Among the early settlers was Adolph Hardenbrook who came from Holland and settled in Bergen. Among other children he had a daughter Margaret, who married Pieter Rudolphus De Vries, a merchant of New Amsterdam, in 1659. They had one daughter who was baptized with the name of Maria, October 3, 1660. Pieter Rudolphus De Vries died in 1661, leaving a considerable estate which descended to his widow and child. In October, 1662, bans of marriage between Frederick Philipse and Margaret Hardenbrook were published. By an antenuptial agreement Frederick Philipse agreed to adopt the child and leave her one-half of his estate unless he had children of his own, in which case he would give her an equal share with them. Although her name at baptism is given as Maria, it is possible that her name may have been changed at the time of adoption, at all events it is certain that she ever bore the name of Eva Philipse and is thus named in her adopted father's will.
By his marriage Frederick Philipse became entitled to a community of property with his wife, but she did not relinquish the sole management of her estate, for which she seemed well fitted by nature. On the contrary she conducted business of her late husband, and frequently made voyages to Holland in her own ships and acting as her own super cargo.
