Our Dutch Heritage
A Research Synopsis of the Kuykendall Family:
Kuykendall, Kirkendall, Cuykendall, Coykendall, etc
Compiled by Gene Kuykendall, 1997
Any person with a family surname of Kuykendall, Kikendall,
Kirkendall, Kirkendale, Kuyrkendall, Cuykendall Cuyrkendall,
Coykendall, Corkendall, etc can be assured they are a descendant of
Luur Jacobszen van Kuykendaal, son of a Dutch immigrant to New
Netherland. However, finding their linkage back to that Dutch
ancestor may be a genealogical challenge.
Our United States history text books tend to stress the importance
of the English colonies of Virginia and Massachusetts. Perhaps not
as well remembered is that the Dutch settlement of New Netherland
developed simultaneously in what was to become New York and parts
of Connecticut, New Jersey and Delaware.
Our first known ancestor was Jacob Luurszen. Jacob was from
Wageningen in the Netherlands, born around 1616. This we know from
his marriage record to Stijntje Douwes at the old Dutch Reform
Church (DRC) of Amsterdam in 1638. Stijntje was baptized at
Enkhuisen in the Netherlands in January of 1617. Her parents were
Douwe Wiggersz and Agniete Coensen.
The patronym of Jacob Luurszen (son of Luur), tells us his father's
first name was Luur but the records of Wageningen do not go back
far enough to tell us anything else about the father or mother of
Jacob. Old Luur may have been born in the Netherlands, but he may
also have been one of the many refugees pouring into the
Netherlands during that time. The notation on the banns that
Jacob was "from"" Wageningen means that was his last address. It
is only an assumption that he was born there.
The Netherlands, (popularly but incorrectly referred to as Holland)
had just won its independence from longtime dominance by Spain. It
was at that time a major world power. It had a large naval force,
was the financial capital of the world, was, and is, one of the
best educated nations in the world. The Netherlands was also a
leader in democracy and the adopted home of many persecuted groups
of people from other nations in Europe.
In 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englishman in the employee of the Dutch
government, sailed up the river that was later to bear his name.
With the success of the Dutch East Indies Company in monopolizing
trade in the Far East, a Dutch West Indies Company was chartered in
1621. Their mission was not to colonize, as the English were
starting to do, but to develop trade in the New World, as America
was called at that time.
Jacob and his brother Urbanus Luurszen set sail around 1646(*) for
New Netherland. the name used by the Dutch to refer to that
section of this new land along the (Hudson) river claimed by the
Netherland after Hudson's discovery. Jacob and Urbanus were in the
employee of the Dutch West Indies Company according to powers of
attorney made at New Amsterdam in 1647 and 1648.
(*) Claes, son of Urbanus was baptised in Amsterdam on 10/01/1645.
Jacob signed a Power of Attorney in New Amsterdam on 08/02/1647 for
back wages from the WIC.
Some researchers have assumed a Carsten (Christian) Luurszen to be
a third brother of Jacob and Urbanus. This is not likely. The
children of Carsten were born around 30 years later than those of
Jacob and Urbanus.
Several baptisms are found in the archives of Amsterdam for
children of Urbanus Luurszen and Jannetje Claes Boone. Urbanus
drowned on a return trip to the Netherlands along with deposed
Dutch Governor Kieft aboard the ship de Princes. A published
inventory of his estate showed Jannetje left with very little.
She married Tobias Teunissen, a man much older than herself. A
history of Harlem, NY tells of old Tobias being killed in an Indian
raid, Jannetje and children were kidnapped by the Indians and later
returned for ransom money. She married again to Thomas Verdonck.
The children of Urbanus initially utilized the patronym Urbanuszen.
The only male grandchildren that have been traced were found with
the surname Thomasen (after the step-father who raised the
children).
Jacob Luurszen and Stijntje Douwes had a son, Luur Jacobsen (son of
Jacob) baptized in the DRC of New Amsterdam (NYC) in 1650. Only
the father's name was recorded at that baptism.
A child Christijntje, baptized in Amsterdam on January 17, 1838,
hadbeen considered the first child of our Jacob and Stijntje.
However, this should be questioned: The baptism took place seven
months before our Jacob and Stijntje were married and, although the
mother was a Stijntje Douwes, the father is recorded as Jacob
Jansz.
Jacob soon moved his family up the (Hudson) river to Fort Orange,
the oldest and largest Dutch trading post in New Netherland. Jacob
first took the pledge of allegiance to the Patroon of
Rensselaerswyck, then received a grant of land from Governor
Stuyvesant in the newly formed village Beverwyck (now Albany, NY).
Jacob's name appears often in the court records of For Orange, he
seemed to have a penchant for getting into minor troubles. Church
Deacons' records show Jacob died there in 1655.
In the Dutch Manuscripts of New York there is mention of a Corporal
Jacob Luurszen receiving multiple stab wounds attempting to break
up a fight in New Amsterdam. The staff of the New Netherland
Project confirm that The West Indies Company maintained it's own
militia and employed young civilian men as its soldiers. Since the
records do not show any other Jacob Luurszen in New Netherland this
must be our Jacob. Could these stab wounds have contributed to his
early death (age 39)?
There is strong evidence that Luur had two sisters born at Fort
Orange. Agniet Coens Jacobsen (named after her maternal
grandmother) who married Dirck Cornelissen Keyser and Jacomyntie
Jacobsen who married Thomas Van Der Merken. There are many
instances of cross sponsorship at baptisms among these families.
The (poorly kept) records of the first Dominie of the Fort Orange
DRC were thrown out by his successor so there are no baptism
records to verify these sisters. There is no evidence of any
brothers of Luur. A Teunis Jacobsen has been suggested to be a son
of Jacob and Stijntje but the evidence doesn't seem to support
that.
Jacob's widow, Stijntje married Claes Teunissen who later moved the
family inland to a more remote area known by the Indian name,
Esopus also known by the Dutch name, Wiltwyck (now Kingston, Ulster
county, NY). Claes and Stijntje's names appear in both Fort Orange
and Wiltwyck records.
There is no compelling evidence of any children born to Stijntje
Douwes in her second marriage to Claes Teunnisen. No record has
been found of when Stijntje or Claes died. We know only that
Stijntje is last mentioned in Kingston church records in 1682 and
Claes in 1700. There were clearly two different Claes Teunissen's
in the records of New Netherland, so beware in researching Claes.
There, in the vicinity of Kingston, NY, Luur Jacobsen grew up and
married Grietje Tack. Old unpublished Kingston records show they
rented a farm at Marbletown in 1681. The baptisms of the eleven
children of Luur and Grietje are recorded in the records Kingston
DRC. Kingston became the first capital of the colony of New York.
In 1664, the British, irritated by the growing population of Dutch
between the British colonies of Boston and Virginia, surrounded New
Amsterdam with a large naval force and forced New Netherland to
become a British Colony, renamed New York.
Inheriting a strong pioneering spirit and probably sick of British
soldiers and taxes, Luur and Grietje moved their family around
1698 from the vicinity of Kingston to the Delaware valley
wilderness known by the Indians inhabitants as Minisink or
Machackemeck (now Port Jervis, Orange county, NY).
The Kingston DRC records tell us only that Luur and his family were
in "Minisink" by 1700. The term Minisink referred to a vast
territory along the Delaware valley in the tri-state region of
NY/NJ/PA. However, Only two areas were settled before 1700,
Peenpack and Machackemeck. Peenpack, or the Upper Neighborhood,
was well documented by Peter Gumaer and Luur was not one of the
early settlers there. We know that William Tietsoort had been
granted land in Machackemeck, or the Lower Neighborhood, in 1698
and we also know that Luur Jacobsen's oldest son, Jacob, married a
daughter of William Tietsoort. I think we can fairly safely assume
that Luur came to Machackemeck with William Tietsoort around 1698.
If for no other reason than the fact that there don't seem to be
any other possibilities. Old Minisink Village (Sussex co, NJ)
where Luur's sons, Jacob and Matthew later owned property wasn't
settled until in the 1720's. The section of Minisink on the PA
side of the Delaware wasn't settled until even later.
Initially the local Leni-Lenape Indians, (called the Delaware by
European settlers), were friendly toward these new neighbors.
However, the Europeans penchant for exclusive land ownership soon
led to hostilities. The history books reflect K-Family members
among those scalped and kidnapped by Indian raiding parties.
There in Minisink, Luur Jacobsen adopted a toponym - church records
of 1706 list "Luur Jacobsen van Kuykendaal". Early Dutch
Genealogists Van Laer and Versteeg explained the name to mean "van
kijk-in-t'dal", translated "from view of the valley" i.e.; From
Wageningen overlooking the Rhine valley. Not Chicken-Valley or
Church-in-the-Valley as some references suggest.
Adopting a toponym (place of origin) in America to supplement or
replace their Dutch patronym (son of) was not uncommon, for
example, Oloff Stevenszen added van Cortlant and Claes Martinszen
added van Roosevelt. All three are surnames not found previously
in Europe, but strictly of American origin. (Offers of European
coat-of-arms for the Kuykendalls, Cortlands and Roosevelts are thus
a fabrication by those who sell such items)
The prefix, "van" meaning "from", disappeared from the surname
within two generations.
The van Kuykendall children and grandchildren married with the
neighboring Dutch families of Westfall, Tietsoort, Westbrook,
Decker, Quick, Cole, Cortright, Van Auken, Van Etten, Depue, Van
Vliet etc. Also with the Huguenot French families of Gumaer,
Swartwout, Cuddeback, DuBois and Freer all of whom spoke Dutch and
attended the Dutch Reform Church.
Some have been led to believe that church records for the
Minisink/Machackemeck (Deerpark) DRC were lost for the years 1720-
1736. Histories of the Dutch Reform Churches in America reveal the
following: The Deerpark DRC was not established until 1737. Until
that time, Dominies from the established Kingston DRC travelled to
the remote areas to perform baptisms which were later entered into
the Kingston DRC records. The first Dominie at the Deerpark DRC
found notes on baptisms performed in 1716-1719 in Minisink that had
never been recorded in Kingston. He appended them to the Deerpark
records which actually began in 1737. Hence, the appearance of
missing records for 1720-1736.
We have no record of when Luur or Grietje died. We know only that
both are last recorded in Deerpark church records in 1720.
Five of the sons of Luur and Grietje lived to raise families,
Jacob, Cornelius, Matthew, Arie and Pieter.
Jacob van Kuykendall was among the residents who granted land in
Old Minisink Village (Sussex co, NJ) for a schoolhouse and a
burying ground. That old cemetery can still be found, with some
perseverance, back in the woods. There are fieldstone markers hand
carved in old Dutch with some 1700's dates still decipherable.
Where did Jacob, Cornelius and Arie live out their lives? The
evidence seems strongest for Warren and Hunterdon counties in NJ.
Property granted to a Cornelius K at Northampton, PA in 1753 was
believed to refer to Cornelius van Kuykendall, son of Luur. A
later record of a Cornelius K improving that land makes it much
more likely that this land was granted to his grandson, Cornelius
Kuykendall.
Son Mattheus, and various grandsons began to migrate following the
settlement patterns of this new country. Some moved south first to
NJ/PA then VA/WV/NC then TN/KY and next west to TX. Some went to
Upstate NY and, travelling primarily by boat across mighty rivers,
to the midwest and eventually across the Oregon Trail in covered
wagons to the far west.
The grandsons of Luur and Grietje who accepted early land grants in
VA (WV) and NC, left a Dutch environment and entered an Anglicized
environment. This meant the loss of the meticulous records of
marriages and baptisms kept by the DRC's. Largely for this reason,
there remains some doubt and serious disagreement about the lineage
of the lines from NC. Were Abraham, Peter, Jacobus (James),
Jonathan and Jacob the sons of Matthew or Cornelius? Researchers
like Velma Winn and Betty Price are still working on this puzzle.
Pieter van Kuykendall, youngest son of Luur and Grietje, married
Femmetje Decker and purchased a large tract of land from the Decker
family in Machackemeck. This old farm literally encompassed the
current village of Port Jervis. A historical marker depicts where
Pieter's farm was burned in an Indian raid.
The descendants of Pieter tended be the only ones who remained in
the Machackemeck area pioneered by Luur. This is fortunate for
later descendants like myself who have the have the advantage of
additional years of Dutch Reform Church records to identify our
lineage.
K-FAMILY SURNAME and VARIATIONS:
After Luur abandoned the patronymic custom and adopted the surname
first recorded a Van Kuykendaal the prefix Van was dropped within
a generation or two and the spelling tended to become Kuykendall.
The descendants of Jacob and Mattheus, most of whom migrated to
VA/WV/NC tend to be found today with the original version,
Kuykendall.
Some of the descendants of Cornelius who migrated to PA/OH comprise
most, if not all, of the Kikendall/Kirkendall/Kirkendale branches.
The descendants of Pieter who remained in the vicinity of Port
Jervis, Orange Co., NY before migrating primarily to Upstate NY are
to be found as Cuykendall/Coykendall with the one exception noted
below:
Wilhelmus Kuykendall, gr-grandson of Luur and my gr-gr-gr
grandfather moved to old Mamakating Village (Wurtsboro, Sullivan
Co., NY) before the Dominies and Clerks institutionalized their
common misspelled versions (Cuykendall/Coykendall) of the surname.
Factors involved in these and other variations of the surname
probably include:
1. Dominies and Clerks, primarily in the 18th century, attempted to
spell the name phonetically as they heard it. Some old land
records and wills show two or three different spellings for the
same individual within a single document. Some of these variations
caught-on and became accepted by the families.
2. Regional variations in pronunciation: Some today spell the name
Kuykendall or Coykendall but pronounce it "Kirkendall". There are
also a few examples of families who changed the spelling to agree
with the accepted pronunciation.
3. A few arbitrary changes by individuals primarily during the
1800's before names and records became standardized and assumed the
importance they have today. In the 1919 book "History of the
Kuykendall Family" there is correspondence from individuals whose
uncles and cousins utilize different variations of the surname.
For example: Several years ago, I had a phone conversation with an
elderly Miss. Coykendall. She said her father spelled the name
Kuykendall but when she read about the wealthy Mr. Samuel Decker
Coykendall of Kingston, NY, she realized that her father spelled
the name incorrectly and she changed it.
K-FAMILIES IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE U.S.A.
The English colonized New Netherland in 1664 and the Continental
Congress effectively made it a part of the United States in 1776.
Despite these efforts to Anglicize and Americanize, some Dutch
communities flourished into the 1800's. Their residents speaking
the Dutch language, attending the Dutch Reform Church and following
Dutch customs. One such was Mamakating, now Wurtsboro, Sullivan
county, NY. For a description, read Washington Irving's Rip Van
Winkle. Also check out the old abandoned Stanton Cemetery in
Wurtsboro (Mamakating) for the Kuykendalls who were among that
Dutch speaking community until the mid-1800's.
There are records of a number of our early K-Family ancestors
fighting for independence in the Revolutionary War. All seem to
have sided with the revolutionists, no known Tories.
A number of K-Family descendants have qualified for membership in
the DAR and SAR based on pension applications and other
documentation.
As new territories developed to the South, West and North, we
consistently find K-Family members in the records among the
earliest pioneers.
Some of the earliest Kuykendall's in Texas were NC descendants who
were Col. Austin's original 300 and played key roles in forming
Austin's Colony. These have been documented by a Mr. Marshall
Kuykendall of Austin, Texas for a History of Texas to be published
in 1995/1996.
We find Northern versus Southern state K-family cousins fighting
against cousins on opposite sides of the bloody Civil War.
Many K-Family members are to be found in the records of WWI and
WWII and subsequent military actions.
The bad news is that one finds no royalty, presidents, generals or
captains of industry in the historical records of the K-Family.
The good news is that one also finds no thieves, swindlers,
traitors or murderers. Only honest, hardworking, loyal and
religious folks.
Today K-Family members are to be found in all 50 of the United
States and many other countries of the world. Literally thousands
are to be found with a variety of spelling and pronunciation
variations of the surname Kuykendall. Nearly a thousand in Texas
alone. Coykendalls, Cuykendalls, Kirkendalls, etc. All seem to be
traceable to the single progenitor - Luur Jacobsen van Kuykendaal.
I have the CD ROM set of US telephone directories known as
SelectPhone. These 1995 records contain 4,598 listings for K-
Family members under 49 spelling variations of the surname. We
further know that some with K-Family surnames will have unlisted
numbers or reside outside the US. It should also be safe to assume
that each listing indicates a family with a conservative average of
two descendants per household. Further, probably at least an equal
number of female descendants are to be found with married names.
Depending upon how one does the arithmetic, I would estimate around
25,000 living K-Family descendants of Luur Jacobszen Van
Kuykendaal.
Similarly, the CD ROM version of the Social Security Death Benefits
files for 1937-1993 list 3.221 K-Family members under 35 spelling
variations of the surname.
This trivia information is included to illustrate the magnitude of
the problem of linking all K-Family members back to old Luur. I
currently have 2,732 K-Family surnames plus 10,177 related surnames
entered into a computer data base with at least that number more in
various sources that I have not yet found the time to enter. This
being the result of 13 years of correspondence with other
researchers and purchasing or copying every relevant publication
that I could find.
REFERENCE - HISTORY OF THE KUYKENDALL FAMILY
In 1919, Dr. George Benson Kuykendall published this comprehensive
book covering all descendants of Luur Jacobsen (van Kuykendaal).
Dr. Kuykendall's book has since become the starting point for
generations of researchers. Dr. Kuykendall made three important
contributions:
- He worked with noted Dutch-American genealogists of that era to
develop an audit trail of our Dutch-American ancestors.
- Through ads in major city newspapers, he solicited voluminous
correspondence in an attempt to trace all lines of the family and
to bring them all up to date (1919).
- And, perhaps most importantly, he documented and published the
results of his work for all of us to share.
This 1919 book has its share of errors and typos, as does any
published family history of this scope. For this reason, published
family histories can only be utilized as a starting point, to be
confirmed with sound genealogical evidence and updated for
individual family lines.
The book suffers from presenting information alternatively in three
forms: data, narrative and correspondence. The resulting need to
hunt through multiple chapters for information about
an individual or family has proven frustrating and provided
motivation for me to develop of what I have termed, a "Genealogical
Name Index". (An all-name index with some additional information)
Available at major genealogical libraries. Also on microfilm at
the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, available through
Family History Centers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. (Consult telephone directory) FHL Film # 1421894
All-Name Index for The History of the Kuykendall Family by G. B.
Kuykendall
Developed and privately published 1995 by E. L. Kuykendall
Submitted to the Family History Library for microfilming.
REFERENCE - KUYKENDALL FAMILIES OF AMERICA, Vol's 1-6
compiled by Velma Kuykendall Winn
This is not a family history book, instead it is an excellent
reference compendium for any serious K family researcher with
extensive reproduction of source documents, research articles and
submitted family data sheets covering all lines. e.g.;
The outbreak of World War I prevented Dr. Kuykendall from
researching Dutch records on our ancestors in the Netherlands, but
later researchers, Velma Kuykendall Winn and William A. Kirkendale
have researched the Archives of the Netherlands providing what we
currently know today about our earliest ancestors. Emily Stowell
also researched New Netherland records and developed a series of
articles about our ancestors. Arlene Saffell undertook the
enormous task of verifying much of the data in Dr. Kuykendall's
book. Her efforts resulted in an "Outline of the Kuykendall
Family" with verifications, corrections and additions, noted with
source document references. Marshall Kuykendall has documented
the Kuykendalls who came to Texas with Col. Austin. There remains
confusion over the sons of Matthew vs Cornelius. Betty Price, for
one, continues to research that issue. Herbert Smith has also been
an active K family researcher. He and others have developed
errata sheets for Dr. Kuykendall's book. Mrs. Arlene Coyykendall
Sgretti was an avid researcher of that line and has provided much
of what we know about the Coykendalls. Mr. Warren Ronald
Kirkendall has worked to update an earlier research on the
Kikendall/Kirkendall line. The work of these researchers and
others, along with years of collecting source documents, plus many
submitted family data sheets have been published by Velma Winn as
a service to other K family researchers.
Available on microfilm at Family Data Centers:
Vol. I FHL Film # 1033715 Item 1
Vol. II FHL Film # 1035624 Item 3
Vol. III " " " Item 4
Vol. IV " " " Item 5
Vol. V " " " Item 6
Vol. VI (with Index) Soon to be available
REFERENCE - OTHER FAMILY HISTORIES:
Several family history books have been published covering
individual lines. The first three listed below are available
through FHC's. Others are on file at the Library of Congress or
major genealogical libraries.
A Forest of Many Trees, 1976, by Velma K. Winn
Traces author's line - descendant of Matheus van Kuykendall
Also includes results of research of old Dutch records in the
Netherlands.
Our Dutch Heritage: The Family of Theodore P. Kuykendall, 1984, by
E.L. Kuykendall
Part I: Updated compilation of all research findings on the
ancestors and family of Luur.
Part II: Traces author's line
Our Dutch Heritage II: The Descendants of Pieter van Kuykendaal,
- Kuykendalls, Coykendalls and Cuykendalls, 1989, by E.L.
Kuykendall
Traces all descendants of youngest son of Luur with additional
coverage of maternal lines.
Andrew Kuykendall from Kentucky, 1977, by Jerry M. Kuykendall
Traces author's line - descendant of Matheus van Kuykendall
Ouders, 1981, by William A. Kirkendale
Traces author's line - descendant of Cornelius van Kuykendall
Also includes results of research of old Dutch records in the
Netherlands.
Curve-in-Valley, by William A. Kirkendale
An unpublished update of Ouders, completed just before the author's
death in 1984.
Suggests a different theory on origin of the surname Kuykendall.
Jacob Luyersen, by William A. Kirkendale
Research findings of author and others on our Dutch immigrant
ancestor.
Holland Society of NY, de Halve-Maen, Vol LVII No. 1, December
1983
Looking Back Vol. I, 1984, by Edwin D. Kuykendall
Traces author's line - descendant of Matheus/Cornelius (?) van
Kuykendall
One of the "lost souls' who are unable to prove their line back to
Luur.
Includes extensive transcriptions of reference records.
Matt and Daisy Dell Kuykendall Crownover: Their Ancestry and
Posterity, 1986, by Ernest Elder Crownover
Traces author's line - descendant of Matheus/Cornelius (?) van
Kuykendall
Another of the "lost souls' who are unable to prove their line back
to Luur.
History of the Kikendall Family, by Robert L. Clifford
Manuscript, Copy at Library of Congress
Descendants of William Coykendall of Wantage, Sussex co, NJ, 1982,
by Chester Johnson
Manuscript, Copy at New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
Descendants and Forebears of James Kuykendall Byers and Ary Ann
Burch: A Southern Family, 1989, by Norma (Harris) Garbert
Well researched book on NC descendants of Matheus or Cornelius van
Kuykendall
Ancestors & Descendants of Cornelius Kuykendall 1813-1890, 1992,
by Barry Underwood
Descendants of Matheus or Cornelius van Kuykendall
Abraham (Kuykendall) of Flat Rock, 1992, Pauline B. Beyer
Famous son of Matheus or Cornelius van Kuykendall. Flat Rock, NC
celebrates an annual Abraham Kuykendall Day.
Catherina (Glass) Koehler: Descendant of Jacob Luurszen van
Kuykendall. Research Manuscript , updated by Warren R. Kukendall.
A compilation of the descendants of Leur
Kuykendall/Kikendall/Kirkendall (son of Cornelius van Kuykendall)
Benjamin Kuykendall, Gentleman - "Jersey Ben' Kuykendall, by Arlene
Saffell
Author's research on "Gentleman Ben" and "Jersey Ben" Kuykendall.
Yesteryears Magazine, Winter 1968 (on file, Tioga co, NY Historical
Society)
MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS WITH KUYKENDALL REFERENCES:
Samuel Decker Coykendall of Kingston, NY, (cited in many
publications) Wealthy owner of railroads, steamships, canals,
cement plant & hotels in Catskill Mts of NY. He funded translation
of the Kingston Dutch Reform Church records of baptism & marriage.
See, for example:
"The Catskills: From Wilderness to Woodstock", 1982, Alf Evers, The
Overlook Press
"The Ulster and Delaware...Railroad Through the Catskills", 1972,
Gerald M. Best, Golden West Books
Baptismal and Marriage Registers of the Old Dutch Church of
Kingston, 1891, Roswell Randall Hoes, see "Dedication".
Old Deerpark Days - Kuykendall Family, Mar/Apr 1893, by W. H.
Nearpas
A series of articles published in Church Life by Deerpark Dutch
Reform Church. Published by Jean D. Worden, 1988
The Old Mine Road - Van Kuykendall Family Genealogy, Art # 24, by
Charles Stickney
A series of 28 articles published in the Wantage Recorder, Sussex
co, NJ, in 1911-1912
Compiled from original articles and indexed by E. L. Kuykendall,
not published.
Copies in Historical Societies of Sussex co, NJ and Orange co, NY.
Old Sussex County Families - Kuykendall, pg 135-138, by Charles
Stickney
A series of articles published in the Wantage Recorder, Sussex co,
NJ, in the 1930's Published by Virginia Alleman Brown of
Genealogical Researchers, 1988
The Cemetery at Old Minisink Village, by E. L. Kuykendall
Land donated for school house and burying ground by Jacob van
Kuykendall & others, 1731. Ancient cemetery with field stones,
some bearing 1700's dates, lies buried in the wilderness.
Decipherable inscriptions transcribed and cemetery mapped by
author.
The New York Genealogical and Biographical RECORD, Vol 117 No. 3,
July 1986
Squire Stickney's 1895 History of Sussex, NJ, Augmented Edition,
1977
Gateway Press, Inc. Originally: "A History of Deckertown", 1895,
Charles E. Stickney
A series originally published in, The Wantage Recorder,
All Name Index prepared by E. L. Kuykendall
The Decker Geneaology, 1980 by Admir. Benton Weaver Decker
Privately published, this is a bit of a who's-who of Dutch families
who married Deckers. There are 171 references to Kuykendalls in
the index.
Minisink and Walkill Precinct Historical Chronicle (1940-1962) by
William J. Coulter
This is a series of 230 artiles about earlly families in the
Minisink (NY) and Walkill (NJ) precincts written by amateur
genealogist, William Coulter and published from 1940-1962 in the
Wantage Recorder. These newpaper artilcles are on file at the
Sussex Co. (NJ) Historical Society. These newspaper articles were
also compiled and indexed in 1982 by George and Virginia Gardner.
Their resulting 1,153 page work was bound as four volumes and
copies donated to three locations. The Minisink Valley Historical
Society, in Port Jervis, NY,the Orange County (NY) Genealogical
Society & the Newburgh (NY) Library, Local History Room. There are
over 110 references to variations of the Kuykendall surname in the
index.
Genealogical Notes Prepared by W. H. Nearpass
A similar set of sketchs about the early families in Deerpark
(Orange Co., NY) publihed in Church Life by the Reformed Dutch
Church of Deerpark in 1890-1904.
This series of articles was transcribed (105 pages) and indexed in
1988 by Jean D. Worden and published along with the Deerpark Dutch
Reform Church Records of baptism, marriages and membership and also
the Machackemeck Cemetery inscriptions as a single volume entitled
"Deerpark, Orange County, New York"
The Kingston Papers Revisited, by Gene Kuykendall
Published in New Netheland Connections, May 1966, by Dorothy
Koenig.
The Kingston Papers refers to the court minutes and secretary's
papers (recorded in Dutch) from 1661-1684. All records have
translated into English but only the records from 1661-1675 have
been published as a 2-olume set. It seems to be a little known
fact that the remaining records for 1675-1684 have been compiled,
semi-indexed and are available to researchers at the Ulster County
Clerk's office, in Kingston , NY.
For instance, the latter contain a reord of our Luur Jacobsen (van
Kuykendall) leasing a farm in Marbletown, NY in 1681.
The Minisink Chronicles, by Gene Kuykendall
Published in the February, 1977 issue of New Netherland
Connections.
Labeled as the Montague Town Records, these old journals of
1634-1682 actually contain records of the old Mnisink Precinct
encompassing parts of Sussex Co., NJ amd Orange Co., NY and settled
by primarily Dutch families including the K-Family. These early
records, hand written in both Dutch and English, were transcribed
in 1960 but then became effectively lost and forgotten until
rediscovered in 1996 by researchers Brian Westfall and Alicia
Batkos. They have since been compiled with some corrections and
addtional translations and indexed and Gene Kuykendall for
submission to selected society libraries. Pieter Kuykendall
and Solomon Kuykendall are listed among the Precinct officers.
Dutch Settlement Patterns Reflected by the Founding of Dutch
Reformed Churches, 1623-1800, by Eugene L. Kuykendall,
Holland Society of New York, de Halve-Maen, Summer 1996.
This article traces primarily the migration path of the Kuykendall
and related families.
Attached, are selected Family Group Records for our earliest
ancestors and their immediate descendants.
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FAMILY GROUP RECORD
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HUSBAND: Luur _____________
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BORN: Circa 1576-1596 PLACE: N/A
CHR: PLACE:
DIED: N/A PLACE: Probably the Netherlands
MARR: N/A PLACE: N/A
FATHER: N/A
MOTHER: N/A
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WIFE: N/A
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BORN: PLACE:
CHR: PLACE:
DIED: PLACE:
FATHER:
MOTHER:
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CHILDREN:
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1. NAME: Urbanus LUURSZEN
BORN: Circa 1610-1620 PLACE: Wageningen (?), Gelderland,
Netherlands
CHR: N/A PLACE: N/A
DIED: 27 Sep 1647 PLACE: At Sea (aboard de Princes)
SPOUSE: Jannetje Claes BOONE
MARR: Abt 1639 PLACE: Amsterdam (?), N. Holland,
Netherlands
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2. NAME: Jacob LUURSZEN
BORN: Abt 1616 PLACE: Wageningen (?), Gelderland,
Netherlands
CHR: N/A PLACE:
DIED: Bef 29 Apr 1655 PLACE: Beverwyck, New Netherland
SPOUSE: Stijntje DOUWES
MARR: 28 Aug 1638(Banns)PLACE: Amsterdam DRC, N. Holland,
Netherlands
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Undoubtedly, there were other children but no records have been
found to identify them.
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FAMILY GROUP RECORD
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HUSBAND: Urbanus LUURSZEN
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BORN: Circa 1610-1620 PLACE: Wageningen (?), Gelderland,
Netherlands
CHR: N/A PLACE:
DIED: 27 Sep 1747 PLACE: At Sea (de Princes)
MARR: Abt 1639 PLACE: Amsterdam (?), N. Holland,
Netherlands
FATHER: Luur ________
MOTHER: ____ ________
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WIFE: Jannetje Claes BOONE
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BORN: Circa 1610-1620 PLACE: The Netherlands
CHR: N/A PLACE:
DIED: 1694/1696 PLACE: Brooklyn, NY
MARR 2): Claes THEUNNISEN 17 Oct 1649 New Amsterdam DRC
MARR 3): Thomas VERDONCK 1 Jun 1659 New Amsterdam DRC
FATHER: Claes BOONE
MOTHER: Beatrix HERMANS
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CHILDREN:
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1. NAME: Arent URBANUSZEN
BORN: PLACE: Amsterdam, N. Holland,
Netherlands
CHR: 1 Jan 1640 PLACE: Amsterdam DRC
DIED: 1640 PLACE: Amsterdam, N. Holland,
Netherlands
---------------------------------------------------------------
2. NAME: Arent URBANUSZEN
BORN: PLACE: Amsterdam, N. Holland,
Netherlands
CHR: 23 Dec 1640 PLACE: Amsterdam DRC
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE: N/A
MARR: PLACE:
---------------------------------------------------------------
3. NAME: Harmen URBANUSZEN
BORN: PLACE: Amsterdam, N. Holland,
Netherlands
CHR: 26 Jan 1642 PLACE: Amsterdam DRC
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE: N/A
MARR: PLACE:
---------------------------------------------------------------
4. NAME: Neeltje URBANUSZEN
BORN: PLACE: Amsterdam, N. Holland,
Netherlands
CHR: 13 Dec 1643 PLACE: Amsterdam DRC
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE 1): Thomas FRANSZEN Wiower of Elsje JANS
MARR: 27 Dec 1664 PLACE: New York DRC
SPOUSE 2): Hendrick ARENTSZEN
MARR: 30 Sep 1674 PLACE: New York DRC
---------------------------------------------------------------
5. NAME: Claes URBANUSZEN
BORN: PLACE: Amsterdam, Netherlands
CHR: 01 Oct 1645 PLACE: Amsterdam DRC
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE: N/A
MARR: PLACE:
---------------------------------------------------------------
6. NAME: Urbanus URBANUSZEN (later THOMASZEN)
BORN: PLACE: New Amsterdam, New Netherland
CHR: 1 Dec 1647 PLACE: New Amsterdam DRC
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE: Maryken SCOUTEN
MARR: 17 Sep 1689 PLACE: New York DRC
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FAMILY GROUP RECORD
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HUSBAND: Jacob LUURSZEN
---------------------------------------------------------------
BORN: Abt 1616 PLACE: Wageningen (?), Gelderland,
Netherlands
CHR: PLACE:
DIED: Bef 29 Apr 1655 PLACE: Beverwyck, New Netherland
MARR: Aft 28 Aug 1638 PLACE: Amsterdam, N. Holland,
Netherlands
FATHER: Luur ________
MOTHER: ____ ________
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WIFE: Stijntje DOUWES
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BORN: PLACE: Enkhuisen, N. Holland,
Netherlands
CHR: 22 Jan 1617 PLACE: Enkhuisen DRC
DIED: Aft 1682 PLACE: Ulster Co, NY
MARR 2): Claes THEUNNISEN, 1656/1657, Beverwyck, New Netherland
FATHER: Douwe WIGGERSZ
MOTHER: Agniete COENSEN
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CHILDREN:
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1. NAME: Christintje (Stijntje)
BORN PLACE:
CHR: 17 Jan 1638 PLACE: Amsterdam, No. Holland,
Netherlands
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE:
MARR:
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2. NAME: Luur JACOBSEN (van Kuykendaal)
BORN: PLACE: New Amsterdam, New Netherland
CHR: 29 May 1650 PLACE: New Amsterdam DRC
DIED: Aft 1720 PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
SPOUSE: Griteje Aertze TACK
MARR: Abt 1681 PLACE: Ulster Co, NY
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3. NAME: Agniet Coens JACOBSE
BORN: Abt 1652 PLACE: Beverwyck, New Netherland
CHR: N/A PLACE:
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE: Dirck Corneliesen KEYSER
MARR: Abt 1670 PLACE:
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4. NAME: Jacomyntie JACOBSE
BORN: Abt 1654 PLACE: Beverwyck, New Netherland
CHR: N/A PLACE:
DIED: 2 April 1693 PLACE: Marbletown, Ulster Co, NY
SPOUSE: Thomas VAN DER MERKEN (VAN DE MARK)
MARR: Abt 1675 PLACE: Marbeltown, Ulster Co, NY
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Possibly other children born in the Netherlands, but no baptism
records found to date and no indication that other children came to
New Netherland with them.
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FAMILY GROUP RECORD
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HUSBAND: Douwes WIGGERSZ
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BORN: PLACE:
CHR: PLACE:
DIED: PLACE:
MARR: PLACE:
FATHER:
MOTHER:
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WIFE: Agniete COENSEN
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BORN: PLACE:
CHR: PLACE:
DIED: PLACE:
FATHER:
MOTHER:
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CHILDREN:
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1. NAME: Marytje DOUWES
BORN: PLACE: Enkhuisen, N. Holland,
Netherland
CHR: 20 Apr 1615 PLACE: Enkhuisen DRC
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE:
MARR: PLACE:
---------------------------------------------------------------
2. NAME: Stijntje DOUWES
BORN: PLACE: Enkhuisen, N. Holland,
Netherlands
CHR: 22 Jan 1617 PLACE: Enkhuisen DRC
DIED: Aft 1682 PLACE: Ulster Co, NY
SPOUSE 1): Jacob LUURSZEN
MARR: 28 Aug 1638(Banns)PLACE: Amsterdam DRC
SPOUSE 2): Claes TEUNISZEN
MARR: 1656/1657 PLACE: Beverwyck, New Netherland
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3. NAME: Bartje DOUWES
BORN: PLACE: Enkhuisen, N. Holland,
Netherlands
CHR: 29 Jul 1618 PLACE: Enkhuisen DRC
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE:
MARR: PLACE:
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4. NAME: Aeltje DOUWES
BORN: PLACE: Enkhuisen, N. Holland,
Netherlands
CHR: N/A PLACE:
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE: Symon JANSEN BREET
MARR: 4 Aug 1635 PLACE: Amsterdam DRC
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Aeltje DOUWES JANSEN BREET was the receipient of Jacob LUURSZEN's
power of attorney in 1647.
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FAMILY GROUP RECORD
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HUSBAND: Luur JACOBSZEN (VAN KUYKENDAAL)
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BORN: PLACE: New Amsterdam, New Netherland
CHR: 29 May 1650 PLACE: New Amsterdam DRC
DIED: Aft 1720 PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
MARR: Abt 1681 PLACE: Ulster Co, NY
FATHER: Jacob LUURSZEN
WIFE: Grietje Aertze TACK
MOTHER: Stijntje DOUWES
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WIFE: Grietje Aertze TACK
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BORN: PLACE: Ulster Co, NY
CHR: 16 Aug 1663 PLACE: Wiltwyck (Kingston) DRC
DIED: Aft 1720 PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
FATHER: Aert Pietersen TACK
MOTHER: Annetje ARIENS
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CHILDREN:
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1. NAME: Styntie JACOBSZEN (VAN KUYKENDALL)
BORN: PLACE: Marbletown Twp, Ulster Co, NY
CHR: 2 Apr 1682 PLACE: Kingston DRC
DIED: Abt 1715 PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
SPOUSE: Jurian WESTFALL
MARR: Abt 1710 PLACE: Macheckemeck, Orange Co, NY
HE MARR 2): Maritje CUDDEBACK 20 Aug 1716 Kingston DRC
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2. NAME: Jacob JACOBSZEN (VAN KUYKENDALL)
BORN: PLACE: Marbletown Twp, Ulster Co, NY
CHR: 12 Aug 1683 PLACE: Kingston DRC
DIED: 1741/1744 PLACE: Hunterdon Co, NJ (?)
SPOUSE 1): Ariantje TIETSOORT
MARR: Abt 1708 PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
SPOUSE 2): Sarah WESTFALL
MARR: 3 Feb 1712 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Macheckemeck)
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3. NAME: Johannes JACOBSZEN
BORN: PLACE: Marbletown Twp, Ulster Co, NY
CHR: 20 Apr 1685 PLACE: Kingston DRC
DIED: 1685/1688 PLACE: Marbletown Twp, Ulster Co, NY
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4. NAME: Cornelius JACOBSZEN (VAN KUYKENDALL)
BORN: PLACE: Marbletown Twp, Ulster Co, NY
CHR: 30 May 1686 PLACE: Kingston DRC
DIED: Aft 1752 PLACE: Warren Co, NJ (?)
SPOUSE: Marretje WESTFALL
MARR: Abt 1705 PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
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5. NAME: Johannes JACOBSZEN (VAN KUYKENDALL)
BORN: PLACE: Marbeltown Twp, Ulster Co, NY
CHR: 30 Sep 1688 PLACE: Kingston DRC
DIED: Abt 1711 PLACE: (Canadian Expeditionary Force)
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6. NAME: Matheus JACOBSZEN (VAN KUYKENDALL)
BORN: Abt 1690 PLACE: Rochester Twp, Ulster Co, NY
CHR: N/A PLACE:
DIED: Abt 1754 PLACE: Anson Co, NC
SPOUSE 1): Jannetje WESTFALL
MARR: 27 Mar 1715 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemeck)
SPOUSE 2): Mary __________
MARR: Bef 1754 PLACE: NC (?)
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7. NAME: Arie JACOBSZEN (VAN KUYKENDALL)
BORN: PLACE: Rochester Twp, Ulster Co, NY
CHR: 8 Jun 1694 PLACE: Kingston DRC
DIED: 1759 (?) PLACE: Northampton Co, PA (?)
SPOUSE: Margaret QUICK
MARR: 12 Dec 1720 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemeck)
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8. NAME: Pieter JACOBSZEN (VAN KUYKENDALL)
BORN: PLACE: Rochester Twp, Ulster Co, NY
CHR: 1 May 1698 PLACE: Kingston DRC
DIED: Abt 1778 PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
SPOUSE: Femmetje DECKER
MARR: 9 Jul 1719 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemeck)
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9. NAME: Annetje JACOBSE (VAN KUYKENDALL)
BORN: PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
CHR: 19 May 1700 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemeck)
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE: Roeloff BRINK
MARR: 27 Sep 1718 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemeck)
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10. NAME: Sarah JACOBSE (VAN KUYKENDALL)
BORN: PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
CHR: 14 Jun 1702 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemec)
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE: Jacob MIDDAGH
MARR: 18 Oct 1724 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemeck)
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11. NAME: Seytie VAN KUYKENDALL
BORN: PLACE: Machackemeck, Orange Co, NY
CHR: 27 Oct 1706 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemeck)
DIED: PLACE:
SPOUSE 1): Arien VAN ETTEN
MARR: 9 May 1729 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemeck)
SPOUSE 2): Cornelius COOL, widower of Magdalene DECKER
MARR: 6 Aug 1747 PLACE: Kingston DRC (at Machackemeck)
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
FAMILY GROUP RECORD
----------------------------------------------------------------
HUSBAND Aert Pietersen TACK
-----------------------------------------------------------------
BORN: Abt 1635 PLACE: Etten,Barony of
Breda,Brabant,Netherlands
CHR.: PLACE:
DIED: PLACE:
BUR.: PLACE:
MARR: PLACE:
FATHER: Cornelius TACK
MOTHER:
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WIFE Annetje ARIENS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
BORN: PLACE:
CHR.: 29 Aug 1645 PLACE: Amsterdam DRC
DIED: PLACE: ,,NY
BUR.: PLACE:
has other marriage(s)
FATHER: Aerjan JANS
MOTHER: Geertjen JANS
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CHILDREN
----------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME: Cornelis TACK
BORN: PLACE:
M CHR.: 14 Aug 1661 PLACE: Kingston DRC
DIED: PLACE:
BUR.: PLACE:
SPOUSE: Barbara Adamsen METSELAER
MARR: 18 Nov 1688 PLACE: Kingston DRC
----------------------------------------------------------------
2. NAME: Grietje Aertze TACK
BORN: PLACE:
F CHR.: 16 Aug 1663 PLACE: Kingston DRC
DIED: Aft 1720 PLACE: Machackemeck,Orange
Co.,NY
BUR.: PLACE:
SPOUSE: Luur Jacobsen VAN KUYKENDALL
MARR: Abt 1681 PLACE: ,Ulster Co.,NY
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KEY TO LOCATION NAMES
ALONG THE EARLY MIGRATION ROUTE OF THE K-FAMILY
DRC = Dutch Reform Church
(The only church sanctioned in New Netherland)
New Amsterdam = New York City (Manhattan Island)
New Amsterdam DRC = 1639 - 1664
New York DRC = 1664 - present
Fort Orange, Rensselaerswyck & Beverwyck = Albany, Albany Co., NY
Fort Orange DRC = 1647 - 1652
Beverwyck DRC = 1652 - 1664
Albany DRC = 1664 - present
Esopus territory = essentially Ulster county, NY
Esopus = Indian name of Kingston, Ulster Co., NY
Wiltwyck = Dutch name of Kingston, Ulster Co., NY
Esopus DRC = 1660 - 1662
Wiltwyck DRC = 1662 - 1669
Kingston DRC = 1669 - present
Minisink territory = Delaware Valley tri-state region of NY/NJ/PA
Minisink DRC = Montague, Sussex Co., NJ
Machackemeck DRC = Deerpark Twp, Orange Co., NY
Smithfield DRC = Shawnee, Monroe Co., PA
Walpack DRC = Walpack, Sussex Co., NJ
These four churches in "Minisink" were all founded in 1737. Prior
to that date these remote Dutch settlers were visited by circuit
riding Domines (Ministers) who performed marriages and baptisms
that were recorded in the church records of the Kingston DRC.
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