New Netherland Settler Sketches

Name

Pieter Jordensz, also spelled as Jurdens,[1] Jordaenszen,[2] and Jurgens.[3]

Origin

Pieter Jordensz was from Lübeck, in present-day Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.[4] He was in Curaçao prior to coming to New Netherland by 1642.[5]

Migration

Pieter Jordensz sailed to Curaçao on the Brack.[6] He arrived in New Netherland by July 1642, when he married there.[7]

Settlement

Pieter Jordensz probably only stayed in New Netherland for a short while. By the autumn of 1642 he returned to the Netherlands on the Houttuijn.[8] Pieter Jordens was back in Amsterdam in September 1643, when he gave power of attorney to his wife.[9]

Biographical Details

Pieter Jordensz was born in Lübeck,[10] probably between 1592 and 1617. He would not have been hired as a soldier if he were more than 50 years old,[11] and was of age (aged 25 or above) when he signed a power of attorney in 1642.[12] He died between 28 September 1643, when he gave his wife a power of attorney,[13] and 20 July 1672, when his widow requested a deposition.[14]

Marriage and Children

On 3 July 1642, Pieter Jordensz from Lübeck registered his intentions to marry Catharina Leesinck in the Dutch Reformed Church of New Amsterdam. It was his first marriage.[15] His bride was from Coesveld, in present-day North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. She was the widow first of Jan Pietersen IJsenach and then of Jan Bartram, whom she married in Sloterdijck, Holland, the Netherlands on 2 January 1639.[16] In 1672, two acquaintances of Catharina Leesinck, widow of Pieter Jordensz, declared that she had no living children or grandchildren.[17] If Pieter and Catharina ever had children, they had died by that date.

The day before Pieter Jordensz and Catharina Leesinck registered their marriage intentions, Catharina had made provisions for her children by her late husband Jan Bartram, Catrina and Johanna. The girls would each receive 300 guilders when they came of age. She promised to raise the children with her future husband, Pieter Jordensz, to which purpose they could use the interest on the money settled upon the children.[18] Jan Bartram’s estate could support such a disbursement. On 4 July 1642, Pieter Jordensz gave power of attorney to Elias de Raet to claim the balance the West India Company owed Jan Bartram as commander of Curaçao; a sum of 1034 guilders, 10 stivers, and 10 pennies.[19]

Stepchildren of Pieter Jordensz, the children of Catharina Leesinck with her late husband Jan Bartram:

1. Catrina Bartram, born, probably at Curaçao say 1639,[20] died before 20 July 1672.[21]
2. Johanna Bartram, born, probably at Curaçao say 1641,[22] died before 20 July 1672.[23]

Education

Originally from Lübeck, Pieter would probably have spoken a Low German dialect. In 1643, he was able to sign his name as “Mr. Pieter Jordensz van Luebeck” [master Pieter Jordensz from Luebeck], in a practiced hand.[24]

Image

Occupation

Pieter Jordensz worked for the Amsterdam chamber of the West India Company in 1642 and 1643. He served as a soldier during his voyage on the Brack to Curaçao,[25] before working as a surgeon in New Netherland in 1642.[26] On 5 July 1642, he gave power of attorney to Maurits Jansen to claim his back wages from the West India Company, which he had earned on land and at sea.[27] On the return voyage from New Netherland to the Netherlands, Pieter worked as a surgeon on the Houttuijn.[28]

Pieter left the Houttuijn at the island of St. Martin near La Rochelle, France (present-day Île-de-Ré), to join the crew of a merchant vessel from Medemblik, Holland, bound for Iceland.[29] He was back in Amsterdam in September 1643, when he gave power of attorney to his wife Catharina Leesinck to claim the wages he had earned while serving on the Houttuijn, as he was about to depart again, this time for the Mediterranean.[30] The grant of power of attorney suggests Catharina planned to remain in Amsterdam during her husband’s absence.

Associations

Pieter knew Elias de Raet and Maurits Jansen, whom he authorized to collect wages on his behalf in 1642.[31] He also knew Ulderich Lupoltt and Niclaes Bootth. In January 1643, Ulderich Lupoltt, aged 36, from “Staden” (probably present-day Stade, Lower Saxony, Germany), former fiscal of New Netherland, and Niclaes Booth, about 25 years old, from Brussels, freeman from New Netherland, gave a deposition in Amsterdam. They declared that Catharina Leesinck was the lawful wife of Pieter Jordensz. They had attended the couple’s marriage in New Netherland, performed by the Rev. Everhardus Bogardus, and had traveled with the newlyweds on the return voyage from New Netherland until Pieter Jordansz left the Houttuijn at St. Martin.[32]

Source Editions

Scott, Kenneth, and Kenn Stryker-Rodda, eds. Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642–1647. Translated by Arnold J. F. Van Laer. Vol. 2. New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing, 1974. Pp. 48–49 (provision for Catharina’s children), 50–52 (power of attorney to collect wages due to Jan Bartram), 52–53 (power of attorney to collect wages). Scott and Stryker-Rodda identified the provision document as a marriage contract, but it only made provisions for the children, and only Catrijna and her guardians signed the document.

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, 2015. Marriage intentions (p. 474).

Citations

[1] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643, in Hendrick Schaeff, notary (Amsterdam), minutes and copies of attestations, powers of attorney, inventories, etc, 3 January 1642–30 September 1643, fol. 184v; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/d4a39ae6-f2e7-ec2e-4d5b-148fb19e2de3), image 191 of 195; citing call no. 1287, Record Group 5075: Archief van de Notarissen ter Standplaats Amsterdam [Records of the Notaries Residing in Amsterdam], Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

[2] Marriage intentions of master Pieter Jordaenszen and Catharina Lisinck, 3 July 1642, in Dutch Reformed Church (New Amsterdam), Liber A, marriage register, 1639–1701, p. 574; 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 465 of 1410; citing The Archives of the Reformed Church in America, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

[3] Provisions for children of Catharina Lijsinck by her late husband, 2 July 1642, in New Netherland, register of the secretary of the province, vol. 2, 1642–1647, document 22b; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/10929), identifier NYSA_A0270-78_V2_022b; citing series A0270-78, New Netherland Provincial Secretary Register of the Provincial Secretary, New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

[4] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643. Marriage intentions of master Pieter Jordaenszen and Catharina Lisinck, 3 July 1642.

[5] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[6] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[7] Marriage intentions of master Pieter Jordaenszen and Catharina Lisinck, 3 July 1642.

[8] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[9] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[10] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643. Marriage intentions of master Pieter Jordaenszen and Catharina Lisinck, 3 July 1642.

[11] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[12] Power of attorney from Peter Jurgen to Elias de Raet, 4 July 1642, in New Netherland, register of the secretary of the province, vol. 2, 1642–1647, document 22c; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/objects/10930), identifier NYSA_A0270-78_V2_022c.

[13] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[14] Deposition by Evert Jansz and Aeltje Jacobs, 20 July 1672, in Nicolaes Hemminck, notary (Amsterdam), minutes of last wills, etc. 15 February 1673–27 December 1673, p. 240; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/2889716c-8dda-4e2b-224a-9e9855c88af5), image 133 of 290; citing call no. 4280, Record Group 5075: Archief van de Notarissen ter Standplaats Amsterdam [Records of the Notaries Residing in Amsterdam], Stadsarchief Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

[15] Marriage intentions of master Pieter Jordaenszen and Catharina Lisinck, 3 July 1642.

[16] Marriage intentions of Jan Bartram and Catharina Leesinck, 18 December 1638, in Amsterdam, marriage intentions of the church, 1638, p. 586; imaged, “Indexen,” Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/indexen/deeds/a1106b01-9f5c-4ef3-a8fc-5d735bca9374); citing call no. 449, RG 5001: Archief van de Burgerlijke Stand: doop-, trouw- en begraafboeken van Amsterdam (retroacta van de Burgerlijke Stand) [Archives of the Civil Registration: baptismal, marriage, and burial books of Amsterdam (predecessors of the civil registration)], Stadsarchief Amsterdam.

[17] Deposition by Evert Jansz and Aeltje Jacobs, 20 July 1672.

[18] Provisions for children of Catharina Lijsinck by her late husband, 2 July 1642.

[19] Power of attorney from Peter Jurgen to Elias de Raet, 4 July 1642.

[20] Provisions for children of Catharina Lijsinck by her late husband, 2 July 1642. She was the oldest daughter of a couple that married in January 1639.

[21] Deposition by Evert Jansz and Aeltje Jacobs, 20 July 1672.

[22] Provisions for children of Catharina Lijsinck by her late husband, 2 July 1642. She was the second daughter, and born before her mother made provisions in July 1642.

[23] Deposition by Evert Jansz and Aeltje Jacobs, 20 July 1672.

[24] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[25] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[26] Provisions for children of Catharina Lijsinck by her late husband, 2 July 1642.

[27] Power of attorney from Peter Jurgen to Maurits Jansen, 5 July 1642, in New Netherland, register of the secretary of the province, vol. 2, 1642–1647, document 22d; imaged, “Digital Collections,” New York State Archives (https://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/Detail/objects/10931), identifier NYSA_A0270-78_V2_022d.

[28] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[29] Deposition by Ulderich Lupoltt and Niclaes Booth, 19 January 1643, in Hendrick Schaeff, notary (Amsterdam), minutes and copies of attestations, powers of attorney, inventories, etc., 3 January 1642–30 September 1643, fol. 9v; imaged, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://archief.amsterdam/inventarissen/file/d4a39ae6-f2e7-ec2e-4d5b-148fb19e2de3), image 16 of 195; citing call no. 1287, RG 5075, Stadsarchief Amsterdam.

[30] Power of attorney from Pieter Jurdens to Catharina Leesinck, 28 September 1643.

[31] Power of attorney from Peter Jurgen to Elias de Raet, 4 July 1642. Power of attorney from Peter Jurgen to Maurits Jansen, 5 July 1642.

[32] Deposition by Ulderich Lupoltt and Niclaes Booth, 19 January 1643.