Stephen's Smith Family - Ancestors, Descendants and Cousins

Notes

Johannes Lourense Opdycke

He was listed as a 'planter', first in Dutch Kills, NY, later at Maindenhead and Hopewell, NJ. He was nine when his father died. His widowed mother married Lourens Petersen. The three sons of    Louris Jansen Opdyck sold the family holding at Gravesend, and moved to Dutch Kills, where in 1670 he got 35 acres of upland and several of saltmarch from his stepfather. It was in 1697 that he moved to New Jersey. Following the Dutch patronymic form of name, for most of his life he insisted on signing his name as Johannes Lourense. However, near the end of his life, he finally gave in an signed his name Johannes Opdyck.
  His farm at Dutch Kills was in the area where Long Island City joins Brooklyn. His farm produced wheat, peas, rye, corn, flax, and especially tobacco. His orchards produced apples, pears and peaches. When he cleared land, he made pine staves, which were an exportable product.
  A time arrives when Johannes has a large family, and another generation growing up. Restlessness and the need for land for his sons makes New Jersey look attractive. The area is promoted as having a very paradise for climate and soil, its government liberal, taxes low, land plentiful and cheap. When Johannes makes a journey of investigation in 1697, there are less than 2 thousand males over 16 in the Jerseys. In April he buys 250 acres 'above the falls of the Delaware'. In May or June the family moves from Dutch Kills. In those days they travel through Flatbush, to a ferry at the Narows,across Staten Island up the Raritan R. to the lowest fording place,Indian's Ferry. They then follow the Indian trail, then called 'the King's Highway' across the state. The group included Enoch, Josua and Cornelius Anderson, husbands of daughters Tryntie, Engeltie and Annetie. Many of the family names that will be noted in the records of Maidenhead are the same than were found earlier at Newton, the original home of the OpDycks.
  On July 12 he buys 1300 acres located about 4 miles northwest ofthe original property and later encompassing the site of the town ofPennington. Four months later he takes another 200 acres adjoining the land laid out for the townsite. A year later there is published alist of 33 residents of Maindenhead, of which Johannes is 3rd. In 1701 he sells the purchase that includes Penningaton for 200 pounds,twice what he paid for it.
 He was among those who pledged money to set up Hunterdon County. About 1714 Johannes moves
again, this time acquiring property in Hopewell, a newly formed township in which his sons and
sons-in-law play prominent part.
 On 12 Feb 1729, at the age of 78 years, he makes his will. His wife is already dead. He left his property divided equally among his 8 children, appointing son Lawrence and grandson Eliakim, sone of daughter Annetie, his executors. Two months later he is dead.

DEATH:    In the name of god amen. The twelfth day of February in the year of our Lord 1728-9 I Johan Opdike of Hopewell in ye County of Hunterdone in ye provence of west new Jersey Husbandman, being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God theirefore, Calling unto mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last will and testament: that is to say principly and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul unto the hands of god that gave it, and for my body, I Recommend it to the Earth, to be buried in a Christian Like and desent manner, at the Discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the general Reserrection, I shall Receive the same againe by the mighty power of god and as touching Such worldly Estate, wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me in this Life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following maner and form:
  Imprimus I give and bequeathe to my well beloved son Louerence Opdike twelve shillings; Item that William Critchfield shall have his bils and bonds delivered up without any mollistation. Item I give to my grandson Cornelius Anderson all my weareing Cloths and one Irn Cittle one plater and four plates Item I Likewise Constitute and make my well beLoved Sone and grandson Louerence Opdike and Eliakim Anderson my Executors of my Last will and testament and after paying all my debts that the above written Leagusies may bee fulfilled I also bequeate that after all depts be paid that the Remainder Shall be Equilly divided amongst my Eight Children and now are Living and I do hereby utterly disalow and Revoke and disanull all and every other former testaments wills Legusies and Executors by me in any wayes before this time named willed and bequeathed Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seale the day and year above writen.
  Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared by ye Said Johanes Opdike as his Last will and testament in the preasents of us the Subscribers, vis - John. Anderson, Francis Vannoy

Tryntie "Catherine" Thys

NAME: Other - Catrina

Marriage Notes for Johannes Lourense Opdycke and Tryntie "Catherine" Thys-7869

9 May. Jan Janszen Van dyck, j. m. Van Amsterd., en Theuntje Thys, j. d. Van Buuren in Gelderlt.