NameHendrick Jochemse SCHOONMAKER, 8G Grandfather
Birthca 1640, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Deathca 1681, Kingston, Ulster, New York
Misc. Notes
Came to America in military service of Holland and settled at Albany prior to 1655.188, Jan. 1888, pages 22-26, "The Schoonmaker Family of Ulster Co., N.Y.", by Thomas G. Evans
233
Lt. military service of Holland, settled at Ft. Orange before 1655, later at Esopus, NY, and was a leader against the Indians.1

Lieutenant in Captain Thomas Chamber’s Company at Fort Orange and during the Esopus War. Member of Council of War. Severely wounded at Wittnych in 1663.

Hendrick Jochemse Schoonmaker, the progenitor of the Schoonmaker family in this country, was a native of Hamburg, Germany. He came to America in the military service of Holland, and settled at Albany previous to 1655, where, for some time he kept an inn, the good-will of which he purchased from Steven Janse Conick. The early records of Albany contain frequent mention of his name, and show him to have been a man of considerable social and financial standing. He purchased a great deal of property; he loaned money to Governor Stuyvesant "in time of need;" he was active in the military duties rendered necessary by the dangers of the time, being a lieutenant "in the company of his Noble Honor, the Director-General." In 1659 this company was ordered to Esopus (Kingston) to assist the recent settlers in defending themselves against the Indians. While there it was disbanded, and Schoonmaker, attracted by the beauty and fertility of the place, and tempted, doubtless, by the promise of Governor Stuyvesant to grant lands to the soldiers who settled there, decided to remain, so he disposed of his Albany property, sent for his wife and children, and became a resident of the new community. Here he became as prominent as he had been at Albany, and his military knowledge and experience were constantly called into use in the frequent struggles against the Indians. Though severely wounded, he fought bravely and well in the Indian outbreak of June 7, 1663, and he led the Dutch burghers in their mutiny against the exactions of the English garrison in 1667. He died about 1681.

While residing in Albany, probably about 1657 or '8, he married Elsie, daughter of Jan Janse van Breestede and Engeltje Janse, and widow of Adriaen Pieterszen van Alcmaer, by whom she had had three children. She was connected with several prominent Albany families, one of her sisters, Tryntje, being the wife of Rutger Jacobse van Schoenderwoert, whose descendants assumed the name of Rutgers, and another sister, Dorothea, having married Volckert Janse Douw.188, Jan. 1888, pages 22-26, "The Schoonmaker Family of Ulster Co., N.Y.", by Thomas G. Evans

“The name Schoonmaker belongs to the class of trade names, and like many other names of its kind was not employed by the dutch as a surname until two or three generations of the family had lived and died in this country. Hendrick Jochemsen, the founder of the family, was, according to an old diary said to be still in existence, a shoemaker of Hamburg, Germany. Giving up his trade, he entered the military service of Holland and settled at Albany, New York, prior to 1654. The early records of Albany frequently mention his name, and show him to have been a man of considerable financial standing and even to have loaned money to Director-General Stuyvesant in time of need. Another record calls him “Lieutenant in the company of his Noble Honor the Director General.” In 1659 this company went to Esopus to help the settlers defend themselves from the Indians and while there it was disbanded and Stuyvesant offered the soldiers grants of land to settle there. Jochemsen became a resident of Wiltwyck, October 24, 1661, and the following year received the first of the promised lots. He was several times appointed magistrate of the place and May 30, 1662, when the burgher guard was organized he became its lieutenant. At the massacre of Wiltwyck, June 7, 1663, he took an active part in the defense, although twice wounded at the first attack. His eldest son Jochem was captured by the Indians the same day, while visiting at the home of his uncle, volckert Jansen Douw, in New Dorp (Hurley). Several years later he became the leader of the demonstration against the English conquerors of the New Netherlands known as the “Esopus meeting of 1667.” The demonstration had been precipitated by the arrest and imprisonment of Cornelis Barentsen Schleght, who later became the third husband of Jochemsen’s widow. Hendrick Jochemsen married, probably in New York city, Elsje Jans, daughter of Jan janse van Breestede and Enjeltje Janse, and widow of Adrien Pietersen Van Alcmaer.76, Vol. II - Southern New York Family Histories
Spouses
1Elsie Janse VAN BREESTEDE, 8G Grandmother
Birthca 1640
FatherJan Janse VAN BREESTEDE (ca1596-<1641)
MotherEngeltje JANS (ca1600-<1647)
Misc. Notes
Sept. 6, 1684, Elsie married, for her third husband, Cornelius Barentse Sleght, widower of Tryntje Tyssen Bos, and one of the first schepens, or magistrates of Ulster County.188, "The Schoonmaker Family of Ulster Co., N.Y." by Thomas G. Evans, pp 22-26, Jan. 1888
Marriageca 1657/1658
ChildrenJochem Hendrickse (ca1658-1729)
 Engeltje (<1663-)
 Hendrick (Twin) (<1665-1712)
 Volckert (Twin) (<1665-)
 Hillitje (<1669-)
Last Modified 27 Aug 2002Created 31 Dec 2008 using Reunion for Macintosh