My maternal ancestor, Aert Pietersen Tack, of Etten in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands, contracted himself for six years to Adrien van der Donck from North Brabant, Netherlands. As his servant, Aert would be one of the colonists to help settle New Netherland in America and he would be paid 100 guilders annually. In 1652, Aert set sail for the New World.
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| 1662 - New Netherland http://www.helmink.com/Antique_Map_Allard_New_Netherland/ |
So far, the first record I have located confirming Aert in the New World is from the 5th of August 1660 buying land with Jan Willemsen "lying in the Esopus in New Netherland...comprising forty-eight morgens and seventy-two rods, for the sum of six hundred and fifty guilders to be paid in three installments..." [Early records of the city and county of Albany, and colony of Rensselaerswyck (1656-1675), 1869. Pgs. 276-277]. In February of 1662, Aert is suing Aert Jacobsen for non-payment "of the amount of eighty-one schepels of oats" that is due him. The ruling is in favor of my ancestor. However, matters change quickly and throughout the remainder of 1662 Aert is named as defendant in a number of suits for debts he owes. [The Dutch records of Kingston, Ulster County, New York, New York state historical association, 1912]
Prior to this, in a record I have yet to locate, it is stated that Aert, in 1660, was in contact with persons in the Netherlands regarding an inheritance from his grandfather. If true, then he must have felt he had access to money there and that may, in part, explain what happens next to my ancestor.
On Jan 23, 1663, Annetje Ariaens, (wife of Aert ), is named defendant in a suit by Poulus Poulussen who declares "that after he left Tack's service, Aert Pietersen Tack promised to pay her." In October of 1663, Annetje is being sued by Gysbert van Imbroch and Jacob Joosten - and the court is applying liens against her harvest until her debts are settled. [The Dutch records of Kingston, Ulster County, New York, New York state historical association, 1912]
Where is Aert?
Apparently, he returned to the Netherlands and on May 9, 1663 took legal means in Etten to acquire his inheritance of 170 guilders. He appears on the ship list for De Trouw on January 20, 1664 which was headed for New Netherland. On May 5th of that year he appears in court at Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland, and makes promises to pay off his considerable debt to Jan Barentsen Poest by using his farm and all is holdings in the Esopus as his mortgage. Was the court aware of the state of his property and the debt he had left behind in the hands of his wife?
On July 10, 1664 "The Honorable Court decides, that, as Aert Pietersen Tack has absented himself [from this place], and his wife, not wishing to have anything further to do with the estate, has had an inventory made thereof, he shall be summoned according to law..." What follows now are steps to sell his estate, all property and goods, etc., so that his debts be paid.
Where is Aert now? He's obviously done a runner.
I am much more concerned with the abandoned wife Annetje who is my ancestor through two of her children. It comes to light that she was pregnant when Aert left for the
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| Detail:Paysane Hollandoise allant traire les vaches 1577 |
Netherlands. No doubt upon his leaving he reassured her that he would return quickly with his inheritance
and set their finances in order. In Wildwyck (Kingston) in the Esopus in August of 1663, a daughter (and my ancestor) Grietjen, was baptized. The father is given as Aart Pietersen Tack and no mother is listed. In place of that name is a female guardian named Grietjen. The witnesses were Jacob Jansen and Barber Andries. We know that Aert did not return to America until the following year so he was not actually at the baptism. Perhaps Annetje was protecting her daughter by placing her under the care of a guardian until her life became more secure.
On August 21, 1664 "Anneke Adriaens" petitioned the court "for a dissolution of her marriage with Aert Pietersen Tack (of Haerlem), who afterwards married another woman in Holland." [Calendar of historical manuscripts in the office of the secretary of state, Albany, N.Y. by New York (State). Secretary's Office, 1865. pg. 268]. Her request was granted. Annetje was now free of her husband and his potential for more unsettling stress in her and her children's lives. Aert's estate was being sold off so his debt's could be paid. At this point it appears that Annetje had nothing except her children and what she salvaged of her own good name.
One of the claimants to Aert's estate was also my ancestor - Jacob Jansen van Etten. On October 21, 1664 he appealed to the court: "Jacob Jansen van Etten, farm hand of Aert Pietersen Tack, requests that he also be paid out of the estate of Aert Pietersen Tack, according to account rendered." [The Dutch records of Kingston, Ulster County, New York, New York state historical association, 1912. pg. 167].
Things are becoming quite interesting, indeed. The male witness for Grietjen's baptism was this same man. And now we know two facts: Jacob worked on the Tack estate and he knew Annetje well enough to stand as a witness to her daughter's baptism. Perhaps she wasn't so alone in her plight as first imagined. From farm hand to husband:
1665 Jan 11 Jacob Jansen, j.m., of Etten, in Brabant, and Annetje Arians, of Amsterdam, deserted wife of Aaert Pietersen Tack, both resid. here. First publication of Banns, 28 Dec., 1664; second, 4 Jan.; third, 11 Jan. 1665. [The Dutch records of Kingston, Ulster County, New York, New York state historical association, 1912. pg. 501]
Jannetje and Jacob had seven van Etten children baptized at Wildwyck (Kingston) - the last one in 1688. Their son Jan and his half-sister Grietjen are my ancestors. Their mother, Annetje Ariaens, is someone I can be very proud to be descended from. Her story of struggle and survival is remarkable.
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Artist:Yvonne Harry watercolourflorals.blogspot.com |
