The Day Families of NJ and New York City
New York City and Hudson Co NJ and Bergen Co NJ are all related
and geographically connected, so all the early families in Manhattan,
had cousins or grandparents out in NJ, generally.
Submitted by Lilly
malik@scs-net.org
My specific research subject is Jacob DAY, married to Hannah EARLE, produced a
daughter Anne DAY b. about 1791.
This Jacob DAY next married Hannah VAN ORDEN,
and had more kids: Fannie, Peggy, John Day. This family all lived in lower
Manhattan, New York City, NY. The time frame is: 1750 thru 1850.
The DAY families of Manhattan, Lower New York City, NY, and Hudson Co. and Bergen Co New Jersey,
in the time frame of 1600 thru 1800.
Manhattan was settled mainly by DUTCH settlers, but a few English and Irish and French settlers
were thrown into the pot as well. According to the online source called
"Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Co's NJ", the settlers there most likely came
over from the Dutch communities of New Amsterdam (now called Manhatttan).
One of the earliest names in New Jersey was JACOB DAY, who settled on land in NJ, but which was
claimed by NY, on 6-10-1669.
After 1691. we find the William DAY and John DAY both had land in NJ.
In 1760, Naomi Christeen, who was wife of JOHN DAY, bought land from her father,
John Christeen of Newark, NJ.
In NJ there was also a DERRICK DAY, who was neinghbor to Kipp, Hennion, Mandeville, and Gerrebrants families.
Those family names are all Old Dutch, descendants of the first Dutch settlers to Manhattan, in the 1600's.
Who were the FIRST DAY settlers in the Dutch community of Manhattan? Were they Dutch,
or only English/Irish who had simply learned the Dutch language, customs, and blended in the
Dutch community? The Dutch Reformed Church of NY and NJ spelled their surname as DEY, but infact
this was mostly just a spelling variation, and not a true spelling, but the Dutch clergyman/recorder's
own custom of spelling.
The fact is, the names DAY and DEY are the exact same name, not 2 different names or ethnicity,
in the time frame of 1600 thru 1800 in Manhattan.
In 1776 Colonel THEUNIS DAY was elected Regimental commander at Bergen Co NJ. The name Theunis is Dutch,
so we can assume he was in part Dutch.
The Old Dutch Church at Totowa, NJ was once Bergen Co NJ, but is now Passaic Co NJ.
In looking thru the baptisms, which are listed online, I have copied down the DAY and DEY names:
1. David DEY b. 1763, s/o Teunis Dey and Hester Schuyler.
2. Theunis DEY b. 1781, Catlyntye b. 1782, Benyamen b. 1790, all three kids of Philip DEY and Janetje Post.
3. Tuenes DEY b. 1777, Maria b. 1778, Pierson b. 1780, twins: Nancy and Elizabeth, b. 1782:
all kids of Dirk DEY amd Henne Pierson.
4. John DEY married Phebe Crain, 1785
5. Arrant Schuyler married Esther DEY, their kids were baptised at the home of Piter DEY
6. Piter DEY married Lena Boerd
7. Helena DEY was daughter of David DEY and Sara Neiffe
8. Cornelius Post married Sara DEY
Now let's leave the New Jersey areas which are directly adjacent to the Western edge of Manhattan, NYC, NY.
Let's jump back to Manhattan, and the History of the New York City Fire Dept, which is online at USGenNet.
According to that book, the VERY first NYCFD was formed Feb 1786 and the members included William DAY and Jacob DAY.
Along with them was a Morris Earle, who was of NJ roots, and his daughter Ann Earle later married JACOB DAY.
As of June 25, 1792, Fire Engine Company 20, which was located on Greenwich street, Manhattan,
had Jacob DAY and John DAY among the memmbers.
This is important to me personally, as my ancestor Jacob BROWER was involved with the NYCFD, and his
oldest son married Ann DAY, d/o Jacob DAY and Ann EARLE,
d/o Morris EARLE and Hannah De La Montagne.
Home
