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Evert Bancker
Marte Gerritse Van Bergen was born about 1630. He was the son of New Netherland pioneer Marte Gerritse. They seem to have been of Norwegian ancestry.
His
first wife was Jannetje Teunisz. In January 1686,
this widower married blacksmith's daughter Neeltje
Mynderts at the Albany Dutch church. Over the next
decade, five of their children were baptized there.
He he was a member and occasional baptism sponsor.
Trader
and regional landholder, Marte Gerritse also was
an Albany householder whose name appeared prominently
on a number of city-based survey documents. He served
for many years as an Albany magistrate and was called "Captain." He also leased a farm on Castle Island and employed a company of farmers. His primary residence, however, appeared to be at Catskill or Coxsackie!
Marte
Gerritse Van Bergen filed a will in January 1696.
It named his wife and two sons as the heirs of his
farm, land at Catskill, and other personal property.
Later that spring, he was killed by French Indians.
According to his instructions, an inventory of his
estate was made following his death. Marte Gerritse's
will passed probate in December.
Sources: The life of Marte Gerritse Van Bergen is CAP biography
number 6656. This profile is derived chiefly from
family and community-based resources.
On
September 5, 1696, Levinus Clarkson wrote to Livinus
Van Schaick: "This Spring several people were murdered
by the French Indians which sad fate Marte Gerrese
shared also; in sight of his wife and children behind
his house." Printed
in New York Genealogical
and Biographical Record, vol 71:4 (1940), p. 364.
By Stefan Bielinski, Colonial Albany Social History Project [http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany]
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