Gerrit Coerte van Voorhees; born circa 1669 at Flatlands, Kings Co., NY; married Willemptie Pieters Luyster, daughter of Peter Cornelise Luyster and Aeltje Tyssen, 26 Apr 1685 at Amersfoort, Kings Co., NY, the bonds dated 12 April 1685, state: Garret Coerten, young man from Amersfort, and Willemptie Pieters, young maiden from the same place [Marriages in the Reformed Dutch Church, Flatbush, L.I.]; died circa 1703 at Flatlands, Kings Co., NY.
Two marriages were shown for him in T. Bergen, Early Settlers of Kings County, pg. 377 which is an error. The marriage record of 1685 lists him as "young man" indicating that this was his first wedding. Meinsje Jans, whom Bergen listed as Gerrit's first wife, married Albert Minne, son of Minne Johannes.
Gerrit van Voorhees took the oath of allegiance in 1687 as a native and is listed in the census of Flatlands in 1698.
On 11 Dec 1693 he purchased the patent of Anthony Janse van Salee from Jan Hansen van Norstrand and Barent Joosten and in 1699 he conveyed the same to his brother Albert. On 8 May 1697 Garrett Coert and wife Willemke of Flatlands deed to Alexander Sympson (he married Jannetje van Voorheed) land bounded by that of Simon Janse and Helena Aertsen formerly owned by Hendrick Peterse and Stephen Coert, also a house and lot there bounded by Helen Aertsen, Lucas Stevensen and Claes Peters, also a lot on Mutilates Island.
On 9 Oct 1699 Garret Coerte and wife Williamke of New Utrecht deeded to Albert Coerte of Gravesend one half of the plantation known as Turks Plantation later as Bruynenburgh in New Utrecht, also one half of land in Gravesend held in partnership with Barne Joosten.
The will of Garret Coerten was dated 1 Oct 1702 and probated 23 Sept 1704. It mentions his wife Wellemtie children Marike, Coert (the eldest son), Alke, Peter, Hendrick, Steven and Geertie. His land was to be divided after his eldest son comes of age. His wife is made executor. Peter Montfort and Conelius Coert are overseers. [New York HIstorical Society Wills, Vol. 1, pg. 395]
