Erected before 1800
Erected before 1800When Mr. Henry SUYDAM DITMAS died on October 11th, 1884, he left his homestead with a part of the front on Flatbush Avenue, and a part of the farm to his only surviving son, John H. DITMAS, and the rest of his farm he left to his other heirs. The house stood as to-day with the exception that Mr. DITMAS has modernized and altered to some extent the structure. The front door is new, but I understand the back door is the original. This house does not show many of the marks of age, though it was built and for many years used for a Dutch farmhouse of the better class. It was, until recently, the abode of the present owner, a man who has been a valued citizen in the community, and as such, this house, if for no other reason, should be entitled to veneration. The grounds around it have always been kept attractive, and those of us who remember when Flatbush Avenue was the choice residential street in town, can remember when this place was not the least attractive. Mr. John H. DITMAS, the present owner, has spent an active and useful life within these walls. He was born here in September, 1880, and received his education at Erasmus Hall Academy, an institution of which he served as trustee. He entered business in 1847 in the importing line, and in 1857 became connected with the Long Island Bank. He was with this institution some forty years, advancing to the position of Cashier and later Vice-President. He was one of the founders, and is now Vice-President of the Flatbush Trust Company. He is actively connected with the Flatbush Boys' Club and the Dutch Reformed Church. On October 5th, 1869, he married Miss Maria KOUWENHOVEN. a daughter of Cornelius KOUWENHOVEN and Mary WILLIAMSON, his wife. They were the parents of three children, one of whom survives; namely, Miss Mary KOUWENHOVEN DITMAS. Mr. DITMAS, as has been stated, was a son of Henry SUYDAM DITMAS, who was born July l2th, 1798, and died as we have stated. He married Ann SCHENCK, a daughter of Teunis SCHENCK, and inherited the homestead of his father. He was prominent not only in town but in county as well. A man of action and of sterling virtues. The greatest Dutchman the world has known once said, "The man who never makes a mistake never does anything." I have yet to hear of Mr. DITMAS's mistake, and yet he was always doing something. He was President of Erasmus Hall during the most prosperous time in its career. Mr. and Mrs. DITMAS had issue as follows: -Abraham DITMAS, who died before his father, and had married Sarah Ann, daughter of Jeremiah RYDER, of Gravesend. He had a daughter, Cornelia DITMAS, now the wife of Mr. William LONGMIRE. -John H. DITMAS, before mentioned. -Jane Ann DITMAS, who married on January 7th, 1845, Gerret MARTENSE, a lawyer of Flatbush, and son of Judge Gerret L. MARTENSE and Jane VANDERVEER, his wife. Of their issue a daughter survives; namely, Jennie VANDERVEER MARTENSE, who married Lionel WILBUR, and had issue Hartense WILBUR, who died when a young man, and Miss Anna WILBUR. -Gertrude C. DITMAS, who married Christoptier PRINCE, and had issue several children; and -Maria DITMAS, who married Mr. John Z. LOTT, a son of Judge John A. LOTT. He is one of the most prominent members of the King's County Bar, and President of the Flatbush Trust Company, and largely responsible for the high standing of that institution in the world of finance. Mr. LOTT is connected with many other enterprises of almost equal worth. He is the father of Henry DITMAS LOTT and Erskin Howard LOTT, both of whom are prominent residents of Flatbush. Mrs. LOTT is deceased. Mr. DITMAS was a trustee of Erasmus Hall from March 1st, 1828, to October 11th, 1884. He was a son of Abraham DITMAS, born February 5th, 1765; died August 18th, 1808, and Jane, daughter of Hendrick SUYDAM, his wife. Abraham DITMAS was a trustee of Erasmus Hall Academy from October 17th, 1791, until his death. He inherited a half of his father's farm, and erected this house previous to 1800. He was the second son of Johannes DITMARS and was by his second wife. Abraham had two sons, John A. DITMAS being the other. He (John A. DITMAS) married Sarah SUYDAM, and had issue seven children, of whom only one survives; namely, Miss Jane Gertrude DITMAS, of Brooklyn. Abraham DITMAS also had two daughters; namely, Maria, who married Dr. William Creed, of Jamaica, and Rebecca, who married Theodorus POLHEMUS. She was the mother of Abraham DITMAS POLHEMUS, spoken of elsewhere in this volume. The father of Abraham DITMAS was Johannes DITMARS. He was a man of prominence in the community, and was the owner of many broad acres. He was married first to Lena WYCKOFF, on May 17th, 1745; and second, in 1762, to Rebecca STAATS, by whom Abraham was born. I have a large amount of evidence to show that he was a half brother of Quartermaster Johannes DITMAS, although he calls him his brother when he appoints him executor of his will. In the old days blood was thicker than water, and people considered themselves related who, to-day, would not think so. These two men, sons of the same father, loved each other and trusted each other, therefore, what difference did it make to them if they were of different mothers, or for that matter related at all? They divided their father's farm into two parts, and lived during their lives as neighbors and friends. Johannes DITMARS' father was known as Johannes DITMARSEN, who married Jannetje REMSEN. He was an important man, and held several offices of trust. His father was Jan JANSEN Van DITMARSEN, whose wife was Adrianna. He is supposed to have purchased the land where his homestead stands on April 24th, 1681, of Gerret LUBBERTSEN. He was a son of the common ancestor, Jan JANSEN and Aeltje DOUWS, his wife, who emigrated to this country about 1687. The family this old home has sheltered for so many years is large, and has numerous connections in New Jersey and in the West. I have collected a large amount of data relating to it, and hope soon to issue a genealogy of comprehensive size. Any information that anyone may have will be given due consideration, if they will submit it.
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