Lt. Michael Hansen Bergen

Born on 18 Jul 1645 in New Amsterdam, now Brooklyn, Kings, New York. At the age of 1, Michael Hansen was baptized in New Amsterdam on 4 Nov 1646.5 Christened on 4 Nov 1645 in New Amsterdam, now Brooklyn, Kings, New York. Michael Hansen died after 22 Jan 1731.5 Occupation: plantation owner, captain of militia, justice of the peace.5

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From http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/bhs/arc_006_bergen/bioghist.html

In 1639, Hans Hansen Bergen married Sara Rapalje, who was mistakenly rumored to have been the first European child born in the colony of New Netherland. They had eight children, among them Michael Hansen Bergen (baptized November 4, 1646), who held civil office for several years and was one of the patentees named in Governor Thomas Dongan's patent of May 13, 1686, which provided the land grant that established the village of Breuklen in the colony of New York. He and his wife, Femmetje Bergen (nee Theunis) had five children.

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From Teunis G. Bergen's Register of the Early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island New York, p.34:5

Michael Hansen, bp. Nov. 4, 1646; m. Femmetje da. of Teunis Nyssen (Denyse); d. after Jan. 22, 1731. With his brother Jan and others applied Mar. 18, 1662, for land at Bedford, and obtained a patent for 20 morgens in that locality May 15, 1664, on which he probably at one period resided. Mar. 2, 1674, he bought, of Albert Cornelysen Wantenaer, Huych Aerts Van Rossem's patent of 29 morgens in the vicinity of Powers St. in the present city of Brn, and which in a confirmatory patent to Cornelysen was made to cover 90 morgens, to which plantation he removed. His name appears as one of the patentees of Brn on Gov. Dongan's patent of May 13, 1686. Took the oath of allegiance in Brn in 1687 as a native; commissioned Oct. 22, 1688, as capt. of militia; and appointed justice of the peace by Gov. Bellamont Oct. 11, 1698. In 1701 he bought 466 A. of land on the Raritan, N. J. Issue:--Sara, bp. June 2, 1678, m. Feb. 17, 1722, Jan Strycker of Flh; Teunis, bp. May 16, 1680, d. young; Hans, bp. May 11, 1689; Femmetje, m. Jan. 6, 1695, Jan Cornelisse Vanderveer; and Mary. Signed his name "Migguel Hansen.

From The Bergen Family by Teunis G. Bergen, Albany, N.Y., 1876, beginning on page 98:20

5. MICHAEL or "MIGGIEL" HANSEN Bergen, baptized Nov. 4th, 1646, in New Amsterdam; living as late as Jan. 22d, 1731, and died about 1732; m. Femmetje Theunis, daughter of Theunis Denyse1 (sometimes written Nysen,

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[Footnotes on Page 98]:

     1Teunis Nyssen emigrated as early as 1638, from Bininck or Bennekom, in the Sticht of Uythuyzen, a village near Arnhem, containing 212 houses and 900 Inhabitants, in the province of Gilderland, in the Netherlands, and died prior to August, 1663. According to the records of the New York Dutch church, he married Feb. 11th, 1640, Phabea Faelix, of Jarleston, England, who is known on other records as the widow of Hendrick the boor, who may have used the surname of Faelix. Phabea or Femmetje was the daughter of 

[footnote cont'd. on page 99]:

John Seals, an Englishman from Devonshire, written Jan Celes on the Dutch Colonial Records, who-came to New Amsterdam from New England as early as 1638, at which date he was a planter on Manhattan Island. Seals married Maria Robberts or Robertson, Femmetje being his only child of whom we have any account. His farm, commonly known as old Jans's land, and marked 37 on the farm map, on page 463 of Valentine's Manual of 1852, lay north of and adjoining the cripplebush (swamp), a miry outlet of the collect, or fresh water pond, now occupied by the lower part of Canal street, and extended along the river to Charlton street. In his latter days, Seals seems to have become irritable, and as a consequence he figures in court on charges of shooting his neighbor's hogs, and committing other damages. "In 1643, several cattle, belonging to the government, strayed in the woods, and messengers were despatched to look them up. When they came to Old Jans plantation by the swamp, they saw that the woman residing on said Old Jans plantation had driven with a goad the cattle into said swamp, so that they sunk into it over their backs; but as they were strong and well in flesh, they finally got through the morass." In 1645, Seals was in some way wounded, on which he made a will, dated April 7th, of that year, in which he devises to "Tonis Nyssen," his son-in-law, the half of all the means and effects he leaves behind, and to his wife, Marritje Robbers, the other half, until she marry or die: if she marry, then to have the use of said half during life, with privilege to dispose of 200 gl. by will out of the estate, as she may see fit, the remainder of her half, after her death, to go to "Tonis Nyssen," or his children and heirs. Seals died soon after executing the will, and in August 9th following, his widow m. Thomas Gridy or Grydy, an Englishman, and widower, 60 years old, who afterwards resided in Gravesend, got in trouble with George Baxter in 1656, and was sentenced to be publicly whipped, and to be banished the province for twelve years. Nyssen or Denyse administered on the estate, and April 3d, 1647, obtained a patent for "Old Jans Land" from Governor Kieft, in which it is described as extending "on the south side from the land and valley belonging to Everhardus Bogardus, minister, and on the north side to Cornelis Maersen, thence along the Negroes plantations to the Cripplebush of said Bogardus. It runs in breadth along the strand 50 rods, from the strand along the cripplebush south-east by east 150 rods, along the cripplebush to the Negroes land it stretches east by south 45 rods; along the Negroes plantation upwards

[footnote cont'd. on page 100]:

North North West 60 rods; towards the strand downward North West by West 37 rods; along the cripplebush of Cornelis Maersen it runs North West by North 27 rods; along the cripplebush up to the strand Westerly 40 rods." June 11th, 1651, Teunis Nyssen conveyed these premises to Augustyn Heermans, who on the 11th of May, 1655, sold them to Rut Jacobsen, of Fort Orange, as per E. B. O'Callaghan. (See New York Corporation Manual, of 1820, p. 922, etc.) After Nyssen's death, Femmetje, his widow, married, August 24th, 1663 (Brooklyn Dutch Church records), Jan Cornelissen Buys, whose name appears on the list of small burgers of New Amsterdam in 1657, by whom no account of any issue, and died prior to June, 1667. Prior to 1639, Nyssen appears to have possessed or occupied a plantation on Manhattan Island, and Dec. 21st, 1643, there is an acknowledgment of his on the Colonial Records, of being indebted 400 carolus guilders to Cornelis Dircksen Hooglandt for the purchase of cows. Dec. 1st, 1646, he bought for 160 gl. of Leendert Arenden, a house and lot on the great highway opposite the company's garden on said island, which he sold May 13th, 1649, to Govert Loockermans. March 28th, 1647, he obtained a patent for a lot north of the public wagon road, and east of the company's land on Manhattan Island, which he also sold on the 13th of May, 1649, to Govert Loockermans. He also obtained a patent for a plantation and meadows at Gowanus, in the vicinity of Fourth and Fifth avenues and Carrol and President streets, where he at one time resided. The following abstract from a deed or agreement in the possession of Garret Brower, of Gowanus, of Nyssen to Adam Brower, throws light on the location of Nyssen's Gowanus farm: "This 1st day of April Anno 1654, appeared before me Dirck Schelluyne, pub. Notary, &c., Theunis Nyssen, farmer, living in Gouwanes upon the Long Island, & declared the said Nyssen to have granted &c. to Adam Brouwer, the which also appeared & this gift accepted, to wit:--Certain parcell of Bushland (woodland) limeting easterly after (in rear of) his house and land, broad 45 rods (551 f. 3 in.) proceeding to the highway (probably the old road from Gowanus to Brooklyn), and his land so far in the Bush (woods) as ye patent of Thennis Nyssen doth contain (extend); likewise so much ground whereupon Adam Brouwers house is built as ye said Adam for the present hath brought in hedge (fence), & also ye meadows fore (in front) of his house, limiting & proceeding to the East from a small creek in (to) a great creek, & so forth to the Bushland where the meadow doth

[footnote cont'd. on page 101]:

stop, all laying on Gouwanes aforesaid, for which abovesaid gift the said Adam Brouwer doth promise on ye behalf of ye said Theunis Nyssen to be in his service the time of 18 days in this present month of April, & in the month of April 1655, 18 days, all without any cost of ye said Theunis Nyssen, being ye said Nyssen bound in the month of April 1655 aforesaid, when the last 18 days of service are satisfyed on ye behalf of ye said Adam Brouwer of ye aforesaid land & meadows to deliver lawful letters of possession & transport &c." In 1655 he bought a plantation in Flatbush, of Evert Duyckingh, for 660 carolus guilders, where he probably resided in 1656, for on the 13th of Dec., 1656 (as per Valentine's Manual of 1861, p. 591), "Teunis Nysen of Midwout" conveyed to Cosyn Gerritsen, a lot in New Amsterdam, patented to him Dec. 5th, 1643. He resided in Brooklyn in 1658 and 1661, and in said years was a magistrate of said town. Nyssen's children were: Jannetje Teunis, baptized Dec. 24th, 1641, m. Jan Hansen Bergen; Marretje Teunis, baptized April 3d, 1644, m. Derick Janse Wortman; Aartje Teunis, m. (supposed) Theodorus Polhemius; Annetje Teunis, baptized Feb. 28th, 1646, m. Hieronomus Rapalje; Elsje Teunis, baptized May 14th, 1648, m. Garret Snedeker; Femmetje Teunis, baptized April 3d, 1650, m. Michael Hansen Bergen; Dionys (Denyse) Teunis, baptized April 12th, 1654, m. (1st), Oct 22d, 1682, Elizabeth, daughter of Theodorus Polhemius, m. (2d), Aug. 12th, 1685, Helena, daughter of Jacques Corteljou, and widow of Claas (Nicholas) Van Brunt; Jan Teunissen, baptized April 12th, 1654, m. Catalina Tunis, daughter of Tunis Gysbertse Bogaert; Cornelis Teunisen, m. Aug. 23d, 1687, Neeltje, daughter of Tunis Gysbertse Bogaert, who, with his brother Jan Teunissen, settled on the Raritan, near Somerville, N. J., and whose descendants retain the surname of Tunisens, in place of that of Denyse. The descendants of his son Dionys, form the Denyse family of this vicinity and of New Jersey.

The following is a fac simile of John Seals's signature:-- [Sorry, image not available at this time--Webmaster]

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Nysse or Niessen), of Gowanus, and sister of Denyse Teunis, the ancestor of the Denyse family of King's county and New Jersey. Femmetje was baptized April 3d, 1650, in New Amsterdam.

March 10th, 1661, his name appears to the petition hereinbefore referred to in the account of Jan Hansen, to

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the governor and council for more land. May 15th, 1664, he obtained from Gov. Stuyvesant a patent for 20 morgens at New Bedford in the Wallabout.

From a deed of Hendrick Rycken (Suydam), and Idye, his wife, of April 20th, 1698, to Hendrick Hendricksen (Suydam), his son, for a plot in Bedford, bounded south by

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land of Machiel Hansen (Bergen), and north by land of Derick Janse Hooglandt, in length east and west 500 Dutch rods, and in breadth 24 Dutch rods, as per patent of Gov. Stuyvesant, of May 15th, 1664 (see lib. 2, p. 168, of con., register's office King's county), which deed and patent appears to cover about the northerly one-half of the farm in Bedford, late of Lambert Suydam, designated as that of the

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widow Lott, on Butts's map of Brooklyn; from a deed of Denys Hegeman, of Bedford, baker, and Catryntje, his wife, of Nov. 17th, 1747, to Hendrick Suydam, for 36 1/3 acres at Bedford, bounded southerly by the king's highway that leads from New York ferry to Jamaica, east and north by said Hendrick Suydam, and west by said king's road; and from a deed of Hendrick Suydam to Lambert Suydam of April 13th, 1768, for 40 acres at Bedford, bounded west and south by the king's highway that leads from New York ferry to Jamaica, south and east by Jacobus Lefferts, and north by said Hendrick Suydam, which last two recited deeds appear to cover about the southerly one-half of said farm late of Lambert Suydam, designated as that of widow Lott on Butts's map, there appears to be good reason to conclude, and it is evident that Machiel Hansen (Bergen's) patent of 20 morgen in Bedford adjoined the north side of the road leading from New York or Brooklyn ferry to Jamaica, covering about the southerly one-half of said widow Lott's farm, and that he probably sold the same to Denys Hegeman, who sold to Hendrick Suydam. The deeds referred to are on file in the office of the register of King's county.

April 19th, 1666, "Michael Hansen and Catalina Jeronymus" (Rapalie) were witnesses at baptism of Joris, son of "Marten Reyertszen and Annetje Joris" (Rapalie), and July 13th, 1673, "Michael Hansen and Catalina Joris" were witnesses at baptism of Marratie, daughter of Dirck Corneliszen and Lysbeth Jans.

After the capture of New Netherland from the English by the Hollanders on the 25th of October, 1673, he was appointed a lieutenant of militia under the administration of Anthony Colve, the Netherlands governor. In 1676 and 1683, his name appears on the assessment rolls of Brooklyn, for 20 morgen, the amount of his patent, on

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which at the time he probably resided. November 19th, 1679, the names of "Michael Hansz Bergen and Femmetje Teunis, his wife," appear on the list of members of the Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn, among the residents of the Walebocht, and from 1680 to 1685, he appears to have held the office of deacon in said church.

March 2d, 1674, Michael Hansen, of Bedford, agreed to purchase a plantation of Albert Cornelysen Wantenaer,1 of Breukelen, for 8,500 guilders, 1,000 gl. down, one-fourth (1,875 gl.) of the remainder to be paid at Christmas, 1675; one-fourth at Christmas, 1676; one-fourth at Christmas, 1677; and the balance at Christmas, 1678. The payments to be made one-third in wheat, one-third in peas, and one-third in all kinds of corn at the market value, and when all paid the deed to be delivered. In the agreement, Cornelysen describes the premises as "his plantation situated here at Breukel, next to the land of Jan Evertse Bout, dec'd,2

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[Footnotes on Page 103]:

     1Albert Cornelysen Wantenaer, or "the glove maker," emigrated from Vechten, a village of 790 inhabitants, in the province of Utrecht, in the Netherlands, and was in this country as early as March, 1642. In June, 1643, he let himself as a wheelwright to Conyn Gerritsen for one year. (New York Colonial Manuscripts, 11, 61.) Jan. 21st, 1659, he resided in New Amsterdam, and petitioned to have a lot surveyed, and from a suit in the burgomaster's and schepen's court, in 1661, it may be inferred that he then resided in that place. June 5th, 1665, he was tried for killing Barent Jansen, of Brooklyn, by striking him in the side with a knife, of which wound he died the same day. The deed having been done in self defense, he was convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to be burned in the hand before the rising of the court, to forfeit his goods and chattels, and to be imprisoned for a year and a day. Gov. Nicolls, however, pardoned him the same day. (Albany recorded patents, vol. I, 165.) In 1686 he and Tryntje Harders, his wife, resided on the East river shore, above Wall street, in New York. 

2Jan Evertse Bout came to this country in 1634, from Barrevelt or Barnweld, a town of 5,221 inhabitants, in Gelderland, in the Netherlands, and when residing on the director's bouwery at Pavonia (Jersey City) in 1638, threatened to shoot the fiscal if he came over there to interfere with his domestic arrangements, especially with his treatment of his female negro slaves, who he said he would use as he pleased. About 1641 he received a patent from Director
[footnote cont'd. on page 104]:

K? ?? 107 acres at "Camonepaen," N. J., which he sold, about 1647, for ??,000 ??. to Michael Jansen. July 6th, 1645, he received a patent for 27 morgen and 270 rods of land at "Matckawick on Gouwanus Kil." Feb. 9th 1647, he obtained a patent for a lot in New Amsterdam. August 19th, 1649, he and his wife. Tryntje Symons de Witt, made a joint will, by which the longest lives or survivor was to remain in possession of their property. On the same date, being about to sall to the fatherland, he gave his wife a power of attorney to manage his affairs in his absence. Judging from several suits in the ?? ??'s and schepen's courts, he resided from 1656 to 1660, in New ??, where, April 6th, 1657, his name appears on the list of small burgess. Pr?? a suit in that court on Jan. 17th, 1656, between him and ??rick Van Na??den, it appears that he was then building a house in the village of ??out (Flatbush), probably on the 58 morgens for which he obtained a parent in said town, March 17th, 1662. From a Directory of the city of New York, of 1665 (see Valantine's Manual of 1850, p. 453), he then resided behind Peart street, in said city. He m. (2d), Annetje Pieters, who, after his death. m. (1st), Andries Janse Jurianse, of Brooklyn, and m. (2d), June 11th, 1682, Jan Janse S??, of Gowanus. He probably resided during the latter past of his life on his Gowanus farm. April 1st, 1670, Adrian Hegethan and Johannes Nevius were authorised to act as his executors.

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but at present of Andriese Jurianse,1 southeast of the meadows; cast 68 rods, southeast 30 rods, further the maize land2 up to against the woods, northeast by north 60 rods, in the woods northeast by east 85 rods, in breadth in the woods to the land of said Andries Jurianse northwest 87 rods, again to the maize land next to the aforesaid Andrics Juriansen, southwest and southwest by west 55 rods, the maize land through to the first descent southwest a little southerly 137 rods, containing 19 morgen and 105 rods; also yet another parcel of land joining the above mentioned land, thereafter to said Cornelisse allowed and on his patent noted, great about 9, or 10 morgcn, so that the whole land contains about 29 morgen

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[Footnotes on Page 104]:

     1Andries Juriansen, on Andries ?? ??, m. Annetje Pieters, widow of Jan Evertse Bout. She, after the death of Andries, m. Jan Janse St??ts, of ??. In 1674, he had a law suit with Albert Cornelysen Wantenaer. 

2By maize land is meant land used by the Indians in the cultivation of ?? ?? or ?? torn, which, on account of being partly cleared, was very desirable to early settlers.
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as it more particularly by the patent can be seen: with the above to be included the meadows by said plantation located, and by Albert Cornelyse previous to this bought of Theunis Niessen, dec'd, which he promises to describe by the patent or deed from said Theunis Niessen." The boundary in the original patent of Gov. Kieft, of Feb. 22d, 1646, for this land to Huych Aerts Van Rossem,1 accords mainly with the description in the above agreement, and is as follows: "a piece of land lying at Mareckkawieck,2 on the marsh of Gouwanos Kill, the maize land as well as woodland, lying on the southeast by the land of Jan Evertse along the marsh, east 68 rods, southeast 30 rods, further along the maize land till to the woods northeast by north 60 rods, in the woods northeast by east 85 rods, the breadth in the woods till to the land of said Jan Evertse, (Bout,) northwest 87 rods, again to the maize land next to the land of the aforesaid Jan Evertse southwest and southwesterly 55 rods, through the maize land to the first descent southwest a little southerly 137 rods, amounting in all to 19 morgen and 105 rods." Endorsed on the patent is also "yet another adjoining parcel granted so as his land to contain by the measurement of the surveyor 29 morgen." A confirmatory patent for these premises was granted, June 21st, 1667, by Gov. Richard Nicolls to Albert Cornelysen (Wantenaer), who is stated therein to have married Trientye, the widow of the said van Rossum,3 in which the boundaries accord with the

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[Footnotes on Page 105]:

     1Huych or Huyg Aertsen's name appears first in the Colonial Records, on the 31st of January, 1639. June 14th, 1643, as per Reformed Dutch Church records, of New York, "Huyg Aertsen, widr. of Annetje Theunis, m. Tryntje Harders, wid. of Hendrick Holst." In 1646, Huych was a magistrate of Brooklyn. 

2The Indian name of Brooklyn.
3He m. Tryntje, Feb. 23, 1648, in New Amsterdam, her name on the marriage record being "Tryntje Herders Van Tunningen."
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original patent, but the quantity is set forth to be in all 90 morgen or 180 acres.

In 1675, "Michael Hansen" was assessed in Brooklyn one poll, two horses, seven cows, and twenty morgen of land and valley, the land valued at £40, and the personal property at £74, total £114. At this date there were but sixty names on the assessment roll of the town, sixteen persons being assessed over £100 each, and the highest, Tunis Gysbertse Bogaert, being £327. Total valuations in the town £5,204.

In 1676, he was assessed one poll, two horses, four cows, two do. of 3 years, two do. of 2 years, and twenty morgen of land and valley, the land valued at £40, and the personal at £75.

March 7th, 1680-1, Cornelysen conveyed by endorsement on the back of both patents, to Michael Hansen Bergen, all his rights in both patents; also by a separate conveyance the adjoining meadows, which he had bought from Theunis Nissen, on the 16th of May, 1656, and which meadow was confirmed to Cornelysen by a patent from Gov. Nicolls, dated June 26th, 1668.1

To this plantation Michael Hansen removed, and continued to reside during the remainder of his days; the main portion of which plantation a few years ago was the property of the heirs of George Powers, deceased, distinguished as the Powers farm on Butts's map of Brooklyn.

In consequence of Michael Hansen holding and claiming 90 morgen, as per Gov. Nicoll's confirmatory patent, when the original one of Gov. Kieft covered but 29 morgen, the general boundaries in both being similar, the freeholders of

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     1The first two patents and the conveyances are in the hands of the author. Jan. 31st, 1659, Cornelysen petitioned to have a lot surveyed in New Amsterdam, and from a suit of June 21st, 1661, in the burgomaster's and schepen's court, it may be inferred that at said dates he resided in said place. 

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Brooklyn, about 1722, commenced a suit in chancery against him to recover for their benefit the balance over the 29 morgen, but the dispute was finally settled after the title was vested in his son Hans, as will hereafter appear.

In 1980, "Michael Hansen" and Symon Aessen (De Hart) were overseers of Brooklyn. (See Furman's Notes, p. 60, and record of court of sessions.) It was the duty of the overseers, together with the constable, among other powers, to hold town courts for the trial of cases under £5, and to make all assessments. In the same year he is credited on the books of Elbert Elbertse Stoothoff, of Flatlands, with four schepels wheat, and also charged for a horse.

In 1683, "Machael Hansen" was assessed one poll £18; two horses £24; six cows £30; four do. of 3 years £16; five do. of 2 years £12 10s.; five do. of 1 year £7 10s.; and twenty morgen land £40; total £148.

In Dongan's patent of Brooklyn of May 13th, 1686, Michael Hanse (Bergen) is named as one of the patentees. In 1681, 1682, 1686, 1688, and 1689, he held the office of one of the overseers or commissioners having in charge the town lands, and to defend town rights, three citizens being customarily selected for this purpose. In October, 1686, he was a member of the grand jury, and in 1690, foreman.

In September, 1687, his name appears among those who took the oath of allegiance to the British government.

In May, 1688, Michael Hansen and Daniel Rapalje were appointed by the court of sessions assessors, for the purpose of assessing on the inhabitants of Brooklyn their proportion of a tax of £308 8s., imposed on King's county, their lists to be delivered on the 4th of August. (See p. 65 of Furman's Notes of Brooklyn.)

October 22d, 1688, he was commissioned as captain of

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the Brooklyn company of militia, by Governor Nicholson, Thomas Lambertse being the lieutenant, and Jan Aertsen Middagh second lieutenant; and December 27th, 1689, he received a commission for the same office from the acting governor, Jacob Leisler, whose side he seems to have espoused in the difficulties which at the time convulsed the colony, and which ended in the unjust condemnation and execution of Leisler, and his son-in-law, Milbourne.

For his support of Leisler's administration, his name appears among the thirty who, in consequence of being Leisler's most obnoxious followers, were excepted in a bill "for pardoning such as have been active in the late disorders," passed May 16th, 1691, by the first assembly which met under the administration of Gov. Sloughter, Leisler's successor. He, however, does not appear to have suffered in consequence of the exception, or have been punished for his course.

November 21st, 1692, Michael Hansen (Bergen), Aris Janse (Vanderbilt), Johannes Van Eckelen, Symon Hansen, and Daniel Remsen,1 were sent on behalf of a company (mainly residents of Flatbush), of which they were partners, to Pennsylvania to select a good tract of land for a settlement and residence, which when found to purchase for their

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     1Aries Jansen (Vanderbilt), of Flatbush, was a son of Jan Aersen, the common ancestor of the Vanderbilt family. Johannes Van Eckelen was schoolmaster of Flatbush. Symon Hansen, of Flatbush, was a son of Hans Hansen or Jansen (Van Noortstrant), the common ancestor of the Van Noostrand family. Daniel Remsen, of Flatbush, was a son of Rem or Remmert Jansen Vanderbeeck, the common ancestor of the Remsen family in this country. The following is a translation of the order to select lands: "King's County, town of Flatbush, A. D. 1692, November 21st. We undersigned declare the persons, Michiel Hansen, Aris Jansen, Johannes Van Ekelen, Symon Hansen, and Daniel Remsen, to be authorized on our behalf and in our name, to go to Pennsylvania and in that locality to look out for a good piece of land and situation to reside upon, and the same having found to purchase for us and them together, even a large plot (great portion) for every [cont'd.] 

[footnote cont'd. on page 109]:

[cont'd.] one, each of us to bear his proportion of the purchase to the above named persons, and each of those of us who remain at home to pay or allow them for travelling expenses the sum of two pieces of eight.

We the undersigned declare we have authorized the above named persons and commissioned them to act for us to the best of their ability.

MIGGUEL HANSEN,

JAN REMSEN,

ARIES YANSEN,

ELBERT ADRIAENSEN,

JOHANNES VAN EKELEN,

MARTEN CLOCKE,

SYMEN HANSEN,

DANIEL REMSEN,

ARIE his (???) mark. YANSE,

PETER LODT,

           GARRIT HANSEN." 

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joint use; the partners remaining at home, each to pay two pieces of eight towards the expenses of the journey. At this period and in the beginning of the next century, many families emigrated from the partially worn out lands of the west end of Long Island to the new and fertile lands of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the cheapness of which afforded an opportunity to enlarge their borders and better their condition. This emigration at one period was so great that the colonial governors complained of it in their communications with the home government. Bergens, Wyckoffs, Schencks, Cowenhovens or Conovers, Denyses, Stoothoffs, Barkeloos, Rapalyes, Van Brunts, Cortelyous, and others, descendants of these emigrants, are numerous in the above named states. Having found no result of this expedition, it may be presumed, from most of the parties remaining in the county, that no land was purchased.

In 1693, Michael Hansen served in the grand jury.

October 11th, 1698, Michael Hansen was appointed a justice of the peace by the governor, the earl of Bellomont, and was one of the justices of the sessions, which office he held until 1703, being entered on the court records from May, 1700, as one of the justices of the quorum, and again as a justice of the sessions in 1710 and 1711.

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In 1698 his family is entered on the census of Brookland as consisting of "1 man, 1 woman, 3 children and 2 slaves."

Michael Hansen appears several times to have visited the vicinity of the Raritan river in New Jersey. The records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Raritan set forth that March 8th, 1699, "Michiel Hanssen and Femmitchien Hanse" were witnesses at baptism of Abraham, son of "Cornelis Thuenissen" (Denyse) and "Neeltien Thuenissen" (Bogart), said Cornelis being a brother-in-law of Michiel: also, that Nov. 18th, 1701, "Miegiel Hansen and Femmietie Hanse" were witnesses at baptism of Barbara, daughter of "Auke Jansen" (Van Nuyse).

September 22d, 1701, Tam, a slave of Michael Hansen (Bergen), and Mink, a slave of Joris Hansen (Bergen), with other slaves, were convicted in the court of sessions of having, late in the night of the 15th instant, assaulted and dangerously wounded Entreato Jack, a slave of Cornelis Van Duyn, and of disturbing the peace by drinking, fighting, and hallooing all night. Entreato Jack, who was also convicted of having commenced the fight, and the two other negroes, were sentenced to receive thirteen lashes apiece on their naked backs, and to be imprisoned until their masters paid a fine of 20s. each. Michael Hansen (Bergen) and Joris Hansen (Bergen), and others, were fined 8s. each for not bringing their slaves before the court. Marta Simson, the tavern keeper at Flatbush, was fined 26s. for selling liquor to the negroes. The tavern at the time was kept in the building used for a court house and jail.

In 1702, Michael Hansen was assessed for 100 acres of arable land, and the same in 1706.

In 1708, his name, among others, appears on an agreement to call a minister from Holland, in the Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn.

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[Page 111]

April 20th, 1709, "Machielle Hansen" bought of Gerridt Middagh for £429,1 "a house, orchard and house lot at the ferry, Brooklyn, containing about 10 acres, bounded easterly in the front and to the street from a certain house now standing and formerly in possession of John Smith, deceased, and soe stretching from said house all along a certain fence and soe by the house abovesaid and barn thereto belonging, to the salt water river; northerly by said river called the East river from high water mark thereof, soe far along said river to the westward till it comes opposite the rear fence of said land that joynes upon the land of the heyers of Jores Remsen deceased;2 and southerly by the land and orchard formerly in the possession of said John Smith deceased, and the land of the said Gerridt Middagh, excepting always out of this deed and grant out of the bounds of the land abovesaid, the house and ground of John Evertse3 to him sold formerly by John Gerretse Van Couwenhoven, as per deed thereof may appear, &c.; as alsoe all that ground on said

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[Footnotes on Page 111]:

     1See lib. 3, p. 178, of con. King's county register's office. 

2Jores Remsen, born Feb. 2, 1650, was a son of Rem Janse Vanderbeeck, the common ancestor of the Remsen family of this country, and m. Nov. 2d, 1684, Femmetje, daughter of Derck Janse Woertman, and Oct. 10th, 1706, bought his father-in-law's farm near Brooklyn ferry, consisting of Jan Mange's patent of Sept. 11th, 1642, containing 20 morgens; Andries Hudden's of Sept. 13th, 1643, containing 37 morgens and 247 rods; and that of Claes Jansen Van Naerden's, of Sept. 30, 1645, containing 21 morgens and 247 rods, in all about 78 morgens, or 156 acres. His children or heirs were: Mary, m. July 19th, 1707, Joost De Bevoise; Sarah, m. July 23d, 1714, Jacobus De Bevoise; Rem Jorise, m. August 17th, 1707, Aeltje, daughter of Jores or George Hansen Bergen; Elizabeth, baptized March 5th, 1699, m. George Rapalje; Antje, baptized July 27th, 1701; Cataline, baptized April 12th, 1704, m. Hendrick, son of Rem Remsen, died Oct. 13th, 1784; and Hilletje, baptized Jan. 12th, 1705.
3Probably John Evertse Bout. Thomas Everett a few years ago owned a plot in this vicinity, probably the plot above referred to, and said Thomas may be a descendant of said John Evertse.
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[Page 112]

river side to the westward of said John Evertse's house and ground soe far alongst said river till it comes opposite with the reare fence of said land that joynes upon the land of the heyres of Jores Remsen deceased, to begin from high water mark all alongst said river and within the limits aforesaid, and so to run 25 English ffoot up into the hill and noe more, as a reserve for the use and property of the grantor his heyres and assigns forever; And likewise the said Gerridt Middagh doth grant, &c., to the said Machielle, &c., all that spott of ground lying in the front and before said house, ground and bargained premises to the streetward, beginning from a certain house now standing and formerly in the possession of said John Smith deceased, all along said house and bargained premises to the salt water river, the length thereof and in breadth by the farthermost Pale that now stands in the sand, containing 66 English ffoot between said pale and the house, garden and barne of said bargained premises, together," etc. In this conveyance is the following singular provision:--"and if said Machielle or any of his heyres shall at any time hereafter see cause to sell and dispose of the abovesaid house, land and bargained premises, that the said Gerridt Middagh or his heyres (if he or they see cause) shall have the free privilege to purchase the same for the price of £429 current money of New York, and upon the payment of said sum a deed to be given for the same by the said Machielle or his heyres to the said Gerridt Middagh or his heyres, and that the said Machielle or his heyres may not dispose of the said premises to any other person but to those of his or their offspring if the said Gerridt or his heyres see cause to buy the same for the price aforesaid, he the said Gerridt or his heyres paying over and above the price aforesaid for all new buildings that shall be at that time upon said

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[Page 113]

land within fence, as any two indifferent men shall value it,"1 etc.

June 14th, 1710, for £420, Michiel Hansen conveyed the above premises to his son Hans Bergen.2

January 11th, 1728, for £259, Hans Bergen and Rachel, his wife, conveyed the main portion of the above described premises to Israel Horsefield,3 who, from a map on file in the office of the register of King's county, made by Englebert Lott, on the 13th day of May, 1763, appears at that date to have been the owner of the whole, or nearly the whole of them, and they appear to cover nearly all the land on Brooklyn heights, from the vicinity of Clark street to about Doughty street, including a portion of the river front, as will more clearly appear by the diagram hereinafter contained, illustrating the premises owned by the above-mentioned Hans Bergen.

In 1710 and 1711, Michael Hansen's name again appears as a justice of the sessions; and August 1st, 1711, as an elder of the church in "Brookland," with others on a petition to Governor Hunter, for a charter for the church, which they failed to obtain. October 29th, 1714, Cornelis Vander Hoove4 commenced a suit against him for trespass, claiming £100 damages.

August 21st, 1723, for £800, he conveys to his son, Hans Bergen, of the ferry, his farm in "Brookland," (the land he bought of Albert Cornelysen Wantenaer), "bounded S. E. by the fence of Martin Adriance;5 N. W. by

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[Footnotes on Page 113]:

     1See lib. 3, p. 178, of con. King's county register's office. 

2See lib. 3, p. 208, of con. King's county register's office.
3See lib. 5, p. 155, of con. King's county register's office.
4Cornelis Vander Hoove m. Lysbet (???), and resided in Bedford in 1707. He was a son of Cornelis Vander Hoove and Mattye, who died in 1705. Hoeven is a village of 550 inhabitants, in North Braband.
5Martin Adriance, born March 9th, 1688, was a son of Adrian Reyerse, and the ancestor of the Martense family of Long Island.
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[Page 114] Carel De Bevoise1 and the kings highway that goes to the ferry; and S. W. by the meadows; also, land at the east side of the highway from Flatbush to Brookland, containing together with the land bounded as aforesaid and the woodland at the east side of the way aforesaid, 180 acres." Also, a lot of woodland in the second division of Brookland, and another lot in the same division, both together containing 20 acres; also, the meadows in said town belonging to him.2

August 21st, 1723, on the same date, an agreement was entered into between Hans Bergen, of the ferry (son of Michael), of the one part, and Michael Hansen Bergen, Femmetje Bergen, now the wife of John Vanderveer, Sarah Bergen, now the wife of John Strycker, and Mary Bergen, all daughters of said Michael Hansen Bergen, of the other part, in which it is set forth that said Michael Hansen Bergen, for the consideration of £800, has sold to his son Hans his lands, for which Hans is to defend without any liability or expense on the part of his father, a suit in chancery, brought against said Michael Hans by the inhabitants of Brookland for the recovery of part of his lands, the expense of said suit to be equally borne by himself and his three sisters, and to be deducted from the sums herein provided to be paid them by Hans; Hans to pay his sister Mary £200, Femmetje £200, and Sarah £200, after the death of their father; Michael Hans to hold possession and have the use of the premises during his life. The complaint in the above suit, was, that Michael Hansen had taken up 120 acres of land more than what he was entitled to by Kieft's patent. Hans soon compromised the matter, and ended

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[Footnotes on Page 114]:

     1Carel De Bevoise, baptized August 1st, 1680, was a son of Jacobus, and a grandson of Carel, the first schoolmaster of Brooklyn, and the first of the name in this country. 

2See lib. 5, p. 10, of con. King's county register's office.
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[Page 115]

the suit, for it appears that January 7th, 1723-4, sixty-one of the freeholders of Brooklyn (who were probably all, or nearly all who resided in the place), for £40, released to Hans Bergen all their right in the 180 acres occupied by his father Michael.1 Hans afterwards brought in a bill of £375 7s. and 6 1/2d., up to January 19th, 1723, incurred for

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[Footnotes on Page 115]:

     1The following is a list of said freeholders, as per lib. 5, p. 41, of con. King's county register's office: 

John + Dorlant,

Cyrimier Van Vette,

Rynier Van Vegtte,

Gerritje Veghte,

Daniel Polemis,

Catryne + Filken,

Jacob Hanse (Bergen),

Jan Van Noortstrant,

Altie Remse,

Pieter Strycker,

Daniel Remse,

Cornelis Cornel,

Giljam Cornel,

B. Van de water,

Lambert + Andriessen,

Rem Hegeman,

Jacob Durye,

Cornelis Van Duyn,

C. Van Der Hoeven,

Yan Rapaelje,

Jores Hansen (Bergen),

Gysbert Boogart,

Abraham + Brower,

Jeronimus Rapalje,

Hans Bergen,

Daniel Rapalje,

Joseph Hegeman,

Jacob + Cashow,

Joris Rappalyee,

Adriaen Bennet,

Jan Dorlandt,

Johannes Zeckels,

Nicalaes Couwenhoven,

John + Bennet,

Isaac Jansen,

Wouter + Van Pelt,

Jacobus Debeuvos,

Gerbrant Pietersen,

Henry + Sedam,

Jan Jansen,

Yan Van Der Voort,

Claes + Van Dyck,

Jacob Sebring,

Marten Adriaens,

Jacob Bennet,

Aert Van Der Belt,

Frederick + Blau,

Symen De Hart,

Jeremias Remsen,

Jacob Suydam,

Carel + Debeavois,

Jacobus Reyyersen,

Jan Middagh,

Issak Remsen,

Ryck + Hendrickse,

Merget + Gallie,

John Verkerk,

Barent Blom,

Jacobus Leffertz,

C. Van Der Hoven,

with consent of his brother Marton,

Peter Staats,

Sarah + Brooks,

in behalf of her son,

Samuel Night.

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[Page 116]

lawyer's fees, personal services, etc. (including the £40 paid the town), in the defence of this suit, and a charge of interest from said date to June 10th, 1732, of £252 and 10s. at 8 per cent, making a total of £693 15s. 9 1/2d., which bill, if allowed, must have swallowed up the main portion of his sisters' patrimony.

January 22d, 1730-1, Michael Hansen and Jeronimus Rapalje, two of the surviving patentees of "Brookland," convey to Cornelius Van Duyn, Carl de Bevois and Hans Michaelse Bergen, for and in behalf of the freeholders of said town, their right in the common lands.1 The object of this conveyance appears to be to confirm the several acts of the trustees or commissioners of said town in dividing their common lands; Michael in some instances, if not in all, as a patentee, having heretofore refused his assent to their divisions, perhaps on account of the dispute about his own lands hereinbefore referred to.

The following is a fac simile of his signature: [Sorry, image not available at this time--Webmaster]

Issue:--

16. 1. Sara, baptized June 2d, 1678, in Brooklyn; witnesses: "Theunis Gysbertse Boogaard and Sara Jorisen" (Rapalie).

17. 11. Teunis, baptized May 16th, 1680, in New Utrecht; witnesses: "Teunis Guysbertsz Bogaard and Sarah Jorisen Rapalie."

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[Footnotes on Page 116]:

     1See lib. 5, p. 96, of con. King's county register's office. By this conveyance it appears that the common woodlands, or a portion thereof, were divided by Jores Hansen (Bergen), Jacob Hansen (Bergen), and Cornelius Van Duyn, trustees of the town, into three divisions, of 62 lots each, in 1702, and the lots apportioned among the freeholders of the town. 

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[Page 117]

18. III. Hans, baptized March 11th, 1689.

19. IV. Femmetje.

20. V. Mary.

In about 1672 Michael Hansen married Femmetje Teunise NYSSEN, in Brooklyn, New York.

They had the following children:

17 i. Femmetje (~1673-1752) 

ii. Sarah8 (~1678-1760)
iii. Teunis (~1680-)
iv. Hans Michael5 (~1689-~1731)
v. Mary5 (~1689-)

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Michael Hansen Bergen was born in New Amsterdam. After the capture of New Netherlands from the British by Holland on 25 October 1673, Michael Hansen Bergen was appointed a Lieutenant in the Militia by Anthony Covle, the Netherlands Governor. He and his wife, Femmetje Tuenis Denyse were members of the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn. In 1694, he was living in the town of Bedford, now a section of Brooklyn, New York. He purchased a plantation from Albert Cornelysen Wantenaer of Brooklyn, then spelled Breuken by the Dutch, meaning "Broken Land". He paid 8,500 Dutch guilders for this property, where he resided until his death.

In 1680, Michael Hansen Bergen and Symon Assen De Hart (#114 of this work) were overseers of Brooklyn.

Their duties were, together with the Constable, to hold town courts and to make all assessments. In 1681, 1682, 1686, 1688, and 1689, Michael Hansen Bergen held the office of one of the overseers or commissioners having charge over the (Brooklyn) town land, and duty to defend the town rights. In 1687, with the British back in power, he took the oath of allegiance to the British government.

On October 22, 1688, he was commissioned as Captain of the Brooklyn Company of Militia. On November 21, 1692, Michael Hansen Bergen, with three other citizens was sent on behalf of a company, of which they were partners to Pennsylvania to select a good tract of land for settlement and residence, and when found, to purchase such land for their joint use; the partners remaining at home, but each to pay two pieces of eight towards the expense of the journey. At this period and in the beginning of the next century, many families emigrated from the partially worn-out land in the west end of Long Island, i.e. now King's County, to the fertile lands of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the cheapness of which afforded an opportunity to enlarge their borders and better their conditions. This emigration at one time was so great that the colonial governors complained of it in their communications with their home governments. Bergens, Wyckoffs, Schenck, Cowenhovens, Densyses, Stoothoffs, Barkeloos, Rapalayes (Rapalies), Van Brunts, Cortelyous and others, descendants of these emigrants are numerous in the above named states.

On April 29, 1709 Michael Hansen Bergen purchased a home from Gerrit Middagh for 429 pounds sterling. This property was located by the then Brooklyn Ferry and consisted of about 10 acres, part of which was on the East River. In 1710 and 1711, Michael Hansen Bergen was a justice of session and an elder in the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn. On August 21, 1723, he conveyed the plantation he had previous purchased, to one of his sons (Hans Bergen) remaining on with Hans and his family.

Michael Hansen Bergen is one of the many ancestors in this work who are recognized by the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century as eligible ancestors for membership in their organization. Frances Elenora Bergen Ryan (#1 of this work is a member of this organization claiming Michael Hansen Bergen, her 6th Great grandfather as the basis of her eligibility and membership).

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GEDCOM Source

@R503450768@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=158643364&pi...