Notes |
- Arrived in New York in 1675. He first appears in the Minutes of the Common Council of the City of New York 24 Nov 1675 as having taken the oath of allegiance to the King of Great Britain. Two months later he married Maria. in the Dutch Reformed church. He was a blacksmith, spoke French, was Catholic. From New York City, the family moved up the Hudson to Albany shortly after their marriage
Calendar of historical manuscripts in the office of the secretary of state, Albany, N.Y., by New York (State). Secretary of State; O'Callaghan, E. B. (Edmund Bailey), 1797-1880:1865; English manuscripts - volume 2 page 139:
August 12, 1685 Governor Dongan Pass for John van Loon and his guide for Canada page 150 [Vol.XXXIII]
A reason given for his emigration to New Amsterdam was the fact that his native country was being ravaged by war with France from 1672-1678. It is believed that Jan’s family was well to do in Liege and that Jan, like his probable father Nicholas van Loon, fought in the war, before coming to America.
In the late 1600’s the Dutch settled the area naming it Loonenberg, after Jan van Loon, the patent holder of thousands of acres that now comprise Athens and parts of Catskill and Coxsackie. Several van Loon houses still stand in the village.
————————
His mittimus
Whereas Mr Jan van Loon by a decision of the court has this day been ordered to be taken into custody until he give security in the sum of £500 sterling at the secretary’s office here for his appearance before the next Court of Assizes to defend himself against the charges brought against him by the sheriff, to wit, that on the 27th of December last, at the house of Albert Rykman, he spoke in a slanderous and blasphemous way about the Reformed religion, as appears from the proceedings in matter; you are hereby ordered in his Majesty’s name to take the person of the said Jan van Loon into custody and to guard him well until he shall have given security in the use of £500 sterling of this appearance as above. For doing which this will be your sufficient warrant. Actum in Albany, at the session of their honors, January 3, 1681/2. [1, 2]
|