Mary Hobein's Ancestors — Rappleyea from the New Netherlands and New Jersey

Please if you would like more information, or if some of these people look familiar to you.

The protestant Rappleyea (alternate spellings: Rappelyea, Rapelier, Rapalje) family, Richard R. and Cordelia (nee Anderson), lived in New Jersey. According to the 1860 census they had five children, Mary Josephine (1846-1916, never married, was principal at No.13 School on Pine Street, Jersey City, NJ), Richard Tunis (Thomas) (1849-1915, married Louisa Sommerville), Jerome (1852-1930, married Elizabeth Longhogan), Katie (1854-1890, married Gottlieb Müller), and Cordelia (b. ca. 1858, thought to have been adopted, married John T. Hay).

I am still seeking a baptismal document that irrefutably links Richard R. Rappleyea to his parents although the circumstantial evidence is strong. The primary document about Richard R.'s parents is his death certificate stating that the parents' names were Richard and Alice. These are anglicized versions of the Dutch names Dirk/Dirck/Derreck and Elsje/Elsie/Altsje, respectively, and they correspond to Dirk Rapelje (1769-1829) and Elsie Covenhoven, whose marriage was published in the New Brunswick Advertiser in 1795. Furthermore, he is the executor of the will of Jerome Rappleyea, and in this capacity he was sued by Mary Ann Rappleyea Lefferts for mismanaging the estate. Baptismal records from New Brunswick prove that Mary Ann (ca.1802-?) and Jerome (1798-1869) are the children of Dirck Rapelje and Elsie Covenhoven. Another baptismal record shows an additional brother, Joseph Covenhoven Rappleyea (ca.1800-1880), and there are believed to be two more siblings, Tunis (1806-1883) and Mathilda (1818-1883). Assuming this connection to be correct, the pedigree shown below can be constructed from a variety of published sources.

Among others, these people are connected to the Stillwell and Lefferts families (published histories) and to the Conover (formerly Covenhoven and variants) family of New York and New Jersey.

Notes on specific people and families:

Machtelje (Mathilda, Martellje, Matie, Matje, Magdelina [?]) Pieterse, wife of Jeromus Derick Rappleyea, is a mystery. The article "Raritan Landing That Was, The History of a River Port from 1675 to 1875" (Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society, vol. 54, 1936) by C. C. Vermeule gives her maiden name as Smock. Unfortunately, no source for this information is given. Howeber, membership records of the First Reformed Dutch Church of New Brunswick on May 1, 1794, show Machtelje Peterson, wife of Jeremias Rappelje. In 1789, the membership records show Jeromus Rappeljee and his wife Macheltje Pieterse. Her childrens' names were Antje (ca.1761-1833, married Frederick Van Liew), Cornelius (ca.1764-1825, married Catherine Boice), and Dirck.

Contrary to an IGI entry and published genealogies, Antje, wife of 160. Dirck Rapalje, is probably not from the Van Wyck or Van Wicklen family (fide Dorothy Koenig). Antje's children were Jeromus and Joris.

In March 2009 I received the following information in an email from Mike Morrisey of the Dutch Colonies email list:

Bible Record #4865 at the New Jersey Historical Society is listed as Folkert Rapalje and wife Antje Remsen. Actually, I believe she is the wife of Folkert's brother, Dirck Rapalje, who is not listed in the bible record.

Folkert Rappelyee is geboren in't Jaar 1719 den 29 Degember. October 18, 1801 Fulkert Rappleyee died.

Antje Remse geboren 1701, 9th July. Tochter van Joris Remse

1734 den derden augustus is geboren Teunis Rappaljee

1738 dan sesden August geboren Joris Rappelye

1741 den Twaalf den October geboren Jeronimus Rappalje

Anne Rappelye is born 29 Jan. 1762

1765 Cot de elfoe is geboren Cornelius Rappeljee

1769 geboren Dirrick Rappeljee 17 January.

I agree with Mike that this Bible record is probably for Dirck Rapalje, rather than Folkert Rapalje, because the births given mostly fit with what I know about Dirck's children and grandchildren and because Antje Remsen is very close in age to Dirck, whereas she is 18 years older than Folkert. (Also, other sources show that Folkert married Mathilda Polhemius.) The names of the two oldest children, Tuenis and Joris, fit with the traditional Dutch custom of naming the first 2 boys of the family after their paternal and maternal grandfathers, respectively. Antje Remsen was the daughter of Joris Remsen (662) and Femmetje Woertman (663)

I have recently been able to link Cordelia Anderson with her parents, Freeman and Mary Anderson. They are first documented on the 1820 census for Southfield (Staten Island, NY), but in 1830 they are in Jersey City, NJ. The family seems to have a connection to Rahway (Union Co., NJ), as Freeman and Mary are buried there. Could Freeman be a son of John Anderson, innkeeper of the Merchants & Dovers tavern who married into the Freeman (!) family? There is conflicting documentation for the birth place of Cordelia, ranging from New Jersey to New York to Connecticut. At this point, it seems unlikely that these Andersons are closely related to the Anderson family that lived near the Rapplyea family in Somerset County.

I have a number of mystery photos of people related to the Rappleyea branch.

Some transcribed source material for this branch of my family can be found on separate webpages: New Jersey census extracts, wills, marriage, death, and baptism records, land records and other miscellaneous stuff.

The Ancestors of 10. Richard Thomas RAPPLEYEA (1849-1915)

  1. Richard R. RAPPLEYEA (1814-1884) New Brunswick, NJ => Jersey City, NJ
    1. Richard (Dirck) RAPPLEYEA (RAPALJE) (ca.1769 - 1829) Franklin Twp. (Somerset Co.), NJ
      1. Jeromus Derick RAPPLEYEA (ca.1720 - ca.1817) Franklin Twp. (Somerset Co.), NJ
        1. Derick (Richard) Tuenis RAPALJE (ca.1702 - 1778) Brooklyn, NY => Franklin Twp. (Somerset Co.), NJ
          1. Tuenis Jeronimus RAPALJE (1671 - 1723) Brooklyn, NY => Bushwick, NY
            1. Jeronimus (Hieronimus) Jorise RAPALJE (1643 - 1700) New Amsterdam, NY. Brother of 1325. Jannetje Jorise RAPALJE (1629 - ?)
              1. (2650.) Joris Janssen RAPALJE (ca.1604 - 1662). Leyden, Netherlands => Brooklyn, NY.
                1. (5300.) Jean RAPAREILLIET (ca.1572 - ?). Valenciennes, Hainhault, France.
                2. (5301.) ? ?
              2. (2651.) Catalyntje TRICO (ca.1606 - 1689) Netherlands => New York
                1. (5302.) Jeronimus TRICO (? - bef.1632) Prisches, Hainault (France/Belgium)
                2. (5303.) Michele SAUVAGIE (? - aft.1632) Prisches, Hainault (France/Belgium) => Haarlem, Netherlands
            2. Annetje Teunise NYSSEN/DENYS (ca.1646 - ?) New Amsterdam, NY
              1. Denyse Teunise NYSSEN (? - ?)
              2. Phoebe SALES (ca.1626 - 1666) Little Waldingfield, Suffolk, England => Flatbush Dutch, Kings Co., NY
                1. John SALES (? - ?) Little Waldingfield, Suffolk, England => New York, NY
                2. Phillipa (?) SOALES (? - ?) England
          2. Sarah Dirckse VAN VECHTEN (1674 - ?) Greenbush, NY => Brooklyn, NY. Sister of 666. Michael Dirckse VAN VECHTEN (1663 - before 1738)
            1. (1332.) Dirck Teunise VAN VECHTEN (1634 - 1702) Vechten, Utrecht, Netherlands => Catskill, Albany, NY
              1. (2664.) Teunis Dirckse VAN VECHTEN (? - ?) Vechten, Utrecht, Netherlands => America
              2. (2665.) Hestor ??? (? - ?)
            2. (1333.) Jannetje Michaelse VREELAND (ca.1637 - 1714) Rensselaerwyck, New Netherlands (New York)
              1. (2666.) Michael Jansen VREELAND (? - ?)
              2. (2667.) Fytje HARTMANS (? - ?)
        2. Aultie or Antje ??? Probably Antje REMSEN, sister of 331. Mary Remsen
      2. Machtelje (Mathilda/Magdalena) PETERSON (1733? - ?) See below for suspected ancestors.
    2. Alice COVENHOVEN/CONOVER (? - ca.1833)
      1. Joseph (Jost) COVENHOVEN/CONOVER (ca.1739 - 1814) New Brunswick, NJ
        1. Peter COVENHOVEN (1713 - ?)
          1. Nicasius VAN KOUWENHOVEN (1681 - 1749) Kings Co., NY
            1. Jan Gerretse VAN KOUWENHOVEN (1639 - ca.1724) Brooklyn Ferry, NY
              1. Garret Wolferse VAN KOUWENHOVEN (1610 - ca.1645) Amersfoort, Utrecht => Flatlands, Long Island, NY
                1. Wolfert Garretse VAN KOUWENHOVEN (? - 1662) Amersfort, Utrecht => New Netherlands
                2. Neeltje (? - ?)
              2. Altie COOL (ca.1613 - ?)
                1. Cornelis Lambertse COOL (? - ?)
                2. ?
            2. Gerardina DE SILLE (1642 - ?) Amsterdam, Holland => New York
              1. Nicasius DE SILLE (1610 - ?) Arnhem, Netherlands => New Amsterdam => New Utrecht
                1. Laurens DE SILLE (1572 - 1637) Namur, Belgium => The Hague, Holland
                  1. Nicassius DE SILLE (1543-1600) Malines/Mechelen, Belgium => Holland
                  2. Genovefere DE ROMAIGNAN (? - 1572)
                    1. Laurens DE ROMAIGNAN (? - ?)
                    2. Philippotte LE NOIRE (? - ?)
                2. Walburga MERWYNS/EVERWIJN (? - 1635) Arnhem, Netherlands => The Hague, Netherlands
                  1. Gijsbert EVERWIJN (? - ?) Arnhem, Netherlands
                    1. Stiijn EVERWIJN (bef.1497 - ?) Arnhem, Nethernlands
                    2. ? ?
                  2. Gerardina PUYN (? - ?)
              2. Cornelia MEULEMANS (? - ?)
                1. Peter MEULEMANS (? - ?)
                2. Anna Marschalk (? - ?)
          2. Elsie STAATS (ca.1686 - after 1749)
            1. Jan Jansen STAATS (ca.1642 - ?)
              1. Jan PIETERSE (bef.1605 - ca.1675) Husum, Schleswig => Gowanus, Brooklyn
              2. Elsie PIETERS (? - 1651) Gowanus, Brooklyn
            2. Annetje Pieterse PRAA (ca.1652 - ?) Leyden => Brooklyn
              1. Pieter PRAA (? - 1663) Dieppe, Picardie => Brooklyn
              2. Marie PHILLIPE (? - bef.1658)
        2. Elizabeth DEBEVOISE (? - ?)
          1. Joost DEBEVOISE (? - ?)
          2. Mary REMSEN (? - ?). Probably sister of Aultje/Antje, the wife of 160. Derick RAPALJE.
            1. Joris (George) REMSEN (1650 - ?)
              1. Rem Jansen VANDERBEEK/REMSEN (? - 1681)
              2. Jannetje Jorise RAPALJE (1629 - ?). Sister of 640. Jeronimus Jorise RAPALJE (1643 - 1700)
            2. Femmetje WOERTMAN (? - ?)
              1. Dirck Janse WOERTMAN (? - ?)
              2. ?
      2. Mary FIELD (ca.1744 - 1798) Raritan (Somerset Co.), NJ
        1. John FIELD (1715 - after 1743) Raritan (Somerset Co.), NJ
          1. Jeremiah FIELD (1689 - 1746) Flushing, Queens, NY => Bound Brook (Somerset Co., NJ)
            1. John FIELD (? - ?)
            2. Margaret ??? (? - ?)
          2. Maria Michaelse VAN VECHTEN (1687 - 1742) Raritan (Somerset Co.), NJ
            1. Michael Dirckse VAN VECHTEN (1663 - before 1738) Greenbush, NY. Brother of 321. Sarah Dirckse VAN VECHTEN (1674 - ?)
            2. Marytje PARKER (? - 1690)
        2. Elisabeth FISHER (ca.1724 - before 1750)
          1. Hendrick FISHER Jr. (1697 - 1778) Germany => Raritan (Somerset Co., NJ)
            1. Hendrick FISHER Sr. (? - 1749) Germany => Raritan (Somerset Co., NJ)
            2. ? ?
          2. Elisabeth BRIES (ca.1703 - ?)
            1. Volkert Hendirckse BRIES (ca.1655 - ?) New York => Piscataway (Middlesex Co., NJ)
              1. Hendrick Volckertsen BRIES (1634 - ca.1711) Jever (Oldenburg, Germany) => Brooklyn, NY
              2. Geertje Claessen VAN SHOUWEN (? - ?) Sister of 648. Gerbrant Claessen VAN SCHOUWEN (ca.1649 - 1704)
                1. (1296.) Claes Cornelissen VAN SHOUWEN (? - ?)
                2. (1297.) ? ?
            2. Elizabeth PAULUSSE (? - ?)
              1. Paulus Dirckse VAN LUTSEMBURG (? - ?)
              2. Geertje Willemse (? - ?)
  2. Cordelia ANDERSON (1820-1866) where? => Southfield (Staten Island, NY) => Jersey City, NJ
    1. Freeman ANDERSON (1788-1836) where? => Southfield (Staten Island, NY) => Jersey City, NJ; died in New York City, but buried in Rahway, NJ
    2. Mary ? (1783-1840) where? => Southfield (Staten Island, NY) => Jersey City, NJ; buried in Rahway, NJ

Suspected Ancestors of 81. Machtelje (Mathilda/Magdalena) PETERSON (1733? - bef.1817)

  1. Cornelus PETERSON (ca.1703 - bef.1767)
    1. Peter Gerbrantsen VAN SCHOUWEN (ca.1675 - bef.1714) New Amsterdam
      1. Gerbrant Claessen VAN SCHOUWEN (ca.1649 - 1704) New Amsterdam. Brother of 1341. Geertje Claessen VAN SHOUWEN (? - ?)
      2. Marritje Claes COS (ca.1654 - 1714)
        1. Claes Pieterszen COS (1619 - ?)
        2. Neeltje ENGELS (? - bef.1657)
    2. Chrystyntije JURIAENSEN (ca.1677 - 1754) New Amsterdam
      1. Juriaen Thuniszen (Tomassen) VAN RIPEN (? - 1695)
      2. Ryckie/Pryntje HARMENS (? - ?)
  2. Aeltje Cornelise VAN DUYN (ca.1705 - ?)
    1. Cornelius Gerritse VAN DUYN (ca.1664 - 1754) New Utrecht
      1. Gerrit Cornelise VAN DUYN (bef.1645 - 1706) Nieuwkirk, Zeeland, Netherlands => Breukelin, New Netherlands => Zwolle, Overyssel, Netherlands => Flatbush, New York
      2. Jacomina Jacobse SWARTS (? - ?) New Amsterdam
    2. Mathilda Willemse HUYKEN (ca.1669 - 1709)
      1. Willem HUYKEN (? - ?)
      2. Annitjen ANDRIES (? - ?)

Surnames related to the Rappleyea branch:

ACHIAS, ADRIANSE, ALSTEYN, ANDERSON, ANDRIESSEN, ANTONIDES, BENNET, BERGEN, BERRIEN, BOERUM, BOGAERT, BRIES, BRINKERHOFF, BROWN, CASJOUW, CLARK, CLOCK, CODDINGTON, CONOVER, COVENHOVEN, COUWENHOVEN, VAN KOUWENHOVEN, COOL, CORNELL, CORSSEN, CORTELYOU, CROEGIER, DAMON, DAVIS, DE GRAW, DE SILLE, DE BEVOISE, DEBEVOISE, DITMARS, DORLANDT, DRUMMOND, DUMONT, DURYEA, FIELD, FIELDS, FISHER, FRANCE, FREDERICKS, FULKERSON, HARDENBROOK, HARMANSE, HARTMANS, HAY, HEGEMAN, HENDERSE, HOOGLAND, JANSEN, LAMBERTS, LEFFERTS, LOTT, LUYSTER, MIDDAGH, MONTFOORT, MULLER, NAGEL, NYSSEN, DENYS, ONDERDONCK, PARKER, PIETERSEN, POLHEMUS, POULIS, PROBASCO, RAPPLEYEA, RAPALJE, RAPAREILLIET, RAPELJE, RAPPLEYE, RAPPELYEA, REMSEN, RYERSE, SALES, SCHENCK, SCHENK, SMITH, SMOCK, SOMMERVILLE, STAATS, STILLWELL, STOCKHOLM, SUYDAM, TEN EYCK, TRICO, VAN ARSDALEN, VAN BENSCHOTEN, VAN CLEEF, VAN DEVENTER, VAN DUYNE, VAN DYCK, VAN DYKE, VAN LEUWEN, VAN LIEW, VAN NEST, VAN NOSTRAND, VAN NUYSE, VAN PELT, VAN VECHTEN, VAN WESTERHOUT, VAN WICKLIN, VANDER HARD, VANDERBEEK, VANDERBILT, VANDERVLIET, VANDERVOORT, VERMEULE, VAN VOORHEES, VOORHEES, VREELAND, WOERTMAN.

Map Links:

Overview

Back to Mary's genealogy page

Mary Hobein, Woodridge, IL, USA. E-mail:

This page prepared by Urs Geiser. Last updated August 12, 2009