Hildebrand PIETERSEN (1613 – 1639) was Alex’s 12th Grandfather; one of 8,192 in this generation of the Shaw line.

Hildebrand Pietersen was born in 1613 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He married Femmetje ALBERTSE. Hildebrand died in 1639 in New Amsterdam, NY.

Femmetje Albertse was born in 1615 in Noord-Holland, Netherlands.  Her father was Aldert Van NORDEN (1589 – 1650) and Geertuy DRIES.  Several genealogies say Adert immigrated to New Netherlands, but I can find no evidence.  After Hildebrand died, she married Hendrick Janse Westercamp (Westecamp) before 1641 in Kingston, NY.

She was probably the Femmetge Aelberts who married Michiel Anthonisz van Uytrecht in 1656. Through an unfortunate mistake, Michiel had been led to believe that his first wife in the Netherlands had died and subsequently married Femmetje, who was then living in Catskill. The first wife, still alive, then arrived in the New World. Femmitje stepped aside and was granted a divorce 4 July 1656.  Femmetje died in 1667 in Kingston, NY.

After her second husband died in 1653, Femmetje ran his Kingston bakery and appears in numerous court disputes in the records of several towns in New Netherland.

Children of Hildebrand and Femmetje

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Children of Femmetje and Hendrick Janse Westercamp

Hendrick Janse Westecamp/ Westercamp was born 1613/15 of Meppel, Drenthe, Netherlands.  Hendrick died before 30 Sep. 1654 Albany, Albany, NY

2 Apr 1648 – Hendrick Jansz Westerkamp(Westercamp); received permission to seek a living in Rensselaerswyck (Albany) by day labor or otherwise and soon seems to have established himself as a baker.

1 Apr 1650 – Hendrick  was granted the garden between the first and second creeks formally occupied by Capitaijn [Willem Juriaensz, the baker].

They were living at Beverwyck near Fort Orange (now Albany, New York) by the summer of 1652. Hendrick died between 1653, when he appeared as witness in a court case, and 1654, when Femmetje appears in court and is called a widow. One of his dying wishes was that his daughter (either Grietjen or another unknown daughter) be released from her indenture. In September of 1654, Femmetje was successful in fulfilling this wish.

Court Minutes of Rensselaerswyck (Albany)

Thursday April 2 1648 –  Hendrick Westercamp is granted permission and consent to support himself in the colony by day-labor or otherwise. He may therefore select a place, whereupon we shall resolve further.

Extraordinary session, March 16 1652 – Hendrick Westerkamp says that at the request of Commissary J. Dyckman he made an affidavit concerning the former brickyard, a little south of the first kill, in which he declared that the same belonged to the company and that they had a small house there.

Extraordinary Session, August 20, 1652 – Jan Labatie, plaintiff, against Hendrick Jansz Westerkamp, defendant, on account of 8 beavers which the defendant owes to Philip Geary, according to a note of the 16th of August of last year.

The court orders the defendant to pay the aforesaid eight beavers in specie to the plaintiff, by virtue of his power of attorney, within the space of ten days, on pain of execution

We don’t know much about Hildebrand and Femmetje, but Jannetie must have found her way to New Amsterdam somehow.

Femmetje was an interesting character who ran her deceased second husband’s bakery and appears in numerous court disputes in the records of several towns in New Netherland.

1656 – She was probably the Femmetge Aelberts who married Michiel Anthonisz van Uytrecht in 1656. Through an unfortunate mistake, Michiel had been led to believe that his first wife in the Netherlands had died and subsequently married Femmetje, who was then living in Catskill. The first wife, still alive, then arrived in the New World. Femmitje stepped aside and was granted a divorce 4 July 1656.

Femmetge Aelberts and Michiel Anthonisz.1

Femmetge Aelberts and Michiel Anthonisz 2

1659 – First Esopus War – Peter Hillebrants is among those kidnapped and later released

1663 – Second Esopus War – Grietjen Hendricks Westercamp’s husband was killed.  Greitjen and her three children were kidnapped and later rescued.

Children

1. Jannetie  Hildebrand PIETERSEN (See Francois
LeSUEUR‘s page)

2. Pieter Hillebrants

Pieter was kidnapped by Indians during the first Esopus War.

Sep 1659 – The bottle was passed twice, and the Indian said again, “Come, let us go; my heart is full of fears.” He went off and hid his goods in the bushes at a little distance. Coming back once more they heard the bushes crackle as the Dutch came there, without knowing who it was. Then this Indian went away, saying “Come, let us go, for we all shall be killed;” and the rest laid down together, whereupon the Dutch came and all of them fired into the Indians, shooting one in the head and capturing another. One drunken Indian was continually moving about, whereupon the Dutch fired upon him repeatedly, nearly taking his dress from his body.

Ensign Smith knew what the consequences of this outbreak would be, and he sought to ascertain who ordered the firing contrary to his express instructions. The Dutch cast all the blame on the Indians, saying that the latter fired first. The affairs of the colony being in such an unsatisfactory state, and finding the people would not respect his authority, Smith announced his intention of leaving for New Amsterdam next day. Great excitement was manifested when this became known. The people tried to dissuade him from his purpose by representing their exposed condition, and making assurances of future obedience on their part. Smith was intractable, and continued making preparations for his departure; but by an adroit measure of Stohl and Thomas Chambers [husband of Margriet HENDRICKSE] who hired all the boats in the neighborhood, he found himself unable to carry out his resolution. It was deemed expedient, however, to acquaint the Governor of the state of affairs, and accordingly Christopher Davis was dispatched down the river in a canoe for that purpose.

Davis was escorted to the river by a company of eight soldiers and ten citizens, under Sergeant Lawrentsen, Sept. 21st, 1659. On the return of the escort to the village they fell into an ambuscade near where now stands the City Hall; the Sergeant and thirteen men surrendered without firing a shot, the rest making their escape. War now began in earnest. More than five hundred Indians were in the vicinity of the fort, who kept up a constant skirmish with settlers. By means of firebrands they set fire to the House of Jacob Gebers; numbers of barracks, stacks and barns were in like manner destroyed. One day they made a desperate assault on the palisades which came near being successful. Failing in this, the Indians slaughtered all the horses, cattle and hogs they could find outside the defenses. Three weeks was a constant siege kept up so that “none dare go abroad.” Unable to take the town they vented their fury on the unfortunate prisoners.

Jacob Jansen Van Stoutenburgh, Abram Vosburg, a son of Cornelius B. Sleight, and five or six other were compelled to run the gauntlet; they were next tied to stakes, and, after being beaten and cut in the most cruel manner, were burned alive. Thomas Clapboard [Chambers], William the carpenter, Peter Hillebrants and Evert PELS‘ son were among the captives.

These are the only names mentioned in the early records. Clapboard was taken by six warriors down the Esopus kill. At night he removed the cords by which he was bound, and successively knocked five of his captors in the head while they were asleep, killing the sixth before he could fly, and making good his escape. Another prisoner, a soldier, got home safely after a somewhat rough experience. Peter Laurentsen and Peter Hillebrants were ransomed; Hendrick Vosberg Pel, then a mere youth, was adopted into the tribe and married among them. Overtures were afterwards made to the Indians by the friends of the lad for his return; but the Indians answered that he “wished to stay with his squaw and pappoose, and he ought to.”

Pieter’s wife Aeltje Wygerts was born about 1625 in Gelderland, Netherlands.  She first married in the Netherlands to Lubbert Jansen (1624 – 1649) and had two children Aeltje Lubbertsen b. 1647 and Jan Lubbertse b. 1648..  After Lubbert died, she married about 1650 to Albert Gysbertsen (1623 – 1664) and had two more children Lysbet Alberts b. 1651 and Gysbert Albertsen-van Garden b. 1655.

Albert Gysbertsen died on Nov. 18, 1664.  This site has many details about Albert’s life including extensive records of his extensive court dealings.  After Albert died, Tjerck Claesen De Wit filed a suit against Aeltje Wygerts seeking payment for Blackie the horse. The record states:

“Plaintiff shows a bill of sale of a horse bought by her husband, Albert Gysbertsen, during his lifetime from plaintiff for 200 gldrs. in wheat to be paid at such times and in such payments to the vendue-master as he has bought it by Lord’s execution on April 7, 1664. Defendant admits the debt and offers to pay 100 sch. of oats, provisionally, and the balance from the future next year’s [1665] crop, or else to return the horse, and is willing to pay plaintiff for the use of said horse. Plaintiff replies not to be satisfied with aforementioned offer.”

The fact that de Wit sued Albert’s widow so soon after his death suggests that the bad blood that erupted a year earlier was simply lying dormant below the surface, or perhaps he was irked by Albert’s testimony in the lawsuit over the pasturing of cattle.

Exactly a month later, Aeltje was dragged into court concerning the heifer Albert purchased in October. The court record for Dec. 18 states:

“there appeared before us the worthy Aeltje Wygerts, widow of Albert Gysbertsen, deceased, who declares that her husband Albert Gysbertsen, deceased, bought during his lifetime from the estate of Aert Pietersen Tack, a heifer for the amount of 100 aldrs. heavy money, for which amount of 100 gldrs. heavy money the appearer has been referred to and promises to pay to Swerus Teunissen, inhabitant of the colony of Rensselaerswyck.”

To secure the debt, Aeltje mortgaged “the crop of all the corn which, by God’s blessing, shall, in the coming year 1665, be brought in from her land, and further in general her person and further goods, personal and real estate.”

At some point before the spring, Aeltje entered into a relationship with Pieter Hillebrants and the two married. Pieter had probably been a friend of the family because he seems to have been present when de Wit pulled the knife on Albert.   The church record of his marriage notes that he was born in New Amsterdam and that he had not been married before. Court records mention that Pieter was the son of Femmetje Alberts. This was almost certainly the Femmetje Alberts who was the widow Hendrick Jansen Westercamp. If this was the case, Pieter was born to a previous husband, whose first named was obviously Hillebrant.

9 Mar  1665 – Pieter Hillebrants sued Tjerck Claesen De Wit, presumably on Aeltje’s behalf. Roelof Swartwout acted as the attorney in Aeltje’s suit to acquire “20 morgens of arable land sold to the aforesaid widow’s late husband Albert Gysbertsen.” De Wit said he would record the deed once the river had become navigable, probably indicating that it was iced over at the time. De Wit then requested the 100 guilders still outstanding on the purchase of Blackie the horse, plus 14 schepels of wheat for “damage sustained through the attachment of his horse.” The plaintiffs replied that the payment was being withheld until the deed was recorded. De Wit said he was satisfied with that but still wanted his 14 schepels of wheat “for costs.” The court, apparently a bit exasperated with both parties, ordered de Wit to file the deed, Aeltje to pay for the horse and both to split the costs of 14 schepels of wheat because the “parties have been mutually negligent in living up to their contracts.

Interestingly, the March 9, 1665 court record  describes Aeltje as “last widow of Albert Gysbertsen, deceased, and at present wife of the aforesaid Pieter Hillebrants.” However, the Reformed Church records of Kingston state that Pieter Hillerbrantsen married Aeltje Wiggers on April 3, 1665. The marriage record indicates that banns were published on March 22, March 29 and April 3. It seems certain that the two were already seen as a very close couple by March 9.

Before they were actually wed, Aeltje and Pieter signed a prenuptial agreement for the protection of Aeltje’s children. On March 20, the town secretary recorded that Pieter appeared with his mother, Femmetje Alberts, and Aeltje appeared with her son-in-law Roeloff Hendericks, who was the husband of Aeltje Lubberts.

“In the name of the Lord, Amen. Be it known by these, that on March 20, 1665, N. S., appeared before Matfheus Capita, Secretary of  Wildwyck, Pieter Hillebrants, young man, accompanied by his mother, Femmetje Alberts, and Aeltje Wygerts, widow of Albert Gysbertsen, accompanied by Roeloff Hendericks, her son-in-law, who in this manner have stipulated these marriage conditions.
1. The marriage to be concluded in accordance with the canons of the reformed religion.
2. All the property, belonging to either party, to be used in (fcmmon, in accordance with the custom of Holland, with the exception that the bride sets apart for each of her children 50 gilders heavy money, viz. for Aeltje and Jan, children of Lubbert Jansen, and for Lysbet and Gysbert, children of Albert Gysbertsen. — Roeloff Swartwout and Jan Willemse Hoochteylingh to be appointed guardians over said children, who are to be instructed in reading, writing, and, if possible, learn a trade. — In case of death of either party, the property to be divided.”
Signed Pieter Hillebrants, Aeltien Hybersen, Femmetje Alberts (her mark), Roeloff Hendricks, Wilh. Beeckman, Jan Willemsen Hoochteylingh, and RoelofiE Swartwout.

The heifer that Albert purchased from the Tack estate appears in the court records again on Feb. 27, 1666. Pieter Hillebrants agreed to pay 100 guilders in wheat to satisfy the debt before that October.

18 Feb 1672/73 – Aeltje and Pieter apparently hired Willem Montagne to defend them against a lawsuit filed by Cornelis Wynkoop. The plaintiff was demanding payments and interest due on a mortgage given to Albert Gysbertsen on May 1, 1664. Neither Pieter, nor Aeltje, are named but the record mentions that Montagne was acting “by virtue of a power of attorney.” He pointed out that the mortgage was for only four years and that Wynkoop had missed his chance to enforce it. The court decided in favor of the defendants.

8 Mar 1674/75 – Aeltje and the guardians of Albert’s children, Roelof Swartwout and Jan Willemsen, asked to apportion the children’s inheritance, noting “the same have attained their majority except Jan, who is one year short of it.” The court allowed the apportionment. However, the mention of a son named “Jan” should be discussed. It seems almost certain that this is a mistaken reference to Gysbert. The only Jan mentioned in connection with Aeltje is the son of her first husband Lubbert Jansen. Since it had been less than 10 years since Albert’s death, this second “Jan” must have been his youngest child. Since Gysbert is listed as the fourth of Aeltje’s four children in the prenuptial agreement mentioned above, it seems likely that he was the son who was one year short of majority.

Aeltje lived at least until Nov. 1, 1684, when she and Pieter are listed as the sponsors of Pieter, son of Aeltje’s son Gysbert.

3. Grietjen Hendricks Westercamp

Grietjen’s husband Pieter Jacobsen was born about 1628 in Holstein, Germany.  He arrived in New Netherlands in 1659 on the  “de Trouw”  He was a miller in partnership with Pieter Cornelissen. Peter died 7 Jun 1663 in the Indian attack on Esopus. Grietje and three of her children were taken prisoner.  Peer Jan HENDRICKS was a soldier sent to rescue the captives.  See his page for details.

Grietjen was living in Esopus, Kingston, NY in 1662.  She was an early settler of Minisink Valley and captured by Indians in 1663.

Grietjen’s second husband Jan Gerritsen Decker was born 23 Apr 1640 in Husum, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Jan died 1717 in Port Jervis, Orange, New York.

Sources:

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=1385955

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/6734767/person/632766067

http://www.pcez.com/~bigshoe/dt/Shoe/shoefour.html

Ulster County, N.Y. probate records in the office of the surrogate, and in the county clerk’s office at Kingston, N.Y. : a careful abstract and translation of the Dutch and english wills, letters of administration after intestates, and inventories from 1665, with genealogical and historical notes”

http://mysite.verizon.net/bowers.clan/id17.html