The Family of Roelof Couwenhoven and Annetje Stryker

The Family of Roelof Couwenhoven and Annetje Stryker

This article is mainly concerned with the daughters of Roelof⁶ Couwenhoven (Albert⁵, William⁴, Gerrit³, Wolfert², Gerrit¹) and Annetje Stryker.  In particular, Samuel Stevenson is suggested as a possible husband of their daughter, Sarah.  Comments on this suggestion are welcome.  The other members of the family are reviewed for completeness. 

Roelof Couwenhoven was the son of Albert Van Couwenhoven and Neeltje Schenck, born 1703.[1]  The family moved to Monmouth, NJ by 1709 when Albert Van Couwenhoven and his wife, Neeltje Schenck, were listed as members.[2]  He married Annetje Stryker before 24 Oct 1731 when their oldest son, Albert⁷, was baptized at the DRC of Freehold, Monmouth, NJ[3].  Albert, their son, is said to have married a woman named Sarah and had seven children. 

Roelof and Annetje’s son, Jan⁷, was baptized on 11 Mar 1732/33 at the DRC of Freehold, Monmouth, NJ.[4]  He married a woman named Elizabeth, possibly the daughter of Dennis and Mary Hegeman, baptized on 08 Jun 1744 at the DRC of Harlingen.[5]  Jan and Elizabeth had six children baptized at the DRC of Harlingen, NJ.[6] 

Roelof and Annetje probably had an undocumented daughter named Margaret⁷ born about 1737.  Margaret was the wife of Enoch Elbertsen.  They were married before 8 May 1757 when their eldest child, Annetje, was baptized at the DRC of Harlingen.[7]  Enoch was the son of Johannes Elbertson, mentioned in his will to receive the remainder of his estate after other bequests in his will dated 1755 in NYC, NY.[8]  Their children were:  
1)      Annetje⁸, baptized 8 May 1757, named after her maternal grandmother; died young.
2)      Annetje, baptized 6 Apr 1760[9], named after her deceased sister.
3)      John, baptized 22 May 1763[10], named after his paternal grandfather; died young.
4)      Sarah, baptized 13 Apr 1766[10a], named after her maternal aunt.
5)      Roelof, baptized 8 May 1768[11], named after his maternal grandfather; died young.
6)      John, baptized 1 Apr 1770,[12] named after his deceased brother.
7)      Roelof, baptized 8 May 1774,[13] named after his deceased brother.
8)      Maria, named in her father’s will.[14]
9)      Aeltje, mentioned in her father’s will.
Roelof Couwenhoven, presumably the paternal grandfather, was the witness for Annetje.  Margaret was the witness for her youngest brother, Roelof, baptized on 28 JUL 1756 at the DRC of Harlingen.[15]  Margaret herself was named after her maternal grandmother, Margaret Schenk.[16] 

Roelof and Annetje’s family moved to Somerset Co., NJ by 29 Oct 1741 when their daughter, Annetje⁷, was baptized at the DRC of Harlingen,[17] Somerset Co., NJ.  No further trace. 

Roelof and Annetje’s daughter, Neeltje⁷, was baptized on 11 Jun 1744 at the First Reformed Church of New Brunswick.[18]  She is probably the Eleanor Couwenhoven who married Richard Sansbury by license dated 19 Jul 1764.[19]  He was of Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ at the time.

Richard died before 1790 when his widow, Eleanor, then wife of William Kearney, renounced the administration of his estate in favor of their son, Ralph.[20]  Enoch Elbertsen, Eleanor’s probable brother-in-law, was one of the witnesses to the renunciation. 

Richard and Eleanor’s son, Ralph, married Eleanor Van Pelt, daughter of John and Catherine Van Pelt.  In the will of her father dated 17 Jun 1807,[21] she is named as Eleanor Sansbury and his son-in-law, Ralph Sansbury, was appointed as one of the executors.  Ralph was one of the executors of the estate of Enoch Elbertson, whose will dated 12 May 1800 was written in Montgomery Twp, Somerset, NJ.[22]  Enoch's wife, Margaret, was Ralph's maternal aunt. 

Roelof and Annetje’s daughter, Sarah⁷, was baptized on 27 Dec 1748 at the DRC of Harlingen.[23]  Though speculative, she may have married Samuel Stevenson after 12 Mar 1778 when his marriage intentions were recorded in the Kingwood Monthly Meeting records,[24] though his bride’s name is not stated.  This possibility is suggested by DNA evidence, but is by no means conclusive.  A deed dated 9 May 1821 for 1/3 portion of intestate estate of Elizabeth Stevenson, sister of Samuel, was executed by his children:[25]
 - James Iiff & wife Grace [Stevenson]
 - William Stevenson & wife Catherine
 - Ralph Stevenson & wife Ann
 - John Woolverton & wife Rebecca [Stevenson]
 - Conrad Honnes & wife Rachel [Stevenson]
 - Henry Anderson & wife Elizabeth [Stevenson]
 - Sarah Stevenson
 - Nancy Stevenson
The names Rebecca, Rachel and Elizabeth came from the Stevenson family.  It is likely that the names Ralph (Roelof) and Nancy (Ann) came from Sarah’s side of the family. 

Roelof and Annetje’s son, Roelof⁷, was baptized on 28 Jul 1756 at the DRC of Harlingen.[26]  No further trace. 

Roelof Couwenhoven, Sr. is included in a list of freeholders in the Western Precinct of Somerset Co., NJ in 1753.[27]

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[1] The Conover Family, by Charles Hopkins Conover, pg. 18.
[2] Records of the Dutch Congregations of Freehold and Middletown, Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey (Freehold, GMNJ), vol. 22, pg. 3.
[3] Freehold, GMNJ, vol. 23, pg. 67.
[4] The Conover Family, by Charles Hopkins Conover, pg. 18.
[5] Records of the Harlingen Reformed Dutch Church, (Harlingen) GMNJ, vol. 17, pg. 83.
[6] Harlingen, GMNJ: Annetje, vol. 18, pg. 82; Dennis, vol. 18, pg. 86; Maria, vol. 19, pg. 13; Roelof, vol. 19, pg. 34; John, vol. 19, pg. 38; Joseph, vol. 19, pg. 87.
[7] Harlingen, GMNJ, vol. 18, pg. 43.
[8] Abstracts of wills on file in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume VI. 1760-1766), ABSTRACTS OF WILLS LIBER 22, pg. 63.
[9] Harlingen, GMNJ, vol. 18, pg. 59.
[10] Harlingen, GMNJ, vol. 18, pg. 84.
[10a] Harlingen, GMNJ, vol. 19, pg. 13.
[11] Harlingen, GMNJ, vol. 19, pg. 34.
[12] Harlingen, GMNJ, vol. 19, pg. 37.
[13] Harlingen, GMNJ, vol. 19, pg. 64.
[14] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 38, Calendar of Wills, Vol 9, pg. 119
[15] Harlingen, GMNJ, vol. 18, pg. 42.
[16] Margaret is named as the wife of John Stryker in the will of her father, Johannes Schenck. Abstract of wills on file in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume IV. 1744-1753) , ABSTRACTS OF WILLS LIBER 16. pg. 157 Page 230.
[17] Harlingen, GMNJ vol. 17, pg. 81.
[18] Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, Vol 11, pg. 411
[19] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 22, pg. 95.
[20] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 36, Calendar of Wills, Vol 7, pg. 195
[21] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 40, Calendar of Wills, Vol 11, pg. 352.
[22] Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of New Jersey, Vol 38, Calendar of Wills, Vol 9, pg. 119.
[23] Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, vol 17, pg. 86.
[24] James W. Moore, Records of the Kingwood Monthly Meeting of Friends, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, pg. 11.
[25] THE WOOLVERTON FAMILY: 1693 – 1850 and Beyond, Volume I, by David A. Macdonald, Nancy N. McAdams, from Hunterdon County Deed Book 34:328
[26] Harlingen, GMNJ vol. 18, pg. 42.
[27] Eighth Century Freeholders in New Jersey, GMNJ, vol 18, pg. 13.