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17 Mar 2013

Anneke Jans and the Webber Controversy

For generations descendants of a Wolfert Webber claimed that property on Manhattan Island in New York had illegally been taken from their family by the Trinity Church.

Pieter Van Brugh (1666–1740), Mayor of Albany, New York, in the periods 1699-1700 and 1721-1723, was descended from Norwegian immigrants. His mother's parents were Anneke Jans (1605–1663) and Roelof Janse (1602–1637), who was born on a small island in Norway (that was ceded to Sweden in 1658). Roelof received a grant of 62 acres of land on the Hudson River on Manhattan Island in nowadays New York. After her husband's death in 1637, Anneke was married in 1638 to the Rev. Everardus Bogardus (1607-1647) of the Trinity Dutch Reformed Church on Manhattan Island. 

Anneke Jans and Everardus Bogardus
  
Anneke Jans became famous through a long series of lawsuits initiated by her descendants, who claimed (1) ownership of real estate on Manhattan and (2) royal descent. 
F.A. Virkus writes in "The Compendium of American Genealogy":

"Anneke (Webber) Jans (1605-63), [..] dau. of Wolfert Webber (b 1565), 
said to have been son of William, 9th prince of Orange and later King of Holland".

It was even said that Anneke Jans, "daughter of Wolfert Webber, 4th King of Holland, whose father was William, Prince of Orange", was born in "the King's Mansion in Holland" in 1605.

The first and only person who held the title "King of Holland" was the great Napoleon's brother Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1778-1846) who ruled The Netherlands in the period 1806-1810. The compendium probably refers to Prince William I "the Silent" of Orange (1533-1584), stadtholder of Holland. In 1565 - the supposed birth date of Wolfert Webber, -William was still married to his rich - but mad - 2nd wife, Anna of Saxony (1544-1577), and he was still married to his 4th wife when he was murdered in 1584. During his life William of Orange did recognize only one illegitimate son, Justinus (1559-1631). It wasn't until 1815 that one of William's descendants in the female line, Willem I Frederik of Orange-Nassau (1772–1843), became the 1st King of The Netherlands


I have never seen any reference to a Wolfert Webber in Dutch sources. Over the years the legend has been questioned, thoroughly researched and disproved. In 1973 George Olin Zabriskie published an article about it in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, volume 104, p.p. 65-72 and 157-160 entitled "ANNEKE JANS, FACT AND FICTION". 

Apparently, Anneke Jans was born in 1605 on Flekkerøy, a Norwegian island, as a daughter of Tryntje Jonas, a midwife. In 1623 in Amsterdam, Holland, Anneke married Roelof Jansson, a fellow Norwegian. Together they arrived in the new world in 1630. As a widow with 6 children, Anneke married Dutchman Everardus Bogardus. Bogardus had arrived in New Netherland in 1633, from Amsterdam on a sailing ship named "Sontberg". Everardus went to live with Anneke on a farm, and they had 4 more sons. The farm was henceforth called "Dominé's Bouwerie".
Bogardus died on September 27, 1647, in the Princess Amelia shipwreck near Swansea, Wales, while en route to Amsterdam. By 1664, Anneke Jans had died, too. Anneke's only son from her 1st marraige was Jan Roelofs (1633 - aft. 1670). The sons with 2nd husband were Willem (1638 - 1711), Cornelius (1640 - 1666), Jonas (1643 - 1689) and Pieter Bogardus (1645 - 1703).

See also: A Webber-related Genealogy, Baptisms in New AmsterdamThe Wolfert Webber - Anneke Jans Legend and Anneke Jans' details, wikipedia.org, Wikitree.com, or Wegen van Evert Willemsz. Een weeskind op zoek naar zichzelf, 1607-1647 .

14 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. The commend above is a good example to illustrate this blog post. The Netherlands (including Holland) has had Queens only in the period 1890-2003.

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  3. Not even a Prince Consort died in the period 1935-2001.

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  5. The Quackenbush family may have been heirs of Anneke Jans estate, but - as stated above - Anneke Jans was born on Flekkerøy, a Norwegian island, as a daughter of Tryntje Jonas, a midwife. She has no relation to the Dutch Royal family.

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    1. I have married into the Webber family and this family Matriarch has legitimate record of our family dating back to this situation I myself would like a little more info so I can pass it on to my son whom is very interested. Cannot get in touch with P Webber schad myself can anyone help me thanks

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    3. My only interest in this topic is to debunk the myth claiming a Webber descend from Dutch national hero William of Orange, a claim that's utter nonsense.

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  6. My name is Megan Galley a descendant of William John Galley. We might be related and I would love to get a little more info on my genealogy if you have it. Here is the article that links us. I also have some genetic conditions I'd love to discuss with you.

    Aneke Jans was a Dutch woman, daughter of Jans Weber, supposedly the son of Prince William 10th of Orange. She married in Holland to Roeloff Jansen and came to America about 1630. Roeloff was granted 62 acres on the island of Manhattan in 1633. He died and Aneke and the children inherited the farm.
    Later she married teh Rev. Evardus Bogardus whose land abutted hers. He died and Aneke inherited his land also. In 1654 title was confirmed and after her death confirmed to her heirs. In 1671, with one exception, the heirs conveyed the land to the English governor. Aneke's son, Cornelius Bogardus died after his mother and his widow and son did not sign. Aneke had a daughter, Sara who married Hans Kiersted. They had a grandson, Lucas Kiersted who married Maria Rykeman. A daughter of this branch married a Hicks and their daughter Sarah Ann Hicks married William Galley of Kingston, NB formerly from Manchester, England and who came to Campobello in 1840. This "fortune" was still being kept alive in 1825.

    http://sites.rootsweb.com/~nbcampob/camp5c.htm

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    1. Again, my only interest in this topic is to debunk the myth claiming a Webber descend from Dutch national hero William of Orange, a claim that's utter nonsense.

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  7. I'd really like to know where the portraits you show came from.

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  8. Joan is absolutely correct. Anneke Jans was never a "Webber" - a complete myth. I have a letter from the Genealogy Society in Amsterdam that debunks this ridiculous fairy tale. I feel sorry for any descendant of Anneke Jans (she is my 10th great grandmother) who thinks they are "royalty". You are not royalty, never were, and never will be. Pay attention to facts and not some of the rubbish you hear or read on certain family trees. There is no pot of gold waiting for you in European Banks as "royal descendants". I still can't believe that people are stupid enough to believe this garbage. Marianne

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  9. Riley Murphy08/06/2023, 01:16

    I have a "proof of heirship" document listing me as the 10x great grandson of Wolfert Webber. I see the comments saying that there is no fortune. That is not what i care about, i would love to know more about the supposed fortune, and who this man actually is. I do not know much of my family and wish to learn more. If anyone could point me in the right direction of where i could find more information it would be greatly appreciated

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