# The Cincinnati Enquirer/1923/Van Deusen Family

Abraham Pietersen Van Deursen (1768-1816) in The Cincinnati Enquirer on June 24, 1923.
About Our Ancestors. Van Deusen Family. By Frances M. (Eleanor Lexington) Abraham Pietersen van Deursen is the founder of the American branch of the family, and in 1636 was living here with his wife, whom he married in Holland. She was Tryntje Melchiora, and the original certified copy of their marriage certificate is now in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., where it was deposited about 10 or 13 years ago. The couple were married December 9, 1629, at the Groote Kerk, Harlem. Abraham is described as a bachelor, born in the Great Forest street, Harlem, and Tryntje, spinster, a native of Groningen. Abraham was under contract with the West India Company as their official miller, and also carried on his mill as a private enterprise. In time he became so prosperous that he could lend money. Abraham's mill was on the bank of the East River, New Amsterdam (New York City), and he owned property on the Great Heerewegh (Broadway) and on the Bouwerie (Bowery). In 1665 he was living opposite Trinity Church, near Wall street, and at this time was assessed for maintaining English soldiers. He also helped by his contribution to repair the wall across the town which, built as a protection against Indians, had been partly demolished by a surprise Incursion. "Founder and Patriots," and "Daughters of Founders and Patriots" have open doors for the Van Deusens Wall Street takes its name from this wall, built there to keep out the Indians. Captain Christopher Van Duzer (as he spelled his name), of the Revolutionary War, was one of the many American descendants of the Dutch Van Deursen's who have served their country in time of need. In the Jan Van Deusen house, in Ulster County, New York, the Council of Safety met in 1777 after the burning of Kingston by the British. The handsome residence of Matthew Van Duzen, Pennsylvania, built in 1710, faced the historic Penn's Treaty Tree." The daughter of the pioneers, Abraham and Tryntje Van Deusen, was Marytje, who married Thomas Jansen Mingall and became the mother of five children. Her brother, Peter, and his wife, Hester Webbers, had daughters Tryntie and Annetie and doubtless others in their flock and Marytje and Pieter, of the second generation, also had brothers and sisters, "The Van Deursen Family," in two volumes, was published in 1912 The author of the book la Captain A. H. Van Deusen. There are portraits and the coat of arms in its heraldic colors Still another fam- ily history, of 180 pages and published in 1901, is by Benson. The Title is "Abraham Van Deusen and Descendants." It begins with records in 1635. Records of the Van Deusens are also found in "History of New York," by Valentine: "Records of New Amsterdam;" "Minutes of the Orphans Court," New Amsterdam; Year Books of the Holland Society; "Calendar of Dutch mas." "Documentary History of New York." Also It is possible to obtain family records in Holland, extending back many centuries. "The Journal of American History" in "A Founder Family of New Netherland" gives many interesting Illustrations. One is the castle of Deursen, built in the fourteenth century by Govert Van Doorsen, earliest of the known ancestors of the Van Deursen family of America. There are views of new world homes of the family-one at Philadelphia, one at Warwick, New York. and another at Hurley, Ulster County, New York. There is also a cut of an old coin cheat belonging to one of the family who was in the Continental army. The ancient coat of arms of the family in Holland is blazoned under the name "Van Doersen." Doersen was the old name of the town in South Brabant, the earliest known home of the Van Deursena The earliest known ancestor of the Van Deursen, or Van Deusen family of America, was Govert Van Doorsen, living in the fourteenth century. It was he who built the handsome castle of Deursen. In honor of his wife's devotion, one of the house of Deursen added a spinning wheel as an heraldic charge to his coat of arms, or the "Wheel of Heusden," as it was called. She was Elizabeth Van Heusden, wife of Jan Van Deursen, and when he went on a crusade she followed him. disguised as a page The story has been told in an old Dutch ballad. The armorial herewith emblazoned la very attractive Its heraldic colors are sable, silver and gold.