Notes for JOOST CARLESZEN:

Son of Carel and Unknown Wife Corneliszen.
AKA: Joose Carelszi Van Systen.
Born: 1630 in Middelbert, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Died: 1708 in New York.
Immigration: 1660.
Occupation: Shipbuilder in partnership with Henrick Lambertszen Mol; and their ship yard was built on the west side of what is now Pearl Street, between Wall Street and Franklin Square.
Married: Christina Styntie Jans 1656 in Holland.

Joost Carelszen (Van Sysen), the first American ancestor of the Van Sise family, was born in Middleburg, in the Province of Zeeland, the Netherlands, according to his statement upon joining the New York Dutch Church, probably about 1630. As he first appeared in the New Amsterdam Church Records on 22 Dec 1653, and fairly frequently thereafter, it is possible that he came to New York (New Amsterdam) not long before. Joost was a shipbuilder in partnership with Hendrick Lambertszen Mol, and their shipyard was at "Smith's Valley" on the West Side of the Present Pearl St. between Wall Street and Franklin Square, which had been bought before 17 May 1661. Valentine listed his property in 1674 as of "4th class" and estimated his wealth ?10. Joost became a member of the New York Dutch Church on 28 May 1701, when he was recorded as being from Middleburg, Holland. He and his wife were still living in 1703; then over 60 years of age, according to the New York City Census of that year. His wife, Styntie Jans of unknown parentage, he probably married in Holland.
(This Information was researched by Brian Van Sise and published by Richard Calvert.)

August 24, 1654: sued by David Provoost for not paying him a sum of 8 florins as his salary as a private schoolmaster.
August 31, 1654: sues Mary d'Karman for the florins he was ordered to pay Provoost.
January 8, 1657: appears in court to sue a Capt Jan Strenger, who had commissioned him to build a boat but not remitted payment.
September 15, 1658: baptism of daughter Marritje.
July 3, 1660: purchased property in Smits Vly (just north of the wall, on east river) from Rachel van Tienhoven, widow of Secretary van Tienhoven, on what is now Pearl Street. Bounded to north by home of Stoffel Elswaart, south by home of his business partner, Hendrick Lamberston Mol.
August 15, 1660: baptism of daughter Maria
May 9, 1662: sues Jurrien Jansen van Auweryck, for payment
November 14, 1662: sues his business partner, Hendrick Lambertson Mol, for a breach in their partnership.
January 5, 1663: baptism of daughter Saertje.
November 16, 1664: baptism of daughter Jannetje.
1665: appears in the city directory for New York City, living in Smits Vly
June 19, 1665: ran through with a sword by British soldiers (along with Coenraat ten Eyck) after refusing to clear off a bridge. Denounces the soldier in court, describes him as being "freckled in the face, with a blue shirt."
October 13, 1666: baptism of son Cornelis. (ANCESTOR OF OUR BRANCH)
September 11, 1667: godfather of Hendrick, son of Huybert Hendrickszen.
November 28, 1686: godfather of his grandson, Joost De Mill, son of his daughter Saertje and Isaac De Mill.
April 24, 1689: godfather of his grandson, Samuel Pell, son of Jan Pell and his daughter Jannetje.
1698-July-17 godfather of his grandson, Joost De Mill, son of his daughter Saertje and Isaac De Mill; godmother is his daughter in law, Judith Verwey
1701: Membership to the NYC RDC.
1708- Files his will. Presumably died shortly thereafter.
(Source: Brian Van Sise)

The early records of this family in New Netherland are hidden under the patronymic of Joost Carelszen, the first ancestor in America who never used the family name. This appeared in succeeding generations, first in the form of Van Sys, Seys or Seyssen. According to Louis P. de Beer in his "Pre-American Notes on Old New Netherland Families," (GMNJ 4:57,144), this was originally a Flemish family from the provinces of Zeeland in the Netherlands, one branch of which is located in Groningen where the male line (Van Sysen) survived until 1868. However, no connection between the immigrant to this country and the Dutch family has been established.

Although Joseph (Joost) Van Sise of the third generation moved his family to Schenectady where his descendants became firmly established, the rest of the family stayed in New York City or the vicinity and were engaged generally in ship-building and related industries.

In the fifth generation, most of the male members of the family are found around Schenectady, while the few remaining in New York City split off into Bergen County of New Jersey and Oyster Bay in Queens County. The latter line is found in Queens throughout the 19th century, but only in comparatively recent times a branch moved up the Hudson River into Dutchess County. Others undoubtedly went west, but no attempt has been made to trace them up to the present.

The Van Sises were a small family, and it can be stated with some certainty that all those in America of this name, or the alternative Van Cise, are probably descended from the same common ancestor, particularly since historically there was practically no immigration of Hollanders to these shores between 1675 and 1848. During that period, those who left their native land generally went to Dutch colonies, particularly the East Indies.

Genealogically, the Van Sise family is remarkable particularly in that it has been so well-recorded throughout that there are few in the first five generations who cannot be positively identified.
(Source: JacquelineVanCise originally shared this on 26 Feb 2010 on ancestry)

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