Individual Details
Pieter Jansen Dewitt
(Abt 1624 - Bef May 1705)
Dewitt, Pieter Janse. He took the oath of allegiance in Bowsijck, Kings County, New York 26-30 Sep. 1687. He had been in the colony 35 years (Bockstruck).
The following notes were gathered by Kathryn DeWitt Gazaway, using her Grandfather Artie Franklin DeWitt's verbal history, Helen Perry's Collection, and Andrew J. Provost's DeWitt genealogy.
Kathryn's grandfather related that the first DeWitt to land on American soil was Jans the Witt (deWitt), who was with Eric The Red. The de Witt family came from Norway, to the Netherland. Leaving Norway at the onset of the Black Plague (Black Death). The name de Witt was given to them because of their snow white hair. The next known deWitt to come was Nicholas de Witt, who sailed at age 10 with Henderick Hudson on the Ship "Half Moon" in 1609. The first of our line came to the Long Island area in the mid 1600's. He was very educated and could speak several languages -- Norwegian, Dutch, French, German and English. The ability to speak several languages was helpful. Later a group of Frenchmen needed help in talking with the Dutch officers. They appointed this deWitt to be their leader. Because they were having problems with the Indians, the early settlers were ordered to move and locate in a different area. This deWitt and these French settlers started a town later called Bushwick. This DeWitt was supposed to have a brother John who was "in trade", who married in Long Island . There were maybe three other brothers. One settled in Quebec where they first landed before sailing down to the New York area. Some of the names and places connected with our early line are: Bush Wick, Miss Pat, Nordin, Miss Patches, Van Dyke, Lot, Courtell (Cortelyou), Collier (Calyer). Her Grandpa told about the Indian raid on Long Island, where several were killed and houses were burned. How the English took over Long Island and the settlers had to leave Long Island and how the Dutch came and took it back and they got to live there for a few more years.
Note: The entirety of Long Island came under English dominion in 1664, when the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam was taken over by the English and renamed New York. Both the city of New Amsterdam and the entire colony were renamed New York, while Fort Amsterdam was renamed Fort James and Fort Orange became Fort Albany.
Pieter's parents are said to be Jan Dewitt, born abt. 1600 in Netherland, and Catherine.
-- HPC, pg 12: Pieter Jans DeWit born in Holland about 1625, and came to New Amsterdam shortly before 1652. Baptized son: 26 Dec 1652 in Dutch Church, New Amsterdam.
-- HPC, pg 14: relates the same story my grandfather, Artie told me of the decision to establish and design towns, that could be defended from the Indian raids. That our DeWitt was assigned to a group of Frenchmen and they established the town of Bushwick. The wicks or wicker (houses) were designed in the same fashion as the houses of the Long Island Indians.
-- HPC, pg 15,: 14 Mar 1661, The Lord General came and named town, Boswick. Signed Oath of Allegiance in 1687, stating he had been here for 35 years confirming date of his arrival in the New Netherland. Pieter Jans DeWitt, died in Bushwick, Long Island between 1701 an d 1705, full of years.
-- HPC, pgs., 12 & 13: He married first, Dorothea Volckers, who died in 1658, as reported by him 12 Apr. 1660, to The Orphan's Court in New Amsterdam, expressing his intentions to remarry, and asked for the appointment of guardians for his four (4) children. The resulting proceedings, as given in "Original Records of Burgomasters and Orphan Masters," page 132 , are preserved as follows:
"On the 15th, of April 1660, appeared before me Joannes Nevius, secretary of the Orphans Chamber of the City of Amsterdam in New Netherland, Pieter Jansen Witt, who in the presents of Henderick Willemsen, the baker, and Jan Jansen van Breeste produced a petition presented to the Director General and Council of New Netherland, August 25, 1658, wherein he reports the death of his wife who left him four children, and his intent on to marry again, as well following the customs and manners of the country; the property, after his wife's death, amounting to 3,200 fl. the florin at 20 stuyvers, of which is said children's share or half is 1,600 fl. He declares his conscience that there is no more and that no more would be found by impartial men; and administrators to take care of the property, so that said children may not be harmed in their interest, Hendrick Willemsen, the baker, and Jan Jansen van Breeste , binding for the afore said children's share of 1,600 fl.... . This was approved... A marginal note on petition dated 12 April 1660.. Gives wife's name Dorothy Volckers... that he promises to secure this money here at the Manhattans .....that the above mentioned be elected guardians of his four children, further to bring up the children, until they are of age or marry, to board and clothe them and do all for them that an honest father is bound to do."
-- Pieter's second wife had died before 1698 and he may have married a third wife.
-- Name of father and mother: Pieter Jans DeWitt seldom wrote his name with out adding the Jans or Jansen so this would indicate his father was named Jan DeWitt. His mother was probably named Catherine, because he named second born daughter Catherine. By this we can then assume that his wife's mother was named Maria because he named his first born daughter Maria.
-- HP pg 20: "His many years of service for the Bushwick people, Pieter Jans deWit was able to mold the group, diversified as it was as to ages, culture, possessions and nationalistic origins, into a band of loyal and efficient followers. His dealings with the occasional scandals and infractions that are found on record, his was always the pacifying and restoring influence. An example of his fine judgement in such matters is preserved in the town record of 12 Feb 1663, relating to a serious quarrel that erupted in two of the families, (one Scandinavian and the other Dutch or French) which threatened to develop into a community scandal. Pieter at once summoned the heads of these families before him and some chosen associates where, in camera, after hearing the evidence, a decree was drawn up and presented that "the occurrence was null and void, without being recalled again at this nor at any time, under the penalty, for who shall first make mention or touches thereon of paying 25 guilders to the poor of Boswyck." Pieter 's philanthropic impulses are reflected in the record of 30 March 1662 which cites him as a contributor for the ransom of one Jacob Cray, who was held captive by the Turks.
-- 19 Aug 1675 - Boswyck Census: Pieter Janse Witt had 3 Polls
-- 23 Sep 1676 - Boswyck Census: Capt. Pieter Jansen Witt had 3 Polls
-- 8 Sep 1683 - Bushwyck Census: Pieter Jansen Wit had 2 Polls
-- Census 1695, Boswick, NEW YORK - Men 1; Women 0; Children 1; Slaves 5 (Should be Men 1; Women 1; Slaves 5)
-- Sept, 1687 - Under English Rule the people had to take an Oath of Allegiance. In Boswick were: Peter Janse DeWitt resided for 35 years Volkert DeWitt native.
There is some question as to whether PIETER JANSEN DeWIT [note spelling] is related to any of the other DeWitt families who arrived inthe Dutch colony of Nieuw Nederlandt [New Netherland].
Andries Provost Jr. in his book, "Early Settlers of Bushwick, Long Island, New York and their Descendants," states:
"Several of the name [DeWitt] came to New Amsterdam before and after the immigration of PIETER JANS DeWIT in 1652, such as:
"Gysbert DeWit, who in 1664 testified powder had been smuggled at New Amsterdam by the ship St. Peter;
"Jan Albertszen DeWit, who in 1662 as a j. m. [young man] van Leedam [from Leendam] married at Brooklyn Dutch Church to Gertruydt Wyngaerden and who may have been the Jan DeWit, miller, fined for picking his mill stone on a Sunday....;
"Johannes DeWit, merchant, of New Amsterdam who in 1662 before departing for Holland gave power of attorney to his wife Janneken; and
"Tjerck DeWit from Grootholdt who in 1656 married Barbara Andriessen and who in 1661 removed to Esopus to found the DeWitt family of Ulster Co., NY.
"None of these is found of record as in any way associated with Pieter Jans deWit who, in the selection of baptismal sponsors for his children, appears to have limited them to his neighbors and close friends.
"It is this compiler's considered opinion that, in all probability, Pieter Jans DeWit was the immigrant progenitor of a DeWit family that is distinct from and entirely unrelated to the other American families bearing the same name."
The following notes were gathered by Kathryn DeWitt Gazaway, using her Grandfather Artie Franklin DeWitt's verbal history, Helen Perry's Collection, and Andrew J. Provost's DeWitt genealogy.
Kathryn's grandfather related that the first DeWitt to land on American soil was Jans the Witt (deWitt), who was with Eric The Red. The de Witt family came from Norway, to the Netherland. Leaving Norway at the onset of the Black Plague (Black Death). The name de Witt was given to them because of their snow white hair. The next known deWitt to come was Nicholas de Witt, who sailed at age 10 with Henderick Hudson on the Ship "Half Moon" in 1609. The first of our line came to the Long Island area in the mid 1600's. He was very educated and could speak several languages -- Norwegian, Dutch, French, German and English. The ability to speak several languages was helpful. Later a group of Frenchmen needed help in talking with the Dutch officers. They appointed this deWitt to be their leader. Because they were having problems with the Indians, the early settlers were ordered to move and locate in a different area. This deWitt and these French settlers started a town later called Bushwick. This DeWitt was supposed to have a brother John who was "in trade", who married in Long Island . There were maybe three other brothers. One settled in Quebec where they first landed before sailing down to the New York area. Some of the names and places connected with our early line are: Bush Wick, Miss Pat, Nordin, Miss Patches, Van Dyke, Lot, Courtell (Cortelyou), Collier (Calyer). Her Grandpa told about the Indian raid on Long Island, where several were killed and houses were burned. How the English took over Long Island and the settlers had to leave Long Island and how the Dutch came and took it back and they got to live there for a few more years.
Note: The entirety of Long Island came under English dominion in 1664, when the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam was taken over by the English and renamed New York. Both the city of New Amsterdam and the entire colony were renamed New York, while Fort Amsterdam was renamed Fort James and Fort Orange became Fort Albany.
Pieter's parents are said to be Jan Dewitt, born abt. 1600 in Netherland, and Catherine.
-- HPC, pg 12: Pieter Jans DeWit born in Holland about 1625, and came to New Amsterdam shortly before 1652. Baptized son: 26 Dec 1652 in Dutch Church, New Amsterdam.
-- HPC, pg 14: relates the same story my grandfather, Artie told me of the decision to establish and design towns, that could be defended from the Indian raids. That our DeWitt was assigned to a group of Frenchmen and they established the town of Bushwick. The wicks or wicker (houses) were designed in the same fashion as the houses of the Long Island Indians.
-- HPC, pg 15,: 14 Mar 1661, The Lord General came and named town, Boswick. Signed Oath of Allegiance in 1687, stating he had been here for 35 years confirming date of his arrival in the New Netherland. Pieter Jans DeWitt, died in Bushwick, Long Island between 1701 an d 1705, full of years.
-- HPC, pgs., 12 & 13: He married first, Dorothea Volckers, who died in 1658, as reported by him 12 Apr. 1660, to The Orphan's Court in New Amsterdam, expressing his intentions to remarry, and asked for the appointment of guardians for his four (4) children. The resulting proceedings, as given in "Original Records of Burgomasters and Orphan Masters," page 132 , are preserved as follows:
"On the 15th, of April 1660, appeared before me Joannes Nevius, secretary of the Orphans Chamber of the City of Amsterdam in New Netherland, Pieter Jansen Witt, who in the presents of Henderick Willemsen, the baker, and Jan Jansen van Breeste produced a petition presented to the Director General and Council of New Netherland, August 25, 1658, wherein he reports the death of his wife who left him four children, and his intent on to marry again, as well following the customs and manners of the country; the property, after his wife's death, amounting to 3,200 fl. the florin at 20 stuyvers, of which is said children's share or half is 1,600 fl. He declares his conscience that there is no more and that no more would be found by impartial men; and administrators to take care of the property, so that said children may not be harmed in their interest, Hendrick Willemsen, the baker, and Jan Jansen van Breeste , binding for the afore said children's share of 1,600 fl.... . This was approved... A marginal note on petition dated 12 April 1660.. Gives wife's name Dorothy Volckers... that he promises to secure this money here at the Manhattans .....that the above mentioned be elected guardians of his four children, further to bring up the children, until they are of age or marry, to board and clothe them and do all for them that an honest father is bound to do."
-- Pieter's second wife had died before 1698 and he may have married a third wife.
-- Name of father and mother: Pieter Jans DeWitt seldom wrote his name with out adding the Jans or Jansen so this would indicate his father was named Jan DeWitt. His mother was probably named Catherine, because he named second born daughter Catherine. By this we can then assume that his wife's mother was named Maria because he named his first born daughter Maria.
-- HP pg 20: "His many years of service for the Bushwick people, Pieter Jans deWit was able to mold the group, diversified as it was as to ages, culture, possessions and nationalistic origins, into a band of loyal and efficient followers. His dealings with the occasional scandals and infractions that are found on record, his was always the pacifying and restoring influence. An example of his fine judgement in such matters is preserved in the town record of 12 Feb 1663, relating to a serious quarrel that erupted in two of the families, (one Scandinavian and the other Dutch or French) which threatened to develop into a community scandal. Pieter at once summoned the heads of these families before him and some chosen associates where, in camera, after hearing the evidence, a decree was drawn up and presented that "the occurrence was null and void, without being recalled again at this nor at any time, under the penalty, for who shall first make mention or touches thereon of paying 25 guilders to the poor of Boswyck." Pieter 's philanthropic impulses are reflected in the record of 30 March 1662 which cites him as a contributor for the ransom of one Jacob Cray, who was held captive by the Turks.
-- 19 Aug 1675 - Boswyck Census: Pieter Janse Witt had 3 Polls
-- 23 Sep 1676 - Boswyck Census: Capt. Pieter Jansen Witt had 3 Polls
-- 8 Sep 1683 - Bushwyck Census: Pieter Jansen Wit had 2 Polls
-- Census 1695, Boswick, NEW YORK - Men 1; Women 0; Children 1; Slaves 5 (Should be Men 1; Women 1; Slaves 5)
-- Sept, 1687 - Under English Rule the people had to take an Oath of Allegiance. In Boswick were: Peter Janse DeWitt resided for 35 years Volkert DeWitt native.
There is some question as to whether PIETER JANSEN DeWIT [note spelling] is related to any of the other DeWitt families who arrived inthe Dutch colony of Nieuw Nederlandt [New Netherland].
Andries Provost Jr. in his book, "Early Settlers of Bushwick, Long Island, New York and their Descendants," states:
"Several of the name [DeWitt] came to New Amsterdam before and after the immigration of PIETER JANS DeWIT in 1652, such as:
"Gysbert DeWit, who in 1664 testified powder had been smuggled at New Amsterdam by the ship St. Peter;
"Jan Albertszen DeWit, who in 1662 as a j. m. [young man] van Leedam [from Leendam] married at Brooklyn Dutch Church to Gertruydt Wyngaerden and who may have been the Jan DeWit, miller, fined for picking his mill stone on a Sunday....;
"Johannes DeWit, merchant, of New Amsterdam who in 1662 before departing for Holland gave power of attorney to his wife Janneken; and
"Tjerck DeWit from Grootholdt who in 1656 married Barbara Andriessen and who in 1661 removed to Esopus to found the DeWitt family of Ulster Co., NY.
"None of these is found of record as in any way associated with Pieter Jans deWit who, in the selection of baptismal sponsors for his children, appears to have limited them to his neighbors and close friends.
"It is this compiler's considered opinion that, in all probability, Pieter Jans DeWit was the immigrant progenitor of a DeWit family that is distinct from and entirely unrelated to the other American families bearing the same name."
Events
| Birth | Abt 1624 | Leiden, Utrecht, Netherlands |  | ||
| Marriage | Bef 1650 | Netherlands - Dorothea Volckers | | ||
| Immigration | Abt 1652 | | |||
| Marriage | Abt 1662 | Boswyck or, Flatbush, New Netherland - Helena? | |||
| Death | Bef May 1705 | Bushwick, Long Island, New York, British America | |
Families
| Spouse | Dorothea Volckers (1630 - 1658) |
| Child | Pieter Peiterse Dewitt (1650 - 1721) |
| Child | Maria Dewit (1652 - 1699) |
| Child | Catharyn Dewit (1654 - 1734) |
| Child | Volckert Dewitt (1657 - 1695) |
| Spouse | Helena? ( - 1698) |
| Child | Boudwyn Dewit (1663 - ) |
| Child | Divertje Dewit (1670 - ) |
Endnotes
1. Gazaway, Kathryn DeWitt, DeWitt family research. (Utopia, Texas: compiled by Kathryn DeWitt Gazaway, grannykk@peppersnet.com).
2. Provost, Andrew J., Early settlers of Bushwick, Long Island, New York and their descendants (Darien, Conn.: A.J. Provost, 1949-1963, 624 pgs.), p 92 - abt 1625 Holland.
3. Gazaway, Kathryn DeWitt, DeWitt family research. (Utopia, Texas: compiled by Kathryn DeWitt Gazaway, grannykk@peppersnet.com).
4. Provost, Andrew J., Early settlers of Bushwick, Long Island, New York and their descendants (Darien, Conn.: A.J. Provost, 1949-1963, 624 pgs.), p 92.
5. Gazaway, Kathryn DeWitt, DeWitt family research. (Utopia, Texas: compiled by Kathryn DeWitt Gazaway, grannykk@peppersnet.com).