The Arent Sonmans Family: Peter Wright's 1769 "Proof of Pedigree" in Philadelphia Deeds

THE ARENT SONMANS FAMILY: PETER WRIGHT’S 1 769 “PROOF OF PEDIGREE” IN PHILADELPHIA DEEDS contributed by Aaron Goodwin I t is not uncommon to find significant family information in deeds, but Peter Wright of All Hallows London Wall provided exceptional detail. On 30 and 31 August 1769 lie leased and released land in Pennsylvania to Charles Hurst, presenting ample, detailed documentation of his right to the land in question through inheritance. London Mayor Samuel Turner presented the supporting instruments, with an affidavit from John Sher¬ wood, who had transcribed the pertinent Quaker vital records, and certi¬ fication by Thomas Gould, a Quaker registrar who confirmed the accu¬ racy of the extracts. i LEASE, PETER WRIGHT TO CHARLES HURST This Indenture made the Thirtieth day of August in the Year of our Lord One thousand and Seven hundred and Sixty nine Between Peter Wright of all allows |«c) London wall in the City of London in Great Britain, Silk Bro¬ ker, Grand Son and heir at Law of Arent Sonmans, formerly of Rotterdam in Holland, Merchant, and also only Son and heir at Law of Johanna Wright, for¬ merly Johanna Sonmans, one of the Daughters of the said Arent Sonmans, and also Nephew and heir at Law of Rachael Ormston, formerly Rachael Sonmans, another Daughter of the said Arent Sonmans, of the one part, and Charles Hurst of London, Merchant, hut now in New York in America, of the other part. Witnesseth that for and in Consideration of the Sum of Live Shil¬ lings of lawful money of Great Britain . . . he the said Peter Wright Hath bar¬ gained and Sold . . . all and Singular Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Here¬ ditaments and premisses whatsoever, whether Located or unlocated, and all City Lots, Moietys, parts or shares of City Lots whatsoever, Situate, lying, and being in the Province of Pennsylvania in North America, whercunto he the said Peter Wright is Intitled as heir at Law to the said Johanna Wright, Rachael Ormston, and Arent Sonmans . . . unto the said Charles Hurst . . . from the day next before the day of the date hereof, for and during and unto the full End and Term of one whole Year from thence next Ensuing . . . pay¬ ing therefore at the end of the said Term unto the said Peter Wright . . . the rent of a pepper Corn, if the same shall be lawfully demanded, . . . Intended to be granted and released by Indenture bearing the date the day next after Aaron Goodwin (aarongoodwin@mtte.com) is a contributing editor for the Nett’ York Genealof>ical anil liiognt/ihical Record \NYGBR\ and the treasurer of the Genea¬ logical Society of Pennsylvania. 1 Philadelphia Deeds 18: it) i- 1 2 (Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1 1 ISP] microfilm XI) Pa Ph I IS). Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 16 (2009) 1 13 I 14 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 46 the day of the date hereof, and made between the said Peter Wright of the Peter Wright (I.S) Sealed and delivered, being first duly Stampt in the Presence of Joseph Sherwood. John Sherwood exd. Recorded June 3rd 1771 one part and the said ( diaries Hurst of the other part. . . . RELEASE, PETER WRIGHT TO CHARLES HURST This Indenture made the Thirty first day of August in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty nine between Peter Wright . . . [ detail of inheritance tint! haul same as abat e] . . . and Charles Hurst . . . Witnessed! that for and in Consideration of the Sum of Twenty five pounds lawful! money of Great Britain. . . he the said Peter Wright hath granted, bar¬ gained, sold . . . unto the said (diaries Hurst in his Actual possession now . . . all and Singular messuages, Lands, Tenements, |etc.| ... in the Province of Pennsylvania in North America, whereunto he the said Peter Wright is Intitled as heir at Law of the said Johanna Wright, Rachael Ormston, and Arent Sonmans. Peter Wright {I.S) Sealed and delivered (being first duly stampt) in the Presence of Joseph Sherwood, Attorney at Law, Warnford Court, Throgmorton Street. Walter Smith. Received the Day of the date of the within written Indenture of and from the within named Charles Hurst the sum of Twenty five pounds, ... Peter Wright. Witness: Joseph Sherwood, Walter Smith Recorded June 3rd 1771 PE TER WRIGHT, ANNEXED TO THE FOREGOING [This IS September 1769 document, a little more than one page, provides essentially the same introduction from Samuel Turner, Lord Mayor of Lon¬ don, as that in the “Proof of Pedigree” below. It also contains an affirmation from lawyer Joseph Sherwood that the lease and release above were wit¬ nessed by him and others, named as above.) PROOF OF PEDIGREE OF PETER WRIGHT To All to whom these presents shall come I, Samuel Turner, Lord Mayor of the City of London, in pursuance of an Act of Parliament, made and passed in the fifth year of the Reign of his late Majesty King George the Second, Instituted an Act for the more easy recovery of Debts in his Majestys plan¬ tations and Colonies in America, do hereby Certify that on the day of the date hereof, personally came and appeared before me John Sher¬ wood, . . . did Solemnly and Sincerely declare, Testify, and depose to be true the Several Matters and things mentioned and Contained in the said annexed affidavid, In Faith and Testimony whereof 1, the said Lord Mayor, have caused the Seal of the Office of Mayoralety of the said City of London to be hereunto put and affixed, and the Copies of Certificates and Copies of Entrys marked A B C D, mentioned and referred to in and by the said affida¬ vit, to be hereunto also annexed, dated in London the Fifteenth Day of Sep¬ tember in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven bunded and Sixty nine. \ no given name] Hodges {I.S) 2009 The Aretit Sonmans Family 1 IS John Sherwood of warnford Court, Throgmorton Street in the City of London, Gentleman, maketh Oath that he did on the ninth day of September One thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty nine examine the Register Books of Marriages of the People called Quakers in and about the Citys of London and Westminster, County of Middlesex, and of the Borough of Southwark in the County of Surry, and that the Copy of the Marriage Certificate of Joseph Ormston and Rachael Sonmans hereunto annexed, marked with the letter A, and Certified by Thomas Gould, and also the Copy of the Marriage Certifi¬ cate of Joseph Wright and Johanna Sonmans hereunto also annexed, marked with the Letter B, and Certified by Thomas Gould, are true Copies of Origi¬ nal lint ries made in the first and Second Volumes of the Register of Mar¬ riages of the People called Quakers, ... is of the proper hand writing of Thomas Gould, one of the Clerks or Registers of the said People called Quakers in London; and this Deponent saith that he did on the same day and year examine the Register book of births of the Children of the said people called Quakers, and that the Two extracts or Copies of F.ntrics hereunto also annexed, marked with the letter C, and Certified by the said Thomas Gould, are true Copies of Entries in the Register Book of Births of the people called and this Deponent further saith that he did on the said Ninth Quakers, day of September One thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty nine, examin[e| the Register books of Burials of the said People called Quakers, and that the three Extracts or Copies of Entrys hereunto also annexed, marked with the letter D, and Certified by the said Thomas Gould, are true Copys of Entrys in the Register Book of Burials of the said people called Quakers, . . . and that the name of the said Thomas Gould Subscribed to the Certificate of die said Extracts is of the proper hand writing of the said Thomas Gould. John Sherwood Sworn at the Mansion House, London, the 15th day of September 1769 before me Sami Turner Mayor A 1691 Joseph Ormston and Rachel Sonmans, Bull and Mouth, London, the 27th day of the 8th m [October] 1 69 1 Joseph Ormston of Martins Lane, London, Merchant, Son of Charles Orm¬ Kelso in the Kingdom of Scotland, Merchant, deceased, and Rachel Sonmans of Cannon Street, London, Daughter of Arent Sonmans, late of Rotterdam in Holland, deceased, having declared their Intentions of tak¬ ing each other in Marriage, before Several publick meetings of the People of God called Quakers, in London, according to the good order used among them, . . . that for the full accomplishing of their said Intentions, this Twenty Seventh day of October in the year according to the English Account One thousand Six hundred ninety and one, they the said Joseph Ormston and Rachel Sonmans appeared in a publick assembly of the aforesaid people and others met together for that end, in their Publick Meeting place at Bull and Mouth in London and (according to the example of the Holy Men of God, Recorded in the Scriptures of Truth), in a Solemn Manner, he the said Joseph Ormston, taking the said Rachel Sonmans by the hand, did Openly declare as followeth: I, Joseph Ormston, in the presence of God and in the presence of you. his people, take this my Dear Friend, Rachel Sonmans, to be my wife, promiseing through Gods assistance to be to her a True and Faithfull Husband till it shall please God by death to make a Separation; and then and there in the said assembly the said Rachael Sonmans did in like manner ston, late of I 16 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 46 declare as followetli: Friends, in the presence of the Lord and before you. his people, 1 take this my loving Friend, Joseph Ormston, to he my Husband, promiseing to be to him a faithfull, loving, and obedient wife till it shall please the Lord by death to Seperate us. And the said Joseph Ormston and Rachel Sonntans, as a further Confirma¬ tion thereof, did then and there to these presents, set their Hands, and all whose names are hereunto Subscribed, being present among others at the Solemnizing of their said Marriage, and Subscription in manner aforesaid as Witnesses thereunto, have also to these presents Subscribed our names the day and year above Written.- [ column / 1 Joseph Wright Jur,; Peter Sonmans; John Ormsley; Joseph Wright; Wm. Clopton; Riclul Cary; Rd Haynes; James Chutlcy; Walter Stuart.|column 2] Jo n Getlatley; Alex Brand; Thos Newing¬ ton; Philip Kettle; Rob't Hunter; Azariah Reynolds; Tho: Ormston; Evan Mack Pherson; James Taylor; Wm, Graham. |column A| Wm. Chandler; Alex Forbes; Edm’d Collet; Michael Russell; Gilbert Molleson; Hen: Goldney; Tho: Witharn; Pa: Livingston; W in Gordon; Tho: Stewart, \coiunm /[ Alex: Seaton; Fra. Stamper; Jo n Fonlio; I). Gregorie; Theod’r Eccleston; Walter Benthall; John Vaughton; Tho: Hart; Alex: Burnett; Bcnj Healing Sr. [column 5; groom, bride, near relatives] Joseph Ormston; Rachel Sonmans; Johannah Wright; Martha Wright; Jane Cary; Ka: Wright; Elizabeth Haynes; Agness Graham; Anna Atwood; Hester Folkes; Eliz: Borle; Mary Wass; Sa: Casintre; Susan Dew; E. Casintre; Mary Russell; Mercy Benthall. These are to Certify, all whom it may Concern, that the foregoing is a true Copy of the Marriage Certificate of Joseph Ormston and Rachel Sonmans, taken from the Original Entry made in the Register Book of the Marriages of the people called Quakers, in and about the Cities of London and Westmin¬ ster, County of Middlesex, and of the Borough of Southwark, in the County of Surry, Volume the Second, folio Sixty, the same being carefully examined with the said Register the ninth day of September One thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty nine, by me Thos Gould Regr B 7-17 Bull the I Sth 6 mo 16X9 Joseph Wright & Johanna Sonmans Joseph Wright of wallbrook in London, Merchant, Son of Joseph Wright of Aldersgate Street, London, Marehant Taylor, and Johnanna Sonmans of Enfield in Middlesex, Daughter of Arent Sonmans of Rotterdam in Holland, deceased, having declared their Intentions of taking each other in Marriage before several Publick meetings of the People of God Called Quakers in Enfield in the County of Middlesex, according to the good order used amongst them, . . . that for the full Accomplishing their said Intentions, this Fifteenth day of the Sixth month called August in the Year according to the English Account One thousand Six Hundred Eighty and nine, they the said Joseph Wright and Johanna Sonmans appeared in a publick assembly of the aforesaid people and others, met together for that end in their Publick - The column format of the witnesses in the deed book is not consistent with that in the original Quaker register, and there are many differences in the names [although most are not significant |, so names of the witnesses are given as recorded in London and Middlesex Quarterly Meeting, Marriages 1658-1690, page 60 (Fill. *817,378). The deed book lists a witness John Wright immediately after Joseph Wright that is not in the London recorded marriage certificate. 2009 'll ic Arent Sonmans Family 1 17 Meeting place at Bull and Mouth in London and, according to the example of the Holy Men of God (Recorded in the Scriptures of Truth) in a Solemn manner, and he the said Joseph Wright, taking The said Johanna Sonmans by the hand, diil openly declare as followeth in the fear of God and in the I’resence of this Assembly: I, Joseph Wright, take this my dearest Friend, Johanna Sonmans, to be my wife, ITomiseing through the assistance of the Lord to he to her a loving and faithful Husband until Death, and then and there in the said Assembly, the said Johanna Sonmans did in like manner declare as fol¬ loweth: Friends, in the presence of the Lord and of this Assembly, I, Johanna Sonmans, take this my loving Friend, Joseph Wright, to be my Husband, promiseing to be to him a loving, faithfull, and Obedient wife until death shall seperate us. and the said Joseph Wright and Johanna Sonmans, as a fur¬ ther Confirmation thereof, did then and there to these presents Set their hands, and we, whose names are hereunto Subscribed, being present among others at the Solemnizing of the Said Marriage and Subscription in manner aforesaid, as Witnesses thereunto have also to these presents Subscribed our names the day and Year above written/ [column /1 Joseph Wright; Peter Sonmans; John Wright; Rich'd Cary; Rich'll Mains; Rich'll Jobson; Samuel Jobson; Win Wright; Win Ingram; Will'm Mead; Tho: Green; Fdward Man. |column 2\ George Whitehead; John Lock; Benj. Furley; John Lil ridge; Walter Bcnthall; James Wass; Samuel Clay; Sam’l Waldnfield; F. Stamper; Thcod'r Keelcstone; Benj. Bealing; &c. |column J|; Martha Wright; Rachel Sonmans; Jane fairy; leathering Wright; Fliz. Hoskins; Fliz. Hains; Fliz. Fyles; Fllen Green; Susan Dew; Fliz Smith; Margery Brown. |column i; groom, bride, near relatives ] Joseph Wright; Johanna Sonmans; Ruth Crouch; Mary Wasse; Anna Atwood; Ann Blackall; Priscilla Hart; Fliz. Kcllam; Ann. Eccleston; Mercy Benthall; &e. These are to Certify, all whom it may Concern, that the foregoing is a true Copy of the Marriage Certificate of Joseph Wright and Johanna Sonmans, taken from the Original Entry made in the Register book of the Marriages of the people called Quakers in and about the Cities of London and Westmin¬ ster, County of Middlesex, and of the Borough of Southwark in the County of Surry, Volume the first, folio Seven Hundred and forty Seven, the same being carefully examined with the said Register the ninth day of September One thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty nine by me, Thos Gould, Regr C Extract from the Register Book of the Births of the Children of the People called Quakers in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, County of Middlesex, and of the Borough of Southwark in the County of Surry, vol¬ ume the first, Folio Two Hundred and nineteen Peter Wright, Son of Joseph Wright, Merchant, and Joanna his wife was born the Twenty eighth day of the fifth month called July in the Year One thousand Six Hundred ninety and three was borne in Cannon Street in the parish of Mary Bothaw, London. Present: Rachel Ormston, Fliz. Haynes. Anna Allbrighten; midwife Martha Wright, An: Mary Jobson Extract from the Register book of births of the Children of the said Peo¬ ple in the same places, volume the first, folio three Hundred and Seventy Two 5 See note 2. From London and Middlesex Quarterly Meeting, Marriages, page 7. I IS Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 46 Elizabeth Ormston, Daughter of Joseph Ormstone of Cannon Street, Lon¬ don, Merchant, and Rachel! his wife, was borne on the fourth day of the third Month called May One thousand Seven Hundred & Two in Wanstead in the County of Essex; present at her Birth: Sarah Walker, Bethia Arnold, Midwife Elizabeth Cray, Rachel Bird These are to Certify, all whom it may Concern, that the above extracts are true Copys of the Original Entrys made in the first Volume of the Register Book of Births of the Children of the people called Quakers aforesaid, being carefully examined with the said Register this ninth day of September One thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty nine by me, Thos Gould, Regr 1) Extract from the Register book of the Burials of the People called Quakers, Volume the Second, Folio Five Hundred and ninety three, Rachel Ormston, late wife of Joseph Ormston, Merchant, Aged about Fifty two years, died at wanstead in the County of Essex on the Sixth day of November 1717 of a Consumption, according to the Report of Two nurses that Viewed the said Body, and was buried in Friends Burying Ground near Bunhill Fields the 10th of the Same Month. Extract from the said Register book of Burials of the said People, volume the Second, Folio Six Hundred and ninety One, Joseph Ormston, late of London, Merchant, Aged about Fifty Years, died the 23rd day of the 2nd Mo called April 1720, searchers Report of the Bloody flux, and was Buried in Long Lane, Southwark Extract from the Register Book of Burials of the said people, volume the third, folio One Hundred and thirty Eight, Johanna Wright of Dalston, widow of Joseph Wright, late of London, Merchant, aged about Sixty Six, died at the Bath in the County of Somerset of the Collick and Cough the 29th day of November 1728, as the Common Searchers Report, and was bur¬ ied in Friends Burying Ground near Bunhill Fields, London, the Sixteenth of the Tenth Month. Following these are to Certify, all whom it may Concern, that all the above extracts are true Copys of the Original Entrys made in the Second and third volum|e|s of the Register Books of the Burials of the people called Quakers aforesaid, being Carefully Examined with the said Registers this ninth day of September One thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty nine by me, Thos Gould, Regr. Recorded June 6th 1771. ARF.NT SONMANS, THE LAND, AND HlS FAMILY Arent Sonmans had been an early Quaker in Holland, which may have influenced his decision to become involved in the New Jersey and Penn¬ sylvania proprietaries. On 28 5th month [July] 1677 William Penn noted in his papers: “The next morning Friends were fetch’d on shoar by a boat of Rotterdam, which some Friends of that city came in to the Briel to meet us. The Friends that came, were A[rent] Sonmans, B[enjamin] Furley, and Sim | on | Johnson Vettekeucken; with 3 young men that live at Benj. F[urley’s] house." And again on 31 5th month IJuly], “The next day, being the third day of the week, G[eorge] F[ox|, J[ohn] ITirley, W[illiam] 2009 The Arent Sonmans Family 1 19 Talecote, Is|abcl] Yeomans, |& my Selfe] after having broke our fast at A[rent] Sonmans, took boat for Leyden.” Arent, with benjamin Furly, later translated and published Penn’s works in Dutch and French. ' Arent’s East Jersey proprietorship began 25 September 1682, when Thomas Hart of Enfield deeded him '/2 of 1/12 share.5 lie was first men¬ tioned in Proprietary Minutes in undated minutes between the 27 Sep¬ tember 1682 and 28 November 1682 meetings, when he was assigned to pay .V.50 of bills received by the company: “Arent Sonmans proporcon to the stocke.” His name was given as a proprietor for the first time when Robert Barclay signed these minutes and “Subscribes for the Four Scotch Proprietors”: James Earle of Perth, Jno Drummond, Kohl Gordon, and Arent Sonmans.6 On I f March 1 682 [/31 James, Duke of York and Albany, confirmed to Arent Sonmans of Wallingford, Scotland, and twenty-three other proprietors the province of East New Jersey.7 This confirmation expanded the East Jersey Proprietors from the original twelve. On 2 April 1683 Arant Sonmans of Wallyford, Co. of East Lowthian, Scotland, merchant, purchased one full share of the propriety of West Jersey; Sonmans purchased a second share 5 April 1683.8 It is not clear when Arent purchased land from William Penn, but he was named as a purchaser of 5,000 acres in the Original Purchases Regis¬ ter. His warrant was based on Philadelphia County warrant #105 (which is not in the Philadelphia County warrant register). The right remained unlocated until “Tench Francis & others” had it surveyed |no day] June 1794, returning 5,326 acres, on a warrant issued to them 12 February 1788.6 Although Arent died in August 1683, his heirs and their assignees and grantees fought over the rights to his considerable holdings for over a century. 1 Mary Maples Dunn and Richard S. Dunn, The Papers of William Penn. 5 volumes (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1981-87) 1:430-31, 501. 5 Patents anil Deeds and Ollier Parly Records of New Jersey 1664-170.1, in the New Jersey Archires \NJA\ (Paterson: State of New Jersey, 1899), 21:55, citing East Jersey Deeds, etc., A:48. Enfield is in Middlesex, England. 6 Joseph It. Klett, “Transcription of the Minutes of the Proprietors of the Province of East Jersey, 1082- 108 1 ."Journal of the Rutgers University I.Hilaries, 03(2007):47-48. Aaron Learner and Jacob Spicer, The (Iranis, Concessions, and Original Constitu¬ tions of the Province of New-Jersey . . . (Philadelphia: W| illiam] Bradford, 1758) 141-50 (image available online at Early American Imprints, Series 1, no. 8205). 8 Patents and Deeds (note 5), NJA, 21:506, abstracting West Jersey Records 11:620- 21,021. 6 Original Purchases Register, 1682-1762, 120 (Pennsylvania State Archives, Rec¬ ords of the Land Office, RCi-17, series #17.83; images online at Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission). Warrant Registers, 1733-1957, Cambria County, 02 (Pennsylvania State Archives, Records of the Land Office, RC-17, series #17.8.8; images online at Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission). 120 Vol. 46 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine GENEALOGICAL SUMMARY The extensive Sonmans/Sonnemans family was in Rotterdam at least as early as 158.3 when the name appears in the ehureli registers of the Rot¬ terdam Dutch Reformed Church.10 In his 1939 article, “The Strange Career of Peter Sonmans,” Milton Ruhincam identifies the proprietor Arent Sonmans as the child baptized on 14 June 1627, son of Pieter Adriaensz Sonmans and his second wife, Maria Robbrechts van Schilperoort,1 1 which is incorrect. The Aerendt Sonmans baptized 14 June 1627 was the child of Pieter Adriaense |sic, Aerentsen] Sonnemans and Maertge Wil¬ lems. Baptismal records for children of both couples show this Pieter and Maertge to be a different couple than Pieter Sonmans (no known patro¬ nymic) and Maria Robbrects van Schilperoort, who had no child Aerendt.12 1. PIETER1* AERENTSEN SONNEMANS was born say 1601 (estimating mar¬ riage at 25) possibly in Rotterdam. He married by say 1626 possibly in Rotterdam MAERTGE WILLEMS. Children of Pieter1 Aerentsen Sonnemans and Maertge Willems, all baptized at the Rotterdam Dutch Reformed Church : 1 * i. AERENDT* PIETERS SONNEMANS, baptized 14 June 1627, ehild of Pieter 2 Adriaense |«'c] Sonnemans and Maertge Willem, sponsors Pieterge Louwe and Jannetge Jans; died in August 1683 in Huntingdon, England; married first 2 November 1660 in Rotterdam AGNIETA VAN RIJSOORT; married sec¬ ond 13 October 1680 in Rotterdam Francisca Ilaneok, widow of John Swinton (FRANCES (HANCOCK) (WHITE) SWINTON). 10 All Rotterdam ehureli records are from the Digitalc Stamboom (Digital Family Tree) of the Rotterdam Gcmecntearchief (City Archives), online at gemcentcarchief. rotterdam.nl/eontent. 1 1 Milton Ruhincam, “The Strange Career of Peter Sonmans,” Proceedings of the New Jersey Historical Society \PNJltS) 57( l939):230-5 1 , at 232-33. There are also some minor errors in dates reported in the article. 12 Pieter Sonmans, husband of Maria Robbrechts, was born about 1588 (calculated) and died 22 October 1660, aged 72 years, in Rotterdam. “Oud Burgemeestcr" was bur¬ ied 24 October. Pieter Sonnemans, single man, married first 13 September 1615 Aeltgen Wouter Hendricks, single woman. Pieter Sonnemans, widower, married second I October 1623 near Delft, recorded at Rotterdam, Maria Robbrechts [van Schilperoort 1, single woman, who was born about 1591 and died 3 September 1650, age 59 years; Maeijke Sonnemans, wife of Pieter Sonnemans was buried i September 1650. Their tombstones are in the Groote Kerk, Rotterdam (her surname is on her tombstone |Ruhincam, “Peter Sonmans” | note I 1 1, 233, notes 5 and 6|). Their children, both daughters, were Annetgc Sonnemans, baptized 10 May 1626, ehild of Pieter Son¬ nemans and Maeria van Schilperoer, sponsors Lijsbet Pils and Kaetelijntgc and Maria Sonnemans, baptized 10 December 1628, ehild of Pieter Sonnnants |sic, Sonmants] and Maria van Schilperolt, sponsors Jovart Sonnncrts |sic, Sonmertsl, Adriaen , and Dieter Wouters. All vital events from Rotterdam Dutch Reformed Church (note 10). 1 * Baptisms, Rotterdam Dutch Reformed Church (note 10). — The Aren! Sonmans Family 2009 121 ii. LEENGI N PIETERS SONNEMANS, baptized It) June 1630, child of Pieter Arigensen and Maertge Wilms, sponsors Tringcn Corneles and Catelijn Jacops. iii. CORNEUJA PIETERS SONNEMANS, baptized 20 October 1632, child of Pieter Aerentsen and Maertgcn Willems, sponsor Annetgen Jans. iv. PIETER PIETERS SONNEMANS, baptized 13 June 1634, child of Pieter Aerentse and Maeike Willems, no sponsors. 2. ARENTA SONMANS (Pieter") was baptized 14 June 1627 at the Rotter¬ dam Dutch Reformed Church, child of Pieter Adriaense Sonnemans and Maertge Willem. He died between 8 and 16 August 1 683 in Huntingdon, England (see below). Arent Sonnemans, single man of Rotterdam, mar¬ ried first 2 November 1660 on license dated 17 October 1660 in Rotter¬ dam AGNIETA VAN RIJSOORT, single woman of Rotterdam, living at Cilashaven.1' Arent Sonmans, widower of Agnetta Rijsoort, living at Crooswijek, married second 13 October 1680 on Rotterdam license dated 23 September 1680, following three proclamations, Francisca Ilancok, widow of John Swinton 1S |FRANCES (HANCOCK) (WHITE) SWINTON], living at Bortwijck in Schotlant [Borthwick, Midlothian, Scotland].16 Frances Simanons, wife of Arrant, died 29 March or 3rd month [May] 1699 and was buried 31 March or 3rd month |May| 1699 ai Pleasants | Pleasance Burying Ground| under the care of the Edinburgh Monthly Meeting. 17 Aaron Sonoman was buried 16 6th month [August] 1683 under the care of the Huntingdon Monthly Meeting. His burial record says “A Dutch¬ man was shot by a highwayman near Standgate.”18 An advertisement appeared in the 9-13 August 1683 edition of the London Gazette: On Wednesday the eight Instant about nine in the Morning, at Stangate-hole six Mile from Huntington, some Persons were robbed by three Horse-men 1 I Records of the Substitute Secretary of the State at gemeentearchief.rotterdam.nl/ content. 1s John Swinton, late of Swinton in Scotland, and Frances White, widow, of Newing¬ ton butts, were married 3 6th month |August] 1671 at Westminster Monthly Meeting (Quaker Digest Registers of Births, Marriages, and Burials for England and Wales, circa 1650-1837, London and Middlesex [World Microfilms of records at Friends House Library, London |). Swinton was a prominent Quaker (Archibald Campbell Swinton, Sivintons of That Ilk and their Cadets |Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable, 1 KBS |, 64-76). 16 Rotterdam Stadstrouw (note 10). Note that Arent had not relocated to Scotland at this time, and that this marriage did not occur in Scotland, as all histories seem to report, hut in Rotterdam, where Arent was then residing. \- Recorded in Edinburgh Monthly Meeting 2:6, abstracted in Archibald Strath Max¬ well, "Scottish Society of Friends: Quakers,' Registers of Births, Proposal] s| of Marriage, Marriages, and Deaths, 1647-1878” (typescript at New Register House, Edinburgh, no date), Deaths:2(), which gives “March” as the month (Fill. #301,107, item 2). Lewis Cook, "Sonmans of Rotterdam, Holland;...” page 13, in Family Record, volume 4 (typescript, I ISP, 1973), gives the surname as Sinamons and dates as 29-3mo-1699 and 31-3mo-1699, citing Digest of the Register of Ldiahnrgh Mo. Mtg.. Scotland , in Collec¬ tions of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. I bis digest is not in the I ISP catalog, so it is unclear exactly to what source this citation refers. 18 Quaker Digest Registers for Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire (note IS). 122 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 46 in Vizzards and disguise, who took away a good value in Money, &c. and two Morses, one of them a dapple dark gray, between fourteen and fifteen hands high, six or seven year old, having all his Paces, with a Portmantle on him, wherein was a black Box with Papers and Parchment Writings, if any Person shall find the said Morse and Box of Writings, they shall have two Guineas for both, or one Guinea for either, if they bring them to Mr. Richard Jobson in Huntington, or Mr. William Dockwra in Line-street London.19 Children of Arent' Sontnans and Agnieta ran Rijsoort, all baptized at the Rotter¬ dam Patch Reformed Church:ÿ i. CHRISTINA SONNEMANS, baptized 20 October 1661, child of Arent Sonnemans and Agneta van Rijsoort, sponsors Henrijck Sonnemans and Jans Beeckman. 3 ii. JOHANNA SONMANS, baptized 14 June 1663, child of Arent Sontnans and Agneta van Rijsoort, sponsors Jacob Sontnans and Rachel van Mansdalcn; died 29 November 1728 in Bath, Somerset, England; married IS 6th month |August] 1689 at Bull and Mouth, London, JOSEPH WRIGHT. 4 iii. RACHEL SONNEMANS, baptized 14 January 1666, child of Arent Sonnemans and Angnieta van Rijsoort, sponsors Ilenrijck Sonnemans, Hester van Montfoort, and Stijntge Jans; died 6 November 1717 in Wanstcad, Essex, England; married 27 8th month [October| 1691 at Bull and Mouth, Lon¬ don, JOSEPH ORMSTON. S iv. PIETER1 SONMANS, baptized 10 November 1667, child of Arent Sonnemans and Angnita van Rijsoort, sponsers Heijndrick Sonnemans, Catelijna van Rijsoort, and Marija Sonnemans; died 26 March 1734 in Elizabcth-Town, New Jersey; married SARAH NEVII.I.. v. CATHARINA SONMANS, baptized 27 December 1669, child of Arent Sonmans and Ageneta van Rijsoort, sponsors Henricke Sonmans, Cathalijna van Rijsoort, and Lijntie Willems de Hoorn; died young, see below. vi. CATHARINA SONMANS, baptized 28 April 1672, child of Arent Sonmans and Agnieta van Rijsoort, sponsors Willem Coumans, Lijntie Willems, and Catarina van Rijsoort. 3. JOHANNA SONMANS [Arent'', Pieter") was baptized 14 June 1663 at the Rotterdam Dutch Reformed Church, child of Arent Sonmans and Agneta van Rijsoort. Joanna Wright of Dalston, willow of Joseph, late of London, merchant, died 29 9th month [November] 1728, age 66, of the collick and cough at the Baths, Somerset, England, buried 16 10th month | December] in the Friends Burying Ground near Bunhill fields, London.-1 Johanna Sonmans of Enfield, Middlesex, daughter of Arent Sonmans of Rotterdam, Holland, deceased, married IS 6th month |August] 1689 at Bull and Mouth, London, JOSEPH WRIGHT, son of Joseph Wright of Aldcrs- 19 London Gazelle, Number 18S0 (Thursday 9 August-Monday August 13 1683), 4 (online at www.london-gazette.eo.uk). Baptisms, Rotterdam Dutch Reformed Church (note 10). -1 Death in Quaker Digest Registers for London and Middlesex (note IS). Pull text in Philadelphia Deeds (note 1 ) 18:412. 2009 The Arent Sonmans Family 123 gate Street, London, merchant tailor.22 Joseph Wrighle, merchant of Can¬ non Street, London, died 4 3rd month [May] 1720, age 64, at Wansted, Co. Lssex, of fever, htiried I 1 3rd month |May] at Bunhill fields. Children of Joseph Wright and Johanna Sonmans:'* i. AIIENTWRIGHT, horn 1 3rd month |May] 1691 in Walbrooke in P|ari|sh of (St) Steven Walbrooke, London, child of Joseph and Johanna of London, merchant, no monthly meeting listed; Arent Wright died 16 12th month |February| 1694/S, age about 4, son of Joseph Jun'r Merch’t in London, died of fits, no monthly meeting listed. ii. JOHN WRIGHT, born 16 1st month |March] 1691/2 in Cannon Street, P|ari]sh of (St) Mary Hothaw, London, child of Joseph and Johanna, mer¬ chant; John Wright died 28 1st month | March| 1692. age I 1 days, in Can¬ non Street, son of Joseph (Merch’t) died of convulsions, no monthly meet¬ ing liste’d, buried in Chcq’r Ally. iii. PETER WRIGHT, born 28 Sth month IJulyl 1693 in Cannon Street, P[ari|sh of Mary Hothaw, London, child of Joseph and Joanna, merchant. In Peter’s lease and release of 30 and 31 August 1769, he is described as the "only Son and heir at Law of Johanna Wright, formerly Johanna Sonmans.»2-1 iv. JOHANNA WRIGHT, born 27 9th month [November! 1694 in Cannon Street, P[ari|sh of (St) Mary Hothaw, London, child of Joseph and Johanna, merchant. v. MERCY WRIGHT, born 24 8th month [ October| 1698 in Cannon Street, P|ari]sh of (St) Mary Hothaw, child of Joseph and Johanna, marehant. vi. Wi i.iJAM WRIGHT, born 26 3rd month [May] 1700 in Cannon Street, P|ari)sh of (St) Mary Hothaw, child of Joseph and Johanna, merchant; Wil¬ liam Wright died 2 4th month |June| 1700, age 1 week, son of Joseph (merchant), died of the gripes, buried in Chcq’r Alley, no monthly meeting listed. vii. SAMUEL WRIGHT, born ,3() 6th month |August| 1701 in Cannon Street, P|ari|sh of (St) Mary Hothaw, London, child of Joseph and Johanna, mar¬ ehant. 4. RACHEL SONMANS ( Arent \ PieterH) was baptized 1 4 January 1 666 at the Rotterdam Dutch Reformed Church, child of Arent Sonnemans and Angnicta van Rijsoort. Rachel Ormston, age 52, died 6 9th month | November] 1717 “of a Consumption” at Wanstead, Lssex, wife of Joseph, merchant, and was buried 10 9th month | November] at Bunhill Fields in Friends Burying Ground near London.2'’ Rachel Sonmans of Cannon Street, Lon¬ don, daughter of Arent Sonmans, late of Rotterdam, Holland, deceased, married 27 Sth month [October] 1691 at Bull and Mouth, London, JOSEPH ORMSTON of Martins Lane, London, son of Charles Ormston, late 22 Philadelphia Deeds (note 1) 18:410. 2/4 Births and deaths in Quaker Digest Registers for London and Middlesex (note 15). 2 * Philadelphia Deeds (note I ) 18:41 1. Quaker Digest Registers for London and Middlesex (note 15). Full text in Phila¬ delphia Deeds (note 1 ) 18:41 1 . 124 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 46 of Kelso, Scotland, merchant, deceased.26 Joseph Ormston, late of Lon¬ don, merchant, SO, died 23 2nd month [April] 1720 of “the Bloody flux” and was buried in Long Lane, from Southwark Monthly Meeting. r Children of Joseph Ormston and Rachel Sonnians:2K i. JANE ORMSTON, born 9 6th month [August] 1692 in Martins lane, P|ari]sh of Martin Orger, London, child of Joseph and Rachell, no monthly meeting listed; Jane Ormston died 3 2nd month |April | 169S, age about 2' J, Martin Orgar, London, Dau[ghte]r of Joseph, died of dropsy, no monthly meeting listed. ii. RACHEL ORMSTON, born 23 1st month (March) 1693/4 in Martins lane, P|ari]sh of Martin Orger, London, child of Joseph and Rachell, no monthly meeting listed; Rachel Ormcstone died 19 2nd month |April] 1694, age about I m|on]th in Martins Lane, Cannon St., London, Daug[hte]r of Joseph, no monthly meeting listed. iii. CHARLES ORMSTON, born 29 Sth month |July] 1695 in Martins lane, I*| ari )sh of Martin Orger, London, child of Joseph and Rachell, merchant, no monthly meeting listed. iv. ARENT ORMSTON, born 22 1 lilt month [January] 1696[/7] in Martins lane, 1*1 ari lsh of Martin Orger, London, child of Joseph and Rachell of London, no monthly meeting listed; Arent Ormston died 30 1 1th month [January] 1696, age 9 days, P|ari]sh of Martin Orgar, son of Joseph, merchant, no monthly meeting listed. v. JOSEPH ORMSTON, born 7 6th month |August] 1698 in Martins lane, P|ari]sh of Martin Orger, London, child of Joseph and Rachell, merchant, no monthly meeting listed. vi. AGNES ORMSTON, born 26 6th month [August] 1700 in Martins lane in P[ ari |sh of Martin Orger, London, child of Joseph and Rachel, merchant, no monthly meeting listed; Agness Ormston died 3 8th month [October] 1700, age 5 weeks, Martins Orgars, daug’r of Joseph, no monthly meeting listed, buried in Chequer Alley. vii. ELIZABETH ORMSTON, born 4 3rd month [May] 1702 in Wanstead in Co. of Essex, child of Joseph and Rachel of Cannon Street, London, merchant.29 Peter Wright's statement suggests she was the only surviving child of Joseph and Rachel in 1769. viii. WILLIAM ORMSTON, born 13 8th month [October] 1704 in Martins lane in P] ari |sh of Martin Orger, London, child of Joseph and Rachel, no monthly meeting listed. 26 Philadelphia Deeds (note 1) 18:409-10. 27 Quaker Digest Registers for London and Middlesex (note 15). l ull text in Phila¬ delphia Deeds (note 1) 18:41 1-12. 2!S Births and deaths in Quaker Digest Registers for London and Middlesex (note 15). 29 The full text for Iter birth is also in Philadelphia Deeds (note 1 ) 18:4 1 1, exhibit C. 2009 The Arent Sonmans Family 125 5. PETER1 SONMANS (Arent*, PieterB) was baptized 10 November 1667 at the Rotterdam Dutch Reformed Church, child of Arent Sonncmans and Angnila van Rijsoort. He died 26 March 1734, “in his 67th year,” in Elizabeth-Town, New Jersey, and was buried there in St. John’s Cemetery/0 Peter Somans married 20 October 1723 at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, SAKAII NEVII.I./1 who was baptized 7 March 1698[/91 in Colwich, Staf¬ fordshire, daughter of John and Mary (— ?— ) Neville/2 Sarah married sec¬ ond after 23 May 1734 (Mrs. Sarah Sonmans deposed concerning her husband’s will) Christopher Gildemeester, who died between IS March 1 734/5 -C and S December 1735s 1 and presumably before 1 December (wording on her tombstone). Sarah died 1 December 1735 in her 36th year (i.e., born in 1699 or 1700) and was buried next to her first husband (see above). In an IS March I70S address to Governor John Lord Lovelace, Speaker of the New-Jersey Assembly, Thomas Gordon, summarized a number of complaints standing against Peter Sonmans, including that “he openly SonCohabits with a scandalous Woman; has had one Bastard by her. >0 William Ogden Wheeler and Edmund I). Halsey, Inscriptions on Tombstones unci Monuments in the Untying Grounds of The First Presbyterian and St. Joints Church at Elizabeth, New Jersey, I66t- 1802 (New Haven: Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1X92) 5<)8: |o/i right\ . . . Peter Sonmans lisq. one of the Proprietors of the province. who departed this Life the 26th day of march Annoquc Domini 17.34 in the 67th year of his age \on left] . . . Mrs. Sarah Gildemeester Relict of Peter Sonmans Esq. She was Afterwards married to Christopher Gildemeester Esq Deceas'd. She Departed tltis life the 1st Day of December A.I). 1735 in the 56th year of her age. 31 IG1 controlled extraction batch M625.7I I, from St. Giles Gripplegate parish regis¬ ters, 1719-1733 (PHI. #380,206). 32 The American Weekly Mercury, 24 June-1 July 1736, issue 861, page 3. announc¬ ing that real estate lately belonging to Peter Sonmans, Esq, deceased, devised to Sarah Sonmans then his Wife, was vested in Samuel Nevill of London, gentleman, eldest brother and heir at law to Sarah, John Nevill of Perth-Amboy, gentleman, and Peter Sonmans of the City of Philadelphia, Doctor of Physick. Samuel Nevell was baptized 4 November 1697, son of John and Mary; John Nevell was baptized 10 August 1702, son of John and Mary; Sarah's baptism records her as the daughter of John (1G1 controlled extraction batch CO 49722, from Colwich Bishop's Transcripts | l-l II. #417,187]). This baptism is just one year off from her age at death. 33 He witnessed the codicil to the will of Capt. Herman Winkler of New York City (Berlhold Ecrnow, Calendar of Wilts on i:i!e and Recorded in the Offices of the Clerk of the Coart of Appeals, of the County Clerk at Albany, and of the Secretary of State 1626I8J6 | New York: Colonial Dames of the State of New York, 1896], 456). 3i Administration of the estate of Christopher Gildemeester of Perth Amboy, Mid¬ dlesex County, was granted to Henry Schleydorn and Cadwallader Williams of New York. Those administrators being strangers and not having administered the estate, Samuel Nevill, eldest brother of Sarah Gildemastcr, widow, was appointed administra¬ tor 10 May 1742, John Nevill, fellow bondsman; administration of the estate of Sarah Gildermccstcr, widow, was granted 20 February 17.35 to John Nevill ( Calendar of New Jersey Wills. Administrations, etc., volumes 23, 30, 32-42(1901-49) in Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey (New Jersey Archives [NJA], First Series), ,30( 1 730-1760):198, citing New Jersey Wills C: 57, 506, 70. 35 John Lovelace, His Speech to the General Assembly of New Jersey, March 1708, 1936 (photostat at New-York Historical Society|FI 3 I .A27a; oversized]). 126 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 46 mans took more than a year to craft his reply, and on 14 April 1709 gave his response to that specific complaint: “| It | relates to my own private particular Affairs: that matter is already brought before the Supream Court, where it must have its determination, wherefore shall not trouble your Excellency with any other answer, then, that I deny the fact.”*6 It appears that neither of Peter’s children were legitimate.*7 In his will, written 19 February 1724 (four months after his marriage), Peter Sonmans, now of London, Esqr, bequeathed to his dear wife Sarah Sonmans and to her heirs and assigns for ever all his “real & personal estate in Europe, New Jersey in America or else where none excepted.” He named Sarah as sole executor; John Nevill was a witness.*8 This is not the will of a man with a legitimate, living son, especially as it was written in England where, by primogeniture, the eldest legitimate son would have inherited all real property. The relationship of Peter" with his stepmother, Sarah, however, must have been amicable, as on 12 November 1734 Sarah Sonmans of Perth Amboy, widow of Peter Sonmans, Esqr., deceased, sold to Peter Sonmans of Philadelphia, surgeon, for “£20 and the love she has toward Peter Sonmans” three tracts in Middlesex County: a 235-acre tract on Lawrence Brook, a 21 1-acre tract, and a 208-acre tract, totalling about 654 acres.*9 A 24 June 1736 newspaper notice stated that the real prop¬ erty willed to Sarah was vested in her brothers Samuel and John Nevill and Doctor Peter Sonmans. '0 On I I January 1 744 [ ?/5 1 Peter Sonmans of Philadelphia, Doctor of Physick, quitclaimed his right in the New Jersey lands of Peter Sonmans, late of Perth Amboy, gentleman, to Samuel Neville for £575." *° To llis Excellency John Lord Lovelace, littrron of II nrly, Captain General and Gov- ernour in Chief of the Provinces of New-Jersey, New-York, and Territories Depending Thereon in America, and Vice Admiral of the Same. The Answer of Peter Sonmans, lo an Address Presented to Your Excellency, by the House of Representatives, Dated March IN, I70N (New York: William Bradford, 1709; image online in Early American Imprints, Series 1: Evans, no. 143 1 ). 37 Some nineteenth-century histories of New Jersey and Pennsylvania report that Peter left an earlier wife and child(ren) behind in Chcswick, Middlesex, but no evi¬ dence or contemporary reference has been found to corroborate that claim. Given the complaints publicly brought against him over the years, it seems unlikely that abandon¬ ing a family in England would be overlooked by every adversary, furthermore, legiti¬ mate children of a legitimate wife of Peter would surely have made claims to his sub¬ stantial estate, as even distant relatives diel, but no such claims were made. *8 New Jersey Wills 1J:504-S (EHI. *522,735). *9 She made a similar transfer, for Y20 and "the love anil affection," to John Nevill, Esqr., but no such transfer to Samuel Nevill (Richard S. Hutchinson, East New Jersey Land Records, /727-/7.56/7, Hooks K and C-.l |Lewes, Del.: Colonial Roots, 20071, 1 12, 124, abstracting East New Jersey Deeds ( 1.3:226, 294.) See note 32. 41 Richard S. Hutchinson, East New Jersey Land Records, /7.57-/747, Hooks E-J and E-J (Lewes, Del.: Colonial Roots, 2006), 157-58, abstracting East New Jersey Deeds F2:4()5. 2009 The Arent Sonnunis Family 127 Rev. Thomas Foyer, who recorded the baptism of Peter’s daughter (below), did not note the maiden name of the other mothers, clearly sug¬ gesting that Elizabeth Arnold was not married to Peter, hence Susannah, also, was illegitimate. Child of Peter' Soumans, molher unknown'. i. PETER2 SONMANS born by 1700 (if the illegitimate child mentioned in the charges) or 1709 or 1710 (calculated); died II or Is March 1770 in Phila¬ delphia in his 67th or 68th year. '" lie married 8 January 1737 at Christ Church, Philadelphia, Harlhea |BI:TUIAS| WILSON. Bethia Willson, daugh¬ ter of John and Mary (Green) Wilson, was born in August 171s (calcu¬ lated), baptized I or i September 171s at Christ Church, Philadelphia, aged 2 weeks. (See “Glentworth-Wilson Additions and Corrections,” fol¬ lowing). The will of Peter Sonmans of Philadelphia, physician, written in Octo¬ ber 1772 and proved I May 1776, names wife Bethiah Sonmans and men¬ tions brother in law George Glentworth, James Glentworth, and George’s son Peter Sonmans Glentworth.1ÿ A 20 June 1779 judgment in Middlesex County, New Jersey, was recovered against George Glentworth and Betlisheba Sonmans, administrators of Peter Sonmans, deceased. 1 1 Child of Peter' Sonmans and Elizabeth Arnold'. ii. SUSANNAH2 [surname uncertain], baptized 28 8bcr [October] 1713 in Newtown, Long Island, New York.■IS I)r. Peter Sonmans death notice, Pennsylvania Evening Post, Volume 2, *182, 21 March 1776, ITS, reports he died 1 i March “in the sixty-seventh year of his age.” Edward L. Clark, A Record of the Inscriptions on the Tablets and Gravestones in the Hnriat-Grounds of Christ Church. Philadelphia. ... (Philadelphia; Collins, 180 i), 289, reports he died IS March “in his 68th year.” A nineteenth-century transcript of Christ Church Parish Registers (1ISP microfilm XCh 122; 32 i8) reports he was buried 16 March, but gives no age. ■1.3 Philadelphia Wills 0:280-81 (FHI. *2 1,727); also |New Jersey] Secretary of State’s Office, Wills and Inventories, |Burlington County original documents] 10193-98C (FHI, *S-)S,iS4). n Richard S. Hutchinson, Middlesex County. New Jersey. Deed Abstracts. Hook “ I " (Bowie, Md.: I leritage Books, 2000), 61. ° “The Register Book for the Parish of Jamaica Kept by the Rev. Thomas Poyer, Rec¬ tor from 1710 to 17.32,’’ NYGBR 19(1888):7.