Cornelius Claesen Cuyper
1658-1731
Born: Berjen, NJ, USA
Died: Nyack, NY, USA
|
1658-1731
Born: Berjen, NJ, USA
Died: Nyack, NY, USA
<span style="font-size: 10pt"><font face="Times New Roman">Cornelius was baptized on the 21 Mar 1659 in the New Amsterdam DRC. He apprenticed as a waterman out of Upper Nyack and by age 21 he was Captain of a sloop carrying freight on the Hudson. He settled in Upper Nyack on lands he inherited from his father. He had marriage banns published on the 20 Nov 1681 at the Bergen DRC (Jersey City), Hudson, NJ, and on the 11 Dec 1681 he was married in the Flatbush DRC (Brooklyn), Kings, NY. He held one of the original sixteen shares in the Tappan Patent and later paid quit rents on 180 acres of this land. Cornelius joined the Dutch Reformed Church at Bergen (Jersey City) by confession on the 6 Apr 1686. Sometime shortly thereafter he permanently removed to Orange County (in the portion that later became Rockland) where he became one of the leading men. On the 16 Sep 1687 he was appointed as an assessor and took the Oath of Allegiance at Tappan giving his residence as Nyack, Orange (now Rockland), NY. On the 18 Feb 1690 he was issued a commission as a Justice of Orange County and was still listed as a Justice at the first meeting of the Orange County Board of Supervisors on the 27 Apr 1703. The "List of the Inhabitants of the County of Orange - 1702" reveals "Cornlis Coeper Male from 16-60, living with Altje His Wiffe, 4 male children, 7 "gerlls", 1 adult male negro, and 2 adult female negroes," indicating he was a slave owner. Cornelius was a Sheriff of Orange County in 1708. Cornelius is still listed as a Justice in 1710, 1716, and 1717. Between 1710 and 1714 Cornelius and his partner, Albert Minnie, purchased 250 acres of the De Harte Patent (Rockland County). In 1712 Cornelius was the only Dutchman among a group of Englishmen from Hempstead on Long Island (including two of his son-in-law, James Osborn's, brothers) that purchased half of the Kakiat Patent. Cornelius' portion was in what was called the north moiety. In 1715 he was a member of the Orange County Militia and had the rank of Ensign for the precinct of Kakiat. On the 31 Oct 1716 Cornelius bought a tract of 256 acres at South Kinderkamack (Oradell), Bergen, NJ from Jean Demarest. In 1719 he acquired another ten acres of woodland in the De Harte patent. Cornelius was an early colonial assemblyman, taking part in the 17th General Assembly of the Province of New York as the representative from Orange County. A Cornelius Cuyper was Supervisor to the Board for the precinct of Haverstraw in 1730, and in that same year he also held the position of Highway Commissioner but these two facts could refer to a son of the same name, rather than to our Cornelius. The will of Cornelius follows: "In the name of God, Amen. Be it known and manifest unto all people, that I, Cornelius Cuyper, of the County of Orange, Esq., being at the present time in good and perfect health. I leave to my wife Allie, all my houses, lands, and tenements, and all my personal property, during her life or widowhood. I leave to my eldest son Tunis, all that certain tract of land commonly called by the name of Fuyken, situate in Orange County, containing 333 acres. I leave to my son, Claas Cuyper, after the death of my wife, all that certain tract of land situate at Haverstraw, in Orange County, containing 100 acres, together with all the right and title I have in the Patent of Haverstraw. I leave to my son Dirck all that certain tract of land, situate and to me belonging at Hackinsack, in New Jersey, being 250 acres. I leave to my son Cornelius, all that certain tract of land he now lives on, situate at Kakiat in the County of Orange, being 400 acres I leave to my son John, all that certain tract of land at Kakiat in Orange County, which Timothy Town now lives on, adjoining to the lands of Charles Mott, on the north and south to the lands of Arie Smith. I leave to my sons Guysbert and Hendrick, the quantity of 500 acres of land, in two lots. One containing 300 acres, adjoining to the land of Jacob Banta and Jacobus Brinkerhoff; "and another lot containing 200 acres where the mine is," and both being at Kakiat. To each 250 acres, "having regard to the goodness or badness of the land." If either of them make a settlement upon any part of the lands, the same shall be a part of his 250 acres. I leave to my son John 1/2 of the farm I now live on, and 1/2 of my present estate. Leaves legacies in money to his daughters, Sarah, Elizabeth, Neltie, Catharine, Hellegont, and Anna. I leave to my son Hendrick, 1/2 the farm where I now live, and 1/2 the personal estate. All the rest to my sons mentioned above. I make my wife Allie executor. Dated 30 Nov 1730. Witnesses, Gabriel Ludlow, Jr., Worama Carter, Klaas Cuyper. " This will was proved on the 18 Nov 1731. Cornelius was buried in the old Upper Nyack graveyard. His simple stone reads "C. K. D. May 5 1731" i.e. - Cornelius Kuyper died May 5th, 1731.</font></span>