Sarah Rapelje
Encyclopedia
Sarah Rapelje, or Rapelie or Rapalje or Rapalye (July 9, 1625 – 1685) was the first white female of European parentage born in New Netherland, according to the New Netherland Project
, a private effort to document New York's early Dutch history. Rapelje was first married to Norwegian
emigrant Hans Hansen Bergen
, who arrived in New Amsterdam
from Holland. Rapelje was the daughter of Catalyntje Trico, from a French
Huguenot
family, and her husband Joris Jansen Rapelje
, later a member of the Council of Twelve Men
.
Rapelje's chair is in the permanent collection of the Museum of the City of New York
, a gift of her Brinckerhoff descendants. Brooklyn's Rapelye Street is named for the family. Sarah Rapalje herself was granted a large tract of land in the Wallabout
in Brooklyn
by Dutch authorities. The family owned extensive property in the area of present-day Red Hook
.
New Netherland Project
The New Netherland Project was created to translate and publish 17th century Dutch documents from the period of the Dutch colonization of New Netherland...
, a private effort to document New York's early Dutch history. Rapelje was first married to Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
emigrant Hans Hansen Bergen
Hans Hansen Bergen
Hans Hansen Bergen was one of the earliest settlers of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, and one of the few from Scandinavia. He was a native of Bergen, Norway...
, who arrived 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....
from Holland. Rapelje was the daughter of Catalyntje Trico, from a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
family, and her husband Joris Jansen Rapelje
Joris Jansen Rapelje
Joris Jansen Rapelje was a member of the Council of Twelve Men in the Dutch West India Company colony of New Netherland...
, later a member of the Council of Twelve Men
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...
.
Rapelje's chair is in the permanent collection of the Museum of the City of New York
Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York is an art gallery and history museum founded in 1923 to present the history of New York City, USA and its people...
, a gift of her Brinckerhoff descendants. Brooklyn's Rapelye Street is named for the family. Sarah Rapalje herself was granted a large tract of land in the Wallabout
Wallabout
Wallabout dates back to the 17th century. It is one of the oldest areas of Brooklyn, in the area that was once Wallabout Bay but has largely been filled in and is now the Brooklyn Navy Yard. It is a mixed use area with an array of old wood frame buildings, public housing, brick townhouses and...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
by Dutch authorities. The family owned extensive property in the area of present-day Red Hook
Red Hook, Brooklyn
Red Hook is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 6. It is also the location where the transatlantic liner, the , docks in New York City.- History :...
.
External links
- Sarah Rapalje (1625–1685), The New Netherland Institute)
- The Hidden History of the Rapeljes, Urban Environmentalist NYC, gowanuslounge.com
- The History of Brooklyn Navy Yard
- The Rapelje Family, The Baltimore Sun
- The Rapelje Property, on the Brooklyn & Jamaica Rail Road, New York Public Library Digital Gallery
- The Rapelje Estate, Foot of 35th Street, North River, New York Public Library Digital Gallery
- Rapelje Avenue, Queens, New York, New York Public Library Digital Gallery
- Rapelyea House, New York Public Library Digital Gallery
- Rapelyea Estate, New York Public Library Digital Gallery