General Notes

[Joanne's Tree.1 GED.GED]

ID: I548664097
Name: Aert Theunissen MIDDAUGH
Given Name: Aert Theunissen
Surname: Middaugh
Sex: M
Birth: 1634 in Heikop, Utrecht, Netherlands
Death: Abt 1687 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA
Change Date: 15 Jan 2004
Note: Received a patent for 100 acres of land on Wallabout Bay, Long Island, now in the Borough of Brooklyn on October 24, 1654.
Visited Holland & returned again to New Netherland in May 1661.

Father: Teunis MIDDAUGH b: Abt 1610 in Heicop, Holland
Mother: Anna Gijsbert WOUTERS

Marriage 1 Breechie Hansen BERGEN b: 27 Jul 1642 in Brooklyn, New York, USA
Married: 1659 in Brooklyn, New York, USA

Children:
1.    Ann Aertze MIDDAUGH b: 1660
2.    Theunis MIDDAUGH b: 22 Feb 1659/60 in New Amsterdam, NY
3.    Jan Aertse MIDDAUGH b: 24 Dec 1662 in Brooklyn, NY, USA
4.    Gerritt Aertze MIDDAUGH b: 1664
5.    Helena Aertze MIDDAUGH b: 1666
6.    Birck Aertze MIDDAUGH b: 1668
7.    Aert Aertsen MIDDAUGH b: 1669
8.    Anna Aertsen MIDDAUGH b: 1670
9.    Lysbeth Aertze MIDDAUGH b: 1671
10.  Dirck Aertze MIDDAGH b: 3 Mar 1671/72
11.  Joris Aertse MIDDAUGH b: 1674 in Brooklin, Kings, New York, USA
12.  Willem Aertsen MIDDAGH b: 1675 in Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY, USA
13.  Sarah MIDDAUGH b: Abt 1678
14.  Matthew Aertsen MIDDAGH b: 15 Oct 1679
15.  David MIDDAUGH b: Abt 1681 in Brooklyn, NY, USA
16.  William MIDDAUGH b: Abt 1681

[Mackendrick.GED]
Religion: Reformed Dutch
Aert was possibly the orphaned son of Gysbert Theunise Bogaert and Aertje Bastiaens, raised by  Gysbert's sister Neeltje and her husband Gysbert Middagh, which would explain use of Middagh as surname. Although shown on passenger list in 1661 on ship Der Bever, he is believed to have first come to America ca. 1652.  poss. in company of Theunise Gysbert Bogaert, who was possibly his uncle (many believe he was Aert's father). Aert was a neighbor of Theunise Bogaert, who eventually married the widowed Sarah DeRapalie.  Aert md. Sarah's oldest daughter Breckje.
Captain of the Brooklyn Militia.
Occupation: Prob. trader or merchant, as he made many trips back and forth to Holland.
Middagh means midday in both Dutch and Norwegian.

From: The Descendants of Anthonis Gherits Middach 1480-1997, compiled by Jack Middaugh on Jan. 15, 1998.

Cameron Allen in his treatise on the parentage of Aert in VoI. 36 of The American Genealogist, thought he was born somewhat earlier than 1640. Mr. Allen's opinion is supported by articles in the Gens Nostra. In the December 1979 issue of the publication, Aert is reported to have sailed for New Netherland on the ship Beaver in 1652 accompanied by Theunis Gijsbertsz BOGAERT. Both Aert and Theunis are listed as bachelors implying they were at least 21 years old. In addition, Aert is reported to be five years older than Theunis. In John Albert Bogart's book on the Bogart family on page 34 he states Tunis (Theunis) was born in 1625 in Heykoop, Holland. Therefore Aert appears to have been born in the early 1620s. Because of the uncertainty of his actual year of birth, in this compilation he is shown as having been born prior to 1625. Aert died about 1687 in NY.

Aert's second or middle name, Theuniszen, is also seen in the records as Anthonize. Theuniszen, which when Anglicized is Tony, is a diminutative form of Anthonize or Anthony. Both Theuniszen and Anthonize appear in the early records. However, Theuniszen appears to be used more frequently than Anthonize and is used exclusively in this compilation to avoid possible confusion.

According to Catherine Deming (Page #324 ofher book "Grandmas & Grandpas of Yesteryear"), and many others who have researched the MIDDAGH surname, Aert Theuniszen MIDDAGH was the original "immigrant" from whom all MIDDAG -MIDDAGH -MIDDAUGH -MEDDAUGHs in the USA (and Canada) descend. While ---was the "original" MIDDAGH settler, the contention that all of the MIDDAGHs (whatever spelling is used) ( -- from him, is open to debate. For a discussion of this please refer to the INTRODUCTION of this book.

Aert first emigrated to the colonies in 1652. (See pages 337-342 of the December, 1979 issue of Gens Nostra.) Early Dutch records show that he owned land in Flatbush and was a resident of New Amsterdam in 1655. In 1657 he was assessed for Dominie Polhemius' salary. In 1659 he married Breckje (or Brechtje) BERGEN and on 31111660 he, and others, petitioned to form the village of Brooklyn. In the records of the Breucklen (Brooklyn) DRC found in LDS microfilm # 1016558, Aert was accepted into the church 41911664 on a transfer from a church in Heykoop, Holland. His witnesses were: Teunis Gysbertse BOGAERT and Janisse JORIS. He is recorded as a member of the church in 1685 and there is a record (LDS microfilm # 00 17663, page 51) of an Aard Anthonisz MIDDAG being accepted into the Breucklen Dutch Church by certificate from Heykoop on 21 Sep 1683. Unless there is a second Aert Theuniszen (or Aard Anthonisz), and there are no indications this is so, he and Breckje probably transferred their membership to the Heicop Church when he returned to Holland with his family in 1671. Then, when he returned to New York in 1683 with his children, he again joined the Brooklyn Church.
After his marriage to Breckje in 1659 Aert returned to Holland. On this trip he appears to have sailed without his family. However, John Albert Bogart in his book "The Bogart Family" indicates his family sailed with him. Court records of Heicop, Holland confirms his return to Holland in 1660. The records show that on 29 November 1660 he acted as procurator for Theunis Gijsbertszn BOGAERT in the auction of 825 "schaft" (about two acres) in Heicop. He appears later in the records with the subsequent sale of this land to Abraham Gijsbertszn BOGAERT. He returned to New Amsterdam arriving on 51911661 aboard the ship "Beaver".

In 1671 Aert again returned to Holland. He appears in the Dutch court records on 12/11/1671 with his brothers; Gijsbert Tonisz and Cornelis, and his brothers-in-Iaw; Schrevel Jacobsz COSIJNS, Jacob Claesen V AN ROODEN !}Pd Leendert V AN DUYN settling the estate ofhis father. (See Hei-en Boeicop archives #614.) On this trip he
.his family and remained in Holland until 1683, living in the Hei-en Boeicop area. During this period in Holland, he and Breckje had at least one more child, a son, Joris. Also during this stay his wife, Breckje, and one of his sons, Theunis (the one baptized 25 March 1661 ), died. Both Breckje and Theunis were buried in the Heicop Church burial grounds. In March of 1683 he returned with his children Jan, Gerrit, Dirck, Joris and Annetje to New Amsterdam (now New York) where he remained for the rest of his life.

Aert and Breckje have been reported to have had other children than those listed in this compilation. Specifically, Mathew, Willem, Helena and Lysbeth. Since Breckje died prior to 1675 and the accepted birth dates for Matthew and Willem are after 1674, neither Matthew or Willem could have been sons of Aert and Breckje. Also, there is no evidence to suggest they may have been the sons of Aert and a second spouse. It also is probable the other "accepted" children of Aert and Breckje, Helena Aertsen and Lysbeh Aertsen, are in fact children of parents other than Aert and Breckje. Supporting this position is the fact that when Aert returned to New York in 1683 neither were listed among the children returning with him. Also the "biological window" when Breckje could have had these children is very narrow. Finally, no record has been found of the baptism or birth of any of the four while there is evidence of the births of all of Aert's and Breckje's other children.

He married Breckje Hansen BERGEN about 1659 in New Amsterdam, NY. She was born before 27 Jul 1642 in New Amsterdam, NY, and was christened 27 Jul 1642 in New Amsterdam DRC. Witnesses of Breckje's baptism (reported in the records of the New Amsterdam DRC on 7/27/1642) were: Jan Montfoort and Sarah Planck. However it should be noted that she is shown as the d/o Hans Hanszen de NOORMAN not BERGEN. In other records of the Breucklen DRC (see LDSMF # 10 16558) it is stated Breckjen BERGEN was accepted into the church 4/2/1662 on confession of faith. The witnesses to this ceremony were: Teunis Gysbertsen and Jan Jorissen. Breckje died about 1672 in Heicop, Holland.

As pointed out above, Breckje was the d/o Han Hansen BERGEN (or de NOORMAN) who was the son of Hans , the BOORE from Bergen, Norway. Her mother was Sarah Jorissey RAPALJE, born 6 Jun 1625 in Fort Orange, NY, who was the d/o Joris Janssen RAPALJE and Catalyntje TRICO. Catalyntje's parents were Jeronimus TRICO (or TRICAUL T) and Michele SAUV AGIE.

While it is not known with any certainty which year Breckje died (it most likely was in 1672 but could have been anytime between 1671 and 1674), Dutch records show that between 1671 and 1674. Aert purchased and paid to have more than one grave opened at the Heicop church and there is a notation that one of the grave openings was for his wife. The Municipal Archive Record #741 of Hei-en Boeicop, Holland, states Aert paid 2 guilders, 2 stuiver to have a grave for his wife (Breckje) opened.

There has been some confusion about Breckje/Breckjen and whether she is one or two persons. As indicated in the notes attached to her christening records she was baptized in 1642 and subsequently, in 1662, joined the Brooklyn DRC by "confession of faith". This could be interpreted as being proof that Breckje and Breckjen are two people and would explain the later acceptance into the Breucklen DRC on confession of faith rather than as a transfer from the New Amsterdam church. Adding to the confusion, her father's surname is given as NOORMAN when she was baptized and her surname is given as BERGEN when she joins by "confession".

It is very unlikely there were two Brechjen/Breckje's and this compilation is based on the assumption of a single Breckje/Brechjen. The surname inconsistency is not unusual. The father's surname could be either BERGEN or NOORMAN, or both. Surnames were not well established at the time and the Dutch could, and did, refer to individuals using a surname indicating his place of origin. Hence Hans Hansen could be either Hans Hansen NOORMAN (i.e. from Norway), or Hans Hansen BERGEN (i.e. from Bergen, Norway) and the records would be consistent with the Dutch practices of the time.

In regards to Breckje's joining the church by "confession of faith', it was common practice for a girl/woman to become an "official member" of a Dutch Reformed Church by "confession of faith" either shortly before or after her marriage. This was particularly true if her spouse was someone of importance in the church.