Descendants of Barent Cornelissen Slecht
of New Amsterdam

Van Breestede

Generation #1

Barent Cornelissen Slecht of New Amsterdam

Barent Cornelissen Slecht was born c. 1615 in Woerden, the Dutch Republic. Cornelis Barentszoon Slecht, the father, also of Woerden, is mentioned in records for 1640–53 as a distiller and brandy maker. And, Barent Cornelissen Slecht was a property owner and businessman. In about 1640 at Woerden, the Dutch Republic, Barent married Tryntje Mattisdocter Bosch b. 1620 in Indijk, Dutch Republic.

Barent is last found in Woerden on 3/17/1653 where he and wife Tryntje Bosch, gave power of attorney to Jan Corszoon Rietvelt to collect the receipts and titles for her portion of the sale of goods from the estate of her father. This marks the family's preparation for immigration to New Netherlands. By 1654, Barent and family immigrated to New Amsterdam.

Thomas Chamber, the founder of Esopus (now Kingston NY), settled on Esopus Creek in June of 1652. (Dutch patent granted 11/8/1653) And, Barent was right behind him; effectively becoming a founding citizen. Initially, relations were good with the local Esopus Indians where settlers traded for furs. But, not for long.

In 5/1658 Barent signed up for the Esopus Militia with the rank of Sergeant. The task was to construct a stockade around the central settlement. Reportedly, Barent supervised construction of the stockade which was 8 ft. high and encompassed about a 4 x 4 square block area. In 1659 several settlers came across some local Indians lying drunk in a meadow and shot some of them, resulting in the First Eposus War.

In between Indian attacks, Barent served his community and his church as a commissioner, Sergeant of the Militia, and judge. The first ecclesiastical record for Barent and family is from December of 1660 where he and others founded the Dutch Reformed Church at Esopus NY:

To the Glory of God
and in Memory of. . .
Cornelius Slecht
his wife
Tryntje Tysse. . .
Who partook of the First Lord's Supper
in this church on the 26th day of Dec. 1660

Like Abraham of old, they first builded an altar
unto the Lord, and then pitched their tents.

The next record for Barent is the 3/29/1662 passenger list for the ship de Purnerlander Kerck from Holland returning to New Amsterdam. Reasonable conjecture leads to the belief that Barent sailed earlier in 1661 to settle accounts for some unnamed assets back in Holland, returning on de Purnerlander Kerck. This was a major undertaking; as the roundtrip voyage could have taken up to an entire year to complete. From Barent's 9/1684 marriage agreement with Elsie Jans, there is an annotation about the "money in Holland."

On 7/7/1663 Sgt. Barent Cornelissen Slecht fought in what we know as the the Battle of the Wiltwyck Stockade. Without notice, the Esopus Indians had infiltrated the stockade by twos and threes. When on command, a general melee ensued. Having no prior warning, all the men of the settlement grabbed whatever implement could be used as a weapon to defend their homes and families. Pinned down by Indian fire, the men continued the fight amongst the houses until reinforcements arrived.. In the end, with the aid of cannons, the savages were cleared from the stockade. But many of the residents of Esopus had been taken captive.

For days and weeks after, the Wiltwyck Militia and reinforcements from New Amsterdam traversed the countryside, searching for the captives. Moving south, up the Rondout Creek Valley, the Militia stormed the Indian fortification at Wawarsink and rescued the hostages. With the death of so many braves, the survivors scattered amongst the many different Indian villages in the area, ending the Indian threat at Esopus.

In 1664 the Dutch colonies in North America were captured by a fleet sent by the Duke of York and were renamed New York. Eventually, the Dutch communities would come under English administrative control. But, this was not very popular with the folks at Esopus.

On 2/4/1667 the people of Kingston took up arms against the English in revolt against their abusive authority and in response to the imprisonment of Barent Slecht. Barent was severely beaten for defending himself and his family from a detachment of British soldiers who had entered his brewhouse and harassed his family. The Dutch burghers marched on the British garrison, demanding Cornelis' release and the court ordered his release, but Captain Brodhead, the English commander, defied them all, saying he would keep Cornelis "as long as he wished" and threatened violence should the matter be pressed. In April during hearings on the "Esopus Mutiny," Captain Broadhead admitted his actions and was suspended from his command for disobeying the orders issued by the British governor of New York forbidding harassment of Dutch citizens.

After the death of Tryntje, Barent remarried. Esopus was a small town where everybody knew each other, went to church together, and were eventually interrelated. Having been a longtime associate of Lt. Hendrick Schoonmaker, Barent would have known Hendricks widow quite well. On 9/26/1684, Barent married Elsje Janse van Breestede (mother of son-in-law, Joachem Hendrixse Schoonmaker) b. c. 1623 Breestede, Duchy of Schleswig (Denmark).

Barent died 9/1690 in Kingston, Ulster Co NY.

March 17, 1653. Barent Cornelissen Slecht and wife Tryntje Tijsse Bosch gave power of attorney to Jan Corszoon Rietvelt to collect the receipts and titles of her portion in the sale of goods from the estate of her father.
31 May 1658. Barent Cornelissen Slecht signed an agreement with Gov. Stuyvesant to build a stockade and to make peace with the Indians.

DE PURMERLANDER KERCK (THE PURMERLAND CHURCH)
Sailed from Amsterdam 9 November 1661 arrived New Amsterdam 29 March 1662:
Barent Cornelissen Slecht
Ulster Co NY Probate Book VI Part A, p. 26:
Barentsen, Tryntie, wife of Cornelis Barentsen. Testament disposition dated Aug. 17 ???? and written in Dutch.
Cornelis Barentsen, her husband, co-testator, and herself desire that the whole estate be inherited by the survivor and at their deaths by the children: Jacomeyntie, Hendrick, Annetie, Mattys, and Petronella. If any of the testators should re-marry, one half of the property is to be divided immediately among the children. A linen chest made by Jan Jansen, which Petronella has, is above her portion.
Signed by Cornelis Barentse Slecht and Trynte Tysen Bosch. Witnessed by Wessel Ten Broeck and Jan Heyndricksz.
Ulster Co NY Probate Book VI Part A, p. 26:
Cornelis Barentsen Sleght widow of the deceased, Trynntie Tysen Bos, bridegroom and Elsie Jans, widow of Hendrick Jochemsen, bride, on Sep. 26, 1684, agree to the following marriage contract: (usual beginning then) the bridegroom donates to the bride as a dowry 200 scr. wheat. Signed by Cornelis Barentse Slecht, and Elsie Jans (her mark); witnessed by Jan Eltinge and. . .
[Settlement of the pre-marriage estate of Elsje Janse van Breestede]
Elsje Jans, having the greatest affection for her children, gives all her possessions to Jochem, Eghbert, Hendrick, Engeltie, Hendris and Pieter Adriaens.
Engeltie Hendris, wife of Nicholas Anthony, is to inherit her share, that is her grandmother's small closet, a pewter saucers, and a cow.
Dated Oct. 8, 1684, and witnessed by Yan Stol and Jan van Vleidt (his mark).
[Settlement of the pre-marriage estate of Cornelis Barentsen Slecht]
Inventory of the estate of Cornelis Barentsen Sleght, A house and brewery, an orchard, hop-garden, 3 morgens of land across the Great Bridge, household furniture described.
The money in Holland shall be inherited by the children.
The heirs of the deceased Tryntie Tysen Bos, in love and friendship with our father, Cornelis Barentsen Slegth have agreed to divide their mother' property in the following way: Cornelis Barentsen Slecth to retain the amount, 750 sch. of wheat, paying therefore 5% interest per annum, for which purpose he mortgages his real property consisting of 3 morgens of land opposite the great bridge, house, orchard, brewery, and hop-garden. The entire property shall be inherited by Hendrick, Jacomentie, Mattys, Pietronella Slecht, at his death, except the 200 sch. wheat to Elsie Jans, Cornelis Barentsen's second wife.
Signed Cornelis Slecht and Jan Elting; witnessed by Mattys Slecht and Jochem Hendricksen
Dutch Reformed Church, Kingston NY
1684 26 Sep; Cornelis Barentz Slegt, wid Tryntie Bos, of Woerden, Holland;
Elsie Jans, wid Hendric Jochemz, of Breestee, both liv Kingston. (b)

Dutch Reformed Church, Kingston NY: 4/14/1689
Parents Child Sponsors
Hendrick Hendricksen
Geertruyd de Witt		 Eltje &
Heskia		 Barent Cornelissen Slecht
Elsie Jansen

    Children

    1. Jacomeyntie Cornelisdocter Slecht b. 1645 Woerden, the Dutch Republic

    2. Hendrick Slecht

Ulster Co NY Probate Book VI Part A, p. 26:
Barentsen, Tryntie, wife of Cornelis Barentsen. Testament disposition dated Aug. 17 ???? and written in Dutch.
Cornelis Barentsen, her husband, co-testator, and herself desire that the whole estate be inherited by the survivor and at their deaths by the children: Jacomeyntie, Hendrick, Annetie, Mattys, and Petronella.
Hendrick Slecht applied for citizenship/ swore oath of allegiance. Stated that he had been in the colony for 35 years.

    3. Annitjen Cornelisdocter Slecht

Ulster Co NY Probate Book VI Part A, p. 26:
Barentsen, Tryntie, wife of Cornelis Barentsen. Testament disposition dated Aug. 17 ???? and written in Dutch.
Cornelis Barentsen, her husband, co-testator, and herself desire that the whole estate be inherited by the survivor and at their deaths by the children: Jacomeyntie, Hendrick, Annetie, Mattys, and Petronella.

    4. Mattys Slecht

Ulster Co NY Probate Book VI Part A, p. 26:
Barentsen, Tryntie, wife of Cornelis Barentsen. Testament disposition dated Aug. 17 ???? and written in Dutch.
Cornelis Barentsen, her husband, co-testator, and herself desire that the whole estate be inherited by the survivor and at their deaths by the children: Jacomeyntie, Hendrick, Annetie, Mattys, and Petronella.

    5.Petronella Slecht b. 1649 Woerden, the Dutch Republic

Generation #2

Elten, Van Meter Families

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
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