James Brintzinghoffer > Theodore Clarence Brintzinghoffer > Catherine Forman > William Spencer Forman > Robert Forman > William Forman > Affey Van Emburgh > Cornelia Provoost > William Provoost > David W. Provoost > Margrietje Gillessen
Margrietje Gillissen is my 10th great-grandmother on my maternal grandfather’s side. She was born 17 DEC 1617 in Reusel-de Mierden, North Brabant, Netherlands, emigrated to New Amsterdam in 1635 with her husband Davit Provoost who served initially as a commissary of provisions for the West India Company. She died 29 July 1701 in Long Island City, Queens, in what by then was New York.
Gillissen is her patronymic surname, ten Waert was also used by her father as a surname. It translates ‘inwards’ or perhaps ‘inland’. Provoost was her husband’s surname and she is sometimes referred to by that name in the record.
Most historians focus on Davit – who also has a good story and a long paper trail – so I focused on Margrietje – compiling whatever I could find in the record. She had assets in her own right but needed a male representative to stand for her in a legal proceedings and transactions. In 1643, they were granted a lot in New Amsterdam and she was later given one of her in her own name after her husband’s death in 1657.
All Dutch era maps of Manhattan record the names of men. I found Margrietje’s farm by geolocating the men named in her deed as neighbors. Her farm was across the street from the New York Stock Exchange.
Land Papers: Volumes GG, HH & II. Translation New Netherlands Institute
This land grant was given the same year as her husband Davit Provoost died. Manuscript imagery and Dutch transcription not available. I have identified this as Lot 22 by the description in Stuyvesant’s conveyance and using a map of Dutch land grants generated in 1914-16. The lot was previously held by Jacob Kip situated at what is today roughly 40 Broad St. and running not quite to New Street – basically just near the Stock Exchange across Exchange Place. Note: A Rod is a measure equaling 16.5 feet.
Patent to Margrietge Provoost
Petrus Stuyvesant, on behalf of their High Mightinesses, etc… has given and granted to Margrietge Provoost a lot for a house and garden located within the limits of the sheep’s pasture in this city, bordering on the north side the lot of Eysack Kip and on the south side the lot of the deaconry behind Geurt Coerten’s lot; it is in breadth in front on the street or east side 30 feet; in the rear on the west side it is 30 feet, wood measure, in breadth; in length on the south side it is 9 rods and 3 feet; in length on the north side it is 9 rods and one foot, with the express conditions, etc…
Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland, 23 April 1657.
Power of attorney. David Provoost to Gillis Verbrugge, to receive certain life rents in Holland. New York State Archive.
Op heden date ondergeschreven Compaereerde voor my Cornelis van Tienhoven secretaris van Nieu Nederlandt den eersamen Sr Davit Provoost Coopman woonachtich binnen dese steede nieu Amsterdam sijnde man ende voocht van syne huysf. Margarita Gillis dochter van Barbara Schuts, dewelcke ten overstaen ende ter presentie vande naergenoemde get. constitueert ende volmachtiche maeckt gelijck hy doet by desen, Sr. Gillis Verbruggen Coopman tet Amsterdam omme van sijn constituants wegen inde qualite als vorren binnen der stadt Leyden vanden heer ontfanger General van staats middelen te morgan eysschen vorderen ende ontfangen alsulcke lijff renten alser verschenen sijn tot de dato vande nevengaende attestatien, welcke lijff renten door den heer ontfanger General voldaen ende betaelt sijnde sal den voorgedachten Sr. Gillis Verbruggen van waerden wat Sr. Vanbruggen in voorschreven sake sal doen ende verrichten Aldus dedaen ende by de voore, Davit Provoost, ten prothocolle ondertekent ter presentie van Jacob Kip ende [ blank space ] als get. hier toe versocht ondertekent den 17e August ao 1648. Int For Amsterdam in Nieu Nederlandt
David Provoost
Jacob Kip, getuyen
Johannes Rodenborch, get.
Volume 3, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648–1660. Transcription. New Netherlands Institute
This day, date uncertain, before me, Cornells van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared the worthy Davit Provoost, merchant residing in this city of New Amsterdam, being the husband and guardian of his wife Margarita Gillis, daughter of Barbara Schuts, who in the presence of and before the undersigned witnesses appoints and empowers, as he does hereby, Mr. Gillis Verbruggen, merchant at Amsterdam, on his, the principal’s, part, in the above mentioned capacity, to demand, collect and receive within the city of Leyden from the honorable receiver-general of the public revenue, all such annuities as are due to the date of the annexed affidavits. On payment of the said annuities by the receiver-general, the above named Mr. Gillis Verbruggen may execute a receipt therefor, he, the principal, holding as valid whatever Mr. Vanbruggen shall do and perform in the matter above mentioned. Thus done and signed in the record by the above named Davit Provoost, in the presence of Jacob Kip and [ blank space ], witnesses hereto invited, the 17th of August ao 1648, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.
David Provoost
Jacob Kip, witness
Johannes Rodenborch, witness
Volume 3, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648–1660. Translation. New Netherlands Institute
Volume 3, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648–1660. Translation. New Netherlands Institute
The previous power of attorney was followed by several attestations of life for which Dutch transcription and manuscript imagery are unavailable but which were required for collection of inheritance and annuities.
Certificate that Margarita Gilles was living on June 12, 1647
We, the undersigned, attest, testify and declare at the request of Davit Provoost, merchant here on the island of Manhatans in New Netherland, that Margarita Provoost, wife of said Davit Provoost and daughter of Barbara Schuts, was living and in good
health on the 12th of June last. A°. 1648, which we are ready to confirm by oath, if necessary and required Thus done and signed in the record the 17th of August A°. 1648, in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland.
David Provoost
Johannes Rodenborch
Jacob Hendricksz Kip
Certificate that Margarita Gilles was living on June 12, 1648
We, the undersigned, attest, testify and declare at the request of Davit Provoost, merchant here on the island of Manhatans in New Netherland, that Margarita Provoost, wife of the said Davit Provoost and daughter of Barbara Schuts, was living and in good health on the 12th of June last. A*. 1648, which we are ready to confirm by oath if necessary and required. Thus done and signed in the record the l?th of August ao. 1648, in Port Amsterdam in New Netherland.
David Provoost
Johannes Rodenborch
Jacob Hendricksz Kip
Acknowledged before me.
Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary
Certificate that Margarita Gilles was living on June 6, 1654
I, the undersigned, Cornells van Euyven, secretary in New Netherland in the service of the General Chartered West India Company, residing In Fort Amsterdam, attest and declare,together with Mr- Johan La Montagne, councilor of New Netherland,that Margrleta Jillis, daughter of Barbara Schuts, at present wife of David Provoost, schout of the villages of Brueckelen, Mldwout and Amesfoort, was still living on the 6th of June ao 1654 which we have confirmed by our signatures and the great seal. Actum Amsterdam in New Netherland, the 5th of May anno 1655.
La Montagne
Cornells van Euyven, Secretary
Power of attorney from David Provoost to Gillis Jansen Verbrugge to collect money from the estate of his wife’s uncle. New York State Archive.New York State Archive.
Opdep 28e Martyo ao 1643. Compaereerde voor my Cornelis van tienhoven Secretararius van Nieu nederlandt Davit Provoost Commis van wegen de westindise Compe. In Niefederlant mijn Secretaris bekent, de welcke ter presentie vande getuygen naergenoemt, Gillis Jansen verbrugge verclaerde te constitueeren ende machtigh te maken gelijck hy constitueert ende volmachtich maeckt by desen, specialijck om uyt den naem ende van wegen den Constituant, te mogen Eyschen manen ende vorderen, soo danige penningen als hy Constituant als man ende voocht van Margarita Gillis sijn competerende by het afsterven van sijn huysfrou vaders broeder genaemt Hendrick Jochimsz in sijn leven woonachtich in vranckrijck, ende by aldien de noot sulcx vereyschte voor alle heeren hoven ende gerechten te mogen procedeeren by Eysschen ende verweeren litem te contesteeren, alle dagen ende termynen te opserveeren, productie te doen te reprocheeren salveeren ende in rechten te concludeeren Sententie Interlocutoir ende diffinitieff versoeken en t’aenhooren, die te laudeeren ende ter executie te stellen, off da er van te provoceeren, en de saeck van provocatie ten Eynde vervolgen, ende generalijeken alles te doen dat hy Constituant present sijnde soude vermogen ende behooren, meede indien de sake sulcx requiereerde eenen anderen ofte meer persoenen te mogen Substitueeren; den Constituant belooft paverbant naer rechte daer toe staende, vast ende van waerden te houden vat by de geconstitueerde ofte syne gesubstitueerden gedaen sal worden Sonder bedroch, versocht de comparant hier van acte. Gedaen Int fort Amst. In Nieu nederlant ter presentie van Gillis de voocht ende Adriaen van tienhoven. Actum den 30 mert ao 1643. Int fort Amst. Nieu nederlant.
David Provoost
Adriaen van tienhoven, Also get.
Volume 2, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642–1647. Transcription. New Netherlands Institute
On the 28th of March A°. 1643, before me, Cornells van Tienhoven, secretary of New Netherland, appeared David Provoost, commissary of the West India Company in New Netherland, known to me, the secretary, who in the presence of the undersigned witnesses declared that he had appointed and empowered, as he hereby does appoint and empower, Gillis Jansen Verbrugge especially in the name of the principal to demand, receive and collect such moneys as belong to him, the principal, as husband and guardian of Margarita Gillis, by the death of his wife’s father’s brother, named Hendrick Jochimsen, in his lifetime a resident of Prance; also, if necessity requires it, to proceed before all lords, courts and tribunals; to litigate as plaintiff or defendant; to observe all days and terms; to produce evidence, to challenge and rebut testimony and state his conclusions; to demand and hear interlocutory or final judgment; to approve the same and have it executed or to appeal therefrom and to prosecute the appeal to the end, and in general to do all that he, the principal, might or and ought to do were he present; also, if the case require it, to substitute one or more persons [in his stead]. The principal promises and binds himself according to law to maintain and hold as valid whatever shall be done by the attorney or his substitute, without fraud, and requests hereof an authentic Instrument, Done in Port Amsterdam in New Netherland in the presence of Gillis de Voocht and Adriaen van Tienhoven, the 30th of March A°, 1643 in Fort Amsterdam, New Netherland.
David Provoost
Adriaen van Tienhoven, witness
Volume 2, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642–1647. Translation. New Netherlands Institute
Attestations de vita from Volume 1, Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1638-1642. Translation. New Netherlands Institute
These attestations de vita were needed to for Margriet to collect an annuity in Holland. Lourens Lourensen was about to sail for Holland and several of the records in this period give him the authority to transact business there on behalf of his neighbors. No Manuscript Images or Transcriptions available for these entries.
Certificate that Margarita Gillis was alive on the first of January 1639
Before me, Cornells van Tienhoven, secretary in New Netherland for the Chartered West India Company, appeared Claes van Elslant, commissary of provisions, and [ ], who at the request of David Provoost jointly attested, declared and certified, as they do hereby on their consciences, in place and with promise of a solemn oath if need be, that it is true and truthful that Margarita Gillis, wife of the above named Provoost and daughter of Barbara Schuts, was still living on the first of January 1639* All of which they, the attestants, declare to be true, persisting in their declaration and [stating] that this has been made by them without dissimulation or regard of persons, only to bear witness of the truth. Done this 29th of September A° 1639* in Port Amsterdam.
Claes van Elslant
This Is the X mark of Lourens Lourensen
Certificate that Margarita Gillis was alive on the first of July 1639
Before me, Cornells van Tlenhoven, secretary in New Netherland for the Chartered West India Company, appeared Claes van Elslant, commissory of provisions, and [ ], who at the request of David Provoost, husband and guardian of Margarita Gillis, daughter of Barbara Schuts, jointly declared, attested and certified that the above named Margarita Gillis was alive on the first of July A° 1639 . All of which the attestants declare to be true and truthful, persisting in their declaration [and stating] that this [is] made without any dissimulation. Done this 29th of September A° 1639*
Claes van Elslant
This Is the X mark of Lourens Lourensen
Certificate that Margarita Gillis, wife of David Provoost, was living on January 1, 1640
Before me, Cornells van Tienhoven, residing secretary in New Netherland for the General Chartered West India Company, appeared Maurits Jansen, commissary of provisions, aged [ ] years, and Jan Willemsen Schut, steward, aged [ ] years, who at the request of David Provoost jointly testified, declared and certified, as they do hereby on their conscience and with promise of a solemn oath If need be, that It Is true and truthful that Margarita Glllis, wife of said Provoost and daughter of Barbara Schut, was still living on the first of January A0 . 1640. All of which they, the attestants, declare to be true, persisting in their declaration and stating that it is made by them solely to bear witness to the truth, to no one’s benefit or injury Done this 16th of August A° 1641, in Port Amsterdam in New Netherland.
Jan Willemsen Maurits Jansen
Acknowledged before me,
Cornells van Tlenhoven, Secretary