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Jan Jurriaensen Becker
Jan Jurriaensen Becker, son of Jurrian Becker of
Amsterdam, Holland, was born about 1630, died after 1694 and before
December 16, 1697. Jan Jurriaensen came to New Amsterdam on the ship "Solomon" in 1653.
Some genealogists have made some overly generous claims about Jan Becker's position in
the New Amsterdam Colony, going so far as to make him a temporary head of
the colony, but our own limited research has found no evidence of such honor, instead
placing him as simply a resident of the South River (now known as the Delaware) portion of
the colony as early as 23-Feb-1656, (Source: Minutes of the
Administration of Jean Paul Jacquet, Vice-Director at the Delaware, and
his Council, p. 141, Documents Relative to the Colonial History of New
York, Vol. 12, Dutch and Swedish Settlements at the Delaware River,
Fernow, LoC Cat #: 71-93943, New York Public Library). Becker
is mentioned in the same source as having obtained land outside Fort
Altena (at the site of the present town of Wilmington, Delaware) on
24-Apr-1657. On Nov 29, 1657, the governing council of the
New Netherland colony named him a temporary commissary of the Dutch West India
company at the South River colony. On 7-Oct-1658, he is
mentioned as still holding this office in a letter from the Vice-Director
of the South River colony to Peter Stuyvesant, the Director-General of the
entire New Netherland colony. His duties included taking delivery of company goods when they
arrived at the port and providing raw materials such as nut-wood, tobacco or beaver pelts for the
return voyage.
He married Maria Adriaensen (Adrians), born about 1630, while they were
still at Fort Altena, as
Vice-Director Beekman mentions her as his wife in his complaint to
Stuyvesant. In Documents Relative to the Colonial History of
New York, Vol. 12, Dutch and Swedish Settlements at the Delaware River,
Fernow, LoC Cat #: 71-93943. There is recorded a petition of Joost
Andriaensen & Co. for permission to build a saw and grist mill at
Turtle Falls, on the South River, along with an order granting it.
(30-Apr-1658. p. 210.) As the South River colony was quite small
(less than a few dozen white settlers), it seems likely that this Joost is a
relative of Maria.
In a letter dated 8-Nov-1659, Willem Beekman
complains to Peter Stuyvesant about Jan Becker's sale of liquor to the
Indians and to the soldiers of Fort Altena. This was followed by
further complaints before the Director-General launched an investigation and
convicted Becker of this offense. The story would have a surprise
ending, though, and is recounted in the Trial
of Jan Jurriaensen Becker.
The information following is
recorded by Mr. Lawrence Rickard in his book, Beckers of Eastern New
York.
In 1660, he kept school in New Amsterdam and was also a
tavernkeeper. He moved to Beverwyck (Albany) in 1661 and was schoolmaster
for the patroon. In 1663, he moved to Greenbush where he was Notary
Public, Draftsman, Mapmaker, and Surveyor to the Colony of Beverwyck. He
was elected City Chamberlain of Albany in 1686, Alderman in 1690 and
Treasurer and Public Notary until his death in 1697. His will was dated
August 31, 1694, administered December 16, 1697. In it, he mentions his
son Johannes and a daughter Martina. Jan Jurriaensen Becker has no known
relationship to Hans Jurriaensen Becker, whom Mr. Rickard refers to as the
progenitor of Dutch Lineage L.
He is an ancestor of Raymond Merton Becker, whose family
tree is also available on this site.
Children:
Jurrian, born September 1, 1660, baptized the same day, sponsored by Pieter Tonneman, Johannes Ver Vealen and Zytie Adriaens (at the New Amsterdam Dutch Reformed Church).
Johannes, born June 3, 1663.
Martina, born about 1665. (possibly earlier, as Willem Beekman mentions Maria Becker's daughter in his letters to Director-General Stuyvesant).
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