AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red

FATHER

Gerrit Van Vlaesbeeck

MOTHER

Femmetje

WIVES

Margaret (Grietje) Dircks

Maritje Hendricks

CHILDREN with Margaret (Grietje) Dircks

1. Marietje Barent Van Flaesbeck
    bap. 4 Dec 1658
    m. 21 Mar 1676 Laurens Corneliszen Koeck

2. Femmetje Phoebe Van Flaesbeck
    bap. 23 Jan 1661 in Brooklyn
    m. 5 Jul 1682 Hendricus De Forest

3. Johannes Barents Van Flaesbeck
    bap. 11 Mar 1662/3

4. Johannes Barents Van Flaesbeck
    bap. 20 Jun 1664

5. Sara Barents Van Flaesbeck
    b. Abt. 1666
    d. Abt. 1710

CHILDREN with Maritie Hendricks

1. Mayken Barents Van Flaesbeck
    bap. 16 May 1677

2. Mayken Barents Van Flaesbeck 24 Nov 1680

Barent Flaesbeck

Source: Michael K. Miller  [email protected]

As Barent Gerretse, he was selected by Governor Stuyvesant in 1660 as one of the twenty-two men to organize and establish a settlement on the west end of Long Island in the area called Mispat by the Indians, and which in 1661 became known as Boswyck... Barent Gerritse was listed in 1663 in the Boswyck militia and as serving under Captin Ryck Lydecker and Corporal Peter Jans Sit as private and drummer. This defensive group of forty men and older boys was divided into units of ten to serve in continuous rotation as 'The Watch.' It is to be supposed that such units were called to and from duty by Barent Gerritszen's drum. After the surrender of all of New Netherland to England late in 1664, Barent Gerritszen by election or appointment became Magistrate in 1665, and Constable in 1667. He also served as Poor Master in 1664... Barent Gerritszen, having adopted the name Flaesbeck, was recorded in New York Dutch Church, 1683 and 1684, as Barent Flaesbeck and as baptismal sponsor for his first two De Forest grandchildren, but is not again found of record there, although that daughter Femmetje had other children baptized there in 1686 and 1689.

As Barent Gerritse Flaesbeeck of 'Flaesbeeck' in Kings County, 'taylor,' he made his Will September 20, 1701, proved April 9, 1708, bequeathing to his dear wife Marittie Hendricks all of his estate for life, with full power to dispose of all of his personal estate as she thinks fit, except 'my great cupboard, my silver tumbler and my chair, or pothanger which I have formerly given to my son-in-law Henricus DeForeest. After my wife's death, I leave all my estate to my son-in-law Henricus DeForeest, and he shall pay to my daughters Margaret and Sarah Barents each £5.' Named as executors his wife and son-in-law...

Sources:
Title: Early Settlers of Bushwick, Long Island, New York and Their Descendants Vol 3
Author: Andrew J. Provost, Jr.
Publication: 1949, Darien, Connecticut

Barent Gerritszen was born about 1630 at Zwol in Overyssel, North Holland east of the Zwider Zwe. and died at Bushwick, Long Island, New York in or about 1708, some 25 years after adopting Flaesbeeck as his family name.
He came to New Amsterdam at an early date. In the Dutch Church there he was listed as one of the members since 1649. His first child was baptised in that church in 1658.
As Barent Gerritsen van Swol, in Overyssel, he married 1st. March 11, 1658, at New Amsterdam Dutch Church, Grietje (Margaret) Dircks, born about 1630, died about 1671, daughter of Dirck Volckertszwn and Christine Vigne, and who, at about the time of this marriage was reported in the Orphans' Court as widow of Jan Nagel, was living with her three young children on the north side of Hoogh Straat, New Amsterdam, opposite the (City) Hall.  The record further shows that the young widow agreed to mortgage her property to secure financial protection for her children.  This property, which came to Batent Gerritszen through his marriage, was located at what is now No. 29 Stone Street.  Barent sold it January 8, 1662 to Asser Levy.
As Barent Gerritszen van Swoll, widower of Geertje (Grietje) Dircks, he married 2nd. April 1, 1671 at New York Dutch Church Marritje Hendricks, j. d. van Amsterdam.  As "dear wife Marittie Hewndricks", and also executrix, she was named in his will in 1701, but was declared deceased when the will was probated in 1708.
As Barent Gerretse, he was selected by Governor Stuyvesant in 1660 as one of the twenty-two men to organize and establish a settlement on the west end of Long Island in the area called Mispat by the Indians, and which in 1661 became known as Boswyck.  This group immediately began to clear the site and to undertake the physical development of the village.  Barent must have been one of the first to establish himself there. As Barent Gerritsen van Swol of Mispat, he was recorded on January 23, 1661 in Brooklyn Dutch Church as parent of a baptised child.
The first house was completed and occupied on March 7, 1661, but the concentrated village with its protecting stockade was not fully completed and occupied before early in 1663. (Records of Town of Bushwick) During part of this period of construction it is believed Barent, his wife and their combined family of five children may have occupied the nearby stone farm house erected by Dirck Volckertszen, his father-in-law, which appears to have resisted an attack by the Indians in 1652, which took the life of Jan Harmanszen Sohut, young first husband of Barent Gerritszen's wife.  Riker in his History of Harlem says this man was murdered by the Indians.
After about 1662, Barent Gerritszen and his family occupied their home in the village for several years, and until the settlers considered it safe to erect and occupy homes on their exterior farm lands.
Barent Gerritse was listed in 1663 in the Boswyck militia and as serving under Capt. Ryck Lydecker and Corporal Peter Jans Sit as private and drummer.  This defensive group of forty men and older boys was divided into units of ten to serve in continuous rotation as "The Watch".  It is to be supposed that such units were called to and from duty by Barent Gerritszen's drum.
After the surrender of all of New Netherland to England late in 1664, Barent Gerritszen by election or appointment became Magistrate in 1665, and Constable in 1667.  He also served as Poor Master in 1664. (Records of Town of Bushwick).
Shortly before the death of his wife Grietje, in about 1670, Barent Gerrits executed a Gift Deed of 225 guldens to his children, dedicated to the mother, "because she is feeble".  When this deed was recorded by the town clerk, April 11, 1671, it further provided the gift was to be made through "the worthy Dirck Volkers, the father and the brothers of Barent Gerrits' deceased wife who he has chosen as guardians for the said children."  As surety therefor, Barent had pledged his land, meadow and four house lots in the town until the children come of age or desire to marry,.  The document was subscribed to by Dirck Volkers and (his son) Volkers Dircks, and was witnessed by Gybert Tyunis (Teunissen), Peter Jans Wyt & Barent Jossts, Overseers. (Records of Town of Bushwick).
On the same day, April 11, 1671, Dirck Volckers recorded a declaration that he had transported to Barent Garrets a piece of land with the meadow in the town of Bosyck, on the south side of the Kingsway along the Kill. i.d. the Woodpoint, on the north side of Hendrick Willem Backer's up to the meadow of said Barent Gerrits.  Witnessed by Peter Jans Wyt and Barent Jossten, Overseers. (Bushwick Town Records.) It is considered the land so conveyed, probably about 20 acres, had theretofore been given by Dirck Volckers to his daughter Margaret (Grietje), and that its transfer, made of record in 1671, was for the purpose of protecting the future interests of her then motherless children.  Its location as so described is not readily apparent.  It obviously was on Mespat Kill, and quite likely was in the general vicinity of what is now Meeker Avenue where elaborate Kosciosco Bridge crosses Newtown Creek.  This would place it north of, and perhaps adjacent to the lands of Jan Lequier, his brother-in-law, to whom Barent Gerritse conveyed it on March 21, 1578/9.  It further appears that it touched the land allotted to Gerritszen, about 35 acres, when the area to be developed was divided among its original twenty-two settlers.
Following Barent Gerritszen's second marriage in 1671, and the recorded pledge of his Boswyck property as security, he disappeared in all local records for a number of years.  The facts that he was not named in the Bushwick rate lists of 1675, 1676 and 1683, or as Bushwick freeholder in the Dongan charter of 1687, or as taking the oath of allegiance at Bushwick in 1687, represent positive evidence he was living elsewhere during such period.
Barent Gerritszen apparently removed to and settled on or near the South River (now the Delaware) in the area where before 1623 the West India Company established a trading post known as North Amstel. and which in 1664, with all of New Netherland, was taken over by the English who renamed it New Castle and, in 1682, placed it under the jurisdiction of William Penn's colony Pennsylvania.
A New Castle County tax list of 1676 shows a Barent Gerritse as a property owner at Appoquemia on Christiana Creek. (Genealogical Soc. of Pennsylvania, Vol. 1. pg. 31.)
The assumption that such property owner was Barent Gerritszen formerly of Bushwick, is strongly supported by the fact that the same tax list contains the names of other owners on Christiana Creek reasonably identified as coming there from Long Island, N. Y. viz: Peter De Witt, (eldest son of Pieter Jan DeWitt) who left Bushwick about 1670 and lived elsewhere until about 1700.  Also Engelbert Lott of Flatbush, whose brother, Hendrick Lott, married Catharina, bapt. 1654, daughter of Pieter Jans De Witt of Bushwick.  Engelbert Lott is alleged to have bought land on Christiana Creek at some time before his marriage in 1578, and to have retained it until 1707. (Lott Family in America by A. S. Phillips).  Engelbert Lott is of record in New York Dutch Church, March 1, 1674, as one of its members who had removed to New Castle.
Barent Gerritse, Peter DeWitt and Engelbert Lott in another list of 1676 as land owners at Christiana Creek, and as receiving bounties for killing wolves, are so found of record.
How long Barent may have remained in New Castle County is not definitely ascertained.  As Barent Gerritson, a Dutchman, he was recorded in 1674 as owner of a house on Smith Street Lane in New York City, now Beaver Street between William and Broad Streets.  Also in 1677 and 1680 as having children baptised in New York Dutch Church.  In 1686, Barent Flaesbeeck, his wife Marritje Hendricks, his daughter Femmetje Flaesbeeck and her husband Hendirck De Foreest were recorded as members of New York Dutch Church, and as living in Princen Straat, now Beaver Street between William and Broad Streets.
Barent's recorded appearances in New York, after 1671 and prior to 1686, may have been merely temporary visits there.  Travel from and to New Castle on trading vessels was comfortable and time saving. The baptisms of his two children in New York, 1677 and 1630, may have resulted from the absence of a Calvinistic church at New Castle.  If such a church had been established there during Dutch rule, it probably was then nonexistent. The recorded lists of property owners there in 1676 show a great preponderance of English names.
Barent Gerritszen, having adopted the name Flaesbeeck, was recorded in New York Dutch Church, 1683 and 1684, as Barent Flaesbeck and as baptismal sponsor for his first two De Foreest grandchildren, but is not again found of record there, although that daughter Femmetje had other children baptised there in 1686 and 1689.  This could indicate that Barent established residence in New York as early as 1683, and that he removed from there to Bushwick in 1686, by which time all of his children by his first wife had come of age, thereby releasing his bonded property there.
On July 12, 1692, as Barent "Flack", he, and his son-in-law Hendrick de Foreest of Bushwick, and other Bushwick men, were witnesses to a mortgage executed by Jacob Dircks to Dirck Folkers. (N.Y. G. & B. Record, Vol 48, p. 291).  Again, April 29, 1695, he and Hendricus De Foreest of Bushwick witnessed the Will of Daniel Veenvos.
In the Bushwick census of 1698 as Barent Gerritz Vlasbeck, he was listed as a resident with wife, but no children, in his home.
As Barent Gerritse Flaesbeeck of "Flaesbeeck" in Kings County, "taylor", he made his will September 20, 1701, proved April 9, 1708, bequeathing to his dear wife Marittie Hendricks all of his estate for life, with full power to dispose of all of his personal estate as she thinks fit, except "my great cupboard, my silver tumbler and my chair, or pothanger which I have formerly given to my son-in-law Henricus De Foreest.  After my wife's death, I leave all my estate to my son-in-law Henricus De Foreest, and he shall pay to my daughters Margaret and Sarah Barents each £5."  Named as executors his wife and son-in-law.
When this will was probated in 1708, its executrix, Marittie Hendricks, was declared deceased, and Henricus De Foreest was confirmed as executor.
The omission in the will of all mention of Barent Flaesbeeck's only recorded son Johannes, who was baptised in 1664, could be regarded as indicating such son was already deceased, or that, if surviving, he was living at some remote place on property that his father theretofore might have given him, such as that in New Castle, Pennsylvania to cause him to be regarded as fully provided for.  Unless it can be found that this son married and had issue, it must be considered doubtful that Barent Flaesbeeck had continuing descent, other than through his daughters Margaret, Femmetje and Sarah. 
At the time of his death in 1708, it would appear that Barent Flaesbeeck had become the last survivor of the group of 22 men selected in 1660 to found and establish the town of Boswyck.  His old friend Capt. Pieter Jans DeWitt had died very shortly before 1705. 

New York Baptisms

1658 Dec 04; Barent Gerritszen, Gerritje Dircx; Margariet; Claertie Van Crieckenbeeck

1677 May 16; Barent Gerritszen, Marritie Hendricx; Mayken; Laurens Hendrickszen, Neel Jans

1680 Nov 24; Barent Gerritszen, Marritie Hendricks; Mayken; Assuerus Hendrickszen, Marritie Jans

1683 27 Mar; Henricus de Foreest, Femmetie Flaesbeeck, Sara; Barent Flaesbeeck, Sara de Foreest

Church Records of Breukelen, Flatbush NY Book 72

1661 Jan 23; Barent Gerritsen Van Swol; Femmetie; Reyck Leyderker

1663 Mar 11; Barent Gerritsen, Geertie Dirck; Johannes; Volkert Dirckzen, Sara Vermier

1664 Jul 20; Barent Gerritsen, Grietie Dircks; Johannes; Jan Licoye, Magdaleentie Walingn

Abstracts of Wills Vol I 1665-1707, pages 459 & 460: Page 478.--Barent Garritsen, Flaesbeek.
In the name of God, Amen, the 20 September, 1701. I, Barent Garrettsen, of Flaesbeeck, in the town of Boswyck, in Kings County, "taylor," being of perfect health and full understanding.
I leave to my dear wife Marettie Hendrix, all estate for life, with full power to sell or dispose of all personal estate as she shall think fit, except my great cupboard, my great copper kettle, my silver tumbler, and iron chain or Pot hanger, which I have formerly given to my son in law, Henricus De Forrest.
After my wife's decease, I leave all my estate to my son in law, Henricus De Forrest, and he shall pay to my daughters, Margaret and Sarah Barents, each ?5. I make my wife and son in law executors. Signed, Barent Flaesckbeek
Witnesses, Jan Doris, Jacob Thibon, Brinaldus De Hart, Samuel Bayard. Proved, April 9, 1708. Henricus De Forrest confirmed as executor, the wife Marettie, being dead.