Descendants of the Yorks of the Netherlands

Jurckse

 

Here, we work down through the generations from the purported progenitor.

Generation #1

Paulus Jurckse of Geertruydenbergh, the Netherlands

This research was prompted as a effort to find the origins of the Kool and Yorks families who married into the Hess family of Northampton Co PA. This in-depth research proves that the Kools and the Yorks were the same Dutch people of New Amsterdam who did the same things and intermarried with the same people.

Special note to my Hesse Cousins:
-Daniel DeVoor b. 1724 was the nephew of my ancestor, Willem DeVoor b. 1711 who married Catherine Schoonmaker.
-Daniel DeVoor, the nephew, married 1C Lydia Westfall b. 1726.
-Daniel, the nephew, was the son of Helena Westfall. And, Lydia was the daughter of Nicholas Westfall.
-Both Daniel and Lydia were the grandchildren of Johannes Westfall b. 1659 who married Marretje Kool, daughter of Jacob Barentsen Kool and Marytje Sijmons. Does this start to sound familiar?
-Johannes Westfall was the son of Jurian Westfall.
-Jurian Westfall, age 13, sailed on Den Houttuyn with Paulus Jerckse, age 12, arriving in 1642.

Juriaen Westval
From Luyderdorp (Leiderdorp, near Leyden); came by den Houttuyn and drew wages in the colony from Aug. 13, 1642. In July 1644, he is referred to as servant of Michiel Jansz.

-As Paulus Jerckse was to be the servant of Adriaen van der Donck, Jurian Westfall was to be the servant of Michael Jansz at Esopus.
-And, Michael Jansz was the future father-in-law of Paulus' son, Johannes.

Information is dubious:

Paulus Jurckse (Yurckse) was born about 1630 in Texel, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. He may have only departed from Texel because that’s where all boats to the “New Land” left from in those days. He probably was born in Friesland, a northern province in the Netherlands. His parents were Goris JURCKXEN. The Jurckse family originated from Texel, the largest island in the West Frisian Islands across the Waddensee from the mainland of Holland.

Paulus was seen in Rensselaerwyck, New York, (on the east bank of the Hudson River, south of Albany) on 13 Aug 1642.  Paulus was a servant for the Maichael Jansz family for several years before coming to America.  He married a daughter of the Jansz family Christina (Syntie) JANSE in 1652 in Esopus, Ulster, New York. He certainly lived in Esopus in 1658 and later, Albany. Paulus died in 1683 in Kings, New York, New York.

Christina Styntie Janse was born in 1632 probably in Holland.  Many genealogies state she was born in Esopus, Ulster, New York, but Esopus was not settled until 1651. Her parents were Jan JANSE. In 1686 Styntie is listed in Reformed Dutch Church NY census as a widow living in a Poor House on S. Broad Street. Christina died in 1708 in New York.

Paulus Jurckse was a real person. But, there is a problem with his name. If his father was Jan, then his name actually was Paulus Jansz as reported in the 1642 manifest. Paulus was a young boy when he arrived in America. He could have been as young as twelve. Evidently, he was to be a servant for Adrian van der Donck at Rensselaerwyck on the Hudson near Ft Orange/ Beverwyk/ Albany.

Paulus' indenture would have lasted only five to seven years. Then he would have been provided "stuff" to help him make his way in the world. Next, it seems that Paulus worked for Michael Jansz, father of his future wife, who conveniently lived just down the road in Rensselaerwyck. And in about 1651, Paulus married Styntje Jansz b. c. 1632 in the Netherlands.

Sometime before 1682, the family migrated south to the City of New York where Paulus is found in the christening for grandson Paulus. There are no further records.

"Den Houttuyn"
Sailed from Texel, the Neterlands 14 June 1642
Arrived New Amsterdam 4 August 1642
Adriaen Dircksen, Captain.

Paulus Jansz from Geertruydenbergh, North Brabant, the Netherlands
Jongen (boy) of Adriaen van der Donck, wages beginning Aug. 13, 1642.

Reformed Dutch Church, 
New York, New York: 4/26/1682
Parents Child Sponsors
Johannes Jurcxen
Jannetie Dret		 Paulus     Paulus Jurckszen
Grietie Plettenburg

 

 

Generation #2

Johannes Paulusen Jurckse of New Amsterdam, Dutch America

Johannes Paulusen was born about 1658 at Rensselaerwyck, Dutch America. And, he migrated south to Esopus; becoming "Johannes Pauluszen j.m. van de Esopus." By 1681 he migrated south again to Philipsburg Manor/ Sleepy Hollow/ Tarrytown in what is now Westchester Co NY where he married Jannetje Dret b. c. 1671 New York, New York.

Jannetje died before 1697 when Johannes Paulsen married Antje Jochems Van Wert in Haverstraw, Orange, New York. Antje was the mother of Jacobus who we trace this family through. Johannes died in 1701 in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester, NY.

1681 Jun 11: Johannes Pauluszen, j.m. Van de Esopus,
en Jannetje Dereth, j.d. Van Amsterd, beijde woonende tot N. Yorke. 
Getrouwt Eodem den 9 Jul.

Reformed Dutch Church, 
New York, New York: 4/26/1682
Parents Child Sponsors
Johannes Jurcxen
Jannetie Dret		 Paulus     Paulus Jurckszen
Grietie Plettenburg

Reformed Dutch Church, 
New York, New York: 7/5/1696
Parents Child Sponsors
Abraham de Voe
Weyne [Wyntie] Jurcx		 Wyntje     Johannes Jurcxen
Grietje Dircx
Tappan DRC, Rockland Co NY:
Samuel Cancklin [Conclin j.m.], living at Haverstraw [Haverstroy]; Annetje [Annatje] Joachims, widow of [Vroyllen] Johannes Jarckze [Jorekze], living at Haverstraw [Haverstroy]; May 4, 1701.

 

 

Generation #3

Jacobus Jurckse of New Amsterdam, Dutch America

Little is know about Jacobus. Jacobus Jurckse was born in 1698 at Philipsburg Manor, Westchester NY. On 9/5/1724 Jacobus became engaged to Elizabeth Courten b. 1701 Philipsburg Manor, Westchester NY. And, they were married shortly thereafter.

Jacobus and Elizabeth are found in 1724, christening son Johannis. But, nothing is certain afterwards. Reportedly, both Jacobus and Elizabeth died in 1732. If so, their sons would have been left as orphans. Where did they grow up as children?

Tappan Dutch Reformed Church Marriage Records:

Jacobus Jarckse [Jakobus Jorckxe j.m.] born at Philipsburgh, living at Haverstrooy [Haverstrooj]
Elizabeth [Elisabet] Courten (Haerte?) born at Ackweckenonck,
living at Haverstrooy [Haverstrooj], widow of Ary Crom
September 5, 1724 [betrothed]

Arie Crom [Krom j.m.], born on Long Island [living at Haverstraw]
Elizabeth Haerte [Hoerte] j.d.], born at Acqueckenonck [Ackueckenonck, living at Haverstraw]
May 21, 1715 [betrothed, (no marriage notice)]

Reformed Dutch Church, 
Sleepy Hollow, New York: 4/10/1725
Parents Child Sponsors
Jacobus Jurckse
Elizabeth		 Johannis     Harmen Jurckse
wife Maritie

 

 

Generation #4

Harmenus Yorks of Kingston, New York

Unfortunately, we have little information for Harmenus. Harmenus Yorks was born 12/29/1726 in Haverstraw, Rockland Co NY. That puts the Yorks family on the west bank of the Hudson, just above New Jersey. Reportedly, Harmenus' father Jacobus died 1732 at Tarrytown, just across the Hudson in Westchester. In about 1747, probably in Rockland County, Harnenus married Jannetje Soulis. But, there are no records.

Harmenus/ Hermon is cited having served in the Revolutionary War in the Massachusetts Line. At first, this seems improbable. However, this Regiment of Massachusetts Artillery served in Pennsylvania and New York and was known to recruit soldiers when they were stationed on the Hudson River.

S.43782 State of New York Oswego County SS:
Elis Parsons aged seventy two years, resident in the Town of Oswego (Late town of Hannibal) in said County. . .That he served as a Lieutenant in Captain Thomas Sewards Company of Artillery in the Massachusetts line and in the regiment commanded by Colonel John Crane of Boston. . .Eli Parsons was commissioned, February 1, 1777, First Lieutenant in Captain Thomas Seward’s Company, Colonel John Crane’s Regiment of artillery, was wounded In the battle of Germantown, and resigned his commission, May 7, 1779. The place of residence of Eli Parsons during the Revolutionary War was not stated. . . .

    "Pension Application for Eli Parsons: S.43782," <www.revwarpensions.com/parsonseli.pdf> 23 January 2023.

Failing to find additional records, Harmenus probably lived the remainder of his life in lower New York, probably in Rockland County. But, this doesn't get us to Somerset Co NJ.

 

The Mystery of Peter, son of Jan Yorks

Here, we examine a person who may connect the Pennsylvania Yorks to the New Amsterdam Jurckses.

A Peter Yorks appears in the 5/1762 Somerset Co NJ probate for Johannes Fonteyn.
-Johannes Fonteyn married Agnes Webber, thus Agnes Fonteyn is listed as Wife.
-Catharina Fonteyn married Hendrick van Derbilt.
-Hannah van Derbilt married Peter Yorks. Peter is mentioned in the will.
-Peter's daughter, Agnes, is mentioned in the will.

Somerset Co NJ Probate:
1762, May 28. Fontyn, Johannes, of Somerset Co.; will of. 
Wife, Agness Fontine, £200. 
To Agnes Yorks, the daughter of Peter Yorks, the interest of £100, till she is 18. 
To Peter Yorks, £50.
Proved Feb. 4, 1763.

Somerset Co NJ Probate:
1771, Dec. 24. Vantine, Agnes, of Reading Township, Hunterdon Co.; will of. 
Friend, Peter Yerkerson, cubboard. 
Proved June 24, 1777.

The mystery has been connecting Peter to the Yorks family.
-Peter's daughter would have been born after 1744 (1762 - 18 = 1744)
-Peter was  born in 5/1723, making him a contemporary of Harmenus Yorks.
-Apparently, he is the son of Johannes (Jan) and 1C to Harmenus.
Hendrick Vanderbilt
m. Catryna Fonteyn (Catharina)
dau. of Jacques Fonteyn & Anna Webber
bp. 31 Oct 1708 NYC Ref Ch
Jacques Fontyn, yeoman, in his will, dated 27 Sep 1748 Somerset Co., NJ,
mentioned wife, Anna. Son, Charles. Son-in-law, Hendrick van der Bilt... 
---children of Hendrick Vanderbilt & Catryna Fonteyn: 
Annatje/ Hannah Vanderbilt m. Peter Yorks, son of Jan Jurcks & Agnietje Pieterse Staats 

Very little is known about Pieter Jurcks.

Pieter Jurks, baptized 23 May 1723 at the Staten Island Dutch Church, son of Jan Jurks and Agnietje Staats:
1723 May 23; Jan Jurks, Agnietje Staats; Pieter; Cornelius Van Santvoord, Anna Staats  
-Peter Juricks appears in a list of new names appearing in Franklin Township, Somerset County circa 1753
(Snell “History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties”, page 820), 
-Peter Jorks, Six Mile Run (page 812 in the same book) 
-in a “List of Persons damaged by the British in 1776 and 1777 (Volume 15, State Library, Trenton). His list of goods, chattels taken or destroyed totalled 16 pounds and 17 shillings. 

(Mother-in-Law) Agnietje Staats was probably the daughter of Pieter Janse Staats and Annetie ???
-She married first, circa 1705, (as his second wife, he had at least four children from his first marriage) Abraham Metselaar (baptized 22 March 1671, New Amsterdam, died pre June 1718).
They had three children baptized at Staten Island between 1706 and 1715:
-1706 25 Dec; Abraham Messelaar, Angentietje Staats; Annetje; Pieter Janse Staats & wife Annetje
-It is known that several of Abraham’s children (by his first marriage) moved to New Jersey, and at least one to Somerset County. 

Pieter and Anaetje JURCKS, who had the following children baptized at the Six Mile Run Church: 
1. Catriena, daughter of Pieter and Anaetje JURCKS, bapt 17 June 1753. 
2. possibly there was a daughter, Hannah YERKESE, born 15 Mar 1755, married 26 Feb 1772, at the Six Mile Run Church, Joachim WYCKOFF (son of Jacob and Catelyntie (GULICK) WYCKOFF); 
3. Jannitje, daughter of Pieter and Annaltje JURCKS, bapt April 1757. 
4. Jacobes, son of Peter YURCKS, bapt 16 Jan 1763. 
5. Maria, daughter of Peter and Annatye JORKSE, bapt 20 Oct 1765. 
6. Gertye, daughter of Peter and Annatye YORKS, bapt 6 nov 1768. 
7. Hendrick, son of Peter and Annatie JEURKSEN, bapt 31 May 1771.
Port Richmond DRC, Staten Island NY:
1723 May 23; Jan Jurks, Agnietje Staats; Pieter; Cornelius Van Santvoord, Anna Staats

 

Jan Yorks of Staten Island NY

Jan Yorks was born in about 1680 in New Amsterdam NY. The baptismal records for Port Richmond (Staten Island) prove he was married to Agneta Staats. Nothing more is known of Jan.

Jan Jurcks recorded as being " 2nd spouse "
Agneta Staats, bp. 25 July 1680 New Utrecht [Brooklyn NY] (wit: Agnietje Jans and Jans Jansz van Dyk);
m. (1) 2 Feb 1706 NYC Ref Ch, Abraham Messelaar (Metzlaer), son of Jan Adamszen & Geertruyd Dircks; 
m. (2) Jan Jurcks before 1720

Jan Jurks and Agnietje Staats had four children baptized at Staten Island:
Johanna (possibly married Jan Veltman with children baptized 1744-58)
1720 Jan 15; Jan Jurks, Agnietje Staats; Johanna; Harmen Bouman, Neeltje Staats
Pieter, 1723, 
Rachel, 1725 
Catharina, 1728.

 

Here, we work up from the proven Yorks ancestors.

Generation #5

William A Yorks of Kingston, New York

William Yorks was born in 1749. Some believe he was born in Hunterdon Co NJ. Failing to find records for William in New Jersey before 4/1777, William was most probably born in lower New York.

Sometime after the Revolution, Harmenus and family migrated south, down the Hudson River to the vicinity of to Perth Amboy NJ. Traveling west, up the Raritan River, they would have reached the confluence with the Millstone River vic Manville NJ. There, they would have headed south, up the Millstone not far to the vicinity of Harlingen NJ and the Dutch Settlement on the line between Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

Well, either eastern Hunterdon or western Somerset; as the ethnic Dutch community straddled the county line. In about 1776 in New Jersey, William married Elizabeth Allegar b. 10/10/1754 Hunterdon Co NJ. William and Elizabeth are recorded baptizing children at the Dutch Reformed Church, Readington TWP NJ.

Also within the first two decades, 1704-1724, settlers began arriving from the eastward by way of the Raritan and its tributaries. These were the Dutch, and included Huguenots and Walloons and perhaps Germans, all of whom through association and intermarriage had essentially become Dutchmen themselves. Se were made along Holland’s Brook, along Campbell’s Brook (Pleasant Run) and at Three Bridges. Readington Township, in fact, became so predominantly Dutch that it was later referred to as an outpost of the large Dutch Settlement of Somerset County."

    "The Dawn of Hunterdon County" <www.readkong.com/> 11 January 2023.

An important research question is "Why did our folks migrate to East Jersey?" The answer is new lands and the Dutch Reformed Church.

The Early Dutch and Swedish Settlers of New Jersey, p. 75:

The widening settlements of the Jersey Dutch can be traced in the Dutch Reformed churches, beginning in Bergen in 1660, spreading to Hackensack, Acquackanonk, and Tappan about 1690, to the neighborhood of New Brunswick about 1700, to Six-Mile Run about 1710, to Schraalenburgh, Paramus, Readington, and Fairfield about 1720, to Totowa, Clarkstown, New York, and Neshanic about 1750, and to Kakiat, New York, Bedminster, and Millstone about 1770. Each new church marked the opening of a new frontier, and as the country became settled the churches marked the boundaries between the Dutch settlements of New Jersey and those of their English and German neighbors, for in good degree the country which makes up Dutch New Jersey will be found within a radius of five miles of these churches.

And, Readington became a major hub for cross-state transportation in New Jersey.

Roads: Traversing Readington are historic roads. Old York Road is one of the oldest roads in America. It connected Philadelphia to Elizabethtown and subsequently New York City. Centerville was the stop for the pre-revolutionary Swift Sure Stage Coach Line and the horse barn remains as an historic site. Old Highway in White House was the “Raritan Path” eventually the “County Road” and then in 1806 the original New Jersey Turnpike.

    "The Readington Township Environmental Resource Inventory" <www.readingtontwpnj.gov/images/EC/2002_Readington_Final_ERI.pdf> 11 January 2023.

According to "History of Columbia & Montour Counties," William migrated by 1791 to Fishing Creek TWP in old Northumberland Co PA. He isn't found in the 1800 Census. But, he is found in the 1810 Census. (Determining these migration dates would be a whole lot easier if the 1790 and 1800 censuses for New Jersey weren't lost.)

In December 1812, William is found with the Coles and the Hesses as founding members of St Gabriel Church. And in the 1820 Census, William is found living in Sugarloaf TWP amongst the Coles and the Hesses.

William died 10/22/1831 in Columbia Co PA. William and Elizabeth are buried at Saint Gabriel's Church, Benton PA.

Somerset County Historical Quarterly. Volume VI,   pages 68 -70:
William Yorks and his wife Elizabeth Allegar, daughter of Benjamin Allegar, were members of the Dutch Reformed Church of Readington, Hunterdon Co NJ.
30 Apr-1777 - Yorcks (Yorks), Willim & Elesebet (Elizabeth) baptized Catlinthe (Catherine)
06 Dec-1778 - York, William & Elesebeth baptized Bengemen (Benjamin) 
03 Mar-1781 - York, William & Elesbeth baptized Mary
27 Jul-1783 - York, William & Elesebeth baptized Jan (John) 
13 Nov -1785 - Yorks, William & Elizabeth baptized Hannah.
"History of Columbia & Montour Counties, Pennsylvania," Jackson TWP, p. 491:

JOHN YORKS, farmer, P. O. Waller, was born May 5, 1807, in New Jersey, [grand]son of William Yorks. . .Our subject's [grand] father, William Yorks, was of Low Dutch descent, and came from New Jersey, settling in Fishingcreek Township, this county. in 1791. His children were John, Samuel, Thomas, Joseph, Catharine, Mary. Hannah and Elizabeth.

"History of Columbia & Montour Counties, Pennsylvania," Jackson TWP, p. 683:

WILLIAM YORKS, deceased, for many years a farmer in Coopertownship. Montour county, was born in that vicinity April 4.1815, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Fox) Yorks. Samuel Yorks came to this section from New Jersey, settling in what is now Montour county about 1780. Here he owned and lived on a large tract of land which he bought very cheaply, and he also owned another large tract, in what is now Columbia county. He was a soldier of the war of 1812.
"An account of the subscribers to the building of Saint Gabriel's church on a settlement had on the 26th day of December, 1812: "
. . . Ezekiel Cole. . .Philiip Fritz. . . Conrad Hess. . . John Kile. . . George Hess, William Hess, Sr. . . Jacob Hess. . . Tobias Hess. . . Andrew Hess. . . Frederick Hess. . . John Hess. . . William Hess, Jr. . . Paul Hess. . . Henry Hess. . .William Yorks. . . .

 

 

    Hess, Cole, and York Marriages

    2. Maria Elizabeth Hess

This relationship is confirmed by the History of Columbia Co PA where Ezekiel Cole is named as one of the four spouses of Hess girls, granddaughters of John Godhard. Ezekiel is important to research as he was buddies with William Hess. And, he married 2nd William's daughter Elizabeth.

    8. Johannes Hess

Elizabeth's brother John married Ezekiel's daughter, Charity, from his 1st marriage to Rebecca Coleman.

    9. Frederick Hess

Columbia Co PA Records:
c. 1819. Frederick Hess purchased acreage from William Hess in Sugarloaf TWP.

    12. Heinrich Wilhelm  or Wilhelm Heinrich Hess

    13. Johan Paul Hess

10/16/1784. Johan Paul Hess christened by Rev. John William Ingold;
Sponsors Johannes and Sophia Gotthard.
"History of Columbia & Montour Counties, Pennsylvania," Jackson TWP, p. 803:

Paul Hess, the maternal great-grandfather of John Albert Carrathers, came from Northampton county, Pa., with his wife Hannah (Yorks), and purchased a tract of 450 acres of timberland in Columbia county. He cleared his property, sold off a number of tracts and became one of the leading men of his community. He was greatly interested in both religion and education, and donated the ground for the building of the Union church cemetery and schoolhouse. He and his wife were members of the United Evangelical Church, and they were buried in the Waller cemetery. . . .

Hess Genealogy

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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