General Notes

Arrived in 31 Aug 1662


"All these names under the conditions I have named, underwent some change and many came to be written with a radical variation from the original. Take, for instance: Joost Janz Van Meteren (i.e. of Meteren - so-called, from the village of Meteren, a short distance southwest of Buren in the province of Gelderland, in Holland), whose name has been variously written or expressed in these forms: Van Meteren, Van metre, Van Meter, La Meeter, Lameeter, La Maetre, La Maitre, de la Meter, &c., &c. . . ."

ÒJan, his wife and five small children sailed to the New World on the ship "D'Vos", The Fox, ariving at New Amsterdam 12 Sep 1662; settled at Wiltwyck, 90 miles up the Hudson from Manhattan Island in the county of Ulster. Signed Oath of Allegience Oct 1664. The first Van Meter of authentic record in the Netherlands was Cornelius who built the Huise Metren at 1500 at Gildersmalen which stood over 400 yrs until 1906. Jacob Van Metren, son of Cornelius was born at Breda, Holland, resided at Antwerp and published a Bible in 1535. One of the first protestants on record was Emanuel Van Metren, son of Jacob, born 9 July 1537 and died in 1612 leaving widow Esther Van der Corput. A memorial erected in his honor in London was destroyed by fire 1666.Ó

"The ship D'Vos, sailing from Amsterdam, arrived in New Amsterdam, August 31, 1662, with a family of seven persons on board, described on the ship's list as 'Jan Joosten, from the Tielderweert, wife, and five children, 15, 12, 9, 6, and 2 1/2 years old.' By December, 1662, this family had found its way to the Esopus (now Kingston, New York), the two parents being received on the sixteenth day in that month as members of the Wiltwyck (Kingston) reformed Dutch Church (No. 63 in Dominie Blom's List of Members of the Dutch Church in Kingston, 1666-1712). In the register of the same church the name of Jan Joosten's wife is given as Maycke Hendricks, or sometimes as Maycke only. The will of Jan Joosten is headed: 'Jan Joosten van Meteren.' Jan Joosten and his family were among the first settlers of the New Village (Hurley); and during the raid by the Indians on June 7, 1663, a woman and two children of this family were captured. The woman is generally considered to have been Maycke Hendricks; which two of the children were taken is not known."

"The branch of the family with whom we are concerned came to America in 1662, as revealed in the papers of the ship 'Vos' (Fox), ariving at New Amsterdam on the 12th of September of that year, though there is some evidence that lead us to suppose that the emigrant ancestor was here at least a year before this date. The coming of the Van Meteren family in the latter part of the seventeenth century to New Netherland was in the period when the colony was progressing under the most favorable conditions and at a time which coincided with the founding of a settlement among the foot-hills of the Catskill Mountains on the west side of the Hudson, in Ulster County, New York, and about sixty miles above the Bay. Here, a group of Dutch, and another of French Huguenot emigrants, had obtained patents for lands and were already established and the settlements were constantly being increased by additions from the Bay towns below and in a short time the fertile valleys of the Waalkill and the Esopus sheltered a collection of thrifty little communities, thus, in the twenty-odd years between 1660 and the maturity of the Van Meteren or Van Metre children, about 1680, the settlements known as New Paltz, Wyltwick, Eusopus, Hurley, and Marbletown were founded in close proximity to each other and were finally merged into what has since been called the Kingston County. Behind them rose the bulwark of the Catskills, and beyond these mountains, and out of their western slopes, gushed the head-springs of the Delaware and the Susquehanna rivers, which, in their respective courses, first provided trails for the native tribes, and by which they had intercourse with their southern contemporaries."

"Jan Joost Van Meteren of Thierlewoodt, with his wife and five children, whose ages ranged from two and a half to fifteen years, arrived in the ship 'Fox', at New Amsterdam in New Netherlands on the 12th of April, 1662. He married in 1646 Macyke Hendricksen or (Hendrygksen) of Mappelen, in the provice of Dreuth in Holland, the daughter of Hendricks of Laeckervelt and his wife Anne Jan Jans. She is supposed to have been the sister of Femmetjen Hendricksen, who married Jooste Adriensen, of Pynnaker Holland, on the 20th of March, 1663-4. Upon the death of Jooste Ariencesen of 'Bostwick', upon Long Island circa 1685, Jan Joosten Van Meteren was appointed administrator, tutor of decedent's children, and arbitrator in the proceedings regarding the sale of some land in Hurley which had been sold to Derick Schepmos by Arience during his life time."

"Jan Joosten Van Meteren's children were: Jooste Jans, Cathrin, Geertje, Lsybeth, and Gysbert; Jooste Jans, being the eldest son, as appears by the father's records. In the fall of 1662 Jan Joosten Van Meteren settled in Wildwych (now Kingston, Ulster County, New Jersey) and dwelt many years in that vicinity, which included the town of Hurley, Marbletown, and Esopus. He is not noted in the activities of that community until the 7th of June, 1663, the date when the Minnisink Indians made an attack on the village and its vicinity raiding and burning the settlement of Hurley and Kingston and carrying away women and children in captivity. Among the latter were Jan's wife and children, Jooste Jans being one of them as well as Catherine du Bois,the wife of Louis du Bois, and their daughter Sarah; whom Jooste Jan Van Meteren later married. These were taken to the fastnesses of the Catskill Mountains and remained in captivity for months, but were rescued on the eve of torture by du Bois and Captain Martin Kreiger's company of Manhattan soldiers; the train band finally rounded up the Indians and defeated them on September 3, 1663. In connection with this tragic experience the following statement if quoted: 'About ten weeks after the capture of the women and children, the Indians decided to celebrate their own escape from pursuit by burning some of their victims and the ones selected were Catherine du Bois, and her baby Sara. A cubical pile of logs was arranged and the mother and child placed thereon; when the Indians were about to apply the torch, Catherine began to sing the 137th Psalm as a death chant. The Indians withheld the fire and gave her respite while they listened; when she had finished they demanded more, and before she had finished the last one her husband and the Dutch soldier's from New Amsterdam arrived and surrounded the savages, killed and captured some, and otherwise inflicted terrible punishment upon them, and released the prisoners.' Captain Kreier's Journal which gives a general account of the expedition of rescue, unfortunately does not name him, but it is elsewhere state that it was due to Jooste Jan's three months' association with the Indians, during his captivity, that gave him the knowledge of their habits, trails, lands and war feuds with other tribes, and so impressed him a desire for their adventurous life."

"In a list of inhabitants of Ulster County, New York, who subscribed to the oath of allegiance, due to a change in the sovereighty of the country, between the 21st and 26th of October, 1664, the name of Jan Joosten appears among them. After this date frequent notice of him occurs upon the records of Kingston as a farmer, and a man of growing importance in civil and religious matters. In 1665 he was appointed referee in a law suit between two of the citizens, and on August 26, of the same year, he is mentioned as an appraiser of the personal estate of Dr. Gysbert van Inbrock, who was a physician and apothecary of the vicinity. The decendent's inventory included among other valuable books, a copy of Emmanuel Van Meteren's History; and at a sale of the effects, on the 9th of September, following, Jan was a purchaser to the extent of nearly 100 guilders - two of the items he bought were the 'Beehive', by the famous Marnix, Lord of St. Aldengonde, and 'The Chronicles of the Kings of England', and these books aptly showed the character of Jan Joosten's culture. A further appointment came to Jan as 'Scheppen', or to a position synonymous to that of the minor judiciary, which, under the laws of the time, gave him jurisdiction in all civil cases under the sum of 100 guilders; but in cases above that amount such action must be referred to the director-General and the Council. He could pronounce sentence in criminal actions, subject to appeal, so we may assume that he enjoyed a position but little removed below the highest court in the province."

"From about this time Jan Joosten was frequently sought as a witness to various marriages, or as sponsor at the baptisms of children at the home of relatives and friends. In some instances baptisms were performed 'at Jan Joosten's in the presence of the whole consistory,' these distinctions were no doubt due to his position in the church, in which he had been elected an elder, in 1667, or, as a civil officer in the community. During the trouble in Wyltwick in the same year, caused by the offensiveness of the soldiers of the English garrison, Jan Joosten, with three other citizens, acted as mediators in the dispute and were able to concilate the inhabitants and thus prevented violence to lives and property. The first instance of his purchase of land appears in a record which reads: 'Jan Joosten had, from Governor Lovelace, a deed for a lot dated March 20th 1671, in Marbletown,' and 'on the 11th October following - received confirmation of his 30 acre lot in Marbletown.' "

"Jan Joosten was selected, October 6, 1673, as one of the four magistrates of Hurley and Marbletown - to supervise the merging of the village of Niew-Drop into those of Hurley and Marbletown under the English rule. The other magistrates were Jan Broerson, Louis du Bois, and Roelof Hendricksen. And not-withstanding the change of government, Jan was continued in that civil office until the return of Dutch supremacy, in 1675, when Governor Colve reappointed him to serve for another term. Jan Joosten is named as justice of the peace for Eusopus and was present at the Court of Azzizes, in New York, on October 4, 5, and 6, 1682."

"With the regaining of the Country by the English, the inhabitants were again required to swear allegiance to their new overlords, so it is recorded that Jan Joosten once more performed this act of fealty 1st September, 1689. We now approach a very interesting phase of Jan Joosten's career, in which he takes on the status of a patroon, or landed proprietor. Aside from what he had acquired in Ulster County - the Wassemaker's land, for instance, and possibly other parcels - he obtained land grants in the province of East Jersey through a period extending from 1689 to the year of his death, in 1706."

"In company with his son-in-law, Jan Hamel, who had married his daughter Geertje Crom (sometimes called 'Girty Jans') in 1682 Jan Joosten appeared in East Jersey, where they jointly bought on October 18, 1695, from Edward Hunloke, the deputy Governor, of Wingerworth, Burlington County, a plantation of 500 acres located at Lassa, or 'Lazy Point' on the Delaware River, opposite the present city of Burlington. Lassa Point lay about twenty-three miles northeast of Philadelphia, and was originally seated by three or four Dutch families 'who were there' - said Governor Philip Carteret - 'in 1666', and to whom he confirmed patents in 1678. . . The record of this purchase by Joosten and Hamel reads that title was given 'to John Joosten and John Hamel, both now or late of Sopus (Esopus in the Kingston locality) N.Y., yeoman'. At the same time Hunloke gave the grantees a bond guaranteeing them undisputed possession of the premises; and on the following day the grantees executed and delivered to Hunloke their bond and mortgage on the 500 acres. Later, Jan Joosten, in his own name, granted two hundred acres of this land at Lassa Point, and the title was confirmed by law in 1697."

"Jan Joosten next appears as an individual purchaser of certain lands in Somerset County East Jersey, as may be seen from the record of a deed passing title from Governor Andrew Hamilton and Agnes, his wife, and under date September 13, 1700, to 'Jane (Jan) Joosten of Marbletown, New York, Yeoman.' There were four parcels of this land, separately numbered, and designated as unsurveyed and unappropriated lands, lying continuous on the south Branch of the Raritan River, in the neighborhood of the present city of Somerville, N.J., the County seat of Somerset. As a whole, the plantation aggregated 1,835 acres. It consisted of broad and fertile meadows on the Raritan; and the locality was already partially seated by groups of Dutch and Scotch people from the Kill-Van-Kull and Perth, with a few French from Staten Island, who had come into this region about fifteen or twenty years before. On the above date there is a record of Jan Joosten being at Piscataway (Perth), where he probably went to meet the Governor and obtain his grant. The above seems to be the extent of his purchases. His will was found filed, with an inventory of his personal property, in the Burlington County Surrogate's office. This instrument is endorsed 'Will of Jan Joosten of . . . June 13th, 1706,' and is further marked 'Dutch'. His personal estate included six slaves, a negro man, women and four children. The appraisers were Joris Van Neste and Hendrix Runersen; it was sworn to by 'John Van Meter.' Antedating this document is 'a testamentary disposition' signed jointly by Jan Joosten and his wife, Macyke Henricksen, and dated 16th december, 1681, which reads: Macyek Hendricksen shall retain full possession the the estate, She consents that the survivor shall possess everything, lands, houses, personal property, money, gold, silver - coined or uncoined. After their decease the property is to be inherited by their children - Jooste to have one half the entire estate first. Jooste and Gysbert to have the land at Marbletown - Jooste one-half and then the other half to be divided between them. Geertye to have the land at Wassemaker's land. Children of Lysbeth, deceased, to have their portion in money from the other children. Jooste Jans was the eldest son - therefore, the heir-in-law and entitled to a double portion. Geertze was the eldest daughter, who, from the additional name of 'Crom,' suggests that she had been married before this time, or that she was the daughter of Jan Joosten by a former marriage and carried her mother's name as the custom was in Holland. Lysbeth pre-deceased her father and left children. Another daughter, not named in the will, is supposed to have been Cathrin, and can only be accounted for by her marriage and in having received her portion and so disappears from consideration in the distribution of the property. Jan Joosten Van Meteren was in every sense, an enterprising and influential citizen; a man of vision, initiative, culture and other fine and useful qualities, and in whom the people placed their matters of trust without fear of being betrayed or exploited. He was indeed, a worthy progenitor of the line of descendants who have distinguished themselves in every sphere of usefulness. He died in 1706, his will dated June 12th of this year being filed among the Dutch wills of New Jersey. His Colonial Record is 'He took the oath of allegiance 1664,was referee in a lawsuit 1665, Schepen 1665 and 1668.' In 1673 he was one of the four Magistrates of Hurley and Marbletown and in 1676 petitioned for a minister to governor Andros."

"On August 31, 1662, the ship Vos (Fox) Captain Jacob Jansen Huys had among its many passengers Jan Josten, (who probably was returning to New Netherland) his wife and five children, respectively fifteen, twelve, nine, six and two and a half years old. The family's original home was the Thielerwaard (district near the city of Thiel) in the province of Gelderland. Upon their arrival, the family immediately went to Wildwyck, in the Esopus, where they seem to have lived previously, for in 1661 Jan Joosten, in company with Allard Heymans Roosa and Jan Gerritssen, had been appointed a committee to superintend the enclosing of the new village of Niew Dorp (Hurley) in the present County of Ulster. Jan Joosten, who usually signed himself Jan Joosten Van Meteren, took up farming and speedily became prominent. He was appointed referee in a law suit in 1665, elected schepen (magistrate) in the same year, a deacon in 1667, and re-elected a schepen in 1668. During his term of office the then historic name of Wildwyck was, on Septembr 25, 1669, changed to Kingston by the English and Jan Joosten, no more than his fellow magistrates, was consulted about the change. "

"Wildwyck's surgeon, Gysbert Van Imbroch . . . had died on august 29, 1665. . . On September 2, Willem Beeckman, Jan Willemsen Hoochteylingh (Hotaling, Houghtaling), and Jan Joosten had taken an inventory of the property which included a copy of the celebrated work by Emanuel Van Meteren, alluded to before. At the sale on September 9, following, Jan Joosten was a generous buyer, his purchases amounting to nearly a hundred guilders. Two of his purchases were the Beehive, by the famous Marnix, Lord of St. Aldegonde, and the Chronicles of the Kings of England (in Dutch.) this shows the bent of the man's mind, and proves that the New Netherlanders were not the ignorant boors that the English of this and later periods were fond of characterizing the pioneers and founders of New Netherland and their descendants - simply because they did not understand the language of the usurpers."

"During the troubles at Wildwyck, in 1667, originating from the outrageous conduct of the English garrison there, Jan Joosten took no sides, but with Willem Beeckman, Roelof Swartwout, Thomas Chambers and Evert Pels, attempted the role of mediator and of dissuading the excited inhabitants from committing any rash act, which would only have resulted in the destruction of their lives and property either then or later. At the rebuilding of New Dorp (Hurley), Jan Joosten appears to have removed there, and through an adjustment of the boundaries between Hurley and Marbletown on March 30, 1669 (1670?) was, with seven of his fellow citizens, annexed to the latter place. When, after the Dutch reconquest, Colve became governor of New Netherland, Jan Joosten and Jan Broersen Decker, on October 6, 1673, were appointed magistrates of Marbletown, or at Marbeldorp, as the named, in place of the appointees of the former English government. When, on March 7, 1681, Wessel Ten Broeck and his wife, Maria Ten Eyck, made a joint will, it was witnessed by Tierck Claessen De Witt and Jan Joosten, who, at the time was a justice. A few months later, on December 16, 1681, Jan Joosten and his wife, Maycken Henricks, also made a joint will, which was witnessed by Benjamin Provoost and Severyen Ten Hout. In this will two sons, Joost and Gysbert, are named, and from the contents of the document it is evident that most of the real estate was located at Marbletown and a smaller quantity at Wassemaker's land, all in the County of Ulster. The probate of this will at Burlington, N.J. on June 13, 1706, shows that Jan Joosten survived his wife." [Actually, the witnessing of agreement by widow Maycken shows that Jan Joosten died first]

Jan Joosten is listed as a sponsor of Jannetie, daughter of Joost Adriansen, baptized April 5, 1672; Willem, bapt. October 13, 1678; and Hendrick bapt. April 24, 1681."

" 'John Joosten of Marbletown' is named as administrator to the estate of 'Joost Adrians, late of Boswick uppon Long Island, deceased,' in two Ulster County deeds, dated April 25, 1685 and August 6, 1685, respectively (Ulster County Deeds AA, pp. 13-14 or Abstracts by the present writer, I:p.4.)."

"Jan Joosten and his wife Macyken Hendrickse, were sponsors to Joost Jan's first child: Jan, along with Jacob du Bois, the next older brother of Joost Jan's wife Sara. Jan Joosten and his wife were sponsors also, to Joost Adriansen's child; Jannetje, bap. 1672; and again in 1682, - for another child, Sara, the dau. of Joost Adrian. This Jan Joosten was evidently a man of prominence in the religious community, as may be inferred from the fact, that Thomas Cook - in January, and a dau. of Thomas Garton, in February, 1682, - were 'Baptised at Jan Joosten's in the presence of the whole Consistory.' "

"Prominent as he was in the Esopus section of the colony of New York , it would appear that Jan Joosten Van Meteren did not consider the prospects here as promising as in the more southern part of the country, and at an advanced age joined in the migration southward by other New York families. With the evident exception of his son Joost, who, on May 27, 1697, had surveyed for him 'a tract of stoney woodland, lying within the bounds of Marbletown, in Ulster County,' it would appear that Jan Joosten Van Meteren moved with his family to Salem County, in the Colony of New Jersey, where land was to be acquired on more advantageous terms. Here his grandsons, Jan, Hendrick and Isaac Van Meteren, first bought 3000 acres of land, which subsequently grew into 6000 acres, so that the Van Meterens were early among the largest property owners and most prominent residents of southern New Jersey.Ó

"Jan Joosten, Maycke Hendrick's husband, had meanwhile left Ulster County and in company with Jan Hamel . . . bought, by deed of October 18, 1695, from Edward Hunloke of Wingerworth, Burlington County, New Jersey a five-hundred-acre plantation at Lessa Point, 'alias Wingerworth,' on the Delaware River on the site of the present city of Burlington (NJA:31:464 & 516). He and Hamel or Hammel were called 'both late of Sopas.' On May 1, 1699, 'John Joosten, of Marbletown, Ulster County, New York,' sold his share to John Hamel (Ibid: 517). Jan Joosten also bought lands in Somerset County, New Jersey, September 13, 1700 (Ibid:318). He died before April 18, 1704, as a deed recorded in Ulster County and signed on that date, refers to him as deceased (Ulster County Deeds AA, p. 361). An inventory of the personal estate of 'John Joost van Metere' was attested by 'John Van Mater' (the grandson), in Burlington, New Jersey, June 13, 1706. The above John Van Mater was Jan Joosten, son of Joost Jans and Sara Du Bois, baptized in Kingston, October 14, 1683 (KgB:No. 329)."

"The will of Jan Joosten van Meteren, or as he signed it, Jan Joosten, was dated December 16, 1681. Maycken Hendrix signed it also, by mark. It was in Dutch, and has been translated by Gustave Anjou, in his Probate Records of Ulster County, as follows:
'Wife Maycken shall have full possession of the estate. She consents that the survivor shall possess everything, lands, houses, personal property, money, gold, silver, coined or uncoined. After their decrease, the property to be inherited by their children. Joost to have one half of the entire estate first, Joost and Gysbert to have the land at Marbletown, Joost one half, and then the other half to be divided between them. Geertie Crom to have the land at Wassemaker's Land. Children of Lysbeth, deceased, to have their portion, in money, from the other children.' "

He must have died after 16 Dec 1681 but before Apr 23 1705 when Maycken was called widow.

"Jan Joosten Van Meteren had died before June 13, 1706, when he left a personal estate valued at Ð235.14, including six Negro slaves, a man, a woman and four children, valued together at Ð145. The inventory had been made by John Van Nest and Hendrick Reinersen, and was sworn to by John Van Mater at Burlington, N.J. The document recording these transactions is in Dutch, showing that the language of New Netherland at the time was still vigorous in its southeren bounds."

"Jan Joosten Van Meteren, immigrant ancestor of the Virginia Van Metres, arrived in New Amsterdam (New York) on the sailing vessel, 'Fox', 12 Sept. 1662. Came from Tiederwelt, Holland, with wife Macyken Henricksen (native of Meppelin, Province of Dreuth, Holland) and five children: Lysbeth, born 1647, Catharine 1650, Geertje Hamel (or Crom) 1653, and their brothers Joost Janse 1656, and Gysbert Janse 1660. In 1662 they moved to Wyltwick (Kingston) Ulster Co., N.Y. The Minnisink Indians raided and burned the villges of Hurley and Kingston 1663, carrying away captive the wife and two children of Jan Joosten, who were not rescued until ten weeks later. It is believed one of the captives was Joost Janse, because of his later association with the Indians and knowledge of their ways. In 1664, Jan Joosten was prominent in the civil and religious affairs of Kingston, held a minor judiciary position, and was a deacon in the reformed Dutch Church. When the Dutch government and possessions came under English rule, 1689, he swore allegiance to the new sovereign. he was living in Ulster Co., N.Y. at this time, and in 1671, held a deed for lots in Marbletown (Marlboro?) Ulster Co., and in 1673 was one of the magistrates of Hurley and Marbletown. Now the immigrant ancestor develops into a New Jersey land owner. He obtained land grants in the Province of East New Jersey, 1689 to 1706. the land was located on lassa Point on the Delaware River in Burlington Co., now the city of Burlington, about 20 miles NE of Philadelphia. This land was transferred to another owner in 1699, when he bought other property in Somerset Co., East Jersey, on the So. branch of Raritan River, near the present Somerville. He probably died in 1706."

In a letter written by Smyth to Mrs. Garden, he writes, 'Jan Gysbertsin is probably a brother of Jan Joosten'. Mrs. Garden records Emanuel Van Meteren as the father of jan Joosten, Smyth and B.F. Van Meter do not give this connection tho they both give full narratives of Emanuel in Holland and London."

"the Noble Heer Petrus Stuyvesant, Plaintiff vs. Jan Joosten, Defendant
Plaintiff demands from defendant 60 gldrs. in sewan, passage money for taking him, wife, children and baggage in Dirck Smith's yacht from the Manhatans, and further 127 gldrs., 12 stivers in wheat for merchandise sold defendant, the schepel reckoned at 50 stivers. Further restitution of seed corn, being 37 sch. of oats, 5 1/2 sch. of summer barley, 4 sch. of summer wheat, and for the loss of horses plaintiff refers to the contract. Further butter from two cows for two years, each year 16 pounds for each animal. Defendant admits the debt of 127 gldrs. 12 stivers in wheat, the sch. at 50 stivers. As to the 60 gldrs. in sewan for his passage, says that the secretary Van Ruyven allowed him the passage free of cost. Also admits having received the aforenamed seed corn, and also admits owing one year's butter-rent for two cows. Both parties having been heard, it is decided that defendant shall pay plaintiff 127 gldrs. 12 st. in wheat at 50 st. per sch. Also 32 pounds of butter, also the seed corn he borrowed, as per specification mentioned before. And as for the 60 gldrs. in sewan that defendant shall prove that the secretary Van Ruyvan allowed him a free passage; if not he shall pay plaintiff."

"Evert Prys, Plaintiff vs. Jan Josten, Defendant
Plaintiff says that he hired himself out to defendant at 40 gldrs. heavy money for one month, before the time of the war against the savages, and also demands for five days spent in looking for lost horses as much as he earned with him in one month. Defendant says that plaintiff worked two and one-half weeks for him, and that his time was cut short through the war against the savages. He also therefore paid him as per account 30 gldrs. in heavy money. Concerning the horses, he says having issued a general information to those who might have found the horses, and having promised a silver ducaton for their return. Also say not having specially employed plaintiff to look for the horses. The hon. court decides whereas plaintiff in his bill demands pay for making shirt, and the other shirt was being made, and then taken by the savages, therefore defendant shall pay plaintiff six gldrs. heavy money."

"Jan Joosten and Jan Willemsen Hoochteylingh show their village bills which were sent to them, having found that they have been debited for the preacher's salary for the whole year 1664, as also the expenses for the diet. And whereas they two did not take hold of Jeronimus Ebbingh's farm until May last, they maintain that they owe nothing for previous times. On this account petitioners reguest the hon. court's moderation and decision. The hon. court decides that petitioners are not obliged to contribute for the previous eight months from September 1663 till May 1664 to the preacher's salary, but that their predecessor Cornelis Barentsen Slecht shall pay the same, because he still had the lease of Jeronimus Ebbingh's land. The remaining four months shall be paid by petitioners. Also that they, petitioners, shall be obliged to contribute to the expenses to the diet of the delegates, because the delegates were considering at the diet future and not past affairs."

"Jan Joosten Van Meteren, his wife and five children, arrived in the ship 'Fox' at New Netherland on 4-12-1662. He came from Thielerwardt, a fortified town in Gelderland, Holland, and his wife from Meppelen, Province of Drenth, where they were married and where their children were born: Lysbeth b. 1647; Catherine b. 1650; Geertje b. 1653 m. Gysbert Krom of Marbletown; Gysbert Jansen b. 1660; Joost Jansen b. 1656 m. Sarah DuBois. The family name was derived from Meteren, a town in Holland. Upon the death of Joost Adrienceson of 'Bostwick', Long Island, c1685, Jan Joosten Van Meteren was appointed administrator