User:M00k0h

Association of Blauvelt Descendants

The Association (ABD) describes itself on its website as

"A family association that was founded 18 September 1926 to bring together the descendants of Gerrit Hendricksen (Blauvelt). The Association is dedicated to promoting an interest in the history and genealogy of the early Dutch settlers in New Netherland, with particular emphasis on Gerrit Hendricksen van Deventer, who married Marie Lamberts Moll on 7 May 1646 in the New Amsterdam (NYC) Dutch Church, and the descendants of Gerrit’s eight surviving children, Hendrick, Huybert, Johannes, Margrietje, Abraham, Isaac, Marritje, and Elizabeth."

The Association holds Annual Meetings, sponsors a variety of family activities, several scholarships, and publishes historical and genealogical information. They published a first edition of The Blauvelt Family Genealogy in 1957; two volumes of a Revised Edition followed in 1987 and 1994. An updated, nine-volume edition of The Blauvelt Family Genealogy is a current project, and is supported by an online genealogy tool available to all members.

Membership in this family association is open, upon proof of lineage, to all descendants of Gerrit Hendricksen van Deventer.

Brief Biography of Gerrit Hendricksen van Deventer (c. 1620–c. 1683)

Gerrit was baptized 9 Apr 1620 (in Holten or Deventer, Overijssel, Netherlands). At some point emigrated to New Amsterdam, and married Marie Lambertse Moll there on 7 May 1646. Marie died sometime between 8 Sep 1674—when she witnessed the birth of her first grandchild—and 22 Oct 1679, when Gerrit married Josÿntje Thomas (widow of Pieter Wesselszen Van Norden).

"Lying sick in bed", Gerrit made his will 28 Nov 1683. His widow remarried in March the following year, suggesting he may not have lived long after making this will, perhaps dying in December 1683.

Gerrit's Emigration—an evolving story

The authors of the first edition of the Blauvelt Genealogy (1957) believed that Gerrit arrived in 1638 at “The Rocks” at Swede’s Landing, Delaware, aboard a ship named Kalmar Nyckel; then traveled up the Hudson River to Rensselaerswyck. More recent research has clarified that that this is a different Gerrit Hendricksen—this man was from Nijkerk, not Deventer.

It now seems likely that Gerrit Hendricksen van Deventer traveled to New Amsterdam in 1641 with his relative, Captain Willem Albertsen Blauvelt, aboard a ship named La Garce. Key to this conclusion is evidence given in court following the 1649 capture of the Spanish ship named Tobasco; this capture violated the 1648 Peace of Munster that concluded conflict between the Spanish and the Dutch. Testimony refers to both Captain Willem Albertsen Blauvelt, a Dutch privateer sailing La Garce, and Gerrit Hendricksen, quartermaster, proving that this Gerrit Hendricksen knew, and worked with, the Blauvelt privateer.

Properties in New Amsterdam and New England

On 6 December 1646, Gerrit received a grant for a farm known as the Schout’s Bouwery located along the Bouwery Road and directly south of Pieter Stuyvesant’s farms (on 13 May 1654 this farm was finally deeded to him and his heirs forever). In 1663 Gerrit purchased additional property on Broadway just south of Maiden Lane. In the deeds for the Broadway property, he was identified as “Gerrit Hendricksen de Blaew Boer” (the blue farmer). Most of Gerrit's surviving children helped to settle the Tappan Patent, straddling the border of present-day Rockland County, NY and Bergen County, NJ.