The Early Thomas Van Dycks of Kings Co., NY

The Early Thomas Van Dycks of Kings Co., NY

A Thomas Van Dyck, huband of Sicha, lived in South Brunswick, Middlesex, NJ[1] in the 1700s.  As far as the author knows, his parents have not been identified in any genealogical publications.  This article will give some detail about his life and each of the lives of the known Thomas Van Dycks listed below in hopes of being able to arrive at whom his most likely parents were.

Thomas was probably living in Somerset Co., NJ when he purchased land in South Brunswick, Middlesex, NJ from Abraham Anderson on 10 Nov 1735.[2]  He is listed in the New Brunswick [which included North and South Brunswick at the time] List of Freeholders of Middlesex Co in 1752.[3]  He married a woman named Sicha [Seytje?], as can be seen from a deed on 14 Nov 1777 from Thomas and Sicha Van Dyck of Mapletown to David Clarkston, Jr of Somerset for land at Mapletown,[4] being 7 lots;
- Lot 1 purchased from John Smith on 26 Apr 1749 bordering land of Matthias Van Dyck (probably
            Matthias ⁴ Van Dyck (Jan³, Jan², Jan¹), husband of Neeltje Lane.)
- Lot 2 purchased from Abraham Anderson 10 Nov 1735 bordering Heathcuts Brook,
- Lot 3 purchased from Peter & William Sunderlin 12 Feb 1775 bordering Heathcuts Brook
- Lot 4 purchased from Daniel South on 7 Dec 1749, bounded by lot 3,
- Lot 5 purchased from William Hollinshead 11 Apr 1774,
- Lot 6 purchased of Sam'l ___hoove 4 Oct 1759,
- Lot 7 purchased of John Bayles (no date). [5]

He was involved in several Supreme Court cases:
Case       Name                                             Case Title                                           Type                       Location                Date
20131    Vandike, Thomas (Defendant)   Rut Johnson v. Thomas Vandike    Undetermined      Undetermined     1741
11254    VanDike, Thomas (Juror)           Aaron Doud v. John Turnout            Trespass & Eject   Middlesex             1756
43360    Vandike, Thomas (Plaintiff)       Thomas Vandike v Jacob Skillman  Debt                       Middlesex              1762
43365    Vandike, Thomas (Plaintiff)       Thomas Vandike v Thom Skillman  Trespass                Somerset                1762
39005    Vandike, Thomas (Defendant)    Jacob Skillman v Thomas Vandike  Trespass              Middlesex               1762
Index online at: https://wwwnet-dos.state.nj.us/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/SupremeCourt.aspx

It is not known if he and his wife, Sicha, had any children.  He died before 28 Apr 1800 when he is mentioned as deceased in a deed from Thomas Tingsey to David Clarkston.[6]

Possible parents of Thomas Van Dyke of Mapletown, Middlesex, NJ.

There were several early Van Dyck families in New York, but as far as the author has been able to trace, only the Van Dycks of Kings Co., NY used the name Thomas before 1710.  Thomas was a popular name for the Van Dyck families of Kings Co., NY.  There were eight Thomas Van Dycks born between 1678 and 1710 who were born in Kings Co., NY, or were sons of Van Dycks who were born there.  They included:
1) Thomas², son of Thomas¹ Tjercksen Van Dyck and Engeltje Jacobs, baptized 8 Nov 1678.[7]
2) Thomas³, son of Achias² Van Dyck (Jan¹) and Jannetje Lammerts, baptized 17 Apr 1687.[8]
3) Thomas⁴, son of Andries³ Van Dyck (Thomas², Jan¹) and Geesje DeGroot, born about 1701.[9]
4) Thomas³, son of Charles² (Jan¹) Van Dyck and Mayken Wyckoff, born about 1690.[10]
5) Thomas⁴, son of Claes³ (Thomas², Jan¹) Van Dyck & Frances Hendrickson, born 11 Apr 1693.[11]
6) Thomas³, son of Tjerck² Van Dyck (Thomas Tjercksen¹) and Pieternella, born about 1704.[12]
7) Thomas⁴, son of Abraham³ Van Dyck (Thomas², Jan¹) & Elizabeth Huyken, bapt. 5 Mar 1709/10.[13]
8) Thomas⁴, son of Isaac³ Van Dyck (Thomas², Jan¹) & Barbara Reyniersen, bapt. 17 Aug 1706.[14]

No direct evidence of the identity of Thomas' parents has been found.  This article will give some detail about each of the lives of the above known Thomas Van Dyck in hopes of more clearly identifying them later in life.

Thomas² Van Dyck (Thomas¹ Tjercksen)

Thomas was baptized in New York City, but his family lived at Yellow Hook, New Utrecht, Kings Co., NY.[15]  He is not included in the 1698 census of New Utrecht.[16]  Though he may have moved out of the area, no further record of him has been found so he is presumed to have died young.  He is probably not the Thomas Van Dyck of Middleton.

Thomas³ Van Dyck (Achias², Jan¹)

Thomas was one of ten children of Achias Van Dyck and Jannetje Lammerts,[17] whose family lived at Yellow Hook, Brooklyn, NY.  Achias left a will, but it has not been found.  A deed[18] executed in 1708 by the heirs of Achias specifies that there are six shares his property was to be divided into.  Five are named, directly or indirectly, in the deed: Lambert, Jacob, Jannetje, Hendrick Hendrickson (husband of presumed deceased daughter, Catherine)[19] and Barbara, wife of Coert Voorhees. 

The holder of the sixth share is unknown[20], but was probably not Thomas.  Some of Achias’ children died young, as appears from the 1698 census which shows only seven children in the household.  Those include the five heirs named in the deed, their daughter Annetje (later married Coert Voorhees)[21] and one other child of their remaining four children, implying three had died before the census.  Thomas was baptized on 17 Apr 1687, but he does not appear in the 1715 Militia of Kings Co., NY.[22]  A Thomas Van Dyck is listed next to Nicholas Van Dyck, probably his father.  Missing from the deed for land in his father's estate and from the Militia list strongly suggests he was one of the children who died before the 1698 census or at least before Achias wrote his will by 1708. He is probably not the Thomas Van Dyck of Middleton.

Thomas⁴ Van Dyck (Andries³, Thomas², Jan¹)

Thomas, eldest son of Andries Van Dyck and Geesje DeGroot, was baptized at the RDC of Tarrytown, NY in 1701.[23]  Thomas is not mentioned in the will of his father,[24] nor in a deed[25] that specifies that all of Andries’ children shall have a share in his property, except his son, Stanley [Staats], a total of seven shares, so Andries’ son, Thomas, had died before Andries wrote his will which names his seven children (including the unborn child, later named David). He is not the Thomas Van Dyck of Middleton.

Thomas³ Van Dyck (Charles², Jan¹)

The family of Charles Van Dyck and Elizabeth De Hart moved to Monmouth Co., NY, and attended the Reformed Dutch Church of Freehold and Middletown by 1710 when his grandchildren begin to be baptized there.[26]  Thomas married Mayken Wycoff and had his first child baptized there on 23 Sep 1711.[27]  He died some time after 23 Aug 1740 when he entered into an agreement with Isaac Hance regarding some property in Monmouth Co., NJ..[28] Given his location in 1740, he is not the Thomas Van Dyck of Middleton.

Thomas⁴ Van Dyck (Claes³, Thomas², Jan¹)

Thomas married a woman named Ann,[29] and had children named Thomas, James, Elizabeth and Daniel (order uncertain).[30]  His father, Claes Van Dyck moved to Delaware about 1723[31] or 1724.[32]  His brothers, Abraham and John, were living in Delaware by 1728 when they are mentioned by Claes when he appointed his son, Abraham, as his attorney. However, it is uncertain when Thomas moved to Delaware.  He was living in Little Creek, Kent Co., DE by 1736 when he is included in the tax lists there.[33]  He was also of Little Creek in 1739 when he and his siblings deeded their father’s land.[34]  Many of the tax lists of Little Creek from 1729 on survive, but Thomas does not appear in the 1729, 1733, 1734 or 1735 lists. 

This leaves open the possibility that he did not move to Delaware at the same time as his father and may have been still living in Kings County.  He is probably the Thomas Van Dyck in the 1731 census of Brooklyn.  The household included 2 males over 10, 1 female over 10 and 1 female under 10.  If correct, the other older male could have been one his younger brothers, Hendrick or Daniel, while the female under 10 could be Thomas’ daughter, Elizabeth.

A Thomas Van Dyck and his wife Annetje had a child named Jannetje baptized at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Utrecht on 5 Mar 1732,[35] the witnesses being Jan Stryker and Jannetje Stryker.  As mentioned earlier, this Thomas married a woman named Ann, so this child could be his daughter.  If so, she died young as she is not listed as one of Thomas’ children in the will of his nephew, Jacob.  However, given the location of the baptism at New Utrecht, this is more likely to be the baptism of a child of Thomas³, son of Tjerck² (Thomas Tjercksen¹). 

Thomas and Ann Van Dyke were of Appoquinimink Hundred, New Castle, DE on 19 Feb 1752 when they sold land there to Richard McWilliams.[36]  They purchased the land on 22 Apr 1741,[37] which was surveyed for Thomas on 23 Feb 1738.[38]  Thomas appears in the Little Creek Hundred tax list through 1745,[39] after which he no longer appears.  Thomas died some time after July 1765 when he and his children are mentioned in the will of his nephew, Jacob.  Given his location in 1752, he is not the Thomas Van Dyck of Middleton.

Thomas³ Van Dyck (Tjerck², Thomas Tjercksen¹)

He is mentioned in the will of his father, Tjerck Van Dyck, who was of New Utrecht when he wrote his will on 1 May 1743.  He served as a deacon in the Reformed Dutch Church of New Utrecht, NY many years in the interval between 1737 and 1758.[39a]   He was probably the Thomas Van Dyck in the 1731 census of New Utrecht.  The household included 2 males over 10, one male under 10, one female over 10 and 1 female under 10, so it appears he was married at that time.  It is likely that this Thomas also married a woman named Ann and was the father of Jannetje, baptized in New Utrecht in 1732, after the census in 1731. Unfortunately, the daughter in the 1731 census and Jannetje have not been traced further.

This Thomas was High Sherriff of New Utrecht and a widower when he married Jannetje Suydam ------ Carniel, a widow from Queens, on 09 Jun 1755 at the RDC of Flatbush, NY.[40]  Her previous husband, Thomas Carniel[41] had all of his children baptized at the RDC of Jamaica.  Her first husband was Martin Wiltse.  Their children were baptized at the RDC of Jamaica,[42] except her last child, Ida, was baptized at the RDC of Fishkill, where her maiden name is given as Sudam.[43]  The witnesses were Peter Lefferts and his wife.[44]  He owned two slaves according to the 1755 Slave Census of New Utrecht.  Given his location in 1755, he is not the Thomas Van Dyck of Middleton.

Thomas⁴ Van Dyck (Abraham³, Thomas², Jan¹)

Thomas, second son of Abraham Van Dyck and Elizabeth Van Huyken, was baptized on 15 Mar 1709/10 at the Reformed Dutch Church of New York City.[45]  Others of their children were baptized there and at the Reformed Dutch Church of Tarrytown, NY.[46]  Abraham Van Dyck is listed in the February 1708/9 Tax Lists of New York City,[47] but not in the 1721 Tax List,[48] nor in the published Tax List of 1730.[49]  The family, including Thomas, has not been traced further than their youngest child, Johannes, baptized 09 Apr 1721, at the Reformed Dutch Church of NYC, NY.[50]  Given that some of their children were baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church in Tarrytown[51] and they were witnesses for several baptisms there, it is likely they moved there, but no record of them has been found of them back in NYC where their last two children were baptized.[52]  Though he cannot be eliminated as the Thomas Van Dyck of Middleton, there is no evidence to suggest that any children of this family moved to New Jersey.

It is likely that this Thomas’ brother, William, baptized 21 Mar 1707/08,[53] moved to Appoquinimink Hundred, New Castle, DE about 1740, near his cousin Thomas⁴ Van Dyck (Claes³, Thomas², Jan¹).  A William Van Dyke had land surveyed on 27 Feb 1739[54] along Blackbird Creek.  William and his wife, Agnes, sold the land in Appoquinimink Hundred on 18 Nov 1756.[55]  William’s will,[56] written in Appoquinimink Hundred, New Castle, DE mentioning his wife, Agnes, and three unnamed children, was proven on 4 Apr 1760.

It is possible that Thomas’ brother, Johannes, baptized 09 Apr 1721,[57] moved to Tappan, NY.  A Johannes Van Dyck married Elizabeth Meyer and had two children baptized there, Maria on 20 Jan 1745 and Johannes on 7 Sep 1746.[58]

Thomas⁴ Van Dyck (Isaac³, Thomas², Jan¹)

Thomas, eldest son of Isaac Van Dyck and Barbara Reyniersen, was baptized on 17 Aug 1706 at the Reformed Dutch Church of Tarrytown, NY.[59]  His father, Isaac, wrote his will on 21 Mar 1727 in Middlesex Co., NJ.[60]  He mentions a farm in New Castle, DE.  His son, Thomas Van Dyck of East New Jersey, sold land at New Castle, DE on 15 Aug 1729 to Ann Banks[61] and on 5 May 1730 to William Coerten.[62] 

He is the Thomas Van Dyck who appears in the 1735 Tax List of Franklin Twp, Somerset Co., NJ,[63] probably living on the land his father lived at as described in a deed of 1718 in Somerset, NJ.[64]  Given his presence in 1735 in Franklin Twp., Somerset Co., which borders South Brunswick, Middlesex Co., NJ, Isaac Van Dyck and Barbara Reyniersen are the most likely parents of Thomas Van Dyck of Middleton.

---

[1] Middlesex Co., NJ, Deeds, Liber 1, p. 258

[2] Middlesex Co., NJ, Deeds, Liber 1, p. 258.

[3] Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, V1, 1896, 3^rd Series, p. 108.

[4] Middlesex Co., NJ, Deeds, Liber 1, p. 258.

[5] Middlesex Co., NJ, Deeds, Liber 1, p. 258.

[6] Middlesex Co., NJ, Deeds, Liber 2, p. 250.

[7] Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol 2,  Baptisms in the Reformed Dutch Church, NY, p. 134.

[8] “Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, First Book of Records”, by A.P.G. Jos van der Linde, p. 126.

[9] New York Births & Baptisms: Southeast Region, Tarrytown First Reformed Church, Ancestry.com

[10] Liber C., Monmouth Co., NJ, Book of Wills, Page 12.

[11] Van Dycks, by Richard W. Cook, pg. 11, online at: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~tullis/genealogy/VanDyke/VanDycks-Cook.pdf

[12] ABSTRACTS OF WILLS LIBER 17. p. 323, Abstract of wills on file in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume IV. 1744-1753)

[13] Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol 2,  Baptisms in the Reformed Dutch Church, NY, p. 344

[14] New York Births & Baptisms: Southeast Region, Tarrytown First Reformed Church, Ancestry.com

[15] 1698 Census of Kings Co., NY, Documentary History of the State of New York, by E. B. O'Callaghan, vol. 3, p. 133.

[16] A 1698 Census of New Utrecht, Journal of Long Island History, Vol 14, by B-Ann Moorhouse, p. 54

[17] Van Dycks, by Richard W. Cook, pg. 11, online at: https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~tullis/genealogy/VanDyke/VanDycks-Cook.pdf, plus Barent, baptized on 20 May 1685 at the RDC NYC, NY, and Jannetje, named in a deed of his children, Kings Co. NY, Conveyances, v 3, folio 279.

[18] Kings Co. NY, Conveyances, v 3, folio 279

[19] “Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, First Book of Records”, by A.P.G. Jos van der Linde, p. 149.

[20] Thomas’ sister, Annetje, could be the holder of the sixth share and simply did not join in the sale at that time.  However, no later sale of a share has been found.    One other possibility for the person holding the sixth share is the purchaser, Hendrick Van Dyck.  He has been identified variously as a son of one of the other Van Dyck families in the area, but there is significant circumstantial evidence that he was the son of Achias Van Dyck, see the upcoming article in De Halve Maen regarding Hendrick Van Dyck of Yellow Hook.

[21] Van Voorhees Family in America, First Six Generations, Florcence Christoph, p. 16.

[22] The Documentary History of the State of New York, Volume 3, by Edmund B. O'Callaghan, p 183-185.

[23] New York Births & Baptisms: Southeast Region, Tarrytown First Reformed Church, Ancestry.com

[24] Delaware Calendar of Wills, New Castle County, p 28.

[25] New Castle, DE, Deeds, Vol M1, p. 102.

[26] Records of the Dutch Congregations of Freehold and Middletown, Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol 22, pg. 6.

[27] Records of the Dutch Congregations of Freehold and Middletown, Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol 22, pg. 31.

[28] Early New Jersey Land Records, Books A3 and B3, abstracted by Richard Hutchinson, p. 52.

[29] Will of Daniel Van Dyck, proved 05 Jan 1776, Kent Co., DE.

[30] Will of Jacob Van Dyck (son of Henry Van Dyck, will proved 28 Dec 1761, St. George Hundred, New Castle, DE) proved 10 Mar 1772 St. George Hundred, New Castle, DE.

[31] New Castle, DE, Deeds: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSYD-2Q3C-2?i=86&cat=333475

[32] He was still a freeholder in Brooklyn, NY on 7 Jan 1724 when he signed an agreement there, Kings Co., NY Conveyances, Liber 5, Folio 39

[33] Family History Library Film # 007834262, image 240. 

[34] New Castle Deeds, Lib Q, pg. 33, image 21.

[35] Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Utrecht, Long Island, RECORD 113 (1982): 11.

[36] New Castle, DE, Deeds, Vol Q, p. 612.

[37] Philadelphia Patent Book A, Vol 9, p. 234.

[38] New Castle County land warrants and surveys; index cards to land warrants and surveys, Film # 008143422, image 4535,4536
Thomas Van Dyke, branch of Blackbird Creek, Appoquinimink Hd., 23 Feb 1738, acres 100. V1 #6, image 288
Thomas Van Dyke, between Spring and Russell's Branches, date 26 Apr 1739, "Van Dyke's Choice", Acres 100, Quantity corrected to 98 1/4, V2 #28 image 31

[39] Family History Library Film # 007834262, image 358. 
[39a] Historical Discourse Delivered at the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Utrecht, NY, by Rev. David S. Sutphen, p. 54.

[40] Frost Collection, pg. 15.  Marriages at the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush.

[41] various spellings in the baptismal records of his children: Caanel, Caarnel, Carnwel, Carwel, Kaanel, DRC of Jamaica.

[42] Records of the First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, Long Island, RECORD 107(1976):39.

[43] Records of the Dutch Reformed Church of Fishkill, Dutchess County, 1731-1850, by Kenneth E. Hasbrouck, p. 71.

[44] Peter’s wife was Ida Suydam, sister of Jannetje.

[45] Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol 2,  Baptisms in the Reformed Dutch Church, NY, p. 344.

[46] New York Births & Baptisms: Southeast Region, Tarrytown First Reformed Church, Ancestry.com

[47] Assessment rolls, (New York City, New York), 1699-1734, Family History Library Film  484033

[48] Assessment rolls, (New York City, New York), 1699-1734, Family History Library Film  484033

[49] New York City Assessment Roll, February, 1730, by Leo Hershkowitz, RECORD 95(1964):27.

[50] Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol 2,  Baptisms in the Reformed Dutch Church, NY, p. 426.

[51] Annetje, baptized 25 Mar 1712, and Andries, baptized 22 Oct 1716.  New York Births & Baptisms: Southeast Region, Tarrytown First Reformed Church, Ancestry.com

[52] Elizabeth, baptized 05 Apr 1719, see Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol 2,  Baptisms in the Reformed Dutch Church, NY, p. 411.

[53] Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol 2,  Baptisms in the Reformed Dutch Church, NY, p. 330.

[54] New Castle County land warrants and surveys, FHL Film # 008664137, image 288 and 318,

[55] New Castle County, DE, Deeds, Vol S, p. 219

[56] A Calendar of Delaware wills, New Castle County, abstracted by the Historical Research Committee of the Colonial Dames of Delaware, p. 57.

[57] Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Vol 2,  Baptisms in the Reformed Dutch Church, NY, p. 426.

[58] New York Births & Baptisms: Southeast Region, Tarrytown First Reformed Church, Ancestry.com

[59] New York Births & Baptisms: Southeast Region, Tarrytown First Reformed Church, Ancestry.com

[60] Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New Jersey, Vol. 23, Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol. 1, p. 477.

[61] Kent Co., DE. Deeds, Vol I, p. 71.

[62] Kent Co., DE. Deeds, Vol I, p. 454.

[63] The History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey, compiled by James P. Snell, p. 815.

[64] East New Jersey Land Records, Books G2 & H2, abstracted by Richard Hutchinson, p. 97.