Tryntje Jacobse Jacobs is my 7th great grandmother by this path: RWA → Vera Esler Abbott → William Esler → Anna Elizabeth van Winkle Esler → William van Winkle → Francois van Winkle → Abraham van Winkle → Symon Jacobse van Winkle → Tryntje Jacobse Jacobs
Tryntje was born about 1621 in The Netherlands. Her family name is unknown. It is possible that the Jacobs in her name refers to Tryntje, Jacob’s wife. Tryntje is the Dutch diminutive for Catherine, so I guess we can think of her as “Cathy Jacobs.” She married four of the most prominent men of the early history of New Amsterdam and Bergen, New Jersey.
She first married Jacob Walichsen Van Winkle in 1642. They were likely married in the Netherlands while Jacob was on a return trip there from New Netherland. The first two of their six children were also born there. One of the six children was Walling Van Winkle (not my direct ancestor); Wallington, New Jersey is named for him.
Jacob Stoffelszen was from Zurich, Switzerland and had come to New Netherland in 1639. Tryntje married Stoffelszen on August 17, 1657 which is right after Jacob Van Winkle died. Jacob Stoffelszen was a property owner, including owning people; he is mentioned as suing his stepdaughter over the ownership of a Negro: she wanted half-ownership of the person and Jacob thought he should have full ownership. Tryntje and Jacob had two children both of whom died young.
After Jacob Stoffelszen died, Tryntje married Michael Tadesen in 1668. Michael was born in Hoorn, Netherlands but was in New Netherland by 1644. He bought a house in New Amsterdam in 1652. He was banished for a time in 1656 after he was found to be selling liquor to the Indians. While he was banished, he lived on Long Island. He owned a ship (described as a yacht) which he used for trading along the coast to Delaware. He died in 1670.
Caspar Steynmets was born in Holland and came to New Amsterdam in 1631. He settled in Albany and developed trade with the Indians. He learned the language of the local tribes and was able to act as interpreter. He organized a militia company and eventually served as captain. He was involved in both farming and trading and became well-to-do. Tryntje married Steynmets in 1671, her fourth marriage and his third. They had a double wedding with Tryntje’s son Walling who married Walling’s stepsister Catherina who was the daughter of Michael Tadesen. Caspar brought nine children into the marriage including a one year old. Tryntje died in 1677.
The family sheet for Tryntje can be seen here: https://abbottgenealogy.org/getperson.php?personID=I890&tree=abbott1
Source:
Evjen, John O. 1916. Scandinavian Immigrants in New York 1630-1674. Minneapolis, MN: Holter Publishing Company.
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