Simon Jansen VAN ARSDALEN

                   Historical data in NOTES

Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen, son of Sijmon Jansen Van Arsdalen and Pieterje Klaasz Van Schouw, was born about 1676 in New Amersfoort, on Long Island, in the province of New York. He grew up in Flatlands, and appears to have resided a long time in Gravesend, and later removed to Jamaica. It has been reported that he purchased land in Somerset County, in the province of East Jersey, and many of his children later settled along the Raritans and Milstone River Valley. Many records of his family can be found in the Reformed Dutch Churches of New Brunswick and Six-Mile Run, New Jersey, and Jamaica, New York. About 1695, Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen married to Lammetje Probasco, daughter of Christoffel "Stoffel" Probasco and Eytie "Ida" Strycker at New Lotts in Flatbush, Kings County, province of New Yorke. It would appear that they resided in Gravesend until at least 1714/1715, and later removed to Jamaica, where Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen died in 1756. His will is on file in the Surrogate's Office of New York City, Liber 20, p. 1, and the abstract of this will can be found in the "Collections of the New-York Historical Society For The Year 1896, New York, p. 104. The will written in 1736, and proved in 1756, named eleven children as follows: Simon, Nicholas, Uriah, Christophel, Cornelius, John, Ida, Petronella, Maria, Heletie, and Sarah. The children of Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen and Lammetje Probasco in their approximate birth order: Christoffel Van Arsdalen born about 1696, married about 1717 to Magdalena Van Hengelen, daughter of Aucke Reyniersen and Eytie "Ida" Vonk. Stoffel resided in Somerset County, in the province of East Jersey (New Jersey), where he later died, perhaps near Six-Mile Run about 1752. I am not sure about this date, but he does not seem to be listed on the 1753 Freeholders List in either the Eastern or Western Precincts of Somerset County, New Jersey. Simon Van Arsdalen born 16 August 1697, married 30 October 1716 Jannetje Romeyn, daughter of Christoffel Romeyn and Geertje Wyckoff. Simon resided at Six-Mile Run, in Somerset County, province of East Jersey, and about 1730 removed to Southampton, Bucks County, province of Pennsylvania, where he later died in the winter of 1770. His will is on file in Bucks Co., PA. Cornelius Van Arsdalen was born about 1698, married to Tryntje Bergen, daughter of Joris Bergen and Sarah Strycker, and appears to have settled at Six-Mile Run. Ida Van Arsdalen was mentioned in her father's will written in 1736. No further trace. Peternella Van Arsdalen was also mentioned in her father's will, married Volkert Sebring, son of Roelof Sebring and Christyntje Volkerts. Volkert Sebring was mentioned in his father's will in Somerset County, province of East Jersey in 1756. His father had been a resident of this area a long time, and his son Volkert Sebring was also likely a resident there also. John Van Arsdalen, Jr. born about 1705, married about 1730 Magdalena "Lena" Dorland, daughter of Gerrit and Marytie Dorlandt, and also appears to have resided at Six-Mile Run. Maria Van Arsdalen born about 1710, married about 1728 Gerret Snediker, son of Isaac Snediker and Catryntje Dorland, and they appear to have remained on Long Island, in the province of New York. Heletie Van Arsdalen born about 1712, married 13 March 1730/31 Gerrit Dorland, Jr., son of Gerrit and Marytie Dorlandt, and they also resided in Somerset County, in the province of East Jersey. They were early members of Milston DRC. Nicholas Van Ausdalen born about 1716, married first about 1740 Geertje "Charity" Lott, daughter of Abraham and Marytie Lott, and married second 1761 Jane Brinkerhoff. Nicholas Van Ausdalen appears to have been the only son who remained in Jamaica, where he later died in 1784. His will is on file in New York City, naming his children, and some his descendants remained in Jamaica for generations. Uriah Van Arsdalen born 20 January 1719/20, married 1743 Aaltje Terhune, daughter of Roelof Terhune and Marretje Wyckoff, also resided at Six-Mile Run, where his children were baptized. He was also known a
s Jurian Van Arsdalen, and Jurrie Van Arsdalen. Sarah Van Arsdalen was probably the youngest child, married 13 July 1743 at Flatbush DRC Isaac Amerman. No further trace. The time has come for me to write bios on all these third generation children of Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen and Lammetje Probasco. From the descendants of this family, I need biographical data on Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen and all of his children. Specifically, I need property or tax records, which locate the various residences of Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen. It is my belief that all of his children were born at Gravesend, although numerous accounts suggest otherwise. Since, Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen was active in the church at Gravesend, and helped to organize the church in 1714, having been elected one of its first elders; it seems reasonable that his roots ran deep in this community. I believe that his early life was spent in Gravesend, and later after his children were all born, he relocated the family to Jamaica, and perhaps bought property along the Raritans or along the Milstone River in New Jersey for his children to settle on. As Long Island became more crowded, I believe many of the Dutch settlers sought more room in New Jersey to ensure the futures of their children on larger plantations, and as a community they made plans to resettle in the fertile river valleys of New Jersey. I believe that Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen was part of this community relocation to New Jersey in the 1720's to 1730's. Property and tax records should support my belief. Concerning the children of Jan Sijmonsen Van Aersdalen and Lammetje Probasco, I also need records that positively establish residence for each of them. It appears that Nicholas Van Ausdalen remained behind on the family estate in Jamaica, while most of the others removed to New Jersey. A good biography of Simon Van Arsdalen, agrees with actual records I have found on him and his children. I have an index for his will in Bucks Co., PA, but not the actual will itself. I need a copy of it. For the other sons, I need wills or administrations of estates to approximate their dates of death, and to check against the children I have for them. If anyone has family Bible records giving vital records, I would appreciate hearing from you.