Johannes Lucaszen Schouten

Jan Johannes Lucaszen Schouten

New Amsterdam immigrant

about 'Jan' Johannes Lucaszen Schouten
Johannes and his wife Sara came to New Netherlands on 17 Feb 1659 on the Dutch ship 'De Otter' skippered by Cornelis Reijgers van der Beets. They finally settled behind Pearl Street in New Amsterdam. Jan operated the sloop 'Liberty' carrying wheat, flour and other goods to the settlements along the Hudson. After Jan's death, his wife Sara was found in the records as a butcher.

• children - see Sara's about me

• Their destination was a Dutch settlement on the west bank of the Delaware River, New Amstel, now known as Newcastle, Delaware.There they found life far from happy, especially under the harsh treatment of Director D'Hinossa. Sara Jans, Jan's wife, became friends at this time with a Captain Creiger, and they soon got permission to travel with him to New Amsterdam (NYC).

On 18 Nov., 1659 Jan Luycas acknowledged this, and was punished for it by being imprisoned in a powder-hole (CDNY 12:293, 340).In Feb., 1660 Jan managed to leave New Amstel and he went into Maryland, and then his family made their way northward, probably to the little Dutch settlement in New Jersey called Bergen. They stayed in Bergen, and in October of 1660 they crossed the Hudson, and became members of the New York Dutch Reformed church.

On 29 May, 1663 Jan Schoute was sued for timber to pay for 600 feet of plank sawed for him by Cornelis Janzen (RNA 4:248). Jan probably was in the business of building boats, and sloops, a very profitable business in the early days of this colony.In 1665 he was living behind Pearl street in Manhattan when he was assessed in taxes for one florin toward housing the English soldiers (RNA 5:223).

On 30 March, 1669 he dropped a suit against Hendrick Janz Spier's wife. (Records of New Amsterdam RNA 6:176).In these early years the family attended the small Bergen Dutch Reformed church in Bergen, New Jersey.His family also attended the NYDRC.Jan made himself a good living in the sloop business, carrying people, grain, and merchandise to all areas of the new colony, and trading with the native Indian population.

He, and his partner Laurens Sluysen are mentioned in this activity in general entries, 1664-1673, page 493, and page 521.The list of Burghers, and inhabitants of New York ca. 1674 shows Jan with a second class property, and he was worth 1000 lbs (Valentine's History of New York), and it mentions in this record that he was of Dutch descent.

After the Dutch recaptured New Netherland from the British "the Skippers, and Barquiers of the city" were informed that "no more than two sloops shall go at once to Willemstadt (Albany), and Esopus, and one to the South River, and that alternately, as shall be determined by lot."Jan Schouten answered "That the small sloops ought to be allowed to make one voyage for one of the big ones."It was finally agreed to pool earnings, and "each shall earn and draw out his share according to the size and proportion of his vessel." (RNA 7:70).In the following May it was shown that Jan Schouten, and Symon Baerentsen had made a trip to Esopus, the proceeds of which were to go into the pool (RNA 7:83).However, the ship captains disagreed for Symon had to post a bond to appear at the next court of Assizes and "meanwhile to keep peace toward Jan Scholter" (CEM 44).Jan appears to have been smuggling flour without paying customs duty.

The Minutes of the Common Council for 10 Feb., 1677-1678 record a dispute between Cornelis Van Gloren, and John Scouten "Concerning the building of a boate bigger and larger than their agreement." (1:68).The Common Council on 18 April, 1683 ordered the Sheriff to seize, and secure illegal shipments (contrary to the orders and laws of this Government severall quantityes of Fflower are Dayly Imported into this city, for sale and Transportation particularly in the Briggantine Hopewel, John Scouten, Mar." (MCC Minutes of the Common Council 1:94).On 03 May, 1688 Jan's sloop was mentioned, along with him, in Albany records where some Burghers complained that their meal, which they "sent away in the sloop of Jan Schouten has been attached" (Court Minutes of Albany, 3:348).

The will of Jan was in the Dutch manner, a joint will of him, and his wife Sara.It was proved at the Court of Records on 15 March, 1690, and it was confirmed by Jacob Leisler on 02 May, 1690.Willem Bogardus, Notary, confirmed it as a joint will of "Jan Schouten and Sarah Janse, married and now living in the city well known to me and the witnesses."Jan, and Sarah left all their estate to "the lonest liver of the two", and it provided that their son Lucas was to have a double share of the estate; that daughter Janetie, wife of Pieter Stevenson should have only the use of her part so long as she is bound to him, her said husband, with her portion to descend to her son Johanes.That there were other children was mentioned, but they were not named.Nicholas Delaplaine, and Jacob Boelin witnessed the will on 09 March, 1685 (WNYHS 2:400).

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