The Family of Johannes Helmigsen Van Houten and Helena Vreeland

The Family of Johannes Helmigsen Van Houten and Helena Vreeland

Johannes3 Van Houten (Helmig2, Roelof1) and Helena Vreeland were married at the Reformed Dutch Church of New York City on 17 Jun 1719.[1]  They were both of Bergen, NJ at that time.  He died on 18 Dec 1768 at Bergen, NJ.[2]  She died on 15 Mar 1774 at Bergen, NJ.[3]  Their daughter, Jannetje, was baptized in 1724 at the Reformed Dutch Church of Bergen, NJ.[4]  It is generally not known if she married.  Their son, Helmigh, was born on 22 Jun 1729 and baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church of Acquackanonk, NJ[5] and married Aechtje Vreeland.[6]  Their son, Johannes, was baptized on 17 Jun 1735 at the Reformed Dutch Church of Bergen, NJ[7] and married Aeltje Sickels.[8]  The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that Jannetje married Jacob Van Wagenen and that she had two sisters, Claesje (married Hartman Blinkerhoff) and Feytje (married Jacob Demott).

Jannetje Van Houten, Wife of Jacob Van Wagenen.

The evidence for Jannetje’s marriage and her sisters is circumstantial, based on religious records.  In part, the records show some geographical proximity, i.e. early on near Bergen, NJ, but later around Schraalenburgh, NJ, see the records cited below for those locations; [Bergen],[9] [Schraalenburgh],[10] [Hackensack].[11]

The witnesses for Jannetje’s children included her presumed sister, Claesje, and her husband, and her presumed sister, Feytje, and her husband.  Jannetje and her husband were witnesses for her niece, Helena, daughter of her sister Claesje.  Here and in the cases shown later where one of the sisters in this family serves as a witness for a nephew or niece, it is always for a child named after their maternal grandparent, either Johannes or Helena.

The will of Jacob Van Wagenen, written on 6/13/1801 at Inderkamak, Harrington, Bergen, NJ, names three children: Catalyntje,  Helena and Helmig, so their son, Johannes, apparently died before then without heirs.  Their children were named as follows: Catalyntje after her paternal grandmother, Helena after her maternal grandmother, Johannes after his paternal and maternal grandfathers, and Helmig after his paternal and maternal uncles.

Records regarding Jannetje Van Houten and Jacob Van Wagenen.

Marriage:

1742 17 Oct; Jacob Van Wagenen, ym; Jannetje Van Houten, yd, both born and liv Bergen. [Bergen]

Baptisms of their children:

1744 Sep 17; Jacob van Wagenen Jr., Jannetje van Houten; Catalyntje b. 7/23 (1c); Ide Sip & wife Antje van Wagenen. [Bergen]

1747 Jun 10; Jacob van Wagening, Jannetje van Houten; Helena b. 4/22 (2c); Hartman Blinckerhoff & wife Claesje van Houten. [Bergen]

1753 30 Sep; Johannis; Jacob Van Wagene, Jannetie Van Houte; Jacob Demot, Fytie, his wife. [Schraalenburgh]

As witnesses for her nephews and nieces:

1747 Dec 6; Helena; Hartman Blinkerhof, Klaesjin Van Houten; Jacob Van Wagenen and wife.[Schraalenburgh]

Claesje Van Houten, wife of Hartman Blinkerhof.

The evidence for Claesje’s parentage is circumstantial as well.  She was married at Bergen, NJ, like Jannetje.  The baptisms of her children took place at Schraalenburgh, NJ, as did Jannetje’s later children.  She herself was named after her maternal grandmother, Claesje Dircks Braeck. The four eldest children of Claesje were named after their grandparents: Cornelius and Aechtje after their paternal grandparents, Cornelius Blinkerhof and Aechtje Vreeland; Johannes and Helena after the maternal grandparents, Johannes Van Houten and Helena Vreeland. Of their later children, Hendrick was named after his paternal uncle, while Helmig and Jannetje were named after their maternal uncle and aunt, respectively.

The sponsors for Claesje’s children included her sister, Jannetje, and her husband, and her sister, Feytje, and her husband.  They were witnesses for her neice, Helena, daughter of her sister Jannetje, and her nephew, Johannes, son of her sister Feytje.

Claesje, wife of Hartman Blinkerhof, is often thought to have been the daughter of Cornelius Van Houten and Aechtje Vreeland, born on 30 Apr 1721[12], possibly because the names of two of their eldest children were Cornelius and Aechtje.  However, in this case those happen to be the given names of Hartman’s parents as well.  That Claesje was also named after her maternal grandmother, Claesje Dircks Braeck.  However, the witnesses for the baptisms of her children and those for whom she was a witness do not support Cornelius Van Houten and Aechtje Vreeland as her parents.  Also, the naming of an elder daughter, Helena, is not easily explained in that case.

Records regarding Claesje Van Houten and Hartman Blinkerhof.

Marriage:

1744 20 Oct; Hartman Blinckerhoff, ym; Claasie Van Houten, yd. [Bergen]

Baptisms of their children:

1745 Oct 27; Cornelis; Hartman Blinkerhof, Klaesjen Van Houten; Hendrik Blinkerhof, Geesjen Blinkerhof. [Schraalenburgh]

1747 Dec 6; Helena; Hartman Blinkerhof, Klaesjin Van Houten; Jacob Van Wagenen and wife.[Schraalenburgh]

1750 May 27; Johannis; Hartman Blinkerhof, Claesie Van Houte; Jacob Demot and wife. [Schraalenburgh]

1753 May 6; Hendrick; Hartman Blinkerhoff, Claesie Van Houte; Hendrick Blinkerhof, Maretie Van Wagene, widow. [Schraalenburgh]

As witnesses for her nephews and nieces:

1747 Jun 10; Jacob van Wagening, Jannetje van Houten; Helena b. 4/22 (2c); Hartman Blinckerhoff & wife Claesje van Houten. [Bergen]

1749 19 Nov; Johannes; Jacob Demot, Fytie Van Houte; Hartman Blinkerhof and wife. [Schraalenburgh]

Feytje Van Houten, wife of Jacob Demot.

The evidence for Feytje’s parentage is circumstantial as well.  She was from Bergen when she married at Bergen, NJ, like Jannetje.  The baptism of her son took place at Schraalenburgh, NJ, as did Jannetje’s later children.  She herself was named after her maternal aunt, Feytje Vreeland.[13] Her only son, Johannes, was named after his maternal grandfather, Johannes Michielse Vreeland.

The witnesses for their son, Johannes, were her sister, Claesje, and her husband.  Feytje and her husband Jacob were witnesses for a nephew named Johannes for each of her siblings: Claesje and Hartman Blinkerhof; Jannetje and Jacob Van Wagenen; Helmig and Aechtje Vreeland; and Johannes and Aeltje Sickles.

Though circumstantial, the consistency of their witnessing the baptisms of each other’s children (particularly those named after their maternal grandparents, Johannes and Helen), their geographical movement together from the area around Bergen to Schraalenburgh, and the naming of their children and themselves, all suggest they are siblings.  Though different parents have been identified by others for Claesje, there appears to little support for that.

Records regarding Feytje Van Houten and Jacob Demot.

Marriage:

1747 11 Oct; Jacob Demoth, ym; Feytje Van Houten, yd, both fr Bergen. [Bergen]

Baptisms of their children:

1749 19 Nov; Johannes; Jacob Demot, Fytie Van Houte; Hartman Blinkerhof and wife. [Schraalenburgh]

As witnesses for her nephews and nieces:

1750 27 May; Johannis; Hartman Blinkerhof, Claesie Van Houte; Jacob Demot and wife. [Schraalenburgh]

1753 30 Sep; Johannis; Jacob Van Wagene, Jannetie Van Houte; Jacob Demot, Fytie, his wife. [Schraalenburgh]

1754 12 Apr; Johannes; Helmig Van Houten, Eagje; Jacob Demot and wife. [Hackensack]

1763 Jan 22; Johannis van Houten, Aeltie Sickels; Johannis (1s) b. 1/22; Jacob Demot & wife Feytye van Houten. [Bergen]

Records regarding Helmig Van Houten and Aeghte Vreeland.

Baptisms of their children:

1754 12 Apr; Johannes; Helmig Van Houten, Eagje; Jacob Demot and wife. [Hackensack]

1757 Nov 13; Helmich van Houten, Aagtje Vreland; Jenneke; Joris Cadmus & wife Jannetje Vreland. [Bergen]

1761 Mar 15; Helmich van Houten, Aagtje Vreland; Michiel b. 3/9; Joris Cadmus & wife Jannetje Vreland. [Bergen]

1762 Oct 31; Helmigh van Houten, Aegye Vreelant; Jenneke b. 10/16; Helmigh Vreelant, Jannetie Sip. [Bergen]

1768 Oct 30; Helmig van Houten, Aegye Vreelant; Machiel b. 9/17; Johannis Vreelant, Knelia Hoaglant. [Bergen]

Records regarding Johannes Van Houten and Aeltje Sickels.

Baptisms of their children:

1763 Jan 22; Johannis van Houten, Aeltie Sickels; Johannis (1s) b. 1/22; Jacob Demot & wife Feytye van Houten. [Bergen]

1775 Mar 05; Johannis van Houten, Aeltie Sickels; Sara b. 2/15; Hendrick Sickels & wife Annatie Bokkenhoven. [Bergen]

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[1] Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol. 1, Marriages in the Reformed Dutch Church of New York, p. 131.

[2] Year Book of the Holland Society of New York, 1915, Bergen Book 3^rd Volume, p. 47.

[3] Year Book of the Holland Society of New York, 1915, Bergen Book 3^rd Volume, p. 49.

[4] Year Book of the Holland Society of New York, 1913, Bergen Book 1st Volume, p. 61.  The month and day are not given, but the record is between two recorded baptisms on 30 March, so it was on or around that date.

[5] Vital Records of the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church at Acquackanonk, Passaic, NJ, transcribed by Arthur Kelly, p. 12.

[6] History of Paterson and its Environs (the Silk City), by William Nelson and Charles Anthony Shriner, p. 59.

[7] Year Book of the Holland Society of New York, 1913, Bergen Book 1st Volume, p. 66.

[8] History of Paterson and its Environs (the Silk City), by William Nelson and Charles Anthony Shriner, p. 59.

[9] Year Book of the Holland Society of New York, 1913, Bergen Book 1st Volume.

[10] Records of the Reformed Dutch Churches of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh, NJ, Collections of the Holland Society of New York, Volume 1, Part 2.

[11] Records of the Reformed Dutch Churches of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh, NJ, Part 1, Collections of the Holland Society of New York, Volume 1, Part 1.

[12] Vital Records of the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church at Acquackanonk, Passaic, NJ, transcribed by Arthur Kelly, p. 3

[13] Year Book of the Holland Society of New York, 1915, Bergen Book 3^rd Volume, p. 34.  Burial of Seitje [sic], daughter of Johannis Michielse Vreeland.