1651: Van Sants in New Netherland
May 4, 2023
Coat of arms proposed but not adopted for New Amsterdam in 1630. At that time, Beaver furs were the port’s most lucrative trade item.
Image courtesy of National Museum of American History, Behring Center at: https://americanhistory.si.edu/many-voices-exhibition/unsettling-continent-1492%E2%80%931776/dutch-new-amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
My maternal grandfather, Clarence Rowley Van Sant (1891-1963) was a direct descendant of Christoffel Harmens/Harmenszen (about 1618-1655) and his son Gerret Stoffelzen (1644-1707), both of whom immigrated to New Amsterdam (in present-day New York City) in 1651.
Christoffel Harmens was born in what is now Northwest Germany in about 1618. He and his first wife, Moeder Gerrits (1623-1644) were married in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1643. Their marriage intention, signed in Amsterdam on June 13, 1643, stated that Cristoffel, age 25, was living on Hoochstraet, and was originally from Jever on the North Sea. He had no parents, and was a journeyman cloth dresser, a person in the cloth trade who cut the knots or lumps from rough cloth. Moeder was from Amsterdam and lived on Breestraet with her mother Vroutie Pieters. (More info on Moeder’s parents is located at the bottom of this post.) Both Christoffel and Moeder signed their marriage intention with marks rather than signatures. They were married on June 28, 1643 in Amsterdam’s Old Church.
Christoffel and Moeder’s son, Gerret Stoffelszen, was born in Amsterdam on April 1644 and was named for his maternal grandfather. Moeder died several months later and was buried in St. Anthonis Cemetery in Amsterdam on July 17, 1644. Her burial entry noted that she had one living child.
Christoffel married his second wife, Trijntje Claes (about 1617-about 1688) at Amsterdam’s Old Church on September 24, 1645. Their daughter, Claestien, was born the following year but most likely died since she was not mentioned in later records.
New Netherland
Map of Netherland settlements and areas of influence (1614-1674) in what is now the northeastern US map courtesy of Vivid Maps at https://vividmaps.com/new-amsterdam/
The Colony of New Netherland consisted of parts of present-day New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware. The colony was founded in the early 1620s during the Dutch Golden Age (roughly 1588-1674). During the 17th century, Dutch trade expanded and Dutch colonies were established in the Americas, Africa and Asia. The Colony of New Netherland was financed by the Dutch West India Company, whose investors initially wanted to profit from the fur trade in North America. By 1650, New Amsterdam, its main settlement, had become an important port of trade on the Atlantic Coast. The British took control of New Netherland in 1664 and renamed it New York. In 1673, the Dutch briefly retook New Netherland/New York but the English took back control under the Treaty of Westminster in 1674.
Christoffel, Trijntje, and Gerret immigrated to New Netherland in 1651. Christoffell and Trijntje immigrated under a three-year contract to work for Cornelis de Potters, who lived on the island of Manhattans/Manhattan, where New Amsterdam was located. The contract stated that Gerret was to assist them in their work. Additionally, they were to receive free room and board plus 200 carolus guilders a year. Christoffel was killed in the Peach War in 1655. When Trijntje remarried in 1657, twelve-year-old Gerret was legally granted half of his father’s estate. This was in accordance with a document Christoffel had signed in Amsterdam in 1649. To make sure the estate was split and managed fairly, Gerret was placed under the guardianship of two men appointed by the Orphanmasters of New Amsterdam.
About 1667, Gerret married Lizbet Cornelis. Lizbet was probably born around 1650 in Zeeland Province, Netherlands. She had immigrated to New Netherland with her mother, Josyna/Josyntje Verhagen, in 1659. Although there is currently no conclusive evidence, researchers believe her father may have been Cornelis Van Westen. Her stepfather was Cornelis Janszen Van Oosten.
In 1685, Gerret was a tenant farmer on a tract of land owned by his stepmother’s second husband, Rut Joosten Van Brunt, in Yellowhook in New Utrecht (located in present-day Brooklyn on the west end of Long Island). Over the years, Gerret bought and traded various pieces of land in Yellowhook and, in 1686, he was listed as one of fourteen freeholders (landowners) there. He was recorded in assessment lists in New Utrecht in 1683 and 1693 and served as a magistrate in New Utrecht in 1691. By 1698, he was one of only thirty-nine land-owning adult males living in Yellowhook. However, by the time of the 1698 census, Gerret was no longer listed as a landowner in New Utrecht. He and his adult sons had moved their families to the area around Bensalem in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania: The Vansand Family
In 1699, Gerret Stoffelzen was recorded as Gerret Vansand in Bucks County land records as the purchaser of 150 acres on the River Neshiminah. His sons who purchased land next to him in Bucks County also used the surname Vansand. Gerret died in 1706 without a will. He and Lisbet had ten children: Stoffel, Cornelis, Harman, Josias, Albert, Johannes, Jacobis, Joris, Josijntje, and Gerret.
Our Van Sant line is descended from Gerret and Elisabeth Van Sandt’s son, Harman Van Sandt. Harman was likely born in New Utrecht, where his parents were living. He was baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church of New York on June 10, 1674.
Late 1500s: Moeder Gerrits’ Parents in the Netherlands
Garret Jansz (about 1593-unknown) and Vroutgen Pieters (about 1596-unknown)
We can go back one more generation from Moeder Gerrits (Gerret Stoffelsen’s mother) in the Netherlands. Moeder’s parents were born in the 1590s, at the end of the 16th century. Information about Moeder’s parents was found in their marriage intention, which was recorded in Amsterdam in 1616. It stated that her father, Garret Jansz, a 23-year-old rope maker from Zwol, lived at Breestraet and intended to marry Vroutgen Pieters, age 20. Vroutgen’s parents were deceased, and she resided with her brother Jan Pieters. She was from Eemdem, a coastal town in what is now Northwest Germany. Garret Jansz and Vroutgen Pieters were married in Amsterdam’s New Church on November 16, 1616.
Van Sants: Clarence Rowley Van Sant (1891-1963) Back to Christoffel Harmens (about 1618-1655)
Clarence Rowley Van Sant (1891 IA-1963 CA) and Sarah Theresa Casey (1895 GA-1994 GA), Tulie’s maternal grandparents
Joseph W. Van Sant (1866 IA -1955 CA)and Margaret Gertrude Rowley (1867 MA-1951 CA)
Edward J. Van Sant (1836 PA-about 1920, probably CA) and Marion M. A. Wells (1844 IA-1914 UT)
John Singley Van Sant (1806 PA-1883 IA) and Anna Shearer (1815 PA-1871 IA)
Abraham Vansant (1779 PA-1821 PA) and Mary Singley (1786 unk-1840 PA)
Garret Vansant (1745 PA-1797 PA) and Elizabeth LaRue (1759 PA-1835 PA)
—See the separate post on Garret and Elizabeth Larue Vansant to learn about Garret’s Revolutionary War service and about how they were both descended from Harmon Garrits Vansant and Elizabeth Brouwers Vansant.
Garret Brouwers Vansant (1704 PA-1756 PA) and Mary Dungan (unknown PA)
Harman Garrits Van Sant (1674 New Utrecht/Brooklyn, NY-1759 PA) and Elizabeth Brouwers (about 1675 New Utrecht-about 1730 PA)
Gerrit Stoffelszen van Sand/van Sant (1644 Amsterdam, Netherlands-1706 Bucks County, PA) and Elizabeth Cornelius (1647 Netherlands-1728 Bucks County, PA)
Stoffel/Christoffel Harmens/Harmenszen (about 1618 NW Germany-1655 New Amsterdam/Manhattan NYC) and Moeder Gerrits 1623 Amsterdam, Netherlands-1644 Amsterdam Netherlands)
The dates of birth and death in this section for Clarence Van Sant (Tulie’s maternal grandfather) back through John Singley Van Sant (1806 PA-1883 IA) were verified through obituaries and federal census records. The information for Abraham Van Sant back through Garret Brouwers Van Sant was sourced from the Van Zandt Society website and other records. The information on Harman Gerrits Van Sant back through Christoffel Harmens and Moeder Gerrits’ parents was sourced from a 1996 article in journal of the the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Source details are below.
Sources and Notes
1850 U. S. census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Northern Liberties Ward 1, Philadelphia, p. 2 (left side), dwelling 12, family 12, John S. Vansant; digital image, 2009, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4205114_00008?pId=4919418 : accessed 28 June 2023); citing Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Notes: John S. Van Sant was recorded as a merchant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His son Edward Van Sant was recorded as 14 years old.
1860 U. S. census, Lee County, Iowa, population schedule, Ward 1, Keokuk City, p. 128, dwelling 1061, family 978, John S. Vansant; digital image, 2009, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4218138_00146?pId=2334773 : accessed 30 June 2023); Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Notes: John S. Van Sant was recorded as a grocer living in Keokuk, Iowa. His son Edward Van Sant was recorded as 24 years old and a clerk.
1885 Iowa state census, Lee County, Iowa, population schedule, Jackson Township, p. 878 (handwritten 160), John Van Sant; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1084/images/IA_58-0448?pId=9394933 : accessed 30 June 2023); citing original data: Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest.
1900 U. S. census, Salt Lake County, Utah, population schedule, Farmers Precinct, sheet no. 16 (54 handwritten), dwelling 283, family 293, Joseph W. Vansant; digital image, 2004, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4115260_00393?pId=71092260 : accessed 3 July 2023); Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Notes: Joseph W. Vansant, 34, "Mngr. Piano Co.”, was recorded as the head of household. Also recorded in the household were: Marian, 31, wife; Inez, 11, daughter; Clarence, 8, son; Marritt [sic] 1, son.
1930 U. S. census, Jefferson County, Alabama, population schedule, Homewood City, sheet 5-B (235 handwritten), dwelling 116, family 124, Clarence Van Sant; digital image, 2002, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4531782_01075?pId=119374768 : accessed 3 July 2023); Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. Notes: Clarence Van Sant, 37, manager in the phonograph industry, was recorded as the head of household. Also recorded in the household were Sarah, 34, wife; Barbara, 8, daughter; Bill, 6, son; Mary, 2, daughter; and Patricia, 0, daughter.
Barth, Barbara A., “The Van Sant Family of New Utrecht and Bucks County, Pennsylvania,” The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Record Vol. 127, Issue 3 (July 1996): 129-136; digital images, The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (https://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/online-records/nygb-record/566-637/1 : accessed 22 May 2023).
Bensalem Presbytarian Church Cemetery, established 1705, 2826 Bristol Road, Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, database, no database date, The Van Zandt Society (http://vanzandtsociety.com/bensalempres.html : accessed 7 July 2023); burial entries for: Garret Vansant (1743-1797), his wife Elizabeth LaRue Vansant (1759-1835), and her parents Abraham LaRue (1734-1790) and Alice Vandergrift LaRue (1731-1801).
“Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1710-1800: Southampton Dutch Reformed Church,” typescript, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/306:5464?ssrc=pt&tid=116852831&pid=432463908397 : accessed 26 June 2023), entry for Gerrit Van Sandt, infant, baptized 31 December 1710. Notes: Noted under remarks, “Elisabet Brouwers, wife of Hermen vanSandt”.
“Daughters of the American Revolution, Genealogy Research”, typescript, Daughters of the American Revolution (https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A118839 : accessed 3 July 2023), entry for Lieutenant Garrett Van Sant (1746-1797), ancestor# A118839, 1st Lt. 1st Battn., 5th Co., Capt. Zephaniah Lott and
Col. Hugh Tomb; also 2nd Lt., Southampton Co., Capt. John Founell.
Davis, William W. H., A.M., History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania Volume III, pages 24-30, [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905], digital images, 2000, transcription, Bucks County Pennsylvania
PAGenWeb (http://pagenweb.org/~bucks/BIOS_DAVIS/vansantfamily.html : accessed 6 July 2023); entry for the Vansant family, descendants of Garritt Stoffelsen Vansandt, who arrived in New Amersterdam (Manhattan) in 1651 with his father Christoffel Harmenz. Citing July 2000 transcription by Robert C. Sommerfeldt of Wisconsin as part of the Bucks Co., Pennsylvania Early Family Project.
Davis, William W. H., A.M., History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania Volume III, pages 31-33, [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905], digital images, 2000, transcription, Bucks County Pennsylvania
PAGenWeb (http://pagenweb.org/~bucks/BIOS_DAVIS/vandergriftfamily.html : accessed 6 July 2023); entry for the Vandegrift family, descendants of Jacobus Lendertsen Van der Grift, who arrived in New Amersterdam (Manhattan) around 1644. Citing May 2000 transcription by Judy Jackson of Missouri as part of the Bucks Co., Pennsylvania Early Family Project.
“Gerret Stoffelse van Sand,” blog post, 2012, The Van Zandt Society (https://www.vanzandtsociety.com/gerret.html : accessed 22 May 2023).
“Joseph W. Van Sant Funeral Rites Held,” obituary, Los Angeles (California) Mirror, 31 March 1955 p. 7 in Part III, col. 1; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/693982838/?article=2424516a-a2a1-4e91-9b53-be555a0d0123&focus=0.023114033,0.4123661,0.14637905,0.49115962&xid=3355 : accessed 3 July 2023)
“Martin Van Buren National Historic Site: The Rise and Fall of New Netherland,” blog post, 10 July 2022, National Park Service (https://www.nps.gov/mava/learn/historyculture/new-netherland.htm#:~:text=New%20Netherland%20had%20been%20conceived,the%20colony%20of%20New%20Netherland : accessed 22 May 2023).
“Mary Annette Van Sant Wheeler,” obituary, Pensacola (Florida) News Journal, 27 December 2020, p. 13A, bottom of page.
“New Utrecht Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery,” pdf, 1997, City of New York Landmarks Preservation Commission (https://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1978.pdf : accessed 22 May 2023).
Vandegrift Cemetery, established about 1775, Cornwells Heights, Bensalem, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, database, no database date, The Van Zandt Society (https://www.vanzandtsociety.com/vandegrift.html : accessed 7 July 2023); burial entries for: Abraham Vansant (1778-1821), son of Garret and Elizabeth LaRue Vansant and Mary Singley Vansant (1775-1810), Abraham’s first wife. Notes: Abraham and Mary Singley Vansant were the parents of John Singley Vansant who moved with his wife and children from Pennsylvania to Iowa in the 1850s.
“What was New Netherland?” website post, no date, New Netherland Institute: Exploring America’s Dutch Heritage (https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/education/for-students/fun-re/what-was-new-netherland/ : accessed 14 June 2023).