Grietje Borsboom

Grietje was in Albany in 1681 with spouse named Borsboom. Here we don't know what spouse means, for there is no marriage record, but Grietje shows up, in her only name citation ever found, as Grietje Borsbooms.

Family

His father Jacob Pietersen was unmarried in 1623, so Pieter Jacobse Borsboom was born ab. 1624 or later (likely ab. 1632) He is first rec. in New Amsterdam in 1657, he died by1 Mar. 1687, when his choice of guardians for his children is confirmed by the court.

He-- marr--. "Grietje" who might have had Mohawk Indian ancestry.

Al all children are under 25 and unmarried in will of 1684, they were born ab. 1662 or later

Children

1. Anna marr. Jan Mebie aft. 1687, rec. children 1693 to 1704
2. Marytje marr. 1) Teunis Carstens 1689/90 marr. 2) 26 Mar. 1692 Hendrick Brouwer
3. Catheryne had son Jacobus 1 Sep. 1699 and marr. Oct. 1705 John Oliver
4. Fytie marr. 2 Jun. 1696 Martin van Benthuysen
5. Cornelis, the only rec. son did not live to majurity

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Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Should_Grietje_Borsboom%27s_LNA...

Grietje was in Albany in 1681 with spouse named Borsboom. Here we don't know what spouse means, for there is no marriage record, but Grietje shows up, in her only name citation ever found, as Grietje Borsbooms. This record is from a court case that took place on 04 Oct 1681.

"Idem, plaintiff, against Grietie Borsbooms and her son, defendants." [1]. Richard Pretty, the sheriff [at Albany], complains that Grietje and her son resisted search and committed violence upon him in his lawful duties. The sheriff suspected they were illegally dealing in beaver pelts, which he thought they were hiding on their persons. He accused them of grabbing his throat and collar and yelling obscenities. The court heard from witnesses and agreed to fine Grietje, with an admonition against further resistance to lawful commands.

From this evidence, we can infer Grietje's spouse may be named Borsboom (she was apparently married, since she appeared with her son), she was alive in Albany area in 1681, and she was likely involved in the then illegal (outside the laws of the West India Company) trading with the local Mohawk village.

This remains the only known direct record from Grietje's life. It supports her connection to Pieter Jacobsz, the only known Borsboom in the Albany area. All other evidence is at best circumstantial, inferred by Grietje's roles as wife and mother.

From the children's data, we may reasonably infer that Grietje Borsboom was born approximately 1635 and died sometime after 1681. If she and Pieter Jacobsen were married, it would likely have occurred around 1660, about three years after his first appearance in Beverwijck records. Grietje was not named in Pieter Jacobsz' will of 1684. One might infer she had died, but inasmuch as her social status has not been determined, there might be other explanations.

BORSBOOM. Pieter Jacobse, steen bakker (brick maker), early settled in Beverwyck. In 1662, when the land was taken up at Schenectady, he became one of the fifteen first proprietors. His home lot in the village, was the north quarter of the block bounded by Front, Washington, Union and Church streets. He also had two farms allotted to him on the bouwland. In his will, which was recorded in New York, Oct. 18, 1686, he mentioned his son Cornells, and four daughters. An inventory of his property was made May 30, 1689, by Barent Janse Van Ditmars, Isaac Cornelise Swits and Douwe Aukes; it amounted to 1630 guilders. His son Cornelis probably died young ; his daughters who survived him were Anna, who m. Jan Pieterse Mebie ; Maritie, wife of Hendrick Brouwer; Fytie, wife of Marte Van Benthuysen, and Tryntje, wife of John Oliver.

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Disputed Origins

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Should_Grietje_Borsboom%27s_LNA...

No Evidence Supporting a von Rotmer child named Grietje

Actual evidence currently documents two children of Barent von Rotmer and wife Gijsje: Annetje and Barent, likely born in 1608 and 1610 respectively[18][19]. They were probably twenty or so years older than Pieter Jacobsen Borsboom. There is NO record known of another sibling, Grietje, born over twenty years after her siblings, and after the likely death of her father. She is not mentioned in her mother Gijsje's will. She seems to be a fiction, invented to ensure Pieter Jacobsen Borsboom marries the von Rotmer everyone's family tree says he deserves.

Lack of Immigration, Birth, Marriage, and Death Records for Grietje

If Grietje were of Dutch ancestry, there would likely be SOME record, but none has been found, no wills or ship records or birth records in Beverwijck or Netherlands. Her absence from Schenectady church records is somewhat explained however, due to no surviving church records there until after 1690. Since all early church records were destroyed in the 1690 Schenectady French-Indian massacre, the births of last children and Grietje's death record would be expected to be lost. Yet Grietje's marriage and births of earlier children (before there was any church in Schenectady) would be expected to be observed in the closest church. The total absence of records is at least a little suspicious.

But here we take some license in our speculating, not being familiar with the obstacles faced. Certainly, the period 1664-1674 were unsettled times in the area, with the threat of the French and Indian marauders, the back-in-forth struggle between the Dutch and English for control of Albany, and the tug-of-wars for influence and power between van Rensselaer and Stuyvesant. And the twenty miles between Albany and Schenectady were no casual trip through knee-deep snows of winter.

No Evidence Known That Ties Grietje to a Dutch Origin

In summary, there is NO evidence presented or known to support Dutch origins or von Rotmer connections of Borsboom's spouse Grietje. Yet without verifiable evidence of any kind, no one could say Grietje Borsboom was not a von Rotmer. (What a fascinating coincidence that would be.) This is why 'uncertain' ancestors must be based on something more than invention.

Grietje is considered to be the daughter of Mohawk indian parents. This supposition is based on a record where her daughter Anna is termed a 'relative of the indians'. This is referenced in 'Schenectady County New York: its History to the Close of the Nineteenth Century', Austin A. Yates, 1902, pages 6, 22-24.

Richard Petty, sheriff, ... states and complains that the defendants (Grietie Borsbooms and her son) committed great violence against him on the 11th of July last when, on their arrival from Schinnechtady with some beavers or peltries under their clothing, they refused to let him make a search and on the contrary resisted the plaintiff, grabbing him by the throat and collar and calling him a rascal, etc. ... The defendant says that the plaintiff needlessly attacked her and tore her skirt and apron and that she defended herself against his impudent attack.
The court, after hearing further testimony, found the pair guilty, fined them and warned them to "guard themselves hereafter against resisting an officer."

Since their daughter Anna, in an extraordinary deed of gift from the Mohawk Indians, was termed a relative of the Indians this would imply that Grietje was a Mohawk woman of some means, and that the deed of gift might very well have been in recognition of the matrilineal rights to certain lands which descended to Anna.

Marriages between Dutch men and Indian women were considered reputable and of no disgrace to either party.

Discrepancies :

Brenneman:
It is (not sourced) believed Grietje may have been a Mohawk since Indian lands were left to her husband because according to the deed she was related in some way to an Indian named Dirck.

C.S. Van Wormer: gives name Gisje B. Van Rottmers and 1st marriage to father of Albert Bradt ( I doubt this report unless Albert a later generation)
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My contribution to the prior post....My great great grandfather is Clark Peck.Clark Clarence Peck.
His appearance looks like American Indian. My DNA shows a small amount and this is the only person in the tree that possibly was American Indian.