Maria Hoff

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7705

Notes:

Birth:
baptized Tarreyton, Westchester, New York First Reformed Church

Other Events:

• Name: Engel Hoef
• Name: Engel Hof
• Reference Number: 7559

Notes:

Apparently a teller of tall tales. Contemporaries believed that he was about 128 when he died. However first child in 1707 and last child in 1729 gives estimated birthdate between 1670 and 1690. (figuring no children before 17 or after 60).

Per "A Huff Genealogy, Descendants of Engelbert Huff of Dutchess County New York"; There is no evidence that Engelbert's father was named Leonhardt, as appears in some online trees.

Some genealogies refer to this person as Engel Hoff b. Norway, won of Engelbert Hoff b. Norway.

During his lifetime all records used Hoff, Hof or Hoef as spellings of his name. Predominately Hoff, Huff was never used.


Birth:
based on marriage date & birth of youngest child

Engelbert married Maria Williams about 1706. Maria (daughter of Robert Williams and Grace Cerant) was born about 1690 in Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, USA; died about 1732. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Unknown
• Name: Marietje Hof
• Reference Number: 7558
• Baptism: 2 Aug 1698, Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, USA; baptized with 2 other children

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7557

Notes:

Birth:
date based on marriage

Robert married Grace Cerant on 19 Feb 1689 in Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, USA. Grace was born about 1664. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7556

Notes:

Robert Williamse married Grace Cerant, the widow of Jean Beesley(beselie, beesly, beasly), 19 Beb 1689 in the NYC Ref Church. There are some references to her as Grace Haring, perhaps an earlier marriage? Her maiden name is in some doubt. Banns filed 2 Feb 1689. Baptism in 1712 has Robbart Willems and Maria Cenniff. Real question on her surname. Probably a French name which is difficult for Dutch and English people to understand.

Her first name appears as Grace, Grees & Greest.

Gressje Cerant (Grace Serant) was born in 1667, perhaps in France. She first married John Beselie in 1684. Gressje died in Tarrytown, NY.

Jean/John Besly/Beselie (c.1645, Rochelle, France - bef. 1689, Croton Point, NY), a fugitive Huguenot from the Isle de Re, two miles off the coast of Rochelle, France, possible, but unproven, son of Jean Besly & Louise Sauton, [Alternatively, it has been postulated that Jean was brother of Oliver Besly of Isle de Re.] With presumed brother or cousin, Etienne (c.1650), he emigrated to New York in 1681. Our Huguenot ancestor Rene REZEAU from the Miller line also fled the Isle de Re in 1685, eventually, arriving with his family in New York City. Here they joined the French Church, finally, they moved permanetly in Staten Island.

From https://minerdescent.com/2010/08/06/robert-willemze/

Gressje Cerant (Grace Serant) was born in 1667, perhaps in France. She first married John Beselie in 1684. Gressje died in Tarrytown, NY.

Jean/John Besly/Beselie (c.1645, Rochelle, France - bef. 1689, Croton Point, NY), a fugitive Huguenot from the Isle de Re, two miles off the coast of Rochelle, France, possible, but unproven, son of Jean Besly & Louise Sauton, [Alternatively, it has been postulated that Jean was brother of Oliver Besly of Isle de Re.] With presumed brother or cousin, Etienne (c.1650), he emigrated to New York in 1681. Our Huguenot ancestor Rene REZEAU from the Miller line also fled the Isle de Re in 1685, eventually, arriving with his family in New York City. Here they joined the French Church, finally, they moved permanetly in Staten Island.

Gressje Cerant’s husband Jean Besley had to sell his home in St Martin, Isle de Re and flee to America.

“Jean Besly marchand demeurant cy devant en la ville de saint Martin en L’isle de Ré, est aussy fugitif du Royanne et a laissé. -Une maison, une piece de terre y joignant situeéan lien des prises en l’Isle de Ré…”

“Jean Besly, merchant living formerly in the city of St. Martin in Isle of Re, is also a fugitive of the crown and at large. -One house, one piece of land there adjoining the seizure on the Isle of Re…”

Jean married c.1670 Grace (Grees) Cerant of/or Heering, presumably of French birth. Because no record of this marriage can be found in the early New York church records, it is likely that they were married before they embarked for America. Upon arrival, they moved north along the Hudson and settled “among the aborigines” near Croton Point, just north of the Croton river.

Birth:
based on chil starting 1684