Genealogists expect to find illiterate farmers in their family trees, after all the majority of the population well into the 19th century were illiterate. So it is fun when one finds evidence of early literacy and property ownership.
Looking at "Fort Orange Records 1654 - 1679, I find several interesting transactions involving my 7th Great Grandfather Jan Dirkse Van Eps ( for family members: Betty daughter for Grace Colby, daughter of Mamie Hugunin, daughter of Van Eps Hugunin, son of Jannetje Van Eps, daughter of Evert Van Eps, son of Johannes Evertse Van Eps, son of Evert Van Eps, son of Jan Dirkse Van Eps 1636-1690).
SALE OF A FARM, HOUSE, LOT AND GARDEN BY THE
ADMINISTRATORS OF THE ESTATE OF PHILIP
HENDERICKSZ TO CORNELIS VAN NES
472 Conditions and terms upon which the administrators of the estate of Philip Hendericksen intend to sell at public auction to the highest bidder the farm, house, lot and garden of the aforesaid Philip Hendericksz brouwer, at Schaenhechtade, consisting of a lot of about 25 morgens, or as much as shall be allotted to the other inhabitant of each lot.
First, the aforesaid farm or lot shall be delivered to the buyer at once, and that in such magnitude as told above, all plowed land, of which a portion was seeded with 9-1/2 schepels of winter wheat, 2-1/2 schepels of summer wheat; further, the house and lot, 200 feet square in size with the garden as it lies within its fence, together with a barn, long 30 feet and wide 24 feet, except for the side aisle, two hay barracks, the on a 4 and the other a 5 - post hay barrack, a passable wagon and a span of ropes with a rear plow.
Payment shall occur in good whole merchantable beaver skins, and this in three installments. The first installment on the 15th of July of this year anno 1664, the second on the 15th of July anno 1665, and the third or final installment the 15th of July anno 1666. The buyer shall be obliged to furnish two sufficient sureties at once, one for all and each as principals, to the satisfaction of the sellers. If the buyer cannot furnish the aforesaid sureties in the aforesaid time, then the aforesaid shall be reauctioned at his cost and charge, and whatever less it comes to be worth, he shall be obliged to make good, and whatever more it becomes worth, he shall derive no profit from it. The auction fees shall come to the buyer in payment as before.
(473) After auctioning Cornelis van Nes remained the final bidders for the farm for the sum of one thousand two hundred and eight-seven guilders according to the above condition; for which said sum Volckert Vanssen and Jan Dircksen van Eps stand as sureties and principals according to the aforesaid condition. Done in the village of Beverwijck the 29th of April anno 1664.
Cornelis van Nes
Volckart Jansz
Jan Diercksz van Eps
Acknowledged by me, (unsigned) perhaps Johannes Provoost, clerk who signed the previous entry.
Note: Cornelis van Nes was the third husband of Jan van Eps' mother Maritie Damen.
SALE OF A HOUSE AND LOT BY THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE
ESTATE OF ANDERIES HERBERTSEN TO CORNELIS VAN NES
Conditions and terms upon which the administrators of the estate of Anderies Herbertsen, together with Cornelis van New, husband and guardian of Marritje Damen, each participating for one half, intend to sell at public auction to the highest bidder a house and lot located in the village of Beverwijck; adjoins to the north of David Schuijler and to the...
I, the undersigned Jan Dircksz van Eps, remain the buyer and bidder of 3 horses, a cow with a calf, and a 2 year old heifer, and 5 hogs, amounting to the sum of seven hundred and thirty-four (guilders) for which we, Cornelis van Nes and Pieter van Alen, stand sureties and principals in order to pay and satisfy the buyer, the aforesaid some. Done in Beverwijck the 29th f April anno 1664.
Jan Diercksz van Eps
Cornelis van Nes
Pieter van Alen
SALE OF A HORSE MILL BY CORNELIS VAN NES
TO JAN DIRCKSZ VAN EPS
Appeared before me, Johannes Porvoost, clerk of the court of Fort Orange and the village of Beverwijck, Cornelis Teunissen Bos, who in the presence of the afternamed witnesses declares to convey, as he hereby does, to Jan Dircksz van Eps, the horse mill which he has bought at public auction from the administrators of the estate of Philip Hendericksz; which the grantee accepts, and this for the same price as he has bought the same, amounting to one hundred and twelve guilders, to be paid in beavers, according to the conditions. Renouncing, moreover, all claims and demands he has therein. Thus done in Fort Orange, the first of May anno 1664.
Cornelus Teunissen Bos
Jan Diercksz van Eps
Acknowledged by me
J. Provoost, clerk.
Jan Dierkse van Eps came to New Netherlands with his Mother Maritie Damen and step-father
Hendrick Andriese van Doesburgh and sister Lysbet van Eps. settling in Beverwijck or beaver town (now Albany) about 1650. He married in 1666 Elisabeth Janse Douw and settled in Schenectady where they raised six children. He was a Lieutenant in the militia that was suppose to protect the settlement. He was killed by the French and Indians in a massacre at Schenectady 08 Feb 1690.
The English took over the New Netherlands Colony from the Dutch in 1664, but Dutch was still the primary language for many years. It is clear in these entries that the Dutch are using the common middle name patronymics to indicate their fathers. Jan Diekse van Eps is the son of Dirck van Eps.
