HISTORY OF
JACOBUS BACKER
& HIS WIFE, MARGARET STUYVESANT
- A note in red indicates information added by ASH=Audrey Shields Hancock
- Additional information in purple.
- A child's name in green indicates additional information exists for this child
- SOURCES = References where information was found
- Some hyperlinks can be clicked on to go to the source of information
- Nicholas BACKER is probably the unnamed baptized child b 1656.
Parents: Jacobus BACKER, Margarita STUYVESANT; [child is not named]; [Sponsors:] Honorable Pieter STUYVESANT, General; Nicolaes VERLETH; Anna STUYVESANT
[NOTE: He was probably the unnamed child baptized 25 Mar 1657. As with Dutch tradition, he as first born male would have been named for his paternal grandfather, which would indicate his grandfather was named Nicholas also.]
- Balthazar BACKER b 1658, baptized 18 Sep 1658
Parents: Jacobus de BACKER, Margrietie STUYVESANT; Balthasar. [Sponsors:] De Hr. Pieter STUYVESANT en syn huisvr; Nicolaes VERLETH.
[NOTE: Balthazar as second male child born to these his parents would according to Dutch tradition have been named for his maternal grandfather, thus Balthazar STUYVESANT. However, it appears that Balthazar died before ca 1670 when his father left the family.]
- Hillegond [female] BACKER b 1659, baptized 7 Sep 1659
Parents: Jacobus BACKER, Margrietje STUYVESANT; Hillegond
[Sponsors:] Pieter ADOLPHSZEN; Hillegond MEGAPOLENSIS
[NOTE: Hillegond according to Dutch tradition should have been named for a grandmother, since she appears to be the only daughter born to her parents.. It also appears that Hillegond died before ca 1670 when her father left the family.]
- Hendrick "Henry" BACKER b ca 1660, baptized 26 Sep 1660
Parents: Jacobus BACKER, Margrietie STUYVEST.; Henricus
[Sponsors:] Govert LOOCKERMANS; Margareta RIENERS
- Abraham BACKER b 1664, baptized 23 Nov 1664
Parents: Jacobus BACKER, Margrietie STUYVESANT, Abraham
[Sponsors:] Govert LOOCKERMANS, Jacquis CASYOU - Daniel [de HAERDT] baptized 1 Sep 1671
Parents: Mr. Baltus de Haerdt, Margrietie Stuyvesant
[Witness/Sponsor was the midwife of New Amsterdam:] Hillegont JORIS
(Source: Internet, 16 Mar 2000, E-mail to ASH from Lorine McGinnis Schulze who names Hillegont as midwife.)
[NOTE: Does anyone have any additional information about Daniel? Did he carry the "de HAERDT" surname?]
You are cordially invited to add to the information on Jacobus BACKER. Jacobus & Margaret are not just my ancestors, but many of ours. If you have information, please feel free to contact me. You will be given credit for your contributions as we try to build information on our ancestral lineage.
NOTE: Dutch West India Company involved a trade monopoly in the West Indies (Carribean area) which included trade posts and colonies. This included the New Netherland area (New Amsterdam, New York area, Connecticut area, Delaware area, and New Jersey area) and other areas (Antilles, Caribbean island, Suriname, Guyana, Brasil, Angola, and Curacao). Ships from the Netherlands would transport goods and people from one area to the other stopping at times at the various ports before going to another. Many of the inhabitants of New Amsterdam came on these ships as Dutch traders and this led to its colonization.
Jacobus BACKER (aka Jacob BACKER & Jacob BAKER), possibly the son of Nicholas de BACHER/BACKER/BAKKER, was born 1630 or 1631 in Amsterdam, Holland. The country of his birth at that time period was founded upon the feudal system. The people of Holland were divided into three classes: the nobles who owned the land; the burghers who controlled the cities; and the common people. Many of the rich citizens sought entrance into the highest class by land possession, but this dream could not be fulfilled in Holland. Thus many felt that their future and dream to become a feudal chief might be open to them in America.1
One researcher on the Family Tree Maker website indicates Jacobus' father to be one Nicholas JANSEN de BACHER2, but there is no resource to validate this claim. A bakeshop of "Nicholas Jansen" is recorded as being in BLOCK F [left of E, right of Great Dock pier]. (Source: Internet, 2002, Genealogy Pages by Celain: Within Fort Amsterdam)
Since there are no records of a marriage or baptisms of children for Nicholas BACKER/de BACHER/BAKKER who also appears in New Amsterdam's early records, we still might conclude that Nicholas was then old enough to be the father of Jacobus. Could Nicholas Jansen de Backer be Jacobus' father? It may be plausible, since Jacobus and his wife appear to have named their first-born son, Nicolaes, which according to Dutch tradition would occur if Jacobus' father was so named.
A Nicholas BACKER witnessed a baptism at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam on 7 April 1647.4
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Then one Nicolaes BACKER, served 1651 as attorney, "for Juryaen FRADEL, being heard, says, he is ignorant thereof, but that the tobacco is not merchantable."3
Nicholas BACKER again witnessed a baptism on 28 September 1653.4
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On 18 May 1656, Nicholas was the recipient of land patent #HH52 granted by Pieter STUYVESANT, Director General.
Another baptism was witnessed on 1 Oct 1656.5
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He appears to have been a prominent figure in the affairs of New Amsterdam and was listed as a "Small Burgher" on 14 April 1657. On 18 December 1666, Nicholas was named as a jurist in a law suit.3
One speculator indicated that Jacobus BACKER came as a merchant trader to New Amsterdam, New Netherland probably ca 1650, but this may not be true. He possibly arrived earlier, if his father is the Nicholas BACKER indicated above. At this time, no ship record of either Nicholas' nor Jacobus' arrival has been found, and other records are minimal.
"Jacobus BACKER appears as Attorney for pltf. and demands payment of fl. 921 by virtue of a bottomry bond dated 20th April, 1651, and executed in behalf of Jan BLANCK, requesting deposit of the money in Court." 3
If Jacobus is the same Jacobus BACKER, Attorney, who was in New Amsterdam in 1651, one might then deduce that he possibly arrived with a parent or parents [namely Nicholas de BACHER/BACKER/BAKKER] as a younger man, and thus might be a family member in one of the BACKER residences mentioned below until his marriage. Again, no record is found to exist to validate this theory, but then, who are these BACKER men and their relationships. Evidently more research needs to be done to see if relationships can be proven.
Jacobus contributed 150 gilders toward "putting the city in a state of defense" on 13 March 1653, which is an indication that he probably possessed some wealth.
| INDEX TO PLOTS ON THE DUTCH GRANTS MAP |
From the Marriage Book Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in New Amsterdam, New Netherland (New York), Jacobus married 30 October 1655 to Margaret STUYVESANT van Delfsziel.2 Margaret, daughter of Rev. Balthazar Johannes STUYVESANT and his second wife, Styntje PIETERS; & half-sister of Governor Pieter STUYVESANT (aka Director General) of New Amsterdam; was born 1635 in Holland. Jacobus' & Margaret's marriage is recorded:
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Jacobus and Margaret are recorded as being members of the Dutch Reformed Church, City of NY, in this record.3
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As indicated previously, the feudal system was prevalent in the Dutch mother country of Holland. Eventually many of the practices of privilege flowed into the new settlement and engulfed its people. Among these were those who received the distinguished title of being a "great burgher" and those who could be classified as a "small burgher." On 11 April of 1657, Jacobus BACKER, was inscribed on the roll as a "small burgher." Each title carried special privileges and respectablilty. On the 17 April 1657 rolls was Nicolaes BACKER; and Nicolaes VERLETH, brother-in-law of Jacobus BACKER.
(Source: Internet, 6 Feb 1999, Dutch-Colonies-L: SMabie@aol.com: New Netherland Register)See:
the City of New Amsterdam,
on the Island of Manhattan,
in the Colony of New Netherland.
Anno 1660
the City of New Amsterdam,
on the Island of Manhattan,
in the Colony of New Netherland.
Anno 1660
Jacobus BACKER
"O"wner of property at M 22.
See: Manhattan Island, 1660
Jacobus Backer was listed among the 1660 Residents of New Amsterdam: 22. Jacobus Backer, BLOCK M [left of L], a resident of New Amsterdam.
(Source: Internet, 2002, Genealogy Pages by Celain: Within Fort Amsterdam)
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"A Directory of the City of New-York in 1665.")
Jacobus Backer, as Jacob Bakker, Schepen and other citizens of New Amsterdam, signed a petition on 5 September 1664 asking Gov. Peter Stuyvesant to surrender to the British. Other citizens who signed were Balthazar Stuyvesant, father of Peter and father-in-law of Jacob; Balthazar de Haert who would have a liaison with Margaret (Stuyvesant) Backer after the death of Jacobus; N. Varleth, brother-in-law of Peter Stuyvesant & Jacobus Backer; and Claes Janss. Bakker.
(Source: Internet, 2002,
O'Callaghan's "History of New Netherland; or New York under the Dutch", Volume 2, page 529)
Jacobus BACKER is said to have returned to Holland after 1664 possibly as a traveling merchant, which according to the petition below would indicate that he left his family around 1669. Some believe he deserted his family while others say he is believed to have died ca 1670 on one of his trips. The following petition of his wife acknowledges this probable deduction as to his demise. In this petition she indicates she was left with three small children, yet below we can validate the birth of five children born to this couple.
"Whereas the petition of Margaret Backer, referred to the Court of Mayor and Aldermen, setting forth that her husband Jacob Backer, about eight years since, departed from her leaving her with three small children, in a very poor condition, without making any provision for payment of his debts or for the maintenance of his family, and that now Mr. Geritt Van Tright, one of ye creditors hath sued her for his debt, which will undoubtedly provoke the rest of ye creditors to doe ye lyke." And that "she very much doubts of his life, not having in several years had any letter or advice from him, but various reports of his death, since his departure from Holland to the East Indies." Upon her petition Letters of Administration were granted July 27, 1677. |
Recorded children of Jacobus & Margaret are:
(Source: Internet, 16 Mar 2000, E-mail to ASH from Lorine McGinnis Schulze who shared baptismal records)
"Jacob Backer of Amsterdam had been a leading merchant in this city, where he married Oct. 1655 Margaret d/o Balthazar Stuyvesant of Delfzyl in the province of Groningen, and step sister [actually half-sister] to Gov Peter Stuyvesant. By this lady, he had four children [five baptized above]. Mr. Backer was Schepen of this City [New Amsterdam] in 1660 and 1664 in which later year he returned to Holland after the surrender, leaving his affairs in the hands of his wife, who being unable to discharge a mortgage on his property on the east side of Broad street, south of Beaver Street, sold the premises Feb 24, 1670/1 to Balthazar de Haert to whom she bore a son, Daniel bpt 1 Sept 1671. See Murphy's Anthology, 182; NY Deeds, Lib A, 124; NY Wills 385. On March 11 1677/8 she married Hendrick Droogestradtf, of Elizabeth NJ." |
(Source: Internet, 16 Mar 2000, E-mail to ASH from Lorine McGinnis Schulze who shared this accounting and references: FERNOW, Berthold, Records of New Amsterdam from 1653 to 1674 anno Domini, Edited in 7 volumes, Vol. VI, p. 255: a footnote.)
From the above information it appears that Margaret (STUYVESANT) BACKER had an possible illegitimate child via a liaison or common-law marriage with Baltus de HAERDT.
[NOTE: Does anyone have any additional information about Baltus de HAERDT?]
Child of Baltus de HAERDT & Margrietie STUYVESANT:
Jacobus BACKER's widow, Margaret (STUYVESANT) BACKER, is said to have settled in Elizabeth(town), Essex Co. (now Union Co.), NJ in 1677. This evidently followed her marriage on 11 Mar 1677/8 to Hendrick DROOGESTRADT, of Elizabeth, NJ, as noted above.
(Source: Internet, 16 Mar 2000, E-mail to ASH from Lorine McGinnis Schulze who cites O'CALLAGHAN as the reference.)
END NOTES
1 TUCKERMAN, Bayard, Peter Stuyvesant, Director-General for the West India Company in New Netherland, New York: Dodd, Mead, & Co., 1893 and on-line at: Cornell University MOA Collection
2 FTM: Genealogy of the Ancestors of Sean Andrew George CURRY
3 CRUISE, Warren D., THE CROESEN FAMILIES OF AMERICA, Kresen, Krewsen, Krewson, Cruzen, Cruser, Crusen, Cruise, Cruse, Krusen, Kroes, Croes, Kruser, Vol. I, Croesen Families in the 1600s, Gateway Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1998: pp. 430-431: "The 5 Catharine2 KROESEN--Nicholas BAKKER FAMILY"
Permission granted by Warren D. CRUSE, P.O. Box 100966, Denver, CO 80250-0966, on 6 Apr 2000 to Audrey Shields Hancock to use all data from the book. THANK YOU, MR. CRUISE.
4 SCHULTZ, Lorine McGinnis, The Olive Tree Genealogy: for Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam--Baptisms
5 SCHULTZ, Lorine McGinnis, The Olive Tree Genealogy: for Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam--Baptisms
6 SCHULTZ, Lorine McGinnis, The Olive Tree Genealogy: for Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in New York - Marriages
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Revised: 28 September 2002
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