Jan Stevense van Voorhees; born circa 1652 at Hees, Drenthe, Netherlands; married first Cornelia Reinierse Wizzelpenning, daughter of Reyneer Wizzelpenning and Jannetje Snedeker, 17 Mar 1678 at Flatbush, Kings Co., NY; married second Femmetje Aukes Vannuys, daughter of Auke Jansen Vannuys and Magdalena Pieterse, 8 Oct 1680 at Flatlands, Kings Co., NY; died before 1735 at Flatlands, Kings Co., NY. [E. Van Voorhis, "The Van Voorhees Family," pg. 16 & 19; E. Van Voorhis, "Ancestry of Wm Roe Van Voorhis," pg. 17; A. Stokes, "The Van Voorhees Family," pg.53.]
He emigrated with his parents in 1660. After arriving in the colony, Jan resided in Flatlands for the rest of his life. He is listed on the assessment rolls of Flatlands in 1675 and 1682. He took the oath of allegiance there in 1687 as Jan Stevense, having been in the country 27 years. ["Documentary History of New York," Vol. 1, pg. 660.]
On 7 October 1681 he purchased land at "Pardegat" for 300 guilders from his father-in-law and on 17 Mar 1693 he purchased Roelof Martense Schenck's farm at "Pardegat." Pardegat is a section of Flatlands. On 5 May 1714 he purchased 280 acres at New Brunswick, East Jersey, from his brother Lucas. The land is described as 80 chains from the Raritan River adjoining the land of Cornelius Longfield. On 1 July 1714 he purchased 15 morgens of land in Flatbush from Englebert Lott, Pieter Stryker and Daniel Polhemus. On 23 July 1716 he purchased 7 acres in Flatlands from William Covenhoven and on 19 May 1729 he purchased two wood lots in Flatbush from John Waldron.
The will of John Stephenson was dated 3 Jan 1723 and probated 20 Nov 1735. It mentions his wife Femitie, children Stephen, Auken, Willemtie, John, Roelof, Magdalen, Lucas, Albert, Abraham, Femmitie and Jacobus, houses, lands, etc. in Flatlands. The witnesses were Willem Kowenhoven, Dirck Amerman and S. Gerritsey. ["New York Historical Society Wills," Vol. 12, pg. 385.]
In the will of his brother-in-law, John Kiersen, dated 1705, he is listed as Jan "Stevensen." -- 2 May 1746-whereas John Stevens of Kings Co. by his will dated 3 January 1723 made his wife Femmetje executrix and she now deceased - letters of administration are granted to his eldest son Stephen Johnson of Oyster Bay, farmer. [New York wills, Vol. 15, pg. 528.]
On 26 May 1746 Auken Voorhees, Abraham Voorhees, Jan van Voorhees, Jacobus Ammerman, Lucas Voorhees, Jacob van Derbeeck, Roelof Voorhees, Albert Voorhees and Jacobus Voorhees release land to Stephen van Voorhees of Jamaica, the eldest son of Jan Stevens. The witnesses were Lawrence Hoff and Jacobus van Dervoort. Donald Sinclair's notes in the Van Voorhees Association collection state that there was an original manuscript owned by Mrs. S. W. Remsen of Flatbush in the 1880's which was abstracted by or for Elias W. van Voorhis and was the property of the Van Voorhees Association. The current location of this item is unknown.
