Individual Details
Elias van Court
(12 May 1691 - 28 Jul 1750)
Thomas Van Court married Anna Woerker. Their son Elias Van Court was born 1691 in the Parish of St. Andre, on the channel island of Guernsey, off the coast of France, and is the earliest known ancestor of the Van Court family to arrive in America. It is not known whether his parents came with him or when and how he arrived. One family tradition is that Elias and two brothers arrived at New York and then migrated to New Jersey. Another tradition is that they landed at Cape May and went up the Delaware River. It is believed that he went to New Jersey about 1715, when he was about 24, and settled in Bound Brook in Middlesex County.
"They went to the Isle of Guernsey to escape religious persecution in France, being of the Reformed Faith of the pious Huguenots." The above and what follows are copied from an inscription in a French Testament, on the inside of the book cover in French words, and also from another book on religious essays:" "ELOIS VAN COURT, fils THOMAS VAN COURT, received this book from his uncle, Elois Woerker, on the 12th day of May, 1701, when he was ten years of age."
"They went to the Isle of Guernsey to escape religious persecution in France, being of the Reformed Faith of the pious Huguenots." The above and what follows are copied from an inscription in a French Testament, on the inside of the book cover in French words, and also from another book on religious essays:" "ELOIS VAN COURT, fils THOMAS VAN COURT, received this book from his uncle, Elois Woerker, on the 12th day of May, 1701, when he was ten years of age."
Events
| Birth | 12 May 1691 | Guernsey, Channel Islands | |||
| Marriage | 1716 | Ann Cooper | |||
| Death | 28 Jul 1750 | Piscataway, Middlesex, New Jersey |  | ||
| Occupation | cordwainer/shoemaker | |
Families
| Spouse | Ann Cooper (1691 - 1779) |
| Child | Elizabeth Van Court (1735 - 1778) |
| Father | Thomas van Court (1665 - 1730) |
| Mother | Ann Woerker (1668 - ) |
Notes
Death
The will of Elias van Court mentions his wife and brother-in-law Daniell Cooper. Eleven children are mentioned, nine of whom are underage.1750, April 4, Van Court, Elias, of Piscataway, Middlesex Co., cordwainer; will of. Wife, Ann, all real and personal estate as long as she lives. Children - Agness, Jane, Ann, Elizabeth, Moses, Thomas, Samuel, John and Michael, all under age. Sons, Eliass and Daniell, have had their portions. Executors—wife, son Moses, and brother-in-law Daniell Cooper. Witnesses—Benjamin Runyon, Jare Sebring, Edward Willmott. Proved Aug. 23, 1750. Lib. E. p. 449.
1750, Aug. 24. Inventory. £258.16.1; made by John Vail and Peter Williamson.
(New Jersey Calendar of Wills, volume II, p. 495)
Occupation
Elias was a shoemaker in the Janeway Store near the landing on theRaritan River.