Jan Cornelis Buys

Birth: 1629 · Netherlands
Death: Unknown

Jan Cornelis Buys who was also known as "Jan the Soldier" and "Jan Damen." was born in The Netherlands in about 1629. His mother was Hendricktje Jans Darnen, he was the nephew as well as the adopted son of Jan Jansen Damen. Born about 1629 in The Netherlands, he came to America about 1648.1

Jan married first Eybetje Lubberts Van Blarcom. Eybetje and Jan Cornelis had at least 7 children; Cornelis Janse (1652, m. Machtelt Gerrits), Hendrick Janse (1654-1666), Lubbert Janse (1656-1663), Hendricktje Jans (m. cornelis Verwey, Reynier Bastiansen Van Giesen), Tryntje Jans (m. Baltus Barentse Van Kleeck), Divertje Jans (m. William Appelby), and Neeltje Jans (m. Jans Hermans Coerten, Jacob Vigoor, Jan Dirckse Stratenmaker). He married second, August 24, 1663, Femmetje Jans, who was buried December 13, 1666. Jan married Willemtje Thyssen third and last.1

He was among the patentees who were given twenty-five morgens of land on Bergen Neck, his patent being dated 4 December 1654. His land lay between that of his father-in-law, Lubbert Gysbertsen, and his brother-in law Jan Lubbertsen. He was driven from his home by the Indian raid of 15 September 1655, and probably did not return to his farm when the settlers ·were given permission to do so in 1658. Among the English patents issued 12 May 1658 was one to Severin Laurens for the property previously held by Jan under his Dutch patent, which he had probably sold to Laurens. Jan lived at Midv.out and then in Brooklyn.1

1Zabriskie, George Olin. The Van Blarcom Family of New Jersey. New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 99, No.3. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. July 1968; 148.