Captain Jan de Vries

Not the same as Jan Gerritszen de Vries van Workum

"Johan de Vries was a Dutch Army Captain. Capt. Johan (AKA Jan) de Vries came to New Netherland in 1644. He had been previously stationed in Brazil and Curacao when he reassigned to New Amsterdam at the request of Peter Stuyvesant. There he defended the Dutch colony from Native American predations while serving under WIC Governor Kieft. He came on the ship Den Blowen Haen (The Blue Cock) with approximately 100 troops. Jan's arrival at New Amsterdam was documented on March 9, 1644 in New Amsterdam Council minute as follows: "Refusing to accede to the petition of captain Jan de Fries and ensign Gysbert de Leeuw, for the same allowance for board as in Brazil",(p. 216).

He had a relationship with a woman who was a former slave that he had purchased in 'Brazil" and who bore him a son in New Amsterdam in 1647 The woman was mixed race (Portuguese/African and went by several names: Elara Criolyo, Lara, Swartinne. The son, Jan de Vries II, was classified as a negro or mullato in Dutch records and later in Tappan church records.

The location referred to in Brazil is almost certainly a fort named Saint-Louis de Maragnan established by the French. The Brazilian state is presently known as Maranhão. The settlement was conquered for Portugal by Jerônimo de Albuquerque in 1615, when it was renamed São Luís in Portuguese. There had been little time for the French to build a city, a fact which has led to some controversy as to the actual date of the founding of the city, whether by the French or the Portuguese. In 1641. Subsequently the city was invaded by the Dutch, who surrendered it in 1645." > Wikipedia

from: http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Van_Dolzen-1 &

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Van_Dolzen-2

Allso (same source) Capt. de Vries fought with then Director Kieft, and was sent back to Holland by Director Peter Stuyvesant as a witness/plaintiff against Kieft, in 1647. It was that journey that was his demise. He died on September 27,1647, in a shipwreck of the Princess Amelia near Swansea, Wales, while on route to Amsterdam to testify against Willem Kieft, along with severl of Willem Kieft's opponents including the Rev. Everardus Bogardus."

As reported, it was this Jan de Vries who had been given an assignment to suppress the Native American tribes and, in conjunction with that effort, is elsewhere said to have been involved with early settlement designs on the Tappan area. This leaves researchers to wonder if they can conclude that this somehow resulted in his son, Jan de Vries II, garnering one of the 16 original shares in the Patent. (?) ~ alongside his half-brother who was also granted a share. (see Jan de Vries II )

Notable:
Jan exemplifies the class of men who were allowed the practice of miscegenation that was briefly permitted in the few decades under Dutch rule of Manhattan. It is probably doubtful that many his living descendants know of him. His descendants in the 21st century are now regarded as Black, mixed-race or White. <World tree > on Geni includes such individuals. There is no marriage record between Johan de Vries and Swartinne, his mullata spouse. They may have been married in Brazil or they may have simply cohabitated. When Johan de Vries left for the last time to the Netherlands, he wrote a power of attorney for the care of his son and wife who he referred to simply as "my Brazilian woman".

Johan de Vries. (b. 1595-1620), died Sep 10, 1647 at sea off Wales. He had two children by Elana, one, Jan de Vries II bp. Aug 8, 1647 at NARDC, m. Adriaentje Dircks on 10 Dec.1679, a child of a slave. Jan and Adriaentje relocated to Tappan, had 4 children, and died there.[1]

Johan was born in Friesland but he spent his early adulthood in the Dutch army, in Brazil, and New Amsterdam.[2] Johan should not be confused with either Jan Gerritsen de Vries van Dalsen, a ship's carpenter from Workum, Friesland nor Jan Van Dalssen, both men from separate and unrelated families. There is no primary evidence that the patronymic "Gerritsen" was ever used to refer to Johan de Vries. Ditto for documentation that links Johan de Vries to the town of Dalfsen (AKA Dalsen) in the Dutch province of Overijessel. Johan De Fries was consistently known as "de Fries" and "de Vries" in the historical record of both church and state and there is not a single sighting of this man which links him to the names of Gerritsen, Dalsen, or Dolson.

Capt. Jan de Vries came to New Netherland in 1644. He had been previously stationed in Brazil, and was at Curacao when he was sent to New Amsterdam. He was an Army Captain hired by the then WIC Governor Kieft to bring men to kill Indians. They came on the ship Den Blowen Haen (The Blue Cock). Instead, he became friends with the Indians, and of the blacks, both free, and slaves. Jan's arrival at New Amsterdam was shortly before March 9, 1644 -- New Amsterdam Council minutes: "Refusing to accede to the petition of captain Jan de Fries and ensign Gysbert de Leeuw, for the same allowance for board as in Brazil, p. 216"[3]

One Hundred and thirty soldiers under the command of Dutch Army Captain Jan de Fries, and a number of other persons, the whole amounting to about two hundred souls, were accordingly embarked on board the Blue Cock, commanded by Captain Willem Cornelissen OUDEMARKT, for New Amsterdam. See O'Callaghan, vol. I, p.309-310.309n, 423-424. He appears in New Amsterdam according to records of the Reformed Dutch Church (New York) in 1644, having arrived there from Brazil. He in the company of Director Willem Kieft as a witness to a baptism on Aug 28, 1644. A colorful character, he aided in the defense of the city, and appeared in court on disputed claims [both as plaintive and defendant]. He fought with then Director Kieft, and was sent back to Holland by Director Peter Stuyvessant as a witness against Kieft, in 1647. It was on that journey that he met his demise. He died on September 27, 1647, in wreck of the Princess Amelia near Swansea, Wales, while en route to Amsterdam to testify against Willem Kieft, along with many of Willem Kieft's opponents as well, including the Rev. Everardus Bogardus.

1646. Aug. 2. Judgment. Referring to Holland the case of Jan de Fries, who is charged with having associated with the enemies of the government and calumniators of the chief magistracy, calling the director [Willem Kieft] a liar in presence of the council, and attempting to strike him, assaulting councilor La Montague, for all which he had been already cashiered; afterwards speaking disparagingly of the director, and declaring that he spat on any commission issued by him, addressing derisive papers to the court, and excepting to the judges; prisoner ordered to sail in the first ship, to justify his conduct, ; Page 265.

1646. Aug. 2. Judgment. Referring to Holland the case of Jan de Fries [Captain] vs. Gysbert de Leuw [Ensign], for slander, in having asserted that a negro wench in plaintiff's possession was the property of the company, having been previously the slave of Juan Antonio, a Portuguese, at Marignan [Brazil], who had been arrested for treason, and was therefore incapable of selling the woman, as the plaintiif pretends, (Page 266). It would appear that Jan de Fries defended this claim successfully, by providing a bill of sale. Before Capt. Jan de Vries left for Holland, he wrote an informal will or instructions for his absence, and left his land in to his wife, Hillary (Elara), and Paul (Paulo) d’Angola (a freed slave) who either was his partner, or worked for him. He also left the care of his free negroes and Brasilian woman during his absence to Michiel Jansz and Symon Joosten, his Attorneys.

Jan's wife, mother of his child, Elara Crol (Crioole, Creole, Criolyo, Hilary) was also referred to as Swartinne, which means a dark lovely women. Capt. Jan de Vries bought Hillary (Elara) from Juan Antonio Portuguese at Marinhao, Brazil, and married her, and had a son by her. He left his son in New Amsterdam in the care of Hillary (Elara), the Crelole, and the child's mother. The son was named Jan (de Vries).

After Capt. Jan de Vries death, in 1669 Elara married Louvys Angola. After Louvys died, she married again in 1682, Pieter Van Kampen a.k.a. (Pieter Tamboer).

His son, Jan de Vries II was one of 16 farmers whose name appears on the Tappan Patent (New York). He purchased two shares. One for himself and one for his son Jan de Vries III. The then Orange County (now Rockland County) census lists John de Vries born 1647, a freed negro married to Ariantje Dircks in 1679[4] at the Reformed Dutch Church of New York City[5] Jan de Vries II and and his wife, Ariantje Dircks, had five children[6] Maria b. 1682 Helena b. 1684 Johannes b. 1686 Dirck b. 1689 Jacobus (1693-1773) Jan de Vries's (II) family came to Tappan, Orange County (now Rockland County) as free people. Other’s of African descent were slaves. The free people were culturally Dutch, had Dutch names, and spoke Dutch. They built Dutch homes, worshiped in the Dutch Reformed Churches, married and had their children baptized in the Dutch Reform Churches[7]. Their marriages were recorded in the Dutch Reformed Churches of Tappan and Clarkstown, now Rockland County, NY. NARDC Events Captain de Vries was active in the NARDC during the period between his arrival in New Amsterdam in 1644, and his death in 1647. He was brought from Brazil by Governer Willem Kieft to subdue an Indian uprising commencing in 1643.

1644. NARDC Baptism Record: 1644 Aug 28; Marten Cregier; Willem; Willem Kieft [Director WIC], Michiel ter Oyken, Jan de Vries, Hans Kierstede, and three married women.

1645. NARDC Baptism Record: 1645 Jan 08; Teunis Cray; Griete; Capiteyn de Vries, Marten Cregier, Jan Huybert, Belitje Cornelis This Captain de Vries may have been Captain David Pietersen de Vries, given name was not provided. In 1660 Grietje Theunis Cray married Jan Gerritsen de Vries van Dalsen--coincidental names but no family relationship to Capt. Johan de Vries.

1645. NARDC Baptism Record: 1645 Feb 12; Gerrit Doyman; Sibrant; Willem Kieft, Jan de Vries, Ariaen Martenszen-adelborst, Heyltje Barents, Janneken Thomas

1645 Apr 09; Jeurgie Blanck; Jeurgie; Jan de Vries, Hans Kierstede, Thomas Welert, Anneken Loockermans, Tryntje Hendricks

1645 Apr 09; Jeurgie Blanck; Jeurgie; Jan de Vries, Hans Kierstede, Thomas Welert, Anneken Loockermans, Tryntje Hendricks

1646 Jun 25; Paulus Van Angola-Neger; Dominicus; Emanuel Grande Esperance, Jan de Vries

1646 Sep 23; Cornelis Aertszen; Hendrick; Jan de Vries, Evert Cornelis Van der Wel, Sara Roelofs, Tryntie Roelofs

1647 Aug 25; Jan de Vries-Swartinne [a black female, presumably Hillery|Elana]; Jan; Bastiaen and Susanne Simons, Simon Joosten, Michiel Janszen Van den berg. [Birth of Jan de Vries II][8]

1647 Captain Jan de Vries died on September 27, 1647, in wreck of the Princess Amelia near Swansea, Wales.

Birth of Johan, Capt. De Vries, born in Friesland, Netherlands. Birth estimated sometime between 1590 and 1620.

Children of Johan de Vries had possible two children: Jochem and Jan. His name does not appear on the baptismal record for Jochem, possibly meaning that he did not claim paternity for the child or that since he was not actually married to Swartinne, declined to be included in the record.

Jochem, bp. 24 Aug 1644. Larie Swartinne had a son, Jochem, bp. 24 Aug 1644 NYC Ref Ch (wit: Bastryn, Capt. van de Swarten) (parent in bp, record: Larie Swartinne; no father given)[9]. Jan de Vries, was bp. on August 25, 1647 at New Amsterdam, NN. 1647 Aug 25; Jan de Vries-Swartinne [a black female, presumably Hillery|Elana]; Jan; Bastiaen and Susanne Simons, Simon Joosten, Michiel Janszen Van den berg. [Birth of Jan de Vries II][10]. When Jan was sent back to the Netherlands, he left son Jan at New Amsterdam in the care of wife Hillary (Elara), the child's mother, named Jan (de Vries) and Paulo D'Angola (his partner, friend or employee) at the farm he owned in New Amsterdam.

Time Line 17 Jan 1641 Paulo d'Angola is one of 9 Negro slaves of the WIC who admitted killing Jan Premero. [NYHM IV:97-98.]

25 Feb 1644 Paulo Angola is one of 11 slaves (the above 9 plus two more) who are liberated. [Laws and Ordinances of New Netherland, p. 36-7]

9 March 1644. New Amsterdam Council minute: "Refusing to accede to the petition of captain Jan de Fries and ensign Gysbert de Leeuw, for the same allowance for board as in Brazil", [Dutch Manuscripts 1630 - 1664; O'Callaghan, E. B. (Edmund Bailey), 1797-1880, p. 216].

26 May 1644. Director Pieter Stuyvesant, of Curacao, decides to send soldiers that had returned from Brazil, to New Netherland on Den Blouwen Haen_ (The Blue Cock) with Capt. Jan de Vries. This was in response to a request from WIC Director Willem Kieft for soldiers to fight the Indians. [New Netherland Documents vol XVII, Curacao Papers, ed. by Gehring and Schiltkamp pp. 36-40]

by 14 July 1644 Capt. de Vries has arrived at New Amsterdam. [Hoff, "The De Vries Family of Tappan..., TAG 72:345; citing NYHM IV:226-7, 257; also see CDNY I:205]

30 Dec 1644 Paulo D'Angola (free negro) granted 3 morgens on Manhattan [O'Callaghan, History of New Netherland, vol II, p. 583 (Appendix M)]

14 July 1645 Groundbrief to Paulo Dangola from Willem Kieft [Icon VI:74]

25 May 1646. Paulus Van Angola bp. Dominicus; one of the sponsors was Jan de Vries; Baptism was recorded at the Reformed Dutch church of New Amsterdam, NN[11].

3 August 1647. Capt. de Fries appoints Michiel Jansz and Symon Joosten "to have supervision over the principal's free Negroes and Brasilian woman during his absence..." [NYHM II:463-4]. This was in lieu of a will, where he takes steps to protect his "wife", his son Jan, and 'friends" while he was away on orders.

31 Mar 1651 "Paolo de Angola, Negro, and Elara d'Crioole, Negress, both of Captain Johan de Vries, deceased" and Symon Joosten "amicably agreed together in regard to Symon Joostens's claim against said Captain, deceased, on account of 600 guilders loaned to him as follows." "He, Paulo d'Angola, for himself and his two children, and Elara Crioole, [for herself] as also for the child of the said de Vries, named Jan d'Vries, a minor, in satisfaction of the aforesaid claim shall transfer and convey a certain parcel of land ..." to Symon Joosten. [NYHM III:228-229]

22 Jun 1653 Paulus Van Angola bp. Jacob. Baptism was recorded at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam, NN[12]

Death:, Dutch Army Capt. Johan De Vries, in the employ of WIC, died ca. Sept. 10, 1647. He drowned in the shipwreck of the vessel, The Princess Amelia, Off Swansea, Wales. While there is no proof that he died, however he was not listed among the 21 survivors.

Sources Church Records: Samuel S. Purple's 'Records of the Reformed Dutch Church in New Amsterdam and New York, Marriages from 11 December 1639 to 26 August 1801.' The beginning records show the date the Banns were registered, NOT the date of marriage. Starting on 9/20/1673 marriage dates are given. Website: Ancestors of Mariah Diver Webpage: Slavery in New Amsterdam Webpage: David Pietersen de Vries, Merchant Mariner, Dutch Patroon This source was used to separate Dutch Army Captain Jan de Vries from Merchant Marine Captain Jan De Vries, who established ill fated settlements on Staten Island and at Tappan, on the Hudson River. Both were in New Amsterdam at the same time. Webpage: Dutch-Colonies-L Archives--BILL DECOURSEY Jewish settlers in Recife, Brazil and New Amsterdam Webpage: My Dutch Black Colonial Relatives; Vicky Moon; Van Salee Family Genealogy Forum

↑ info from post Tom Quick ↑ info from post Tom Quick ↑ Dutch Manuscripts 1630 - 1664; O'Callaghan, E. B. (Edmund Bailey), 1797-1880 ↑ My Dutch Black Colonial Relatives; Vicky Moon ↑ NYRDC Marriage Record: Page 46--1679 10 Dec; Jan de Vries, jm van N. Yorke; Adriaentje Dircks, jd van N. Albanien ↑ My Dutch Black Colonial Relatives; Vicky Moon ↑ My Dutch Black Colonial Relatives; Vicky Moon ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: page 23--1647 Aug 25; Jan de Vries-Swartinne; Jan; Bastiaen and Susanne Simons, Simon Joosten, Michiel Janszen Van den berg. ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: 1644 Aug 24; Larie Swartinne; Jochem; Bastryn-Captain of the Blacks (free negroes) ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: page 23--1647 Aug 25; Jan de Vries-Swartinne; Jan; Bastiaen and Susanne Simons, Simon Joosten, Michiel Janszen Van den berg. ↑ NARDC Bapt. Record: 1646 Jun 25; Paulus Van Angola-Neger; Dominicus; Emanuel Grande Esperance, Jan de Vries ↑ NARDC Bapt Record: 1653 Jun 22; Paulus Van Angola-Neger; Jacob; Francisco Jaepje, Mayken d'Angola Acknowledgements Van Dolzen-2 was created by Tom Quick

Familysearch:

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/G415-HJG

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/De_Vries-1026#Parents

The family name of Dolson/Dolsen/Dalszen came from the village of Dalfsen, near Zwolle in Overysell, Holland.

The family name De Vries/de Fries came from the fact that Jan, the father, was born in Friesland.

His father was Jan de Vries Sr. van Dalszen, a Dutch army captain. He was also known as Jan Gerritsen de Fries Van Dalsen. He came to New Netherland on the ship Den Blowen Haen (The Blue Cock) in 1644. He was employed by the West Indies Company to bring men to fight indians. Instead, he became friends with the Indians, and the blacks, both free and enslaved. He had previously been stationed in Brazil, and was at Curacao when he was sent to New Amsterdam.

While in Brazil he bought Elara, his soon to be wife, from Juan Antonio Portuguese at Marinhao, Brazil. He freed and married her, and had two children with her.

Elara, known also as Hillary Crol/Crioole, Creole, Criolyo, was also referred to as Swartinne, which means dark lovely woman. She was born about 1624 in Brazil, probably at Maranhao.

After Jan de Vries Sr. died, his wife Elara married Louvys Angola. They had three children, triplets, named Lucrecia, Elizabeth, and Anthony. After Louvys died, she married again in 1682 to Pieter Van Kampen, a.k.a. Pieter Tamboer. They had no known children.

One of Elara's daughters came to live next to step-brother Jan de Vries Jr. at the Groote Kill, a swampy area located in lower-central Manhattan that emptied into the Hudson River at what is today Canal Street.

The de Vries family is one of the oldest families in Manhatten.[5]