Dirk Evertss Van Eps

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: shoemaker and inn keeper.

• Family Origin. ⁵²⁵ Dirk Van eps married Maritie Damens and had two children, Johannes and Lysbet, who became the wife of Gerrit Bancker, of albany. After Van Eps' death his widow married Hendirck andrese Van Doesburgh, and had a daughter Jannetie, born in 1653, who married Marten, son of Captain Marten Cregier, and settled in Niskayuna. And in 1664 Maritie Damens married her third husband, Cornelis Van Ness, of Albany. She had lands in Albany, Niskayuna and Schenectady, which after her death were distributed among her three hcildren. Johannes Dirkse Vans Eps, the eldest son of Maritie Damen and dirk Van Eps, married Elizabeth Janse and had three sons and four daughters, all of whom left families save one, who with his father was killed in the massacre of 1690.

On april 24, 1631 Dirck Evertss marries Stijntie Reijnders in amsterdam (DTB Amsterdam 672/28). Dirck is mentioned as a 27 year old shoemaker from Groll, which is Groenlo in the province Gelderland, The town Groenlo is fortified, so it is important in the area. Leather (clothing, shoes!) and beer (Grolsch is an excellent beer still) are local products for centrues. a big fire destroyed many houses in the time after 1606, when it was taken for the second time by the Spanish. In 1627, after a month long siege, the Dutch prince Frederik hendrik took over Groenlo.

the bride Stijntie is 33 years old. She is mentioned as from Lichtenvoorde close to Groenlo but both already live in amsterdam. The war situation or the professions of the fathers soemhow may have caused both families leaving for Amsterdam. Stijntie dies between 1631 and 1636. On april 19, 1636 Dirck Evertss marries Marritie Damen from Doesburch. At that time he lives at the Hasselaarsteeg.

In Amsterdam Dirck Evertss works as a shoemaker, which is to be considered as a manufacturer (not shoe repair). It may be confusing, but these manufactureers are members of another guild, the juidekopersglde or leerlooiersgilde. Both marriage records and even the poortersboek after his eath mention him as a shoemaker(Poorterboek Amsterdam 1648-1655, behuwde en ingeboren poorters nr B+J pag. 59) Still he had another progession later in his life as in the otary records in 1646 he is named a gasterijhouder (inn keeper). On July 31 he loans 32 carolus guldens (guilders) to Harmen Hanss, from Niekerck in Hessen (Germany) who is in service as a soldier under Stuyvesant of the Est indische Compagnie (WIC). The amount is for equipment, so Dirck may have sold him as well. It is to be paid back from his wages (GAA records, NA 1323/231v). The notary Hendrick Barendsz Schaeff, a son of a ship captain, works a a bookkeeper for the WIC too. His office at the Herenmarkt is close both to the company headquarters at the West Indisch Huis and the house of DirckEvertss and Marritie Damen.

This second profession and the hometown of Groll clarifies the words "In de stadt Grol" in the address mentioned in the Weeskamer record. It has been a sign on the hous at the Haarlemerdijck near the West Indisch Huis (Weeskamer Register nr. 10, GA Amsterdam 5044).

• elected: trustee: Schenectady, Albany, New York.

Dirk married Maritie Damen, daughter of Adam Damen and Unknown, on 19 Apr 1636 in Netherlands. (Maritie Damen was born in 1612 in Doesburg, Dalfhaven, Amsterdam, Netherlands and died on 3 Mar 1684 in Beverwyck, Albany County, New York.)

Dirk next married Stijntie Reijnders on 24 Apr 1631. (Stijntie Reijnders was born in 1597 in Lichtenvoorde and died 1631 to 1636.)