Capt. Matthys Matthyssen (Van Keuren) & Tjatje Charity Claessen DeWitt Family

Capt. Matthys Matthyssen (Van Keuren)
Matthys was born in 1648 in Fort Orange, Albany, New York.

Birth Notes
- # ID: I32971
  # Name: Matthys Matthyssen VanKeuren
  # Surname: VanKeuren
  # Given Name: Matthys Matthyssen
  # NPFX: Captain
  # _AKA: Van Keuren
  # Sex: M
  # Birth: ABT 1648 in Fort Orange, Albany, New York
  # Death: ABT 1730 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
  # _UID: 41531221FF79D8118CA900600FB9597D5B3B
  # Note:
  
      From Van Keulen/Van Keuren/Van Kuren/Van Curen, a Family History, by D.G. Van Curen, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD 1998;
  
      VAN KEUREN
  
      Matthys Matthyssen, last of Mathuj Van Keulen's children, was born in1648 at Fort Orange (now Albany). Had patronymic tradition beenfollowed, his first name should have been Hendrick, or same variatinthereof, naming him for his maternal grandfather. His exact date ofbirth is unknown, but it is believed to be near or after his father'sdeath in October of 1648. This would certainly explain why he might havebeen named for his father, instead of his grandfather, as an act of agrieving widow.
  
      Matthys Matthyssen, Sr. lived his entire life as a Matthyssen, but hischildren and grandchildren switched from Matthyssen to Van Keuren in1716. This author found no evidence of anyone in this family, exceptMatthys, Sr., using the Matthyssen name after that date. Although thereis no 'written' explanation of the change (or why it had an 'R' and notan 'L'), it is thought to be am attempt to re-identify with the Nobleheritage of the 'Old Country'. Whatever the reason, in 1716 a newsurname was born, and because of the altered spelling it was unigue toone American family. I have yet to find 1 Van Keuren (of any spelling)who was verifiably not descended from this family.
  
      As the Van Keuren clan began spreading out across the country, manyfamilies began using a more 'Americanized' variation of the name, VanCuren or Van Kuren. In terms of numbers, the Van Keurens and Van Curenswere nearly equal by the 1860 census, with a much smaller group using theVan Kuren name. A later variation, Van Curon, appeared in the southernstates following the Civil War.
  
      Unfortunately, many of these family lines dead-end in the early 1800s.Because of the shortcomings of early American record keeping, manyfamilies could not be 'confidently' tied to the main genealogical line.There were many cases where a link seemed logical, based on names ofchildren, etc, but we could not include them as the link was notabsolutely certain. For example, I am certain that Efraim Van Curen ofIndiana is a grandson of Cornellis Efraim Van Curen of Ohio, partlybecause of location and partly because the Efraim is virtually unique tothis line. Cornellis, however, had 14 children, so, which son shouldEfraim belong to. I could find no records indicating who his fathershould be, so, he is among those left out in the cold.
  
      A captain in 1685. He served against the French on the northern frontier.All hs children took the surname Van Keuren.
  
      Also Known As:<_AKA> Van Keuren
      Name Suffix: Captain
      From Van Keulen/Van Keuren/Van Kuren/Van Curen, a Family History, by D. G. Van Curen, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD 1998;
  
      VAN KEUREN
  
      Matthys Matthyssen, last of Mathuj Van Keulen's children, was born in 1648 at Fort Orange (now Albany). Had patronymic tradition been followed, his first name should have been Hendrick, orsame variation thereof, naming him for his maternal grandfather. His exact date of birth is unknown, but it is believed to be near or after his father's death in October of 1648. This would certainly explain why he might have been named for his father, instead of his grandfather, as an act of a grieving widow.
  
      Matthys Matthyssen, Sr. lived his entire life as a Matthyssen, but his children and grandchildren switched from Matthyssen to Van Keuren in 1716. This author found no evidence of anyone in this family, except Matthys, Sr., using the Matthyssen name after that date. Although there is no 'written' explanation of the change (or why it had an 'R' and not an 'L'), it is thought to be an attemptto re-identify with the Noble heritage of the 'Old Country'. Whatever the reason, in 1716 a new surname was born, and because of the altered spelling it wasunique to one American family. I have yet to find 1 Van Keuren (of any spelling) who was verifiably not descended from this family.
  
      As the Van Keuren clan began spreading out across the country, many families began using a more 'Americanized' variation of the name, Van Curen or Van Kuren. In terms of numbers,the Van Keurens and Van Curens were nearly equal by the 1860 census, with a much smaller group using the Van Kuren name. A later variation, Van Curon, appeared in the southern states following the Civil War.
  
      Unfortunately, many of these family lines dead-end in the early 1800s. Because of the shortcomings of early American record keeping, many families could not be 'confidently' tied tothe main genealogical line. There were many cases where a link seemed logical,based on names of children, etc, but we could not include them as the link wasnot absolutely certain. For example, I am certain that Efraim Van Curen of Indiana is a grandson of Cornellis Efraim Van Curen of Ohio, partly because of location and partly because the Efraim is virtually unique to this line. Cornellis, however, had 14 children, so, which son should Efraim belong to. I could find no records indicating who his father should be, so, he is among those leftout in the cold.
  
      A captain in 1685. He served against the French on thenorthern frontier. All his children took the surname Van Keuren.
  
  # Change Date: 13 Apr 2005 at 01:00:00
  
  Father: Matthij Jansen VanKeulen b: BEF 2 Feb 1602 in London, England
  Mother: Margriet Hendrickse b: 1618 in Amsterdam, Holland.
  
  Marriage 1 Tjatje Charity DeWitt b: 1659 in Albany, Albany, New York
  
      * Married: 1677 in Kingston, Ulster, New York 1
  
  Children
  
     1. Has Children Sara Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 16 Apr 1678 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     2. Has No Children Lea Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 11 May 1679 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
     3. Has Children Matthys Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 24 Apr 1681 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     4. Has Children Tjerck Matthysen VanKeuren b: 16 Dec 1682 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     5. Has Children Barbara Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 11 Oct 1685 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
     6. Has No Children Thomas Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 1 Nov 1684 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
     7. Has Children Thomas Matthysen VanKeuren b: BEF 13 Oct 1689 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     8. Has Children Nicholas Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 4 Dec 1687 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     9. Has Children Hasael Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 28 Jan 1691/1692 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
  10. Has Children Cornellis Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 3 Jun 1694 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
  11. Has No Children Benjamin Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 1696 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
  12. Has No Children Klaes VanKeuren b: ABT 1687 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
  13. Has No Children Gerardus Matthyssen VanKeuren b: ABT 1700 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
  
  Sources:
  
     1. Title: De Witt Family, of Ulster County, New York
        Author: Evans, Thomas G.
        Publication: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Published by the Society, New York City, NY, Vol XVII, 1886, p251-9, and

He died at the age of 82 in 1730.

Death Notes
- # ID: I32971
  # Name: Matthys Matthyssen VanKeuren
  # Surname: VanKeuren
  # Given Name: Matthys Matthyssen
  # NPFX: Captain
  # _AKA: Van Keuren
  # Sex: M
  # Birth: ABT 1648 in Fort Orange, Albany, New York
  # Death: ABT 1730 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
  # _UID: 41531221FF79D8118CA900600FB9597D5B3B
  # Note:
  
      From Van Keulen/Van Keuren/Van Kuren/Van Curen, a Family History, by D.G. Van Curen, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD 1998;
  
      VAN KEUREN
  
      Matthys Matthyssen, last of Mathuj Van Keulen's children, was born in1648 at Fort Orange (now Albany). Had patronymic tradition beenfollowed, his first name should have been Hendrick, or same variatinthereof, naming him for his maternal grandfather. His exact date ofbirth is unknown, but it is believed to be near or after his father'sdeath in October of 1648. This would certainly explain why he might havebeen named for his father, instead of his grandfather, as an act of agrieving widow.
  
      Matthys Matthyssen, Sr. lived his entire life as a Matthyssen, but hischildren and grandchildren switched from Matthyssen to Van Keuren in1716. This author found no evidence of anyone in this family, exceptMatthys, Sr., using the Matthyssen name after that date. Although thereis no 'written' explanation of the change (or why it had an 'R' and notan 'L'), it is thought to be am attempt to re-identify with the Nobleheritage of the 'Old Country'. Whatever the reason, in 1716 a newsurname was born, and because of the altered spelling it was unigue toone American family. I have yet to find 1 Van Keuren (of any spelling)who was verifiably not descended from this family.
  
      As the Van Keuren clan began spreading out across the country, manyfamilies began using a more 'Americanized' variation of the name, VanCuren or Van Kuren. In terms of numbers, the Van Keurens and Van Curenswere nearly equal by the 1860 census, with a much smaller group using theVan Kuren name. A later variation, Van Curon, appeared in the southernstates following the Civil War.
  
      Unfortunately, many of these family lines dead-end in the early 1800s.Because of the shortcomings of early American record keeping, manyfamilies could not be 'confidently' tied to the main genealogical line.There were many cases where a link seemed logical, based on names ofchildren, etc, but we could not include them as the link was notabsolutely certain. For example, I am certain that Efraim Van Curen ofIndiana is a grandson of Cornellis Efraim Van Curen of Ohio, partlybecause of location and partly because the Efraim is virtually unique tothis line. Cornellis, however, had 14 children, so, which son shouldEfraim belong to. I could find no records indicating who his fathershould be, so, he is among those left out in the cold.
  
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      A captain in 1685. He served against the French on the northern frontier.All hs children took the surname Van Keuren.
  
      Also Known As:<_AKA> Van Keuren
      Name Suffix: Captain
      From Van Keulen/Van Keuren/Van Kuren/Van Curen, a Family History, by D. G. Van Curen, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD 1998;
  
      VAN KEUREN
  
      Matthys Matthyssen, last of Mathuj Van Keulen's children, was born in 1648 at Fort Orange (now Albany). Had patronymic tradition been followed, his first name should have been Hendrick, orsame variation thereof, naming him for his maternal grandfather. His exact date of birth is unknown, but it is believed to be near or after his father's death in October of 1648. This would certainly explain why he might have been named for his father, instead of his grandfather, as an act of a grieving widow.
  
      Matthys Matthyssen, Sr. lived his entire life as a Matthyssen, but his children and grandchildren switched from Matthyssen to Van Keuren in 1716. This author found no evidence of anyone in this family, except Matthys, Sr., using the Matthyssen name after that date. Although there is no 'written' explanation of the change (or why it had an 'R' and not an 'L'), it is thought to be an attemptto re-identify with the Noble heritage of the 'Old Country'. Whatever the reason, in 1716 a new surname was born, and because of the altered spelling it wasunique to one American family. I have yet to find 1 Van Keuren (of any spelling) who was verifiably not descended from this family.
  
      As the Van Keuren clan began spreading out across the country, many families began using a more 'Americanized' variation of the name, Van Curen or Van Kuren. In terms of numbers,the Van Keurens and Van Curens were nearly equal by the 1860 census, with a much smaller group using the Van Kuren name. A later variation, Van Curon, appeared in the southern states following the Civil War.
  
      Unfortunately, many of these family lines dead-end in the early 1800s. Because of the shortcomings of early American record keeping, many families could not be 'confidently' tied tothe main genealogical line. There were many cases where a link seemed logical,based on names of children, etc, but we could not include them as the link wasnot absolutely certain. For example, I am certain that Efraim Van Curen of Indiana is a grandson of Cornellis Efraim Van Curen of Ohio, partly because of location and partly because the Efraim is virtually unique to this line. Cornellis, however, had 14 children, so, which son should Efraim belong to. I could find no records indicating who his father should be, so, he is among those leftout in the cold.
  
      A captain in 1685. He served against the French on thenorthern frontier. All his children took the surname Van Keuren.
  
  # Change Date: 13 Apr 2005 at 01:00:00
  
  Father: Matthij Jansen VanKeulen b: BEF 2 Feb 1602 in London, England
  Mother: Margriet Hendrickse b: 1618 in Amsterdam, Holland.
  
  Marriage 1 Tjatje Charity DeWitt b: 1659 in Albany, Albany, New York
  
      * Married: 1677 in Kingston, Ulster, New York 1
  
  Children
  
     1. Has Children Sara Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 16 Apr 1678 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     2. Has No Children Lea Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 11 May 1679 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
     3. Has Children Matthys Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 24 Apr 1681 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     4. Has Children Tjerck Matthysen VanKeuren b: 16 Dec 1682 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     5. Has Children Barbara Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 11 Oct 1685 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
     6. Has No Children Thomas Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 1 Nov 1684 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
     7. Has Children Thomas Matthysen VanKeuren b: BEF 13 Oct 1689 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     8. Has Children Nicholas Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 4 Dec 1687 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
     9. Has Children Hasael Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 28 Jan 1691/1692 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
  10. Has Children Cornellis Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 3 Jun 1694 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
  11. Has No Children Benjamin Matthyssen VanKeuren b: 1696 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
  12. Has No Children Klaes VanKeuren b: ABT 1687 in Hurley, Ulster, New York
  13. Has No Children Gerardus Matthyssen VanKeuren b: ABT 1700 in Kingston, Ulster, New York
  
  Sources:
  
     1. Title: De Witt Family, of Ulster County, New York
        Author: Evans, Thomas G.
        Publication: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Published by the Society, New York City, NY, Vol XVII, 1886, p251-9, and

Capt. Matthys Matthyssen (Van Keuren) & Tjatje Charity Claessen DeWitt

Children