Name: Adrian
(Aderyon?) ATEN
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Birth: 4 Sep 1695 Brooklyn, NY
Death: 10 Dec 1757 Hunterdon Co., NJ
Father: Hendrick ATEN (~1661-1750)
Mother: Maria DEMOTT (1678-)
Misc. Notes
Hendrick ATEN
Adrian Hendrickse ATEN*
(abt 1630 - Apr 1700) & (Unknown)
Hendrick ATEN
(abt 1661 - 17 Jul 1750) & Maria DEMOTT (1678 - )
Adrian (Aderyon?) ATEN (4 Sep 1695 - 10
Dec 1757) & Jacobje MIDDAGH (1693 - 1782)
John
(Jan?) ATEN (22 Dec 1732 - 1790) & Elizabeth BADYN (1733 - )
Cornelius ATEN (18 Jan 1766 - 21 Mar 1857) & Sarah (Sally) BELL (13
Feb 1770 - Jun 1856)
Aaron Kimble ATEN (18 Feb 1812 - 9 Sep 1901) & Dorcas GLASS (25 Jan
1814 - 20 Nov 1892)
Ellen Arminda ATEN (17
Dec 1849 - 6 Mar 1919) & Moody ROBINSON (1850 - 1938)
Adelia Gertrude
ROBINSON (12 Sep 1878 - 16 Jan 1973) & Newton COFFEY (1875 - 1969)
Leo Newton
COFFEY (1901 - 1998) & Elsie Maureen WALKER (1903 - 1983)
Much of the following is from “An
Aten Genealogy”, by Alan J. Lamb.
His name is
also seen as Adriaen, Aderayon, and Adrieyien. Also note that over several
generations numerous Aten children were named Adriaen, Adrian, or Aaron, all
variations of the given name of their emigrand ancestor from the Netherlands,
Adriaen Hendrickse Aten. This sometimes creates confusion!
“A New
Testament and Psalms belonging to Adriaen and Jacobje Middagh Aten was printed
in 1637 in Holland and has been in possession of their descendants over the
years. The family entries are written in Dutch and were copied by Henry J.
Aten. The transcription was found in the New York City Library by Janice
Wilkes. One page of the Bible records the birth dates of the 10 children of
Adriaen and Jacobje, followed by this entry:
‘Vader Adrieyien Aten and Jacobje ontslapen
‘Int Jaar 1757 den 30th December Adriaen
Aten ontslapen
‘Int Jaar 1782 den 16th Maay is Jacobje Aten
ontslapen’
Then on the
next page are the entries:
‘Int Jaar 1750 den 19 July is gestorven
Vader Hendrick Aten
‘Int Jaar 1752 den 23 April is gestorven Zyn
Vrou Mary L’
The last
line translated to English: In the year 1752 on 23 April died his wife Mary L.
Both Dutch words ‘ontslapen’ and ‘gestorven’ translate as ‘died’ in English,
and ‘Vader’ as ‘father.”
Adriaen was
probably born in Queens Co., NY, where his parents resided at Foster’s Meadow
most of their adult lives. He probably matured in that vicinity before
migrating to New Jersey where his uncles Thomas and Jan Aten lived near New
Brunswick. He is believed to have migrated to New Jersey in about 1715,
probably because his birthplace on Western Long Island was becoming crowded.
(By 1700 the estimated population of colonial New Jersey was 15,000 - about
half that of neighboring New York.)
The Dutch
Reformed Church would have been central to the lives of Adriaen and Jacobje.
The baptisms of most of their children were recorded in thr records of the church
at Readington. These baptisms followed by a few weeks or months the birth dates
recorded in their bible record.
“The
affility of the Dutch people for the Reformed Church with its accompanying
church schools resulted in a tight-knit society well into the 1700’s. Where the
Dutch mingled with other national groups, such as in the Raritan Valley, they
slowly but surely depended on English speech, to the extent that by the late
1700’s Dutch had been abandoned in the New Brunswick Reformed Church, and common
schools were replacing parochial schools.”
“The first
Dutch churches were six or eight-sided, had a high pyramidal roof topped with a
belfry and weather vane. Opaque glass windows made their interiors dark. In
some churches, pew seats were on hinges and were turned up while the
congregation stood during the singing of hymns. When they sat down, the seats
fell with a slam that could be heard a mile away on a summer day... In early
times older persons got the best seats. Men and women sat on opposite sides of
the church. Anyone who unwittingly took the seat of another was fined one
shilling... Sermons lasted two to three hours, sometimes longer...”
“The Dutch
settlers in New Jersey had habits that were reflected in their homes. Generally
they were squat, low-ceilinged, one-story structures of heavy logs. Interiors
were combination sleeping quarters and granaries. Their fireplaces were
unusually large and were designed to provide every member of the family with a
seat around the fire. Children were brought up to habits of industry. Almost
every son was taught some mechanical art, and every daughter was required to
know how to keep house. No woman was considered a fit candidate for marriage
unless she could bring out stores of domestic linen, or otherwise show evidence
of economy and industry.”
It is
probably that Adriaen and Jacobje and their family moved to Hunterdon Co.
between 1723 and 1728. Adriaen purchased land in 1725 between the North and
South Forks of the Raritan between Three Bridges and Centreville, and here his
family was reared. Adriaen was a wealthy man for that time and devoted himself
to the care of his plantation.
“Adrian Aten
of Reading Township was listed in the County of Hunterdon’s Freeholders Book in
1741. The meaning of the term ‘freeholder’ was ‘the persons qualified to be
Freemen... shall be every Planter and Inhabitant dwelling and residing within
the Province, who has acquired rights to and is in possession of Fifty Acres of
Ground, and hath cultivated ten Acres of it; or in Boroughs, who have a House
and three Acres; or have a House and Land only hired, if he can prove he have
Fifty Pounds in Stock of his own.’ Juries were selected from Freemen 25 years
of age and older.
FROM ANCESTRY.COM, PAT THOMAS
GEDCOM:
During the
Revolution he was a patriot. Three of his sons were in the Volunteer Corps on
Long Island where one remained a prisoner for two years. He purchased 300 acres
in Northampton 31 March 1744, most likely for his son Dirck.
Will was
signed 8 December 1757, his inventory was taken in 1858 and the will proved 28
February 1758.
"I,
Adrian Aten, of the township of Reading in the County of Hunterdon and Western
Division of the Province of New Jersey, being sick and weak of body but of
sound and perfect mind and memory.. commit my soul into the hands of Almight
God who gave it and my body to the earth to be decently buried.... I give my
eldest son Derrick the sum of five shillings to be paid to him in full
satisfaction of his primo-genitive or birthright.
I give also
unto my beloved wife, Jacobbite, one bed and furniture thereto belonging and
bedstead and the painted cupboard and one chest, died black, one wagon and two
horses which she shall chuse and the room of the house where I now dwell and
likewise firewood all during her natural life and likewise I give unto her the
sum of Two Hundred pounds money at eight shillings ye ounce, these be for her
to use for her subsistence druing her natural life and to be at her sole
management and disposal after my just debts are paid. I will all the remaining
part of my estate both real and personal be equally divided among my sons and
daughters, namely Ann, Derick, Hendrick, Mary, Catalinta, John, Garret, Juda,
and Adrian. I do hereby appoint my said loving son, Hendrick Aten and my loving
brother-in-law Peter Middah, executors.
The
inventory of Adriaen Aten's possessions was made by Thomas Atkinson and
Cornelius Wyckoff and totalled 1042 pounds, 11 shillings including bills,
bonds, and book debts, 635 pounds, five shillings, 5 pence, books of 5 pounds
and 10 shillings and a negro boy valued at 40 pounds.
(Ref:Bill
Aten of Michigan: Manuscript of Alice Kennedy of Pennsylvania, 1962;)
ANCESTRY.COM,
DONEVA SHEPARD’S FAMILY, HAS FOLLOWING STATEMENTS:
During the
Revolution, like most of his Dutch associates, he was an enthusiastic patriot.
Three of his sons were in the volunteer corps on Long Island, where one was
captured and remained a prisoner full two years.
Patriots
carrying messages to and from the Continental Congress and the Northern
Capitals found his hospitable mansion an ever ready resting place. A detachment
of Washington's Army passing Northward to Morristown, New Jersey, on a hot day,
drank the well dry.
Marriage: 1717 Somerset Co., NJ
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Spouse: Jacobje
MIDDAGH
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Birth: 24 Oct 1693 Somerset Co., NJ
Death: 16 May 1782
Father: Dirck Aertson MIDDAGH
(1671-1710)
Mother: Catalyntje Van NESTE
(~1672-1757)
Misc. Notes
FROM
ANCESTRY.COM, PAT THOMAS GEDCOM:
Birth
information was translated by a researcher in 1898 from a family bible of
Jacobje and presented at a family reunion and comes to me via Bill Aten of
Michigan. She was famous for her piety and referred to as the pious Jacobje.
She died at
the home of one of her sons in Pennsylvania.
(Ref:Bill
Aten of Michigan: Manuscript of Alice Kennedy of Pennsylvania, 1962;)
Her Will:
In the name
of God, Amen. The 12 day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand
seven Hundred and seventy five I, Jacobje Aten of the township of Mount bethel
in the county of Northampton & in the Province of Pennsylvania, Widow--
being weak in body, but in sound memory Blessed be God therefore-- Calling to
mind the Mortallity of my Body Wherefore-- I do make & publish this my last
will and Testament in Manner following that is to say-------
I
recommand my soul to god from whence it came, and my body to the Earth to be
Buried in a Decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executor, & as to my
worldly estate or Movable Effects wherewith it hath pleased the Lord to bless
me with, I Dispose of the same as followeth.
First of all
I wish my just debts and debts & funeral charges first paid. I give unto my
son Dirck Aten, as my oldest son the sum of 10 Shillings over and above his
equal share hereafter mentioned. I give to my daughters Antie, Mary, Catholine
& Judick, all my aprons, hankercheifs, cape, to be equally divided amongst
them by my executor hereafter named--- I give & bequeath to my son Garret,
above his share herein after mentioned, the Interest due from him to me by
bonds, at the time of my Decease--------
&
the rest of my Estate or Effects, that is my wearing apparel such as is not
already divided, my bonds, notes & all Debts due to me Excepting such as is
befor given to be divided amongst all my sons & daughters equally, that is
to say to my son Dirck, one equal share, the Heirs of my sone Hendrick deceased
one full share to be equally divided amongst them, my son John Aten, one equal
share, and my son Gerret Aten one equal share, & Adreaen Aten one equal
share & each of my daughters (& the heirs of her body) before named one
equal share each, excepting the share of my daughter Catholine which I will
shall after my decease be put out on interest by my said executors, & the
interest arising therefrom to be paid------------------
to be paid
yearly, and every year unto my said daughter Catholine by my executors &
after her decease, to the heirs of her body Lawfully begotten, or to be
begotten & in Default of such, I leave then to my surviving sons and
daughters to share and share alike. I make and ordain my brother Peter Middagh
and my son Adriaen Aten sole executors of this my last will and Testament in
trust, to see the same perfor[m]ed, acting to the true intent and meaning
thereof: in witness whereot: I the said Jacobje Aten, have to this my will and
testament set my hand & seal the day & year first above written.
NB (nota
bene) between the thirteenth & fourteenth line was Inserted before the
sealing here & also the word [….?] and also between 29 & 30 Line the
words Heirs of her body were Inserted.
Signed,sealed
and delivered by the said Jacobje Aten, and for her last will and testament, in
the presence of us.
Robert Hood
Gerrit Middagh
Benj'm Depue
Jacobje Aten
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Children
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Adrian (Aderyon?) ATEN (4 Sep 1695 - 10 Dec 1757) &
Jacobje MIDDAGH (24 Oct 1693 - 16 May 1782)
Antje ATEN (25 Aug
1719 - 1813)
Dirck ATEN (22 Aug
1721 - 8 Sep 1809)
Hendrick ATEN (3
Sep 1723 - 4 Aug 1773) & Mary L BELLAS (abt 1741 - )
Cathalyntie ATEN
(27 Jan 1725 - 1726)
Marritje ATEN (15
Jan 1727 - 6 Sep 1808)
Cathalyntje ATEN
(29 Jul 1730 - )
John (Jan?)
ATEN (22 Dec 1732 - 1790) & Elizabeth BADYN (1733 - )
Gerradus ATEN (22
Dec 1732 - )
Judick ATEN (9 Jul
1735 - 22 Jul 1819)
Adrian ATEN (7 Nov
1737 - 18 Oct 1826)
Discussion Addendum:
Tim Peterman
has raised some questions related to Adrian Aten and Jacobje Middagh, from a
note dated January 14, 2016:
I am pondering the background of Adrian Hendrickse Aten (d
1757) & have a few thoughts to share:
1. As all of us know, there has been considerable debate
among Aten genealogists about whether Adrian (d 1757) was the son of Hendrick
Aten or Thomas Aten. The will of Hendrick Aten (1749) clearly names a
son, Adrian Aten. The Dutch reformed records clearly show that Thomas
Aten & Elsje Skillman had a son, Adrian, born or baptized Sep. 4, 1695.
If this was all that we knew, we could say either could be the father.
2. If Adrian (d 1757) is the son of Hendrick Aten, there is
no reason to think he was born or baptized on Sep. 4, 1695. Adrian's
wife, Jacobje Middaugh was born Oct. 24, 1693. Because of this, I
wouldn't be surprised if Adrian (d 1757) is a few years older, perhaps born ca
1690-93.
3. Looking at the children of Adrian Hendrickse Aten &
Jacobje Middaugh, we see: Antje (b Aug. 25, 1719), Dirck (b Aug. 22,
1721), Hendrick (b Sep. 3, 1723), Cathalyntje (b Jan 27, 1726), Martyje (b Jan.
15, 1728), Judick (b Jul. 29, 1730), Jan, Geradus, Judith, and Adrian.
Notably -none of the children were named Thomas or Elsje.
Well balanced families frequently used the names of the 4 grandparents
among the older children, especially back in that day; I'm not sure whether the
Dutch actually adhered to this, but I repeat the names of the first four
children & we may note an interesting pattern:
1. Antje
2. Dirck (? named after maternal grandfather, Dirck
Middaugh)
3. Hendrick (? named after paternal grandfather, Hendrick
Aten)
4. Cathalyntje (? named after maternal grandmother,
Cathalyntje Van Neste)
This clearly supports the idea that Adrian (d 1757) was the
son of Hendrick Aten. But what about Maria DeMott? Was she really
his mother?
Maria DeMott was born in 1678, some 17 years younger than
Hendrick Aten. Her birth year is one of the reasons Aten genealogists
feel certain Adrian was born in the mid-1690s. He can't be too much
younger than Jacobje; yet he has to be young enough to account for Maria DeMott
being his mother... -unless she wasn't.
In 1698, Hendrick Aten & Antje Aten witnessed the
baptism of a child. Aten genealogists have speculated that she was a
sister or niece of Hendrick. Is it possible that she was his wife?
Perhaps she died young & Hendrick married (2) Maria DeMott.
Perhaps Adrian Hendrickse Aten (d 1757) named his eldest child after his
deceased mother.
Have either of you seen evidence that Hendrick Aten married
Maria DeMott? What is the date of such evidence?
I have been looking at an abstract of the ancient Jacobje
Middaugh family bible. Hendrick Aten is clearly called Vader. Mary
is only called zyn Vrou (ie, his wife) -Mary was NOT identified as mother,
although Hendrick was called father.
Jacobje never provided a birthdate for Adrian Hendrickse
Aten, although she did provide such for all of her children, as well as her
siblings and other relatives.
Anyway, I am proposing that the first wife of Hendrick Aten
was named Antje & that Adrian may have been born as far back as say
1685-93.
Conclusion?:
Since the family Bible of Jacobje Middaugh reports the death
of "Vader Hendrick Aten", it is fairly obvious to me that Hendrick
really was the father of Adrian (d 1757). The earliest record I see of
Hendrick having a wife named Mary or Maria was 1713.
I now show the birth of Adrian (d 1757) as ca 1685-93.
I think Hendrick married Mary or Maria well after 1698, perhaps in the
early 1700s. Since she was born in 1678, this would be about right.
Tim
Please
report corrections or additions to...
Fred Coffey
FredCoffey@AOL.COM