Ancestral Photographs of Upstate New York

Tangled Roots and Twisted Branches

PELS / PELL / PELLS

The following information is taken from my grandmother's book, "Tangled Roots and Twisted Branches" (published 1987), with some minor reformatting for the web. This book is known to contain some errors. If you have any corrections or additions, please contact me.

from Lefevre Genealogy : Schoonmaker : 485
EVERT PELS, originally from Stettin, Germany - sailed 1642 for Albany, NY with his wife, JANNETJE SYMENS (Schepmoes) and a servant. In Albany, he worked as a Brewer and 26 February 1647 leased a farm on Popasanee Island. He left there and leased another farm near Albany. In 1654 he purchased land in Kingston. In 1661 he was one of those taxed for building of parsonage (see Sylvester's HIST. UL. CO. pg 62...pg 46). He was also one of three justices appointed by Peter Stuyvesant, residing 1662 on his 12 acres on what is now the Strand near the Rondout Creek. He had a trading house there. It was frequented by rough broups of boatmen and youths from the Stockade. Many fights broke out in which Indians were involved. During the first Esopus War 1659, Evert Pels' son was captured and adopted by the Indians. He married an Indian maiden, and, as far as is known, stayed with them.
It was common during the 17th century to trim garments with fur and the name PELS literally meant a furred coat or furred Petticoat.
(Sylvester's HIST UL CO : 1880 part 1 pg 47)

I have additional information on this family in my Worldconnect database.

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