Family of Gerrit Jansz Van Wicklen
(Photo is of the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings, NY. The original edifice on this very site was where some of Gerrit and Tryntje's children were christened (e.g. Evert bap. here 5 March 1699). This is also the location of the first recorded use of the "VW" surname [surname based on the Frisian village of Wijckel] when Gerrit and Tryntje were called "Wickles" at the baptism of their daughter, Sytje in this church in 1694. The church people of Flatbush first organized in 1654 and this church was ordered built by Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant in 1662. The building pictured above dates from 1796 and is the oldest parish in Brooklyn. It was a stone church in 1698 and when remodeled in 1774, there were two galleries. What did the people of "Breucklen" worship in prior to the stone church of 1662? Domine Selyns writes "we preach in a barn." These early (1600s) churches were unheated and it is told that half-frozen domines preached with heavy knit or fur cape pulled over their ears, and wearing mittens and as well as carried muffs. --Alice Morse Earle (1896) Colonial Days in Old New York )
Gerrit^2 Janz Van Wicklen (Jentie^1
Jeppes), bap. 1 January 1659 in Reformed Church at Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands
Married: Tryntje Gerrits (b. abt. 1666,
Flatbush, Kings, NY) about 1687 in Flatbush, Kings, New York.
Children:
1. Jan (John) Vanwycklen (b. abt. 1689; baptism not found)
2. Garret Van Wicklen (b. 13 September 1691 in Flatbush, Kings, NY)
3. Sytje Van Wicklen (bap. 8 June 1695 in Flatbush, Kings, NY)
4. Evert Van Wicklen (b. 5 March 1699 in Flatbush, Kings, NY)
Parents:
Gerrit's parents are Jentie Jeppes and Tietske
Gerrits.
Tryntje's parents are Gerrit Lubbertszen and Geertruy Willems Van Boerum.
The Dutch tradition of patronymic names (e.g. Jan Jacobzsen) ended in the Dutch Colonies when the British took over in 1662 and
pressed the adoption of surnames. The brothers, Gerrit^2 Jansz and Evert^2 Jansz adopted the name of their village in Friesland which
was Wijckel. Although many spellings of the name are found in various public and church records, the Jamaica and Oyster bay branches
spelled it Van Wicklen, the New Jersey branch adopted Van Wickle, and descendents of the Newtown branch that went to West Virginia
and Ohio adopted Van Vickle. The branch that moved to Canada adopted Van Wicklin.
Background information:
Gerrit^2 Janz VAN WICKLEN (Jentie^1 JEPPES) was born in 1659 in Wijckel, Friesland. His mother,Tijedtske Gerrits, died in 1666 soon after the birth of his sister, Grietje. His father, Jentie, died soon after and Gerrit and his three siblings were brought up in Flatbush, Kings, NY by guardians unknown. Gerrit^2 joined the Flatbush church in June 1681, married Tryntje Gerrits in 1687, and died probably in Jamaica, L.I. before 23 December 1722.
Tryntje Gerrits, daughter of Gerrit and Geertruy Willems [Van Boerum] Lubbertszen, was born in Flatbush in 1666. Gerrit Lubbertszen was b. abt 1639, Ft. Orange (Albany), NY and Geertruy was b. before 1649, possibly in Amsterdam. Tryntje had several brothers and sisters including Geertje, Grietje, Divertje, Willem, Cornelia, Jacob, Gysbrecht, Pieter, Jan, and Abraham. (More information on the families of Tryntje's parents can be found at www.expage.com/gerritlubbertszen - courtesy, Max Kaufman in 19 Dec 2004 email.)
[Painting is of Fort Orange circa 1635. This is what Fort Orange [near present day Albany, NY] would have looked like when Tryntie [Gerrits] Van Wicklen's father -- Gerrit Lubbertszen -- was born there around 1639.]
In 16 March 1686 “Garret Johnson” and Jan Snerika (Snediker) both of Jamaica, Queens purchased 20 acres on the
west side of town bounded by land Gerrit purchased earlier. Also, father-in-law Gerrit Lubbertson deeded land to Gerrit 24 November
1695. Gerrit signed documents by mark, and was usually listed as “yeoman” and once as a “planter.” Appears on the Jamaica rate lists,
Feb 3/4 1708 as Garit Johnson. Reference to him as Gerrit Van Wicklen in a deed to him from Jan Snediker December 29, 1710.
(Concerning this deed of land, Frederick M. Van Wicklen writes, Gerrit Van Wicklen bought land from John Snedicor (Snediker) in
Jamaica bounded on three sides by land already held in Gerrit's name.) First recorded use of surname in 1695 when he and Tryntje were
called “Wickles” at baptism of daughter, Sytje. In 1698, “Gerrit and Tryntje Wickles” were sponsors for Tryntje’s niece. In 1699 they
were “Gerrit and Tryntie Van Wyckelen” at son Evert’s baptism. In 1706 the church record lists them as Gerrit Janson & Tryntie
Gerrits--typical of the period to transfer in and out of patronyms. In 1693, Garrett Jonson was assessed 6 shillings towards the Anglican
minister’s salary--a tax born by all citizens of Jamaica regardless of persuasion. (They remained Dutch Reformed.) In April 29, 1715
Gerrit Van Wickelen heads list of subscribers to Jamaica Dutch Church. In Nov. 1715 he gave 11 shillings to that church’s building fund.
12 Sep 1718 and 26 Aug 1720 Jamaica deeds mention his land and neither record refers to him as deceased. Most likely buried on his
farm in the Southside Burial Ground.
Children: Their oldest son, Jan (John)^3 Vanwycklen was born about 1689, and was named for his paternal grandfather. He was a
sponsor along with sister Sytje when nephew Gerrit, Jr. was baptized in 1722 and for Sytje’s daughter Catryna in 1727 and not found
again. No will is recorded but he is mentioned in his brother Garret’s will. No information on children.
Garret^3 Van Wicklen, was born 13 September 1691 in Jamaica, Long Island and was named for his maternal grandfather and his father. Garret^3 left a will dated 17 May 1774, signed Garret Van Wicklen, yeoman, of Wolverhollow, Oysterbay, Queens County. His will was proved April 20, 1782. Garret^3 married
Helena Ammerman in 1721 and had 5 sons and 7 daughters. Sytje^3
Van Wicklen was bap. 8 June 1695 in Flatbush and was named for her paternal
grandmother. Sytje m. Joseph Van Cleef about 1726. They moved from Jamaica to New Jersey where records of the Freehold Middletown Dutch Church show Sytie Van Wikkelen, wife of Joseph Van Cleeff among members at Middletown 23 Aug 1731. She had
four children--Catryna, Benyeman, Johannes, and Gerrit Van Cleeff. Evert^3 Van Wicklen was baptized 5 Mar 1699 Flatbush and was
sponsored by Mettie Van Wickelen (aunt). He was named for his paternal uncle, Evert^2 Jansz Van Wicklen, and he married Elizabeth
Van Liew.
Source:
Harry Macy, Jr. The Van Wicklen/Van Wickle Family: Including its Frisian Origin and Connections to Minnerly and
Kranchheyt; The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 128, No. 3 (July 1997); pp. 178-179.
Frederick M. Van Wicklin, 16 March 1937 application for membership in Holland Society (copy in possession of author)
History of Queens County: The Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica. As noted above, Gerrit Van Wickelen heads list of subscribers to Jamaica Dutch Church. In Nov. 1715 he gave 11 shillings to that church’s building fund. 12 Sep 1718 and 26 Aug 1720 Jamaica deeds mention his land and neither record refers to him as deceased. On April 29, 1715 the elders and deacons of the Dutch congregation throughout all Queens county resolved unanimously to build a church at Jamaica. The sum of L361.18.6 was raised by subscription. The surnames of the subscriptioners were Adriance, Ammerman, Antony, Atten, Barid, Barentse, Bas, Beekman, Bergan, Berrien, Blaw, Blom, Boerum, Boog, Bras, Brinkerhoff, Burtis, Carpenter, Cockefer, Cornell, Covert, Crankheid, Demott, Ditmarse, Doesenburg, Dortlandt, Dreck, Dowe, Elderse, Edsall, Forest, Fortheisen, Fyn, Gennon, Gerritse, Glean, Goetbloet, Haff, Hardenburg, Hagewout, Haviland, Hendrickson, Hegeman, Hoogelandt, Jansen, Kip, Kolyer, Loosie, Lott, Lammerse, Lucasen, Luyster, Masten, Monfort, Montante, Norstrandt, Onderdonk, Polhemus, Probasco, Rapelye, Remsen, Reicke, Robertsen, Ryder, Schenck, Smith, Snedeker, Springsteen, Stevense, Teller, Van Cleef, Vanderbuilt, Van Hock, Van Leuwen, Van Lettingen, Van Nostrand, Van Wicklen, Van Wyck, Wiltse, and Willemsen. (I have highlighted in blue surnames of families that will join by marriage with Van Wicklen descendents.)
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~reetrees/wc06/wc06_454.htm for family of Gerret and Geertruyd Willems [Van Boerum] Lubbertszen, including Tryntje's siblings