Hendrick Jansz Westercamp and Femmetje Alberts

Hendrick Jansz Westercamp married Femmetje Alberts. Hendrick was a baker and Femmetje was a "bakeress". They lived in Rensselaerwyck in 1651, when Hendrick made an oath to the patroon, Kiliaen van Rensselaer. They were living at Beverwyck near Fort Orange (now Albany, New York) by the summer of 1652. Hendrick died between 1653, when he appeared as witness in a court case, and 1654, when Femmetje appears in court and is called a widow. One of his dying wishes was that his daughter (either Grietjen or another unknown daughter) be released from her indenture. In September of 1654, Femmetje was successful in fulfilling this wish. 

Femmetje was probably the Femmetge Aelberts who married Michiel Anthonisz. Through an unfortunate mistake, Michiel had been led to believe that his first wife in the Netherlands had died and subsequently married Femmetje, who was then living in Catskill. The first wife, still alive, then arrived in the New World. Femmitje stepped aside and was granted a divorce 4 July 1656. 

Femmetje, after Hendrick's death, appeared in the court records of both Beverwyck/Fort Orange and Esopus (now Kingston, Ulster, New York). She probably also was married to (or at least had a child by) a man with the first name of Hillebrant.

Hendrick and Femmetje had:

  1. Grietjen Hendricks Westercamp, baptized 19 Oct 1642 in New Amsterdam, New Netherland, married Jan Gerritsen 23 Mar 1664 in Kingston, Ulster, New York.
  2. Jan Hendricks Westercamp, appeared as the deceased son of Femmetje Alberts in the Kingston court records (patronymics indicate that Hendrick Westercamp was his father), worked for Juriaen Westphael for nearly nine months, died before 1667.

Femmetje probably also had:

  1. Pieter Hillebrants[1], married Aeltje Wiggers 3 Apr 1665 in Kingston, Ulster, New York, marriage contract made 20 Mar 1665.

Sources:

  1. Brassard, Theodore (comp.), Baptisms at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam (1639-1730), Nottingham, NH: http://www.altlaw.com/edball/dutchbap.htm, 2000.
  2. Hoes, Roswell Randall (comp.), Baptismal and Marriage Registers of the Old Dutch Church of Kingston, Ulster County, New York, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1997 (originally published by De Vinne Press (New York), 1891).
  3. O'Callaghan, E.B., The History of New Netherland, Vol. 2., (New York: D. Appleton, 1848), p. 176.
  4. Court Minutes of New Amsterdam, from Fernow, Berthold (ed.), Records of New Amsterdam from 1653 to 1674 Anno Domini, Vol. I, p. 78, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976.
  5. Van Laer, A.J.F. (trans. & ed.), Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange & Beverwyck, 1652-1656, 2 vols., Albany:  University of the State of New York, 1920.
  6. Versteeg, Dingman (trans.), New York Historical Manuscripts:  Dutch, Kingston Papers, 2 vols., original translation 1899, Samuel Oppenheim's revision of Vol. I pub. 1912, Baltimore, MD:  Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976.


Records of Baptisms of the Reformed Church at New Amsterdam.

Baptism Date Parents Child Witnesses
1642 Hendrick Westercamp Backer [2] Margariet Jillis Pieterszen, Mr. Timmer-master, carpenter,
19 Oct Philip Gerritszen,
Engel Mans,
Tryntie Pieters

Source: Brassard, Theodore (comp.), Baptisms at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam (1639-1730), Nottingham, NH: http://www.altlaw.com/edball/dutchbap.htm, 2000.


Kingston Marriage Register

Page 501, Marriage Number 13
1664, 23 March
JAN GERRETSEN, j.m., of Heerden [3], and GRIETJEN HENDRICKS WESTERCAMP, of (New) Amsterdam in Nieunederlant (New Netherland), both reside here (in Wiltwyck, now Kingston). "Est nec virgo nec vidua." [4] First publication of Banns, 27 April; second, 4 May; third, 11 May.

Page 501 Marriage Number 17
1665,  3 April
PIETER HILLEBRANTSEN, j. m., of (New) Amsterdam, in Nieunederlandt (New Netherland), and AELTJE WIGGERS, of Herden, in Gelderlant (Gelderland), widow of ALBERT GYSBERSEN, both resid. Here (in Wiltwyck, now Kingston). First publication of Banns, 22 March; second, 29 March; third, 3 April.

Source: Hoes, Roswell Randall (comp.), Baptismal and Marriage Registers of the Old Dutch Church of Kingston, Ulster County, New York, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1997 (originally published by De Vinne Press (New York), 1891).


    Hendrik Westercamp was listed under the "List of people who took the Oath of Fidelity to the Patroon on 28 November 1651 in Rensselaerswyck".
Source: O'Callaghan, E.B., The History of New Netherland, Vol. 2., (New York: D. Appleton, 1848), p. 176.


Under the New Amsterdam Court Minutes for 1653:

"Femmetie Alberts, wife of Hendrick Westercamp, baker, come here from Fort Orange, appears in Court and says, that Poulus Schrick has had her arrested for a debt of 12 beavers, for which she has offered security, but which he would not accept. She requests therefore to be released and that the attachment be declared not valid. Claes van Elslant, the Court messenger, states, that he has served the attachment against said Femmetie Alberts on behalf of Poulus Schrick, but did not cite her before the Court, as Schrick has said, she ought to come to him. The court declares, that, whereas Poulus Schrick has not legally sued out the attachment, it is not valid."

Source: Court Minutes of New Amsterdam, from Fernow, Berthold (ed.), Records of New Amsterdam from 1653 to 1674 Anno Domini, Vol. I, p. 78, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976.


From the Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange & Beverwyck, vol. I

Page 26, 25 Jun 1652
    After examination in court upon interogatories of Geertruyt Jeronimus, wife of Jochem Becker, the baker, and Femmetgen Alberts, wife of Hendrick Jansz Westerkamp, regarding the abusive words by Jacob Jansz Stol, commonly called Hap, against the respective magistrates, they have answered as may be seen in the said interogatories, as was done likewise by the offender himself.

Page 32, 20 Aug 1652
    Jan Labatie, plaintiff, against Hendrick Jansz Westerkamp, defendant, on account of eight beavers which the defendant owes to Philip Gerary, according to a note of the 16th of August of last year.
The court orders the defendant to pay the aforesaid eight beavers in specie to the plaintiff, by virtue of his power of attorney, within the space of ten days, on pain of execution.

Page 34, 26 Aug 1652
    Adriaen Jansz from Leyden, plaintiff, agianst Hendrick Jansz Westerkamp, defendant, for the sum of fl. 166, to be paid in beavers.
The defendant is ordered to pay the aforesaid sum of fl. 166 in merchantable beavers to the plaintif on the first of June 1653 next, on pain of peremptory execution.

Pages 61-2, 12 Apr 1653
    Commissary Dyckman having submitted to the court that yesterday with the consent and order of the honorable fiscal, he had caused Jochem Becker, the baker, to be summoned by Pieter Reverdingh, the court messenger, because in violation of the ordinance he had in the absence of the commissary publicly blown the horn to sell white bread, directly contrary to the tenor of the ordinance of the Hon. Director General, and in addition given out and stated to the Hon. Abraham Staets that he had permission thereto from the aforesaid commissary, he has appeared before the court and persisted in his statements, and appealed to Hendrick Jansz Westerkamp, also a baker in Beverwyck as a witness, who being also summoned to appear by order of this court, was asked whether he, Westerkamp, had any knowledge thereof, whereupon he declared, No, so that the statement is found to be untruthful. The court having considered the evil consequences and results which might arise if no proper provision were made, especially at this juncture of time, in the matter of disregard of the well-meant ordinances of the Hon. Director General and Council of New Netherland and false accusation of the commissary, therefore condemn the aforesaid Becker, as they do hereby, to pay a fine of fifty guilders within twenty-four hours, on pain of execution, 1/3 to go the poor.

Page 73, 15 Jul 1653
    Paulus Schrick, plaintiff, (against) Femmetgen Albertsz, defendant, for fl. 100 or 12 1/2 beavers, according to obligation.
The court orders the defendant to pay the aforesaid sum of one hundred guilders to the plaintiff before the departure of the ships for patria, on pain of execution, the house to be plaintiff's security and he to be preferred to others.

Same page, same date
    Mariken ten Haer, plaintiff, against Jochem Becker, plaintiff being charged with having beaten her at the house of Hendrick Jansz Westerkamp and thrown her goods into the street, according to the declaration of Hendrick Jansz Westerkamp.
Defendant's first default.

Page 182, 30 Sep 1654
    Andryes Herpertsen, plaintiff, against Femmetgen Westerkamp, widow of Hendrick Jansz Westertkamp, deceased, defendant.
The plaintiff demands that the defendant's daughter serve out and fulfill her term of service according to her promise and contract.
The deftdandant requests (permission) to take away her daughter in accordance with promise which she made her deceased husband on his deathbed, unless the plaintiff's contract be held valid.
The court, having heard the statements and arguments on both sides, order that the promise made by the defendant to her deceased husband on his deathbed shall be carried out, on condition that the defendant'd daughter shall remain five weeks longer with the plaintiff, in order that he may in that time look out for another servant.

Page 214, 27 Apr 1655
    Femmetgen Albert's daughter, plaintiff, against Jacob Willemsz de Wolff and Gerrit Sleghtenhorst, defendants, the defendants being absent, about a bolting chest which was delivered to the defendants and which she needs and which she delivered to the defendants only at the leasing of the house.
The commissary and officer agrees to notify the defendants that they must return the chest free of costs and charges as they recieved it and do so immediately.

Pages 215-6, same date as above
    Femmetgen Albert's daughter, plaintiff, against Jacob Willemsz de Wolff and Gerrit Sleghtenhorst, defendants.
Defendant's first default, on account of a bolting chest, delivered to the defendants and which she needs, being delivered by the plaintiff only at the leasing of the house.
The commissary and officer agree to notify the defendants that they must return the aforesaid bolting chest free of costs and charges as they recieved it, namely, immediately and as is proper.

Page 217, 1 May 1655
    Femmetgen Alberts again requesting the return of her bolting chest, she is told that she may have her opponents summoned to appear on Tuesday next.

Page 219, 9 May 1655 (Van Laer in a footnote said this should be 11 May 1665)
    Rut Jacobsz, plaintiff, against Femmetgen Alberts Geverts, defendant, about the sum of about fl. 400 which are due to the plaintiff by the defendant according to the account rendered thereof and of which the plaintiff demands payment.
The court having heard the statements and arguments of both sides, order and condemn the defendant, Femmetgen Alberts, to pay the plaintiff each half year, in part payment of the account, the sum of one hundred guilders, promptly, on pain, etc.

Page 243, 14 Dec 1655
    Domine Gedeon Schaets requests in the name of Paulus Schrick payment by Gerrit Slechtenhorst of the sum of fl. 100:--, belonging to Femmitge Aelbrechts, for which he offers to give security.
The court, having heard both parties, orders Gerrit Slechtenhorst to turn over and pay the requested one hundred guilders to Domine Schaets, under security for their restitution if should be found to be proper.

Pages 282-3, 4 Jul 1656
    There was submitted and presented a certain memorial of the honorable consistory of the village of Beverwyck, stating and setting forth that one Michiel Anthonisz from Uytrecht, owing to a certain and untruthful report of a certain neighbor, who had lived in one and the same street next to one Grietge Jacobs, the aforesaid Michiel's first wife, that she meaning instead of the wife, the mother, was dead and buried, had thereupon, mistaking the one for the other, married for the second time one Femmetge Aelberts, residing in Katskil; that since that time the first wife, the aforesaid Grietge Jacobs from Amsterdam, had also arrived here and revealed herself, wherupon the aforesaid Femmetge had declared that she wished no longer to live with the aforesaid Michiel Anthonisz, being of opinion that the said Grietge Jacobs, having the oldest papers, should have the priority and continue her marriage with the aforesaid Michiel Anthonisz, her own and lawful husband; that the same for the reasons aforesaid was also requested by the aforesaid Grietge Jacobs; furthermore that the aforesaid case, being not only of ecclesiastical but also of a political nature, is referred to the christian authorities to request their approval, the aforesaid consistory requesting finally that the instance of the said Femmetge Aelbrechts she be granted letters of divorce.
The commissary and magistrates, having examined the aforesaid memorial and the request made therein and having summoned the said Michiel Anthonisz and Grietge Jacobs to appear before them and confronted them with each other and heard their respective prayers and requests, have after mature deliberation considered, first, that the aforesaid case was contrary neither to the laws of God nor of man, the more so as the aforesaid Michiel Antonisz had for nine years been out of the country and for a period of more than five successive years had heard or recieved no word or sign fron the aforesaid Grietge Jacobs; also, that all marriages by mistake are ipso jure null and void, and finally, that the aforesaid Femmitge Aelberts had renounced her aforesaid matrimonial rights and relinquish them in favor of the aforesaid parties who were first joined in marriage. They therefore approve the aforesaid memorial and ordain, order, and consent that the said Michiel Anthonisz and Grietge Jacobs shall be and remain husband and wife and the bonds of marriage between them are not dissolved by the second marriage with the aforesaid Femmitge, declaring the said Femmitge freed therefrom, restoring her to her former liberty and granting her the right at all times to marry again, where and whomsoever she pleases, without interference or objection by any one.

From vol. II

Page 27, 14 Apr 1657
    Femmetien Albertsen, appearing before the aforesaid magistrates at the request of Hans Vos, declares that the savages, having come into his house at Katskil, wanted to force Jan Andriessen, her brother-in-law, to get a bottle of brandy at Hans Vos's, which they said they had paid for.

Page 76, 5 Sep 1657
    The court, having seen the written report of magistrates Rutger Jacobsen and Anderies Herbertsen, arbitrators appointed by the court on October 7, 1656, in which they, after examination of the previous and subsequent debts between Femmetjen, the bakeress, and Michiel Teunissen, find that to satisfy the debts made by the said Michiel Teunissen and Femmetjen, the bakeress [5], during their association or partnership, there is still due by the said Michiel Teunissen the sum of fl. 84:10, the court confirms the opinion and findings of the aforesaid magistrates and hereby condemn Michiel Teunissen to pay to Femmetie, the bakeress, the sum of fl. 84:10, on condition that the said Michiel Teunissen shall thereby be released from all debts which were contracted during their partnership.

Page 122, 25 Jun 1658
                    Teunis Slingerlant, plaintiff, against
Default.        Femmetien, the bakeress, defendant.

Same 122-3, same date as above
    Govert Loockermans, plaintiff, against Femmetien, the bakeress, defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment payment of fl. 166, with the interest thereon, as appears from the bond which he produces, executed in the year 1655.
The defendant admits the debt and requests one year's time.
The plaintiff consents thereto, provided that he have a mortgage on the defendant's house.
Fiat.

Page 123, same date as above
    Teunis Slingerland, plaintiff, against Femmetien Alberts, defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment of fl. 445, as appears from the bond which he produces.
The defendant admits the debt and offers to pay in the space of a year.
The plaintiff accepts the offer on condition that he be given a mortgage on the defendant's house. Fiat.

Same page, same date
    Volckertien van Hoesem, plaintiff, against Femmetjen, the bakeress.
The plaintiff demands payment of seven beavers, being the balance of 13, according to a bond which she produces.
The defendant admits the debt.
The parties having been heard, the court orders the defendant to pay toe aforesaid seven beavers in six weeks.

Page 125, 9 Jul 1658
    Rutger Jacobsen, plaintiff, against Femmetjen, the bakeress, defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment of fl. 230:8:--.
The defendant admits the debt.
The court orders the defendant to pay the sum of fl. 230:8 demanded in the space of one year. Meanwhile, the large house of defendant remains mortgaged for the payment of the aforesaid sum.

Page 127, same date as above
    Teunis Slingerlant, plaintiff, against Femmetjen, the bakeress.
The plaintiff demands payment of fl. 445.
The defendant admits the debt.
The court orders the defendant to pay the plaintiff the sum demanded in proportion to the other creditors.

Page 170, 17 Dec 1658
    Ester Fonda, plaintiff, against Michiel Teunissen, defendant.
The plaintiff demands of the defendant fl. 101:6.
The defendant says that the debt was contracted between him and Femmetie Alberts during their partnership and as Femmetje Albert has taken over the debts, the defendaant claims that he does not have to pay the same.
The court, having heard the parties, orders the plaintiff to have Femmetjen Alberts and Michiel Teunissen summoned on the next court day, to settle their differences.

Page 176, 4 Mar 1659
                            Philip Hendericksen, plaintiff,
1st default.            against Femmetien, the bakeress, defendant.

Page 177, 18 Mar 1659
    Philip Hendericksen, plaintiff, against Femmetien, the bakeress, defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment of fl. 360.
The defendant admits the debt.
The court, having heard the parties, orders the defendant to pay the plaintiff the aforesaid sum of 360 guilders, at the last payment for her house, in which Daniel Rinckhout lives, which is to take place after two years.

Page 178, same date as above
    Idem (Evert Nolden), plaintiff, against Mattheus Abrahamsen, defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment of fl. 17:17:--.
The defendant admits the debt.
The court orders that the aforesaid sum shall be made payable to Femmetjen, the bakeress, in payment of the rent of the plaintiff's house.

Page 225, 28 Oct 1659
    Evert Nolden, plaintiff, against Femmetien de baxter [6], defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment of fl. 100 for the extension table with the top over it [7], which the plaintiff had had made for his convenience during the term of his lease and for which according to appraisal by referees so much was to be paid.
The defendant says that it happened through an oversight of the referees that in selling the defendant's house they did not omit the table.
The honorable court orders the defendant to pay to the plaintiff the sum demanded according to the award of the arbitrators.

Page 240, 13 Jan 1660
Michiel Teunissen, plaintiff, against Femmetien Albersen, defendant.
The plaintiff says that he is being sued on account of debts contracted between him and Femmetien Albersen during their partnership and shows by judgment given on the 5th of September 1657 that he owes nothing, persisting in his former denial.
The court orders that the defendant in accordance with the previous judgment shall pay all of the debts made by them both during their partnership.

Page 241, 27 Jan 1660
                        Frans Barentsen, plaintiff, against
1st default.        Femmetien Albersen, defendant.

Page 242, 17 Feb 1660
Frans Barentsen, plaintiff, against Femmetien Albersen, defendant.
The plaintiff demands of the defendant payment of one hundred and thirty guilders and six stivers, according to the account.
The defendant admits the debt and promises to pay the same on (recieving) the last payment for her house.
The honorable court condemns the defendant to apy the plaintiff and from this date the plaintiff has a preferential claim on the last payment for the house.

Page 258, 1 Jun 1660
    Femmetien Albers, plaintiff, against Abraham Carpeyn, defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment for a half barrel of good beer.
The defendant denies the debt.
The court orders the plaintiff to produce proof.

Same page, same date
    Ester Fonda gives notice of an attachment in the sum of one hundred and sixty guilders in the hands of Daniel Rinckhout, belonging to Femmetien Albers.

Page 260, 8 Jun 1660
Femmetie Alberts, plaintiff, against Abraham Carpeyn, defendant.
The plaintiff demands payment for a half barrel of good beer which the defendant bartered away while the plaintiff was at the Manhattans.
The defendant denies the debt.
Before the court appeared Lambert van Neck and Cornelis Theunesen Bosch, who declared that the defendant made a great noise and public disturbance in the house of Femmetien Albers, during her absence.
The honorable court condemns the defendant to pay the plaintiff for the half barrel of good beer and in addition to pay a pound Flemish for the benefit of the poor, on account of his abusive language.

Page 274, 30 Jun 1660
The wife of Jan Albers, plaintiff, against Femmetien Albers, defendant.
The plaintiff demands of the defendant payment of six guilders and eleven stivers in seawan.
The honorable court orders the defendant to pay the plaintiff the sum demanded.

Page 303-4, 16 Oct 1660
The curators of the estate of Harmen Jacobsen, deceased, against Femmetien Albers, defendant.
The plaintiffs demand of the defendant payment of three hundred and ninety-two guilders, six stivers.
The defendant denies the debt and says that she paid Haremn Jacobsen, deceased.
The court orders the defendant to prove her assertion on the next court day.

Page 306, 7 Dec 1660
                    The curators of the estate of Harmen Jacobsen, deceased, plaintiffs, against
Default.        Willem Bout and Femmetien Alberts, defendants.

Page 307, 21 Dec 1660
Idem (the curators of the estate of Harmen Jacobsen, deceased), plaintiffs, against Femmetien, the bakeress, defendant.
The plaintiffs demand of the defendant, as above, according the book of Harmen Bamboes, deceased, the sum of fl. 392:6:--
The defendant says that she completely settled with and paid Bamboes, deceased, with the rent of her house.
The honorable court orders the defendant to exhibit a detailed account on the next court day.

Source:  Van Laer, A.J.F. (trans. & ed.), Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange & Beverwyck, 1652-1656, 2 vols., Albany:  University of the State of New York, 1920.


From the Court Minutes of Esopus (now Kingston, NY):

Page 3, 13 Sep 1661
    Tjirick Classen, plaintiff, vs. Femmetjen. Default.

Same page, same date
    Femmetjen (Alberts), plaintiff, Gerrit van Campen. Default.
Femmetjen (Alberts) demands payment of twelve guilders, in zeewant…

Page  4, 13 Sep 1661
    Tjyrick Classen, plaintiff, vs. Femmetje, defendant. Default. Default.

Page 8, 8 Nov 1661
    Femmetjen Alberts, plaintiff, demands of Gerrit van Campen, defendant, payment of the amount of twelve guilders. Second default.

Page 9, 16 Nov 1661
    Femmetje Albert, plaintiff, demands twelve guilders of Gerret van Campen, who admits the debt. The Schout and Schepens order the defendant to pay.

Page 20, 14 Feb 1662
    Jan Lammersen, plaintiff, demands from Femmetjen Alberts five schepels of wheat, the selling price of a pig.
The defendant, Femmetje Alberts, answers she does not owe more than four schepels of wheat. The plaintiff answers he will be satisfied with four schepels. The Commisaries order defendant to pay one-half within two weeks and the other half two weeks after date.

Page 207, 4 Feb 1665
    Juriaen Westphael and his wife, having been asked when they had given their soldier Eduard French provisions for the redoubt, answer that on last Thursday, Jan. 29, they gave their aforenamed soldier for the redoubt for one week nine lbs. of meat and pork, a loaf of bread weighing eight lbds. and two heads of cabbabge in the presence of Femmetje the baker and Magdalena Dirricks, and asked him if he wanted more for one week; he said that he had enough. He further says that his soldier aforenamed, on yesterday, Feb. 3, sent a soldier Tomas Elger to his house for more meat and pork, but he refused him the same. He makes a complaint that hte soldier Daniel Botterwout on this day entered his housefully armed and wanted to forcibly take meat and pork if he would not send the same to his soldier Eduard French.

Page 268, 29 Dec 1665

Femmetie Alberts, Plaintiff
vs. Willemtie Alberts, Defendant
Plaintiff says that some time ago she bought a hood of her daughter Grietje and did not receive the same of her daughter, and in the meantime her aforesaid daughter again sold and delivered said hood toWillemtje Alberts, and requests that Willemtie Alberts shall return said hood to her, plaintiff. Defendant answers having bought said hood of plaintiff's daughter Grietje, and (that she) partially paid for the same, the balance of the purchase money is ready with her. Plaintiff replies not being satisfied, but desires to have said hood for herself because she bought it first. The hon. court refers plaintiff to her daughter, to look to her for securing the hood and denies plaintiff's claim against defendant.

Page 322-3, 15/25 Jan 1667

Femmetje Alberts, Plaintiff
vs. Juriaen Westphael, Defendant
Plaintiff demands of defendant per balance of account the amount of 294 gldrs. light money for earned wages of her son, Jan Hendericks Westercamp. Defendant answers having a caounter claim, viz., that 12 sch. of wheatare to be deducted from said account, which 12 sch. he took it upon himself to pay to Niclaes De Meyer, as also one month's hire of none months' hire.  The hon. court sentences defendant to satisfy plaintiff's demand, provided he may keep the 12 sch. of wheat till the arrival of Nicolaes De Meyer, and that plaintiff shall prove that her son paid the one month's hire to defendant, which defendant wants to deduct.

Page 328, 29 Jan/8 Feb 1667

Femmetie Alberts, Plaintiff
vs. Juriaen Westphael, Defendant
Plaintiff produces, as per a previous sentence, a declaration signed by Jacob Jansen Van Etten and Teunis Jacobsen who declare having heard of Jan Hendericks, deceased, that he served with defendant nine or 10 days less than his legal time. Defendant answers that declarers could not very well take their oath in regard to the above named declaration, and further says that nine or 10 days' serving would matter very little, and complains of his indigence, so that he cannot well satisfy plaintiff's previous demand. The hon. court refers to its previous sentence, provided plaintiff shall permit defendant to deduct 10 days' wages from the nine months' hire.

Page 333, 12/22 Feb 1667
 Femmetie Alberts requests that the judgment, dated Jan. 15/25 last. against Juriaen Westphael may be judicially enforced. The officer is ordered to proceed with the execution.

Vol. II:

Page 557, 20 Mar 1665
 In the name of the Lord Amen. Be it known by the contents of this present instrument that in the year 1665, on the 20th day of the month of March, N. S., there appeared before me, Mattheus Capito, Secretary of the village of Wildwyck, Pieter Hillebrants, young man, accompanied by his mother, Femmetje Alberts, party of the first part, and Aeltje Wygerts, widow of Albert Gysbertsen (In the margin stood:  accompanied by Roelof Hendericks, her son-in-law), party of the second part, who have in this following manner stipulated these marriage conditions, viz., that for the glory of God said Pieter Hillebrants and Aeltje Wygerts shall be obliged to conclude their respective marriage here in accordance with the canons of the reformed religion; 2) that the said married people shall confer and bring together all their estate real and personal of whatever nature they shall be, to be used by them in community, according to the customs of Holland, with the exception that the bride Aeltje Wygerts in the presence of the hon. Heer Willem Beeckman, schout, and Jan Willemsen Hoochteylingh, commissary, in the capacity of orphan masters, sets apart for each of her children 50 gldrs. heavy money at three gldrs. per sch. winter wheat, viz., for Aeltje and Jan, children of Lubbert Jansen, and for Lysbet and Gysbert, children of Albert Gysbertsen, for which amount of 50 gldrs. Heavy money for every respective child, she, Aeltje Wygerts, mortgages her house and land situated under (the jurisdiction of) the village of Wildwyck. It is also stipulated by the present with the approval of the aforesaid respective married people (sic) that Roelof and Jan Willemsen Hoochteylingh, both residents here, shall be guardians of said children which the aforesaid members of the court, in their capacity of orphan masters, have approved. It was also stipulated that the aforesaid bride shall have her children instructed in reading and writing, and, if possible, shall have them learn a trade. It was further stipulated that, in case of demise of one or the other of them, all of the conferred and acquired estate during their married life shall be parted in half and divided. With which above conditions the respective parties have promised to comply, binding their persons and goods, personal and real estate, present and future, submitting the same to the jurisdiction of all judges and courts. Done at Wildwyck on the day and in the year mentioned above. (Signed) Pieter Hillebrants, Aeltien Hybersen, the mark + of Femmetje Alberts, Roelof Hendericks, Wilh. Beeckman, Jan Willemsen Hoochteylingh, Roelof Swartwout. Known to me, (Signed) Mattheus Capito, Secretary.

Page 601, 16 Apr 1666
 On this April 16, N. S., of the year 1666, appeared before me, Mattheus Capito, Secretary of the village of Wildwyck, and the below-named witnesses the worthy Femmetje Alberts, widow of Henderick Jansen Westercamp, deceased, who declares having ceded, granted and conveyed, as by the present she is granting, ceding and conveying to Henderick Jochemsen her dwelling and the lot of the same, situated in the village of Beverwyck, bounding to the north on the lot of Daniel Rinckhout, to the east the lot or brewery of Volchert Jansen and Jan Tomassen, to the south on the lot of Jan Fransen Van Hoesem, besides a garden situated on the river-shore, as the same is surrounded by a fence with a path from the aforesaid lot to the garden. Which lot and garden are the balance of the deed granted by the hon. Heer Director General Petrus Stuyvesant and councilors of New Netherland, dated Apr. 23, 1652. In which aforenamed dwelling, lot and garden the before-named appearer Femmetje Alberts has no more title, right, or disposal reserved to herself but has absolutely renounced the same, and ceded them in behalf of the aforesaid Henderick Jochemsen the full payment for the before-named dwelling, lot and garden. And the aforesaid Femmetje Alberts promises never more to revoke this cession and conveyance nor to proceed nor to have proceeded against it either by herself or by anybody else, in whatsoever manner, under obligation as per law, renouncing by the present all exception and defences which should in any manner be contrary to the present, and principally the Beneficium Senatus Consulti Vellejani:  Sigua Mulier. On the account she, the appearer, and Jan Barentsen Kunst and Francois le Cheer, as witnesses invited and requested for the purpose, have signed the present with their own hand at Wildwyck on the day and in the year named before. (Signed) Jan Barentsen Kunst, the mark  of François Le Cheer. In my presence, (signed Mattheus Capito, Secretary.

Source:  Versteeg, Dingman (trans.), New York Historical Manuscripts:  Dutch, Kingston Papers, Vol. I (1661-1667), original translation 1899, Samuel Oppenheim's revision of Vol. I pub. 1912, Baltimore, MD:  Genealogical Publishing Co., 1976.


Footnotes

[1] Who Pieter’s father is or whether or not Femmetje had three husbands is not known. Pieter’s patronymic name of Hillebrants suggests that his father was named Hillebrant and not Hendrick or Michiel. His presence as a witness at the baptism of a child of Jan Gerretsen and Grietjen Hendricks and the presence of Femmetje Alberts as his mother at the signing of his marriage contract are the main pieces of evidence pointing to his relationship to the Westercamp family. MB
[2] Dutch for "baker".
[3] R.R. Hoes: "The present Heerde, in Province of Gelderland, Holland, 30 miles N. N. E. of Arnhem."
[4] Hoes did not translate this passage. It is Latin for "Neither a virgin nor a widow." This refers to the fact that Grietjen was the mother of an illegitimate child.
[5] Note from Van Laer:  "Femmetje Alberts, the widow of Hendrick Jansen Westerkamp, baker."
[6] Note from Van  Laer:  "The same as Femmetien, de backster, or the bakeress, meaning Femmetien Alberts, the widow of Hendrick Jansen Westerkamp, the baker."
[7] Note from Van Laer:  "Schuyftaeffel en het dack daer over."


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