My name is Roger C Evans. I am a direct bloodline descendant of the Terpennings of Ulster County, New York.

My Terpenning family lineage has been confirmed and verified by the Sons of the American Revolution. I have applied formally for membership.

I have a photograph of Ida Blanche Terpenning. She is my maternal great grandmother. My grandmother’s mother.

I believe that I might be direct bloodline to Sarah Rapalje. I need the museum’s help in order to confirm the Rapalje bloodline descendancy to me.

Here is a Genealogy flow chart I have developed to this point:

Generation 1 – Roger C Evans (Myself)
Generation 2 – Carolyn Kay Martin (My Mother)
Generation 3 – Ruth Henrietta Stolze (Grandmother)
Generation 4 – Ida Blanche Terpenning
Generation 5 – Edgar Ransom Terpenning
Generation 6 – Ransom Terpenning
Generation 7 – Noah Terpenning
Generation 8 – Levi Terpenning (also Terpening)
Generation 9 – Henricus Terpenning
Generation 10 – Theunis Terpenning (Born 1697)
Generation 11 – Gerrit Lambertsen (Terpenning) & Antje Hooghtland (Hooghland).

I have verified all of this family lineage with copies of original source documents.

I believe that I can trace my Rapalje ancestery through Gerrit’s wife Antje Hooghtland (Hooghland).

Can you be of any further assistance to me?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Roger Evans

Joris Jansen de Rapalje and Catalyntje Trico were my 9g grandparents by their youngest son and 11th child, Daniel Dorise de Rapelje. My grandmother’s maiden name was Rapalje. Her older sister also named Sarah Rapalje (Born in 1898) was very interested in the Rapalje geneology and wrote the documents I have in front of me as I write this to you. Interestingly, she has the spelling of Rapalje changed to Rapelje from the birth of Sarah de Rapelje (June 9, 1625) and then back to Rapalje around the 1800’s. I discovered your blog too long after your request to be able to make timely contributions, but thank you for your interest and in keeping the Rapalje geneology information alive.

I am a 10g grandchild of Joris and Catalinje. I am descended from their 3rd child, Jannetje. I am also an artist and fascinated by genealogy, especially the aspect of “moving away.” By that, I mean how generation by generation, families grow out and away from each other until we no longer know of the existence of our ancestors and distant cousins. I suppose you have read “Island at the Center of the World?” There’s lots in there about Rapalje and Trico. I wish you the best for your piece (has it already come together?
If not, I will send you some pictures if you like.
April Ford

Given the administration of the colony, Joris Rapalje and Catalyntje Trico did not decide of themselves to go to Fort Orange or back to New Amsterdam (Manhattan), but were assigned by the adminstration. Sarah was born in Fort Orange. When the family moved to New Amsterdam in 1626, Joris Rapalje obtained a property on Pearl Street, abutting the Fort. Hans Hansen Bergen arrived in the colony in 1633,later married Sarah, and they then lived next door to her parents on Pearl Street. Both Joris Rapalje and Hans Bergen acquired land in Wallabout and later built homes and lived there.

Hans Bergen did not die at age 27. He and Sarah had eight children (one apparently died at birth) and the last of their children was born in 1653. Hans died in 1654. He was born circa 1610, thus making him about 23 when he arrived in the colony and about 43 when he died.

Hope this is helpful. I am really looking forward to the installation.