Abraham Pietersen Van Deusen
Encyclopedia
Abraham Pietersen van Deursen (before November 11, 1607 – c. 1670), aka Abraham Pietersen van Deusen, was an immigrant from Holland who settled in New Amsterdam
and become one of the Council of 12
that was the first representative democracy
in the Dutch colony. The Van Deursen, Van Deusens, Van Dusers, Van Duzers, and Van Dusens of the United States
are all descended from Abraham Pietersen van Deusen, a miller and a native of Haarlem
in Holland.
.
before 1636 with his wife, and several of his children. In 1638 he was listed as a miller in New Amsterdam
. Cheska Callow Wheatley writes:
that were to advise Director-General of New Netherland
Willem Kieft
on the impending Indian war. This was New Amsterdam's first representative democracy, but it was temporary. The colony attacked the Native American
population which led to a retaliatory burning of the colony. John Franklin Jameson (1859-1937) writes:
. The council petitioned the States-General and blamed governor Kieft for the declining economic condition of the nascent colony. They requested that a new Director-General of New Netherland
be appointed and that the people themselves be given more influence in the new government. Director General Kieft was dismissed, and Peter Stuyvesant
took his place and Stuyvesant remained in power until the colony was turned over to the British in 1664. Kieft returned to Holland, but the vessel was lost at sea and his body was never recovered. John Franklin Jameson (1859-1937) writes:
, and there is no more mention of him in the extant records.
(1782-1862) the 8th President of the United States. He was also the seventh great-grandfather of Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1882-1945) the 32nd President of the United States.
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
and become one of the Council of 12
Council of twelve men
The Council of Twelve Men was a group of 12 men chosen on 29 August 1641 by the residents of New Amsterdam to advise the Director of New Netherland, Willem Kieft, on relations with the Native Americans due to the murder of Claes Swits. Although the council was not permanent, it was the first...
that was the first representative democracy
Representative democracy
Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
in the Dutch colony. The Van Deursen, Van Deusens, Van Dusers, Van Duzers, and Van Dusens of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
are all descended from Abraham Pietersen van Deusen, a miller and a native of Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
in Holland.
Birth
He was born in 1607 in Haarlem to Pieter van Deursen (c1575-?) and Maria or Paulina Vincke (c1575-?). Pieter and Maria/Paulina were married on January 15, 1591 in Haarlem. Abraham was baptized in Haarlem on Wednesday, November 11, 1607 and the witnesses were Jan Jans and Styntjen Jans.Siblings
Abraham may have had the following siblings: Handrick Van Dussenberg, who was master of the Masons in 1638; and Adrian Pitersen, of Aitzema, Netherlands, who was a director of the Dutch West India CompanyDutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
.
Marriage and children
Abraham married Tryntie Melchior Abrahams (1611-1678) on December 7, 1629 in Haarlem. Their wedding banns were signed on November 25, 1629 at the Grote Houtstraat in Haarlem, Netherlands. Together they had the following children:- Teuwis Matheeus Abrahamsen Van Deusen (c1631-?) who married Helena Robberts
- Marytje Van Deusen (1634-?) who married Thomas Janszen Minsar
- Isaac Van Deusen I (1635-?) who married Jannetie Jans
- Jacob Van Deusen (1638-?) who married Catalynje Van Eslant
- Pieter Van Deusen I (c1642-?) who married Hester Webbers (or Webb)
- Melchior Van Deusen (1644-1742) who married Engeltje Rutgers
Emigration
He emigrated to New AmsterdamNew Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
before 1636 with his wife, and several of his children. In 1638 he was listed as a miller in New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
. Cheska Callow Wheatley writes:
New York colonial documents state that Abraham Pietersen, of Haarlem took possession, in 1636, for the Dutch West India Company, of the Island of Quentensis in front of Sloops Bay. In another place [the island] is described as the Island of Queteurs in front of Sloops Bay and Pequator's River and in 1664 they speak of the special possession of Abraham Pietersen, of Haarlem, still living on the Island of Quetenesse, in the Narricanese Bay near Rhode IslandRhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and also of another island near the Pequot River, called by the English: The Dutchmen's Island. In a latter instance he is spoken of, as of HaarlemHaarlemHaarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, owing to his having lived there when he became interested in the first mentioned Island. In 1638, he was spoken of as the first miller in New Amsterdam; an important and lucrative position in those days, and he is sometimes mentioned in the records as Abraham Pietersen, Molenaer, or Miller. In 1641, on August 29 he was one of the "Twelve Men" whom the commonalty chose and empowered to resolve on everything with the Director-General and Council, and on November 3 he was one of the "Eight Men" who sent a memorial to the State General of Holland, setting forth the distressed state on account of the Indian Outbreak, and begging for assistance.
Council of Twelve Men
In 1641 he was appointed to a council of twelve menCouncil of twelve men
The Council of Twelve Men was a group of 12 men chosen on 29 August 1641 by the residents of New Amsterdam to advise the Director of New Netherland, Willem Kieft, on relations with the Native Americans due to the murder of Claes Swits. Although the council was not permanent, it was the first...
that were to advise Director-General of New Netherland
Director-General of New Netherland
This is a list of Directors, appointed by the Dutch West India Company, of the 17th century Dutch province of New Netherland in North America...
Willem Kieft
Willem Kieft
Willem Kieft was a Dutch merchant and director-general of New Netherland , from 1638 until 1647. He formed the council of twelve men, the first representative body in New Netherland, but ignored its advice...
on the impending Indian war. This was New Amsterdam's first representative democracy, but it was temporary. The colony attacked the Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
population which led to a retaliatory burning of the colony. John Franklin Jameson (1859-1937) writes:
Whereupon all the commonalty were called together by the Director to consider this affair, who all appeared and presently twelve men delegated from among them answered the propositions, and resolved at once on war should the murderer be refused; that the attack should be made on [the Indians] in the autumn when they were hunting; meanwhile an effort should be again made by kindness to obtain justice, which was accordingly several times sought for but in vain.
Council of Eight men
In 1643 Abraham was appointed to a new council of eight menCouncil of eight men
The Council of eight men was an early representational democracy in New Netherland. It replaced the previous council of twelve men.-Council:In 1643 Abraham Pietersen Van Deusen who had served on the council of twelve men was appointed to a new council of eight men...
. The council petitioned the States-General and blamed governor Kieft for the declining economic condition of the nascent colony. They requested that a new Director-General of New Netherland
Director-General of New Netherland
This is a list of Directors, appointed by the Dutch West India Company, of the 17th century Dutch province of New Netherland in North America...
be appointed and that the people themselves be given more influence in the new government. Director General Kieft was dismissed, and Peter Stuyvesant
Peter Stuyvesant
Peter Stuyvesant , served as the last Dutch Director-General of the colony of New Netherland from 1647 until it was ceded provisionally to the English in 1664, after which it was renamed New York...
took his place and Stuyvesant remained in power until the colony was turned over to the British in 1664. Kieft returned to Holland, but the vessel was lost at sea and his body was never recovered. John Franklin Jameson (1859-1937) writes:
The commonalty were called together; they were sore distressed. They chose eight, in the stead of the previous twelve, persons to aid in consulting for the best; but the occupation every one had to take care of his own, prevented anything beneficial being adopted at that time. nevertheless it was resolved that as many Englishmen as were to be got in the country should be enlisted, who were indeed now proposing to depart; the third part of these were to be paid by the commonalty; this promise was made by the commonalty but was not followed by the pay.
Burgher
In 1657 Abraham became a burgherBourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
, and there is no more mention of him in the extant records.
Death and burial
He died sometime before July 28, 1672. That is the date his wife died, and she was listed as a widow. It is not known where he was buried.Legacy
Abraham Pietersen Van Deursen (1607-c1670) was the third great-grandfather of Martin Van BurenMartin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
(1782-1862) the 8th President of the United States. He was also the seventh great-grandfather of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
(1882-1945) the 32nd President of the United States.
Further reading
- Cornelius Burnham Harvey; Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen County, New JerseyBergen County, New JerseyBergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
(1900) - Albert Harrison Van Deursen; Van Deursen Family (1912)
- John Franklin Jameson; Narrative of New Netherland
- George Olin Zabriskie; Van Deusen-Van Deursen Family
- George Olin Zabriskie; Founding of New Amsterdam: Fact and Fiction (1977)
External links
- Van Deusen Genealogy (Archived 2009-10-24)
- John Franklin Jameson; Narrative of New Netherland
- Abraham Van Deusen at WeRelate
- http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/nyregion/the-story-of-the-van-dusen-family-one-of-manhattans-oldest.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&gwh=99D150685FFCCA6D8EAE911F9F9C135C
Timeline
- 1607 Baptism in Haarlem, Netherlands on November 11
- 1624 New Amsterdam established
- 1627 Marriage to Tryntie Melchiors (1611-1678) in Haarlem on December 7
- 1636 Emigration from Netherlands
- 1636 Living on Island of Quentensis in front of Sloops Bay
- 1638 Working as miller in New Amsterdam
- 1638 Willem Kieft appointed Director General
- 1640 The Pig War
- 1641 Council of 12 chosen on August 29
- 1642 Council of 12 convened to discuss Indian War on February 18
- 1642 Colony attacks Native-Americans
- 1643 Council of 8 convened on September 13
- 1644 Council of 8 seeks an expanded role in the government on June 18
- 1644 Council of 8 petitions Amsterdam for relief from Kieft in October
- 1647 Willem Kieft departs
- 1647 Peter Stuyvesant appointed
- 1657 Appointed burgher on April 14
- 1657 Lance Corporal of Company Second of the Burghers Corps
- 1664 New AmsterdamNew AmsterdamNew Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
under Peter StuyvesantPeter StuyvesantPeter Stuyvesant , served as the last Dutch Director-General of the colony of New Netherland from 1647 until it was ceded provisionally to the English in 1664, after which it was renamed New York...
captured by the British and renamed New York - 1664 Abraham and son, Isaac swear allegiance to the King of England in October
- 1670 (circa) Death of Abraham
- 1672 Death of his wife on July 28