| Notes |
- "HISTORY OF SHEPHERD AND RELATED FAMILIES", by Frank Shepherd
(1858-?) Pub. 1943 (Indiana State Library, Indianapolis) p. 7. "Upon
Sept. 12, 1662, another ancestor, Jan Joosten Van Meter with his wife
and five children, oldest fifteen and the youngest two and a half
years old, arrived in New Amsterdam (New York City) on the good ship
Fox from Teiderwaltd, Holland. Soon after landing they went up the
Hudson River to settle in what is know Kingston, Ulster Co. NY. At
that time it was called "Wiltwik" by its Dutch settlers. It may not
have been religious persecution that brought the Van Meters to the New
World for they were traders and here were great opportunities for
barter with the Indians as well as acquisi(tion)-free acres to be had
for the asking. John Van Meter's wife's name was Macyken Bendrichsen
and she was from Mrpellen in the Province of Drueth Holland." (family
record taken from this book). "The name of Jan Joosten appears among
those who took the oath of allegiance to the New Netherlands Oct.
1664. After this time his name appears prominently in the civil and
religious life of Kingston and vicinity. In 1665 he was referee in a
lawsuit and later appointed 'schepen', a minor judiciary position in
civil matters less than 100 guilders ($60.00)....in 1667 he was
elected a deacon of the Dutch Reformed Church in Kingston...When New
Netherlands passed from Dutch to English control, Jan Joosten took the
oath of allegiance to the new monarch." "Twenty-four year after his
first purchase of land in Ulster County, we find Jan Joosten hunting in
East Jersey for lands to buy. All desirable farm land around their
home was now occupied and they must look to the southward for fertile
lands for their children to settle on." "The exact date of his death
or that of his wife is not known. His will made in New York, Dec. 16,
1681 was offered for probate June 13, 1706. Listed in the inventory
as file is this interesting item: a slave with wife and four children
valued at 145 pounds. The total value of the estate was 245 pounds,
14 shillings....His son Jooset Jans was dead and his grandson, John
Van Meter was the executor of the will. Under its terms according to
ancient custom the older son (Jooste Jans/John Van Meter) was to
inherit one half the entire estate and the rest divided among the four
heirs at law." "...the Van Meters continued to buy land...about 6000
acres in all."
"JAN JOOSTEN'S FAMILY" His will is 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, woman and four children...(also) a 'testamentary
disposition' signed jointly by Jan Joosten and his wife, Macyke
Hendricksen, and dated 16th Dec. 1681, which reads: 'Macyke
Hendricksen shall retain 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
decease the property is to be inherited by their children."
Birth date and 1685/Long Island,NY death taken from Ancestral file
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The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy
Abt 1621 -
