AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red

FATHER

Abraham Brokaw

MOTHER

Elizabeth Hoff or Huff

HUSBAND

Bernardus Verbryck

4. Barnardus (Barney) Verbryck b. 10 Mar 1782

5. Catherine Verbryck b. 04 Oct 1784

6. Maria Verbryck b. 17 Jul 1787

Catherine (possibly) Brokaw
by Susan Brooke
Aug 2021

There is no proof that this Catherine is the Catherine Brokaw born in 1750.  However, there is some circumstantial evidence leading me to this conclusion.

1  When Catherine's husband, Bernardus Verbryck, wrote his will in 1808 he named "my loving friends Peter Brokaw and Peter Huff" as executors. It is interesting that these two men may be brothers-in-law if Peter Huff was married to Mary Brokaw, Peter's Brokaw's sister.   I think these men were also the  brother and brother-in-law of Bernardus Verbryck's wife.  It was common  to have relatives as executors.  The fact that Peter Huff had known the family since his youth also reinforces this supposition. (see page for Peter Huff)  Peter Brokaw was also closely connected to the family.  (see page for Peter Brokaw)

 2 The Dutch naming pattern.  It was the tradition to name the first daughter after the father's mother.  In this case the first daughter is Sarah, probably named after the deceased older sister of Bernardus.  The next daughter is Jannetje, named after Bernardus' mother.  The third daughter was named Elizabeth.  Catherine and Peter's mother was named  Elizabeth. Huff.

3. A bible record kept by Isaac Brokaw indicates there seems to have been a daughter Cathlyntie born to Abraham and Elizabeth (Hoff) Brokaw on 18 Mar 1750. (1)  

Sources

(1) Genealogies of New Jersey Families From the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey Vol II

The bible record kept by his brother, Isaac Brokaw, is listed first, then there is this information which was found in that same bible.
"Abraham Brokaw de jonge Family
This record appears at the very top of a single sheet, measuring roughly 13 by 71/2 inches, and apparently concerns the family of Abraham Brokaw (born May 12, 1723), and his wife, Elizabeth Hoff. The family of this couple is detailed in Elsie E. Foster's book, Our Brokaw-Bragaw Heritage, (no date, on page 19). The record, however, contradicts two statements in this work.
Although extremely faint, the first word in the record appears to be 'Mart,' followed by "18: 1750." This indicates the birth, 'geboren,' of a daughter, the first three letters of whose name appear to be 'Cat.' This probably is the Dutch spelling of the name 'Cathlyntje,' and a loop, which appears just above the n in 'jonge,' obviously part of this name, supports this conclusion, the loop no doubt being the y in 'Cathlyntje.' Hence, this record indicates that Abraham and Elizabeth (Hoff) Brokaw had a daughter, probably Cathlyntje, who was born on March 18, 1750. The Heritage relates that a daughter, Maritje, was born at this time and baptized at Six Mile run in May, 1750.
Likewise, the entry of what is apparently the second child of Abraham and Elizabeth, whom they named Abraham, shows that the child was born on August 31, 1753. The published genealogy indicates this Abraham was born 'about 1760.'
The long sheet containing this brief account was found in the pages of an ancient Dutch Bible, printed in Amsterdam in 1718 by Isaac vander Putte, printer. This bible, owned by Gardner P. Mann, of 16 Codington Place, Somerville, New Jersey, was copied by his neighbor, Fred Sisser, III. Mr. Mann is a Brokaw descendant. Number 3385 of the GSNJ Family Record Collection.

Mart 18: 1750 done is Geboren Cat (illegible)
Dochter van Abraham Brocka de jonge =
Elezabeth Dochter van Peter Hoff
Anno 1753 den 31 August is Geboren Abraham."

_______

There does seem to have been a daughter Catalyna born to Abrahm Brokaw and his wife, Elizabeth Hoff.  However, there is some confusion about when she was baptized.

familysearch.org says:  Catalyna Brokaw Baptised 02 Feb 1756 Dutch church, Raritan, Somerset, New Jersey.  However, in the Somerset Quarterly, Vol III, this Catlyna was being baptized on Feb 4  by "Aberaem and Maelle Berca."

The baptism that makes sense is the one below.
Somerset County Historical Quarterly Vol. 6
Six Mile Run Baptisms
1750 May 13. Broka, Abraham and Eliesabet ----tje(?).

This baptism has been attributed to Mary Brokaw, but the Genealogies of New Jersey Families From the Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey Vol II quoted from above leads me to believe it is actually the baptism of Catalyntje Brokaw.