"A Pedigree Partly Indian, Partly Batavian"
The following is from the work of Daniel Van Tassel entitled:
"Genealogy of the Van Texel/Van Tassel family in America, 1625-1900."
*Cornelis Jansen Van Tassel (b. abt 1600) married Catoneras (b. abt 1600)
Children of Cornelis and Catoneras Van Tassel:
1. Jan Cornellisen b. abt 1625, d. 1704
The original form of the family name, "Van Texel" - of Texel indicates that the general ancestor was born, or for a time resided on the well known island of that name, situated off the coast of Holland.
This surname, the latinized form of which was Texelius, had become fixed upon the family long before the Dutch established a trading post upon Manhattan Island. The family also had a coat of arms which was recorded.
Among the very early settlers in the New Netherlands from Holland was a member of the Van Texel family. He was generally known as Cornelis Jansen, that is, Cornelis son of Jan. Once only, and that in a legal document, a copy of which is hearafter given, does his full name appear. He is the first American Ancestor.
The year of his coming cannot be exactly fixed, as the records of that time are incomplete. But he must have come over in one of the Dutch vessels which commenced trading with the Indians shortly after Hendrick Hudson, in 1609 sailed up the River which bears his name, and could not have arrived in this country later than 1624. In all probability he came over a few years earlier. From papers examined it is the belief that he came here from the province of North Holland, in the Netherlands.
The following agreement, the original of which was contained in Volume one of the Dutch Colonial Manuscripts, on file in the Archives Room of the New York State Library in the Capital, Albany, N.Y., until it was burned in the great fire of March 29, 1911, which partially destroyed the Library. It reads as follows:
"This day, date underwritten, in the presence of the underwritten witnesses, have amicably agreed and covenanted in manner as followeth:
Cornelis Jansen Van Texel binds his son, Jan Cornelissen, to Hendrick Harmensen, and for the term of seven consecutive years; who also acknowledged to have accepted the above named Jan Cornelissen for the above mentioned term, with the express promise that he, Hendrick Harmensen, shall take care of the boy, as if he were his own son, duringthe seven years aforesaid.
Also Cornelis Jansen shall not have power to take his son from the above named Hendrick Harmensen, but only whenever the above mentioned time shall be expired.
"For all that is aforesaid, parties on either side shall, at the expiration of the aforesaid years, have no claim the one against the other, nor any manner of demand.
These presents are signed by parties in good faith without guile or deceit.
Done the third August 1639 in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherlands.
Maurits Jansen Cornelis Jansen Van Texel
Adrisen Van Tienhoven Hendrick his mark Harmensen Witnesses
Although the volume containing the original contract was burned, a copy of it, made by Dr. E. B. OCallahan, for the state, is now on file in the manuscript section of the State Library.
When Cornelis Jansen Van Texel came to the New Netherlands he went to Long Island, where he resided, so far as known, the rest of his life.
From a study of papers, copies of which will hereafter appear, we learn that Jansen married an Indian girl named "Catoneras", the daughter of the Sachem or chief of a tribe of Indians which then lived on , and claimed ownership to that portion of Long Island, situated along the north shore, or sound, about Eaton's Neck in Suffolk County."