New Netherland Settler Sketches

Name

Catharina van Werven. Later in life, she was often called “moeder Polhemius” [mother Polhemius], as the widow of Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemius, the first minister of the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush, and mother of his children.[1] On one occasion, she was called Catharina van de Werff.[2]

Origin

The place of origin of Catharina van Werven is unknown, but she was most likely from the Netherlands. Her name appears to be Dutch and means “from Werven,” perhaps suggesting an ancestor came from the hamlet of Werven in Gelderland, the Netherlands.[3] In the seventeenth century, the last name “Van Werven” was most common in the Dutch province of Holland.[4]

Migration

Catharina lived in the Dutch colony of Brazil by 1642 (son born by that date). When the Portuguese reconquered Brazil in 1654, many Dutch settlers fled. Catharina and her children sailed to Amsterdam, Holland, the Netherlands, while her husband ended up in New Netherland.[5] It is uncertain why they did not travel together, or whether that was a deliberate choice or forced by circumstances.

In Amsterdam, Catharina van Werven turned to the Classis of the Dutch Reformed Church for assistance.[6] Around May 1656, she received a request from her husband to join him in New Netherland, but the classis warned against the dangerous voyage. They described Catharina van Werven as an honorable matron who lived in poverty and discomfort in Amsterdam, and who greatly desired to go to her husband.[7] On 14 June 1656, the West India Company advanced her the money for the voyage, charged against her husband’s account with the West India Company as their former minister in Brazil.[8]

Catharina van Werven and her children traveled on the Gulden Otter [Golden Otter] and arrived in New Netherland on 5 September 1656.[9]

Settlement

Catharina van Werven settled in Midwout, later known as Flatbush, on Long Island in 1656, where her husband had been living and preaching since 1654.[10]

Biographical Details

Catharina van Werven was born between say 1613 (youngest child born probably in or after 1658) and 1626 (oldest child born by 1642). She may have been born in Holland, the province with the highest incidence of her surname. She was probably not born in Brazil, where the period of Dutch rule did not begin until 1630.[11]

Catharina van Werven died, probably in Flatbush, on or shortly before 7 June 1702, when the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush received six guilders for the use of a shroud for “moeder Pollemes” [mother Pollemes].[12]

It is uncertain who Catharina van Werven’s parents were. Her father may have been Pieter van Werven, a captain for the West India Company who sailed to Brazil in 1634[13] and died there by 1642[14]; the only known man in that colony with her last name. He was probably the Pieter van der Werven who witnessed the baptism of a child in Recife in 1634 together with Elisabeth van der Werven, perhaps his wife.[15] Catharina did not have a known son Pieter, even though according to Dutch custom she would be expected to name a son after her father; but the child could have died young without leaving records, so this does not rule out Pieter van Werven as Catharina’s father. She did name a daughter Elisabeth, which matches the name of Elisabeth van der Werven who witnessed the baptism with Pieter, and was perhaps his wife. Pieter van Werven and his possible wife Elisabeth were in Brazil at the right time to be the parents of a woman who married there by 1642.

Marriage and Children

Catharina van Werven married Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemius, probably in Brazil, by 1642 (son Theodorus born at Itamaracá where Polhemius served until 1642). The name Van Werven does not appear in Drenthe, where Rev. Polhemius worked before he transferred to Brazil, suggesting the minister met his wife in that Dutch colony.[16]

Rev. Polhemius was a widower when he married Catharina van Werven. Born about 1598, he was significantly older than Catharina, who was at least fifteen and perhaps as much as thirty years his junior.[17] The name of his first wife is unknown, but she herself was the widow of a man named Brucherus;[18] probably Rev. Johannes Brucherus, Rev. Polhemius’s predecessor in Gieten, Drenthe, Netherlands.[19] Rev. Polhemius died, probably in Flatbush, on 8 June 1676 and was buried in the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush on 11 June 1676.[20]

Children of Catharina van Werven and Johannes Theodorus Polhemius, birth order largely unknown:

1. Adriana Polhemius, born, probably in Brazil, between say 1637 (last known child in 1682)[21] and 1645 (married by 1659). She married before 12 September 1659 Jan Roelofszen Seubering. On that date, her father gave a power-of-attorney at Brooklyn to his son-in-law Jan Roeloffs “Severing” to handle a payment.[22]
2. Theodorus Polhemius, born at Tamarica [Itamaracá], Brazil,[23] probably between 1638 and 1642 when his father was stationed there,[24] and died, probably at Jamaica, Queens County, New York, between 14 February 1721/2 (will) and 22 May 1722 (probate).[25] He had marriage banns registered in the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush on 29 September 1677 and married in Breukelen [Brooklyn] on 14 October 1677 Aartje Anthonis Boogaart from Brooklyn.[26]
3. Daughter, born at Fort Ceulen in Rio Grande, Brazil, 1 February 1648. The West India Company paid Rev. Polhemius six guilders on the occasion of the birth of his daughter.[27] This daughter was not identified further and may have been one of Polhemius’s known daughters at Long Island (see children 4 and 5).
4. Margriet Polhemius, born between say 1637 and 1661 (married by 1677), married before 17 January 1677 (baptism of child) William Gilliamsz.[28]
5. Anna Polhemius, born between say 1637 and 1661 (married by 1677), married before 17 January 1677 (baptism of child) Cornelius van Wijck.[29]
6. Elisabeth Polhemius, born at Midwood [Flatbush] between say 1657 (a year after her mother’s arrival in Flatbush) and 1666 (married in 1682), died, probably at Flatbush, on 30 September 1683.[30] She married in Midwoud (Flatbush) on 22 October 1682 Dionijs Teunisz, son of Teunis Nijssen and Femmetje Jans.[31]
7. Daniel Polhemius, born at Midwood [Flatbush] between say 1657 (a year after his mother’s arrival in Flatbush) and 1665 (married in 1685). He married shortly after 13 August 1685 (marriage intentions) at the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush Neeltje Cornelis van der Veer.[32]

On 19 December 1702, Daniel Polhemus received a deed from his brother Theodorus Polhemius and John Seabring, Johannes Williamse, and Cornelius van Wijck as coheirs of “father Polhemus and mother, deceased.”[33] Johannes Williamse was the son of William Gillamsz.[34] Named as joint heirs of both parents, Daniel, Theodorus, Adriana, Margriet, and Anna must have been full siblings.

Education

In 1656, Catharina signed her name as “Cahtarina van Werven husvrou van iohannes tedorus Polhemius” [Cahtarina van Werven wife of Iohannes Tedorus Polhemius.” [35]

Image

Enslavement

Catharina’s husband, Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemius, enslaved at least seventeen Black people, including three children, while stationed in Brazil.[36] Catharina and her husband owned a plantation in Itamaracá.[37] Although Catharina was not mentioned in the transactions whereby Rev. Polhemius purchased or sold Black people, as his wife she would have been their co-owner and would have interacted with them on a daily basis.

Holdings and Estate

As the wife of Rev. Polhemius, Catharina van Werven co-owned a double lot of land in Flatbush, for which her husband received a patent on 25 January 1662. The land was surveyed in 1680, when Governor Andros confirmed the patent to Catherina after her husband’s death. It measured 23 morgen and 420 rods. Rev. Polhemius obtained an additional 24 morgen 420 rods from Johannes Seabring [his son-in-law Jan Roeloffszen Seubering] on 6 March 1674 (originally granted to Cornelius Swartwout). In total, the widow owned 52 morgens (104 acres and 360 rods) of land. The lots were located on the south by southeast side of the lane and on the north by northwest side of Peter Lott.[38] On 12 November 1677, Governor Andros confirmed that the widow and children of the minister J. T. Polhemius were entitled to the land at Flatbush that he had left them.[39] On 5 March 1679 Catharina van Werven, with consent of her adult children, sold to Jan Sprongh, master blacksmith from Vlissingen [Flushing, Long Island], her house, shed, cooking house, and orchard, large five common house lots with the fences for 3300 guilders in grain, tobacco, or cattle.[40] She probably did not need a large house anymore, since most of her children were married by then.

After the sale of her house, Catharina needed another place to stay. On 11 August 1680 Captain Titus Sirachs conveyed a lot in the village of Midwout to Catharina van Werven, widow of Johannes Polhemius, which the widow had already been using.[41]

Rev. Polhemius and his wife also owned several meadows in the area around Flatbush. On 21 April 1667, the town laid out several meadows at Canarsie and awarded them to settlers by lottery. Rev. Polhemius received the lots numbered 7 (jointly with captain Jeffers) and 10.[42] A list of meadows at the Fresh Kill from around 1667 shows Rev. Polhemius owning lot 20.[43] On 6 August 1668 Jan Suebering and Rev. Polhemius together received three lots in Canarsie and Fresh Kills.[44] On 2 April 1680, the town of Flatbush distributed new lots to various settlers. Catharina Polhemius [van Werven] received two lots.[45]

After Catharina van Werven’s death, on 19 December 1702 her children and heirs conveyed the property she left behind to her son Daniel Polhemius. The property consisted of a double lot of land in Flatbush with meadows and flats.[46]

Church Membership

As the wife of a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, Catharina van Werven was Dutch Reformed. She was probably the “Catharina Polhemius” who was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church at Midwout in 1677. She was listed after Theodorus Polhemius [her son], and before Elisabeth Polhemius [her daughter] and Jan Seubering and his wife Adriana Polhemius [her son-in-law and daughter].[47]

On 2 December 1677, “Moeder Polhemus” [Mother Polhemus] received 36 guilders from the deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush.[48] On 19 December 1680, she donated 6 guilders to the poor.[49] In 1677, the deacons noted that three napkins, a tablecloth, and a pewter dish, were still kept at the house of “Moeder Polhemes,”[50] apparently a remnant from the time they celebrated the Holy Supper at the minister’s house. The town did not always pay the minister’s salary, and was still in arrears when he died. In 1678, Catharina appealed to the New York governor to finally receive what she was owed.[51]

After the death of her husband, Catharina van Werven witnessed the baptisms of several children:

• Johannes, son of Cornelis van Wijck and Anna Polhemius, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of New York City on 17 January 1677 (witnesses: Boele Roelofszen, Catharina van Werven, widow of Rev. Johannes Polhemius).[52]
• Johanna Louisa, daughter of Casparus van Zueren and Louisa van Zueren, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Amersfoort [Flatlands] on 5 May 1678 (witnesses: Johannes Hellenius, Soophia Hellenius, Catharine Polhemius).[53]
• Adriana, daughter of Cornelis Seubering and Aaltje Vrederijks, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Midwoud [Flatbush] 22 July 1683 (witnesses: Jan Seubering, Catharina Polhemius).[54]
• Louis, son of Reinier Janz and Lijsbeth van Ravestein, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Midwoud 11 November 1683 (witnesses: Louis Jansz, Catharine Polhemius).[55]
• Johannes, son of Theodorus Polhemius and Aertje Teunis, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, 20 July 1685 (witnesses: Teunis Ghijsbertsen, Katrijna Polhemius).[56]
• Jakoba, daughter of Cornelis Jansen and Trijntje Jillis, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn on 29 April 1686 (witnesses: Daniel Polhemius, Catharijna Polhemius).[57]
• Hendrikus, son of Marten Hendrickse Wils and Marrij van der Wijck, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn on 23 July 1693 (witnesses: Theodorus van der Wijck, Catrijna Polhemius).[58]
• Cornelis, son of Theodorus van der Wijck and Mergrietje van der Wijck, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn on 29 April 1694 (witnesses: Cornelis Barense van der Wijck, Catrijna Polhemius).[59]
• Elisabeth, daughter of Albert Coerten and Sara Willemsen, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn in November 1695 (witnesses; Gerrit Coerten, Catarina Polhemius).[60]
• Adriana, daughter of Rev. Wilhelmus Lupardus and Cornelia Lupardus, baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush on 9 January 1698 (witnesses: Gerardus Beeckman, Joseph Hegeman, mother Catharyna Polhemus).[61]

Rev. Polhemius’s successor as minister of Flatbush, Casper van Zueren, may not have treated Catharina van Werven kindly. On 21 March 1680/1, the consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush suspended the schoolteacher, Jan Gerritsz van Marken, for misconduct. His transgressions included yelling at the minister for oppressing “Moeder Polhemius,” the widow of the late minister.[62]

Catharina van Werven contributed to the new minister’s salary. In 1680, she paid 8 guilders and 14 stivers each quarter, placing her among the town’s largest contributors.[63]

Associations

Additional Details

On 15 October 1654, Rev. Polhemius gave power of attorney to his wife Catharina van Werven to collect 4,190 guilders and 10 stivers that the West India Company owed him for his service in Brazil.[64] She failed to collect the money before she followed him to New Netherland. On 10 June 1656, shortly before her departure, she transferred the power of attorney to Jacob Alrichs to claim her husband’s back wages.[65]

Catharina van Werven had at least two clashes with people in the community. On 7 April 1660, she was prosecuted for attacking the court messenger, Lowijs de Voegel. The sheriff related that Lowijs de Voegel came to him, scratched and beaten, with a hole in his head. De Voegel claimed that Catharina was responsible and that she had called him a “vuijlle schoft” [dirty blackguard]. Because blood had been spilled, the sheriff asked for a fine of 100 guilders. Catharina submitted a brief in response. The court ordered her to appear in person on the next court day.[66] Nine years later, Catharina van Werven faced another charge. On 27 August 1669, Mechtelt Stosz sued Catharina for slander. She claimed that Catharina had accused her of having the pox. When Catharina did not appear in court, her husband tried to speak on her behalf, but Mechtelt insisted that Catharina should be made to answer the charge herself.[67] In both cases, the outcome has not been preserved.

On 13 October 1680, Catharina van Werven complained to the court about a neighbor’s fence. She explained that Dirck Jansz Hooghland’s fence had fallen down in several places, allowing cattle to escape, which had caused her great damages. The court ordered Hoogland to fix his fence or pay the damages.[68]

Literature

Blauvelt, Ralph. Four Hundred Years in America: Seventeenth Century Immigrant Ancestors. Blauvelt Productions, 2021. The chapter on Johannes Theodorus Polhemius and Catharina Van Werven (pp. 135–42) contains a biographical sketch with translations of relevant records, and maps showing the locations of the property they owned.

Peck, I. Heyward. “The Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemius and Some of His Descendants.” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 90 (April 1959): 65–80, (July 1959): 171–75, (October 1959): 225–39, 91 (January 1960): 29–39, (April 1960): 90–98, (July 1960): 174–79, (October 1960): 204–21, 92 (January 1961): 50–53, (April 1961): 105–18, (July 1961): 161–74. Detailed, well-documented discussion of the minister’s life, with many English translations of relevant records, including of Catharina’s dealings with the Amsterdam classis. The author pointed out the presence of Pieter and Elizabeth Van der Werven as baptismal sponsors in Brazil. Seubering’s April 1660 voyage on the Bonte Koe must have been his return voyage to New Netherland, rather than his initial arrival as claimed by I. Heyward Peck. Peck estimated Adriana’s marriage date as 1661 based upon Seubering’s supposed arrival in New Netherland in 1660 (p. 171)

Rutherford, William Kenneth and Anna Clay (Zimmerman) Rutherford. Genealogical History of Our Ancestors, 2 vols. (1977). Chapter about the Van der Werven family (1: 792–93). This publication has Catharina’s name as Van der Werven rather than Van Werven. However, no known New Netherland records mention her as Van der Werven. The chapter gives the names of Catharina’s parents as Daniel van der Werven and Lammertje, without any documentation. They may have inferred the parents’ names based on the (supposed) names of Catharina’s children. However, the existence of a daughter Lammertje is disproven. As noted by Mrs. John M. Spell, Johannes Theodorus’s grandson Johannes Williamse/Willemse married Lammetje Brinckerhoff. Lammetje (Brinckerhoff) Polhemius’s appearance in a 1702 deed caused previous researchers to assume she was Rev. Polhemius’s daughter.[69]

Van Wyck, Philip. “Johannes Theodorus Polhemius.” Halve Maen 55 (Summer 1980): 9–13, 19–21. This detailed biographical sketch of the minister does not cite its sources. It mentioned a daughter Lammatje, supposedly born at Itamaracá,[70] but this information has been disproven (see previous entry).

Welles, Theodore W. Ancestral Tablets from Colonial Days to the Present Era: A Record of the Descendants of Gov. Thomas Welles of Connecticut, Capt. Gerrit Janse Hardenbergh of New York, Fiscaal Hendrick van Dyck of New Amsterdam, Jan Tysse Goes of Beaverwyck, and Nearly One Hundred Allies Families. Press Printing and Publishing, 1893. Contains an undocumented sketch of the Polhemius family that mentions daughters Lammetje (wife of Johannes Wellemse) and Catrina, without documentation. However, Johannes Wellemse was Rev. Polhemius’s grandson, not his son-in-law. Catharina Polhemius appears in various records, but was likely Catharina van Werven, the wife of Johannes Polhemius, rather than his daughter. No evidence was found for a daughter Catrina/Catharina.

Source Editions

Gehring, Charles T., ed. Correspondence, 1654–1658. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 2003. Letters about arrival of Rev. Polhemius from Brazil (p. 52) and of his family’s voyage (p. 96).

Scott, Kenneth, and Kenn Stryker-Rodda, eds. Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648–1660. Translated by Arnold J. F. Van Laer. Vol. 3. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1974. Power of attorney from Rev. Polhemius to his wife (pp. 376–77).

_____. The Register of Salomon Lachaire, Notary Public of New Amsterdam, 1661–1662. Translated by E. B. O’Callaghan. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1978. Sale of enslaved people in Brazil (pp. 140–42).

Sypher, Francis J., ed. Liber A of the Collegiate Churches of New York, Part 2: Baptisms 1639 to 1697, Members 1649 to 1701, Marriages 1639 to 1701. Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2015. Baptismal witness (p. 230).

Van der Linde, A. P. G. Jos, ed. Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, New York: First Book of Records, 1660–1752. New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch. Genealogical Publishing, 1983. Baptismal witness (pp. 124, 125, 132, 134, 162).

Voorhees, David William. Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York. Vol. 1, 1677–1720. Holland Society of New York, 1998. Catharina Polhemius involved in dispute (p. 65) and mentioned as baptismal witness (pp. 385, 423, 425, 450).

_____. Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York. Vol. 2, Deacons’ Accounts, 1654–1704. Holland Society of New York, 2009. Several references to Moeder Polhemius (pp. 123, 125, 153, 359).

Citations

[1] For an example of her as “moeder Pollemus” see David William Voorhees, ed., Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, 2 volumes (Holland Society of New York, 1998–2009), volume 2, Midwood Deacons’ Accounts, 1654–1709 (2009), 358/9.

[2] Complaint by Catharina van de Werff about Dirck Jansz Hooghlant’s fence, 13 October 1680, in Flatbush, Kings County, court minutes, town meetings, slave records, 1679–1819, p. 11; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_04_01_009_001, image 12 of 302; citing series 4: Town of Flatbush records, subgroup 2: Brooklyn Old Town Records, New York Municipal Archives, New York City, New York.

[3] A. J. van der Aa, Aardrijkskundig Woordenboek der Nederlanden, 14 vols. (Gorinchem, Netherlands: J. Noorduyn, 1848), 12: 278.

[4] WieWasWie, index (https://www.wiewaswie.nl), search for Van Werven, 1600–1700.

[5] Polhemius arrival in New Netherland and assistance for his wife, 4 January 1655, in Dutch Reformed Church, Classis of Amsterdam, acts, 1646–1656, fol. 360; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/2b946793-998d-eaa7-5a0f-cc574975bb3d), image 193 of 226; citing call no. 5, Record Group [RG] 379: Archief van de Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk, Classis Amsterdam [Archives of the Dutch Reformed Church, Classis Amsterdam], Stadsarchief Amsterdam.

[6] Polhemius arrival in New Netherland and assistance for his wife, 4 January 1655.

[7] Johannes Theodorus Polheim request for wife and children to join him at New Netherland, 26 May 1656 [record says 1654 but is in between other records of May 1656], in Dutch Reformed Church, Classis of Amsterdam, meetings regarding foreign churches, 1636–1663, fol. 360v; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/6918d777-bbe9-a1fb-ea17-02e4870bf31c), image 182 of 231; citing call no. 157, RG 379, Stadsarchief Amsterdam.

[8] Letter from directors in Amsterdam to director-general Stuijvesant mentioning the wife of Rev. Polhemius, 14 June 1656, in New Netherland Council, Dutch colonial administrative correspondence, vol. 12, 1654–1658, document 39; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/45224), identifier NYSA_A1810-78_V12_39, image 6 of 8; citing series A1810-78, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

[9] Letter from directors in Amsterdam to director-general Stuijvesant mentioning the wife of Rev. Polhemius, 14 June 1656. Extracts of resolutions by the directors, 18 May 1656, in New Netherland Council, Dutch colonial administrative correspondence, vol. 12, 1654–1658, document 38; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/45223), identifier NYSA_A1810-78_V12_38, image 3 of 3. A note on the back of this correspondence from the directors of the West India Company chamber at Amsterdam to the director-general and council of New Netherland shows it arrived on the Otter and Duijff on 5 September 1656.

[10] Order on petition from the court of Midwout and Amersfoort regarding employment of Rev. Polhemus, 13 October 1654, in New Netherland Council, Dutch colonial council minutes, vol. 5, 1652–1654, p. 376; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/54925), identifier NYSA_A1809-78_V05_0376b; citing series A1809, New York State Archives.

[11] José Antônio Gonsalves de Mello, Nederlanders in Brazilië (1624-1654): de invloed van de Hollandse bezetting op het leven en de cultuur in Noord-Brazilië, ed. B.N. Teensma, trans. G.N. Visser (Zutphen, Netherlands: Walburg Pers, 2001), 35.

[12] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 2: 358/9.

[13] Deposition by Jan Bebbere and Jan Bieston, 12 April 1639, in Hendrik Schaef, notary (Amsterdam), minutes and copies of attestations, powers of attorney, inventories and other records, 1639, fol. 55v–56r; imaged, “Indexen,” Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/indexen/deeds/9d6d21e3-9ecc-666d-e053-b784100a1840); citing call no. 1280, RG 5075: Archief van de Notarissen ter Standplaats Amsterdam [Records of the Notaries Residing in Amsterdam], Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

[14] Replacement of the deceased captain van Werven, 6 January 1642, in West India Company, minutes of the high and secret councils in Brazil, 1641–1643, fol. 81r; imaged, Nationaal Archief (https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/archief/1.05.01.01/invnr/69), image 535 of 1469; citing call no. 69, RG 1.05.01.01: Archief van de Oude West-Indische Compagnie [Records of the Old West India Company], Nationaal Archief, The Hague, Netherlands.

[15] Baptism of Pieter, son of Willem Gilcrist, 27 October 1634, in Dutch Reformed Church (Recife, Brazil), register of baptisms in and around Recife, p. 3r; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/11000202-dde9-e54c-bab4-a23c38010588), image 7 of 100; citing call no. 211, RG 379, Stadsarchief Amsterdam.

[16] Johannes Theodorus Polheim request to be sent to the West Indies, 3 December 1635, in Dutch Reformed Church, Classis of Amsterdam, regulations and members, 1631–1646, fol. 66; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/92ae47d1-24ea-34ad-c96f-88d28eedaba0), image 54 of 221; citing call no. 4, RG 379, Stadsarchief Amsterdam. Baptism of Pieter, son of Willem Gilcrist, 27 October 1634.

[17] He was “already sixty years old” in 1658. Letter from Revs. J. Megapolensis and S. Drisius to the Classis of Amsterdam, 24 September 1658, translated in Hugh Hastings, ed., Ecclesiastical Records, State of New York, vol. 1 (Albany, New York: James B. Lyon, 1901), 432–34.

[18] Hubertus Brucherus as uncle of Maria Brucherus vs. Arnoldus Bottichius, 15–20 June 1635, in Etstoel [higher court] of Drenthe, register of proceedings at the “lottinge” [sessions], vol. 9, 1634–1636, pp. 119–21; imaged, Drents Archief (https://www.drentsarchief.nl/onderzoeken/archiefstukken) > Uitgebreid zoeken > toegangscode 0085 > Uitgebreid zoeken > inventarisnummer 14.9 > images 119–120 of 339; citing call no. 14.9, RG 0085: De Etstoel [The High Court], Drents Archief, Assen, Netherlands.

[19] T. A. Romein, De hervormde predikanten van Drenthe, sedert de Hervorming tot in 1861 (Groningen, Netherlands: Oomkens, 1861), 79.

[20] A. P. G. Jos van der Linde, ed., Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, New York: First Book of Records, 1660–1752, New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch (Genealogical Publishing, 1983), 156. The translated “second list of baptisms” (pp. 156–58), which starts with the note about Rev. Polhemius’s death, appears to refer to the church at Midwout/Flatbush rather than Brooklyn. It includes a list of baptisms by visiting ministers who baptized children in the absence of a minister following Rev. Polhemius’s death, until “Domine Casparis van Sueren gave his first sermon here in Midwout in the church” on 16 September 1677. There is a separate list for baptisms at Brooklyn 1660–1710 (pp. 109–55).

[21] David William Voorhees, ed., Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, 2 volumes (Holland Society of New York, 1998–2009), volume 1, 1677–1720 (1998), 417.

[22] Abraham Cohen, declaration that Polhemius repaid his debt, 21 March 1660, in Hendrick Rosa, notary (Amsterdam), minutes, 1660, p. 71; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/ea4ea5a0-eb23-1eec-cf15-ac23dd2e06a2), image 42 of 332; citing call no. 3098A, RG 5075, Stadsarchief Amsterdam.

[23] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 212.

[24] Minutes of the meeting of the classis of Brazil, 5 January 1638, in West India Company, received letters and papers from Brazil, 1638; imaged, Nationaal Archief (https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/archief/1.05.01.01/invnr/53/), images 883–96 of 1256; citing call no. 53, RG 1.01.05.01, Nationaal Archief. Minutes of the meeting at the classis meeting at Paraiba, 4 September 1642, in West India Company, received letters and papers from Brazil, 1642; imaged, Nationaal Archief (https://nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/archief/1.05.01.01/invnr/57/), image 739 of 1211; citing call no. 57, RG 1.01.05.01, Nationaal Archief.

[25] Last will of Theodorus Polhemius, 14 February 1721[/2], in Surrogate’s Court (New York County, New York), probated wills, will 596; imaged, “New York County, New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1658–1880 (NYSA),” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60387) > J0038-92: Probated Wills, 1662-1827 > Wills, 0421-0620, (1662–1761) > images 707–09 of 788.

[26] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 212.

[27] Six-guilder gift to Rev. Polhemius, in West India Company, minutes of the High and Secret Council of Brazil, Governor and councils of Brazil and High Council of Brazil, 1647–1648, session 21 February 1648; imaged, Nationaal Archief (https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/archief/1.05.01.01/invnr/72/), image 509 of 1410; citing call no. 72, RG 1.05.01.01, Nationaal Archief.

[28] Baptism of Rachel, daughter of Giel Jaemszen and Margriet Polhemius, 17 January 1677, in Dutch Reformed Church (New Amsterdam), Liber A, baptismal register, 1639–1697, p. 382; imaged, “U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639–1989,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6961) > New York > Manhattan > Collegiate Church . . . > image 286 of 1410; citing The Archives of the Reformed Church in America, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 343. Daniel Polhemus deed from co-heirs of father and mother Polhemus, 19 December 1702 (recorded 21 December 1702), in Kings County, conveyances, vol. 2: deeds, 1694–1698, p. 186; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_01_33_002_001, image 189 of 369; citing series 1: Kings County records, subgroup 2: Brooklyn Old Town Records, New York City Municipal Archives.

[29] Baptism of Johannes, son of Cornelis van Wijck and Anna Polhemius, 17 January 1677, in Dutch Reformed Church (New Amsterdam), Liber A, baptismal register, 1639–1697, p. 382; image 286 of 1410. Daniel Polhemus deed from co-heirs of father and mother Polhemus, 19 December 1702 (recorded 21 December 1702).

[30] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush,1: 359.

[31] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush,1: 237.

[32] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 255.

[33] Daniel Polhemus deed from co-heirs of father and mother Polhemus, 19 December 1702 (recorded 21 December 1702).

[34] I. Heyward Peck, “The Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemius and Some of His Descendants,” pt. 2, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 90 (July 1959), 172.

[35] Power of attorney from Catharina van Werven to Jacob Alrichs, 10 June 1656, in Jan Quirijnen Spithoff, notary (Amsterdam), minuets, 1656, document 332 (penciled number); imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/911e4dd7-58c2-32c4-6b70-94ad10f85015), image 204 of 440; citing call no. 1757, RG 5075, Stadsarchief Amsterdam.

[36] Contract between Servaes Carpentier and Johannes Theodosius Polhemius regarding purchase of Black people, copy, 28 May 1645, in Salomon LaChaire, notary (New Amsterdam), records, August–September 1661, fol. 67r; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0040_1_6_03, image 99 of 216; citing subseries 1.6: records of the notary public, series 1: Original Dutch records of New Amsterdam, New Amsterdam records, New York City Municipal Archives, New York City, New York.

[37] Map of the island Tammarica, 1648; imaged, Nationaal Archief (https://www.nationaalarchief.nl/onderzoeken/archief/4.VEL/invnr/707); citing call no. 707, RG 4.VEL: Verzameling buitenlandse kaarten Leupe [Collection foreign maps Leupe], Nationaal Archief, The Hague, Netherlands. The former plantation of Rev. Polhemius is marked “R” on the map.

[38] Patent from Edmund Andros to Catharine Polhemius, 14 December 1680, in Kings County, New York, copies of deeds and patents in Secretary of State’s office, 1642–1649, pp. 36–37; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_01_33_017_001, images 91–92 of 189; citing series 1, subgroup 2, New York City Municipal Archives.

[39] Peter R. Christoph and Florence A. Christoph, eds., Books of General Entries of the Colony of New York, 1664–1673: Orders, Warrants, Letters, Commissions, Passes and Licenses Issued by Governors Richard Nicolls and Francis Lovelace (Genealogical Pub. Co., 1982), 193; citing W:292.

[40] Sale by Catharina van de Werff to Jan Sprongh, registered 29 May in Flatbush, Kings County, Liber AA: deeds, 1676–1682, p. 63; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_04_01_002_001, image 68 of 179; citing series 4, subgroup 2, New York Municipal Archives.

[41] Conveyance from Titus Sirachs to Catharina van Werve, 11 August 1680, in Flatbush, Kings County, Liber A: deeds, wills, and conveyances, 1670–1708, p. 54; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_04_01_001_001, image 67 of 295; citing series 4, subgroup 2, New York Municipal Archives.

[42] Assignment of lots in Canarsie, 21 April 1667, in Flatbush, Kings County, Liber D: court minutes, vol. 1, 1664–1670, p. 98; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_04_01_006_001, image 103 of 183; citing series 4, subgroup 2, New York Municipal Archives.

[43] Assignment of lots in Canarsie, 21 April 1667, in Flatbush, Kings County, Liber D: court minutes, vol. 1, 1664–1670, p. 100; image 105 of 183.

[44] Assignment of lots in Canarsie and Fresh Kills, 6 August 1668, in Flatbush, Kings County, Liber D: court minutes, vol. 1, 1664–1670, p. 141; image 146 of 183.

[45] Distribution of the New Lots, 2 April 1680, Flatbush, Kings County, Liber AA: deeds, 1676–1682, pp. 115–16; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_04_01_002_001, images 120–21 of 179; citing series 4, subgroup 2, New York Municipal Archives.

[46] Daniel Polhemus deed from co-heirs of father and mother Polhemus, 19 December 1702 (recorded 21 December 1702).

[47] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 359.

[48] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 2: 123.

[49] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 2: 153.

[50] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 2: 125.

[51] Christoph and Christoph, The Andros Papers, 2: 270; citing NYHM 27: 41, NYSA.

[52] Baptism of Johannes, son of Cornelis van Wijck and Anna Polhemius, 17 January 1677, in Dutch Reformed Church (New Amsterdam), Liber A, baptismal register, 1639–1697, p. 382; imaged, “U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639–1989,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6961) > New York > Manhattan > Collegiate Church . . . > image 286 of 1410; citing The Archives of the Reformed Church in America, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

[53] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 385.

[54] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 423.

[55] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 425.

[56] A. P. G. Jos van der Linde, ed., Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, New York: First Book of Records, 1660–1752, New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch (Genealogical Publishing, 1983), 124.

[57] Van der Linde, Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, 125.

[58] Van der Linde, Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, 132.

[59] Van der Linde, Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, 134.

[60] Van der Linde, Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, 162.

[61] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 450.

[62] Voorhees, Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, 1: 65.

[63] Receipts for the minister’s salary, 3 June 1680 and 3 September 1680, in Flatbush, Kings County, town accounts, 1663–1680, pp. 273, 274, 276; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_04_01_008_001, images 276, 277, 279 of 307; citing series 4, subgroup 2, New York Municipal Archives.

[64] Power of attorney by Johannes Theodorus Polhemius to Catharina van Werven, 15 October 1654, in New Netherland, register of the secretary of the province, vol. 3, 1648–1660, p. 124; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/yesindex.php/Detail/objects/19283), identifier NYSA_A0270-78_V3_124b; citing series A0270-78, New Netherland Provincial Secretary Register of the Provincial Secretary, New York State Archives,.

[65] Power of attorney from Catharina van Werven to Jacob Alrichs, 10 June 1656.

[66] Sheriff vs. Catrina Pollemij, 7 April 1660, in Flatbush, Kings County, Liber B: deeds, 1659–1664, p. 21; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_04_01_004_001, image 44 of 189; citing series 4, subgroup 2, New York Municipal Archives.

[67] Mechtelt Stosz vs. Catrinaa [sic] Pollemius, 27 August 1669, in Flatbush, Kings County, Liber D: court minutes, vol. 1, 1664–1670, p. 162; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_04_01_006_001, image 167 of 183; citing series 4, subgroup 2, New York Municipal Archives.

[68] Complaint by Catharina van de Werff about Dirck Jansz Hooghlant’s fence, 13 October 1680, in Flatbush, Kings County, court minutes, town meetings, slave records, 1679–1819, p. 11; imaged, “Digital Collections,” NYC Department of Records & Information Services (https://nycrecords.access.preservica.com/), identifier MSS0004_2_04_01_009_001, image 12 of 302; citing series 4, subgroup 2, New York Municipal Archives.

[69] “Additions and Corrections,” New York Genealogical and Biographical Record 92 (October 1961): 230–31, contribution by Mrs. John M. Spell.

[70] Van Wyck, “Johannes Theodorus Polhemius,” 9.