Aert Theuniszen Middagh

Aert Theuniszen MIDDAGH was born before 1625 in Heicop, Holland. While Aert's birth year has been generally shown as about 1640, Cameron Allen in his treatise on the parentage of Aert in Vol. 36 of The American Genealogist, thinks he was born somewhat earlier. 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 impling 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. As noted elsewhere no record has been found his having taken the Oath of Allegience in 1687.

Aert's second or middle name, Theuniszen, is also seen in the records as Anthonize. Theuniszen, which when Anglicized is Tony 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 of her book "Grandmas & Grandpas of Yesteryear"), and many others who have researched the MIDDAGH surname, Aert Theuniszen MIDDAG was the original "immigrant" from whom all MIDDAG - MIDDAGH - MIDDAUGH - MEDDAUGHs in the USA (and Canada) descend. While Aert was the "original" MIDDAGH settler, the contention that all of the MIDDAGHs (whatever spelling is used) descend 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.) The year of his emigration is supported by a record where Theunis Gysbertse BOGAERT (he emigrated to the colonies with Aert) took the Oath of Allegience to the Crown in 1687 stating he had been in the New York (New Netherlands) for 35 years. Also supporting his arrival in the colonies around 1652 are Dutch records which show that Aert owned land in Flatbush and was a resident of New Amsterdam in 1655. Other records show that in 1657 he was assessed for Dominie Polhemius' salary; in 1659 he married Breckje (or Brechtje) BERGEN; and, on 3/1/1660 he, and others, petitioned to form the village of Brooklyn.

In the records of the Breucklen DRC found in LDS microfilm #1016558, Aert was accepted into the church 4/9/1664 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 # 0017663, page 51) of an Aard Anthonisz MIDDAG being accepted into the Breukelan 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. The compiler believes Mr. Bogart is incorrect as nothing has been found to support Mr. Bogart’s contention. However the court records of Heicop, Holland confirm 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 5/9/1661 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-law; Schrevel Jacobsz COSIJNS, Jacob Claesen van ROODEN and Leendert van DUYN settling the estate of his father. (See Hei-en Boeicop archives #614.) On this trip he took 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. He probably died prior to September 1687 as he is not recorded as having taken the Oath of Allegience to the Crown as all were required to do at that time.

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 and a second spouse. It is probable the other "accepted" children of Aert and Breckje, Helena Aertsen and Lysbeth 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. No record of their marriage has been found.
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Birth: 1638 Utrecht, Netherlands Death: 1687 Brooklyn Kings County (Brooklyn) New York, USA

On May 9, 1661, Aert is listed as a passenger on "Der Bever", a ship arriving in New Amsterdam from Holland. The same day, listed as arriving on "De St. John Baptist", another ship from Holland, are Arent Teunissen, from Amsterdam, with a wife and two children aged 7 & 4; also Jan Theunissen, from Amsterdam, with a wife and two children aged 4 & 1 1/4. Supposedly one, or possibly both, are Aert's brothers. It is thought that Aert travelled between Holland and New Amsterdam often, and this was not his first arrival, having first come to America in 1652.

It is not certain who his parents are, but because of the Dutch naming system in use at the time, there is a good chance that his father was Theunis Gysbert Middag. Theunis is only found once in the contemporary records of New Amsterdam, when the court orders Teunis Gysbertsen Middagh to be an arbitrator.

At that time, the Dutch would use the father's name for all the children's middle names. The first male child was named for the paternal grandfather, the second for the maternal grandfather. Girls were named after their grandmothers in the same fashon. Also, many times, if a very young child died, the next child of the same sex would be given the same name. Last names had not been firmly decided upon, with the child sometimes taking the mother's, sometimes the father's.

Aert was one of the original seven petitioners to the Dutch government to incorporate the Village of Brooklyn. He married Breckje Hansen in 1659. They both joined the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn in 1664. She was the second daughter of Sarah Rapalje & Hans Hansen Bergen. After Bergen's death, Sarah married Theunis Gysbert Bogaert. Sarah's parents were Joris Jansen Rapalje of Valenciennes, France, and Catalina Trico, the daughter of Jeronimus Trico of Pry, directly south of Charleroi in Hainault, France.

Usually, when Aert traveled to Holland, he took his family with, so some of his children were born in Holland, although all were raised in America. Aert and Theunis together purchased land on Oct. 24, 1654, in an area known as the Wallboght (Dutch for "inner bay") on Long Island. Part of this land later became the site of the New York Naval Shipyard. No records of the death of Aert or Breckje have been found.

Family links:

Parents:

 Theunis Gysbertszen Middagh (1617 - ____)

Spouse:

 Breckje Hansen Bergen Middagh (1642 - 1683)*

Children:

 Jan (John) Aertsen Middagh (1662 - 1740)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Unknown

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Created by: Ken Smith Record added: Feb 24, 2013 Find A Grave Memorial# 105771892

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On May 9, 1661, Aert is listed as a passenger on "Der Bever", a ship arriving in New Amsterdam from Holland. The same day, listed as arriving on "De St. John Baptist", another ship from Holland, are Arent Teunissen, from Amsterdam, with a wife and two children aged 7 and 4; also Jan Theunissen, from Amsterdam, with a wife and two children aged 4 and 1 1/4. Supposedly one, or possibly both, are Aert's brothers. It is thought that Aert traveled between Holland and New Amsterdam often, and this was not his first arrival, having first come to America in 1652.

It is not completely clear who his parents were. However, due to the Dutch naming system of the time, I believe his father was Anthonis Aertse Middagh and his mother was Anna Gijsberts Wouters Bogaert, who both died in the Netherlands.

At that time, the Dutch would use the father's name for all the children's middle names. The first male child was named for the paternal grandfather, the second for the maternal grandfather. Girls were named after their grandmothers in the same fashion. Also, many times, if a very young child died, the next child of the same gender would be given the same name. Last names had not been firmly rooted, with the child sometimes taking the mother's and, other times, taking the father's.

Aert was one of the original seven petitioners to the Dutch government to incorporate the Village of Brooklyn. He married Breckje Hansen in 1659. They both joined the Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn in 1664. She was the second daughter of Sarah Rapalje & Hans Hansen Bergen.

After Bergen's death, Sarah married Theunis Gysbertsen Bogaert. Bogaert, born in around 1624, I believe is Aert's mother's younger brother. Aert and his uncle would have been roughly 13 years apart in age, which was not remarkable in those days since it was common for women to continue birthing children until they could no longer.

Sarah's parents were Joris Jansen Rapalje of Valenciennes, France, and Catalina Trico, the daughter of Jeronimus Trico of Pry, directly south of Charleroi in Hainault, France.

Usually, when Aert traveled to Holland, he took his family with him. So some of his children were born in Holland, although all were raised in America. Aert and Theunis together purchased land on Oct. 24, 1654, in an area known as the Wallboght (Dutch for "inner bay") on Long Island. Part of this land later became the site of the New York Naval Shipyard. No records of the death of Aert or Breckje have been found.

Aert Anthonize Middagh was born circa 1632. ( Lincoln C. Cocheu, "The Van Kouwenhoven-Conover Family", New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.70-71,81-83 (1939-40, 1950-52): 71:275)

Immigrant to America before 1657. (Teunis G. Bergen, Register in Alphabetical Order of the Early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island (New York: S.W. Green's Sons, 1881), page 205. Middagh or Meddach)

He married Brecktje Hanse, daughter of Hans Hansen and Sarah Jorise Rapalje, circa March 8, 1659. (David William Voorhees, Records of The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, Volume 2, Midwood Deacons' Accounts, 1654-1709 (New York: Holland Society of New York, 2009), page 25. 8 March 1659. Received from Aert at Cripplebush for marriage, f6)

Witnessed the baptism of Neeltje Teunise Bogaert , daughter of Teunis Gysbertsen Bogaert and Sarah Jorise Rapalje, on February 20, 1660 at Reformed Dutch Church, New Amsterdam. ("Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in New York", New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vols.5- (1874-): 6:47. Neeltje; parent: Theunis Gysbertszen, Bogaerts, Sara Joris)

On May 9, 1661 Aert Teunissen Middagh returned to New Amsterdam aboard the Beaver. (Van Brunt Bergen, "A List of Early Immigrants to New Netherlands", New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.15 (1884): 15:37. Middagh, Aert Teunissen (26))

Aert Anthonize Middagh and Brecktje Hanse were members of the Old First Dutch Reformed Church, Breuckelen (Brooklyn), Kings Co., Long Island, New York, in 1664. (Teunis G. Bergen, Register in Alphabetical Order of the Early Settlers of Kings County, Long Island (New York: S.W. Green's Sons, 1881), page 205. Middagh or Meddach)

Aert Anthonize Middagh was a member of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Flatbush, Kings Co., Long island, New York, on September 21, 1683 at Brooklyn. (David William Voorhees, editor, Records of The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, Vol.1, 1677-1720 (New York: Holland Society of New York, 1998), page 363. Brooklyn. New Members, either arrived with certificate, or received upon their acknowledged profession. By certificate from Heijkoop; Sep 21, 1683 Aard Anthonisz Middag)

Children by Brecktje Hanse b. Jul 27, 1642: Theunis Aertszen Middagh b. Feb 22, 1660, d. before Mar 1661 Theunis Aertszen Middagh b. Mar 25, 1661 (George E. McCracken, "Catalyntje Trico Rapalje", The American Genealogist vol.35 (1959): 35:198)

Jan Aertszen Middagh b. Dec 24, 1662 (Baptisms in the Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn as per the records of said Church from Oct. 31, 1660 to Dec 13, 1719: From Corporation Manual of the City of Brooklyn, 1869, pages 448 to 504; FHL film #0017529, item 4 (Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1939), Copied and translated from the Dutch by Teunis G. Bergen. Filmed from the typed manuscript in the Holland Society of New York, p.451)

Gerrit Aertsen Middagh b. ca. 1666, d. between Sep 11, 1709 and Sep 21, 1710 (Lincoln C. Cocheu, "The Van Kouwenhoven-Conover Family", New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.70-71,81-83 (1939-40, 1950-52): 71:275)

Joris Middagh b. ca. 1671 Dirck Aertszen Middagh b. before 1676, d. before May 5, 1716 (George E. McCracken, "Catalyntje Trico Rapalje", The American Genealogist vol.35 (1959): 35:198)

Antje Aertse Middagh b. before 1680 https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LY12-M9X https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/183785887/aert_teunissen_anthon...