Cornelis Bogardus

Cornelis Bogardus was the son of New Netherland pioneers Domine Everardus Bogardus and his wife, Anneke Jans. Perhaps he was born in September 1640 and christened at the Dutch church on Manhattan. He grew up in a large combined family in New Amsterdam. Following the death of his father in 1648, Anneke Jans took her children to Beverwyck where she lived out the remainder of her life.

This Cornelis Bogardus was a resident of Beverwyck where, in 1660, his name was included on a list of Beverwyck area traders. He owned a house in the village and also is said to have been a gunsmith and/or gunstockmaker.

In January 1663, he was among the adult children acknowledged as heirs in the will filed by his legendary mother.

He is said to have married Helena Teller in August 1664. Their short-lived union produced a namesake son.

However, Cornelis Bogardus was dead by 1666 when his house and estate were sold. An extensive inventory of his personal effects and obligations chronicled his holdings. He had lived less than thirty years but left a substantial estate. His widow re-married and lived for many years.

Sources: The life of Cornelis Bogardus is CAP biography number 3662. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.

The inventory appears in more recent edition of the Fort Orange Records, pp. 140-42.