Virgin islands families

4 November 2009

On May 30th 1691, Lucas van Beverhoudt was engaged and on 16 July, he was married in the St. Thomas Lutheran Church, to Margaretha Rønnels,⁶ who was born in about 1673, was from St. Eustatius, a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and the daughter of Ariaen Rønnels, from St. Eustatius, and his wife Anna, from Antigua.⁷ In the census for March 1, 1692-March 1, 1693, they are both listed as resident on Lucas van Beverhoudt's plantation.⁸ It appears that Lucas and his wife were resident on their plantation the following year as well.⁹ He does not appear in the list of individuals who took the oath of office in 1695 & 1696.¹⁰

By 1697-98, Lucas Beverhoudt had purchased a house in Charlotte Amalie, where he lived. In addition, he was using his father-in-law, Ariaen Rønnels' house, as a warehouse.¹¹ He continued to cultivate his plantation, and in this reference mention was made of children, but not how many.¹² The following year, 1698-97, Lucas van Beverhoudt retained a house in town, but was not resident there,¹³ and in a second house which he now owned, which was used partially as a warehouse, there was also resident Jochem von Holten with his family.¹⁴ At Lucas' plantation, it continued to function, but Lucas and his family were off island at that time.¹⁵ In 1700, the situation remained the same, with the family still off island.¹⁶
Lucas van Beverhout appeared in the records of St. Eustatius, in 1699 and again in 1705 and in 1710, and in 1715, but is considered a foreigner, in 1720, 1725, and the last list, in 1728.¹⁷ Thus, it would appear that although he held property on St. Thomas, he in fact settled with his family on St. Eustatius and was consistently one of the largest slave holders.

On 20 April 1701, Lucas van Beverhoudt's barque arrived from St. Eustatius with a cargo of sugar and cotton, which he had sent to be stored on St. Thomas, as there was fear that St. Eustatius might be involved in war.¹⁸ On 11 May 1701, his barque arrived again with household goods to be stored in case of war,¹⁹ and the vessel sailed again to St. Eustatius on the 13th May 1701.²⁰ His barque arrived again from St. Eustatius with household goods and slaves on 24 May 1701.²¹ In addition, the government's barque arrived on 28 May 1701, with freight belonging to Beverhoudt, which was allowed to be landed, even though the government wanted to remain friendly with Spain and France.²² On the first of June, Captain Manasse with his barque, arrived from St. Eustatius with among others, Lucas van Beverhoudt, his wife and children, who would remain on St. Thomas until it was possible to see which way the war went.²³ On the 10th of June 1701, it was reported that the Company barque which was hired by Lucas van Beverhoudt for 150 rd. to sail to Curaçao, had until this day taken on people, and now was sailing to the east end of the island to take on board some oxheads of sugar.²⁴ On the 11th of June, 1701, the Company barque returned from the east end and on the 14th it sailed for Curaçao.²⁵ On the 21st of June 1701, Lucas van Beverhoudt's barque departed for Curaçao.²⁶ On the 16th of July, Lucas van Beverhoudt's barque returned from Curaçao, and the Captain reported that he was attacked by four Spanish pirates and was plundered, and that some money which belonged to some Jewish passengers on board, was taken.²⁷ On the 17th July 1701, the Company barque returned from Curaçao.²⁸

On the 4th of August 1701, Lucas van Beverhoudt arrived on an English barque from the upper [Leeward?] islands. Beverhoudt intended to remain for some months.²⁹

On the 11 October 1701, Beverhoudt sailed in his barque to Curaçao, and he was given funds by the Vice Commandant to be given to Messrs. Becqs and Moyaert for goods, which were to be brought back by Beverhoudt's barque, which was provided with a Danish pass and flag for Cornelis Delicaet.³⁰ Beverhoudt returned on 20 November 1701, with his barque, and he had a (financial) note from Messrs. Becqs & Moyart drawn on Mr. von Belle [the Brandenburger governor].³¹

On 26 November 1701, Lucas van Beverhoudt departed in his barque for St. Eustatius³² and on the 2nd December, he returned from St. Eustatius.³³ On the following day, in the evening, Beverhoudt's barque sailed again for St. Eustatius,³⁴ and it returned on the 29th of December 1701.³⁵

On the first of January 1702, Lucas van Beverhoudt, along with his wife and children departed for St. Eustatius in his barque.³⁶ His barque returned from St. Eustatius on the 7th of January and left again for St. Eustatius on the following day, the 8th January 1702.³⁷

In a document from July 1722, he is listed as now deceased, but had been the first person to establish a sugar works on St. Thomas.³⁸ In addition, he had property as of that date on St. John.³⁹
Children of Lucas and Margaretha (Rønnels) van Beverhoudt: ⁴⁰
(order not known)

2. i. Anna van Beverhoudt

3. ii. Adrian van Beverhoudt

4. iii. Aletta van Beverhoudt

5. iv. Cathrine van Beverhoudt, d. 24 January 1708

6. v. Anna Elisabeth van Beverhoudt

In a July 1722, he is mentioned as the son of Lucas van Beverhoudt, and by that time, given that his father was dead, was not the heir to his father's property on St. John.⁴⁴

In 1728, in reference to an estate which Anna Maria von Holten owned in Little and Large Cruz Bay on St. John, it was referred to as belonging to "Anna Maria von Holten, now married to Adr. Beverhhoudt, living on St. Thomas."⁴⁵ In 1729, the estate ownership was the same, but the slaves had increased, so that there were 9 adult slaves, 7 children and 8 bosals.⁴⁶ In 1730, the estate consisted of 9 adult and 1 child slaves, and 8 manqueroons, along with a Mesterknegt.⁴⁷

In addition, also in 1728, there were two estates in Rift and Fish Bay on St. John, which belonged to Adrian van Beverhoudt, which were said to be sugar estates and were taken care of by a manager ["mesterknegt"]. The number of slaves on the estate was unknown⁴⁸. In the following year, these two additional estates remained Adrian van Beverhoudt's, and the slaves were given as 1 old man, and 20 bosals.⁴⁹ In 1730, Adrian still owned one estate, no. 50, with 21 slaves and a mesterknegt.⁵⁰ The other estate, no. 51, had been sold to Bertel Søhrensen.⁵¹

In 1731, Adrian received through his wife, Anne Marie von Holten, a cotton estate, in Little and Large Cruz Bay, while they resided on St. Thomas. There was a Mesterknegt and 8 able slaves.⁵² In addition, in 1731, two estates, no. 49 & 50 were rented to Wilhelm Berentz with Berentz's own 21 able slaves.⁵³

Adrian was dead by March 1783.⁵⁴

8. ii. Johan Jacob Creutzer van Beverhoudt

9. iii. Pieter Clausen van Beverhoudt
Children of Adrian and Anna Maria (von Holten) van Beverhoudt:
10. i. Lucas van Beverhoudt, b. 18 December 1728 - d. before 7 December 1796

11. ii. Johannes van Beverhoudt, b. 23 August 1731

12. iii. Jochum Melchior van Beverhoudt, d. before January 1771

13. iv. Margaretha van Beverhoudt, b. c1732

"... many of these families have seized the occasion to govern and to act in such a manner as to bring about whatever pleases them. In general, this is the principal disorder in their ranks. No one has dared to speak out against any of this, as long as such a family was in control. Proof of all of this may be offered by the example of one of these distinguished persons [Erik Bredahl] who entered into matrimony with a member of one of the most distinguished [Creole] families. When he saw that everything was done improperly and that his wife [Aletta van Beverhoudt] and her family wanted to run everything and have the final say in all matters, he departed the island, leaving behind his wife and children, his property and his means of livelihood. After the wife had him summoned into court, she married someone else, a man who had been attending to her as her lover, both before and after her husband's departure".⁵⁶

He was married on 23 November 1775 at Mr. James Barret's residence on St. Croix by the Anglican Minister to Martha Barret.⁵⁹

He was married in about 1760,⁶² to Anna Uytendaele, who was born on St. Thomas, the daughter of Johannes van Uytendahl (1685-1742) and Marie le Breton (1690-1724), the widow of Severin Seeberg,⁶³ and prior to him to Reys Daniels.⁶⁴

Through this marriage Lucas van Beverhoudt acquired his wife's estates on St. Croix from her deceased husband, Severin Seeberg. They consisted of three estates, today called "Work and Rest" numbers 14b & 15 Company and number 37 Queen's Quarter, which he owned from 1760 until 1790, when he sold them to Peter Lotharius Oxholm.⁶⁵

In addition, he received a house in Christiansted, which Severin Seeberg had begun in 1758, on Strand Street. This became the home of the new couple on St. Croix. Finally, in 1760, Lucas purchased from John[?] Bundell, an estate in East End A quarter, what would become part of estate Cotton Grove.

In about 1765, he was made General War Commissioner for the Danish West Indies.

On 26 May 1767, Lucas van Beverhoudt purchased 6 boys for 720 rd. from the Frigate Christiansborg in Christiansted.⁶⁶

From at least 1768 until 1778, he had a property in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.⁶⁷

Anna Uytendahl probably died in 1769.⁶⁸ In that year, he was living alone on his sugar estate, on St. John, where he also had two cotton estates, which he sold to the widow, Susanna Rønnels.⁶⁹

In his second marriage, which occurred in 1770,⁷⁰ his wife was Maria de Malleville, who was born on St. Thomas and was baptized on 2 April 1736 in the St. Thomas Lutheran Church.⁷¹ She had been previously married to Christian Suhm.⁷² Upon their marriage, Lucas took over her estate, which was indebt.⁷³

In 1770, having married Maria de Malleville, he moved on to her sugar estate on St. Thomas,⁷⁴ and he was there in 1771, with his wife, and a child, whether his own, or his wife's is not clear.⁷⁵ On 18 January 1771, Lucas and Maria wrote a will, while on St. Thomas.⁷⁶

By 1772, they had left the St. Thomas estate.⁷⁷ Likewise, they were not resident at their Christiansted residence on St. Croix, namely 2 Strand Street, although there were slaves living there.⁷⁸

[In 1772, he was on a trip to London, where he bought the property in New Jersey, which he called Beverwyck. In the summer of 1775, he sent an Overseer and ten slaves from St. Croix to New Jersey.

In January 1773, van Beverhoudt was living at 2 Strand Street, Christiansted, with his wife, 2 boys and 2 girls, along with three white male servants and 1 white female servant, in addition to the following slaves: 35 capables, 2 manqueroons, 12 youths and 22 children.⁷⁹

In January 1774, the family was resident at 2 Strand Street, Christiansted, being Lucas himself, his wife, 2 boys and 2 girls, and 1 white male servant, in addition to which there were the following slaves: 33 capables, 2 macqueroons, 12 youths and 20 children.⁸⁰ In addition, Johannes Rogiers and his family were at the same addresss.⁸¹

In January 1775, the family was still resident, and they consisted of the same number of individuals.⁸² Johannes Rogiers family was also resident.⁸³

In January 1776, van Beverhoudt, his wife and a young girl, along with a white servant, 25 capable slaves, 4 manqueroons, 6 youths between 12 & 16 and 15 children under 12 years old, were all part of the household at 2 Strand Street, Christiansted. In addition, Johannes Rogier and his family, his wife being a daughter of Maria de Malleville by her late husband Suhm, also resided at the same address.⁸⁴

In January 1778, van Beverhoudt and family continued to reside and 2 Strand Street, Christiansted and the family consisted of himself, wife, 2 girls, and included the following slaves, 26 capables, 4 manqueroons, 6 youths and 18 children.⁸⁵ On 21 July 1778, he purchased at four men and one woman from the Frigate Christiansborg.⁸⁶

In January 1779, the family continued at 2 Strand Street, and consisted of Lucas himself, his wife, and 3 daughters, one white male servant, and the slaves consisted of 29 capables, 3 manqueroons, 9 youths and 11 children.⁸⁷

In summer of 1779, van Beverhoudt and his family arrived in New Jersey (Wade Catts Paper, 2003).

In January 1780, the house at 2 Strand Street, Christiansted, was recorded as now owned by David McFarlane.⁸⁸

Lucas died before 27 November 1796.⁸⁹ Maria died on 27 May 1798, at Beverwyck, New Jersey and was buried by Dr. Darby.⁹⁰ The newspaper Genius of Liberty, published in Morristown, New Jersey (No. 2, May 31, 1798) said of her in its death notice, "She was a kind and endearing mother, a virtuous and amiable woman."⁹¹
Child of Lucas and Maria (de Malleville) van Beverhoudt:
15. i. Adriana van Beverhoudt, b. 9 May 1777
11. Johannes van Beverhoudt, born on 23 August 1731, was baptized in the St. Thomas Lutheran Church on 4 September 1731,⁹² and he married a person named Ruth.⁹³
12. Jochum Melchior van Beverhoudt was named after his mother's father. His wife is not known.

He was dead by January 1771, but his children were the beneficiaries of Lucas van Beverhoudt and his wife, Maria's will, written in January 1771.⁹⁴

17. ii. Anna Maria van Beverhoudt

18. iii. Anna van Beverhoudt

19. iv. Jacoba van Beverhoudt

20. v. Susanna van Beverhoudt
13. Margaretha van Beverhoudt was baptized at the St. Thomas Lutheran Church, on 28 December 1732.⁹⁵
15. Adriana van Beverhoudt was born on 9 May 1777, and was baptized on 25 May 1777, in the St. Croix Dutch Reformed Church.⁹⁶

She attended the Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies at Bethlehem., Pennsylvania in the class of 1789.⁹⁷

She was married to Tobias Boudinot.⁹⁸ [Alexander Hamilton spent a year, c1773, in Francis Barber's grammar school in Elisabethtown, New Jersey living with Elias Boudinot, a kindly lawyer, and his family [Ramsing (1939), 225]. What is the relationship?]
16. Adriaan van Beverhoudt was born before January 1771 and was a beneficiary of his uncle and aunt, Lucas and Maria van Beverhoudt's will.⁹⁹
17. Anna Maria van Beverhoudt was born before January 1771 and was a beneficiary of her uncle and aunt, Lucas and Maria van Beverhoudt's will.¹⁰⁰
18. Anna van Beverhoudt was born before January 1771 and was a beneficiary of her uncle and aunt, Lucas and Maria van Beverhoudt's will.¹⁰¹
19. Jacoba van Beverhoudt was born before January 1771 and was a beneficiary of her uncle and aunt, Lucas and Maria van Beverhoudt's will.¹⁰²
20. Susanna van Beverhoudt was born before January 1771 and was a beneficiary of her uncle and aunt, Lucas and Maria van Beverhoudt's will.¹⁰³

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In 1694, the family took up a plantation on the east end of St. Thomas, and there they lived in 1699 and 1700.¹⁰⁷ However, they also had a residence in Charlotte Amalia in a house owned by Lucas van Beverhoudt.¹⁰⁸ After the death of her husband Joachim Melchior von Holten, she was remarried on the 15th June 1712, to Jacob Jørgensøn Magens,¹⁰⁹ who was born on 4 May 1682 in Helsingør, Denmark and who died on 25 March 1731 in St. Thomas.¹¹⁰ She died prior to the 13th January 1718, when the probate for her estate began.¹¹¹

Maria van Beverhoudt and her first husband, Joachim Melchior von Holten, had at least six children, all but two of whom died in their childhood. Of the two surviving, Anna Maria von Holten, married Adrian van Beverhoudt.¹¹²
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Glaudi [Claudi] van Beverhoudt is the third member of the family to appear in the St. Thomas records. The first time he is found is in March 1693, as a resident with Lucas van Beverhoudt and his wife, at their plantation on the east end of St. Thomas.¹¹³ The following year, he is still resident with Lucas van Beverhoudt and his wife.¹¹⁴ Later in 1694, he took up his own plantation in the East End of St. Thomas.¹¹⁵ On 1 May 1695, he took an oath of allegiance to the Danish king and to the West Indian Company.¹¹⁶ In1698, Glaudi van Beverhoudt was listed as a bachelor with 9 male and 1 female slaves on his plantation on St. Thomas.¹¹⁷ In 1699, his laborers on his plantation had increased to 10 male and 2 female slaves.¹¹⁸ His laboring force on his plantation remained the same the following year, 1700.¹¹⁹

On the 1st September 1703, Glaudi van Beverhoudt became engaged to Anna Martens, and 4th October 1703, he married her in the St. Thomas Lutheran Church.¹²⁰ She was born in about December 1689 on St. Thomas, a member of the Dutch Reformed Church and the daughter of Frans Martens and his wife Maria Martens, born Uytendael.¹²¹ She died on 18 January 1708.¹²²

Glaudi van Beverhoudt was remarried on 22 August 1708, in the St. Thomas Lutheran Church, to Elisabeth de Windt, daughter of Pieter de Windt.

In July 1722, he is listed as resident on St. John, and he had agreed to oversee the West India Guinea Company's indigo works on the island.¹²³

In 1728, the widow of Glaudi Beverhoudt [who is she?] owned an estate on St. John, in Little and Large Cruz Bay, which had been started in 1720, and here she herself was living with three children and a manager ["Mesterknegt"]. In addition, there 4 male and 2 female slaves, along with 3 male and 1 female manqueroons. The plantation had a rum factory.¹²⁴ In 1729, she continued to own the estate. In a note concerning the taxes for the estate, it is stated that in the years 1723 & 1725, five slaves were brought from Saba.¹²⁵ In 1730, no information was given, and thus what was repeated was from the previous year. She was living there with her three children and a Mesterknegt, along with 6 slaves, 4 manqueroons and 2 children.¹²⁶ In 1731, there was no change. However, an added note indicated that on 6 February 1732, one of the male slaves, Prince, had died.¹²⁷ This estate would eventually come to Johannes van Beverhoudt, Glaudiszoon. By 1755, it belonged to Johannes' heirs, and the following year, 1756, the estate came to Jochum Melchior Magens [This estate was in Caneel Bay.]

He? died before 12 January 1720.

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