Marten Reyersen1

M, #2018, * 23 Nov 1637, + bt 1685 - 1687
FatherReijer Reijersz2 * 1604
MotherMaritje Frans2 * 1601

Family

Annetje Rapalje * 8 Feb 1646, + a 1691
Children
  • Marrittie Reyersen11 * 16 Nov 1664
  • Joris Reyersen12 * 19 Sep 1666
  • Ryer Reyersen13 * 1669
  • Catalijntje Martens+1 * 3 Jan 1671
  • Sara Reyersen14 * 30 May 1673
  • Geertje Reyersen13 * 1675
  • Jacobus Reyersen15 * 27 Dec 1677, + c 1749
  • Helena Reyersen13 * 2 Apr 1682
  • Cornelius Reyersen13 * 1684
  • Frans Reyersen16 * 2 Aug 1685
     Marten Reyersen was born in Amsterdam.2,3 Marten was baptized (NH) on 23 Nov 1637 in the Nieuwe Kerk, at Amsterdam. Sponsor was Trijntje Gerrits.2 He married (DRC) Annetje Rapalje, daughter of Joris Jansen Rapalje and Catalina Tricot, on 14 May 1663 at Brooklyn, New York.4,3,5 He died bt 1685 - 1687.6

Other information:

     Marten Reyersen was registered with the Dutch Church in Brooklyn on 25 Mar 1663. He was from Amsterdam, with letter from Vlackenbosch (Midwout, Flatbush.)7
     He was on the Assesment List of Breukelen, Long Island in Sep 1676 as Marten Reyersen. He was assessed for 1 poll, 4 horses, 8 cows of 2 yrs, 3 cowsof 1 yr, 2 hogs, and 31 1/2 morgen of land and valley. Total assessment £180.108 Marten Reyersen of Breucklyn was sworn in as constable on 21 Jun 1682.9
     The assignment of Adrian as son of Reijer is based on published sources, that Marten and Adrian were brothers, with Adrian being the older one. They are supposed to have come to New Amsterdam in 1646. However, there are very few baptisms in Amsterdam for an Adriaan or Arjaan as son of Reijer. There is no baptismal record in Amsterdam for an Adrian or Ariaan (various spellings), son of Reyer (or Reijner), where the parents also have a son Marten. Marten would have come over as a 9 yr old, that is of course, if the baptismal record is indeed for our Marten. The naming pattern of his children would support his mother being Maritje.10,6

According to Louis Johnes Ryerson, "The Genealogy of the Ryerson Family in America" (1902):
     The immigrant Martin signed his name Marten Reiersen, and his sons generally followed their father's orthography (1646-1700). But there are instances of the same person spelling his name differently at different times, in signing documents, etc. On the records of the Dutch Reformed Church we find the name written 1706, Reierszen; 1741, Reiers; 1745, Reiersen; 1753, Rierse; 1755, Reierse; 1775, Reisse; 1777, Reise; 1781, Ryrsson; 1783, Reierson; 1794, Rierson; but from about 1800 the name has been uniformly written Ryerson.
     The first of the name we find in the early records and history of America is that of Marten Reiersen, who, with his brother, Adrian Reierson, came from Amsterdam in 1846 [sic!], and settled on Long Island. Adrian Reiersen married Annetje Schenck, 29th July, 1659, and from him are descended the "Adriance," and through his son Marten the "Martense" families. Marten Reiersen settled at Flatbush, Long Island, and on the 14th May 1663, married Annetje Rapalje, at the Dutch Reformed Church of Breucklen (Brooklyn). Catarina Jeronymus was a recorded witness to the marriage ceremony.
     Marten Reiersen was piously educated, for we have evidence of his being a church attendant, and also a church member previous to his marriage. About the time of his marriage he was received as a member into the church of Brooklyn, from the church of Flatbush, and from that time on, he probably continued to reside at Brooklyn, or the Wallabout.
     In the assessment roll on file in the States General Offices, Amsterdam, Holland, of the "Real and personal property of the inhabitants of Breucklen, 20th August, 1675," is found: "Maerten Ryerse, 1 poll, 4 horses, 1 do. of 3 years, 2 do. of 2 years, 1 do. of 1 year, 1 hog, £ 115 10s. Three and one-half morgens of land and valley, £ 63. Total, £ 178. 10s."
     In 1676 he was assessed for sixty-three acres of land, and his property valued at £ 180.-- the third highest on the list. In 1683 he was assessed for thirty-eight acres, and his property valued at £ 122. 10s. He was twice a deacon in the Brooklyn Church, the last time in 1677. He was a magistrate in 1679, and named in a patent of Flatbush in 1685. He probably died between this date and 1687, as his name does not appear among those who in that year took the oath of allegiance to England, while we do find on the list the name of his eldest son, Joris.
     His widow, Annetje (Rapalje) Ryerson, married on 30th January, 1692, Jost France, or Frans, or Francis Joost, or Joost the Frenchman who had come from Amsterdam in 1654.6

Citations

  1. [S293] NY-DRC-Bapt., pg. 100. Catalijntje, daughter of Marten Reyerssen and Annetje Joris Rapalye, 3 Jan 1671.
  2. [S271] Dopen, Amsterdam, online database : bk. 42, pg 54.
  3. [S348] A. P. G. Jos van de Linde, Brooklyn-DRC, pg. 214.
  4. [S355] Dorothy A Koenig, 1 , pg. 37-44.
  5. [S357] George Olin Zabriskie,"Rapalje" , Vol. 47 (2) pg. 11-13, pg. Vol 46 (4):7-8, 47 (1):11-13, 47 (2):11-14.
  6. [S733] Louis Johnes Ryerson, Ryerson (2). Online at http://archive.org/details/ryersongenealog00ryergoog
  7. [S348] A. P. G. Jos van de Linde, Brooklyn-DRC, pg. 83, 221.
  8. [S739] E. B. O'Callaghan, NY Doc. History, Vol. 2, pg. 478.
  9. [S370] Loring McMillen, Staten Island-Court, pg. 36 (#285). Records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Port Richmond, S. I. : baptisms from 1696 to 1772. United Brethren Congregation, commonly called Moravian Church, S. I. : births and baptisms, 1749 to 1853; marriages, 1764 to 1863; deaths and burials, 1758 to 1828. St. Andrews Church, Richmond, S.I. : births and baptisms from 1752 to 1795; marriages from 1754 to 1808.
  10. [S373] Albert Winslow Ryerson, Ryerson. Online at http://archive.org/details/genealogyofryers00ryer
  11. [S293] NY-DRC-Bapt., pg. 75. Marrittie, daughter of Marten Reyertzon and Anna Joris Rappalje, 16 Nov 1664.
  12. [S293] NY-DRC-Bapt., pg. 84. Joris, son of Marten Reyertszen and Annetje Joris Rappalye, 19 Sep 1666.
  13. [S352] Emojene Demarest Champine, Leroux, pg. 65-67. Online at http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/005731278
  14. [S293] NY-DRC-Bapt., pg. 110. Sara, daughter of Marten Reyertszen and Annetje Joris Rapelye, 30 May 1673.
  15. [S348] A. P. G. Jos van de Linde, Brooklyn-DRC, pg. 117. Jacobus, son of Marten Reyerson and Anitje Jorissen, 27 Dec 1677.
  16. [S348] A. P. G. Jos van de Linde, Brooklyn-DRC, pg. 169. Frans, son of Marten Reyerszen and Annetje Joris Rapelye, 2 Aug 1685.