Jannetje Segers Van Voorhout Schermerhorn

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Known variously as Jannetje Segers Van Voorhout Schermerhorn, Jannetje was the daughter of New Netherland pioneers Cornelis Segers Van Voorhout and his wife one Breetje Jacobs. The family emigrated to Rensselaerswyck in 1643 when an often utilized resource specified the ages of their six living children. At that time, Jannetje was said to have been ten years old. Thus, she probably was born in Europe about 1633.

Jannetje was the wife of American patriarch Jacob Janse Schermerhorn. Beginning in 1652, the marriage produced at least nine children. Although all of her children were born prior to surviving Baptism records, from the earliest, she was identified as a member of the Albany Dutch church.

These Schermerhorns would raise their family in Beverwyck and afterwards Albany and posssibly also on the Manor and in Schenectady where Jacob Janse was an substantial landholder.

In 1663, she was named in the joint will filed by her parents and identified as the wife of Jacob Schermerhorn.

In May 1688, she was named as the principal heir (and sole executrix during widowhood) in the will filed by her husband. He died shortly thereafter.

By the end of the century, widow Schermerhorn probably was absorbed in the households of her many surviving children. Jannetje Segers Van Voorhout Schermerhorn is said to have died about 1700.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Jannetje Segers Van Voorhout Schermerhorn is CAP biography number 7001. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted 3/10/16