Who is Marten Van Buren - Alias Black Marten? Actually, this is an error.

Professor Jonathan Pearson and Joel Munsell combined the records of two people. These errors, for the most part, appear in Genealogies of the First Settlers of Albany, published by both authors.

Black (or Swarte) Marten is really a Beekman, earlier records named as Verbeek derived from Beirkraker, aka Martin Cornelissen Van Ysselsteyn). Black Marten was born in the Netherlands (Holland), married Susan Janse and had 8 children. Printed genealogies list the following children, 2 names unknown: Hendrick, Johannes, Martin (married Neeltje Slingerland), Metje, Neeltje and Engeltje.

Marten Cornelissen Van Buren married Marritie Quackenbosh, had 7 children; Cornelis, Cornelia, Pieter, Marytje, Marten, Catelyntje, and Magdalena. This Marten owned a house, barn, etc., in Bethlehem, Albany Co. He also owned one half of Constapel's Island, below Albany in the 1660's.

The confusion with the records is the naming in the early records. Both Martens use the name Marten Cornelissen before the use of common surnames. A study of the records reveals the correct lineage, property ownership, etc. These records, in part, have been published in the works by A.J.F. Van Laer; Minutes of the Court of Rensselaerswyck 1648-1652,and Minutes of the Court of Fort Orange and Beverwyck 1652-1660, Volumes I and II.

This error is also pointed out by the New York State Library as a foot note in the Van Bouwier Manuscripts. It appears on page 181 as follows:

His (Cornelis Maessen's) second son, Martin Cornelisz, has by Jonathan Pearson and other writers been confused with Swarte Marten, or Black Marten, who from the mark he makes is readily identified with Marten Cornelisz van Ysselstyn. This Marten Cornelisz van Ysselstyn states in an affidavit of Oct. 28, 1660 (Notarial Papers, Albany Clerks Office) that in his youth he had lived for many years at Houten, in the bishopric of Utrecht (Province of Holland).