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About Geertruy Pieterse Coeymans
Geertruy Pieters Coeymans Vosburgh
- BIRTH 1629 Netherlands
- DEATH 1687 (aged 57–58) Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York, USA
- BURIAL Burial Details Unknown
MEMORIAL ID 209353445, Photos by A SCHUYLER
Biography
Geertruy Pieters Coeymans was born between 1629-1632 in the Netherlands and died before 28 Feb 1687/1688. She was the sister of Barent Pieters Coeymans, who was the miller of Normans kil. She raised her children alone after the death of her husband (Abraham Pieterse Vosburgh), and was often in the courts of Albany protecting their or her own interests. [1]
Abraham Pieterse Vosburgh was born in Holland, circa 1620. By August 1649 he was a settler in the Colony of Rensselaerswyck near Albany, New York, a surveyor, carpenter, and bridge builder by trade. He died circa September 21, 1659, when killed by Indians. His son Jacob Abraham would have been five years old at the time. A great deal more about Abraham Pieterse Vosburgh, his wife, and his fate at the hands of indians, is available on a separate page.
Abraham married circa 1651 to Geertruy (Gertrude) Pieterse Coeymans, who was born before 1636, the daughter of Pieter Coeymans (Koijemans, Kuijmans, or Kooijmans, which is Dutch for cattleman) of Utrecht, Holland. She subsequently remarried (Albert Andriessen Bradt) and died at Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York. Her will was probated February 28, 1688, in that county.
Although Abraham Pietersen Vosburgh met his death in the prime of manhood, and probably when under the age of forty years, his family was not destined to become extinct. The task of raising his three sons, who became progenitors of the thousands bearing the name Vosburgh in this country fell to his widow, Geertruy Pieterse, a sister of Barent Pieterse Coeyman, the miller of Norman's Kil. The story of her life as it comes down to us is gleaned principally from the Fort Orange Court records. Her name appears before the Court many times, both as plaintiff and defendant. The causes of the suits are often trivial and many of them are not alluded to here; Geertruy was perhaps too zealous in preserving her rights, and in so doing she seems to have made more enemies than friends.
The life of the early settlers was not an easy one under the most favorable conditions. She was left a widow with four or five small children, all under the age of ten years; she had to fight her way with this burden in a community where hard manual labor was almost the sole means of livelihood. Her husband's estate consisted of a partnership in the sawmill at Wynant's Kil with Wynant Gerritsen Van der Poel, which was more or less encumbered with outstanding accounts, some being assets and some being liabilities. Her husband kept a book of accounts to which reference is made in one of her suits in the Kingston Court records. As she was robbed of the sheltering arm of a husband, it is not surprising that Geertruy resorted often to the Courts as her only means of protection.
She did not marry again within a year or two as was usually the custom with the early settlers, but remained a widow for nearly ten years and fought her battles unaided. In 1669 she married Albert Andries Bratt of Normans kil, a widower. However it was short lived, by 1670, the had separated because of "incompatability" as we would call it today and ended in divorce. . . . After her divorce, Geertruy continued to use the name Vosburgh; in fact, as far as the evidence in the records is concerned, it is probable that she never used the name Bratt at any time. This whole unfortunate matrimonial venture can hardly have occupied more than a year and a half.
Translations of two court actions follow. While the events are of trivial importance, they still throw an interesting light on the everyday occurrences in the lives of the early settlers at Kinderhook.
July 5, 1681. Pr. Borsie, from Kinderhook, plaintiff, vs. Geertruy Vosburgh, defendant. Plaintiff says that defendant has accused his wife of theft of her chickens and that she has proofs of it (the accusation). Defendant says that some of her chickens remain with the plaintiff (that is to say, Geertruy's chickens are in the plaintiff's yard) but, he denies having accused her of theft. The Hon. Court, having heard the case, threw it out of court, as being too unimportant to be dealt with, and condemns both parties to pay the costs.
September 5, 1682. Andries Jacobse Gardenier, plaintiff, vs. Geertruy Vosburgh, defendant. Plaintiff complains that one of his pigs has been bitten to death on the land of Geertruy Vosburgh and that her land lies open unfenced. Plaintiff asks for damages. Defendant denies that she has caused his pig to be bitten to death and says that her land is not open. The Court orders that the plaintiff's demand be dismissed as there is no proof. Plaintiff to pay the costs.
Both these cases show that Geertruy was a woman of sharp wits and well able to look out for herself, when appearing in court. She had evidently profited by her long experience in other cases, and had learned most of the legal tricks.
The closing years of Geertruy Vosburgh's life were spent at Kinderhook, surrounded by the families of her sons, whom she saw become men of affairs in that community, and in their success in life she must have felt that her early struggles and trials were well repaid. [2] After 1661 she probably resided with her son, Pieter, at Kinderhook, New York. Her will probated 28 Feb 1688, Columbia County, New York [1]
Spouce
Abraham Pieterse Vosburgh
Albert Andries Bratt of Normans kil m. 1669
Siblings
Barent Pieters Coeymans
Children
Pieter Vosburgh 1652–1720
References
[1] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/209353445/geertruy-pieters-vosb...
Sources
[2] New Netherland Register, Volume I, Special Number No. 6, Pioneers and Founders of New Netherland, The Vosburgh Family, by Royden Woodward Vosburgh.
GEDCOM Note
Losing her first husband Abraham Vosburgh, who she married 1651-59, in 1659 when he was killed by Indians, she was left a young widow with five children under the age of seven. Five years later, in 1664 she married again, to Albert Andrisen Bradt of Norway1667-1670, known as DeNoorman (The Norseman). Albert Bradt had divorced his first wife, and he had had eight children by his second wife, all of whom were mostly grown by the time Albert and Geertruy married in 1664 when she was 46 years of age. A river south of Albany, Norman's Kil, evolved from his name and his one-time ownership of land along that river. According to historical notes, Albert was "well-liked and trusted by the Indians."
Her will was probated 28 Feb 1688 in Columbia Co, NY. She was the sister of Barent Pieterse Coeymans. She married 1) Albert Andressen Bradt; m.2)Abraham Pieterse Vosburgh ABT 1651; child: Isaac Vosburgh b. ABT 1658
Geertruy Pieterse Coeymans's Timeline
1628 |
1628
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Holland, Utrecht, Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden
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1652 |
1652
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Beverwyck, Albany, New York, USA
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1654 |
1654
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Rennsselaerwyk, Albany, NY, United States
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1656 |
1656
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Albany, Albany, New Amsterdam, Dutch Colonial America
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1658 |
1658
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Albany, Albany County, New York, United States
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1660 |
1660
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1688 |
February 28, 1688
Age 60
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Kinderhook, Dutchess County, Province of New York
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