THE VAN WIE OR VAN WYE FAMILY
Hendrick Gerritse Van Wie, born about 1646, settled in Albany in the Dutch Colony of New Amsterdam (New York) in 1664. The emigrant Hendrick Gerritse Van Wie was referred to as "Fat Hendrick" of Wildwyck in the Kingston Papers.
Hendrick built a house there in 1679 on the Town Road at Van Wie's Point. This area is now part of the town of Bethlehem, New York. This early house was replaced in 1732 with the "Van Wie House" which was built by Hendrick Van Wie, grandson of above mentioned Hendrick. His parents were Gerrit and Annatje (Conyn) Van Wie. The new house located on Town Road near William Gibson Road at Van Wie's Point has housed six generations of the Van Wie family.
The main portion of this house faces east and stands on ground that slopes from north to south. The slope of the ground occasioned a basement and also high steps up to the front door. Built of brick, the main structure has portholes and a granary door in the north gable. In both gables are iron beam-anchors in the shape of a fleur-de-lis. A wing of the stone house at the rear may have been the original dwelling, antedating the house of 1732. Neighborhood tradition tells of a stone building for slaves' quarters, which formerly stood near by. Occupation in recent years (1929) by tenants of the laboring class has altered the house in many details. The house is presently owned by the Knickerbocker Ice Company.
Hendrick married Eytje Ariaansz in March 1679. They had six children whose names were Arientje, Gerrit Hendrikse, Gessie, Jan, Catharina and Hendrik. Hendrick died before 1693 in Albany New York and wife, Eytje, whom remarried to Andries Jacobsn, died after 1697.
The history of Hendrick Gerritsen Van Wie by A.J.F. Van Laer reads as follows:
Hendrick Gerritsen Van Wie, Colonist of Rensselaerswyck 1664-1690.
Hendrick Gerritsen Van Wie, ancestor of Van Wie family, came to New Netherlands on ship "de Endracht (Unity) which sailed from Holland on April 17th, 1664. Arrived at colony on or before August 29th, 1664 as shown by receipt of his passage money among Rensselaerswych manuscripts in N.Y. State Library.
'I, the undersigned, acknowledge the receipt from Heremias Van Rensselaer of eighty guilders in beavers or 8 whole and four half beavers, on account of Hendrik Gerretss Van Wie, for his passage in the ship Endracht. This 29th day of August anno 1664 in Rensselaerswyck. /s/ Jan Bergen, Skipper of the Ship, de Endracht.
Employed on various farms after arrival as these entries on account book show:
June 1670 & April 1673 paid for thatching the barns of Pieter Meesz and Jan Van Nes. And for doing others things with 'kneghts' (farmhands) miscellaneous work on latter's farm.
October 13th, 1679 charged with 4 year's rent from May 1st, 1676 to May 1st, 1679 at 50 guilders a year of farm called Domines Hoeck, now known as Van Wie's Point, which was later leased to Ryck Rutgersen.
October 13th, 1679 charged with 30 merchants beavers for purchase of the (? word destroyed) according to July 19th, 1679 contract and with 6 beaver for 20 pine boards and the lumber of the old house of Eldert (Gerbertsen Cruy) at Bethlehem. Indicating that he bought land on which intended to build a house.
Made his will about 1690 in which he is described as being 'quite infirm' and according to affidavit of the witnesses he died in that year. On November 13th, 1692, his widow, Eydje Airiaansz, marrried at Albany Andries Jacobsz Gardeneir.
Note: These facts conflict with statement made by Jonathan Pearson that Hendrick Van Wie was in Beverwyck 1654-1691 and that he was a volunteer in expedition against Canada in 1691 at which he was desperately wounded at La Prairie. First of these statements based on documents in Vol I of Early Records of Albany (1654-1661) in which Pearson has erroneously supplied tht name Van Wie instead of Vermeulen or Van der Meulen, after Hendrick Gerrits .
Second statement based on ceretain documents in NY colonial manuscripts. The last of these is a petition for an allowance presented by Henry Gerritse to the Council on October 15th, 1692, or about 2 years after the alledged death of Van Wie and but a few weeks before the marriage of his widow. Evidently documents relate to another man."
The following is the will of Hendrick van Wie:
God be praised in the highest. Hendrick van Wie, being quite infirm, but in full possession of his mind, walking and standing, has declared to us his last and desire as follows:
First, Hendrick van Wie wills that his wife shall remain in full possession of his estate so long as she lives, on condition that she bring up the children to the best of her poor ability, and after her death the lawful heirs begotten of them shall share alike, except that the eldest son shall first of all have a horse. But whenever his wife shall marry again, an inventory shall be made of all there is, in order that the estate be not diminished. In witness hereto he has signed with his own hand.
This is the X mark of Hendrick van Wie
This is the X mark of Gerrit Gysbertse
II 1 by me Pieter Winne
Albany y, 3rd of June 1701
There appeared before mee Jonathan Cuyler and Peter van Brugh Esq. Justices of ye Peace Gerrit Gysbertse and Helmer Janse of ye County of Albany aforesaid wittnesses as above written who declare upon ye body Evangelist that some time about ye year of our Lord 1699 they saw ye signing of above mentioned Instrument by Hendrick van Wie of ye said County as his last will or Testament who Dyed in ye year 1699 as aforesaid.
Johannis Cuyler, Justice
Peter van Brugh, Justice
Recorded ye 8th of October 1701"
Their oldest daughter, Geesje Van Wie, married Coenroet Borgaart of Kinderhook on November 12, 1697 in the Albany Reformed Church.
To continue click Coenroet Burghardt