Hendrick Cortelyou is the common ancestor of the Cortelyou's of Somerset and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey. Hendrick removed from Long Island and established a home at Ten Mile Run, New Jersey, becoming the ancestor of the New Jersey Cortelyou's in Somerset and Middlesex Counties. Hendrick's first marriage is verified by the will of Albert Coerte Voorhees, of Flatlands, May 14, 1747, which refers to "the children of my daughter Ann, who was wife of Hendrick Cortelyou."
Hendrick's will, signed April 4, 1774, and proved March 5, 1777, reads in part as follows: "Henry Cortelyou of County of Somerset and province of East New Jersey, Yeoman... I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Catharine the Sum of on hundred Pound New York Currency to her and her Heirs besides the Three Hundred Pounds a legacy left her by her Father. I give and bequeath to my son Harmanus the sum of one hundred Pound money at Eight Shillings per Ounce... I give and bequeath to my Son Jaques for the Progenitor or Birth Right the Sum of three pounds money at Eight Shillings per Ounce and to my two Daughters yet unmarried, Helena Cortelyou and Ariantye Cortelyou, an outset equal in value to those [of] my daughters which are already married... All my children, namely Jaques Cortelyou, Albert Cortelyou, Henry Cortelyou, William Cortelyou, Harmanus Cortelyou, Anna Stoothoff, Arianty Correl, Helenah Cortelyou, Mariah Vandyk, Alltye Vandyk, and Adriana Cortelyou... I appoint my Sons Jaques Cortelyou, Henry Cortelyou, William Cortelyou, and Harmanus Cortelyou executors." (Signed) Henry Cortelyou
In the latter part of 1782, Hendrick's son Harman (Harmanus) filed a claim, amounting to 31 pounds and 10 shillings, because of damages sustained by Hendrick from the British during the Revolution. This circumstance reminds us that, in a single lifetime, this Hendrick spanned the whole period from the early family life at the Narrows to the Revolutionary War.
