(This manuscript is a revision in September 2001 of a documentation of Paulus van der Grift that was compiled originally by John Howard in 1995. It has been modified to incorporate improved data and also the numbering system used for individual identification in the so-called “Tennessee Tree” compiled by Betty Allen and posted on the Internet. A parenthetical # , followed by a number, indicates the number of that individual on the Tennessee Tree. For example, Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift (#8) indicates Paulus Leendertsz van der Grift christened 20 Oct 1613. Furthermore, unless an actual birthdate is known, the date given as birthdate is the date baptized.)

 

The earliest van der Grifts

Teunis Bergen, who wrote many biographical and genealogical sketches of the Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam, states that the vander Grifts probably came originally from near the village of Buren in the province of Gelderland, and are named for a small local river, the Grift River. (Buren is about five miles southeast of Utrecht.) Others speculate that Grift may be a corruption of Gracht or Graght, meaning ditch or canal. In New Amsterdam in the 1680s there was a family including a Pieter Adolphszen van der Groeft, also spelled van der Griff, but this family apparently shortened their name to De Groot. Van der Grift appears also as van de Grift, van die Grift, van der Griff, and van der Grist.

The earliest van der Grift shown on the Tennessee Tree is Anthonius van der Grift (#1), (or Anton or Anthony; this name is simply inferred from the patronymic of his son.) He was probably born around 1538. His son Evert (or Evvard) Antoniz was born about 1558.

Second Generation

(#2.) Evert Anthoniusz van der Grift was born about 1558 in Charlois, South Holland. He was a tailor. Records of the archives of Amsterdam indicate that he and his three sons Leendert, Jan, and Abraham gave their citizens oath on 26 October 1612.

Evert Anthoniusz van der Grift and his wife Elstje Wijllems Tijssen had the following children:

+(#3) i Leendert Evertz (a + sign indicates more data under that number below.)

(#4) ii Jan Evertz vandergrift was b about 1590 in Charlois, South Holland.

(#5) iii Giertje Evertsd was bp 12 Oct 1599 in Amsterdam.

(#5a) iv Abraham

Third Generation

(#3.)Leendert Evertz Vandergrift was born about 1587 in Charlois, South Holland. He married 27 Jun 1609 in Aachen, Nordrhein –Westfalien, Prussia, Maritje Pouwelsd, who was b about 1585 in Aachen. The family lived in Amsterdam, where their children were baptized in both the Old and the New Churches. Leendert Evertsz died before 1657, as his wife was stated to be a widow that year. (One can infer that the father of Maritje was named Paul or Pouwel, born about 1565.) Leendert and Maritje had 7 children, all born in Amsterdam.

(#6) i Grietjen Leendertsd, bapt. 13 Jun 1610

(#7) ii Johannes (Jan) Leendertsz, bapt. 8 Apr 1612

+(#8) iii Paulus Leendertsen, bapt. 20 Oct 1613, married Jannetie Gerritse, 13 Feb 1641, had 5 children baptized in New Amsterdam, and apparently two others born earlier in Amsterdam.

(#9) iv Evert Leendertsz, bapt. 10 Apr 1615

(#10) v Pieter Leendertsz, bapt. 25 Aug 1619

+(#11) vi Jacob Leendertsen, bapt 23 Oct 1622, married Rebecca Fredrickse, 19 Jul 1648, had 8 children.

(#12) vii Maten, bapt. 17 Aug 1627.

 

Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift (#8.)

Paulus entered the employ of the West India Company as a sailor, and by 1643 was already captain of the ship Neptune in Curacao. By 1644 he owned property in New Amsterdam. His brother Jacob, 9 years younger, also appears to have settled in New Asterdam by 1644, and married there in 1648. Paulus’ brother Pieter was perhaps also in the employ of the West India Company, and also in New Amsterdam, as on 27 Aug 1648 he applied for money due him from the W.I.Company, and on 27 Aug 1649 signed a note for 107 guilder.

An Index to the Documentation on Paulus Leendertsen Van der Grift

We know very little about the family of Paulus Leendertsen. In a statement that he gave on 31 Oct 1657 (to Notary H. Schaeff, Amsterdam) he stated that he was a vry koopman (a free merchant), and that his mother was Marritgen Paulus, the widow of Leendert Evertsz van der Grift. From Amsterdam records we find that Paulus’ father Leendert Evertsz was born about 1587 in Charlois, South Holland. Paulus’ mother, Maritje Pouwelsd was born about 1585 in Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfn, Prussia. Leendert and Maritje were married in Aachen 27 Jun 1609. They had 7 children, the third being Paulus Leendertsen, born 20 Oct 1613. Paulus married Jannetie Gerritsd on 13 Feb 1641. He and his brother Jacob Leendertsen arrived in New Amsterdam around 1644. At that time both he and his brother were employed by the West India Company, his brother as a seaman on the ship Zwol, and he as the skipper of the ship Neptune. From the fact that Paulus was a captain, and seemed to be on excellent terms with the new Director Peter Stuyvesant (they had both captained ships at Curacao prior to coming to New Amsterdam) we can assume that Paulus was the older brother, and probably about the same age as Stuyvesant.

On 25 May 1643 Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift was appointed in Curacao to command the ship “Neptune” of the West India Company. (Curacao papers of West India Company ) (O)

On 19 Jul 1644 Paulus Leendertsen was granted a lot in New Amsterdam

 

On Christmas day 1646 a fleet of four ships sailed from Texel, the seaport of Amsterdam, for New Netherland, carrying the new Director-General, Peter Stuyvesant, and his new vice-director, schout-fiscal, and commisary. The ships were the Great Gerrit, the Princess, the Zwol, and the Raet, with Stuyvesant and his wife Judith passengers on the Groote Gerrit (the Great Crow). Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift was captain of the Great Gerrit. They sailed first to Curacao, and did not arrive in New Amsterdam until 11 May 1647.

Petrus Stuyvesant reorganized the Council that helped him run the affairs of the city and Province. Willem Kieft, the outgoing director, retained a seat until he departed for Holland in August. Stuyvesant also retained Dr. Johannes La Montagne, and he designated Cornelis van Tienhoven as Provincial Secretary. He invited the captains of West India Company ships to join the council when their ships were in port, and the first of these were Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, who had been captain of the Great Gerrit, Jesmer Thomassen, who took over as captain of the Great Gerrit (and departed for the West Indies 28 Jun), and Jan Claessen Bol, the captain of the Princess. Paulus Leendertsen remained in New Amsterdam as a trader and merchant.

On 14 May 1647 Paulus Leendertsen was granted a lot in New Amsterdam (presumably his residence on the west side of Broadway).

On 27 May 1647 Paulus Leendertsen was appointed to be Superintendant of Naval Equipments for New Netherland. (O) (Same date) Ordered to fit out three ships against the Spaniards.

On 19 Jun 1647. Paulus Leendertsen made a Declaration (a sort of official memorandum for the record) that in 1645 he had been obliged by stress of weather in a voyage from Curacao to put in to Ireland with his ship the Neptune and to sell there his cargo of tobacco belonging to Frans Bruyn and John Porter, consigned to Amsterdam. He submitted an invoice for the same. (O)

On 22 Jul 1647 Vice Director Lubbertus van Dincklage, Council Secretary Tienhoven and Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift were appointed by Governor Stuyvesant to be city surveyors (Roy Masters) for New Amsterdam

On 28 Sep 1647 Paulus Leendertsen was appointed to a panel to examine Michel Picquet on a charge that he had threatened to shoot Director Stuyvesant. This became an involved incident and we will discuss it separately. (Mr. Picquot was sentenced to the work house in Amsterdam.)

In two of the best known sketches of the boat dock and shore line of New Amsterdam, by Visscher and somewhat later by Justus Danckers, there are three prominant buildings on the street called ‘t Water. They were all erected between the years 1647 and 1651, though the sites of one or two of them may have been occupied by earlier and smaller buildings. The westernmost of the three houses was in 1655 the property of Captain Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, an old resident of New Amsterdam, who with his brother Jacob is supposed to have come over from Amsterdam to New Netherland a number of years before the date mentioned. Captain van der Grift was in the service of the West India Company as early as 1643, in which year, at the island of Curacao, he was appointed to the command of the ship “Neptune”. Captain van der Grift appears to have been in considerable favor with Director-General Stuyvesant, who, in 1647, at the beginning of his administration, appointed van der Grift to be Superintendant of Naval Equipments at New Amsterdam, and one of the City Surveyors. He likewise gave van der Grift a seat in the first administrative council under his regime. The Captain, however, did not allow his sense of justice to be overbalanced by Stuyvesant’s favors, and in 1656, being appointed arbitrator with Captain Thomas Willet to dispose of a claim made against the Director-General by one Richard Lord, a merchant of Hartford, for damages for the non-performance of a trading contract, he joined Captain Willer in reporting in favor of a judgement against Stuyvesant for 200 pounds sterling.

As early as 1644 Captain van der Grift is said to have been in possession of the lot upon ‘t Water on which his warehouse was afterwards erected, but he only received his formal grant of the land on 19 Jul 1649, at which date there is reason to believe that the building was completed. There can be little doubt that this is the building that is referred to in the historic “Vertoogh”, or “Remonstrance” presented to the States-General by Adriaen van der Donck and others, to call attention the the abuses prevailing in the Colony of New Netherland, which document bears the date 28 Jul 1649: “Paulus Lenaertse hath but trifling wages, and yet has built a better dwelling-house here than any other person. How this is done is too deep for us, for though the Director is aware of these things, he nevertheless observes silence when Paulus Lenaertse begins to get excited, which he would not suffer from any other person, and this gives rise to unfavorable surmises.” As a man of whom Stuyvesant stood in awe, the choleric Captain must have commanded a high degree of respect in the town.

Of the nature of the business carried on at Captain van der Grift’s warehouse we do not have much information. It was, however, for a considerable period the principal shipping office of New Amsterdam at which intelligence was to be had, and arrangements were to be made for freight and passage when vessels were “up for the Netherlands”. As the Captain kept up an active life, occasionally himself making voyages,-- in 1654 he was commissioned as commander of the ship “Dolphin” for a voyage to the West Indies,-- his business at the water-side must have been conducted by his agents, but who these were we do not know. If Captain van der Grift ever actually resided in this house it was probably for no long period, for at an early date he built a residence upon the North River, west of Broadway, where, in the indian attack of 1655, he is said to have been severely wounded by a blow from an axe, at the hands of one of the savages.

After the surrender to the English in 1664, Captain van der Grift was one of the irreconcilables, and in or about the year 1671 he closed out his interests in New York, by the sale of his real estate to various parties, and returned to the Netherlands. His storehouse on ‘t Water, above referred to, occupied the site of the present building , No.31 Pearl Street.

Valentine, in his History of New York, has a brief description of the Broadway house of Paulus Leendertsen Vandiegrist, who had a fine house and garden, being the next habitation north of the church-yard, and about midway between Morris and Rector streets, on the west side of Broadway, his property extending, in the rear, to the river shore. Mr. Vandegrist was one of the early pioneers; he was a prominent trader and a man of wealth; he was likewise an efficient military commander, being captain of one of the city companies, and doing service in several military and naval expeditions. He also filled prominant positions in the councils of the city and the province. His place of business was on Pearl street near Broad. After the capitulation of the city to the English, Captain Vandiegrist commenced preparations for removing to Holland. In 1671 his agents here sold the property on Broadway to Francis Rombouts, an eminent merchant, who became mayor of the city in after years. It was then described as a house, garden, and orchard on the west side of Broadway, between John Hawkings and Hendrick van Dyke. (The house of Mr. Hawkings, which had then been recently built, was erected on a lot sixteen feet front, part of which had been within the old church-yard. It was afterwards owned and occupied by Mr. West, the city clerk.) The widow of Mayor Rombouts resided on the Vandiegrist place more than thirty years subsequent to the purchase by her husband. Mr. Vandiegrist had a brother in this city, who continued his residence here, and left descendants.

On 10 Oct 1647 the Council agreed with Director Stuyvesant’s proposal to seize the ship San Beningo presently lying in the harbor at New Haven. (This item is written up separately.)

On 20 Apr 1648 the Council approved an order to send the ship Swol (the “New Swol”, formerly the “San Beninjo”, the ship seized at New Haven) with provisions to Curacao.

On 3 May 1648 Director Stuyvesant lodged a Protest against Mr. Van Dincklage, for refusing to bear testimony in regard to what occurred in Council between the Fiscal, Commissary Keyser, and Mr. Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift. (O)

27 Aug 1648 Power Of Attorney Peter (Paulus?) Leendertsen to Gilles Verbrugge to receive money due him by the West India Company at Amsterdam.

On 1 Sep 1648, Paulus Leendertsen (and others), guardians of Gysbert Gerritsen, son of Gerrit Gysbertsen, gave a Power of Attorney to Hans Bartelsen, to receive a legacy in Holland. (O)

On 5 Mar 1649 Director Stuyvesant appointed Paulus Leendertsen and Adriaen d’Keyser as commisioners to investigate charges against Adrian van der Donck.

On 16 Mar 1649 Paulus Leendertsen (and several others on the Council) was summoned by the West India Company to appear in Amsterdam to answer charges brought by Cornelis Melyn that Melyn had been unfairly treated by Stuyvesabt and the Council. Paulus replied “that he will appear or send an attorney provided Cornelis Melyn give security here in this place, for the costs which will accrue thereon.”

27 Apr 1649. Note. Peter (Paulus?) Leendertsen to Gilles Pietersen for 107 guilder.

On 25 Jul 1649 the Council announced its sentence on Cornelis Melyn. He is banished for 7 years, all grants revoked (He owned most of Staten Island.), plus a fine of 300 carolus guilders (1/3 for the poor, 1/3 for the fiscal, and 1/3 for the church). Those voting for this sentence were Peter Stuyvesant, Lubbertus van Dincklage, Brian Newton, Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, and Jan Claessen Bol.

On 27 Jan 1650 Adrian van der Donck, aided by Jacob van Couwenhoven and Jan Evertsen Bout, wrote an extremely critical account of the failures of the West India Company and its Director-Generals of New Amsterdam, with particular bitterness directed at Willem Kieft, but also aimed at autocratic rule by Peter Stuyvesant and his entire administration. The account, called a Remonstrance, was written to be sent to the States-General, although Stuyvesant learned that this complaint was in the works, and attempted to arrest van der Donck. Nevertheless, a copy did get sent to the States-General, and these authorities demanded that both the West India Company and Stuyvesant reply to the criticism. The essay was called “A Short Digest of the Excesses and Highly Injurious Neglect”

The West India Company, in its response to the above Renonstrance, said “We are not aware that the Director esteems Jelmer Tomassen and Paulus Leendertsen to be thieves. Jelmer Tomassen is at present in thiss country (Holland) and, if need be he will willingly answer the petitioners.”

On 15 Jun 1651 Paulus Leendertsen posted bond for Jan Pietersen Wal. (O)

On 19 Jun 1651 Paulus Leendertsen posted bond for Johannes Pietersen Verbrugge. (O)

On 30 Jan 1652 the Director announced the appointment of Jochem Pietersen Kuyter; Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, and Peter Cornelisen to be members of the Board of Nine Men. (O)

On 28 Mar 1652 Director Stuyvesant introduced a Resolution befor the Council dismissing Hendrick van Dyck as Schout-fiscal. Van Dyck had originally been appointed to this position by the Directors of the West India Company, but he had never gotten along with Peter Stuyvesant, who often forbid him to attend city meetings. But this time Stuyvesant prevailed, and van Dyck retired to private life. Paulus Leendertsen was present and voted at this meeting. (Hendrick van Dyck was also the next-door neighbor of Paulus on Broadway.) Van Dyck died in 1688, leaving his wife, whose maiden name was Duvertie Cornelissen, and several children living. One of his daughters married Nicholas de Myer, a merchant who subsequently was mayor of the city.

On 30 Sep 1652 Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift and Allert Anthony functioned as assignees of Augustine Hermans in a complicated court case involving Anna Verlett. The case reappeared in Council in October and November 1652.

On 2 Feb 1653 Paulus Leendertsen was appointed a Schepen (magistrate-alderman) of New Amsterdam. On 10 Feb 1653 he was chosen orphan master. On 14 Mar 1653 he was designated a delegate to the New England colonies regarding fortifications. On 11 Sep he represented city in general assembly. On 24 Nov he was a deputy to an assembly called to stop incursions of the pirate Thomas Baxter.

. On 10 Dec 1653 a “Convention of the Communality was holden to represent the state of the country to the authorities in Holland” This consisted of 20 delegates, (5 from New Amsterdam, the others 1 or 2 per village). Paulus Leendertsen was a delegate from the city, and Frederick Lubbertsen was a delegate from Breukelen. The delegates sent a petition to Director Stuyvesant. This was signed by 19 delegates, including Arent van Hattem, Paulus Leendertsen, Martin Cregier, and Frederick Lubbertsen.

On 30 Dec 1653 four of the participants in the foregoing Convention sent a petition to the burgomasters of New Amsterdam, saying “Please beg the West India Company to improve the defences of New Amsterdam.” The petition was signed by Captain Martin Krigier, Paulus Leendertsen, George Baxter, and Fredrick Lubbertsen.

On 13 Mar 1653 the City Council approved a list of 42 of the wealthier citizens who should be assessed a special levy for the purpose of putting the city in a state of defense. Eight were to pay fl200 each, 29 would pay fl100 and five would pay fl50. (This would raise nearly 5000 guilders.) The eight richest were all merchants or brewers or tavern-keepers, the five smallest were mostly elderly- such as Jan Vigne, the first person born in New Netherland. The others were shop-keepers, administrators, ship captains or wealthier farmers. Werckhoven, Steenwyck, Johannes van Beeck, Johannes Verbrugge, Jacob Schellinck, Antony van Hardenbergh, Gulyan Wys, and Evert Commisen were the rich ones; Paulus Leendertsen was in the middle category.

On 28 Mar 1653 Paulus Leendertsen was appointed to a commission to oblige the Colonie of Renssaelaerwyck to publish a certain ordinance of the Director and Council of New Netherland and to enforce the execution thereof.

On 4 Apr 1654 he was appointed to a commission to compare account of expenditures on public works.

On 11 May 1654 Paulus Leendertsen was granted a lot in New Amsterdam.

In 1654 Paulus Leendertsen was re-appointed a Schepen (magistrate) in New Amsterdam.

On 16 Jul 1654 Paulus Leendertsen and eight others were appointed to a commission to superintend the fortifying of New Amsterdam.

On 3 Sep 1654 Paulus Leendertsen and Olof Stevensen van Cortland were appointed commissioners to settle the boundary line of the town of Gravesend.

On 2 Nov 1654 he and van Cortlandt appointed to contract for repairs of the “Waal” (Wall).

On 26 Nov 1654 the Director and Council approved an agreement between Paulus van der Grift, Schutt, Anthony, Loockermans and Steenwyck, partners, for charter of the ship “Golden Shark” for a voyage to the West Indies. (O)

On 17 Dec 1654 Paulus Leendertsen appointed captain in the burgher company.

On 22 Dec 1654 the Director issued a Commission for Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift to command the ship “Dolphin” for a voyage to the West Indies. This was part of a three-ship convoy taking Stuyvesant to the West Indies (as Stuyvesant was also governor of the Dutch West Indies, in addition to being Director-General of New Netherland). Stuyvesant himself captained the Pereboom (Pear tree), Pieter Lucassen was captain of Abrams Offrande (Abraham’s Offering), and van der Grift the Dolfyn. They left New Amsterdam on Christmas Eve, 1654.(O)

Valentine’s History of N.Y. contains an Appendix of the 1655 tax assessments to defray the debt for constructing the city’s defences, (converted to US dollars): Petrus Stuyvesant,$60, Paulus Leendertsen, $24, Jacob Leendertsen,$40.

On 7 Jun 1655 his wife was fined for not repairing common fencing.

In September 1655 occured the Peach War, in which Paulus Leendertsen was wounded in the leg by a tomahawk. (See separate account of this war.)

The increasing duties of the two burgomasters in the growing city led them to ask for a release from the care of orphans, and on 25 Feb 1656 Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift and Pieter Wolphertsen van Couwenhoven were chosen as the first orphan-masters of the newly created court of that name, to administer the property of “orphans and minor children” who were resident within the jurisdiction of the city. This was the first independant exercise of surrogates’ practice in the city. (Berthold Fernow, the State Historian of New York has published the Minutes of the Orphanmasters’ Court, 1655-1663, translated from Dutch, and this volume is available in many large libraries.)

On 25 Aug 1656 Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift and Thomas Willet were appointed arbitrators on a claim by Richard Lord of Hartford against Director Stuyvesant, for 200 English pounds damages for non-performance of a contract. (O)

In 1657 Paulus Leendertsen was appointed Burgomaster of New Amsterdam. He was re-appointed to this position in 1658.

On 8 Mar 1657 the two burgomasters resolved to “meet once a week for the future in the City Hall” on Thursday mornings, at nine o’clock, to confer with respect to the business of the city. The burgomasters who introduced these administrative sessions were Allard Anthony and Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, and administrative minutes of business sessions were kept separately from that time forward. The reasons which impelled them to this action were the daily occurrence of “divers matters” which concerned only the burgomasters; such as the repairs and construction of necessary works; finances, how to find means; and order, that everything proceed in order; also, should anyone have to request or propose any thing relative to the City, to direct it for the public good. On Dec 15th a fire ordinance was enacted by the provincial government. Because there was a scarcity of convenient stone, “many wooden houses’ had been built in the city, with houses too close together, and constantly exposed to the danger of a conflagration. The ordinance assessed a modest tax on each householder to provide a fund for the purchase of “150 leather Fire-buckets...and firehooks. A contract for the fire buckets was made in August 1658 with two of the shoemakers of the city, and then the buckets were distributed; fifty at the city hall, and the rest in lots of a dozen or less in various houses.

On 25 May 1657 vice director Alrichs reported to Commissioners of Colonie on Delaware. They built a hut, covered with sails taken from the “Prins Maurits”, which I had valued by Paulus Leendertsen, Burgomaster of New Amsterdam, and by Claes Willemsz, skipper of “Beer”, at about 346 guilder.

11 Jun 1657. Action in Court at Fort Orange. Andries de Vos vs. Paulus Leendertsen for payment of boards sold him at the Manhattans. Defendant pleads that he purchased them for the city of New Amsterdam and protests against being sued by the court at Fort Orange in violation of privelege of great burgher right, granted to said city. Judgement for plaintiff, defendant appeals.

On 4 Sept 1657 the authorities examined Jan Gallardo Ferrare, a Spaniard, in the presence of Paulus Leendertsen, Burgomaster. Gallardo wanted to be paid for delivering here some negros, (and perhaps his ship had been seized), but he spoke no Dutch and no one available spoke Spanish. Some very poor communication was done in French.)

On 28 Feb 1658 Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift and Olof Stevensen Cortlant were both present in City Hall. They received a petition that Jacob van Curler be approved to teach school. Although they were disposed to approve this, the petition was summarily rejected by Director Stuyvesant, on the ground that van Curler had attempted to teach even before applying for permission. (Corwin)

On 28 May 1658 the Council issued an order allowing Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift time to advise Charles Gabry of certain law proceedings. (Gabry and Company was one of Amsterdam’s largest commercial concerns, and their representative in New Amsterdam was the Bohemian, Augustine Heerman. About this time Heerman was off , busily mapping the shores of Chesapeake Bay on a commission for Lord Baltimore of the Northern Virginia colony. While he was away he designated Paulus Leendertsen as his representative.)

On 13 Jun 1658 the court messenger to get plans of lots from Paulus Leendertsen.

On 19 Dec 1658 the Council was asked their opinions on the appeal of Anthony Claesen Moore vs. Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift. A judgement was reached.

In 1659 Paulus Leendertsen was again appointed judge of the Orphanmaster Court for New Amsterdam. This appointment was renewed in 1660. ) On 27 Jun 1659 Paulus as city treasurer is to receive proceeds of weigh-scales due city.

On 9 Dec 1659 Paulus Leendertsen was appointed curator of the estate of Isaac Allerton. (Allerton had arrived in New England as a pilgrim on the Mayflower, but had fallen out with the Plymouth colony and came to New Amsterdam. His daughter Mary, who had arrived on the Mayflower as an infant, was still alive in 1698 and was the last to die of the original Mayflower pilgrims.)

On 22 Dec 1659 the ship De Trouw (the Faith) arrived in New Amsterdam from Holland. One passenger was Aeltien Jacobsz, a maiden, residing at the home of Paulus Leendertsz. She is probably coming to work as a servant.

On 24 Dec 1659 Paulus Leendertsen delivered the treasury papers of the city to O.S. van Cortlandt.

On 1 Mar 1660 Director Stuyvesant appointed a Commission of Willem Beeckman, Alexander d’Hinoyossa, Paulus van der Grift, Gerrit van Sweringen, Jacobus Backer, and John Crato, to try and punish certain persons accused of murdering an Indian on the South River (Delaware River). (O)

On 15 Apr 1660 the ship De Bonte Koe (Spotted Cow) arrived in New Amsterdam from Holland. One passenger is Annetie Harmens, a maiden, who resides at the home of Paulus Leendertsz van der Grift. She is probably coming to work as a servant.

On 3 Jun 1660 bond was posted for Paulus van der Grift to administer the estate of Jacob Alrichs.

On 29 Jun 1660 an advertisement was posted that the ship “Oak Tree” was soon leaving for Amsterdam. Anyone with business for freight or passage should advise skipper or Burgomaster Paulus van der Grift. (O)

In 1661 Paulus Leendertsen was again appointed Burgomaster of New Amsterdam. He was re-appointed in 1662, 1663 and 1664. At Council meetings he was the presiding officer.

On 16 Feb 1662 the Court issued a judgement for the plaintiff in Johannes de Wit vs. Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift in an action for debt. (O)

On 16 Feb 1662 Director Stuyvesant gave a grant to Allard Anthony and Paulus van der Grift of a tract of land (called Noordwyck) in Manhattan formerly owned by Jan Cornelissen of Rotterdam. (O)

On 14 Mar 1662 Paulus Leendertsen and Allard Anthony were granted 58 morgens of land in the settlement called Noordwyck.

On 3 Feb 1663 Paulus Leendertsen received his warrent as Treasurer of New Amsterdam.

On 21 Feb 1663 Paulus Leendertsen and Allard Anthony, co-patroons of the new settlement of Noortwyck, on the North River, to act as guardians of the orphan child of Theunis Bastiaen of that place, farmer, deceased.

On 25 Apr 1663 Allard Anthony and Paulus Leendertsen were granted 25 morgens of land in the settlement called Noordwyck.

In mid Jun 1663 the authorities counted up how much gunpowder was on hand in the Province. The total inventory was about 1300 pounds, some at Fort Orange (Albany), some on the Delaware, but most of it in New Amsterdam. This was needed in the Fort for defense, by remote settlers for hunting and self protection, and for occasionally firing cannon to salute incoming or outgoing ships. (Every salute used up about 5 pounds of powder.) There were 25 lbs at Stuyvesant’s bouwerie. Paulus Leendertsen vande Griefft had 5 lbs.

On 6 Jul 1663 Paulus Leendertsen was a delegate to a “Convention of the Communality holden at New Amsterdam to engage the several Dutch towns to keep up an armed force for public protection.” and to discuss increasing difficulties with the five English towns on Long Island. There were 20 delegates. One of the delegates from Breukelen was Frederick Lubbertsen.

On 16 Aug 1663 Paulus van der Grift and Nicholas Varleth were appointed to examine the books and accounts of the estate of Cornelis van Tienhoven. (O)

On 3 Nov 1663 a Landts Vergadering (meeting of magistrates) was held in New Amsterdam. The attendees included Burgomaster Paulus Leendertsen, Frederick Lubbertsen from Breukelen, and 10 others.

On 21 Feb 1664 Paulus van der Grift and Allard Anthony were named co-patroons of Noortwyck. On that same date he was appointed guardian of an orphan at Noortwyck.

On 15 May 1664 Paulus Leendertsen witnessed the signing of the treaty of peace between sachems of tribes and the Dutch.

On 29 Aug 1664 Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift and three others were appointed commissioners to ascertain the object of the English fleet lying in the harbor below New Amsterdam.

On 5 Sept 1664 a petition, here called a Remonstrance, was presented to Director Stuyvesant signed by 93 of the leading citizens of New Amsterdam, urging a peaceful surrender to the British, rather than undergo the bloodshed of a futile resistance. Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, the presiding Burgomaster, was one of those who signed this petition. (Some other well-known names are Martin Kregier,Jr., van Cortland, N. Varleth, Steenwick, Allard Antoni,Isaacq Bedloo, Jan Vinge, and Jacob Leyseler. Even Balthazar Stuyvesant, Peter’s 17 year-old son, signed the petition. The complete text is in Corwin.)

On 8 Sep 1664 the Articles of Capitulation, surrendering New Netherland to the English, were ratified. The nine signatures to this document were P. Stuyvesant(Director-General), N. De Sille (Councillor), Martin Cregier, Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift(Burgomaster), Peter Tonneman (Schout), Jacob Backer (President of the Board of Schepens), Timotheus Gabry (Schepen), Isaac Greveraet (Schepen), and Nicholas Meyer (Schepen).

In 1664, in late October (on 21,22,24,and 26 Oct.), the new English authorities held sessions in which the former Dutch citizens swore allegiance to the English king. At one of these sessions many of the former Council members swore allegiance: Pieter G. Stuyvesant, Cornelis B. Steenwick, Oloff van Cortland, and Paulus van der Grist

On 17 Jun 1665 Paulus Leendertsen rendered his account as Treasurer.

On 13 Jun 1666 Paulus Leendertsen was appointed church warden of the Dutch Reformed Church.

On 5 Feb 1667 Paulus Leendertsen was paid for lodging soldiers. On 6 Aug 1667 he was asked to return a city ladder. (In 1659, when fire buckets were placed on houses in various parts of the town, several city ladders were also strategically located.) On 26 Nov 1667 he asked city authorities to return money that he had earlier lent the city.

After New Netherland had capitulated to the English in 1664 there was still some resentment in Holland that there had not been a determined resistance. The West India Company, and also the Dutch government (the Council of the States-General) attempted to blame Director-General Stuyvesant for not fighting to the death. Similarly, the Clasis, (the governing body of the Dutch Reformed Church), wanted to blame Rev. John Megapolensis, the minister at New Amsterdam, for his advocacy of surrender. On 27 Aug 1668, Peter Syuyvesant, Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, and Olov Stevensen van Cortlandt, elders of the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam, wrote to the Classis in Holland that as officials of the city they could certify that John Megapolensis had at all times “acted as a faithful subject of the High and Mighty lords States-General.” (Corwin)

On 4 Sep 1668 Cornelis Steenwyck, Mayor of New York, appointed Paulus Leendersen van de Grift, Johannes van Brugh, and Johannes de Peyster to be Weesmasters (Orphan masters) for 1 year from this date expiring 4 Sep 1669. (Corwin)

On 6 Apr 1669 some citizens complained against Paulus Leendertsen for his reducing the amount of pasturage for cattle.

On 29 May 1670 Governor Lovelace appoints Thomas Lovelace (his brother) and Paul Leenderts to be collectors and receivers of all “goods, effects, or debts” belonging to the West India Company. (S)

On 5 Jun 1670 Peter Stuyvesant, Oloff Stevensen van Cortlandt, Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, Boek Roelofse, Jacob Teunisse Kay and Jacob Leisler, (all elders and deacons of the Reformed Christian Church in New York) wrote a letter to the Classis in Amsterdam seeking a replacement minister for Domine Polhemius, “now more than 70 years old.” This letter was also endorsed, on 28 Jun 1670, by Francis Louelace, Governor of New York. (Corwin)

On 29 Nov 1670 a document indicates that Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift has left the Province and returned to Holland.

On 16 Mar 1671 the Rev. William Nieuwenhuysen (among other candidates) was selected for the ministry of New York. “Because Paulas vander Grift, elder, and Ernest van Tright (Trycht, Tricht?), deacon, incline towards him, he was examined and ordained, with the laying on of hands, by the Rev. Examiner, Henricus Selyns.” (Corwin)

On 21 Jun 1674 Cornelis Steenwyck petitioned the Council at Ft. Willem Hendrick because he was aggrieved by the judgment of the court between petitioner and Jacob Varrevanger, attorney for Poulers Leenderse van de Grift; he requests a writ of mandamus and appeal.

27 Sep 1674. Petition to Gov. Colve. Jacob Hendrickse Varvanger, attorney of Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, praying that Jacques Cortillyou may be obliged to appear before referees according to order.

Paulus Leendertsen may have returned to Holland in 1671, but he evidently returned to New Amsterdam for a visit: on 30 May 1677 he and his daughter Grietie were witnesses at the Reformed Dutch Church in New York at the baptism of his granddaughter Jannetie, the daughter of his daughter Marritie and her husband Gerrit van Tricht. (The baby was named for Paulus’ wife Jannetie Gerrits, but she was not present as a witness. Perhaps she had demised, or perhaps she didn’t feel up to another Atlantic crossing.)

 

 

The Children and Grandchildren of Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift

Paulus Leendertsen and Jannetie Gerrits had five children baptised in the Dutch Reformed Church of New Amsterdam. Jacob Leendertsen and his wife were witnesses at four of these baptisms. Paulus and his wife also apparently had two earlier children born in Amsterdam.

(#13) i Grietje Vandergrift, bp 1 Dec 1641 in Amsterdam.

(#14) ii Lenert Vandergrift, bp 15 Nov 1646 in Amsterdam

+(#15) iii Grietie (Margrietie), bapt. 2 May 1649 in New Amsterdam

(#16) iv Gerrit Vandergrift, bapt. 30 Apr 1651 in New Amsterdam

+(#17) v. Marritie (Maria), bapt. 27 Apr 1653 in New Amsterdam

(#18) vi Johannes, bapt. 27 Jun 1654 or 1655. This child apparently died young.

(#19) vii Johannes, bapt. 19 Jun 1658 in New Amsterdam.

When Paulus and Janneken returned to Holland in 1671, their daughter Grietie was 22, Marritie was 18, son Gerrit was 20, and Johannes was 13. The two daughters married around 1671 and both remained in New York. If the sons went back to Holland with their parents, they evidently later returned to New York, as Gerrit was present as a witness at the baptism of Grietie’s daughter Margariet on 6 Oct 1681, and Johannes was a witness at the baptism of Grietie’s daughter Cornelia on 24 Jun 1685.

(#15.) Margrietie (Grietie) Paulusd van der Grist was baptized 2 May 1649 in New Amsterdam. She died in 1728 in Elizabethtown, Union Co., New Jersey. She married Jacob Mauritszen (Sluyswachter) on 1 Jun 1674 in Amsterdam, Holland. Jacob Mauritz was bp 10 Mar 1644 in Haarlem, North Holland. He died in 1725 or 1726 in Elizabethtown, New Jersey. They had eight children, seven baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church in New York:

+(#29) i Joanna (Jannetje) Mauritz

(#30) ii Maurits Mauritz, bp 9 Jan 1678 in New York.

+(#31) iii Paulus Mauritz, bp 25 Oct 1679 in New York.

(#32) iv Margariet Mauritz, bp 6 Oct 1681 in New York.

+(#33) v Margareta Mauritz, bp 20 Jun 1683 in New York.

(#34) vi Cornelia Mauritz, bp 24 Jun 1685 in New York.

+(#35) vii Jacobus Mauritz, bp 18 Mar 1688 in New York.

(#36) viii Gerardus Mauritz, bp 7 Feb 1692 in New York..

(#17.) Marritie Paulus van der Grift was bp 29 Apr 1653 in New Amsterdam. She and her husband Gerrit van Tricht had five children baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church in New York: (#37) Jannetie van Tricht, bp 30 May 1677; Lysbeth, bp 25 Aug 1680; a baby baptized 1 Aug 1683; Margarita, bp 18 Mar 1688; and Maria, bp 4 Feb 1691.

The Tenn Tree does not show any further descendants of Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, other than noting that (#29) Jannetje Mauritz married Mathias de Hart in New York on 27 Jun 1695; (#31) Paulus Mauritz married Margareta Keteltas in New York on 12 Apr 1706; (#33) Margariet Mauritz bp 20 Jun 1683 married Balthazar de Hart in New York on 7 Jan 1703; and (#35) Jacobus Mauritz married Elizabeth Stephens in New York on 18 May 1710. However, the World Family Tree series of Family Tree Maker show further descendants of Margariet and Balthazar de Hart to present times. The van Tricht and Mauritz families seemed to remain in the New York and northern New Jersey areas.

The sons of Paulus (Gerrit and Johannes) returned with him to Holland around 1670, although they apparently returned for visits for the baptisms of two of their sisters’ children. Whether they remained in America or possibly had descendants is not clear. The name vandergrift appeared once or twice in lists of New York militia; but we did not find any vandergrift or vandegrift (or any variant spellings) in the 1790 census for New York, and the few in New Jersey could have derived from the Bucks County, PA descendants of Jacob.