Author: Ed, Don, and Ron Guenther
Written: 2014

Dutch History
The Dutch were a sea faring people. They had a big impact on the world spice trade and thus were the focus of attention from European powers. 

By the 15th century the Netherlands was part of the Spanish Empire, breaking away from Germany. About this time the Plague ravaged the land and would continue to take its toll for about 3 centuries. In the 1500’s as the Reformation took hold and Protestantism grew, Dutch Catholics persecuted them. There the Dutch broke up into two parts, Catholic and Protestant. The Protestant part is what is now The Netherlands and a small part of the Catholic area around Maastricht became Belgium. 

By the 17th century, the Netherlands was entrenched in The Eighty Year’s War, a fight with Spain for independence. In 1648 the Dutch won their independence. Our Van Meteren ancestors immigrated to America in 1662.

Name Origin

Somewhere around the 13th century, these ancestors were living in or near Tiererwaard, a region within the larger community of Geldermalsen, Holland. The name of the village was Meteren. Our people attached Van, meaning ‘from’. Van Meteren, from Meteren.

Cornelius Van Meteren(1480—)

In the late 15th century William Ortelius and his family removed from Augsburg to Antwerp, where the family became prominent. Not long after they removed from Breda to Antwerp Cornelius van Meteren and his family. The two distinguished families united with the marriage of Cornelius’ son Jacobus and William’s daughter Orrilia, married by the noted protestant Chaplain John Rogers.

Cornelius Van Meteren had a daughter, and his daughter married Micheydon Van der Weyden(1500—). They had a daughter Adrianna de Weyden, who was the Niece of Jacob van Meteren, who married John Rogers(1507-1554). John Rogers was burned at the stake by the Catholics for his adherence to his non-Catholic faith and more specifically for his translating of the Bible. This was done under Queen Mary(1553-1558). Jacobus Van Meteren assisted Rogers in publishing his Bibles. 

Martin Luther posted his 95 thesis in 1517, protesting Catholic practices of various sorts, beginning the Reformation. John Rogers worked with William Tyndale in Bible translation. Tyndale’s New Testament had been published in 1526. Tyndale was burned at the stake in 1534. John Rogers put out the complete Bible  under the pseudonym of Thomas Matthew in 1537; it was printed in Paris and Antwerp by Sir Jacobus Van Meteren.

Sir Jacobus Van Meteren(1519- 1553)

Jacobus van Meteren was born in 1519 in Breda, the son of Cornelious Van Meteren. Jacobus was a financier and publisher of early versions of the Bible. He married Orrilia Ortels, daughter of a famous map making family, in Antwerp around 1540.

They had five children, Emanuel van Meteren(1535-1612), Mary van Meteren (born 1542), Cornelius (or Curt) van Meteren (born 1540), Melchoir van Meteren (born 1544), and Aert van Meteren( born 1545). All their children were born in Antwerp. 

Dutch Spanish 80 Years War
Emanuel Van Meteren(1535-1612), one of Jacobus’ sons,  married  Mrs. Von Loobeck, daughter of William Ortellius. He lived in London in 1550 and from 1582 he was ‘consul of the traders of the low countries’ in London. He accompanied William I, Prince of Orange(1533-1584) during the siege of Zaltbommel in the Netherlands by the Spaniards as the Dutch fought for independence, which was gained in 1648. Emanuel van Meteren wrote a book with the title “Belgische ofte Nederlantsche historie vanonzen tijden” in 1599. It is a book on his contemporary history, about the first part of the eighty years war between the Netherlands and Spain. This history is continued by the famous dutch writer P.C Hooft in his Dutch history “De korte historiën der Nederlanden”.

Jacobus Van Meteren was designated as Sir Knight, no doubt an honorary title based on social status. The days of real Kighthood and jousting and the crusades had passed.

Cornelius/Curt Van Meteren(1540-   )

Cornelius Van Meter was born in Antwerp in 1540. He is listed a Knight, appearing in the roles of chivalry in 1578. Knighthood had become a social status by this time and an honorary title, not denoting fighting abilities. Competitive jousting was still popular though. It is doubtful if Cornelius ever jousted. Cornelius’ wife gave birth to Emmanuel Van Meter in 1580.

Emmanuel Van Meteren(1580-   )

Emmanuel’s wife gave birth to Jan Joosten Van Meteren in 1626.

Jan Joosten Van Meteren(1626- 1705)America

Jan Joosten Van Meteren grew up in Thierlewoodt near Amsterdam. He married Macyke, daughter of the Hendricksen clan. Together they sailed from Antwerp for America in August of 1662.

With them came 5 children, ages two to fifteen.The oldest was Geertje. Then there was Joost Jan, daughters Cathrin and Lysbeth, and the youngest was a son Gysbert.

They sailed in the ship Vos or D’Voos, meaning Fox. The captain of the ship was Jacob Jansz Huys. In comparison to today’s vessels The Fox was a tiny, tipsy vessel. Sea sickness for passengers must have been horrendous. The passengers hailed from France, Germany, and the Netherlands. This voyage included a mason, two carpenters, and a baker. They arrived in New Amsterdam, later renamed New York, on August 31, 1662.

The population of New York at this time was 10,000 people, crowded.

The Hudson River

As with many arrivals, the Van Meters traveled up the Hudson River and settled near Wildwyck, today known as Kingston. The yacht they traveled on belonged to governor-General Petrus Stuyvesant, who later sued Jan Joosten for non-payment of his family’s fare.

17th Century Hudson River, New Jersey Area
Nieuw Dorp

Nieuw Dorp

The Dutch settlement was called Nieuw Dorp, nowadays Hurley. It was situated on the eastern shore of Staten Island, at the very edge of the Catskill Mountains and the settlers built a surround of tall wooden palisades or stockades. This heavily wooded wilderness was inhabited by wild animals and Native Americans. Many of these Indians were hostile. Many of the white settlers were hostile as well. This bi-racist ingredient led to endless trouble from both sides.

Also settling in this area were French Walloons. Specifically, there was a family of Louis and Catherine Du Bois. They had a young daughter named Sarah(see the Sarah DuBois story).Most could not read or write. They were a rough drunken crowd, living in log huts, thatched with straw. In the winter they dressed in skins. The women typically went barefoot, and if an Indian was in sight she packed a rifle. These were a tough, strong people bred for survival. They were as wild and untamed as the Indians.

English Rule in America 1664

In 1664 four English warships owned by James, Duke of York, landed in New Amsterdam and claimed it as their own. The city was conquered without firing a shot, the intimidation of the warships was so great. So it was that the Dutch and French settlers found themselves under the British crown. Nonetheless, their lives were not greatly changed, for they lived in the wilderness of upper New York, a long way from England.

Jan Joosten, Magistrate and Judge

Jan Joosten was elected as one of four magistrates. With the new British government, their job was to merge the communities into a single force against the British. The British eventually prevailed and had control. Jan was later appointed justice of the peace and in 1682 was present at the Court of Assizes in New York. Jan was also an elder in the Dutch Reformed church.

In 1689 Jan Joosten headed up an act of fealty toward the British crown, swearing allegiance to the King. Jan Joosten grew in power as a land baron, owning 1835 acres in what is now New Jersey. When he died the bulk of his estate was willed to his wife Macyke. This included six slaves: two adults and four children. 

Jan’s Death, 1706
Jan died in 1706. His wife Mayken Macken Crom Hendricksen gave birth to Joost Jansen Van Meteren in 1660.

Jooste Jan Van Meteren(1660-1706)

Jooste Jansen VanMeteren was born in the Netherlands. He came to America with his family in 1662 as a two year old child. He crossed the Atlantic at age two! Jooste married Sarah du Bois(1662-1726) in 1682. Sarah was the daughter of Louis DuBois and Kathryn Blanchan, of French descent. This is the Kathryn Blanchon who was held captive by Indians for three months.

Abduction by Indians

Records show that in the mid 1660’s some young Dutch men murdered a group of young Indian men who were drunk across the river. It is suspected that Louis DuBois supplied the Indians with moonshine. Also, 20 Indians had previously been kidnapped and sold into slavery. The Indians retaliated by burning and raiding the villages of Hurley and Kingston, taking captives. The Esposus(some say the Minnisink) Indians held Kathryn Blanchan and other women for three months before they were delivered by Louis. Joost Van Meteren was a young boy of six at the time of this capture and was also taken.

They held the captives as ransom for the return of their people sold into slavery. After three months the Indians prepared to burn the captives as their people had not been returned. It is said that Kathryn Blanchon lifted her voice in psalms and they were spared until the rescue party was forthcoming. The rescue party was intent on exterminating the Esopsus Indians and proceeded to do so as they rescued Kathryn and the boy Jooste Jan and party. The Indians were slaughtered.

Joost Marriage to Sarah DuBois, 1682

Joost married Sarah Dubois in the Dutch Reformed Church in what is now Kingston in 1682. They had nine children. Joost was a wild and adventurous man, and  became known as a mountain man, trading and living with the Delaware Indians. Sarah maintained the household and continued to deal in land, large parcels of land mainly in what is now the New Jersey area. The last that was heard of Joost was at age 69, living a nomadic Indian lifestyle, having abandoned his family(Some dispute this claim). It is no big surprise  then, that Sarah signed off on business deals with her maiden name, DuBois. The strong DuBois name no doubt carried clout as well.

Joost is one of the first of a breed of early American mountain men. He no doubt fought in various Indian wars, probably had an Indian wife. He was a wild man. Maybe Sarah was better off without him.

Joost’s Death, 1706

There is a record for Joost being buried in 1706 in the Old Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church in Elmer, New Jersey. Joost and Sarah had son John Van Meter in 1683.

John Van Meter, (1683- 1745)

Jan or “John” Van Meter was born in 1683, the eldest son of Jooste Jans Van Meteren and his wife Sarah Du Bois, apparently at Kingston, Ulster County, New York.

John Marries Margaret Mulliner, 1710

In 1710, at the age of twenty-seven, John Van Meter married his cousin Margaret Mulliner, allegedly the daughter of John’s uncle Henderick  Mulliner and his wife Catherin Crom Van Meteren , the older sister of Jooste Jans Van Meteren. They had at least ten children: Abraham; Isaac, Jacob, Johanes, Sarah, Mary, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Rachel, and Magdalene.

John Van Meter followed in the footsteps of his father and became something of a mountain man, making his living, at least for a while, trading with the Delaware Indians in the mountains of Western Virginia. On one occasion, his friendship with this tribe nearly cost him his life. A little more than a century later, historian Samuel Kercheval wrote about the incident in his book, History of the Valley of Virginia:

Tradition holds that a man by the name of John Vanmeter, from New-York, some years previous to the first settlement of the valley, discovered the fine country on the Wappatomaka [Potomac]. This man was a kind of wandering Indian trader, became well-acquainted with the Delawares, and once accompanied a war party who marched to the south for the purpose of invading the Catawbas. The Catawbas, however, anticipated them, met them very near the spot where Pendleton court-house now stands, and encountered and defeated them with immense slaughter. Vanmeter engaged on the side of the Delawares in this battle. 

Another account, related by a Van Meter descendant in 1898, holds that only John Van Meter and two Delaware Indians survived this battle. Samuel Kercheval tells us that after John Van Meter “returned to New York, he advised his sons, that if they ever migrated to Virginia, by all means to secure a part of the South Branch [of the Potomac] bottom, and described the lands immediately above what is called ‘The Trough’, as the finest body of land which he had ever discovered in all his travels. The Van Meters were among the first white men to cross the Potomac west of the Blue Ridge mountains.

John in Western Virginia

John Van Meter and his sons moved to Maryland and later settled in Western Virginia. They continued to invest in land. All the while John pursued his mountain man career and scouted lands ahead. In 1730 he and his brother Isaac personally visited the Royal Governor of Virginia, William Gooch, at Williamsburg, which was then the capital of the colony. They petitioned the governor for a grant of land in the vicinity of the south branch of the Potomac. The petition was granted at the Council of Virginia, session 1721-1734.

When John Van Meter brought his family from Maryland to live in the upper portion of the Shenandoah Valley in about 1731, the area in which they settled, now part of the State of West Virginia, it was an unspoiled wilderness. In those days, the Shenandoah Valley was called the “Great Valley of Virginia.”

John Van Meter in his will, signed and dated  1745, left to his son Abraham 350 acres of land. He also left tracts of land to sons Isaac and Jacob, daughter Sarah (wife of James Davis), daughter Rebecca (wife of Thomas Hedges), daughter Elizabeth (wife of Thomas Shepherd), daughter Magdalene, and grandson John Lefarge (son of John’s deceased daughter Rachel). To his grandson Johannes Van Meter (son of John’s deceased son Johanes) and granddaughter Joanna Van Meter (daughter of the deceased Johanes), he left £15 to be paid when they reached the age of twenty-one. To daughter Mary, the wife of Robert Jones, he left the 350 acre tract of land where he had been living at the time of his death. Apparently, his wife Margreit was still alive at the time of his death because he also stipulated that after her death, their daughter Mary was to also have one-third of “moveable estate,” meaning perhaps livestock or furniture. 

John and Margaret Van Meter had Elizabeth Van Meter in 1715.

Elizabeth Van Meter(1715-1792)

Elizabeth Van Meter was born in 1715 in Somerset City, New Jersey. In her inheritance Elizabeth received the plantation Pelmel on the Potomac River in Prince George’s County amongst other land parcels. 

Elizabeth Marries Thomas Shepherd(1705-1776), 1733

Elizabeth’s husband Thomas Shepherd, who she married in 1733, was one of the executors of the will. Pelmel Plantation was located directly across the river of what would be the future town of Shepherdstown. Elizabeth brought into her marriage a wealth of land and Thomas Shepherd added to it. The marriage was a good match.

They had ten children: David(1733-1795), Sarah(1736-1780), Elizabeth(1738-1788), William(1740-1824), Mary(1742-1825), Thomas(1743-1792), John(1749-1812), Martha(1752-1825), Abraham(1754-1822), and Susanna(1758).

Women in 18th Century America

Women of this era in America oftentimes couldn’t own land, and yet they often controlled the land or reaped its benefits. They were expected to have numerous children. Women could not vote and yet it is believed that they heavily influenced their husband’s vote. It was one vote per family. They toiled from sunup to sunset and then carried the night shift. 

It could be brutal, but these women did not question their duty typically, nor complain, but lived to serve their families. Chopping and carrying wood was part of their daily routine. Keeping their children alive to adulthood was their biggest challenge and number one priority. 

Elizabeth’s husband Thomas died on March 23, 1776, just before the onset of the Revolutionary War. All five of their sons fought in the Revolutionary War and son William died at Fort Wheeling in 1777. In Thomas’ will he made provision for Elizabeth by requiring three of his sons to pay her an annual stipend, ten pounds each for the rest of her life, making her annual income 30 pounds. Land was left to their children. There was an abundance of land in Virginia. 

Shepherd’s Mill

Thomas and Elizabeth were among the first settlers along the Potomac River. They founded Shepherdstown and there built a grist mill. Elizabeth made bread from flour milled there. It is now a national historic site.

Just south of Shepherdstown was the main trail and the Packhorse Ford on the river. Here they built a fort to defend themselves from Indians and wild animals. The Shepherds received a land grant of 450 acres from Lord Fairfax to increase their holdings along the Potomac. 

To this day in Shepherdstown you will find markers at the graveyard for Thomas and Elizabeth. They were leaders in their community and they were builders.

Elizabeth and Thomas Shepherd gave birth to David Shepherd in 1733.

Colonel David Shepherd(1733 – 1795) married Rachel Teague(1735- 1777), probably in Virginia. Rachel gave birth to Sarah around 1758.

Sarah Shepherd(1758-1832) married Francis Duke in 1773 in West Virginia. Sarah gave birth to John in 1774.

John S. Duke(1774-1849) married Catherine Hoover(1775- 1813) in Virginia. Catherine gave birth to George in 1807.

George Duke(1807-1873) married Hannah Jackson in 1831 in Ohio. Hannah gave birth to Matilda in 1843.

Matilda Duke(1843 – 1907) married William Stead in 1861 in Iowa. Matilda gave birth to Alice in 1871.

Alice A. Stead(1871 – 1925) married Samuel Guenther(1867- 1943) in Iowa. Alice gave birth to John in 1912.

John Emmel Guenther(1912 – 1991). John Guenther married Geraldine Delsman(1916- 2012) in Coos Bay, Oregon. They had 14 children.

Bibliography: 

Cartmell, T.K., Shenadoah Valley Pioneers, 1908 

Kercheval, Samuel, History of the Valley of Virginia: third edition; Woodstock, VA: W. N. Grabill, 1902

Smyth, Samuel Gordon.  A Genealogy of the Duke-Shepherd-Van Meter Family, Lancaster, Pennsylvania: The New Era Printing Company, 1909: https://archive.org/details/genealogyofdukes01smyt

Thompson, James Ronald, The Coventer’s Quest, PDF, Copyright 2008

http://www.ronsgospelmusic.org/covebook/book1.pdf

Van Meter, James T., Early Van Meter History in America: http://www.vanmetre.com/papers/van_meter_pioneers_in_america.htm

James T. Van Meter