2. Joris (George) Jansen² Rapalje (Jean (John)¹ Rapareillet) was born in Valenciennes, France Abt 1604. Joris died 1662 in Long Island, New York, at 58 years of age.

He married Catalyntje Jeronomus Trico. Catalyntje was born in Prisches, France Abt 1605. Catalyntje was the daughter of Jeronomic Jan Trico. Catalyntje died September 11, 1689 in Long Island, New York, at 84 years of age. Joris' surname, Rapalje, was a vulgar "Dutchification" of the French or Walloon name "Rapareillet". The variations of the spelling of his surname suggests that, although born in the Spanish occupied Hainaut Province of France, he may have spent some time in Walloonia, Flanders, now a part of Belgium. Once in America at New Amsterdam, he was said to have come from La Rochelle, France, indicating that he may have lived there as well, or at least had some trade in La Rochelle (possibly through Catalyntie's father). His middle name, Jansen, suggests that he was the son of Jan (in Dutch), or Jean (in French).

Joris and Catalyntie Trico were married in the Walloon (Protestant - Huguenot) Church at Amsterdam, Netherlands, Jan. 21, 1623/24. According to the book, Island at the Center of the World, by Russell Shorto (Doubleday 2004) their marriage was only four days before their ship sailed to America. Catalyntie's maiden name, Trico, is also a "Dutchification" of Tricault, her original French surname. The possibility does exist that they first came to America on separate ships, he on the Unity in 1623, and she on the Niew Nederlandt in 1624, or vice-versa. Another possibility is that Joris first arrived in 1623 on the Unity, then returned to Holland to marry Catalyntie and they both returned to New Amsterdam on the Niew Nederlandt in 1624. In the Bergen family history, published in 1876, it is asserted that they both came to the "Mannatans" on the Unity, commanded by Arien Jorsie, and were part of 18 families which remained on-board to go to Fort Orangie (Now Albany), where they lived until 1626. New research, since the publication of the Bergen Book, has Catalyntie arriving on the Niew Nederlandt in 1624, which brought a number of Huguenot refugees from La Rochelle.

Joris and Catalyntie lived in what is now Albany until 1626, when she and her husband moved to what is now lower Manhattan after Gov. Peter Minuit in May, 1626, purchased Manhattan Island from the Indians. After a few years of farming, Joris and Catalynsie opened a small tavern or "tap house" on the north side of what is now Pearl Street, abutting on the Fort, where they managed the tap-house and grew vegetables and served their guests. Later, their daughter Sarah and son-in-law, Hans Hansen Bergen, took over the tap-house, but Hans died in 1654. Joris and his wife moved to a farm in Brooklyn, where he had acquired a number of properties, in about 1655, in the area now occupied by the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Joris died sometime before 1680, since from that point onward Catalyntie was known as the "old widow from Valenciennes" as she continued to raise her large extended family and grow vegetables on her farm in Brooklyn. In 1680 a group of Labidist visitors reported that, in 1679, she was living alone, growing flowers and vegetables and had 145 descendants, soon to be 150, alive at that time.

Joris (George) Jansen Rapalje and Catalyntje Jeronomus Trico had the following children:

3 i. Sarah³ Rapalje was born in Ft. Orange (now Albany), New York June 9, 1625. Sarah died September 16, 1687 at 62 years of age.

4 ii. Marretje Joris (Maria) Rapalje was born in Manhattan, New York March 11, 1627. Marretje died September 11, 1689 in Long Island, New York, at 62 years of age. She married Michael Paul Vanderford in New York, November 18, 1640. Michael was born in Dermont, Flanders (Belgium) 1605-1615. Michael was the son of Paul Vanderford. Michael died September 20, 1692 in Talbot County, MD, at 87 years of age. (See Michael Paul Vanderford for the continuation of this line.)

5 iii. Jan Rapalje was born August 28, 1627.

6 iv. Jannetje Rapalje was born August 18, 1628.

7 v. Judith Rapalje was born July 5, 1635.

8 vi. Jacob Rapalje was born May 28, 1639.

9 vii. Catharyn Rapalje was born in New Amsterdam, New York Abt March 1641.

10 viii. Jeronymus Rapalje was born in New Amsterdam, New York June 25, 1642.

11 ix. Annetje Joris Rapalje was born in New Amsterdam, New York February 8, 1646.

12 x. Lysbeth Rapalje was born Abt March 1648.

13 xi. Daniel Rapalje was born in New Amsterdam, New York Abt December 1650.

Send email to preparer: charlie@vanderford.net

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