Claes Janse Stavast

Claes Janse Stavast is said to have been born in Kyunder, Overyssel, Holland during the first half of the seventeenth century. He is thought to have emigrated to New Netherland with his brother, Gerrit Janse. They were in New Amsterdam prior to the English takeover in 1664. However, his name does not appear on the list of those who took the oath of allegience to the English in 1664.

His wife was Eva (Aefje) Gerrits. They joined the Dutch church in New Amsterdam in April 1664. Sometime thereafter, they left what became New York and settled in Albany.

In April 1676, he purchased a house and lot located along the river from Stoffel Janse.

In November 1677, he was identified as a carpenter and litigant in an Albany court case.

In March 1679, he was listed among the Albany householders and was to be responsible for two rods of the palisade fence.

In February 1681, he was among the Albany burghers who were solicited regarding the calling of a new minister.

In August 1684, he sold the Albany house and lot to Pieter Van Woggelum.

The Stavasts are said to have returned to New York by 1682 when they re-connected with the Dutch church there. In 1686, Stavast and his wife were living on High Street in Manhattan.

Claes Janse Stavast is said to have died in Albany in August 1687. Perhaps his daughter survived until the end of the century. One of their daughters married Dirck Bensing.

Sources: The life of Claes Janse Stavast has not been assigned a CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. As with all those individuals from the New Netherland era population, an uncomfortable portion of the information interpreted in this profile falls into the realm of traditional sources.