Harmen Smeeman (abt. 1615 - abt. 1681)

Born about 1615 in Dithmarschen

Husband of Annetje (Daniels) ten Eijck — married 1668 in NY

Died about 1681 at about age 66 in Bergen, Province of New Jersey [uncertain]

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Biography

Herman Smeeman, from Dithmarschen, was in New Amsterdam as early as 1645 or before. On December 4, of that year, he married, in this city Elisabeth Everts, the widow of Barent Dircksen.

On April 2, 1647, he obtained a patent of 23 morgens, 480 rods of land on the East river, "north of the West India Company's great bouwerey. " ^[1]

On May 4, 1653, Michael Jansen conveyed to Smeeman "25 morgens of land with the house and all that is thereon." In the same year Smeeman leased 25 morgens, belonging to Olof Stevensen Cortland, at 38 guilders in annual rent. ^[2]

From the court records we glean the following in regard to Herman Smeeman. In February, 1653, he was sued by Sybout Clousen, who demanded the payment of six beavers, earned from Volckert Evertsen deceased, whose estate had gone in to the hands of Smeeman, as heir. Evertsen seems to have been a relative of Smeeman's wife. Smeeman denied the debt on the ground that it had not been mentioned in former accounts or been talked of; and he demanded of Clousen a payment of thirteen beavers, according to judgement of the Court on October 7, 1652. The Court decided the case in favor of Smeeman. On the next court day Clousen bought his account books into court, and Smeeman now acknowledged that he has not paid for the coffin for the deceased. The Court, however, ordered that Clousen should swear to his accounts. If he could not swear to them, his demand was to be refused. Later Clousen swore to the truth of the statement, and Smeeman was condemned to pay for the coffin. ^[3]

On May 11, 1654, Smeeman petitioned the city council that he might retail wine and beer to the traveler ,out of the city on his own farm, by paying the usual excise or the sum the Council and he could agree on. But the Council declared: "The petitioner can not have his prayer granted for sufficient reasons. " ^[4]

On October 23, 1656, Jan Barentsen sued Smeeman for the sum of fl. 65.10. Smeeman acknowledged the debt and offered to pay, but said that Berentsen had "arrested his pease in the straw and therefore cannot thrash them to make money and pay the defendant." The court decided, after having heard both parties, that Smeeman should have "eight days from this date" to pay the defendant. But the "arrest" was declared invalid "as the defendant is a burgher here." ^[5]

On Jan 21, 1658, Michael Jansen brought suit against Smeeman. He demanded payment of the price of his bowery "about the sum of fl. 900 in good pay, which one trader can pass off the other." Smeeman admited the debt, and requested that the bowery be sold in order that Jansen might get his pay, as the bowery was mortgaged. The Court, however, ordered Smeeman to pay Jansen the sum demaned within one month's time. ^[6]

In 1654, Smeeman is mentioned as an administrator of some property, and in 1656 as guardian for six minor children of Aryantie Curn, widow of Cornelis Claesen Swits. ^[7]

Harmen Smeeman was one of the signers of the Lutherans' petition (165 f.), asking that the Lutheran pastor Goetwater might be permitted to stay in New Netherland, instead of being deported as the government had unjustly ordered. ^[8]

In 1661, Smeeman went to live in Bergen, New Jersey. Bergen obtained, on September 15, 1661, a patent of incorporation. It was called Bergen, after the town of that name in North Holland. Michael Jansen, Herman Smeeman, Casper Steinmets, and Tielman van Neck were the first magistrates of earliest court of justice erected within the limits of the present state of New Jersey.

In 1661 Smeeman and the three other magistrates of Bergen petitioned the Director-General and Council "that they may have a God-fearing man and preacher, to be an example to, and teach the fear of God in, the community of Bergen and its jurisdiction. " They had passed a list for voluntary subscriptions towards paying the salary of a minister. Twenty-seven persons had voluntarily subscribed fl. 417, which sum would be the approximate annual salary of the minister. Smeeman himself subscribed fl. 25. ^[9]

Smeeman often acted as sponsor at baptisms in New Amsterdam.

On April 7, 1647, he was sponsor at the baptism of Aeltie, child of Hendrick Van Duisbertg; July 4, 1649, at the baptism of Geeritie, child of Cosyn Gerritsen; October 23, 1650, at the baptism of Christian, child of Claes Martensen; February 18, 1657, at the baptism of Christian, a child of Christiaen Barentsen and Jannetje Jans; Dec. 19, 1661, at the baptism of Marritie, child of Jan Lubbertsen; May 24, 1662, at the baptism of Johannes, child of Adriaen Hendrickszen and Gritie Warnarts; August 5, 1663, at the baptism of Caspar, child of Caspar Steenmuts; Dec. 22, 1676, at the baptism of Judith, child of Daniel Waldron and Sara Rutgers; October 11, 1676, at the baptism of Marritie, child of Hendrick Garritszen and Marie Waldron; July 16, 1679, at the baptism of Annetje, child of Jan de Lamontagne and Annetje Josephs. ^[10]

After the death of his first wife, Smeeman married on December 1, 1668, Anneke Daniels, the widow of the Joseph Waldron. She was a member of the Reformed Church of New Amsterdam in 1660. After the death of Smeeman, she was married, 1682, to Conraetd ten Eyck. She is sometimes called Annetje Dama. ^[11]

In 1674 Smeeman was listed in new Amsterdam as possessing property on the present east side of Broadway, between Beaver and Wall St., then known as part of the Markfield and Broadway. His property was classes as "third class" and rated at $1000. (Year Book of the Holland Society of New York, 1896). In 1677 this house was taxed 6s.

Church records

1. 1Dec 1668 Herman Smeeman, Wedr. en Anneken Daniels, Wede.

^[12]

• 1645 Dec 04 Harmen Smeman, j.m. Uijt 't landt Vander marck, en Elisabeth Everts, Wede. Van Barne Dircks. ^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, I., p. 374
2. ↑ Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, I., p. 378
3. ↑ The Records of New Amsterdam, 1653-1674, I., pp. 50, 52, 58
4. ↑ The Records of New Amsterdam, 1653-1674, I., pp. 197
5. ↑ The Records of New Amsterdam, 1653-1674, II.., pp. 196
6. ↑ The Records of New Amsterdam, 1653-1674, II.., pp. 307
7. ↑ Year Book of the Holland Society of New York. 1900, pp. 173, 112
8. ↑ See reference 42. Ecclesiastical Records of the State of New York. Published by the State under the supervision of Hugh Hastings, 1901. I., P. 405f.
9. ↑ New York Colonial Documents, XII., p. 238
10. ↑ Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society., II.
11. ↑ Collections of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society., I., pp. 33, 51
12. ↑ https://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/nn/church/rdcmarr1668.shtml
13. ↑ Collections NY Gen. & Biog. Soc.: 1890, Vol. 1, Page 13

• Collections of the New-York Genealogical and Biographical Society (New York)

• Scandinavian Immigrants in New York, 1630-1674: With Appendices on Scandinavians in Mexico and South America, 1532-1640, Scandinavians in Canada, 1619-1620, Some Scandinavians in New York in the Eighteenth Century, German Immigrants in New York, 1630-1674. by John Oluf Evjen. Published by K. C. Holter, 1916. page 278-281

Acknowledgements

• This person was created on 13 September 2010 through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged.