Jan Gerritsen de Vries (bef. 1620 - 1647)

Born before 1620 in Dalfsen, Overijssel, Nederland

Descendants

Died 10 Sep 1647 after age 27 in At Sea Off Wales, England

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Biography

Jan de Vries Sr. b, 1595-1620; d. Sep 10, 1647 at sea off Wales, Eng.; was a Dutch Army Capt. employed by WIC to fight Indians. He freed and "married" at New Amsterdam, slave, Elana Crol, who he bought in Brazil. He had two children by Elana, one, Jan de Vries, jr. bp. Aug 8, 1647 at NRDC, m. Adriaentje Dircks on 10 Dec. 1679, a child of a slave. Jan and Adriaentje removed to Tappan, with 4 children, and d. there.^[1]

Jan was b. in Dalfsen, but he spent his life in the Army, at Brazil, and New Amsterdam.^[2]

Jan Gerritsen de Fries aka Jan Gerritsen de Vries, van Dalsen, was a Dutch Army Captain employed by the West Indies Company. He should not be confused with Merchant Marine Captain David Pietersen de Vries, who was also in residence at New Amsterdam during the 1640s.

Jan Gerritsen De Fries Van Dalsen was generally known as "de Fries" and "de Vries." in his dealings in New Amsterdam, both church and state.

Note: The family name of Dolson (Dolsen) came from Dalfsen, Holland). It is not clear if Jan Gerritsen de Fries|de vries actually used Dalsen or Dolson in his time at Manhattan, New Amsterdam.

Jan Gerritsen de Vries Van Dalzen, was a Dutch Army Captain. Capt. Jan de Vries came to New Netherland in 1644. He had been previously stationed in Brazil, and was at Curacao when he was sent to New Amsterdam. He was an Army Captain hired by the then WIC Governor Kieft to bring men to kill Indians. They came on the ship Den Blowen Haen (The Blue Cock). Instead, he became friends with the Indians, and of the blacks, both free, and slaves. Jan's arrival at New Amsterdam was shortly before March 9, 1644 -- New Amsterdam Council minute: "Refusing to accede to the petition of captain Jan de Fries and ensign Gysbert de Leeuw, for the same allowance for board as in Brazil, p. 216"^[3]

One Hundred and thirty soldiers under the command of Dutch Army Captain Jan de Fries, and a number of other persons, the whole amounting to about two hundred souls, were accordingly embarked on board the Blue Cock, commanded by Captain Willem Cornelissen Oudemarkt, for New Amsterdam. See O'Callaghan, vol. I, p.309-310.309n, 423-424.

He appears in New Amsterdam according to records of the Reformed Dutch Church (New York) in 1644, having arrived there from Brazil. He in the company of Director Willem Kieft as a witness to a baptism on Aug 28, 1644. A colorful character, he aided in the defense of the city, and appeared in court on disputed claims [both as plaintive and defendant]. He fought with then Director Kieft, and was sent back to Holland by Director Peter Stuyvessant as a witness against Kieft, in 1647. It was on that journey that he met his demise. He died on September 27, 1647, in wreck of the Princess Amelia near Swansea, Wales, while en route to Amsterdam to testify against Willem Kieft, along with many of Willem Kieft's opponents as well, including the Rev. Everardus Bogardus.

1646. Aug. 2. Judgment. Referring to Holland the case of Jan de Fries, who is

charged with having associated with the enemies of the government and calumniators of the chief magistracy, calling the director [Willem Kieft] a liar in presence of the council, and attempting to strike him, assaulting councillor La Montague, for all which he had been already cashiered; afterwards speaking disparagingly of the director, and declaring that he spat on any commission issued by him, addressing derisive papers to the court, and excepting to the judges ; prisoner ordered to sail in the first ship, to justify his conduct, ; Page 265.

1646. Aug. 2. Judgment. Referring to Holland the case of Jan de Fries [Captain] vs. Gysbert de Leuw [Ensign], for slander, in having asserted that a negro wench in plaintifts possession was the property of the company, having been previously the slave of Juan Antonio, a Portuguese, at Marignan [Brazil], who had been arrested for treason, and was therefore incapable of selling the woman, as the plaintiif pretends, (Page 266). It would appear that Jan de Fries defended this claim successfully, by providing a bill of sale.

Before Capt. Jan de Vries left for Holland, he wrote an informal will or instructions for his absense, and left his land in to his wife, Hillary (Elara), and Paul (Paulo) d’Angola (a freed slave) who either was his partner, or worked for him. He also left the care of his free negroes and Brasilian woman during his absence to Michiel Jansz and Symon Joosten, his Attorneys.

Jan's wife, mother of his child, Hillary (Elara) Crol (Crioole, Creole, Criolyo) was also referred to as Swartinne, which means a dark lovely women. Capt. Jan de Vries bought Hillary (Elara) from Juan Antonio Portuguese at Marinhao, Brazil, and married her, and had a son by her. He left his son in New Amsterdam in the care of Hillary (Elara), the Crelole, and the child's mother. The son was named Jan (de Vries).

After Capt. Jan de Vries-Van Dalsen's death, in 1669, Hillary married Louvys Angola. After Louvys died, she married again in 1682, Pieter Van Kampen a.k.a. (Pieter Tamboer).

His son, Jan de Vries II (who apparently took his father's full name Jan Gerritsen De Vries was one of 16 farmers whose name appears on the Tappan Patent (New York). He purchased two shares. One for himself and one for his son Jan de Vries III. The then Orange County (now Rockland County) census lists John de Vries born 1647, a freed negro married to Ariantje Dircks in 1679^[4] at the Reformed Dutch Church of New York City^[5]

Jan de Vries II and and his wife, Ariantje Dircks, had five children^[6]

• Maria b. 1682
• Helena b. 1684
• Johannes b. 1686
• Dirck b. 1689
• Jacobus (1693-1773)

Jan de Vries's (II) family came to Tappan, Orange County (now Rockland County) as free people. Other’s of African descent were slaves. The free people were culturally Dutch, had Dutch names, and spoke Dutch. They built Dutch homes, worshiped in the Dutch Reformed Churches, married and had their children baptized in the Dutch Reform Churches^[7]. Their marriages were recorded in the Dutch Reformed Churches of Tappan and Clarkstown, now Rockland County, NY.

Note

Note: It should be noted that there were more than one van Dalsen, Van Dolsen/Van Dolson de Vries in the greater New Amsterdam area during the early to mid 1600's. One of them was this Dutch army Capt. Jan Gerritsen de Vries (Van Dalfsen/Van Dolzen) who appeared ca. 1644, and died in a ship wreck in 1647. He married Helana and left a son of the same name born in 1647, who is reported to have had a son of also the same name. There also was this Jan Gerritszen (de Vries) that married Grietie Theunis Cray they are not the same and should not be merged.

NARDC Events

Captain de Vries was active in the NARDC during the period between his arrival in New Amsterdam in 1644, and his death in 1647. He was brought from Brazil by Governer Willem Kieft to subdue an Indian uprising commencing in 1643.

1644. NARDC Baptism Record: 1644 Aug 28; Marten Cregier; Willem; Willem Kieft [Director WIC], Michiel ter Oyken, Jan de Vries, Hans Kierstede, and three married women.

1645. NARDC Baptism Record: 1645 Jan 08; Teunis Cray; Griete; Capiteyn de Vries, Marten Cregier, Jan Huybert, Belitje Cornelis This Captain de Vries may have been Captain David Pietersen de Vries, given name was not provided

1645. NARDC Baptism Record: 1645 Feb 12; Gerrit Doyman; Sibrant; Willem Kieft, Jan de Vries, Ariaen Martenszen-adelborst, Heyltje Barents, Janneken Thomas

1645 Apr 09; Jeurgie Blanck; Jeurgie; Jan de Vries, Hans Kierstede, Thomas Welert, Anneken Loockermans, Tryntje Hendricks

1645 Apr 09; Jeurgie Blanck; Jeurgie; Jan de Vries, Hans Kierstede, Thomas Welert, Anneken Loockermans, Tryntje Hendricks

1646 Jun 25; Paulus Van Angola-Neger; Dominicus; Emanuel Grande Esperance, Jan de Vries

1646 Sep 23; Cornelis Aertszen; Hendrick; Jan de Vries, Evert Cornelis Van der Wel, Sara Roelofs, Tryntie Roelofs

1647 Aug 25; Jan de Vries-Swartinne [a black female, presumably Hillery|Elana]; Jan; Bastiaen and Susanne Simons, Simon Joosten, Michiel Janszen Van den berg. [Birth of Jan de Vries II]^[8]

1647 Captain Jan de Vries died on September 27, 1647, in wreck of the Princess Amelia near Swansea, Wales.

Birth

Jan Gerritsen De Fries Van Dolzen, Capt., born in Friesland, Holland. Birth would have occurred sometime between 1590 and 1620.

Marriages

Jan de Vries took as wife, Hillary (Elara) Crol (Crioole, Creole, Criolyo) was also referred to as Swartinne, which means a dark lovely women. Elana was born in 1623. Capt. Jan de Vries bought Hillary (Elara) from Juan Antonio Portuguese at Marinhao, Brazil, and married her.

Later, after Jan de Vries, Van Dalsen's death, Hillary married in 1660, Louvys Angola. After Louvys died, she married again in 1682, Pieter Van Kampen a.k.a. (Pieter Tamboer).

Children

Jan de Vries-Van Dolzen had two known children:

• Jochem, bp. 24 Aug 1644. Larie Swartinne had a son, Jochem, bp. 24 Aug 1644 NYC Ref Ch (wit: Bastryn, Capt. van de Swarten) (parent in bp, record: Larie Swartinne; no father given)^[9]

• Jan de Vries, was bp. on August 25, 1647 at New Amsterdam, NN. 1647 Aug 25; Jan de Vries-Swartinne [a black female, presumably Hillery|Elana]; Jan; Bastiaen and Susanne Simons, Simon Joosten, Michiel Janszen Van den berg. [Birth of Jan de Vries II]^[10].

When Jan was sent back to the Netherlands, he left son Jan at New Amsterdam in the care of wife Hillary (Elara), the child's mother, named Jan (de Vries) and Paulo D'Angola (his partner, friend or employee) at the farm he owned in New Amsterdam.

Time Line

17 Jan 1641 Paulo d'Angola is one of 9 Negro slaves of the WIC who admit killing Jan Premero. [NYHM IV:97-98.]

25 Feb 1644 Paulo Angola is one of 11 slaves (the above 9 plus two more) who are liberated. [Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, p. 36-7]

9 March 1644. New Amsterdam Council minute: "Refusing to accede to the petition of captain Jan de Fries and ensign Gysbert de Leeuw, for the same allowance for board as in Brazil", [Dutch Manuscripts 1630 - 1664; O'Callaghan, E. B. (Edmund Bailey), 1797-1880, p. 216].

26 May 1644. Director Pieter Stuyvesant, of Curacao, decides to send soldiers that had returned from Brazil, to New Netherland on Den Blouwen Haen_ (The Blue Cock) with Capt. Jan de Vries. This was in response to a request from WIC Director Willem Kieft for soldiers to fight the Indians. [New Netherland Documents vol XVII, Curacao Papers, ed. by Gehring and Schiltkamp pp. 36-40]

by 14 July 1644 Capt. de Vries has arrived at New Amsterdam. [Hoff, "The De Vries Family of Tappan..., TAG 72:345; citing NYHM IV:226-7, 257; also see CDNY I:205]

30 Dec 1644 Paulo D'Angola (free negro) granted 3 morgens on Manhattan [O'Callaghan, History of New Netherland, vol II, p. 583 (Appendix M)]

14 July 1645 Groundbrief to Paulo Dangola from Willem Kieft [Icon VI:74]

25 May 1646. Paulus Van Angola bp. Dominicus; one of the sponsors was Jan de Vries; Baptism was recorded at the Reformed Dutch church of New Amsterdam, NN^[11].

3 August 1647. Capt. de Fries appoints Michiel Jansz and Symon Joosten "to have supervision over the principal's free Negroes and Brasilian woman during his absence..." [NYHM II:463-4]. This was in lieu of a will, where he takes steps to protect his "wife", his son Jan, and 'friends" while he was away on orders.

31 Mar 1651 "Paolo de Angola, Negro, and Elara d'Crioole, Negress, both of Captain Johan de Vries, deceased" and Symon Joosten "amicably agreed together in regard to Symon Joostens's claim against said Captain, deceased, on account of 600 guilders loaned to him as follows." "He, Paulo d'Angola, for himself and his two children, and Elara Crioole, [for herself] as also for the child of the said de Vries, named Jan d'Vries, a minor, in satisfaction of the aforesaid claim shall transfer and convey a certain parcel of land ..." to Symon Joosten. [NYHM III:228-229]

22 Jun 1653 Paulus Van Angola bp. Jacob. Baptism was recorded at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam, NN^[12]

Death

Jan Gerritsen De Fries Van Dolzen, Dutch Army Capt. in the employ of WIC, died ca. Sept. 10, 1647. He drowned in the shipwreck of the vessel, The Princess Amelia, Off Swansea, Wales. While there is no proof that he died, however he was not listed among the 21 survivors.

Sources

1. ↑ info from post Tom Quick
2. ↑ info from post Tom Quick
3. ↑ Dutch Manuscripts 1630 - 1664; O'Callaghan, E. B. (Edmund Bailey), 1797-1880
4. ↑ My Dutch Black Colonial Relatives; Vicky Moon
5. ↑ NYRDC Marriage Record: Page 46--1679 10 Dec; Jan de Vries, jm van N. Yorke; Adriaentje Dircks, jd van N. Albanien
6. ↑ My Dutch Black Colonial Relatives; Vicky Moon
7. ↑ My Dutch Black Colonial Relatives; Vicky Moon
8. ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: page 23--1647 Aug 25; Jan de Vries-Swartinne; Jan; Bastiaen and Susanne Simons, Simon Joosten, Michiel Janszen Van den berg.
9. ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: 1644 Aug 24; Larie Swartinne; Jochem; Bastryn-Captain of the Blacks (free negroes)
10. ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: page 23--1647 Aug 25; Jan de Vries-Swartinne; Jan; Bastiaen and Susanne Simons, Simon Joosten, Michiel Janszen Van den berg.
11. ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: 1646 Jun 25; Paulus Van Angola-Neger; Dominicus; Emanuel Grande Esperance, Jan de Vries
12. ↑ NARDC Bapt Record: 1653 Jun 22; Paulus Van Angola-Neger; Jacob; Francisco Jaepje, Mayken d'Angola

• Church Records: Samuel S. Purple's 'Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in New Amsterdam and New York, Marriages from 11 December 1639 to 26 August 1801.' The beginning records show the date the Banns were registered, NOT the date of marriage. Starting on 9/20/1673 marriage dates are given.

• Website: Ancestors of Mariah Diver

• Webpage: Slavery in New Amsterdam

• Webpage: David Pietersen de Vries, Merchant Mariner, Dutch Patroon This source was used to separate Dutch Army Captain Jan de Vries from Merchant Marine Captain Jan De Vries, who established ill fated settlements on Staten Island and at Tappan, on the Hudson River. Both were in New Amsterdam at the same time.

• Webpage: Dutch-Colonies-L Archives--BILL DECOURSEY Jewish settlers in Recife, Brazil and New Amsterdam

• Webpage: My Dutch Black Colonial Relatives; Vicky Moon; Van Salee Family Genealogy Forum

Acknowledgements

• Van Dolzen-2 was created by Tom Quick