Crolius in New York

The Crolius family was established in New York by a single immigrant, Johan Willem Crolius, early in the 18th century. (Johan Willem also had a brother named Pieter who came to New York with him, but Pieter had no children.) The surname is a highly uncommon one (e.g., in the 1880 US Census, there are only 44 Crolius, mostly in New York and adjacent states, with one family in Michigan), and it seems quite possible that most if not all bearers of that name in America descend from the same immigrant. It is said that Johan Willem emigrated from Germany, but it is not known specifically where. He was a maker of stoneware, and the family operated a pottery in New York (possibly the city's first stoneware kiln) through several generations, and for well over a century, until it was closed in 1870. The pottery works and family home were on Reade Street, at first near Broadway and later nearer to Centre Street. Most vital records of the family are found in the New Amsterdam Reformed Dutch Church (commonly known as the "Old Dutch Church") in New York City.

Descendants of Johan Willem Crolius

Johan Willem Crolius (abt 1700-aft 1753) m. 10 Jan 1724 (ODC) Veronica Corselius (abt 1706-aft 1753)

1. Geertruyd, c. 3 Dec 1727 (ODC)
2. Anna Catharina, c. 20 Aug 1729 (ODC)
3. Willem, c. 26 Sep 1731 (ODC), d. Jan 1779 in Middle Brook, Somerset, NJ (will), never married
4. Johannes (John), c. 23 Dec 1733 (ODC), m. Maria Clarkson (Clerkzon in old Dutch records)
   1. William, c. 12 Dec 1753 (ODC), m. 28 Feb 1775 Mary Dobbs, d. 21 Apr 1830; served in American Revolution
      1. unknown first born, early 1777?
      2. Elizabeth, c. 30 Apr 1786 (ODC)
      3. William Dobbs, c. 9 Mar 1793 (ODC), died bef. 1798
      4. William Dobbs, c. 3 Nov 1798 (ODC), still living in 1836
   2. John, c. 28 Dec 1755 (ODC), m. Jane Morgan, m2. 4 Jan 1816 Hulda (Beebe) Carlisle (Brooklyn Eagle), d. 15 Oct 1841 (NYEvePost); served in American Revolution
      1. Thomas, c. 11 Dec 1785 (ODC)
      2. John I., c. 6 Jan 1788 (ODC), m. 1 Aug 1807 Angelica Marcellus of Albany (NY Weekly Museum), d. 25 Jan 1838
         1. Jane Matilda, b. 27 Jul 1808
         2. Sebastian V., b. 30 Jul 1809
         3. James & John, b. 29 Jun 1811
         4. Matilda, b. 29 May 1813
         5. Jane, b. 23 May 1815
         6. John, b. 13 Apr 1817
         7. Angelica, b. 21 Dec 1818
         8. Gilbert, b. 7 Nov 1820
         9. Gerrit, b. 4 Oct 1822
         10. George, b. 8 Mar 1825
         11. Maria, b. 18 May 1827
      3. Jane, c. 18 May 1790 (ODC)
      4. Joseph, c. 8 Jul 1792 (ODC)
      5. Catherine, c. 19 Mar 1797 (ODC), died in infancy?
      6. Catherine, c. 17 Mar 1799 (ODC)
   3. Maria, c. 7 May 1758 (ODC), m. Garret van de Water (NJHS)
   4. Elizabeth, c. 10 Oct 1762 (NJHS from ODC?)
   5. Feronica, c. 21 Oct 1764 (ODC), m. William Sanford (NJHS)
   6. George Clarkson, c. 28 Oct 1770 (ODC)
   7. Clarkson, c. 17 Oct 1773 (ODC), died in infancy?
   8. Clarkson, c. 30 Oct 1774 (ODC), m. 8 Oct 1793 Elizabeth Meijers (ODC), d. 1843; potter and local politician (see Wikipedia page)
      1. John Clarkson, c. 17 May 1796 (ODC)
      2. Elizabeth, c. 3 Nov 1798 (ODC)
      3. Clarkson, b. 1801, m. Elizabeth Seaman (1806-1831), d. 1887?; New York City alderman and state senator
      4. William F., b. 1808, d. 1834; potter
      5. George Clinton, b. 1812, m. Catherine Munson, d. 1883; NY policeman
5. Petrus (Pieter), c. 15 Feb 1736 (ODC), m. 5 Jan 1763 to Maria Lock (b. abt 1738), cordwainer, moved to New Brunswick NJ in 1778
   1. Willem, c. 27 Nov 1763 (ODC? <NJHS)
   2. Elizabet, c. 28 Apr 1765 (ODC? <NJHS), presumed died bef 1770
   3. Veronika, c. 22 Jun 1766 (ODC)
   4. Mary, c. 13 Nov 1768 (ODC? <NJHS)
   5. Elizabeth Crolius, c. 7 Oct 1770 (ODC)
   6. Pieter, c. 8 Nov 1772 (ODC)
   7. Pieter, c. 30 Oct 1774 (ODC? <NJHS)
6. Maria, c. ? (witnessed baptism of Maria, daughter of William, in 1758, noted as unmarried)
7. Jurrie (George), c. 5 Mar 1738, m. Catharina Coelbach

Other bits that don't yet fit together:

• George Crolius in NY, m. 7 May 1763 Catherine Coolbagh in NY (NJ Archives, vol XXII, p.80)
• Catherine Crolius, b. ?, m. 27 May 1792 Joshua Werts (Old Dutch Church)
• Francke Crolius, b. ?, m. 18 Feb 1795 William Littlewood (Old Dutch Church)
• John D. Crolius, b. abt Apr 1804, m. 10 Dec 1825 Armenia Renode (NY Eve Post), d. 2 Jul 1849 in Phila, bookbinder formerly of NYC, 45y 3m (NY Eve Post)
• John A. Crolius, private in War of 1812, m. 28 May 1853 Sarah E. Whitney (Brooklyn Eagle)