by the English authorities Anthony very consistently refused it: "These ffowing persons were present when ye Oath was Agivin but Did Reffucs to taike it" - he, the first on the list.

Previous to her marriage with Gerrit Antje had married on Dec. 22, 1695, Lucas De Wit who died in 1703. Lucas's will, dated Feb. 15, 1702-3, specifies: "My wife, Antje, shall have the just half of the residue in house, land, real and personal property, as well as all that is coming to me from my father, as his testament will show * * If my wife shall remarry, she is to appoint guardians over the minors and to deliver to them half part of the estate. If she remain unmarried she is possess everything."

[page 415]

Gerrit and Antje are said to have removed soon after marriage to the vicinity of what is now Catskill. Their absence from Kingston could not have been lengthy, however, as on Mar. 4, 1707, "Gerrit Van Bunschoten" was created a constable and collector of the town, and as on Jan. 8, 1710-1, Gerrit was possessed of a "lot and Orchard" in Kingston, -"the second lot from the church." This lot on Aug. 27, 1712, when is brother Elias conveyed away the adjoining property, was in possession of "Antje Van Bunschoten, Widdow." I find no other real estate credited to Gerrit, nor do I discover any will by him.

The briefest kind of glimpse is had of Gerrit and Antje in the church-warehouse accounts, previously mentioned under Elias, as follows; "Gueri Elisen, weaver, according to the balance of an account made with him and his wife upon my books, owes for various articles from May 21, 1706, up to Feb. 1, 1711-12, the sum of 46 gulden, 13 steuver."

Opposed to this are the following credits:

" Apr.11, 1712, Gueri Elisen killed a calf for one quarter 1 10. 

Dec. 5, 1713 - The widow of Gueri Elisen brought to me 

three deerskins, credited at 31 gulden, and I paid her nine 

gulden in money; remains a payment of twenty-two gulden, 22 0. 

March 15, 1713-4, Received of the widow Gueri Elisen, 23 3. 

<nowiki>---------------------------------------------------------</nowiki> 16 13." 

. Unimportant as these accounts seem from them we discover two things: that Gerrit was a "weaver," also that he was alive Apr. 11, 1712. But from a court record Aug. 2, 1712, when "Gerrit Van Bunschoten" appears as plaintiff and demands from a defendant 30 Gldrs. Damage for the killing of his dog, a much closer limit is set to Gerrit's death which clearly occurred between this latter date and Aug. 27, 1712, when Antje in Elias' deed is recorded as a "widdow." On Oct. 26, 1721, Antje again married, taking as her third husband Hendrick Rosekranse whose first wife was Antje Vredenburgh, and thereafter she lived in the nearby town of Rochester. The date of her death has not been found. Below are the baptisms of the children of Gerrit and Antje as recorded in the Kingston Church books, with the name of the sponsors added;

Gerrit van Bunschoten. Gerretie, Teunis Eliase. Antie Delva. Jan. 19, 1707. Marretie van Bunschoten.

Gerrit van Bunschoten. Antony, Elias van Bunschoten. Antie Delva. Sep. 11, 1709. Sarah Jansze.

Gerrit van Bunschoten. Gerretie, Jan Lasier.. Annatjen Delva. Nov,. 18, 1711. Catalyntjen ten Brock.

[page 416 "GERRIT LINE" ANTONY] Tabulated they stand:

1534. I. Gerritje, bp. Jan. 19, 1708. 1535. II. Antony, bp. Sep. 11, 1709. 1536. III Salomon, bp. Nov. 18, 1711. No further trace of him

         whatever is anywhere found; presumably he died young; 

        certainly never married.

This name Antony, borne by Antje's father and given her second child, was a happy recognition of both grandfathers, it being the Latin or Italian equivalent for Teunis. So all through Gerrit's descendants you find this form of the name adhered to, while among Elias' and Solomon's progeny the Dutch Teunis is the invariable form. http://www.oocities.org/mralperry/van.html

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