Ms. Lightfoot provided transcripts of the baptismal records of Abraham and Elizabeth Van Sicklen’s children[2] and the abstract of Abraham’s will[3]. She noted the alternating use or not of “Van” in his surname, suggesting he may be a member of the Sickles family rather than the Van Sicklen family. Another record demonstrating this variation is a Supreme Court case in 1736 where he is cited as “Abraham Zechels otherwise called Abraham Van Sickler", of Piscataway[4]. The abstract of the will of David Coriell[5] of Piscataway, Middlesex Co. NJ dated 3 Sep 1777 mentions the plantation of Abraham Sickels (presumably this article’s subject), deceased, which he had purchased.
Records related to his son, Abraham, also alternate between including “Van” in his surname and not. As Abraham Sickles he was involved in a lawsuit[6] with his brother-in-law, Thomas Thickston, in 1752 in Piscataway. Abraham, Jr. moved to Morris Co., NJ and in his probate record[7] Abraham is referred to as both Abraham Sickle and Van Sickle.
If Abraham Van Sicklen is a member of the Sickles family, it is likely that Lambert Sickles and Maria Jans were his parents. They were married in 1690 in NYC, NY[8]. The next record of Lambert Sickles is the baptism of his eldest son, John, in 1692[9]. He appears in the deacon records of the Reformed Church of Flatbush, NY in 1693[10]. The 1698 census of Flatbush, Kings Co., NY[11] shows five children in the household, but besides John their names are unknown. He was a resident of Flatbush when he purchased land in Brooklyn from Barbara Lucas in 1700[12]. He had a daughter named Alida, baptized in 1703[13]. He was a resident of Brooklyn in 1713[14]. He and his son John are listed in the Muster Roll of Kings Co., NY of 1715[15]. Lambert died before 1722 when letters of administration for his estate[16] were issued to “his son and heir”, John Van Sicklen. John is listed as a resident of Brooklyn in 1724[17]. No Sickles are listed in the 1731 census of Brooklyn, NY[18].
The indications that Lambert and Maria were Abraham’s parents include:
1) the witnesses at the baptism of Abraham’s only
daughter, Mary[19], were Mary Van Sicklen and
Abraham Hegeman. Mary was probably Maria
Jans, wife of Lambert Sickles, the child then being named after her paternal grandmother. Abraham Hegeman was the husband of Geertje Jans,
who was probably the sister of Mary Jans Van Sicklen[20]. Further research into the relationship between
these two women, Barentje Jans, wife of Benjamin Hegemen, and Andries Jansen may
shed some light of Abraham Van Sicklen’s parentage;
2) Another Supreme Court case[21] shows another probable member
of the Sickles (as opposed to the Van Sicklen) family lived in Piscataway about
this time: John Van Zechels/Sickler (1736, against the same person as was in Abraham’s
case). By process of elimination, this John
was the son of Lambert Sickels and Maria Jans who left Brooklyn before the 1731
census.
3) A Lambert Van Sicklen was a resident of Piscataway
when he obtained a license to marry Ann Drake in 1749[22]. He would be a likely son of John Sickels above.
More research needs to be done
to establish what relationship existed between these individuals, but the names
suggest they are descendants of Lambert Sickels.
While tangential to this subject, it is worth noting that Lambert Sickels and Maria Jans probably also had a son named Zachariah. He is probably the one who married Annetje Wyngaard, daughter of Jacob Wyngaard and Maria Quackenbosch[23]. Her husband is often thought to be the son of Zachariah Sickels and Maria Jans Brevoort, however, there are some indications otherwise.
1) A Zacharias Sickels, Jr., married Jannetje De
Gree in 1722[24]. While the designation Jr. may sometimes simply
signify “the younger”, it would normally only be used that way in the absence of
a son by the same name which is not the case here. As an example of the use of Sr. to mean “the elder”,
see the will of Susannah Van Sicklen below naming her executors as a) Ferdinand
Van Sicklen, Sr., son of Rynier, born about 1688 but who had no son named Ferdinand,
and b) Ferdinand Van Sicklen, Jr., born about 1698, son of her brother Ferdinand[25] who was deceased. Most likely this Zacharias was the son of a Zacharias.
2) A Zacharias Sickels, of Somerset Co., NJ, was
in a lawsuit[26] with Nicholas Kortright of
New Harlem, NY for £150 in 1729. Given the
distance, it is likely he incurred this debt based on a previous relationship with
Mr. Kortright. The family of Zacharias Sickels
& Mary Brevoort lived in Harlem[27], while the family of Lambert
Sickels lived in Brooklyn, thus he was probably the son of Zacharias and Mary or
possibly Thomas Sickels and Jannetje Brevoort, but they did not have a son named
Garret (see next comment). He was a witness
for a deed of Benjamin Harrison of Somerset Co. on 12 Feb 1722. (East Jersey Land
Deeds, Book K, p. 191, Abstracted by Richard Hutchinson, p. 43)
3) Probably the same Zacharias Sickels and Gerrit
Sickels, both of Somerset Co., NJ were in a lawsuit[28] against Michael Higgins. Gerrit Sickels was probably a son of Zacharias
Sickels and Maria Brevoort. Gerrit signed
his mark on a deed from Michael Higgins of Rocky Hill, Somerset, NJ dated 4 Feb
1732 (East Jersey Land Deeds, Book E-2, p. 137, Abstracted by Richard Hutchinson,
p. 24)
4) The naming of the children[29] of Zacharias Sickels and Annetje
Wyngaard support Lambert as his father. Their
oldest son and their oldest daughter were named after their maternal grandparents. Their second son, Lambert, was likely named after
his paternal grandfather and their oldest daughter named after her paternal grandmother
as well. Except for their daughters Elizabeth
and Margaret, all of their other children were named after known maternal uncles
and aunts or themselves.
There are several indications that Johannes Van Sicklen, son of Ferdinand, had no children, but first some background on his life. In Ferdinand's probate Johannes is named as his "son and Heir"[30]. That designation by the court for an intestate indicates that under primogeniture Johannes was Ferdinand’s heir-at-law, i.e., his oldest son[31]. He was a witness at the baptism of his cousin, Margaret, in Gravesend, NY[32] in 1695. He appears to be living with his father in the 1698 census of Flatlands, NY[33]. He was probably living in the Raritan area of New Jersey in 1699[34]. As heir, he would have inherited his father’s estate in Flatlands and likely returned to occupy it after 1712, thus his presence there in 1715 and beyond. He is not the John Van Sekellen listed in the Muster Roll of 1715 of Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY[35] who was probably the son of Lambert Sickels. He was a resident of Flatlands when he purchased property there in 1722[36]. He was a resident of Flatlands in the 1731 census of Kings Co., NY[37]. He was probably deceased by 1747 when his sister, Susannah, wrote her will[38] which did not mention him or his children.
In Johannes’ household in the 1731 census[39] one of the other residents was likely his unmarried sister, Susannah, who was living in Flatlands at the time she wrote her will. The other woman was likely his wife, though possibly his mother or a widowed sister. However, there are no children listed as living with him, so the children attributed to him who were baptized in New Jersey cited above were probably not his or they died young. Johannis and Susannah Van Sicklen paid their pew rent together to the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatlands[40] sometime between 1731 and 1744. The deed for the purchase of the property in 1722 was not recorded for over twenty years, in 1743[41]. The property was not recorded as being sold again quickly, so this recording was not part of another transfer. One possible reason for the recording at this late date is that Johannes had died and his heirs wanted to be assured of clear title to the property. A death date before 1744 is consistent with the will of his sister, Susannah, written a few years later. She leaves her estate “to the children of my brothers and my sisters.” She then goes on to specify who they are, but her first statement is all-inclusive, so if Johannes had children, they should be included. Given the likelihood she had lived much of her adult life with her brother, her omission of him and his descendants, if any were living, from her will would be unusual. More importantly, according to the abstract of her will, she leaves “my cousin (nephew) Ferdinandus, the eldest son of my eldest brother, 10 shillings as an acknowledgment”. Though not explicitly stated, the language she uses specifies who her heir-at-law is, thus obviating any contest he might have raised to her will. Unless this Ferdinand was the son of Johannes (there is no evidence he had a son so named, and if he did, Ferdinand was otherwise cut out of her will since there are only six parts), in giving him the acknowledgement she implies that her eldest brother, Johannes according to her father’s estate, was deceased and left no legal male heirs. Her heir-at-law was probably Ferdinand, son of Reynier Van Sicklen.
A survey done on 3 Aug 1747 by John Verkerk includes the property of the heirs of Johannes Van Sicklen[42]. Susannah wrote her will shortly before this and was likely still a resident in the home at the time. No probate record has been found for Johannes, but he probably died before Susanna.
[1] New Netherland Connections,
Vol. 6, Num. 2, 2001, p. 50 [hereinafter NNC].
[2] NNC, p. 52, “Baptized at New
Utrecht RDC 5 May 1725 Marya; parents: Abraham Van Zickelen and Elizabeth ---witnesses:
Abraham Hegeman & Marya Van Zicklen”
“Baptized at Raritan RDC 12 Jan 1729, Abraham; parents: Abraham and Elysabeth Van
Sicklen ---no witnesses recorded”
Baptized at Raritan RDC 22 Oct 1732, Jakop: parents: Abraham and wife, Elisabeth
Van Sicklen ---no witnesses recorded.”
[3] NNC, p. 52, “1734 [probably
1744], Nov. 23. Sickles, Abraham, of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., yeoman; will of.
Children--Abraham, Jacob (minor) and Mary Thickston. Real and personal estate. Executrix--wife,
Elizabeth. Witnesses--James Campbell, William Clawson, Tho. Broderwick. Proved Dec.
19, 1744---Lib. D, p.208”
“1744, Dec 13. Van Sickles, Abraham, of Piscataqua, Middlesex Co. Inventory L91.6.2;
made by James Campbell and William Clawson. 1749, June 1. Account rendered by Elizabeth
Rattan, formerly Van Sickles, widow of Abraham.---Lib. D, p.208.”
[4] NJA New Jersey Supreme Court
Case
Parties
Type County Year
43812 Abraham Zechels v John Van Horne, Jr. (dec) Debt Middlesex 1736
John Van Horn, Jr. was the nephew of Jannetje Van Horn, wife of Reynier Van Sicklen. His brother Andrew was the executor of his estate,
see Archive of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol 30, Vol 2 of Calendar
of Wills, p. 500.
[5] Archives of the State of New
Jersey, First Series, Vol 34, Vol 5 of Calendar of Wills, p 107. Mr. Coriell was supposedly born in 1704 and acquired
sizable holdings.
[6] New Jersey Supreme Court Case
# 38955, Sickles, Abraham (Plaintiff). Abraham Sickles v. Thomas Thickstoni
[7] Archives of the State of New
Jersey, First Series, Vol 32, Vol 3 of Calendar of Wills, p 293
1759, Aug 7. Sickle (van Sickle), Abraham, of Morris Co., yeoman; will of. Wife
Sarah. Only child, Elisabeth. Real and personal estate. Executors - the wife and
Ensyn "Thomas Baker, of the Congregation of New Providence in the "Borrough"
of Elizabeth. Witnesses - Jonathan Elmer, Piter Rutan, Abraham Rutan. Proved Dec.
10, 1759. Lib G., p. 139.
Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol 32, Vol 3 of Calendar of
Wills, p 339
1759, Aug 25. Van Sickle, Abraham, of Morris Co. Int. Inventory Pounds 333..10 incl.
62 bush of corn in the ear; 17 do. of buckwheat; bonds, cash and notes Pounds 150.4.7;
made by William Broadwell, Abraham Rutan, Thomas Baker and Saray Van Sickel.
Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol 34, Vol 5 of Calendar of
Wills. 1774, June 28. Rutan, Peter, of Morris Co.: will of. Wife, Elizabeth Rutan, use of 1/3 of my estate,
and after her death, I give my son, Abraham Rutan, all my estate. Executor – son, Abraham. Witnesses – Cornelius Ludlow, Richard Whitekenack,
Peter Layten. Proved AUG 7, 1774. Lib L,
p. 168.
[8]Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society of New York,
Vol. 1, Marriages from 1639 to 1801in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York, p.
69.
[9] NYC Baptisms 1692 Dec 18;
Lambert Sickers, Maria Jans; Johannes; Robbert Zichels, Judith Ver Wey
[10] Records of the Reformed Protestant
Dutch Church of Flatbush, Vol. II, by David Voorhees, p. 283.
[11] 1698 Kings Co., NY Census,
of Flatbush:
Lambert Sighels, 1 man, 1 woman, 5 children
Documentary History of the State of New York, by E.B. O'Callagahan, Vol III, p.
137.
[12] Genealogical Gleanings from
Book No. 2 of Conveyances, Brooklyn, Kings Co., NYGBR 1923, p. 311. Note that there is some confusion in the abstract
or the original. The grantor is stated to
be Barbara Luycas, widow of Theunis Janse Coverts and that her children are not
of age so their guardians are mentioned instead. However, all of her children were of age and it
is all of her children, their spouses or in one case a grandchild, except her son
Lucas, who are the guardians listed. It appears
this Barbara Luycas is actually Barbara Sprong, widow of Lucas Covert who died at
about this time.
[13] NYC Baptisms 1703 May 09;
Lambert Sickels, Maria Jans; Alida; Anderies Brestede, Antie Van Bossen
[14] Fred Sisser, "Brooklyn Residents of May 1713",
RECORD 117:225-226.
[15] 1715 Kings Co Militia rosters:
Regt. VI: David Aersen, Capt; Lambert van Sekols, Leff; Ewout Ewoulse, Ens;
troopers include: John van Sekellen. The Documentary History of the State of New
York, Volume 3 By Christopher Morgan, Edmund B. O'Callaghan, p 183-185.
[16] Abstract of Wills "Whereas
LAMERT VAN ZECHELS, of Brookland, in Kings County, died intestate, Letters of administration
are granted to Johanes Van Zeckels, his son and heir, August 31, 1722."
[17] Freeholders of Brooklyn, NY. Kings Co. Deeds, Liber 5, folio 39.
[18] The Documentary History of
the State of New York, by E.B. O'Callagahan, Volume IV, pp. 122-131. The census
was actually taken in 1731 as reported in New York Genealogical and Biographical
Record, vol 136, p. 250.
[19] Records of the Reformed Church
of New Utrecht Long Island, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol 112,
p 206.
[20] They have a common patronymic
name, marriage records of three of them mention they were residing in Albany while
Andries probably had children baptized there, and Maria Jans Van Sicklen, Barentje
Jans Hegeman and Andries Jansen had first or second oldest daughters named Alida
with Maria serving as a witness for Barentje’s daughter named Alida. The will of Andries Jansen names as executors:
Aaron Van Nostrand (his wife’s brother-in-law), Benjamin Hegeman and Abraham Hegemen,
both likely brothers-in-law (see Abstracts of wills on file in the Surrogate's Office,
City of New York (Volume II. 1708-1728), p 65, Abstracts of Wills, Liber 8 and
Abstracts of wills on file in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume XVI.
Corrections to Vol.I-V), p. 62, Corrections Abstracts of Wills, Volume II.). Andries Brestede, one of the witnesses for Alida
Van Sicklen, was the son of Jan Jansen Van Breestede and Marytje Andrieszen, sister
of Jan Andrieszen who was possibly the father in this Jansen family. Though originally from Albany, all of these families
were living in Flatbush in the 1698 census of Kings Co., NY, including possibly
Jan Andriessen himself.
[21] New Jersey Supreme Court Case
#43811 John Van Sickler v John Van Horne, Jr. (dec), Debt, Middlesex Co., NJ, 1736
[22] Archives of the State of
New Jersey, First Series, Marriages, Vol 22, p. 348.
[23] Records of the Reformed Dutch
Church of Albany, New York, 1683–1809, Year Book of the Holland Society of New York,
1905, p. 21.
[24] Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society of New York,
Vol. 1, Marriages from 1639 to 1801in the Reformed Dutch Church, New York, p. 135.
[25] Abstracts of Wills on File
in the Surrogate’s Office, City of New York. Liber 15, p. 201
[26] New Jersey Supreme Court Case,
online at
#21400, Sickels, Zachariah (Defendant), Nicholas Kortright v. Zachariah Sickels,
Debt, Middlesex Co., NJ, 1729
[27] The will of his father-in-law,
Jan Hendrickse Brevoort, states that Zachariah was of New Harlem. Abstracts of wills on file in the Surrogate's
Office, City of New York (Volume II. 1708-1728), Abstracts of Wills, Liber 8, p.
144.
[28] New Jersey Supreme Court Case,
online at: https://wwwnet-dos.state.nj.us/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/index.aspx
#17737, Sickel, Garet (Defendant), Michael Higgins v. Garet Sickel, Somerset Co.,
NJ,, 1737
[29] Records of the Reformed Dutch
Church of Albany, New York, 1683–1809, Year Book of the Holland Society of New York,
1906. Maria, bp 21 Jun 1729 (p 34), named
after maternal and paternal grandmothers; Jacob, bp 10 May 1731 (p 41), named after
his maternal grandfather; Annetje, bp 08 Aug 1733 (p 50), named after her mother;
Elizabeth, bp 08 Aug 1733 (p 50); Lambert, bp 30 Jul 1735 (p 58), named after his
paternal grandfather; Abraham, bp 12 Jun 1737 (p 68), named after his maternal and
paternal uncles; Gerrit, bp 17 Feb 1740 (p 81), named after his maternal uncle;
Christina, bp 07 Aug 1743 (p 99) and Christina, bp 08 Sep 1745 (p 107), named after
the maternal aunt; Margaret, bp 08 Sep 1745 (p 107).
[30] Abstracts of wills on file
in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume II. 1708-1728), p. 87, Abstracts
of Wills, Liber 8, p. 104. Whereas FERDINANDUS VAN SICKLEN, late of Flatbush, in
Kings County, died intestate. Letters of administration are granted to Johanes Von
Sicklen, his son and heir. His widow having refused. April 20, 1712.
Abstracts of wills on file in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume XVI.
Corrections to Vol.I-V), p. 65, Corrections Abstracts of Wills, Volume II, p. 87.
4 lines from top for His widow read His widow Eve Van Sicklen.
[31] The Law and Custom of Primogeniture,
by Sir Perceval Maitland Laurence, p. 133.
[32] A P. G. Jos van der
Linde, Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, New York, First Book of
Records, p. 162.
[33] 1698 Kings Co Census of Flatlands:
Fferdinando Van Sigelen, 1 man, 1 woman, 5 children. The children are probably Ferdinand, Johannes,
Anna, Cornelia and Susannah.
Documentary History of the State of New York, by E.B. O'Callagahan, Vol III, p.
136.
[34] NNC, Vol. 6, Num. 2, 2001,
p. 50
[35] 1715 Kings Co Militia rosters:
V. Roulif Terhunen, Capt, Troop included John Van Sekellen. The Documentary History
of the State of New York, Volume 3 By Christopher Morgan, Edmund B. O'Callaghan,
p 184.
[36] Kings Co. Deeds, Liber 5,
folio 123.
[37] 1738 Census of Flatlands,
Kings Co., NY, Documentary History of the State of New York, by E.B. O'Callagahan,
Vol IV, p. 192.
[38] Abstracts of wills on file
in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume XI - - unrecorded wills prior
to 1790), Unrecorded Wills. p. 117. In the
name of God, Amen. January 12, 1747. I, SUSANAH VAN SICKELEN, of Flatlands, in Kings
County, in the Island of Nassau, single woman, being in health. After my lawful
debts are paid, and my funeral charges are defrayed, I leave all my real and personal
estate, in Flatlands or elsewhere, to the children of my brothers and my sisters.
That is to say, my estate is to be divided into six parts. And one part to the children
of my brother Reynier, one part to the children of my brother Ferdinandus, one part
to the children of my sister Margaret, one part to the children of my sister Eve,
and one sixth to my sister Anne, and one sixth to my sister Cornelia. I leave to
my cousin (nephew) Ferdinandus, the eldest son of my eldest brother, 10 shillings
for an acknowledgement. I make Ferdinandus Van Sickelen, Sr., and Ferdinandus Van
Sickelen, Jr., executors. Witnesses, Lucal Voorhees, Abraham Duryee, Simon Gerritsen.
(Not Proved.) Both executors resigned
[39] 1738 Census of Flatlands,
Kings Co., NY, Documentary History of the State of New York, by E.B. O'Callagahan,
Vol IV, p. 192. ijohannes van sijggelen,
1 male over 10, 2 females over 10.
[40] The list is undated (the beginning
and the end of the list appear to be missing) but was probably before 1745 as one
of the names included was Hendrick Wyckoff who died 6 Dec 1744. Family History Library film #888716.
[41] Kings Co. Deeds, Liber 5,
folio 123.
[42] Included in the papers of
the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatlands, Family History Library film #888716, image
167.
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