VAN NUYSE - BERGEN HOUSE 1044 East 5th Street

Early in the nineteenth century a few of the Kings County farms were given the title of manor. Such a farm was situatcd partly in New Utrecht and partly in Gravesend on the old New Utrecht Shell Road. This was BERGEN Manor. Originally the farm or part of it belonged to Willem Jacobse VAN NUYSE who married Magdalene (JOOST?) and died 16 September, 1771. In 1759 either he or his son Jacobus built a large, substantial house on the property. The dwelling faced the south and had a wing at one end. It was covered with cedar clapboards. It has wooden pegs to hold it together and fourteen-inch planks for its floors, large fireplaces and a smokeroom in its garret where the meat was hung. This room was built around a huge chimney and has a brick floor. As has happened in so many instances, this house, too, has seen many changes. It has been moved to face the east and has had its wing removed and converted into a garage. Its roof has been changed and dormers cut into it. Within it has been modernized to the extent of plumbing, lighting and heating but it still retains its eighteenth century atmosphere. On 8 February 1795, after his death the heirs of Jacobus VAN NUYSE of New Utrecht sold seventy-two acres of his farm to Adrian MARTENSE of Flatbush for £1,520. MARTENSE acquired the remaining half of the property in 1816. Adrian MARTENSE (b.9 December 1742 - d.13 March 1817) married (1) Adriantje RYDER and (2) Jannetje MONTFOORT. He was the son of Adrian MARTENSE (b.24 October 1707 - d.17 September 1780) and Neeltje ___ . The older Adrian was the son of Marten ADRIANCE (b.9 March 1668 - d.30 October 1754) who married Sarah REMSEN and lived in Flatbush where he was known as Marten de BOER. His children took the surname of MARTENSEN contracted to MARTENSE. Marten de BOER was the son of Adrian REYERZ who arrived in New Netherland from Amsterdam in 1646, married Annetje MARTENSE SCHENCK on 19 July 1659 and settled in Flatbush where he died 24 November 1710. Adrian MARTENSE who bought the VAN NUYSE property had a daughter Nelly born 23 May1758. After she was married to Teunis BERGEN on 12 December 1802 the young couple went to live in the old VAN NUYSE house where their son Adrian was born 24 November 1806 and their son Teunis 25 December 1810. The BERGENS were a prosperous couple. They had a windmill, a barn, a stable and slave quarters on their farm. According to John BAXTER'S diary for 17 December 1806 their slave Moses was sentenced to prison for an attempt to rape Miss Ferguson of Flatlands. Nelly BERGEN died 7 October 1814. Her husband remarried and went to Flatbush to live. Her father willed the property to her sons Adrian and Teunis who divided it by deed 12 May 1822. The house fell to Adrian's share. On 28 may 1828, he married Eliza, daughter of Johannes VAN NUYSE of Flatlands, and took her to live in it. He was a justice of the peace for New Utrecht and a captain in its militia. He served as an elder in its church. He was vice-president of the Long Island Bible Society. He died 19 December 1873 leaving a daughter Eliza Ellen, who married Dr. James F. DUBOIS, ahd a son John VAN NUYSE. John VAN NUYSE BERGEN occupied the house and cultivated its farm. After he died his nephew Dr. Francis Adrian DUBOIS, a dentist, inherited the house and lived in it for many years. In March, 1924 it was sold to Mrs. Samuel W. MAGURIE who makes it her home. Teunis BERGEN, husband of Nelly MARTENSE, was born 16 October 1774 and died 3 October 1841. He was the son of Tunis BERGEN (b.15 October 1730 - d.2 May 1807) and Annete STOOTHOFF who were married in April, 1760. Tunis BERGEN's parents were Hans Michielse BERGEN (baptized 11 March 1689 - d. 1731) and Rachel, daughter of Derick BENSON. Hans Michielse was the son of Migguel (Michael) HANSEN and Femmetje Theunis DeNYSE. Migguel was born 4 November 1646 and died about 1702. His father was Hans HANSEN who arrived in New Netherland in 1633 from Holland. Hans HANSEN was a native of BERGEN in Norway and was therefore called Hans HANSEN BERGEN. His trade was that of shipwright. For a time after his arrival he lived in New Amsterdam where he cultivated a tobacco plantation. In 1639 he married Sarah RAPALJE who had been born at Fort Orange (Albany) 9 June 1625. Later he moved to the Waal-boght (Wallabout) where he owned the farm on which he died, probably in 1654. He is said to have been blessed with a melodious voice. One day while working on his farm he was chased by Indians and sought refuge in a tree. On being discovered and believing his end to be near, he started to sing the hymn which begins "In rnijn grootste nood o'Heere" (In my greatest need, O Lord). The Indians were so fascinated by his singing that they went on their way and he returned to his work. Next Chapter..ISAAC CORTELYOU HOUSE DUTCH Houses..Index Main Return to TOWN Index Main Return to BROOKLYN Index Main