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VAN TOREN
The first of this name of concern to us is John Van Toren. It is unknown where or when
he was born, and he died between 1791-1794. He married (between 1758-1766) first a widow
named Forrester. Widow Forrester already had three children from her previous marriage to
Mr. ? Forrester. These children were:
 | Sarah Forrester b.1758-d.6/12/1839, who married Jameson Cox |
| Andrew Forrester, who married Elizabeth ? |
| Deborah Forrester, who married James Rowland in 1779 |
John Van Toren and widow Forrester together had:
| Katharine Van Toren, b.11/16/1766- d. 1/14/1848, married Thomas Timpson at Trinity
Church, NY by the Rev. Mr. Moore |
| Rachel Van Toren, b 1768 |
| John Van Toren b.1770-d.1799 |
John Van Toren then on 6/11/1774 took for his second wife Margaret Rizzard. John and
Margaret had the following children:
| Margaret Van Toren , b.2/27/1777, who married William Handcock on 8/9/1795 |
| Sarah Van Toren, b.? Who married Stephen Young |
| Ann Van Toren, b.? |
| Jane Van Toren, b.? |
| Letitia b.12/15/1790 - d. 1/15/1883, who in 1810 married Gurdon S. Mumford b.? - d.
1870. |
And according to LDS records:
| Helletje Van Toren b. 1790 |
| William Van Toren b.1779 |
So at the time of his marriage to Margaret Rizzard in 1774, his three step-children
and his own three children were 16 years of age and under. So as a new bride, Margaret
entered a household that probably consisted of six children.
The census of New York for the year 1790 does not contain the name of Van Toren nor
does the first directory of New York. But the directory for the year:
| 1794 lists Margaret Van Tor(e)n as a widow residing at 63 Murray Street. |
| 1796 lists Margaret Van Toren and (Daughter) Jane as tailoress at 28 Vanderwater Street |
| 1797 lists Margaret Van Toren at 93 Beekman Street. |
The Van Toren house and lot, 21x100 feet on the North side of Beekman Street about 115
feet East of Nassau Street was conveyed in Sept 1801 by:
| Andrew Forrester, |
| Jameson Cox, |
| Sarah Cox, his wife, |
| Deborah (Forrester) Rowland, |
| Margaret Van Toren, |
| William Robeson, |
| William Handcock, |
| Margaret Handcock, |
| Heirs of John Van Toren, |
| Sarah Robenson (who released dower rights), |
| Elizabeth Forrester. |
To: Thomas Timpson for 805 pounds, 1
shilling and 25 pence. Later on January 23, 1803, Stephen Young and his wife Sarah Young,
one of the heirs, conveyed to Thomas Timpson their interest for $330. In 1814 Letitia (Van
Toren) Mumford and her husband Gurdon Mumford and Ann Van Toren conveyed to Thomas Timpson
1/10th interest as heirs of John Van Toren for $660.
The latter two deeds may have been given later because at the time the first deed was
executed they were not of age. WMJ was unable to find any deed of record conveying the
property to the Van Torens and it appears to have been in Criger (Creiger ?) ownership.
The Beekman Street property was sold by Thomas Timpson in 1808 to Van Nostrand for
about $5,000 and in 1811 Van Nostrand conveyed it back to Thomas Timpson for $5,800. In
May 1823, Timpson conveyed it to William Adee, who married Thomas’ daughter Sarah E.,
and the Adee’s held it till 1853 when they sold it for $15,000
John Van Toren, son of John and Widow Forrester (Katharine’s brother) is listed
in the city directories for the years 1789,1790,91,92 as Carmen, 4 Beekman Street. He left
her a legacy in his will, dated 1793 and admitted to probate July 6, 1799:
JOHN VAN TOREN, New York, to my sister Catherine Van Toren now Catherine Timpson,
m2OO; to pay her in hand at my decease whenever a dividend is made; to my sister Rachel
Van Toren, ce2OO to be paid her in like manner; whatever part of my property, money or
monies that may remain after paying out those legacies, may be equally divided between the
children of my own mother and the children of my stepmother; that is those children my
mother had before her marriage with my father and likewise those children my father had by
his second wife; my step mother to have an equal share with each of these children herein
lastly mentioned- I appoint my brother-in-law Thomas Timpson, my brother-in-law Jameson
Cox and my step mother Margaret Van Toren, executors.
Dated November 9, 1793. Witnesses, William Pinkney, Stephen Pinkney, writing clerk, Leml.
Smith.
Proved July 6, 1799.
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NOTES:
- John Van Toren was listed as William? Van Toren in WMJ’s work
because he found a reference to a legacy due Margaret Handcock and Letitia Mumford from
William Van Toren in Thomas Timpson’s will. He thought that William Van Toren might
be their father.
- Katharine Van Toren’s silver service, given to her for her
wedding to Thomas Timpson was in the possession of A.D.Timpson in 1933.
- Andrew Forrester was admitted a freeman in 1711 and witnessed a
will in 1757.
- Katharine Van Toren and her husband Thomas Timpson are buried in
the Timpson Vault of St. Peters Churchyard, (formerly in the Village of
Westchester)Westchester Ave, Bronx.
- John Van Toren’s will abstract is from: Abstracts of Wills,
Vol XV, 1796-1800. NYC.
- Helletje Van Toren b. 1790 and William Van Toren b.1779 were not
included in WMJ’s original work . These names were from LDS records, obtained from
N.P. Saunders.
Data Obtained Relative to the Van Toren Family, extracted from the work
of Walter M. Jackson, 1913
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