The SUYDAM-DITMAS Homestead



Erected before the Revolution



	The Reverend Johannes Theodorus POLHEMUS, who was the first minister of the 
churches in Kings County, obtained, June 25th, 1662, a patent for 25 morgans of land, 
to which he added by purchase on March 6th, 1674, of John SEBERING an adjoining tract 
of 24 morgans, which SEBERING bought of Cornelius SWAILER, to whom it had been 
granted in 1662. Governor ANDROS granted a confirmatory patent for all this 
land December 25th, 1680, to Catharine, widow of Domine POLHEMUS. 
On December 19th, 1702, it was conveyed by his heirs to Daniel POLHEMUS.

	In 1709, Engelbert LOTT (the eldest son of Peter, the common ancestor) 
purchased from Daniel POLHEMUS and Neltje, his wife, the southerly one-third 
part of this farm, and lived there until his death, which we suppose occurred 
in 1728. Abraham LOTT, his eldest son, born in September, 1684,
married in 1709, Catherina HEGEMAN, from that time lived with his father 
and cultivated the farm. When his father died, Abraham LOTT became the 
owner of his farm, and added to it by purchase the northerly two-thirds part 
of the POLHEMUS farm. He died on July 29th, 1754, and left the southerly 
one-third part of his farm to his son, Jacobus LOTT, at whose death it was 
sold to Hendrick SUYDAM.

	Hendrick SUYDAM was a descendant of Heyndrycke RYCKEN, the common ancestor, 
who emigrated from Suydam in 1663, and married Ida JACOBS. He finally settled 
in Flatbush, dying in 1701. Their son, Hendrick SUYDAM, of Bedford, died 
subsequently to 1743. He had by his wife, Bennetie, a son named Hendrick, 
who was born December 2nd, 1706. He married Geertie RYERSON, and died at Bedford, 
July 16th, 1768. His wife passed away on December 7th, 1770. They had a son, 
Hendrick SUYDAM, born in 1732. He married June 15th, 1753, Rebecca EMMANS. 
In 1759, he purchased this farm of the heirs of Jacobus LOTT, and resided here 
until his death, July 9th, 1805. His son, Captain Andrew SUYDAM, married Phebe WYCKOFF, 
of Gravesend; his death occurred December 11th, 1831. Their only child, Sarah, 
married John DITMAS, son of Abraham DITMAS and a brother of Henry S. DITMAS. 
She was the mother of Abraham I. DITMAS and John DITMAS, Jr. The heirs of 
John DITMAS, Jr., still own the homestead, and a son of Abraham I. DITMAS lives in it.

	Another branch of the SUYDAM family is connected with this place through the 
DITMAS family. The mother of John DITMAS was Jane SUYDAM, who married Abraham DITMAS, 
his father. She was a daughter of Hendrick SUYDAM, born in 1730; died May 16th, 1791. 
His wife was Maria AMERMAN, born May 21st, 1735; died November 14th, 1795. This 
Hendrick was a son of Hendrick SUYDAM, baptized March 29th, 1696. He married 
Geertie VAN WICKLEN. He was a son of Jacob SUYDAM and Seytie JACOBS, his wife. 
Jacob was born in 1666, and died in 1738. He was a son of the common ancestor.


Back To Historic Homesteads Main
Back To Town Main
Return to BROOKLYN Info Main Page